Aussie Pete

A Match Made In... Err... Hell? World's Most Evil Couple

2012-02-01T04:28:00.000-08:00

Firstly, my apologies to my dear regular readers for the unusual delay between articles - I'm still travelling right now and the access to my usual 'online tools' is somewhat intermittent using VPN to get through the 'Great Firewall of China'.

Nevertheless, I've written before about weirdos and psychopaths that fall into the 'cannibals' and 'vampires' categories. So when I read a particular article recently, I was blown away enough to tolerate the slow internet speeds and get this 'deviant love story' on to my blog.

To be honest, I think it shows a real lack of justice for this kind of relationship to be allowed to flourish.

Infamous flesh eater, Isakin Jonsson and the self-professed vampire who worships satan, Michelle Gustafsson, have announced their engagement... setting themselves up as the world's most evil couple.

This bizarre love story blossomed at the secure psychiatric unit where they both reside.

According to reports, 33-year old Jonsson asked 23-year old Gustafsson to "join him in unholy matrimony".

Jonsson was found guilty of slitting the throat of his then partner, Helle Christensen (who was also the mother of five children), sawing off her head and eating flesh cut from from her body, while Gustafsson had stabbed to death a young father, Daniel Stenman before drinking his blood.

Above: Isakin Jonsson with the unfortunate woman he ate - Helle Christensen

Of this demonic relationship, Jonsson was quoted as saying, "I love Michelle — have never met anyone like her... I want to live a non-criminal life".

Both of the killers have seemingly expolited Sweden's judicial process - which allowed the pair to opt for "indefinite psychiatric treatment at a secure medical facility" instead of life in prison.

WTH??!!

Stabbing victim Daniel Stenman, who had his blood consumed by Michelle Gustafsson

Deadly Home Invasion! Lock Your Doors When You Sleep, My Friends!

2012-01-15T04:30:00.000-08:00

Spending the best part of my life 'down under', I've obviously been exposed at times to some of the world's deadliest creatures - highly venomous snakes and spiders at the fore-front. But when it comes to 'home invasions', the worst I've come across, is a red-belly black (snake) on one occasion and redback spiders on a few.

Never have I experienced anything like this though!!

With a guitar as his only weapon, 42-year old Micko Srbinovska managed to make his way past the 1.7 metre salt water crocodile that had managed to find its way into the family loungeroom of his Darwin home, to get to the telephone to call the local 'Crocodile Management Unit'.

It's suspected that the monster reptile was an escapee from the Darwin Crocodile Farm.

Around 5:30am on Saturday morning, Mick was woken up by his wife Jo, who had been woken herself by their pet dog barking crazily just outside their bedroom door.

According to Mick, he "opened the sliding door and saw the crocodile right outside the door... It is pretty full-on when there is a crocodile in your lounge room - I nearly died."

By all accounts, residents in the area say that as many as 15 crocodiles have been suspected of escaping from the Darwin Crocodile Farm and turned up on properties over the past five years.

REALLY? FIFTEEN (15)!! - Maybe this is just another reason why I would never live in Darwin :D

Source: News.com.au

2012 Mayan Prophecy - The Signs Are Upon Us!

2012-01-03T08:12:00.000-08:00

Four Ahau, three Kankin - the winter solstice of 2012 is well known to be the day in the Mayan calendar said to prophesize humanity's doom. Equated to the Gregorian calendar, the world as we know it is due to come to an end on December 21st, 2012.

We've all seen the movie (2012) and many of us have read Steve Alten's first and even second novels in the Mayan Doomsday trilogy (the 3rd one's due out in March this year)... but as is the case with any good work of fiction, a great deal of research goes into the development of an idea which then is cleverly meshed with an author's or director's creativity to end up as an almost believable story (at least that is, for the gullible). Take for instance Oliver Stone's movie, 'JFK' - Stone cleverly uses some basic well-researched facts and twists them enough to add fuel to the 'JFK assassination' conspiracy theorists' fire (in reality, there was no evidence whatsoever to implicate David Ferrie, who was proven to be an avid JFK supporter - Mr Stone would have his audience suspecting otherwise, and thoroughly convinced the conspiracy theorists at the time).

Anyway - back to the Mayan Prophecy - whether or not you have concerns that the end for us is nigh, recent news-worthy events could certainly be construed as omens or signs of things to come - or at least they could be used in a good doomsday movie or novel (I hope you're reading this, Stephen King) :)

I'll point out just a few of these incidents - birds dropping dead out of the sky for no apparent reason, thousands of fish washing up dead on the shore, and different species of sharks mating for the first time to create an entirely new hybrid breed of ocean dwellers.

DEAD BIRDS FALL FROM THE SKY IN ARKANSAS

As New Year's Eve 2011 approached and most of the world was out partying, the residents of the small town of Beebe in Arkansas, USA, were watching the sky to see if the events of new year, 2010 would be repeated - 5,000 dead blackbirds plummeting from the night sky... and they were not to be disappointed - the same eerie event happened exactly 12-months later - sparking a frenzy amongst the doomsday theorists.

Police starting receiving calls soon after 7pm to say that the birds were just dropping from the sky - according to one local TV station, "scores of birds were raining down".

The most common (scientific) theory behind the bizarre event, is that the loud noises and bright lights of several large fireworks displays probably startled and disoriented the birds.

But this doesn't sit too well with Paul Begley, who is a pastor at the Community Gospel Bapist Church in Indiana.

According to Father Paul, "I was doing a live broadcast talking about bible prophecy and the end of the world... And the birds started falling out of the sky again... this is God... It's not fireworks. If that was the case, on the Fourth of July every bird would fall out of the sky."

One Beebe resident, Kevin McKinney, thinks that something else was going on, "Fireworks going off all night and all day - no problems!... But when the birds started dying, I had my compass out: it went crazy, spinning and unable to find north."

TWENTY TONNES OF HERRING WASH UP ON BEACH

Literally thousands of dead herring have washed up on a beach in Norway. Approximately 20 tonnes of dead fish littered the shoreline in Kvaenes (northerly district of Nordreisa).

Scientists are still baffled as to the cause and are conducting tests on the fish to see if they were driven to their death by a predator or simply swept ashore by a storm... the doomsday theorists are claiming it as a sign that the world is Armageddon is definitely on the way.

SCIENTISTS FIND THE WORLD'S FIRST HYBRID SHARKS

Marine biologists in Queensland, Australia have discovered 57 animals and have idnetified them as a cross between the 'common blacktip shark' and the 'Australian blacktip shark' - although they are related, the two are genetically distinct species.

Scientists are putting the interbreeding down to the animals adapting to climate change... they have also warned that the 'hybridisation' could make the sharks stronger.

Dr Jennifer Ovenden, of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, said that "to find 57 hybrids along 2000km of coastline is unprecedented."

Dr Jess Morgan, a researcher at the University of Queensland researcher, said that the phenomenon is highly unusual, "Sharks physically mate, which is usually a good way to make sure you don't hybridize with the wrong species".

_____________________________________________________

So, dear readers - there you have it... and I put it to you - are these just unrelated scientific anomolies, or are these actual omens of impending disaster, as the doomsday theorists would have us believe?

How Do You Know If You're An Expat In Singapore?

2011-12-22T18:41:00.000-08:00

I’ve had a number of people email to ask what this ‘Notatourist.sg’ collaboration is all about. Thanks to Joanne and the team over there, the following videos have been posted on YouTube which pretty much explain it all.

The first one is about the site itself and was played at the launch event held at TAB:

The second one is a video of the launch event itself:

Still not sure what it’s about and need more info? – Visit the site and check it out, or feel free to drop me a line.

Our Amazing World In Pictures - Breathtaking!

2011-12-22T07:02:00.001-08:00

My good ol' mate, Ralphie, in Melbourne has done it again. He always seems to get his hands on some of the most remarkable stuff and never fails to share with me on email.

In this edition, some of the most amazing pictures that you will ever see... ENJOY!!

ASIDE: Wishing a Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Safe and Prosperous New Year to Ralph and his family... have a beer for me mate.

The world's highest chained carousel, located in Vienna, the height of 117 metres:

Thor's Well - "the gates of the dungeon." CapePerpetua, Oregon. At moderate tide and strong surf, flowing water creates a fantastic landscape:

Emerald Lake in the crater of an extinct volcano. Tongariro National Park - NewZealand:

Restaurant on a cliff on the east coast of Zanzibar. Depending on the tide the restaurant can be reached both on foot and by boat:

Office of Selgas Cano in Madrid:

Desert with Phacelia (Scorpion Weed). Flowering once in several years:

Balloons in Cappadocia:

Dubai. The view from the skyscraper BurjKhalifa. The height of buildings is 828m (163 floors):

And this is the view down:

These trees grow in the forest near Gryfino, Poland. The cause of the curvature is unknown:

The border between Belgium and the Netherlands in a cafe:

Twice a year in the Gulf of Mexico rays migrate. About 10 thousand stingrays swim from the Yucatan Peninsula to Florida in the spring and back in the fall:

In the resort town of Skagen you can watch an amazing natural phenomenon. This city is the northernmost point of Denmark, where the Baltic and North Seas meet. The two opposing tides in this place can not merge because they have different densities:

In the Chinese province of Shandong is a bridge across the Gulf of Jiaozhou. The bridge length over 36 km is calculated for eight car lanes, and is the longest sea bridge in the world:

Day and night. The monument in Kaunas, Lithuania:

An unusual tunnel in California's Sequoia National Park:

This statue, created by Bruno Catalano, is located in France:

Family Photo:

The longest traffic jam in the world recorded in China. Its length is 260 kilometres:

Paris computer games store. In fact, the floor is absolutely flat:

Marcus Levine - slaughtering an artist in the literal sense. He creates his paintings by nailing a white wooden panel. At his latest series of paintings exhibited in a gallery in London, Marcus has spent more than 50,000 pieces of iron:

In the city of Buford (USA) lives just one person. He works as a janitor and as a Mayor:

Autumn Camouflage:

Haus Rizzi - Germany:

Lena Pillars. Russia, the Lena River:

Banpo Bridge in Seoul, South Korea:

Favelas of Brazil. The boundary between wealth and poverty:

Lost paradise in the Indian Ocean. Isle of Lamu:

Balcony of floor 103 in Chicago

From the outside it looks like:

View of the sunset from inside the wave:

This is a unique geological phenomenon known as Danxia landform. These phenomena can be observed in several places in China. This example is located in Zhangye, Province of Gansu. The color is the result of an accumulation for millions of years of red sandstone and other rocks:

In northwestern Montana, USA. The water is so transparent that it seems that this is a quite shallow lake. In fact, it’s very deep:

Airport in the Maldives is located on an artificial island in the middle of the Indian Ocean:

Lighthouse guard in Mare, France must be one of the most courageous people on the planet! Not everyone will have a smoke in such weather, and in such a place!:

Photo of storm in Montana, USA, 2010:

Skyscraper-Crescent Crescent Moon Tower (Dubai):

Heavy fog in Sydney, which enveloped the whole city:

The river above the river: Magdeburg Water Bridge, Germany:

Morning Glory - kind of clouds observed in the Gulf of Carpentaria in northern Australia:

Gibraltar Airport is one of the most extraordinary airports in the world:

Reflections Of Singapore - Literally

2011-12-18T08:28:00.000-08:00

Please note: Click on the images to view larger and higher resolution

With the timing and lighting just right, Singapore's Marina Bay looks beautiful - upside down or right side up!

Stunning: Towering skyscrapers are reflected in the calm water of Singapore's Marina Bay

The following amazing pictures of Singapore's iconic skyline reflected into the calm waters are the work of 33-year-old landscape designer, Vorrarit Anantsorrarak.

Vorrarit said, "My project started in December 2008 when I decided to do my first travelling to Japan... I saw the incredible site of the Osaka skyline reflected in the water and used my camera to capture the moment... After that trip I became addicted and have taken pictures in Thailand, Singapore and even China."

Light show: Vehicle bridges leading to the iconic Sands buildings of Marina Bay are transformed into a visual treat in the quiet of the Singapore night

You might be thinking that the image reflections must be the work of photoshop, but Vorrarit has insisted that his photos are all the result of his skill and timing.

High stakes: Singapore's iconic Sands building casino and resort is mirrored by the tranquil dawn light

He continued, "I love all the lights and vivid colours you can see in man-made structures... The reflections merge the buildings into natural form which reveals a different side to them... I sometimes flip my pictures over and try to make people guess which images is real and which is the reflection."

The Marina Bay esplanade in Singapore: 33-year-old landscape designer, Vorrarit Anantsorrarak spent four years capturing a series of stunning reflective images taken across Asia

Labour of love: Photographer Anantsorrarak wanted the light to be absolutely perfect so he would get up at the crack of dawn to capture these spectacular images

My Secret to Integration - Become a Grassroots Volunteer

2011-12-13T06:30:00.000-08:00

Regardless of which country you come from or where you live, one of the most satisfying ways of achieving self-fulfillment and personal growth and at the same time forging very tight and often unbreakable bonds with your neighbours and fellow local residents is through community volunteer work.

In my case, as a foreigner settling into Singapore, it has also been a means to achieving a very deep level of integration in my heartland community. Not only have my local relationships developed from ones of 'familiarity' into those of 'strong friendships', as a Caucasian married to a beautiful Chinese wife with two absolutely adorable Eurasian children, I feel that although we may be considered a 'minority' (racially) in our local estate, we feel completely accepted by those around us. There is never any animosity and I have learned that the colour of my skin or country of heritage is of absolutely no consequence in my day to day interactions.

Sure, when we first moved to Singapore all those years ago, living in a condo in Woodlands, we were both scared and intimidated... we were not sure at all how we should go about integrating, earning and giving respect and gaining acceptance. For the first couple of years, we were certainly not doing a great job of it at all. In fact, we even took people staring as a sign of dislike toward us - when in reality, what we considered may be a 'coolness' from local Singaporeans at the time, was probably more due to inquisitiveness and curiosity.

Let me tell you for a fact... open your heart and lives with no pretense and you will surely find (as we have) that Singapore is one of the most warm and kindest societies on this planet.

As a part of my collaboration with notatourist.sg, I wanted to reach out to fellow foreigners looking for ways to integrate and become accepted as part of their local community, by offering some brief guidance and key links on how they can offer their services through Grassroots volunteer work. (Please note, the following information is far from exhaustive, and I strongly encourage you to have a surf around the People's Association website - link attached at the bottom of this article).

As my role as a Grassroots Leader in Sengkang West, the past year has seen a very exciting range of activities and the number of new personal and family friendships are too many to count.... from working with Residents' Committees on block parties, divisional activities and events (I even had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Lee at our Sengkang West Wellness Day) to the huge Halloween party we held at the CC in late October, for which I was co-chairman of the organizing committee. It's been a huge year!!

Specifically, although my main role is as a member of the Anchorvale CCMC (Community Club Management Committee), I often also work closely with my local Residents' Committee on things even 'closer to home'... in fact, I even patrol our estate with the local constabulary as part of the COP (citizens on patrol) - in collaboration with the police force, it is known as the 'Neighbourhood Watch Zone' program.

For more information on what the CCMC does, click here. In summary, Community Club Management Committees (CCMCs) "help build, manage and maintain all our Community Clubs (CCs). CCs are the common meeting ground for residents from all walks of life by providing numerous recreational activities and learning opportunities. CCs also connect residents and the Government by providing relevant information and gathering feedback on national concerns and policies. Each CC serves about 15,000 households or an average of 50,000 people".

Within our CCMC, are five executive committees - Senior Citizens' EC, Women's EC, Youth EC, Malay Activity EC, Indian Activity EC. Through this network, we "promote racial harmony and social cohesion through the various cultural, educational, recreational, sporting, social and other community-based activities organised specially for residents."

The full list of organizations and committees available for volunteering can be found on the PA website, under the Grassroots Organization section.

To sign-up as a volunteer, simply go here and register your details and interests.

One of the most common questions I get asked on signing up as a volunteer, is "But I don't live in a HDB estate, how can I get involved?"... Well fret not, dear friends - residents of private housing estates can still play their part by joining a Neighbourhood Committee.

Still in doubt or need extra advice, please feel free to reach out to me directly via email or comment.

I found the following 'structure' chart sometime ago on another blog which illustrates nicely, the various committees and how we come together:

People's Association Main Website - Click Here

Double Confirmed! 100% Absolute Irrefutable Proof That Santa Claus Exists (Exclusive Video)

2011-12-12T08:31:00.000-08:00

Folks - today at Aussie Pete blog, I have an absolute jaw-dropping scoop!!

To answer the age-old question, "Does Santa Claus really exist", we can now go one step further than the timeless, but as yet unsubstantiated response, of "Yes, Virgina, there is a Santa Claus".

You see today, right here, I can provide video evidence that proves without a shadow of a doubt that 'Jolly Old Saint Nick' is more than just the imagination of children the globe over.

Only the real Santa would know such personal information about Jaime - from his age, where he lives, what Mummy and Daddy would like to see him working on to improve his behaviour (being more quiet inside the house), what he wants for Xmas (this must have come from the letter that Jaime wrote a couple of days ago)... and a load more information!

Of course, Santa keeps all of this data on every child around the world in their very own file - he has pictures of birthdays and performances, and of course he has the one piece of knowledge that is the most critical at this time of year - Was Jaime naughty or nice in 2011? You really want to know? Then watch this video and see Santa's elves enter Jaime's file into the 'naughty and nice' machine for the final evaluation!

When Jaime watched this message from Santa today, his jaw really did almost hit the ground as he responded to all of the questions. He was so well behaved at bed time, I almost didn't recognize him as the same 4-year old... and with still over 2-weeks left until Christmas Day, Jaime will be checking in on Santa's message to see if there is any change in the 'naughty and nice' status - it's going to be lovely to have almost three weeks of good behaviour! :)

So yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus! DOUBLE COMFIRMED!

WE LOVE SINGAPORE - For The Record

2011-12-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

I am very saddened that I have no option but to pen a response to the increasing number of blog entries and forum posts popping up all over the place online in the last few days.

I wouldn’t like to suggest that some people seem to have too much time on their hands, but why someone feels it is important enough to research my blog and other articles to try and discredit me or my motivations for living in Singapore or becoming PR is totally beyond me.

Anyway, to set the record straight, I wanted to put forward my position on a few items and just move on (I’m not interested in getting into flame wars with online trolls).

DECISION TO BECOME PERMANENT RESIDENT

Regardless of the quotes taken out of context from an article written on my blog some 3-years+ ago, our decision for becoming PR was not for the sole intention of buying a resale HDB flat. We have become PRs because we love Singapore, it is our home, and we had made a ‘pact’ even prior to relocating here many years ago that if we were to really integrate into the local community, we wanted to do it ‘boots and all’ – moving to a foreign country is no menial task – it takes much courage and planning. Our first attempt to achieve this, was by moving to Woodlands (as opposed to doing the stereotypical expat thing and surrounding ourselves with other foreigners).

When I penned the article all those years ago about beating the increasing rental market by purchasing a property here, I was highlighting the fact that rent money is ‘dead money’ and to invest in ourselves as opposed to lining our landlord’s pocket was an easy decision – this would be applicable no matter which country we were living.

Living in a condo was just not doing it for us – we still felt like we were on an extended business trip and did not feel at home… almost like we were shutting ourselves in, so we decided to go down the HDB resale flat path, as this gave us the opportunity to meet more locals and to potentially give back to the community in which we so dearly wanted to integrate.

This has worked for us – our best friends are our neighbours. We gladly and proudly actively participate in the community, and I am extremely active in the local grassroots in Sengkang West – spending most weekends and many weeknights on such activities.

We have no secrets or ulterior motives. Singapore is our home and we are proud and feel very blessed that we have been so welcomed into our neighbourhood and community! I make absolutely no apologies for this.

In no way have we mocked any system as a few people seem to be insinuating in these forums.

NATIONAL SERVICE FOR OUR BOYS

Another issue that seems to be a topic for these forum trolls, is around a comment I made in an interview (also more than 3 years ago). I suggested at the time, that I felt it a disadvantage of becoming a PR that our boys (both born here) would be liable for National Service.

On this issue, through my local mates and close friends, I have come to learn more about the process and what NS entails. These days, I do not actually feel it is a disadvantage. I have grown to believe that along with our children playing their part in their birth-country’s obligations, NS has shown to instill a discipline and sense of pride that would be difficult to attain through other means. I am therefore supportive of this requirement for male children of permanent residents.

CITIZENSHIP

The colour of my passport seems to be a giant bug-bear for a small cross-section of people. In a recent interview with the Straits Times, I stated that although I had thought about SG citizenship, ‘at this juncture’ I was not ready to give up my Aussie passport (while there is no opportunity for dual citizenship).

This has lead to much speculation as to my motivation and reasoning. Quite frankly, this is a very personal decision and not one to be taken lightly – in my culture, to give up one’s citizenship is akin to turning one’s back on their heritage and even their family. Just as I respect and totally accept other cultures around me, I would have hoped that my culture and upbringing would at least be tolerated.

This is my reasoning and it has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not I one day intend to return to Australia (which is not even in our thoughts right now), nor is it so that I could rort or mock any system or process.

MY INCOME

I have worked very hard to become successful in my career (over decades). This has been at the sacrifice of my personal leisure and my family time. Along with long, hard hours, I spend much time volunteering in the community. How much I earn as a result of my professional endeavours is absolutely nobody’s business and has no bearing on my love for Singapore or our decision to live in a HDB estate.

Thanks for reading – I hope this clears the air somewhat.

It is important to note, that we LOVE our home – Singapore! We are happy and blessed to be here and we will continue to integrate and assist others to integrate into the local community. We have no other intention right now, but to remain here, and perhaps one day (as the years move forward) we will take the next step towards Singapore citizenship. In the meantime, please accept our good intentions and respect our wish to be good neighbours and friends.

Cheers,

Pete

Viral Video - Bizzle Is Half Bulldog and Half Human!

2011-12-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

I always love a good viral YouTube video... especially when it involves a loveable American Bulldog in 'smart casual' attire eating a popular snack, known as dunkers...

The video was filmed on a mobile phone by the giggling girlfriend of Guy Jenkins, who decided to post it on YouTube at the suggestions of a mate.

According to Guy, "Basically, my friend Eddie (who works for social video site Meme Machine) saw the video on my facebook, and insisted it needed to be seen by as many people as possible... I never intended to YouTube it, but my all friends insisted that I did."

The cute canine, Bizzle, is approaching his 2nd birthday and weighs in at a huge 60kg.

One comment on the clip, states, "This is what the internet is made for." - I think that I tend to agree!

Check this out...

I'm Not A Tourist (Or A Celebrity)... Or Am I?

2011-12-01T06:19:00.000-08:00

I'll explain the 'Not a Tourist' piece in a moment, but first let me touch on the celebrity part...

I've actually been trying to play things a little more low key these past few months, following on from a year that's seen more commitments than I can throw a stick at. With my 'day job' creating quite a significant workload outside of office hours (late night conference calls and 2012 planning) and my Grassroots activities, I've had to knock back literally dozens of 'extra-curricular' activities and engagements.

Having said that, the month of November saw a remarkable amount of exposure across various media - traditional and digital. With appearances on TV, interviews and 'exclusives' on a couple of international news websites, on Monday this week the Straits Times ran an article penned by one of their journalists based out of Sydney - I kindly agreed to the interview for this and was a little stunned to see how large the picture of my family was that was run with the story - I had SMS's, emails, phone calls from every man and his dog to tell me about it.

Then the very next day, as Sammi and I were walking up Orchard Road to TAB to attend the official launch event for Notatourist.sg - I kid you not - our photos... one of me and another of Sammi and the boys appeared on the large screen facing the most famous of Singapore's shopping strips. Let me tell you, Sammi and I took more than a double-take... how very surreal!

The reason for the images being displayed (along with the pictures of other 'expat writers') was part of the launch event.

As part of the proceedings, I was invited to participate on stage as a panelist in an informal dialog... along with local celebrities, the one and only (very cool) Hossan Leong and famous author and columnist, Neil Humphreys - a couple of very funny guys... I felt very honoured to meet them both.

I have gladly agreed to be part of the editorial team at the newly launched Notatourist.sg.

NOT A TOURIST

notatourist.sg is about you — You, the expatriate in Singapore, in discovering your home away from home.

You’re an expat, not a tourist. You can pepper your English with lah’s and can’s, you know why taxis seem to be in hiding just before midnight, and you know that tissue packets left on hawker centre tables is not a process to be trifled with.

Maybe you are here for the abundant career opportunities, or you are trailing a spouse, or simply for the endless sunshine, clean parks and fantastic chilli sauce. Whatever the case may be, notatourist.sg recognises that the expatriation process is about creating your own identity and foundations in Singapore, living life here to build lasting memories to share with each other and loved ones at home.

The stories you will find here are on the ground—real and raw—written by you and fellow like-minded individuals. We share stories from expatriates of all backgrounds, so that you find your commonality in the joys, quirks and even gripes unique to your Singapore experience. In this community and endless resource for advice, find tips on the relocation process, on easing into the local scene and on how to get to those hidden finds beyond Orchard Road.

We welcome you to join our network and feel a sense of home in Singapore. Making new connections is just the beginning of what this Lion City has to offer.

notatourist.sg is built in partnership with SingTel

Click here to check out more photos from the launch event!

Just Another Angry Wife Eating Her Husband (Warning - Graphic)

2011-11-24T08:50:00.001-08:00

When it comes to the 'blog genre' of WTH (What The Hell), one can never go past a good story of a woman scorned - especially one who resorts to cannibalism!

The eerie part of this, is that it's certainly not the first time I've heard of this happening. In the latest incident in Pakistan (in the Shah Faisal colony of Karachi), the arrested woman didn't actually get as far as eating her husband. In fact, according to police chief, Nadeem Baig, "There could be two factors behind her intention to cook the husband. One is to destroy the evidence and the other could be her immense hatred against him over his plan to marry another woman".

32-year old Zainab Bibi was arrested on the 24th November, along with her 22-year old nephew, Zaheer. They were alleged to have killed Zainab's husband, Ahmed Abbas‚ chopped his body into pieces and were about to cook his flesh in a bowl.

Zainab was apparently angry at her life partner for his plans to marry another woman without her permission. You see, according to Islamic family law in Pakistan‚ a man can in fact take another wife, but has to get permission from his first wife to do so.

The knife with which the pair allegedly killed the man has been recovered.

In a very bizarre twist, television networks showed actual footage of the human flesh in a bowl and ready for the stove.

Now before you start casting aspersions on a particular race, country or religion, or suggest something like, "this could only happen in Pakistan", think again my friends!

This week is the Thanksgiving holiday in the US. It also happens to be the 20th anniversary of probably the number one most crazy cannibal-wife incident in history.

Just last month, the Californian woman who killed her new husband and cooked his body parts over Thanksgiving weekend in 1991 had applied for (and thankfully denied) her bid for parole.

Dubbed as a female Hannibal Lecter, Egypt-born Omaima Nelson's is serving a '25-years to life' sentence for her crime. At the time of the killing, Nelson was aged 23, and was convicted of murdering her 56-year-old husband William Nelson (they had only been married three weeks).

WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAIL OF THE GRUESOME EVENTS OF THANKSGIVING WEEKEND 1991 FOLLOW (read on only if you have a strong stomach and not prone to queeziness)

According to authorities, Nelson tied up her husband, killed him and then decapitated, dismembered and disembowelled the body over the course of a weekend. She had churned his parts through a garbage disposal (neighbours reported that they heard the machine running non-stop for hours after the murder).

Some of the victim's body parts were found stuffed in garbage bags and mixed with leftover turkey. A bag containing his entrails was discovered on the front floor of his Corvette.

Blood pools were found on the floor of the home, along with blood-stains on sheets and walls. Mr Nelson's hands had been fried in oil and his head boiled and stuffed in a freezer.

His lower body and torso were skinned. Strangely, the crazed wife had tried to get two different friends to help her remove her husband's teeth and dispose of his remains (to cover her tracks and get rid of evidence)... this proved her downfall - one of the friends alerted police - well, go figure!!

Nelson's defence at trial was that she was acting in 'self defence' - she said that her husband William had sexually assaulted and beat her for weeks. She claimed William had tied her hands, and bit, kicked, grabbed and choked her and threatened to kill her.

Prosecutors didn't wear this at all, putting forward evidence suggesting that Nelson killed her husband to obtain his money and other property.

At the trial, she said that after the murder she "freaked out, fell into a trance-like state, and spent 12 hours hacking up the body to simplify disposal."

Nelson claims to have little memory of her husband's dismemberment, but did recall cutting off his penis and his ring finger, before cleaning the apartment and packaging the body parts.

A psychiatrist testified that Nelson had put on red shoes, a red hat and red lipstick before spending hours chopping up her husband's body. She had also confessed to cooking her husband's ribs 'barbecue-style' and tasting them.

"Jurors found Nelson not guilty of first-degree murder, citing insufficient evidence of premeditation, but convicted her of second-degree murder. They also found Nelson guilty of assaulting a former boyfriend with a gun."

WHAT THE HELL!?

Kudos To CNB For Drug Busts - Just Alcohol Problem Left Now!

2011-11-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

One of the most positive things about living in Singapore, is the extremely low crime rate... one reason, being the relatively small illegal drug trade which takes a lot of the opportunities and temptation away from our youths.

Of course (and I've spoken about this before), I'm not necessarily raising the subject of hard versus soft drugs, nor am I advocating the very tough penalties associated with them (up to and including the death penalty)... I just feel very comforted to know that as my kids grow up in Singapore, they will have little or no exposure to 'hard' drugs - a comfort that unfortunately cannot be shared in many other countries across the globe.

On Friday, just gone by, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested 111 drug offenders in a five-day islandwide operation. Included among those taken into custody, were seven suspected traffickers and 104 suspected drug abusers.

The CNB also seized 17 grams of 'Ice', 74 grams of heroin and some Ecstasy pills as a result of the operation. The scope of the activities covered both public and private residential areas, along with industrial estates in Woodlands, Sengkang, Tiong Bahru, Clementi and Jurong.

So, all kudos to the men and women of the Central Narcotics Bureau!

Having said that, I am still waiting for the authorities to take a stance on the other 'legal' drug, which has been proven to be one of the most addictive, harmful and damaging (to individuals and those around them) available today! Of course, I am talking about alcohol.

Now, don't get me wrong... I am no prude and I enjoy a beer or glass of wine as much as the next guy. But for a country where drug use and abuse brings about such severe penalties and other breaches of the law are strictly and swiftly dealt with, I am often amazed at how alcohol can be purchased at any 7-11 store, local and large chain supermarkets and any food-court beverage shop. The follow-on effect of this ease of availability, which has shown to be the case in many other geographies, is the onset of drinking in public places and under-age drinking.

This problem I have personally witnessed on numerous occassions - just take a walk around the back of Admiralty shopping centre (near the MRT) on any evening, and check out the many very young boys openly drinking and 'yahooing' - while young families (and sometimes small children on their own) are walking by...

Given the widely publicized facts that alcohol is the number one abused drug in the world, and is the cause of the largest number of drug-associated violent crimes in many countries (not to mention the high rate of association with road deaths due to drink-driving), it's about time that the authorities in Singapore thought about a blitz on public intoxication and the under-age drinking that is prevalant... they could start with an overhaul of the sale of alcoholic beverages, making it available only at licensed premises or bottle shops.

On another note, the statistics for the first half of this year, show that between January and June, 1,741 drug abusers were arrested (of which 641 were new abusers), compared to 1,456 drug abusers (including 672 new abusers) arrested in the first half of 2010... I'm wondering if this shows an improvement by law enforcement, or an increase in drug activity?

Russian Dolls - The Fine Line Between Genius And Perversion

2011-11-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

Let me ask a quick question - "When you think of the term 'Russian Doll', what first comes to your mind?"

For the young guys, it could maybe inspire images one of those the anorexic looking, but often pretty super-models from the Soviet Union who strut their stuff on the catwalks of Milan:

Or for the older generation - Aunties and Uncles - the first thought might be a set of hand crafted 'Matryoshka' nesting dolls:

Well let me offer up another suggestion, my friends! One that I doubt very few of you envisaged when I posed the question.

A respected historian and journalist, dubbed as a "genius" who can speak 13 languages, 45-year old Anatoly Moskvin gets his kicks by digging up female corpses from graveyards and dressing them up as 'Russian Dolls'

Seriously? I never cease to be amazed by the kind of fetishes that are reported these days... I thought the whole pretty Chinese girls with bunny rabbits satisfying the 'crush fetishists' thing was weird enough - but this one really leaves me gob-smacked!

According to Russian authorities, Moskvin had visited more than 750 cemeteries... he felt so at home there, that he sometimes even slept in coffins.

The 'Russian Doll' horror was exposed by Moskvin's own parents. They were paying him a visit and thought that perhaps something was awry when they stumbled upon their son's bizarre collection of Russian Dolls.

Moskvin is alleged to have dug up bodies from dozens of cemeteries and had transported the sometimes mummified remains of at least 29 women to his apartment in Nizhny Novgorod (about 200km from Moscow).

Click to Enlarge:

Source

Racist Comments Are Hurtful

2011-11-09T21:52:00.000-08:00

Yes, they are hurtful - but not so much to me... I've become a little desensitized and maybe even thick skinned. But certain statements are indeed hurtful and even damaging to others and the community in general.

I was going to ignore it, and I even posted on Facebook that I didn't care about a particular comment which came in for moderation today. But after thinking more, I allowed the comment to publish just so that I could focus on the fact that there are still some haters and intolerant people out there - usually, like this particular man or woman, they use the anonymity of the Internet and social network to hide behind and shield their cowardly ways.

The comment I refer to reads 'Whites are filthy monkeys. I spit on them because they deserve it.'... So goodie for you, my cowardly and ignorant little friend! I really do pity you and feel sorry for you.

The good thing, is that most people in this wonderful world are peace loving and caring people - colour, religion or any other differentiators are often put aside for the sake of social harmony. So the haters and racists become the minority - ironic, isn't it, when often it's other minorities towards which they vent their ignorance.

So, enough said. I didn't delete the comment... Let this drop-kick carry on, and one day if he or she decides to gather the courage to expose their views publically, they might find themselves facing the wrath of the majority!!

Peace and harmony to all!!

Incredible India - In Hilarious Pictures

2011-11-08T06:40:00.000-08:00

I often get emails and suggestions from friends and readers offering content for my blog, but more often than not I don't feel the same inspiration that the sender did when they made the sugggestion.

In today's case, things were quite different. I received an email from one of my colleagues who thought I might get a kick out of the following pictures... and that I did, my friends. Actually, I found myself laughing out loud - literally.

Now, we all could share funny photographs from any one particular country - just take for example a screaming, neurotic fan at an AFL match in Melbourne - by other countries' standards, the image would most probably be considered amazing and even funny.

The following images are from the culturally rich and colourful country that is 'Incredible India' - you may just find some of the pictures quite 'incredible' - I know I certainly did.

So - sit back... scroll down... and enjoy!!

(No commentary or captions required)

Naked Irishman Crashes the MTV European Music Awards

2011-11-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

In case you missed this, I wanted to make sure I could help you play catch-up!

Only in Europe could you get away with something so brazen on live television...

Although the stunt was obviously a 'setup', the male streaker that ran out on stage to join Heroes starlet, Hayden Panettiere, caused more than a few gasps in the audience.

Hayden was just about to read out the nominations for Best Song at the awards ceremony held at Belfast's Odyssey arena, when the unidentified totally naked man "with an Irish accent" ran around around in all of his glory!

She invited the streaker to join her for a pint (beer) after the show.

The winner of the award incidentally, was Lady Gaga. However she did not mention of the stunt - the winning song, was "Born This Way".

Due to copyright reasons, I cannot embed the video - but as usual, I know of ways to get at the source...

So Click Here To Watch The Video

Why You Should Never Ever Cheat On Your Wife!

2011-11-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

Not only is it just downright morally wrong, but there are any number of other reasons why every husband should remain faithful to his better half.

One of those reasons has presented itself in the remote outback of Australia's Northern Territory. A woman 'allegedly' got so annoyed about her partner's sleeping around that she tried to hack off his *ahem* - let's just say his 'family jewels'!

*My eyes just started watering*

The victim who is 35-years old and not identified at this stage, is recovering in hospital after suffering stab wounds to his testicles. He was admitted to Tennant Creek Hospital on Saturday, and later flown to Alice Springs Hospital by the Australia's Royal Flying Doctor Service for further treatment. Doctors say that he is in a 'stable condition'.

I have one question - Outback Australia... Tennant Creek... really, just how many opportunities would a man have to be play up or sleep around??

Naked, Speeding, Drunk, Stupid... Busted! (Video)

2011-11-06T07:07:00.000-08:00

WTH? - As the slogan goes - 'SPEED KILLS'... But this time around, 28-year old Erin Holdsworth of Ohio in the United States survived, only to be arrested by bemused police officers. Dare I say it? - "Only in the USA"

Not only was Ms Holdsworth heavily intoxicated and travelling at speeds of up to 200km/h, when ordered by police to exit her vehicle, officers were stunned to see that she was wearing only a pair of sneakers, fishnet stockings and a G-String!

Ms Holdsworth did not go down lightly though - she was apprehended only after a high-speed chase that ended with the cops having to use stop-sticks to puncture her tyres.

As she alighted from her vehicle, she staggered across the road almost butt-naked, before being hand-cuffed and put in the back of a police car.

Then she went postal - yelling abuse and kicking around wildly.

Watch The Video:

The charges she faces, include drink driving, refusing a blood test, fleeing the police, criminal damage, speeding and reckless operation.

Hmmm - no charges for public nudity? Or even more importantly, no charges for public stupidity and poor fashion sense?

Heartlands Halloween Success - Community Bonding At It's Best

2011-11-02T05:54:00.000-07:00

Just a very quick article to applaud the hard work of a group of very focussed and talented young Singapore Polytechnic students. Also to thank all the rest of the volunteers - grassroots people (CCMC, RC and Sub-Committees) and all of the other student helpers.

The atmosphere was electric

The '2011 Halloween Spooktacular' at the Anchorvale Community Club at Sengkang West took place on Saturday night (29th October) and featured the first ever 'Heartlands Halloween Haunted House'.

To say the event was a resounding success would actually be an understatement! Just a few short weeks ago, we were getting worried that we had only sold just over 300 tickets for the night. Fast forward to Saturday afternoon and we had to put a freeze on ticket sales (around 1,070 sold) or we would have risked not having enough goodie bags.

An early arrival in costume

The event was due to start at 7:30pm, but by 6:30pm - while it was still daylight - the first of the residents began showing up. This enthusiasm and excitement continued into the evening. With other walk-ins, the number of attendees was well in excess of what we ever could have imagined. By 8:00pm, the plaza area was completely full of people and the queue to get into the haunted house at the multi-purpose hall was already stretching as far as the eye could see.

Jack-O-Lantern Decoration competition

If attendance alone was not enough, the atmosphere was just electric. I'm guessing almost half of the residents came in costume, some of which must have taken hours (if not days) to prepare... and everywhere you looked, there were people bonding, laughing and having a general 'blast' of a time.

Winner of the best dressed competition

The demographic of the crowd was also very interesting - everyone from the young families - parents and children, senior citizens and of course, the young adults... teenagers and early 20's. It really was a complete cross-section of our close-knit community in Sengkang West... In my Grassroots leadership role, I couldn't help feeling quite proud and excited as one of the key organizers of perhaps the most successful and fun event ever in our constituency!

Absolutely - this was Community bonding at it's best!

Congratulations to everyone involved...

Click here to see hundreds of pictures from the event

The picture below, is my family with the Guest of Honour, Dr Lam Pin Min (yes, I'm the one in the mask - quite an improvement to my everyday look, right?):

A Sea of People

Putting on a brave face in front of a very frightening Snow White in the Haunted House

Aussie Pete A Fence Sitter? Absolutely Not!

2011-10-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

Following on from my recent appearance on BlogTV, live on Channel NewsAsia, I've had a few people tell me that they thought I was 'sitting on the fence' in relation to some of the questions posed to me about controversial blogger, Peggy Heng. They even went as far as suggesting that perhaps I was avoiding conflict, because of the fact that I was seated right next to Peggy on the panel!

I'm guessing that maybe I came across this way, because being only a short half hour (TV air time - another 15-min either side of that online streaming), I was told up front by the show's producers that my answers need to be short, succinct and to the point... my regular readers (and friends in the real world) know that's just not my style.

So to clear the air, I've included the 'long'(winded) version of the answers as I had thought about them, prior to the show going to air.

Also, I've managed to get at the streamed version of the segments and uploaded to YouTube - so if you missed the show on TV and do not have the appropriate media player to view on the BlogTV website, you can check them out here and now!

What did you think of the publicity stunt by blogger Peggy Heng?

As long as Peggy feels that she remained true to herself, then I don’t personally have any issues with what she did. The idea was to promote a dating event for young singles, right? Then if the audience that she was after stood up and listened and attended the event, then maybe it worked? Having said that, Peggy must have known that in Singapore’s relatively conservative society, the netizens were going to take umbrage and express outrage. So, if she’s comfortable with the reactions and is ok for her family to see her in the light that she portrayed, then all kudos to her.

VIDEO SEGMENT 1: HOW LOW WILL YOU GO? - We ask the panel how far they will go to get hits for their blogs:

Did you think it was a smart way to get traffic to her blog?

I firmly believe that it’s really ‘every blogger for his or her self ’. The thing to remember though, is that even if you one day delete your blog with the intention of burying the past, due to aggregation and republication of articles as well as any media coverage that your actions might bring about, it really is the case that anything that appears online remains there forever. This is extremely important – I would never post anything online that I would be concerned for my kids to read or see as they grow up (perhaps through a simple Google search of my name). Also, it is well known that many companies (large and small) use the internet and social media when making recruitment decisions. HR departments in most MNCs are completely experienced in this method of screening… once again, if I thought that any of my actions or writings might jeapordize my career, there absolutely is no way that I would post it online.

Was it necessary in your opinion to go through those measures? Would you have done it differently?

There are many other ways to promote an event and attain clicks. I definitely wouldn’t pursue the same path as Peggy, because I have too many people – loved ones and colleagues – that would potentially be hurt by such actions. If it were me, I would use my already established networks to promote the event.

VIDEO SEGMENT 2: SENSATIONALISM SELLS - Our guests tells us what users want to see in blogs:

How would you drive traffic to your blog?

I used to be almost obsessed by traffic and hits to my blog, but over time came to realize that aside from SEO techniques, the important thing is quality content – once this is under control, the traffic will take care of itself. Worrying over short-term spikes in traffic, just led to too much time, stress and heartache in trying to increase the stats. I think there comes a point in time (perhaps once a blog has sustainable and long term readers) that it’s no longer important.

Controversy often creates short term hits – I’ve found that sometimes (for example, when I wrote about the ‘crushing bunnies’ fetish in China before it hit the mainstream media), traffic will increased hugely (in this case, almost quarter of a million hits in the one month), but this is not sustainable. Although I got a ‘buzz’ from the spike, it’s often the more informative articles that deliver returning traffic and have stood up to the test of time.

I also have come to realize that (in my view) the interaction through comments is not that important – I used to receive many comments on certain articles (especially when I didn’t have moderation on my blog) and sometimes readers were disagreeing and even arguing amongst themselves. By keeping this in check over the last year or so, I find that most ‘serious’ readers will reach out to me via email if they really want to discuss a topic or get extra information etc. This has really helped reduce the ‘noise’ but had no real detrimental effect on traffic.

How would you promote dating and being social?

I’ve never been interested in or been a big promoter of online dating – I think some bloggers turned business people have done a great job of it though… take for example my good friend, Violet Lim of Lunch Actually. She’s shown there is a market out there that if managed professionally is well untapped today. If anyone asked me personally where they could seek dating help, I would have no hesitation sending them Violet’s way. Her business model is one that is very unique and morally adept.

Being social is a little different – my family and I have met some wonderful people through moving out of our comfort zone. In the early days of Facebook and our early days in Singapore when we knew very few people, we met up with members of social groups – (usually surrounding food interest), and some of these people have remained as our long-term friends – one couple is getting married this November and we will be there to take part in their celebrations.

Although I probably wouldn’t recommend social media as the best way to get out and meet people, I think it can definitely assist, especially for people who might otherwise have problems mixing and getting to make new friends.

Notice I’m talking about social media, and not suggesting that provocative videos combined with sensationalism online is necessarily an effective way to promote a dating or social event.

VIDEO SEGMENT 3: DADDY, I'M A BIG GIRL NOW - We make a call to Peggy Heng’s father to ask him what he thought of the stunt!:

What are the most tasteless things you've seen done on blogs?

Personally, I’m not big on the whole ‘colourful’ language thing that many bloggers these days utilize. As an Aussie, I’m obviously not unaccustomed to four letter words. Just head on down to any bar on a weekend down under, and it’s enough to make even the most hardened potty mouth blush. However, nothing is more annoying to me, than reading a blog article where every second word is a curse word. Perhaps I could forgive the odd F-Bomb to get a point across or if the author is passionate about a particular subject… but some bloggers seem to have redefined the entire English dictionary. I sometimes wonder what their parents or children think of this?

I recently read an article by a very well know Singaporean female blogger whose previous articles I had never actually read before (let's just call her 'X** X**' - I don't wish to be her next target), who was upset about an ‘anti-fan’ who had posted videos on YouTube about her – at first, I was a little empathic about her plight, but as I read the article I soon realized that it would be all too easy to make fun of her potty mouth – she lost me after the first couple of paragraphs… they say that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit… I think that splatterings of swear words throughout all a bloggers articles suggests an even lower form of intelligence.

UPDATE: After the program was aired, I saw a retweet from this same well-known blogger - once again, potty mouth was tweeting about Peggy having a 'c*ck' in her mouth... hmmm - very lady-like indeed - actually, very sad if you ask me!

What do you think Singaporeans want to read?

Around 74% of ‘Aussie Pete’ readers are from Singapore (sustainable readers and subscribers). The main spikes in traffic due to controversial topics to which I referred earlier, often arrive from international audiences. In my experience, although I could be antagonizing and stir up netizens by writing negatively about things that many Singaporeans are passionate about (eg. immigration policy), I could definitely increase traffic, but I would not be being true to myself. I try and be as respectful as I can to all people – I am grateful of my place in local society and therefore completely tolerant and understanding of anybody’s point of view on any topic. From my experience, my local readers are more interested in informative content – whether it’s a ‘foreigners guide to Singlish’, ‘buying a HDB flat as a permanent resident’, how many cars could be bought in other countries for the current cost of COE, my views on Singapore traffic or cycling on footpaths – these are the kind of articles that continue to deliver sustainable hits, many months and years after I first wrote them.

The entire general election period was interesting, and as a PR and non-voter, I was careful to keep my (sometimes strong) views in check – although I did garner much interest and even a little bit of hate email at the time).

VIDEO SEGMENT 4: THE FUTURE OF BLOGGING - We discuss in which direction bloggers are trending toward to:

Do you think blogger's have a responsibility to censor?

Absolutely! – However, I think the level of censorship needs to align to an author’s particular blog, their intentions around audience and should display some level of diligence. For example, if an author wants to write using many curse words, I would not want my children unwittingly opening and reading their articles. Any ‘unsavory’ material –words, images or videos’ - should carry a warning or disclaimer and should be highlighted as unsuitable for some readers.

I am an advocate for freedom of speech (especially on the internet), but the onus is on every website owner to manage their content in line with their country regulation and censorship laws, as well as be sensitive to the fact that what they publish could be read by an audience that may find their content offensive or even harmful. I have absolutely no time for intolerant authors that write in abusive or racial tones or suggest individual differences as a subject of discourse.

The World's Cruelest Pet Owners?

2011-10-26T07:07:00.000-07:00

Any kind of animal cruelty makes my blood boil... but obviously any abuse manifests itself in a variety of ways. Not only is it always just physical - the following pet owners are inflicting the worst kind of psychological torture in my mind.

Under the ruse of the 'Halloween Season', pet owners get together to display their beloved animals in the most unnatural outfits and poses. The following images have come from both the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York and also the Philippine Animal Welfare Society's (PAWS) annual Halloween fund raising event.

Wait a minute!! This treatment of pets is endorsed by animal welfare groups? *Sigh* - you decide for yourselves, dear readers... is this too cruel? Or is it too cute?!

Jonna Baquillas holds her pet, a rescued cat named Rue dressed as Little Red Riding Hood during the Philippine Animal Welfare Society's annual Halloween fund raising event entitled Scaredy Cats and Dogs: Year 8 at the Eastwood Central Plaza in Manila:

Tank the English Bullodog as the "Runaway Bride" attends the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York on October 22:

A dog dressed as the devil is displayed during the Philippine Animal Welfare Society's (PAWS) annual Halloween fund raising event entitled Scaredy Cats and Dogs: Year 8 at the Eastwood Central Plaza in Manila on October 23

Jazz the "Aircraft Carrier" and crew attend the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York:

A Chihuahua dressed as a pig barks to other dogs during the Philippine Animal Welfare Society's (PAWS) annual Halloween fund raising event entitled Scaredy Cats and Dogs: Year 8 at the Eastwood Central Plaza in Manila:

Karen Biehl and Eli attend the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York

Dogs attend the Philippine Animal Welfare Society's (PAWS) annual Halloween fund raising event:

A dog dressed as a sightseeing bus attends the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York:

The "Occupy Wall Street" dog attends the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York:

A dog as a pin cushion the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York:

A dog as a dragon during the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York:

A dog in costume during the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York:

Sarah Polgee and Kiki during the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York:

A dog in costume as a NYC MTA bus during the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York:

A pet owner checks the costume of her pet Chihuahua during the Philippine Animal Welfare Society's (PAWS) annual Halloween fund raising event:

Jonna Baquillas holds her pet, a rescued cat named Rue, both dressed as Little Red Riding Hood during the Philippine Animal Welfare Society's (PAWS) annual Halloween fund raising event:

Singapore's Pink Dot Simply Must Cease To Exist!

2011-10-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

My local readers know what 'Pink Dot' is all about, but many of my international friends and subscribers may not be aware. So, please hang in there - the following is a Q&A directly from the pinkdot.sg website:

Q: What is Pink Dot?

A: Pink Dot is the name of the organising group. It references the term, Red Dot, which is often used to describe Singapore. Pink, instead of red, because it is the colour often associated with LGBT (think: pink dollar and pink feather boas) but more importantly, it is the colour of our national identity cards and it is what you get when you mix the colours of our national flag

Now - the bad (or maybe good) news for all supporters of this wonderful celebration of diversity... 'PINK DOT' just cannot actually exist at all!

You see, scientists are saying that there is, in fact, no such thing as pink light... We see red and blue together, but it's actually "minus green".

In short, the colour PINK doesn't exist.

I would never pretend to be an expert on such a matter, but according to the experts, when they tell us that there's no such thing as pink light, they are explaining that the 'blind spot' on the colour spectrum is merely a stopgap for all remaining invisible light waves.

They say the following simple test proves it - Stare at the pink spot below for one minute, then look into the white space directly to its right. What do you see?

Still don't understand the concept? Well, you're not alone - I'm completely lost also - it's best to watch the following YouTube video - it explains that pink is made up from red and blue light - which our eyes simply see together to form pink.

Maybe this is great news for supporters of 'Minus Green' Dot in Singapore who may sometimes feel discriminated against, and might make life more difficult for any homophobes out there?

The Great Escape - Indiana Jones Style!

2011-10-23T08:21:00.000-07:00

This is not a scene out of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'.

But this young toddler is just as brave as Indiana Jones... the fearless kid is young American boy, Dayn, and has become an overnight internet star.

It all started when his Mum was bewildered by how it was possible that he could escape from his cot - the simple solution she came up with, was to setup a video camera to film the action.

What she saw has left her and almost a million other YouTube viewers astounded. While Dayn's twin brother watches on, he simply swings his left leg over the edge of the railings... then he dangles for a moment before falling to the ground.

Although he lands quite heavily, Dayn shakes himself off, and waddles over to the not-so-hidden camera and grabs hold of it - presumably to destroy the evidence?

Clockwise from top left ... Dayn swings himself out of the cot, lands heavily on the floor, shakes himself off and heads over to the camera.

Watch the Video:

As regular readers of my blog already know, my youngest boy, Casey, has just started to walk... I'm hoping it'll be a while before he can pull off a daring escape like this one... in the meantime, we discovered how important Mickey Mouse is to him - check out how he goes from devestated to sedated in a matter of seconds - all thanks to Mickey - this video is titled "The Absence of Mickey Mouse":

Holiday Nightmare - To Be Eaten By Cannibals

2011-10-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

A word of warning - if you intend to travel to French Polynesia for a bit of R & R, then take my advice and steer well clear of the island of Nuku Hiva!

According to experts, German sailor Stefan Ramin was "hacked to pieces and burned" before being eaten by cannibals at this tropical paradise.

In 2008, Ramin and his girlfriend set off on the adventure of a lifetime - a yacht voyage around the world... The remote island of Nuku Hiva was the last place Mr Ramin was seen alive.

Now burned remains have been discovered and they are believed to be that of the missing yachtsman. Further tests are required for confirmation.

According to police, Mr Ramin set off on a hunting trip with local tour guide, Henri Haiti. However Mr Haiti returned alone, and when he alerted Mr Ramin's girlfriend that there had been some kind of accident, he proceeded to try and sexually assault her.

She was lucky enough to escape from the tree that Haiti had tied her to and alerted the local authorities.

Police and soldiers have been searching for Haiti for the last seven days since he took flight.

Nuku Hiva, in French Polynesia has a population of just 2,789, and is known for it's unique goat hunting adventures (not to mention the 'people eaters').