mrbrown.com

the mrbrown show: why the taxi

2012-02-10T22:18:34+08:00

Public transport is enough to make you kolaveri! Sing your woes at mrbrownshow.com!

Play "the mrbrown show: why the taxi"

The bird was pushed

2012-02-08T19:48:19+08:00

mrbrown

Primary Three Math: The Answer

2012-02-08T16:16:49+08:00

Answer to yesterday's Primary Three Math post.

I will be so glad when the kids finish Primary School.

Primary Three Math

2012-02-06T21:40:25+08:00

With Joy in P1, the wife and I had to attend a math seminar at her school for parents to learn how to teach their kids new math at home.

This is one of the questions a Primary Three student may need to do.

If you need help, I will provide the answer later.

My own instinct was to answer, "This is a trick question. There are no flamingos at the Night Safari."

Of course, that would net me a big fat zero at the math exam.

When we got to the classroom for the seminar, my instincts took over and I wanted to sit behind, where I used to sit when I was in Primary and Secondary school. The back row is home to the inattentive and the class clown, where one could lob snide remarks to make the class laugh. The back row was my home ground.

But my wife was of a different upbringing. Ever the conscientious student (read: mugger), she wanted to sit near the front.

We opted to sit in the middle as a compromise. Needless to say, she took all the notes during the seminar/lesson.

The math we had to learn is known as heuristics math. My wife called it "hysterics" by mistake. She may not be that far off.

I really appreciated the teachers taking the time to enlighten and educate us parents. They burned a Saturday morning and the wife and I felt they were real champs for doing this.

The hard part is teaching your kid the concept of Working Backwards Heuristics. The problem is not solving the question. It's teaching your kid how to unpack the question & solve it WITHOUT algebra (since a P1-P3 kid is unlikely to understand algebra anyway).

While I like the idea of teaching these concepts at a young age, it seems that this method of learning math penalizes the child weak in English twice. Once during the Engish paper and the second time during the Math paper.

Not the most attractive gift for a Secretary of State

2012-02-05T22:29:28+08:00

Caption: "Hillary Clinton held Minister Shanmugam's shriveled chili with care."

(Feel free to contribute your own captions below)

the mrbrown show: say no

2012-02-03T22:57:27+08:00

Photo by pamhule

An anthem for the civil service at mrbrownshow.com!

Play "the mrbrown show: say no"

The Yahoo! interviews: mrbrown talks to IT Guy, Benedict Siew Hoon Kee

2012-02-01T21:36:43+08:00

I interviewed Singapore IT Guy and Sim Lim Square social commentator, Benedict Siew Hoon Kee and asked his views on scandals and IT stuff.

Yahoo link: http://mrbrwn.co/xtBA7p

Watch for more interviews (some with real people even) at the Yahoo Entertainment page, at the mrbrown tab. Yes, I have my own tab there. I didn't even know that!

Or you can use this URL: http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/mrbrown/

And in case you missed it, my Yahoo series kicked off in December 2011, with my interview of the Muppets and the new Muppets movie (which was AWESOME, by the way): http://mrbrwn.co/xH5cwy

"SAF, Y U NO give bolster?"

2012-01-31T14:07:36+08:00

During orientation of her brother's enlistment, Jen from Twitter (@saynotospandex) took this photo from a recruit's bunk and jokingly asked, "SAF, Y U NO give bolster?"

Actually, Jen, the SAF does offer you three choices for a bolster:

1. The red pail in the picture.
2. Your rifle.
3. Your buddy.

See? SAF is very welfare one. Who said no bolster?

re:play

2012-01-30T00:04:41+08:00

A little short film that I shot and edited entirely on my iPhone 4S. Edited with iMovie for iPhone.

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/yeIcE4

A walk through the "Venice" of Shanghai: 朱家角 (Zhujiajiao)

2012-01-27T12:23:21+08:00

Some photos I took when I was in Shanghai. Click the slideshow below to see the rest.

If you cannot see the slideshow, use this link: http://mrbrwn.co/w63nqD

The Yahoo! interviews: mrbrown speaks to Minister Midas Jin Jue Lui

2012-01-26T17:09:19+08:00

I speak to the eloquent Minister Midas Jin Jue Lui, who was also featured on the mrbrown show recently.

Yahoo link: http://mrbrwn.co/zqSv7Z

#ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa

2012-01-25T19:00:57+08:00

Happy Year of the Dragon! How was your new year? I am still recovering from the dashing around with the family but boy, was the food a blast. Like the Bak Kwa.

My favorite kind of Bak Kwa is the kind where other people queued and bought it, and my task is to eat it.

And since we just had a few days of stuffing ourselves with Chinese New Year goodies, I thought I would compile a list of my favorite tweets from the #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa hashtag I started.

@mrbrown: Zack and Miri Make a Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@skinnylatte: BrokeBak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@mrbrown: The Bak Kwa Who Loved Me #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@mrbrown: The Empire Strikes Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@mrbrown: The Devil Wears Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@KitKatKiat: Ong-Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@integratedmalay: I cannot #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa cos it's not halal
@yifwong: 那些年我们一起追的 Bak Kwa. #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@AnnoyingIvan: (500) Days of Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@MochiMochiCat: How To Train Your Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@nucleartomatoe: Bak Kwa with Benefits #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@KumJm: The Land Before Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@TommyWee: Infernal Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@TingedPink: Gone With The Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@urbanexperiment: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@mrbrown: Alien vs Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@benyouton: The League of Extraordinary Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@SvenHwang: Rise of the Bak Kwa of the Apes #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@miyagi: There's Something About Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@izreloaded: Dude, Where's My Bak Kwa? #replacemovietitleswithbakkwa
@HossanLeong: Bak Kwa No Enough. I Not Bak Kwa. The Iron Bak Kwa starring Metal Streep #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@nailartexpress: Men Who Stare At Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@MissyGoh: Bend it like Bak Kwa. #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@HLOVEBARCA: No Bak Kwa For Old Men #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@mrbrown: Rise of the Planet of the Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@BB_See: Kung Fu Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@mrbrown: A Series of Unfortunate Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@hwipcream: The Girl with the Bak Kwa Tattoo #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@twostoreys: Bak Kwa Begins (make that every Batman movie) #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@msgrace_lim: P.S. I Love Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@TWEETMakka: James and the Giant Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@lemmingC: I Know What Bak Kwa Did Last Summer #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@nicshields: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@kylase: We Bought A Bak Kwa #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa
@mnhash: Bak Kwa to the Future #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBakKwa

You Say I Say Who Confirm: Return to the Malaysia Super League: The Fans

2012-01-21T14:41:00+08:00

A series of images I made at the Singapore vs KL match on January 17, 2012. This time I captured the fans.

See the rest of my images at You Say I Say Who Confirm.

the mrbrown show: famous amos

2012-01-20T20:40:37+08:00

14-year-old boy wonder, Famous Amos, talks about Chinese New Year.

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/ysYsg8

You Say I Say Who Confirm: Return to the Malaysia Super League: The Players

2012-01-19T21:01:43+08:00

A series of images I made at the Singapore vs KL match on January 17, 2012, the second home match of the LionsXII in the Malaysian Super League. And their first win.

See the rest of my images at You Say I Say Who Confirm.

You may also read about the match at Redsports.sg.

#FactsWithoutWikipedia

2012-01-19T16:16:25+08:00

As some of you may know, Wikipedia and many sites were blacked out for 24 hours in protest against the SOPA and PIPA bills. And this led to many students having to depend on archaic tools like books and libraries.

In my opinion, The Oatmeal had the best SOPA blackout page. With this animated gif:

Twitter also became awash with Facts Without Wikipedia, in the hours of the blackout. I joined in the fun too.

@DannyjClayton: The Great Wall of China was built to keep the rabbits out. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@pto654: Justin Bieber, female age 12. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@strangedave: Pluto is no longer a planet due to copyright claims from the Disney corporation #factswithoutWikipedia
@mrbrown: Cable ties can hold subway tracks and even marriages together. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@mitterpottles: #FactsWithoutWikipedia: Singapore is an island off the coast of mainland China.
@mrbrown: Singapore's Merlion is a real creature that helped to transform it from a sleepy village to a metropolitan city. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@mrbrown: Singapore leaders are the most underpaid leaders in the world. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@mrbrown: Han Solo had an Indonesian brother named Bengawan Solo, who studied the Kueh of the Jedi. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@JohnnyInfamous: Star Wars is based on the lesser known Shakespeare work "Thy Force Be Stronge" #factswithoutwikipedia
@mrbrown: J.Lo is Cee Lo's sister .#FactsWithoutWikipedia
@mrbrown: The People's Action Party was originally named Freedom Action Party and was made up of many master debaters. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@mrbrown: Chinese New Year is just China copying the real New Year, according to 14-year-old Amos Yee. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@mrbrown: The national anthem of Singapore is entitled "Mari Kita". It was originally sung and recorded by Taufik Bautista. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@The_Maks: France has lost its AAA rating. This means they are no longer allowed so sell small batteries. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@Toucanjake: Twilight is, in fact, the greatest love story ever written. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@mrbrown: Cars in Singapore are the cheapest in the world and citizens are given rebates to buy one. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@KarineC: mee siam comes with cockles. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@mrbrown: Electoral boundaries in Singapore are never redrawn to suit the ruling party.#FactsWithoutWikipedia
@mrbrown: Manchester United is the only football team in the entire world. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@chillmurrayy: #FactsWithoutWikipedia Ke$ha, in European countries, is actually spelt K€sha.
@mrbrown: Raffles Place was where Sir Stamford Raffles first learned to play Winning Eleven on PS3. #FactsWithoutWikipedia
@mrbrown: Singapore is a monarchy, headed by a Queen named Kumar. #FactsWithoutWikipedia

Say No to SOPA and PIPA. they break The Internet

2012-01-18T22:30:06+08:00

Vimeo link: http://vimeo.com/31100268

A video that explains why SOPA and PIPA must be stopped. And why the Singapore gahmen should not consider adopting it either.

Also interesting, in the video, this shot of an election rally was used when the narrator says, "But Hollywood movies don't get grassroots candidates elected."

That looks mighty familiar…

Titanic wasn't real, it seems

2012-01-18T21:08:33+08:00

American TV news headlines describing the Costa Concordia disaster in Italy as a "Real-Life Titanic". Since when was the sinking of the Titanic not real?

This one is from Entertainment Tonight. Maybe they should stick to entertainment and not news.

Dolphin toilet paper

2012-01-17T17:15:02+08:00

I feel like asking the wife to stop buying this brand of toilet roll. I cannot, in good conscience, wipe my arse with a dolphin.

But it is soft and nice and four-ply too. Maybe if I fold it the other way so that the dolphin can't be seen, I'd feel better.

I think Law Minister Shanmugam just got schooled

2012-01-16T16:07:40+08:00

An interesting exchange between Law Minister Shanmugam and his commenters on his Facebook page:

K Shanmugam: Sc Weilun, I am trying to understand. Do you think the cost of food has gone up because of Ministers salaries / You dont think the cost of food has anything to do with several hundreds of millions of people in India and China now becoming consumers and competing ?
K Shanmugam: Sc weilun, on Ministers salaries. will ask you to note one point. For the current Cabinet, many of us have made serious sacrifices. We are not in it for the money. Our concern is for the future of Spore - your children and grandchildren. What should be the appropriate benchmark for getting good ppl to come into public service.

Facebook Commenter: Ask Chen Show Mao, he doesn't need a benchmark. He just do it.

View the entire Facebook post and comments at Shanmugam's FB page.