After looking at my cabinet containing books, I found a section at the top storing unused items, so I decided to clear out the cabinet, clean it and rearrange all the stuff!

This cabinet contains all my prized books (a few which are long out of print or carries high market value), so I couldn’t afford for the white ants to get to them before I do! There was once a white ant episode in the same cabinet so I am extra careful.

I don’t have photos before the change, here is one when its in progress.

Moe Moe Kyun~!

All the pop culture books.

Another useful item, the (still) leftover Tokyo Figure Show postcards! Thanks to Danny Choo for these.

Stage 1 complete.

Settled placement, after shifting all the magazines inwards and according to chronological order.

All the railway and bus related books.

Good lighting tool, the Lego Brick Light.

Minibus Group wishes all folks local and overseas and in Chinese and agricultural countries a prosperous and healthy Lunar New Year ahead!

New arcade rules on KUBs (SBS5126P).

*Real names are omitted to protect privacy of participants, oh yes, and the staff too*

One fine evening…

Four Otakus: (Exits XXX Station, asks beautiful ‘moe’ staff with purple hair :O) Where can we find good food?

Airu Haneda: There is a new cafe nearby, A87 Cafe, a new concept of maid cafe in Singapore~!

Otakus: Alright, thats cool, why not we give it a try?

Airu: Yeah I will bring you there then~! (Hey wait, ain’t she still on duty? But heck we have more people joining~!)

The Menu~!

The order list~! Alright lets not disturb Airu-san, she still got work to do at the station~

Yes, Obasan’s Magical Stew, with a magical blessing by the staff. Remember, DUN LAUGH~!

Remember, you can have wordings, but the default will be…

Okay the answer will come next but first, four tall Akibanana Smoothies~!

Nekos (cats), right. Rounds the sentence.

Yup, no flash, and these are the small snacks.

Mini personal-not-so-critique Review:

This my first visit to a Japanese otaku culture-themed cafe. (Cause I have not tried the ‘real-deal at Akihabara, but will one day and I must take the Tsukuba Express Line train to… Yes Tsukuba) Pretty amazing including the smell of Japanese stuff in Singapore, namely the Sunshine Plaza smell (or does the smell come from KKnM exclusively, you get the drift).

Service is amusing and entertaining, well pretty much to a cafe style. However some points did gave me a heart attack;

1. Do you include a closing date for your business? Its like knowing when your life will end. October 1st 2011, written on the menu’s event page, how horrible it is of me to remember the date now and digging at the wound… But well Miki, you can take the date off at least, sounds nicer right~

2. Some basic Japanese language (usage) knowledge? I heard someone saying ‘irashaimase’ (いらつしゃいませ) when we were leaving the cafe. Well for starters, that would mean ‘Welcome’, should be said when entering a shop/cafe/7-Eleven. When customers (not ご主人様/Goshujisama, thanks) leave, it would be ありがとうございます/Arigatou-Gozaimasu. Snippets of stuff are like what I love to look out for and sadly someone’s tail have been stepped on by me again. -_-”

3. OMG to the points system, plus thermal bills. Well I guess that needs sorting out but its been a few months after opening, should it already been settled?

Some funny stuff, this cafe is all about having fun~!

I vaguely remember the Bachelor’s Challenge, the best part is about writing ‘I am Hentai’, using red lipstick, by one of the staff, and then standing at the window and wave to passer-by for 87 seconds. Serious, everything about the cafe has to associate with the number 87. They should have discounts for people born in 1987, right?

Second level, nothing much set up yet and I don’t seem to catch sight of console machines that I supposedly saw on the papers… Nice Macross Frontier twist poster at the staircase area though.

The toilet smells okay, sadly no Japanese style bidet toilet system. I have yet to ask local TOTO dealer if they have the most advanced, bidet/wash-ass/warmer (I need a cooler here in SG) toilet cover system.

Stuff are generally okay priced, well priced for that area. I only had the drink (A87 Smoothie in case you missed it) but the other folks who ate, wow…

Staff are friendly, though a bit quiet. Its had to be niche in Singapore and well, I wish them all the best. And remove the October 1st 2011 please. I don’t wish to see a business going towards a countdown…

Overall I give 8/10 for A87 Cafe. Good job~!

And thanks for not calling me ご主人様/Goshujisama, my bones will fail catastrophically if the brain catches such an electric signal generated by…

Extra: Airu Haneda is a character from the Tetsudo-Musume series 6. Modeled after female staff uniform of Tokyo Monorail (東京モノレール), she is one of the characters in the series focusing on Japanese railway company uniforms. She is a station staff and helps commuters find their way among the railway system in Tokyo.

Flatted factory unit at Bukit Batok St 23 catches fire

SINGAPORE: A fire broke out in a unit at Bukit Batok Street 23 on Tuesday morning.

The ground floor unit of a flatted factory at Block 2019 was in flames when civil defence officers arrived at the scene at around 10am.

The unit deals in electrical products.

No one was injured in the fire, which was brought under control in 20 minutes.

- CNA/yb

A fire occurred at Blk 2019 Bukit Batok Industrial Estate yesterday (26 Jan 2009), 0958 hrs, destroyed two warehouses and damaged another one.

Following photos are taken around 1800 hrs.

The fire gutted at least a vehicle outside the warehouse

Large amount of black smoke darkened the exterior walls and windows of units above

Note the melted office structure

Spent extinguishers in the attempt to put out the fire

Water constantly pumped into the scene of the fire

Extinguishing extends into the night as the Light Tender comes

Three Toyota forklifts and several crates of electronic goods were the only items saved from the fire. No one was injured in the incident.

Trapped outside the shutters and the train left… Due to some oversleeping staff?

JR Kobe Station. December 2005 Japan Tour. (Admin)

Article from Yomiuri News.

当直の駅員寝坊、始発に８人乗れず…ＪＲ関西線

大阪市東住吉区のＪＲ関西線東部市場前駅で１８日、午前５時前になっても駅出入り口のシャッターが開かず、同４時５９分発の王寺発難波行きの始発電車に客８人が乗れなかった。

シャッターは同５時過ぎに開き、客は約１５分後の後続電車に乗ったという。

ＪＲ西日本によると、同駅に当直勤務していた４８歳と２１歳の男性駅員２人が寝坊したため。当直駅員は同４時２５分に起床し、４５分までにシャッターを開けることになっていた。同駅を管理する天王寺駅からの起床確認の電話も約２５分遅れたため、２人は同５８分に目を覚ましたという。

（2010年1月18日12時34分 読売新聞）

8 passengers missed the first train at 459 am from Ōji to Namba due to a closed shutter at Tōbushijōmae station, JR Kansai Line.

The shutter opened after 5 am and the passengers took the next train which came 15 minutes later.

JR West says that two staff aged 48 and 21 who stay-over at the station overslept. The staff are supposed to wake up at 425 am and open the shutters at 445 am. The station’s managing department at Tennōji station made the confirmation wake-up call 25 minutes late, and the staff woke up at 458 am.

☆

Hilarious right? This is not the first time some staff overslept and caused passengers to miss the first train. The previous one that I could recall and made to the news was last year involving a JR Tokai staff. But JR West is a notorious company for ill staff treatment so expect this two oversleeping staff and the wake-up call fellow to be assigned to reform lessons… Zzz.

~

The time when I met sleep-over staff (who is not oversleeping) at a station in Japan is at Engaru, where I snapped a picture of the Kiha 40 featured in this post. The express train (Express Okhotsk 9, midnight service run now withdrawn) from Sapporo reaches the station slightly before 4 am and the station staff (at least two of them) in thick pajamas and company coat comes out to check tickets and check the train (standing on the platform and do safety recognition) upon turn-around. They went back to sleep after the train left, but have to wake up again after 530 am for the first train out of the station. Although the station is rural and not of big importance, the staff hold pride in their job and wake up before dawn to serve passengers and ensure safety in sub-zero temperatures.

Oh ho-ho thats when engines go ‘afterburn’ with some extra ‘fuel’… Images copyright Yomiuri News

３日午前１１時７分頃、新千歳発神戸行き日本航空３３０２便（ボーイング７６７―３００型機、乗員乗客２３１人）が、新千歳空港を離陸直後の上空約６０メートル付近で、左エンジンの排ガス温度が急上昇する異常表示が出た。

機長は左エンジンを停止し、約１５分後に新千歳空港に緊急着陸した。乗員乗客にけがはなかった。

日本航空によると、左エンジン内部に鳥を吸い込んだ「バードストライク」のような痕跡があり、エンジンの交換が必要なほど内部が破損していたという。

同空港で飛行機の離陸風景を撮っていた札幌市東区の会社員西藤公起さん（３１）は、偶然、バードストライクの瞬間を撮影。「トンビのような鳥が見えたのでシャッターを切っていたらエンジンに吸い込まれ、直後に火を噴いた」と話した。
（2010年1月4日01時09分 読売新聞）

3rd January 1107 am, Japan Airlines (JAL) flight 3302 (Boeing 767-346, 231 passengers and crew) took off from New Chitose Airport bound for Kobe, encountered sudden high exhaust gas temperature (EGT) in the left engine shortly after take-off (60 meters above ground).

The captain shutdown the left engine and did an emergency landing 15 minutes later at the same airport. No one was injured.

JAL said that the left engine had sucked in a bird with marks of a ‘birdstrike’, with damaged internal components necessitating a engine change.

A photographer (31-year old) who was taking pictures of aircraft taking off at the airport managed to snap the moments when the ‘birdstrike’ occured. He said ‘I pressed the shutter when I saw the bird and it got sucked into the engine, immediately after fire ejected out’.

☆

Oh ho-ho another bird to ‘bird heaven’.

The rate of delays in railways in Tokyo has been going up through the years… And this year, it breaks through 40000 cases with over half being suicide. Other reasons include driver mistake, train problems, railway signal problems, stone-placing and natural causes. Image copyright of Yomiuri News.

鉄道遅れ４万本、半数超が自殺原因…首都圏

首都圏の鉄道の運休や遅れの本数が昨年度、４万６００本に達し、その半数以上が自殺に起因することが、国土交通省の調査で明らかになった。

同省は２１日、ＪＲ東日本や東京メトロなど首都圏の主要１２社を集め、自殺防止に有効とされる「青色照明」の検証などを呼びかけた。

調査は、東京、神奈川、埼玉、千葉の１都３県で、列車の運休や３０分以上の遅れにつながった輸送障害のデータを原因別にまとめた。

全国の輸送障害は２００８年度、０７年度から１０００本ほど減ったものの、首都圏だけで見ると４４００本も増加。首都圏での原因トップは「自殺」で、０７年度から２９００本増えて２万１１００本に上った。自殺に次いで多かった「信号設備などの故障」によるものは７２００本だった。

トラブルそのものの件数は、０５年度をピークに徐々に減っており、０８年度は前年度より２０件少ない６７９件だった。ただ、自殺の場合、０８年度は前年度より１９件多い３０７件となるなど、ほかの原因によるトラブル件数が減る中で唯一増え続けている。

私鉄関係者は「自殺の場合、発生後の対応に時間がかかり、影響本数が多くなってしまう傾向がある」と話している。
（2009年12月22日04時52分 読売新聞）

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20091222-OYT1T00039.htm

Cancellation and delays of railway services in Tokyo has risen up to 40600 cases for the previous year, of which half of them involve suicide, the Transport Authority says in a survey.

The Authority, on 21st December, urges 12 railway companies of the capital, including JR East and Tokyo Metro, to install ‘blue lights’ to deter suicides.

The survey included operators from Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba. Data are taken from troubles causing 30 minutes or more in delays.

Delays and troubles have went down by 1000 cases nationwide, but there is an increase in 4400 cases in Tokyo alone. The top cause of delays in Tokyo is ‘Suicide’, up 2900 cases from 2007 to hit 21100 cases in 2008. Signal problems is number two at 7200 cases.

Cases that include trouble had gone down from the peak, in first half of the year 2008, there were 679 cases with reduction in 20. On the other hand, suicide has gone up 19 cases to 307 for the same period. Its the only cause that has risen from 2005, while all other causes are reducing.

Private railways personnel say that ‘suicides causes more time loss after the incident and tend to affect more train services’.

☆

Well its obvious that suicide cases are much more difficult to recover from. ‘Diagram chaos’ (schedule problems) can occur long for the rest of the day.

Due to safety, all cases of trouble (ie. crossing after gates are lowered) at railway crossings require full braking to stop, safety recognition and checks before starting off again. Delays such as these would cause domino effects to many other trains behind.

Big police vehicle to contain all those drunkards… (Toyota Estima, December 2005, Odaiba (お台場) , Tokyo)

Article from Yomiuri News.

忘年会シーズンまっただ中となった埼玉県内で、酒に酔ったサラリーマンらが暴行容疑で相次いで逮捕された。

武南署は１５日、飯能市飯能、目白大職員小黒裕之容疑者（４４）を暴行の疑いで現行犯逮捕。

発表によると、同日午後９時２０分頃、川口市戸塚のＪＲ武蔵野線東川口駅ホームで、一度乗った電車から降りた際、腕をドアに挟まれたことに腹を立て、駆け寄った男性駅員（２４）の体を発車前の電車に押しつけるなどした疑い。同僚が乗っていなかったため、降りたらしい。

駅近くの居酒屋での忘年会の帰りで、調べに対し、小黒容疑者は「そんなことは問題でない」などと供述しているという。

飯能署は１６日、所沢市山口、会社員北條謙次容疑者（３３）を暴行容疑の現行犯で逮捕。発表では、北條容疑者は同日午前１時１０分頃、飯能市の西武池袋線飯能駅北口で、乗車したタクシーの男性運転手（４７）に「所沢まで３０００円で行ってくれ」と告げ、「３０００円ではいけない」と言われて腹を立て、男性の顔をけった疑い。

飯能―所沢間の料金は６０００円程度。都内で酒を飲んで電車に乗ったが寝てしまい、終点の同駅で降りるはめになったという。

（2009年12月17日16時50分 読売新聞）

During this season of year-end parties, drunk salarymen are arrested, suspected of assault, in Saitama Prefecture.

44-year old Hiroyuki Koguro (Staff, Mejiro University) was arrested on 15th December for assault.

Koguro suspect attacked a station staff at JR Musashino line, Higashi Kawaguchi station at 920 pm (2120 hrs). He was alighting from the train when he saw his colleagues cannot board, then his wrist was trapped by the door. He got angry and pushed the station staff (24-year old), who came to assistance, against the train.

Koguro suspect attended a year-end party near the station and was returning home. When questioned, Koguro suspect said “There is no problem with this”.

Hanno Police arrested Houjo Kenji (33-year old) suspect on 16th December for assault. Houjo suspect boarded a taxi at Hanno station (Seibu Ikebukuro Line) at 110 am (0110 hrs) and ordered the driver (47-year old) “3000 yen to Tokorozawa”. The taxi driver replied “You can’t get to Tokorozawa with 3000 yen” and Houjo suspect punched the driver in the face.

The fare from Hanno to Tokorozawa is about 6000 yen. Houjo suspect attended the year-end party in Tokyo, went drunk, overslept on the train and ended up at Hanno station (43.7 kilometers from Tokyo) where the train service terminates.

☆

6000 yen (SGD 90, 10000 yen to SGD 150) from Hanno to Tokorozawa. If you look them up in the map its 18 kilometers distance. Then you can appreciate how expensive cab rides are, in Tokyo and whole of Japan. At least riding in the Estima would cost 0.

Another drunk policeman who broke the law and got himself arrested by his ‘colleagues’. From Yomiuri News.

泥酔の警官逮捕、事務所侵入しソファで熟睡

酒に酔って会社事務所に侵入したとして、埼玉県警所沢署は６日、千葉県流山市駒木台、千葉県警第３機動隊巡査部長松田洋平容疑者（３２）を建造物侵入容疑で現行犯逮捕した。

発表によると、松田容疑者は６日午前３時半頃、埼玉県所沢市東所沢和田にあるガス会社の出入り口のガラスを割り、事務所内に侵入した疑い。

警報装置が作動して所沢署員が駆けつけると、酒に酔った松田容疑者が事務所のソファで熟睡していたという。

松田容疑者は「友人と酒を飲んだ後、ＪＲ西船橋駅（千葉県船橋市）で電車に乗った後は、酔っ払っぱらっていて覚えていない」と供述しているという。
（2009年12月6日12時50分 読売新聞）

Translate:

6th December, Saitama Police (Tokorozawa branch) have arrested 32-year old policeman Youhei Matsuda suspect (Officer, Chiba Prefecture No. 3 Anti-Riot squad) for trespassing into a company office while drunk.

Police said that Youhei suspect broke the glass door of a gas company at 330 am on the 6th of December and trespassed the office.

The alarm went off and officers from Tokorozawa arrived, found Youhei suspect drunk and sleeping on a sofa in the office.

Youhei suspect said he “drank with several friends and took a train from JR Nishi-Funabashi (Funabashi-City, Chiba Prefecture) station, but lost consciousness due to the drunk effect”.

☆

Break the glass + alarm went off, still cannot regain consciousness, deeply drunk indeed… And Funabashi to Tokorozawa is like 20 plus 30 kilometers away?!

The Japanese Emperor Akihito gave a speech today (12th November) as part of the 20th anniversary of his succession of the throne. Speech extracted from Yomiuri Shimbun.

天皇陛下即位２０年、記念式典でのお言葉全文

即位２０年に当たり、政府並びに国の内外の多くの人々から寄せられた祝意に対し、深く感謝します。

今年(こんねん)は平成生まれの人が成人に達した年で、スポーツその他の分野でも、既に平成生まれの人々の活躍が見られるようになりました。２０年という時の流れを思い、深い感慨を覚えます。ここに即位以来の日々を顧み、私どもを、支え続けてくれた国民に心から謝意を表します。

この２０年、様々なことがありました。とりわけ平成７年の阪神・淡路大震災を始めとし、地震やそれに伴う津波、噴火、豪雨等、自然災害が幾度にもわたり我が国を襲い、多くの人命が失われたことを忘れることはできません。改めて犠牲者を追悼し、被災した人々の苦労を思い、復興のために尽力してきた地域の人々、それを全国各地より支援した人々の労をねぎらいたく思います。

即位以来、国内各地を訪問することに努め、１５年ですべての都道府県を訪れることができました。国と国民の姿を知り、国民と気持ちを分かち合うことを、大切なことであると考えてきました。それぞれの地域で、高齢化を始めとして様々な課題に対応を迫られていることが察せられましたが、訪れた地域はいずれもそれぞれに美しく、容易でない状況の中でも、人々が助け合い、自分たちの住む地域を少しでも向上させようと努力している姿を頼もしく見てきました。これからも、皇后と共に、各地に住む人々の生活に心を寄せていくつもりです。

先の戦争が終わって６４年がたち、昨今は国民の４人に３人が戦後生まれの人となりました。この戦争においては、３１０万人の日本人の命が失われ、また外国人の命も多く失われました。その後の日本の復興は、戦後を支えた人々の計り知れぬ苦労により成し遂げられたものです。今日の日本がこのような大きな犠牲の上に築かれたことを忘れることなく、これを戦後生まれの人々に正しく伝えていくことが、これからの国の歩みにとり、大切なことではないかと考えます。

この２０年間に国外で起こったこととして忘れられないのはベルリンの壁の崩壊です。即位の年に起こったこの事件に連なる一連の動きにより、ソビエト連邦からロシアを含む１５か国が独立し、それまでは外部からうかがい知ることのできなかったこれらの地域の実情や歴史的事実が明らかになりました。より透明な世界が築かれていくことに深い喜びを持ったことが思い起こされます。

しかし、その後の世界は人々の待ち望んだような平和なものとはならず、今も各地域で紛争が絶えず、多くの人命が失われているのは誠に残念なことです。世界の人々が、共に平和と繁栄を享受できるようになることを目指して、すべての国が協力して努力を積み重ねることが大切であると思います。

今日、我が国は様々な課題に直面しています。このような中で、人々が互いに絆(きずな)を大切にし、英知を結集し、相携えて努力することにより、忍耐強く困難を克服していけるよう切に願っています。

平成２年の即位礼の日は、穏やかな天候に恵まれ、式後、赤坂御所に戻るころ、午後の日差しが、国会議事堂を美しくあかね色に染めていた光景を思い出します。あの日沿道で受けた国民の祝福は、この長い年月、常に私どもの支えでした。即位２０年に当たり、これまで多くの人々から寄せられた様々な善意を顧み、改めて自分の在り方と務めに思いを致します。

ここに、今日の式典をこのように催されたことに対し、厚く感謝の意を表し、国の繁栄と国民の幸せを祈ります。

Translated version below (not using any software), ご苦労さまです。

Upon 20 years of succession, I am thankful for the well wishings from the government as well as people from within the country and abroad.

This year marks the maturity age (20 years is maturity age for boys and girls in Japan) of Heisei (平成, the emperor code for Akihito), and from sports and other areas, it can be seen that the people who are born in this era are living actively. 20 years of time is strongly felt. From the days after succession, I would like to thank, from the heart, the support of the people.

This 20 years had been very different. Especially the Hanshin Earthquake of Heisei 7 (1995), thereafter earthquake as well as tsunami, eruptions and heavy flood have swept our country, and many lives are lost, but we have not forgotten about them. We mourn for the victims, and thereafter set to work on rebuilding, and this is also supported by people from throughout the country.

After succession, I have concentrated on visiting the country, and have done so in 15 years (to all prefectures and cities). How the country and its people is, what the people are expecting, are the top priorities. At some areas, there are pressing issues to solve like aging population, and in some beautiful areas, times are hard but people worked together, hoping to improve their lives. From this, the Queen and I are heartfelt with the people.

64 years after the end of the War, 3 out of 4 persons yesterday are born in the post-war era. In this war, 3,100,000 Japanese lost their lives, and even more people were lost in other countries. The post-war rebuilding of the country is endeavored by our countrymen. The fact that Japan now is built on top of those sacrifices shall not be forgotten, the post-war era people should know this, and how the country progresses on from here is an important priority.

This 20 years also marked something that cannot be forgotten, the collapse of the Berlin Wall. The year of succession also marked a chain of events; the independence of 15 countries including Russia (from the Soviet Union), showing the history and actual situation in the country previously unknown. I feel elated at the fact of building a world that is transparent.

However, the peace that the world hopes for does not materialize, conflicts continue and lives are lost, which is much regretted. Countries of the world should put high priority on realizing the peace and prosperity that people around the world hope for.

Today, our country is facing the same lesson. The understanding of people, the gathering of talents, and thus persevering against difficulty is hoped for.

On the day of succession on Heisei 2,  after the ceremony I was returning  to the sovereign residence. The sunlight shining on the parliamentary house created a beautiful color which remained in my memories. Along the way, the sight of people giving their well wishings had been my support all these years. Upon 20 years of  succession, the wishes that the people have expressed agrees upon my job.

At this ceremony here, I would like to give my hearthfelt thanks, and pray for the country’s prosperity and its people happiness.

Came across these 2 article in Yomiuri News. They relate to the same incident.
Article 1. Article 2.

ウソの１１０番１１０回、広島の高１女子逮捕

約４時間で虚偽の１１０番通報を約１１０回繰り返したとして、広島南署は６日、広島市南区の私立高校１年女子生徒（１６）を偽計業務妨害容疑で逮捕した。

女子生徒は調べに対して、「騒ぎになるのが楽しかった」と話している。

発表によると、女子生徒は８月１８日午前０時頃から同４時頃の間、自宅から携帯電話で１１０番し、「男がけんかしている」「下半身を露出した男に追いかけられた」などの虚偽通報や無言電話を約１１０回繰り返し、パトカーを２回、出動させるなど、県警の業務を妨害した疑い。

広島市消防局にも虚偽の１１９番通報をしたとみられ、女子生徒は友人らと自宅からパトカーが駆けつける様子を見ていたという。
（2009年10月6日12時40分 読売新聞）

ウソつき女子高生逮捕、通報４時間１１０回

いたずらの１１０番通報を約４時間で約１１０回繰り返したとして、広島南署は６日、広島市南区の私立高校１年女子生徒（１６）を偽計業務妨害容疑で逮捕した。

女子生徒はパトカーが駆けつける様子を自宅から友人らと見物していたといい、調べに対し、「騒ぎになるのが楽しかった」と話している。

発表によると、女子生徒は８月１８日午前０時頃から同４時頃までの間、自宅から携帯電話で１１０番し、「男がけんかしている」「下半身を露出した男に追いかけられた」などの虚偽通報や無言電話を約１１０回繰り返し、パトカーを２回、出動させるなど、県警の業務を妨害した疑い。

広島市消防局にもほぼ同時刻に「火事だ」などウソの１１９番通報が約３０件あり、同署が関連を調べている。
（2009年10月6日19時26分 読売新聞）

Article 1: A female high school year 1 student (16) of Hiroshima South District has been arrested on ‘disturbance to regular (police) service’ after calling ’110′ 110 times in 4 hours, Hiroshima South Police announces on 6th October.

The student said “It was fun to call to disturb”.

The announcement stated that on 18th August 2009, from midnight to 4 am, the student used her house phone and hand-phone to call the police, claiming that there is ‘a weird man’ ‘chased by a man without lower wear (sort of like a flasher)’ and other ‘empty’ calls, a total of 110 times. Patrol cars were dispatched twice and this was determined as disturbance to police service.

After making a disturbance call to the Hiroshima Fire Service on 119, the student was seen running, by a patrol car, from her house to a friend’s.

Article 2: Hiroshima South Police announces that a female high school year 1 student (16) has been arrested on ‘disturbance to regular (police) service’ after calling ’110′ for about 110 times.

The student was seen (by a patrol car) running from her house to a friend’s. Upon investigation, she said that ‘It was fun to call to disturb’.

The announcement stated that on 18th August 2009, from midnight to 4 am, the student used her house phone and hand-phone to call the police, claiming that there is ‘a weird man’ ‘chased by a man without lower wear (sort of like a flasher)’ and other ‘empty’ calls, about 110 times. Patrol cars were dispatched twice and this was determined as disturbance to police service.

Hiroshima Fire Service also received about 30 calls on ’119′ about ‘There is a fire’, the police is investigating on the cases.

Call ’110′ 110 times? Lucky fella, we can’t call ’999′ 99 times before you get caught, let alone 999 times.

Just came across this article on Yomiuri News.
Article

「朝から金あるわけない！」強盗に店主一喝

３０日午前８時頃、札幌市白石区栄通８の雑貨店で、客を装って入ってきた男が、レジにいた男性店主（７２）に包丁（刃渡り約２５センチ）を突きつけて「金を出せ」と脅した。

店主が防犯用にレジの下に置いてあったゴルフのアイアンクラブを振り上げながら「ばかもの、朝から金があるわけないだろ」と大声で一喝すると、男は何も取らずに逃走した。

札幌白石署が強盗未遂事件として捜査している。発表によると、男は２０歳前後で、身長１メートル６０～６５。青っぽいジャンパーを着てフードをかぶっていた。
（2009年9月30日15時05分 読売新聞）

30th September 8 am, a man disguised as customer entered a provisional store in Sapporo and used a 25 cm long knife, pointed at the store keeper (72) and ordered him to ‘take the cash out’.

The store keeper grabbed a golf club (for crime prevention) from below the cash register and shouted ‘Its early in the morning, there is no cash!’. The man ran away without taking anything.

Sapporo (Shiro-ishi area) police is investigating the case as ‘unsuccessful robbery’. The man is said to be about 20 years old, 1.6 to 1.65 meters tall, wearing blue jumper with the hood on.

So remember, if your job is a robber, its not a 9 to 5 job!

It is obvious that there is a color change to this site. I find that the older colors are too default and brown makes viewers more dull than happy. I would like you to laugh or smile or cry while viewing and not frown and curse and dry-eyed.

Here is a simple breakdown of colors changed. All of them are based on JNR train colors, called the 国鉄色.

Background: ‘Blue #20′ (青20号), 003F6C, RGB 0,63,108. Used on Tokaido Shinkansen and rapid/express passenger coaches.

Header:  ’Brown #5′ (朱色5号), CA4F3C, RGB 202,79,60. Used on normal diesel rail cars (nicknamed Capital Ring Color).

Text: ‘White #3′ (白3号), E7E7E8, RGB 231, 231, 232. Used as base color on series 100 Shinkansen.

Its now the polytechnic holidays and its a great time to try making your own breakfast! No more excuses not to eat at home or skip breakfast!

Made on 8th September.

My mum’s version. There were some special modifications to the sausages, can you tell the difference?

The heavy monsoon rain this morning.

Its going to get cool… September is coming! – From Imagehuge.com

As the title says, there are several personal, school and hobby projects coming up this September! Lets’ do a list.

For School:

Final Year Project (members please contact thank you)

For Bus Enthusiasts:

Go-West Group (read further below)
Volvo B12TL (read further below)

For personal:

Relief teaching at a certain (magical) secondary school

☆☆☆☆☆

Final Year Project need some brushing up… I wonder have you read through the things we supposed to do? There are lots of time to do during the holidays before it gets busy again in October…

Go-West Group Project:
I am forming a group with bus enthusiasts who reside in the west or stay around Hougang/Serangoon areas (under the SBS Transit ‘West District’ concept). Other than the above mentioned areas, if you reside in an SMRT area, along West District routes or simply have interest in supporting the West, you are welcomed to join! Although main aim of the group is getting bus enthusiasts who have interest and/or own 1/76 scale bus models, non-model collectors are also welcomed to join the group. We will show that going West will be as good as East!

Volvo B12TL Project:
B12 buses are the largest engine capacity buses in production under Volvo. This project (in no way connected to actual Volvo products or the company itself) is to draw, design or propose interior (seat layout and all interior artwork) and exterior (bodywork design) of the vehicle, as well as mechanical (engine placement and axles) and electrical (CANbus system) layouts. Welcome bus enthusiasts who have interest to join in.

For contacts on the above projects that are open for enthusiasts, please contact me on Live Messenger (terence767400@hotmail.com) or email. Ideas and/or partial participation/support are welcomed too.

Today its the 20th year since this particular human is created. The story started off a bit boring, at a place that is not Singapore (boom!).

Soon, this little human travelled with his parents, like the African elephants (we are not so larged sized though) to a country named Singapore on the south of the Malaysian Penisula. This little human grew up, learnt 1 to 10 (I know 100 by then) in a place called the Nursery, in a town named Bedok. Then it was Kindergarten, where A to Z was taught. This little human also learnt that A to Z could be re-arranged to form different words, and such were the foundations to which some years later, the words ‘ZF’ and ‘Voith’ were known to this little human.

It was in year 1997, that the little human, not so small now, moved to the West of the island, a town named Bukit Batok. It was a peaceful place, with a larger school nearby, and a hometown bus service that the little human is proud of even till now. He continued to school, learnt what was friends and foes, love and hate. There were times of bad, times of good. But this did not stop the little human from continuing to live on. He soon learned the values, the practices, and the patterns of being a human who can live happily on this Earth. Most importantly, he learned to laugh, and that was a gift that could not be rivaled, no matter if its 10 tons of gold (Umineko no Naku Koro ni?) or a million dollars.

After some turbulent years in Secondary school, this little human, now much larger sized with a bigger stomach and appetite, went on to the next stage of education, in the long long road which proves both of useful and waste, joy and frustration. Polytechnic was where this little human went to, learning skills useful in the future, how to be lazy and the greatest knowledge of them all: the outside world. It was at this point that the little human learnt of the Japanese pop culture; anime, manga and mecha. These were to prove both fruitful and waste. Bus (vehicles and electronics) was the other knowledge gained. That, this little human has little to comment about.

Laziness proved to be a factor that affected this little human the most during his period in Polytechnic. However, he also learnt one thing recently; brute strength in study can save marks even at the last minute. This is not the best method though, but the truth that is, studying and revision is necessary to achieve the sufficient marks then necessary to pass!

This story has progressed for 20 years, and still proves worthy to continue.

Some aims for the next five years (5-year plan?):

2009: Pass all polytechnic modules as soon as possible.
2010: Complete NS in a timely and safe fashion.
2012: Travel to Japan (Summer Comiket and/or Tohouku (東北) Area).
2013: Get a decent engineering job.
After 2013: Look for job opportunity in Japan/other countries.

The last aim is one that would continue my (apparently) family’s tradition; moving to a different country. Humans are migrating animals, aren’t they. I shall not interfere with the natural cycle.

Birthday present! This year proves the break of continuation of a chain of 4 years that “nothing good and long lasting have presented themselves”. I am not asking for a present here, but the ill feelings that come with “totally no present on birthday” is hard to understand to all. So this year I broke the tradition and bought something for myself! They say, actions don’t start unless you have done your own part!

The inexpensive but memorable present for this 20 year old kid; a model Mitsubishi Fuso MP (KC-MP747K) of Itami City Bus, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. 1/76 scale, 258 HKD.

Some more shots as the model is extracted from the box…

Hey wait… No this is in no way related to Umineko no Naku Koro ni.

All the single deckers through the ages. Mid-engine high floor, rear-engine one-step, rear-engine low floor and rear-engine ‘non-step’. A good celebration of technology (and humans) maturing…

The Japanese Domestic Models (JDMs). This duo group will definitely increase in number as the days pass by. Wait for your friends to join the party!

So, a similar post might come like this next year? Who knows… Laugh and enjoy your day!

Been sick for the past week and staying at home. Given two days of LOA (for last Wednesday and Thursday) but still not feeling well now. Would like to get more MCs and LOAs if I can, cause this sickness has to be dealt with anyways. Don’t know what kind of funny virus. Not H1N1.

Some record of temperature. Before this the high was 39.2 degrees.

Sneaked out on Saturday…

At the starting line

But after going out, the flu feeling came back again…

18th July was a rewarding day. First up, a photoshoot with WJ at Old School, with the models we brought along. Some photos taken:

The chassis + bodywork:

Volvo B7TL. East Lancs Vyking bodywork (original).

Volvo B7TL. East Lancs Vyking bodywork (second generation).

Volvo B10BLE. Wright Renown bodywork.

The integrals:

Mercedes Benz Citaro M-Spec 354. Mercedes Benz bodywork (facelifted Citaro).

Hino S’elega R FD (KL-RU4FSEA). Hino bodywork.

The single deck citybuses, low-floor and low-entry.

The lineup.

Comparing the radiator sizes!
Photo courtesy of WJ.

Then the birthday party for JY and KP!

Teaser for the birthday party! Two birthday boys are not inside. Want the photos, ask and link will be given to download the original fun.
Photo courtesy of WJ.

Today is the first day returning to school. There are MSTs (mid-semester tests) for School of EEE students, but there is another ‘wayang’ test for the whole school, and you can get 100 marks for this test!

Wayang (definition): Malay/Indonesian word for theatre, or shadow shows (puppet). Used commonly in slang (in this case as well) to mean ‘puppet show’.

Wayang Act 01: Big sign of Warning. Intentionally shot using camera phone. Or Camera on a Phone.

Old Boon Lay. Full of that 70s feel. 80s? Bigger the better. Cannot rewind.
ISO200, 1/500 f9.0, +0.3 step EV. Aperture Priority.

That’s right. Old Boon Lay. The blocks will likely be demolished by end of the year, so grab your cameras and shoot all those photos while you still can! For some lazy bums, please click on the see more link below… Or you will miss the best of them!