Maths Trivia

See if you can spot what's wrong with these equations...

1)

4 - 10 = 9 - 15
Add 25/4 on both sides
4 - 10 + 25/4 = 9 - 15 + 25/4
(2 - 5/2) (2 - 5/2) = (3 - 5/2) (3 - 5/2)
Taking square roots
(2 - 5/2) = (3 - 5/2)
2 = 3

Can you explain why?

2)

Let X = Y
X - Y = 0
Therefore,
2X - 2Y = 0
So,
2X - 2Y = X - Y
2 (X - Y) = (X - Y)
Dividing by (X - Y) on both sides,
2 = 1

Can you explain why?

Note: The tagboard will be down for awhile. Meanwhile, you can still leave what you want to say in "comments".


Tags: Brain Teasers

Father's Love Letter

My Child…

You may not know Me, but I know everything about you
…Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up
…Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways
…Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered
…Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in My image
…Genesis 1:27
In Me you live and move and have your being
…Acts 17:28
For you are My offspring
…Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived
…Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation
…Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in My book
…Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live
…Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made
…Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb
…Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born
…Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know Me
…John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love
…1 John 4:16
And it is My desire to lavish My love on you
…1 John 3:1
Simply because you are My child and I am your Father
…1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could
…Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect Father
…Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from My hand
…James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs
…Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope
…Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love
…Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore
...Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing
…Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you
…Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession
…Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all My heart and all My soul
…Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things
…Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me
…Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart
…Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires
…Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine
…Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager
…2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles
…2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you
…Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to My heart
…Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes
…Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth
…Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love My son, Jesus
…John 17:23
For in Jesus, My love for you is revealed
…John 17:26
He is the exact representation of My being
…Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you
…Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins
…2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled
…2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of My love for you
…1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love
…Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of My son Jesus, you receive Me
…1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from My love again
…Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen
…Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father
…Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…Will you be My child?
…John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you
…Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad. Almighty God

(Taken from: http://www.fathersloveletter.com/flltextenglish.html)

Tags: Christianity

Controversial Pianist : Melvyn Tan

In the past, it was Ms Chng Zhenzhi, the female scholar who said that males going through NS whine too much and should take it as a man. Now, it's Melvyn Tan, someone viewed as a "defaulter".

Mr Melvyn Tan, now 49, went overseas for his studies when he was 12 and did not come back for his NS when he was called up. It was a juggle between doing national duty and moving on in his career. He choose the latter. Now, he's a British citizen and a well-known musician (a pianist) and is invited back to Singapore as one of the jury for a competition. He will also be performing in the Esplanade.

NS or National Service is a 2-year training all males above the age of 18 undergo. After the 2 years, there will be 10 years of re-service for each individual. Many see re-service and ICTs (In-Camp Trainings) as something disruptive to their family and jobs. Despite the inconveniences, they still go for it as a proud Singaporean defending his homeland.

That is why many Singaporeans are unhappy as he was let off easily with only a fine that "he can't remember". Being rich and famous, a maximum fine of $5000 would be "peanuts" to him. People in the forums are throwing flaming remarks on him. Some have even begun to question the importance of NS. Is our "sweat and blood worth only $5000?".

anonymouscoward in sgForums said that:

"That's it.. I'm sending my son overseas after his PSLE and he can either stay there or be famous and pay a $5000 fine.

Also, I'm going to boycott every event the National Arts Council is involve in. I do want to associate myself with criminals. Someone should start a petition calling for his removal as judge."

It can be seen that escaping NS is not something seen favourably by Singaporeans. Even more if you come back rich and famous with only a fine that you can't remember.

Tags: Melvyn Tan, National Service, Singapore

Brain Teasers

Here are some brain teasers for the day.

1) How do you make 4 equilateral triangles with only 4 match sticks? The match sticks cannot cross each other and you cannot break anyone of them.

2) Using four 9s, how do you make 100?

Tags: Brain Teasers

Lame Joke

We were having lunch today. We here consists of Alan, Ben, Jun Hao, Wee Yen and me.

We were eating when I decided to start a conversation with Alan.

Me: Alan, what is this? (I said as I showed him my hand)
Alan: Erm, it's your hand.
Me: Wrong, try again.
Alan: Huh? It's your hand wad.
Me: No...it's wrong.
Alan: Then what is it?
Me: Well...it's MY hand.
Alan: -_-

Tags: Lame Jokes, Singapore

Endless Love from "The Myth"

I found this translation of "The Myth"'s theme song, "Endless Love", from here.

Endless Love
(Theme Song From The Myth)

JC:

Release me from this mysterious waiting
The stars are falling; the wind is blowing.
Finally I can hold you in my arms.
Two hearts beating together.
Believe me that my heart is never-changing
Waiting a thousand years.
You have my promise
Despite many bitter winters, I never let you go.

Kim:

Close your eyes and tightly grab my hands.
Please recall the past - the days we were in love.
We loved each other too much,
It is sorrowful that we can't even say "I love you."

JC:

Every night my heart aches.
I never stop thinking of you.
I am used to being alone for such a long time
And I face it with a smile.
Believe me, I choose to wait.
Even though it's painful, I won't leave.
Only your tenderness can save me from the endless cold.

Kim:

Close your eyes and tightly grab my hands.
Please recall the past - the days we were in love.
We loved each other too much,
It is sorrowful that we can't even say "I love you."

JC and Kim:

Let love be a blossoming flower in our hearts.
We can pass through time, never bowing our heads,
And never giving up our dream.

Kim:

We loved each other too much,
That is the source of our pain.
It is sorrowful that we can't even say "I love you."

JC and Kim:

Let love be a blossoming flower in our hearts.
We can pass through time, never bowing our heads,
And never giving up our dream.

Kim (in Korean) and JC (in Chinese:

We never forget our promise.

Kim and JC:

Only true love follows us as we pass through time.

Kim:

We can't even say "I love you."

JC:

The love we have in our hearts is the only never-changing myth.

A nice song I must say.

Tags: Chinese Songs, Singapore

In The Bus Again

Today in 177...

I was sitting on the seat where there are two seats facing two seats in front of it. The on this particular stop, there was this guy who boarded. Dressed in an old-looking T-shirt and shorts, holding a plastic bag, and looks kind of old (around 40s I would say). He sat in front of me (the seat which faces mine).

Everything was fine until...
..
..
..
..
he started to dig his nose.

Eww...that's disgusting. And he's doing it in front of me! He digged for about...1 minute or so. Is his nose so big? Or is his fingers too small? No offence but I just find that act disgusting. After digging he started to smell his finger (the one used to dig his nose). Ouch! Like he can't smell it when it was in his nose like that...ironic huh? Smelling something that CAME from your NOSE...how weird.

That's not all, he started to dig his ears next. I was like, "This is going to be a long journey." This time, it lasted for about 30 seconds, not as long as his previous "act".

What he did next, made me alight the bus straight away.

He bit his finger.

(Well, I didn't alight straight away as my stop has not reached. But you get the idea. And if I remember correctly, I think he smiled at me.)

Note: No offence to the man in this story.

Tags: Singapore

A Conversation

I was walking to the bus stop with my friend Ben today. Along the way, we had a conversation.

Me: Hey, guess what?
Ben: What?
Me: Well, I'll let you guess.
Ben: You are pregnant?
Me: No.
Ben: You just saw a frog?
Me: No.
Ben: (Some gross stuff)
Me: Nope. You are gross man.
Ben: Okay, I give up. What's it?
Me: Well, I asked "guess what?" right?
Ben: Yah, so?
Me: Well...there's nothing in the first place. So there's nothing to guess.
Ben: -_- I am so gonna throw up. Go away.

I know I am lame at times...but is it that bad? Lol.

Tags: Lame Jokes, Singapore

In The MRT

I was on my way to town in the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) when something happened. I was leaning against the glass pane near to the door of the MRT reading a book when suddenly a girl in front of me fell down.

She was about the age of a Sec 3 kid (around 15). She was dressed in St John's Ambulance Brigade uniform (should be her CCA), when she suddenly fell down. The man behind her shook her and said, "Are you OK?". We all thought that she fainted as the train was at one of the stops not moving when she fell. There were gasps here and there. She was lying on the floor for about 5 to 10 seconds. I couldn't she her face as she was blocked by this guy standing in front of me. But I could see and hear that she had fallen down. After that, there was this lady who helped her to get up. She asked her, "Are you feeling dizzy? Can you hear me? Are you feeling ok......I think you better sit down." With that, the girl sat down and rest.

Why didn't I help her? I was too shocked. Imagine you are reading a book on your Driving Theory Test, when suddenly there's this girl who fell (or maybe faint) in front of you. It was all so sudden. It was like two seconds after she fell that anyone went ahead to help her (the man behind her being the first).

If I was in her shoes, I would be so pai-seh (embarrassed). I am a St John's Brigade member and I can't help myself. It's so pai-seh man. Maybe she has a lot going on in her mind, or maybe she isn't feeling well. Well, at least she was not hurt. Maybe a few bumps here and there, but at least it's not fatal.

Hm...these few days, there seems to be a lot of things happening in the buses and MRT that I take.

Tags: Singapore

Steph's Blog

Guess what! I was searching for "Steph's Blog" on Yahoo and YahooSg and I found this.



My blog appeared as the first result for both queries. Yay!!
First Yahoo...then Google...lol.

Lol...this just came in. zandperl commented that my blog was the first result for "Steph's Blog" in Google as well :D


I went to check and it's true :D

Tags: Search Engines, Singapore

In The Bus Again

As usual, it was time for me to go back home. I was walking along with Ben, telling him some lame stuff in which he responded with, "Wah lao...".

Anyway, I was laming when 177 came! I said a fast "Goodbye" and ran for the bus. Brushed past my senior and another friend along the way and said goodbye to them too. Finally, I was on the bus. Phew...that short running made me tired. I must be out of shape already.

The bus then turned left. TURNED LEFT?? IT SHOULD TURN RIGHT!! ARGHH...I WAS ON THE WRONG BUS.

(In my workplace, the buses with the same number stop at the same stop. Unlike the roads where the bus with the same number travel on either side of the road.)

I called Ben and said, "Yo...I am on the wrong Bus."

"HAHAHAHA...You are the MAN man!"

-_-

Luckily I stopped a few stops after before changing to another bus - 178.

I stopped two stops before West Mall and waited for 157. The bus came and I tapped my EZ Link card.

The unusual thing for today's trip was this: at the stop at West Mall, two guys boarded...wait...two girls boarded...wait...hm...two guys who dressed as girls boarded. The perfume or cologne or whatever they were using were strong. They laughed and giggled in their own jokes. They sat at the back while Most of the commuters were in the front. Even those at the back moved to either the middle or front.

Well, I guess Singapore has opened it's doors. So expect a spectrum of personalities and characters to appear. From people who board the wrong bus to those who have a girl trapped inside them, you can see that society is getting more and more colourful.

(Note: I seem to have a lot of happenings in the bus lately...weird huh? Maybe I should write on happenings on buses or trains. Actually if you open your eyes and see, there are a lot of things you can blog about while in the bus or train.)

Tags: Singapore

Door To Door Selling

Have you ever encountered such a situation?

Someone knocks on your door/rings the doorbell, you open the door to see someone selling ice-cream, Yakult drinks, textbooks, cards, encyclopedias...etc.

Well, something similar just happened.

My brother opened the door to see a secondary school girl selling ice-cream.

"Do you want to buy an ice-cream?"
"Wait, let me check with my family."
Goes to the kitchen where my father and I were.
"Your want to buy ice-cream?"
"Nah. Just say don't want."
"Ok."
Goes to the door.
"Sorry but we don't need your ice-cream."
"But I need to sell these ice-creams to buy textbooks for next year's school year."
"Wait..."
Goes to the kitchen.
"She needs the money from selling ice-cream to buy books."
"Aiyah, ok lah. Since she say until like that. Buy two then."
"Ok."
Goes to the door.
"I would like to have two."
"That would be $24."
"Wait..."
Goes to the kitchen.
"It's one for $12."
"Wah...what kind of ice-cream is that? In that case, buy one."
"Ok."
Goes to the door.
"In that case I will buy one."
"Okay. Thank you."
"Welcome."

My brother brought the ice-cream to the kitchen. I was wondering what kind of ice-cream would sell for $12.

After looking at it, I was disappointed. It was just a block of ice-cream made in Malaysia with a few wafers to go with it.


It's strawberry flavoured and melting.

Tags: Singapore

Bus Stop

As usual, I took 157 before alighting one stop after West Mall. While waiting for 177 to go to work, I saw a familiar face.

"Is it him?"
"He sure looks like my J1 friend."
"Nah, couldn't be. He is the same age as me, and should be in NS now."

When 852 came, he board the bus and smiled at me.

I smiled back.

Lol...it is him.

My J1 friend.

This is the second time I met my one of my friends in this month.

The first time was here.

Tags: Friends, Singapore

Wedding Dinner

Yesterday I went to Mandarin Hotel (the one near Suntec City) for my cousin's wedding dinner.

The bride and groom looked charming. Their parents welcomed the guests there. I went with my family. Everything was nice, especially the FOOD!!

The menu goes like this:

1. Suckling Pig Combination
2. Braised Shark's Fin Phoenix-Style
3. Steamed Chicken with Chinese Wine and Herbs
4. Steamed "Live" Garoupa "Teochew Style"
5. Pan Fried Prawns with Quaker Oats.
6. Braised Abalone with Seasonal Vegetables
7. Smoked Tea Duck with Mini Pancake
8. Steamed Lotus Leaf Rice with Assorted Meat
9. Mango Sago with Ice-cream

Wow...when I saw it, I was hungry. When I ate it, I became full.

However, if there's something bad about the whole event, I would say that it would be the two emcees.

One spoke in English and the other in Chinese. First of all, they had poor coordination amongst themselves.

For example...

English: Now, let's give stand up and give a round of applause as the bride and groom walks in. (Proceeds on to clap his hands)

Chinese: I am sorry, but before we do that, let's practice on how to clap our hands. (Stops the English emcee from clapping his hands)

What a joke!

The setting was grand, the food was sumptuous, the newly weds were beautiful and handsome, and they need to have two clowns up on stage...lol.

No offence meant, but I believe a better emcee could be found.

Tags: Singapore, Wedding

Cool Handphone !

Cool gadget found in Worth1000.


Termites would love this phone.

Tags: Cool, Gadget

The Disabled Children

I once saw this short documentary which featured the lives of the disabled children.

The show featured Jeremy Lim.

His story really touched my heart.

He was born with a rare condition known as Osteogensis Imperfecta. What it means is that his bones are broken easily. A sneeze or a cough will result in some sort of fracture. That's how weak his bones are.


He even felt bad when his mother had to carry him from place to place. At times, his mother accidentally dropped him. Having brittle bones, he suffered fractures here and there. But he only smiled at his mother. His mother cried.

His optimism is shown in these statements:

"Over time, I have come to realise that breaking a bone isn't all that bad. I can always take advantage of the adversity. When I broke my right arm, I learnt to write with my left. When I fractured my left arm, I learnt to write with my right. Now, I am ambidextrous."

"I realise that I cannot change the situation but I can control the way I react to it. Pain is inevitable but misery is optional. I can choose to moan and groan or to look at it in a more positive light. After all, when you look at the bright side, there will be no dark shadow in sight."

Through his positive outlook in life, super-supportive family and his personal beliefs, he has become a role model for many to follow. From a low-esteemed person to the NKF Children'’s Medical Fund Ambassador, Jeremy has gone through a lot to reach where he is now.


He wants to be a genetic engineer so that he may one day find a cure or a treatment to help people like him.

A young man, but mature in many ways. Jeremy has really made me think...

Life is but a journey everyone goes through.
Whether you've enjoyed it or not depends on through what eyes you see life in.
Optimism is the eyes that has helped Jeremy.
It may help me too.

I have a perfectly working body without any form of sickness or ailments.
I should be thankful for it.
Being able to read this post and breathe...it's all a gift from Him.
But at times, we are just to busy to really appreciate a fully functional body.
Seeing all the disabled living life so optimistically really makes me think:

"If they can enjoy life despite their condition, why am I so depressed or stressed out even though I am much more healthier than them?"

If there's one thing I have learnt, that is to be more optimistic in life.
Despite what may happen, it's how you look at it that determines the result.

Through the documentary on disabled children, I am really touched by their strong will to live and prove themselves as abled people through their personality. At times I am ashamed at myself for looking at life through such narrow-mindedness when these people are able to see life optimistically.

Visit his site to know more about him.

Tags: Disability

(This post does not mean to insult the disabled in any way. Instead the purpose of it is to show how strong the disabled people are actually and bring out points for everyone to learn from.)

Is That My Best Friend?

Today on my way back home I saw someone on the bus.

As usual I tapped my EZ-Link card on the card reader. As there was no seats left, I stood at the side. The bus was 157. Then I saw someone who looked like my primary school friend. I looked at him and thought, "Is he my best friend from primary school?" He was dressed in a T-shirt and bermudas. Dyed hair, listening to music from his MP3 player.

He looked at me also. Then looked out of the window, rubbing his chin. Seems to be deep in thought. Then he looked at me again.

"He looks like my best friend from primary school," I thought. He must be thinking on the same thing.

I find the whole thing funny...or maybe weird. Weird that primary school friends could meet in a bus. Weird in the sense that it's such a coincidence.

Well, my bus stop came. I alighted from the bus and walked to the traffic light. As the bus drove past, I looked at him, smiled and waved goodbye. He did the same.

Tags: Friends

Chaos Theory

For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;
For want of a shoe, the horse was lost;
For want of a horse, the rider was lost;
For want of a rider, the battle was lost;
For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost.

Tags: Science

Office Politics In Young Children

This letter was written by my 7 year-old Indonesian niece to her friend from the same class.

To You

Josselyn, I am sorry. Because you cannot come and play with me. I didn't know that during the holidays, I will be in Singapore. Anyway, I will give you some stickers when I get back. But there's a condition. You cannot friend with Iona. You must pretend to friend her. If you friend her then I won't give you sweets and erasers. Don't tell this to anyone. It is a secret between us.

Please agree with me and circle Yes.

Yes _____ No

From,
Me

Well, that letter was left on the table in the living room after she left. So as I was clearing the table, lo and behold, a TOP SECRET letter was found...wow...

It's interesting how young children are able to understand "politics", "foreign relations" and "bribes" even though no one teaches them these stuff.

I guess it's through interactions amongst adults that they learn such stuff.

Tags: Children, Cute

Pop Ups Appearing On My Page!!

Some of you may have noticed that pop ups are appearing on my blog. Well these pop ups are definitely not from me.



I've scanned my computer for adware using some of the softwares and deleted some of the files detected through them.

However...the pop ups still appear.

-_-

I heard of some programs that hack a website / blog's source code into displaying pop up ads for their favour. Hopefully my blog is not one of the victims.

I am not sure where these pop ups are from but I definitely don't want them.

Any of you out there in the blogosphere knows how to solve this problem? Help is greatly appreciated :D

Tags: Ads

Hampster Dance

Found this interesting website.
It's called Hampster Dance.
Check it out here.


This is something Benjamin would describe as "a happy elf thing".

Tags: Cute, Hampster