10 minute interview

INTERVIEW:

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or planning to do to accomplish that goal?
My ambition is to be a successful swimsuit model and joining MRS SINGAPORE 2007 will be my first step in accomplishing my goal. Whatever the outcome may be, it will be a worthwhile experience, both to my future career and myself.


What are you interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?
I am into all kinds of sports. I love the sun and most of the outdoor activities, from water sports esp. swimming and snorkelling to tennis and badminton and anything in between. Above all, what I enjoy doing on a regular basis is working out at the fitness corner near my house.


What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
The craziest thing I have ever done is falling in love with a Chinese guy. Love can really make a girl go gaga.


What is your strongest and weakest quality?
My strongest quality is my strong-willed power to follow my heart. And that is also my weakest quality as well. Sometimes I tend to be too strong with it.


Name one personal accomplishment that makes you especially proud.
I managed to pull through my degree examinations after what people had put me through and what I have gone through. Once you have picked yourself up from any failures, that is when you are most proud of.


Who, other than your parents, has had the most influence in your life and why?
My friends because they are always there when I most need them. If it is not them, I would not know what I would be doing now.

What makes you special and different from the other contestants?
Each and every one of us is different and unique in our own ways. What I believe that makes me different from the other contestants is my looks and my physical assets and when I want to accomplish something, I will go all the way to do that.


What is the most important thing you want the judges to know about you?
I want them to know what makes someone beautiful is both their inner qualities and outer beauty. I may look arrogant and stuck up , but actually, I am a nice and sincere gal.

Xin Wang HK Cafe

I kind of swore off HK cafes since our last experience at one, because I think the mains are unreasonably priced (in comparison to Crystal Jade). However, Xin Wang HK Cafe has changed my mind. Located on the 2nd floor of Orchard Cineleisure, this restaurant is actually a very comfortable chill-out place for snacks, dessert and drinks. Also probably coz Steven and I got a really comfortable booth seat.

Anyway Steven was feeling like a Ya Kun combination, so he ordered the kaya butter toast ($1.50), two soft-boiled eggs ($1.20) and 1 cup of kopi-o ($1.20). I was trying to get him to try the famous peanut butter and condensed milk toast, but since tt cost $3.90 he wasn’t too keen on it. Anyway, the kaya butter toast was huge. The bread was incredibly thick, and they used brown kaya, and two equally incredibly thick slabs of butter on the inside. It’s like sin personified; asking for kaya butter toast here. Very good, but very heavy, and very sinful. But I suppose for $1.50, it’s got to be worth the money. It’s huge and filling.

The eggs were okay to Steven . Decent, but nothing to shout about. I suppose after Ya Kun, it’s hard to find anything that comes close. The kopi-o was okay as well, but he said tt it was too thin or too diluted. He likes his kopi-o thick.

I ordered the triple snow MANGO milk ice for $6.90. $6.90 for ice kachang is fucking expensive, but this was actually in my opinion, almost worth it. It is huge, and looks like a veritable mountain of ice. Triple snow ice combines 3 flavours of toppings - yellow coloring, mango flava and mango cubees (note: they are all made from real mango puree, as well ). This being my first time ordering it, I had no idea how each tasted . I’ve come to the conclusion tt I like mango the most. It is by far the topping I find most agreeable. But the ice doesn’t just come with 3 flavours of toppings. It is almost drenched with evaporated milk beneath the toppings - which I love as well - and generous helpings of cubees and jelly like thingies at the bottom, which should definitely appeal to mango going lovers. Finally, it comes crowned with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

And you know what? I loved this dessert. It had almost everything I wanted. I’m not into chinese food at all but I love ice cream. And the shaved ice was to me, the right consistency. Not too chunky tt the ice was rather dry and hard to swallow, but not too fine tt the whole thing melted too fast for my liking. And I love how the evaporated milk softens the ice and how the ice-cream compliments the flavoured toppings. Finally, I like having mango around, and trust me, this much ice cannot go wrong in making an ice-maniac like me ecstatically happy.

Of course, it was a little too big for one person, and I realised tt belatedly after ending up rather bloated on monster-size ice-kachang. Full, but very very happy. =)

I’m definitely coming back to order the toast bread and the milk ice and the baked spaghetti dishes.



clarissa xoxo

It means the world to me

When you touch my cheek
When you gaze lovingly at me
My knees go simply weak

It means the world to me
When I make you smile
When you laugh out loud
My heart beats on for miles

It means the world to me
When you hold my hand
When we love each other
Then we understand

It means the world to me
When we share our love
When we lie in each others’ arms
With the stars above

What does your name mean ?

C is for Captivating
L is for Logical
A is for Alluring
R is for Remarkable
I is for Influential
S is for Strong
S is for Stunning
A is for Alert
E is for Enchanting
L is for Loving
I is for Inspirational
Z is for Zealous
A is for Artistic
B is for Bold
E is for Edgy
T is for Thrilling
H is for Heavenly
W is for Wild
E is for Enlightened
D is for Dedicated
E is for Elegant
M is for Marvelous
E is for Enjoyable
Y is for Yummy
E is for Extreme
R is for Revolutionary

Love , Peace and hip hop in Japan knees style'

ahh well, i have always wanna be a fashion deisignerina, but scored a bad score in art and it made me lose all hope in art. I still free -lance my skills ona' probono basis, mainly my arty farty works consis't of dogs and dogs.

yeah babe' it i s' al; cummings bak to' me now yeah ///

Think along ze lines of booming bass lines, punchy rap lyrics, baggy clothes, converted Cadillacs and big gold (for blacks only) jewellery, and you might think you were on the streets of Los Angeles.However, in Tokyo it has become increasingly difficult to avoid the music and fashion more closely associated with the American urban ghetto.


Hip-hop, which always enjoyed underground popularity in Tokyo's nightclubs, joined the mainstream when Japan's own, home-grown rap stars started producing hits. Its profile has enjoyed such a surge that it can claim to be the music of choice for young Tokyoites who cram the streets of Shibuya, the city's epicentre for youth culture.

Guinness Records is just one of the many Shibuya record shops enjoying a boom in business. At weekends the shop is packed with record-hunters out for the latest releases. The store manager, Hideaki Tamura, cannot believe how popular Japanese hip-hop has become: "Japanese hip-hop really exploded in the last two, three years. I never thought there would be a time when Japanese records could outsell American ones but it's happening," he said. Mr Tamura believes the secret behind its success lies in Japanese hip-hop artists starting to do their own thing rather than copying their US counterparts. "I think the secret behind the popularity is that Japanese hip-hop lyrics matured. Before they used to copy American gangster rap singing about guns and violence, which there isn't too much of in Japan," he said. "Now they've realised it strikes more of a chord with listeners singing about reality. A lot of it is peaceful, about everyday life - poetic even. I think people started to relate to what was being sung. I don't think it will be long before a Japanese hip-hop artist becomes famous around the world," he said.

The popularity of the music is also affecting the way Tokyo's youth are dressing. Shibuya's streets are lined with immaculately dressed boys and girls looking just like their favourite hip-hop stars. Big baggy clothes and baseball caps are definitely in vogue. Asumi Sato, a 22-year-old student living in Tokyo, has only recently caught the hip-hop bug. "Everyone in Tokyo seems to be into hip-hop now. But it's not just the music. I think many people love the fashion side of it," she said. "The clothes look good on boys and cute on girls. All my friends dress in a hip-hop style."



There are more than 300 shops selling hip-hop clothes in central Tokyo alone. Down the road from Shibuya is Harajuku where a new store called Kraft has just opened. Keisuke Iwamoto, who works in the shop, said business had been good since opening. "This shop specialises in imported clothes from America - all big and baggy. We've enjoyed good business since opening in the summer," he said.

However, Tokyo's youth are notoriously fickle when it comes to fashion and music. Writer Carlo Niederberger believes it is only a matter of time before the next big thing comes around. "It's true that hip-hop is very popular. It's definitely fashion based, a lot of kids in their teens have all the clothes and the looks to go with the music. So when the fashion dies out so will the music too," he said. "The nature of society in Japan is such that if a fad starts it booms, it becomes very big and one day it dies, very quickly. "I think the music industry will follow the market and where the money is.



If hip-hop and black culture decreases in popularity, which it may well do, the music industry will take action," Mr Niederberger said. But unlike most fads before it, Japanese hip-hop is not just staying on the streets, but is making its way into the nation's homes. This suggests that it is no longer music and fashion for just the cool urban types, but that this trend could beat the odds and stay around a little longer.

The 5 minute interview with Clarissa Elizabeth Wong

If I weren't talking to you right now, I'd be...

Watching reruns of "Little Britain " and "Supernanny" and trying to enuanciate each word and follow Andy's every movement. Each episode of 'Little Britain', I learnt about an internal organ, disease or an unpronounceable medical word. You just never know when you'll need it for Scrabble.

A phrase I use far too often is...
"How much is this ? " and "Fuck off ". I mean all of them but get teased about using them too much.

I wish people would take more notice of...
World Aids Day. An awareness and communication are two of the ways we can stop this disease.

The most surprising thing that happened to me...
Was chatting up with Steven Lim from Singapore Idol .

A common misperception of me is...
That woman with big breasts don't have brains. Luckily, I have both. Its just that i am humble and i don't want to make you feel stupid. Duh !

I'm not a politician but...
I'd like to be. I'd like to be a politician so that people felt glad they'd voted for because they see results that benefit them personally.

I'm good at...

folding paper aeroplanes.

But I'm very bad at...
talking to those cocks.

The ideal night out is...
One that includes a yacht with dinner comprising of delicious French and /or European finest food.Which means it has to have Italy truffles , caviar and smoked salmon and free flow of Fruit Punch. Hey , i am not cheap !

In a moment of weakness I...

i agreed to come back to work on Saturday .


That's me.

Best regards,
Clarissa Elizabeth Wong
July 2007

Bart Simpson Blackboard punishment

Blackboard punishment

Since I have a ton of homework and coursework to do, I have just listed the funnest backboard lines that Bart writes as there are over 200 episodes

I will not instigate revolution
I will not draw naked ladies in class
I did not see Elvis
I will not yell "Fire" in a crowded classroom
They are laughing at me, not with me
I will not encourage others to fly
I will not belch the National Anthem
I will not sell land in Florida
High explosives and school don't mix
I will not bribe Principal Skinner
Underwear should be worn on the inside
The Christmas Pageant does not stink
I will not torment the emotionally frail
I will not carve gods
I will not barf unless I'm sick
I will not expose the ignorance of the faculty
I saw nothing unusual in the teacher's lounge
I will not conduct my own fire drills
Funny noises are not funny
I will not spin the turtle
I will not snap bras
I will not fake seizures
This punishment is not boring and pointless
My name is not Dr. Death
I will not bring sheep to class
A burp is not an answer
Teacher is not a leper
The principal's toupee is not a Frisbee
I will not call the principal "spud head"
Goldfish don't bounce
Mud is not one of the 4 food groups
No one is interested in my underpants
I will not sell miracle cures
I will return the seeing-eye dog
I will not charge admission to the bathroom
I am not authorized to fire substitute teachers
My homework was not stolen by a one-armed man
Organ transplants are best left to the professionals
The Pledge of Allegiance does not end with Hail Satan
I will not celebrate meaningless milestones
There are plenty of businesses like show business
I will not re-transmit without the express permission of Major League Baseball
Five days is not too long to wait for a gun
Beans are neither fruit nor musical
I will not send lard through the mail
I will not dissect things unless instructed
Ralph won't "morph" if you squeeze him hard enough
Adding "just kidding" doesn't make it okay to insult the Principal
"Bagman" is not a legitimate career choice
Cursive writing does not mean what I think it does
Next time it could be me on the scaffolding
I will not strut around like I own the place
The Good Humor man can only be pushed so far
I do not have power of attorney over first graders
Nerve gas is not a toy
I will not mock Mrs. Dumbface
The First Amendment does not cover burping
"Bewitched" does not promote Satanism
No one wants to hear from my armpits
I am not a lean mean spitting machine
The boys room is not a water park
Indian burns are not our cultural heritage
I will stop talking about the twelve inch pianist
I am not certified to remove asbestos
I did not learn everything I need to know in kindergarten
I am not my long-lost twin
I will not hide the teacher's Prozac
I will not lie in front of the school bus with ketchup on my face
A fire drill does not demand a fire
There was no Roman god named "Fartacus"
Rudolph's red nose is not alcohol-related
Shooting paintballs is not an art form
My butt does not deserve a website
"butt.butt" is not my E-mail address
"The President did it" is not an excuse
It does not suck to be you
I have neither been there nor done that
Fridays are not "pants optional"
I did not win the Nobel Fart Prize
I won't not use no double negatives
I can't see dead people
My suspension was not "mutual"
A belch is not an oral report
Dodgeball stops at the gym door
"Non-Flammable" is not a challenge
I was not touched "there" by an angel
I am not here on a fartball scholarship
I will not dance on anyone's grave
I cannot hire a substitute student
I will not obey the voices in my head
I will not surprise the incontinent
I was not the sixth Beatle
I will only provide a urine sample when asked
Science class should not end in tragedy
I will not "let the dogs out"
I will not hide the teacher's medication
The hamster did not have "a full life"
I will not flush evidence
I should not be twenty-one by now (He would be 21 in the 12th season if he was 10 in the first season, which ended in 1990, and he aged normally)

Established August 2001 ©Copyright H. Bedford. All Rights Reserved.

Things

Things you never get is always the best and the most perfect.

People you can't have is always the one you regret not having.

Sweet memory was yesterday it becomes a knife today.

I am so beautiful and don't hate me

---------------------------------------


1. What swear word do you use the most?

ShitBollocksTitsArse, all in one breath. I don't use anything more provocative unless I really really need to make a point.

2. Do you own an iPod?

Nope...not a big fan of Apple products...It's crap anyway. Everyone knows Creative Zen is better...I am expecting to receive an MP3 player at some point of time though.

3. Who on your MySpace Top 8 do you talk to the most?

I'm really slow when it comes to keeping up with my messages.

4. What time is your alarm clock set for?

5.00am during the week...I don't set an alarm for the weekends unless I need to be doing something important and my dog is my alarm clock. He will bark when the newspaper delivery ugly guy comes .And i know that is 5.00am .


5. What color is your room?

Erm...just let me scrape the dirt off them walls to find out...Hehe...Actually, it's really a prwetty room. I am hoping to get my own place soon, and haven't quite decided on the colours yet. But don't start panicking, I have impeccable taste!

6. Flip-flops or sneakers?

Depends on what I'm wearing...Both are equally comfy..I much prefer sexy shoes/ heels.I have like a 3 cupboards of bags and shoes .

7. Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture?

I am veyr photogenic so that 'll be me in the picture . Thanks and me on the posters and the billboards too.

8. What was the last movie you watched?

Harry Potter . It was so boring that i fell asleep in the cinema and wasted my $9.50...

9. Do any of your friends have children?

Yeap and they loved me.

10. Has anyone ever called you lazy?

Moi? Lazy? Never!!!

11. Do you ever take medication to make you fall asleep faster?

No .never.

12. What CD is currently in your CD player?

Travis and Linkin Park .

13. Do you prefer regular milk or chocolate milk?

Both, so long as they are full-fat and creamy!

14. Has anyone told you a secret this week?

I've heard a few things I prolly shouldn't repeat on pain of death...

15. Have you ever given someone a hickey?

Yes.

16. Who was the last person to call you?

Me breast friend , Fiza.

17. Do you think people talk about you behind your back?

You've got to be pretty naive to believe that never happens...Basically, if someone bitches about other people behind their backs, they're prolly doing the same to you too. Having said that, most of my close friends would never say anything behind my back they wouldn't dare say to my face (and vice versa)...That's why they're me chums!

18. Did you watch cartoons as a child?

I still do!!! LOL

19. How many siblings do you have?

A brother 7 years younger than me, and several honourary sisters by virtue of very strong friendship.

20. Are you shy around the opposite sex?

I can pretend to be .

21. What movie do you know every line to?

None.Could have been Trainspottting perhaps but i just don't stand Irvine Welsh Edinburgh 's accent. It's like this : " Tie readin' hs boks ard ya wil' know wy tad wat her writs annd ya 'be ' havic aar hard timny readin' it ya ! i hadd to writt evy liner to unnstod wat he was tryer to sayer. "

22. Do you own any band t-shirts?

Um does Hashish count as a band t-shirt ??but if anyone wants t-shirts designing, I'm the woman for the job!

23. What is your favorite salad dressing?

I love my Balsamic vinegar with goat cheese, garlic croutons ,Blue Cheese, Honey Mustard, French, Olive Oil with Balsamic Vinegar, all make rabbit food more appealing to me. Basically i will add like half a bowl of balsamic Vinegar to dip my bread and steak and chicken slices into it . It is the italian side of me . haha
I grew up on spaghetti and pizza . Yes blame my mum and aunty for cooking all these for me. Its never my fault. I never like Chinese food. I still hate it. Gimme my foie gras and cheese fondue and Kebabs anytime.

24. Do you read for fun?

I always have my head buried in a book...I'll read anything, me...Sometimes, I think I read a little too fast 'cos I keep running out of books to devour! I go Borders on a good day and i finish 20 magazines and 5 books at a time! Every week ....Now i am into Aristotle and Philosophy ....

25. Do you cry a lot?

Not lately unless you bully me...

26. Who was the last person to text message you?

Fiza lor ...complaining to me about her relationship spubbles. On a brighter note, I have also been informed that I get 1200 free text messages this month...Whoopee!!! Let's flex them fingers!

27. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop?

I have 3 desktops at home. 2 high-end pooters for working on (sort of), and one other lying around waiting to be cannibalised for spare parts.

28. Are you currently wanting any tattoos or piercings?

Addicted to piercings...Used to have a pink metal bar on my belly button (i still have the metal bar i tot i threw it away ) , and 2 rings through the top of my left ear and 1 ring on right ear.

I do, however, plan to get another tattoo on my front belly . To add to my beautiful collection . I'll be using a searched from internet "tribal design" in this image, but in blue with white highlights, and with the wispy vine a little extended so it reaches down to my bottom, and curls seductively around that new little pink-coloured butterfly-shaped tattoo on my left of lower back.

29. What is the weather like?

Ho hum...Hot and humid...Believe me, it won't last.Then raining when you just about to leave the house and office.

30. Would you ever date someone covered in tattoos?

Of course. It is my fantasy . Provide they are less than 33 years old amd depends on how tasteful the designs are. But strictly No cartoons or pictures of Kermit the Frog or Bart Simpson.

31. Is sex before marriage wrong?

Only if you think it is.

(Or if you're still a kid!)

32. When was the last time you slept on the floor?

Yesterday when I had a fight with the dog . He won and he kicked me off the bed ...Does that count?

33. How many hours of sleep do you need to function?

24 x 7...The only time I ever accomplish anything note-worthy is in my dreams...Once awake, my brain immediately takes itself off on vacation.

34. Are you in love or lust?

Both.



35. Are your days full and fast-paced?

At the moment, yes...It's just how I like it. Being busy makes me feel me a sense of achievement.

36. Do you pay attention to calories on the back of packages?

You mean they have calories info on that ?? I only look at the flavour and the expiry dates and the price tags .

37. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?

I will be 31 in September...Getting old is contagious.

38. Are you picky about spelling or grammar?

Yes, as you can tell from my homepage and blogs.and i always correct other people's pronounciation until they are fucking fed up of me.

39. Have you ever been to Six Flags?

Nope not the one in california . Instead i chose to go to Anaheim disneyland though and sneak into Minnie mouse house when she wasn't looking and took many pictures . I had long hair until the buttocks that time . Perhaps 13 years old .I went USA with my mummy and brother.



40. Do you get along better with members of the same sex or the opposite sex?

I get along with to equal numbers of both...I tend to be really wary of men to begin with, but once it's obvious that they're either gay, non-pervs, or totally in love with someone else, I find that they make really brilliant mates...sometimes better than female friends...They're more laid back (mostly), more fun, make more sense, and usually share more of the same interests with me than women...I always wish I had more brothers.

41. Do you like cottage cheese?

It's alright, but I prefer other kinds of cheese (lame humour not included).

42. Do you sleep on your side, tummy or back?

All three. I perform several of my best acrobatic feats in my sleep.

43. Have you ever bid for something on eBay?

I am worried that people will cheat me of my $20. One guy most certainly ask me for money to invest say $200 and kept pestering me to buy his Made in Germany beauty cream .

44. Do you enjoy giving hugs?

I only give hugs to the love of my life... tightly,
Hey Steven , i know you are reading this and smiling (giggling ) to yourself.


45. What song did you last sing out loud?

Pussycat dolls buttons and Rihanna Umbrella.

46. What is your favorite television show?

You really don't know what you're asking of me...How am I supposed to choose one out of all these channels?

I'm still a fan of Buffy/Angel, Roswell High, Father Ted, Fools & Horses, League of Gentlemen, Black Adder, X Files, Friends, Ally McBeal, Red Dwarf (see what I mean?), Little Britain, Da Ge Da (Taiwanese programme), but am currently into 24 (my adrenaline fix), Corrie, Dr Who, Gadget Show, and Top Gear...Oh, the list is endless...I also love documentaries, and thought Brainiac was brilliant.

47. Which celebrity, dead or alive, would you want to have lunch with?

At the moment, Pamela Anderson, i like to see her breasts.

48. Last time you had butterflies in your stomach?

Everytime I think of Steven , my boyfriend, ...More than 30 days on, and he's still my sweetie!

(But geez, does he snore!!!)

49. Name one thing do you wish you had?

Er...magic powers?

Wishful thinking aside, I'll settle for anything from my Wishlist...Did I mention it'll be my birthday soon? Plenty of time for you to get me something...Just click the TTIW button in the sidebar on the right.

50. Favorite song lyrics?

Travis - Closer

17 signs that you are falling in love.

SEVENTEEN:

U LOOK AT THEIR PROFILE/PICTURE CONSTANTLY



SIXTEEN:

WHEN YOUR ON THE PHONE WITH THEM LATE AT NIGHT AND THEY HANG UP, YOU STILL MISS THEM EVEN WHEN IT WAS JUST TWO SECONDS AGO.



FIFTEEN:

YOU READ THEIR TEXTS or SMS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.



FOURTEEN:

YOU WALK REALLY SLOW WHEN YOU'RE WITH THEM



THIRTEEN:

YOU FEEL SHY WHENEVER THEY'RE AROUND.



ELEVEN:

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THEM, YOUR HEART BEATS FASTER AND SLOWER AT THE SAME TIME



TEN:

YOU SMILE WHEN YOU HEAR THEIR VOICE.



NINE:

WHEN YOU lOOK AT THEM, YOU CAN'T SEE THE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND YOU, All YOU SEE IS HIM//HER.



EIGHT:

YOU START LISTENING TO SLOW SONGS, WHILE THINKING OF THEM



SEVEN:

THEY'RE ALL YOU THINK ABOUT.



SIX:

YOU GET HIGH JUST FROM THEIR SCENT.



FIVE:

YOU REALlIZE THAT YOU'RE AlWAYS SMILING TO YOURSELF WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THEM.



FOUR:

YOU WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THEM, OR ANYTHING TO SEE THEM.



THREE:

WHILE READING THIS, THERE WAS ONE PERSON ON YOUR MIND THE WHOLE TIME...



TWO:

You were so busy thinking about that person, you didnt notice number twelve.



ONE:

You just scrolled up to check & are now silentely laughing at yourself.

Steven and me at Kbox Cineleisure

Apple MacBook Pros go Santa Rosa

The new range of MacBook Pros are definitely something to shout about, as the 15" model boasts a mercury-free, power-efficient LED-backlit display while the 17" model has an optional high-resolution display. Both MacBook Pros come with an integrated iSight video camera, Apple's MagSafe power adapter, integrated 802.11n WiFi connectivity, and Intel's latest Santa Rosa platform. The 22GHz 15" MacBook Pro, 2.4GHz 15" MacBook Pro, and 2.4GHz 17" MacBook Pro will retail for $1,999, $2,499, and $2,799 respectively. More details on their specifications will be available after the jump.



Specifications for 2.2 GHz 15" MacBook Pro:
• 15.4" widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 LCD display
• 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• A slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive
• NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 128MB GDDR3 memory
• DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included, Composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately)
• Built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30" Cinema HD Display
• Built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot
• Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, and one FireWire 400 port
• One audio line in and one headphone out port, each supporting optical digital audio
• Scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard
• Infrared Apple Remote
• 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter

Specifications for 2.4GHz 15" MacBook Pro:
• 15.4" widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 LCD display
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• A slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive
• NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB GDDR3 memory
• DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included, Composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately)
• Built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30" Cinema HD Display
• Built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot
• Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, and one FireWire 400 port
• One audio line in and one headphone out port, each supporting optical digital audio
• Scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard
• Infrared Apple Remote
• 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter

Specifications for 2.4GHz 17" MacBook Pro:
• 17" widescreen 1680 x 1050 LCD display
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• A slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive
• NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB GDDR3 memory
• DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included, Composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately)
• Built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30" Cinema HD Display
• Built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot
• Three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, and one FireWire 400 port
• One audio line in and one headphone out port, each supporting optical digital audio
• Scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard
• Infrared Apple Remote
• 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter

Sony Vaio Santa Rosa CR Notebook

Finally, a notebook in my favourite color and a colour to match my makeup, fingernails and toe nails .....

Press Release
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/more-santa-rosa-goodies/sony-reveals-hidden-stash-of-vaio-cr-santa-rosa-notebooks-267056.php



Sony UNVEILS Powerful Notebooks In BOLD COLORS SAN DIEGO, June 11, 2007 Sony today introduced a new line of thin lightweight notebooks featuring eye-popping colors and a chic design. Sporting a luxurious, glossy finish and framed with a silver, luminous trim, the VAIO® CR notebooks reflect style and taste. They are available in five fashion-forward colors --sangria, cosmopolitan, dove, indigo and black (matte finish). Personalized extras are abundant throughout. A uniquely configured keyboard is comfortable to use, while a specialized keyboard font adds a fun touch. An LED pulsates beneath the notebook's trim reflecting what the PC is doing -- booting up, powering down, hibernating -- and glowing and fading accordingly. Completing the look, each CR notebook comes with its own funky VAIO branded wallpaper and optional color-coordinated carrying bag and mouse. "Just like the car you drive, notebooks today are an extension of your personality" said Mike Abary, senior vice president of VAIO product marketing for Sony Electronics in the United States. "As such, users expect their PC to reflect their creativity and individuality, as well as handle their spreadsheets." Get Moving, Get Noticed Weighing just 5.5 pounds (with a standard battery), the CR model is portable enough to take just about anywhere. The PC is backed by Intel® Centrino® Duo processor technology with plenty of power for high-speed performance and an energy-efficient design for computing on-the-go. -more- Whether surfing the web at a coffee shop or on the couch, the unit's built-in 802.11n wireless LAN capabilities make it faster and easier to connect to wireless networks with greater performance, range and reliability than ever before. The notebook comes pre-installed with Windows Vista™ Home Premium operating system (with the Windows Vista Business edition optional). Portable Entertainment Paradise Equipped with a 14.1-inch widescreen display (measured diagonally) and Sony's XBRITE-ECO™ LCD technology, a CD/DVD player/burner and a set of speakers, the CR model is an easy way to take your entertainment with you. Instant-on mode and A/V controls provide on-demand access to media content. Select the "instant mode" button just above the keyboard and go straight to watching a movie, playing music, or viewing photos without ever booting-up the operating system. A complete set of multimedia controls make content navigation a breeze. The PC comes loaded with LocationFree® software so you can "place-shift" live TV, access your personal video recorder or DVD player, and view that content on your notebook via the Internet. A base station and broadband connectivity is required, which is sold separately. A built-in digital camera and microphone let you quickly snap photos and participate in live video chats. You can create, manage and share your photos and home movies, as well. The PC comes with a suite of multimedia tools for easy backup of data, photos, music and videos including DVgatePlus™ and Click to DVD® software for creating customized DVDs. Importing and editing digital content is easy too. Simply transfer photos from a device such like a digital camera using Memory Stick Duo™, Memory Stick Pro™ , SD card or ExpressCard™ media slots, an i.LINK® IEEE 1394 port or USB ports, and organize them into albums or create slideshows. The model also includes an S-video port, making it convenient to connect to a compatible television set and watch a DVD or play games on the big screen. Sony VAIO CR notebooks will be available at the end of June starting at about $1,350. Pre-orders begin online today at www.sonystyle.com/pr/cr and at Sony Style® stores (black model online only). Select colors will be available at retail and military base exchange outlets nationwide. ###


If Sony's last crop of notebooks proved to be too rich for your blood, their new VAIO CR series might be what you're looking for. For starters, they're based on Intel's Santa Rosa platform, so we're talking the latest tech here. They have 14.1-inch (WXGA) screens, which means you won't go blind trying to read text, but you also won't break your back lugging the system back and forth.

Power
As for power, they'll pack one of Intel's Core 2 Duo CPUs (1.8GHz) paired with 2GB of RAM. Graphics are unfortunately integrated, though luckily Sony includes built-in 802.11n wireless LAN. There's also a built-in webcam, optical drive and a tray-less keyboard (yeah, we know, just like the MacBook). Overall, it's a sweet system that'll start at around $1,350 and come in 5 shades (from sangria to white). Would I pick it over the Blu-ray lappie? Yup, but only 'cause I like the easily luggable notebooks. – Louis Ramirez

my latest phone

HP ipaq 512

HP iPAQ 512, a sleek and small smartphone that delivers a flexible wireless email experience for business customers through convenient voice control and hands-free operation.

The HP iPAQ 512 Voice Messenger features voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) capabilities, push email and the latest Windows Mobile 6 operating system. With up to six hours of continuous talk time on a fully charged battery, the HP iPAQ Voice Messenger also leads the competition in battery life. As the first in HP’s new smartphone lineup, the HP iPAQ 512 helps highly mobile professionals stay connected wherever they are.

More than 20 voice commands available on the iPAQ offer customers hands-free operation. Using a powerful Voice reply feature, people can reply to email by dictating and sending a voice response, without the need for any typing. Users also can listen to email and text messages, navigate through phone and calendar tasks and speak to start applications.

Additionally, the HP iPAQ Voice Messenger has built-in Wi-Fi to provide business customers a VoIP alternative to traditional office phone setups. By integrating the HP iPAQ Voice Messenger with office phone systems, businesses can eliminate the need for desk phones and benefit from streamlined communications and reduced IT management. The smartphone also includes GSM/EDGE and Bluetooth wireless technology connectivity options.

Based on the new Windows Mobile 6 platform, the HP iPAQ 512 provides business professionals with an enhanced Outlook Mobile experience, allowing customers to view emails in their original HTML format and enjoy quick access to contacts with the ability to search a call history and contacts database. Plus, the built-in Microsoft Office Mobile suite provides customers with a familiar, easy-to-use experience.

The HP iPAQ Voice Messenger is the first iPAQ device to offer the over-the-air device management capabilities that HP acquired with its purchase of Bitfone Corp. With these capabilities, businesses can remotely manage and support the HP iPAQ devices performance, security and access to applications, data and networks. For example, IT managers can remotely erase data on lost or misplaced devices, configure and repair units, and provide updates and security applications.

Additionally, on-the-go professionals can enjoy rich digital entertainment features such as listening to music, watching videos, playing games, and capturing and sharing photos wirelessly.


CNET editor's review >>>>

Here it is: The first Windows Mobile 6 smart phone, and it comes from none other than HP. It's a good choice for mobile professionals who want to keep on top of their e-mail and occasionally work on documents while on the road. The HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger is a departure from the company's other smart phones as it focuses more on voice features and fills a void in its mobile device lineup, falling somewhere between its workhorse Pocket PC phones and standalone PDAs. Comparable to the Cingular 2125 or the T-Mobile SDA, the iPaq 510 looks and feels like a cell phone with its compact design; consequently, the controls are a touch cramped. However, this design flaw is tempered slightly by the fact that the smart phone has outstanding voice-command capabilities and convenient shortcuts to frequently used programs.

Of course, the other big news here is the new operating system. The HP iPaq 510 runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition (formerly known as Smartphone Edition), which brings the full Mobile Office Suite for working on the go as well as enhanced e-mail capabilities, Windows Vista synchronization, and more. Though we've only had a couple of days with our review unit, we've been impressed so far with the new capabilities and the iPaq 510's performance. We're still running it through our CNET Labs test, however, so we'll update the performance section as soon as we have results.

HP has not made any carrier announcements at the time of this writing, but as a quadband GSM phone, it'll either be Cingular or T-Mobile. In addition, the company said it will start selling unlocked versions of the HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger some time in the spring, with prices starting around $299. Who knows how many other Windows Mobile 6 smart phones will have cropped up by then, and though we're not completely sold on the design, we think the HP iPaq 510 is off to a good start.

Design
Out of all the company's smart phones, the HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger most resembles a traditional cell phone. Unlike the HP iPaq hw6900 series, the candy bar phone iPaq 510 is compact and lightweight at 4.6x2.8x0.7 inches and 5.8 ounces, and the overall design reminded us a lot of the Sony Ericsson K790a. The iPaq 510 certainly doesn't earn many style points with its utilitarian design and basic color scheme of charcoal gray and black. That said, it's completely appropriate for its intended audience of mobile professionals. In general, the HP iPaq 510 has a solid construction and feels comfortable in the hand and when held up to the ear.

On front of the device, there is a 2-inch-diagonal TFT screen that displays 65,000 colors at a disappointing 176x220 pixel resolution. Though text and images were clear, the iPaq 510's screen simply didn't have the crispness and pop like the displays found on the Cingular 2125 or T-Mobile SDA. Also, we noticed it had a tendency to hold a lot of smudges and fingerprints. The good news is we could still read the screen contents even under harsh lighting.


We should note that the HP iPaq 510 runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition, and like Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone Edition before it, this version of the OS doesn't support touch screens, so you'll have to navigate the phone through the controls below the display. At your disposal are the standard talk and end/power buttons, two soft keys, a home page shortcut, a back button, a four-way directional keypad with a center select button, and of course, the numeric keypad. Now, here's where the smart phone's compact size works against it. The layout of the controls and dial pad is cramped, so it'll take some finesse to press the right button. It was very reminiscent of our experience with the T-Mobile SDA, and even with our smaller hands, we still had problems hitting the right key or texting without errors, so we can only imagine it'll be more difficult for those with larger thumbs. The keys also are a bit stiff, but looking on the bright side, they are adequately backlit.


The phone's interface combines some of the old and some of the new. The Today screen keeps the layout of Windows Mobile 5 devices, but the icons and font have more of a Windows Vista look and feel about it; you'll also notice this in the Start menu. HP has done a really nice thing by adding a Shortcuts menu at the bottom of the Today screen, where you can easily launch frequently used applications or functions with a click of a button. This is a huge time-saver as one of the biggest complaints about the Windows Mobile operating system is the number of steps it takes just to complete one task.

Other controls and design features include a volume rocker, a microSD slot, and a 2.5mm headset jack on the left spine, a voice-command launch key on the right, and a mini USB port on the bottom edge. Also, on the back of the smart phone, you will find the speaker, camera lens, and self-portrait mirror.


HP packages the iPaq 510 Voice Messenger with a USB cable, an AC adapter, a wired stereo headset, reference material, and a companion CD. A belt holster would have been nice, but the handset is small enough to easily slip into a pants pocket. However, if you're throwing it into your bag or purse, you might want to think about investing in some kind of protective case.

Features
As the name would imply, the HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger is all about delivering voice features. The iPaq 510 is a quadband world phone so you can use it overseas. The address book is only limited by the available memory (the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts), and you can store up to 12 numbers for a single entry as well as home and work addresses, e-mail, IM screen name, birthday, spouse's name, and more. For caller ID purposes, you can pair a contact with a photo, a caller group, or one of 28 ringtones.

A new contact function that comes with the arrival of Windows Mobile 6 is that call history is now sorted to the appropriate contact page, so you can easily see when you received and made calls to that specific person, time of call, duration, and so forth. (There is a traditional call history list as well.) Also, the new OS provides a quick Send text message shortcut so with one click, you can be on your way to text message heaven rather than having to go through several steps. Other phone highlights of the iPaq 510 include a vibrate mode, a speakerphone, speed dialing, conference calling, and VoIP support.

We're not done with the voice features quite yet. One of the coolest things about this smart phone is its advanced voice-command functions. The iPaq 510's Voice Commander is one of the best voice-command systems we've seen to date. It's easy to use with no training required and more importantly, it actually works. Plus, you can use it to perform a number of tasks, such as making calls, opening applications, and playing music. You even can compose and send an e-mail, and then your recipient will receive an audio file (no speech-to-text functionality yet) in his or her in-box with your message. There are just more than 20 commands in total. We tested a variety of them, and rarely did we have to repeat ourselves to get the right command. Speaking at your phone might seem geeky, but we can't deny the ease and convenience of calling up tasks by barking out a quick command, rather than going through several layers of menus.

Moving on to regular ol' messaging, the e-mail experience on the iPaq 510 is much more enhanced, thanks to Windows Mobile 6. First, it ships with Microsoft's Direct Push technology so you get real-time e-mail delivery and automatic synchronization with your Outlook calendar, tasks, and contacts via the Exchange Server. Microsoft has also added nine new one-click shortcuts; plus, you get more of the true Outlook experience as your Inbox view shows messages that are flagged, marked as high importance, and so forth, and you don't have to comb through all your messages just to find that one e-mail you need. A new search function allows you to simply start typing in a word while in your Inbox, and it will automatically pull up messages with that term. There is, of course, continued support for POP3 and IMAP accounts, but now you can view e-mails in their original HTML format, regardless of account type. If there happens to be a hyperlink within a message, you can select to go to that page or if a phone number is listed, you can dial out directly from that message as well.

The integration of Windows Live for Mobile brings not only your Hotmail and Windows Live e-mail accounts to the device, but the Messenger client and search capabilities as well. Of the former, we wish we weren't restricted to only that instant-messaging client. The search function is extremely useful, however, for quick Web results, and you have the option of installing a Live search toolbar on the Today screen for even easier access.

To do all that Web browsing, you, of course, need wireless options, and the HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger has integrated Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) as well as Bluetooth 1.2 for connecting to wireless headsets, car kits, and other peripherals. There also is a new Internet Sharing utility, courtesy of Windows Mobile 6, that allows you to easily set up your phone as a wireless modem for your laptop via Bluetooth, or you can use a USB connection as well. Sadly, there is no 3G support for this smart phone.

The HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger was designed to help mobile professionals, and now they can be even more productive on the go with the addition of the Mobile Office Suite. Whereas Windows Mobile 5 smart phones typically came installed with the Picsel Viewer Suite opening and viewing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents, Windows Mobile 6 brings the real deal to the iPaq 510 so you can not only see said files but also edit them. Of note, the PowerPoint edit capabilities are pretty much limited to changing playback options. We were able to transfer all three document types using ActiveSync 4.5 and had no problems viewing them. Admittedly, trying to edit manuscripts and spreadsheets without a touch screen and a QWERTY keyboard was a bit challenging. Business users might be interested to know that Windows Mobile 6 includes new mobile versions of the .NET Compact Framework and SQL Server so you can access sales tools and other relevant apps.

Windows Mobile 6 didn't bring any major changes in the multimedia department, so your experience will be much of the same as it would be on a Windows Mobile 5 device. The HP iPaq 510 has a 1.3-megapixel camera with video-recording capabilities and a 6x digital zoom. All the standard options are there, including brightness and white balance settings, five resolutions, and three shooting modes for still images. Your choices are drastically reduced, however, when recording video. Picture quality was mediocre. There was a grainy look to images, but colors were relatively bright.

Finally, the HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger offers a number of other useful utilities, PIM tools, and games. The Resource Manager and Space Manager found in the Accessories folder are particularly handy as they show you your battery strength and how much memory you have available. The Space Manager also has a menu where you can erase such items as call history and voice notes to free up device storage. Overall, the iPaq 510 has 128MB flash ROM and 64MB SDRAM with about 65MB available for storage and 44MB for program memory.

Performance
We tested the quadband (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; GPRS/EDGE) HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger in San Francisco using Cingular service, and call quality was good overall. On a couple of occasions, our friends' voices sounded garbled but for the most part we enjoyed clear calls with no interference. On the other end, our callers said we sounded great, and they couldn't tell we were using a cell phone. Unfortunately, once we activated the speakerphone, things took a bit of a dive. We had a hard time hearing the conversation, and our callers said we sounded far away and repeatedly asked us to speak up. Pairing with a Bluetooth headset was a cinch, as we easily connected the smart phone with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Headset.

Overall, the iPaq 510 offered swift performance. Whether we were working on Office documents, activating the camera, or performing other tasks, the device was always responsive. Web browsing was also great. Pages loaded within seconds, and the new Favorites and History listing was quite convenient. The multimedia experience was lacking, however. Music playback through the phone's speakers was awful. Video performance was OK, but the screen was really too small to enjoy anything beyond a minute.

HP claims that the iPaq 510 leads the competition in battery life with a rated 6.5 hours of continuous talk time and up to 7.8 days of standby time. We're still conducting our CNET Labs tests to see if this holds true, and we'll update this section as soon as we have results. That said, we've already seen a number of smart phones, such as the previously mentioned Cingular 2125 and T-Mobile SDA, pass the 6.5 hour mark.

Scratch Simulator

Scratch Simulator - Flash Game
Add Games to your own site	More Flash Games!

June 1st 2007