Neuroscience has learned much about the brain’s activity and its link to certain thoughts. As Lesley Stahl reports, it may now be possible, on a basic level, to read a person’s mind. Watch the CBS video and find out how the scientists use the technology to read your mind.

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard:

JetStar’s latest Chinese New Year promotion:

• Singapore to Kuala Lumpur $33
• Singapore to Kota Kinabalu $48
• Singapore to Kuching $48
• Singapore to Medan $68
• Singapore to Bangkok $78
• Singapore to Phnom Penh $78
• Singapore to Jakarta $78
• Singapore to Siem Reap $88
• Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City $88
• Singapore to Surabaya $88
• Singapore to Denpasar (Bali) $98
• Singapore to Macau $108
• Singapore to Hong Kong $128
• Singapore to Manila $128
• Singapore to Taipei $228

Book between 6 - 11 Jan 2009 (both dates inclusive) and travel between 1 Feb - 15 May 2009 only. Fares quoted are on one way basis and include airport taxes, fuel, insurance and administrative surcharges.

• First flight to Kuching takes off from 1st March 2009.
• Seats are subjected to availability and fares may not be available for peak periods and public holiday.
• A service fee of $10 per way is applicable for booking through Singpost, Call Centre and travel agents.
• Applicable to Jetstar (3K) and Valuair (VF) flights from Singapore.
• Bookings made cannot be transferred, refunded or cancelled.
• Terms and conditions are subjected to changes without prior notice.

Book your ticket now.

You can now order Pizza Hut food at Pizza Hut delivery online system here. If your order is above $200 or more than 4 days in advance, you still need to call them at 62-35-35-35.

MAKE YOUR GIFT BIGGER

Top up your purchase to $180 or more to bring home additional 3-pc gift. Includes a full-size Estee Lauder Signature Lipstick in Apricot Sun, Gentle Eye Makeup Remover 30ml, and a deluxe-size Projectionist High Definition Volume Mascara. This collection worth over $60.

ESTEE LAUDER FREE GIFT

The brightest ideas in beauty are yours to enjoy.

Receive a 5-pc gift set with purchase of $120 or more.

Includes a deluxe Eyeshadow Quad Compact. DayWear Plus Multi Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme SPF 15 in15ml, Pure White Linen fragrance miniature. all in a luxurious traincase and matching cosmetic pouch. The collection worth $120.

GIFT EVEN BIGGER

Complete vour 1O-pc gift with two more bonus items when you purchase $220 or more. Includes Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex 15ml and a deluxe-size Lip Compact of 9 Pure Color Lip Shades. The entire collection worth over $280.

Available at OG People’s Park from 2-25 Jan 2009 while supplies last.

The 1st Singapore Tattoo Show brings together the international practitioners, tradesmen and enthusiasts of tattoo art in a 3-day show to be held for the first time in Singapore.

Fans of this unique art form can witness live tattooing of world renowned artists at work, serving as canvas for their inspiration while friends and supporters participate in seminars, watch performances and vote for their favorite tattoo artists in the tattoo contests.

This event brands Singapore on a global map and proudly says ‘its uniquely Singapore!’ to the overseas visitors who will attend this tattoo show. The 1st Singapore Tattoo Show is honoured to be endorsed by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Tattoo Show Programs

Live Tattooing
Tattoo artists work their artistry on body canvases in their booths showcasing their individualistic tattoo styles and techniques. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to send an email to your artist directly to book an advance appointment if you like to get a new tattoo done at the show. We do not accept appointments on behalf of the tattoo artists.

Tattoo Contest
Tattoo artists field their best creations before a panel of professional judges vying for top titles in 12 categories. The contest is viewed as the most exciting climax of the entire show.

Lucky Draws
Tattoo enthusiasts cast their votes for the winning tattoo artists in the contest which forms the hype of the contest.

Trade Seminars
World- renowned tattoo artists share tips and tricks with fellow tradesmen on a paid engagement to raise the knowledge level of the industry.

Live Performances
Traditional lion and dragon dance performances welcome foreign and local visitors providing a visual treat for the opening ceremony.

Day 1 - January 13, 2009 @ Fort Canning Park

The Ting Tings will perform their first show of 2009 in Singapore on January 13 before headlining Big Day Out 2009 in Australia. Day one will see the Ting Tings supported by Wiley, arguably the most influential musician on the UK Grime scene…

The Ting Tings, made up of Jules de Martino and Katie White are heralded the “most exciting new band in the country”, according to the NME.

Day 2 - February 3, 2009 @ Fort Canning Park

On February 3 2009, UK dance act The Prodigy will hit the stage for their first ever full fledge concert in Singapore.

The Prodigy is a legendary cutting edge dance/rock band whose music consists of various styles ranging from rave, hardcore techno and industrial in the early 1990s to alternative rock and big beat with punk vocal elements in later times. The band members include Liam Howlett (composer/keyboards), Keith Flint (dancer/vocalist) and Maxim (MC/vocalist).

bignightout.asia

This is part 1 of 3 of a 23 min short documentary on the last rural village, or ‘kampong’, in Singapore - Kampong Lorong Buangkok.

Despite being surrounded by concrete housing all around in modern-day Singapore, Kampong Lorong Buangkok fiercely retains its traditional roots, evident in the rustic wooden huts and strong ‘kampong spirit’ reflected by the older residents.

Three generations of a typical kampong family which has been intimately affected by modernization voice their thoughts on what has been and will be, giving a rare glimpse into kampong life in 21st century Singapore.

Part II:

Part III

InstaCalc makes your life easy. It’s a refreshingly different calculator that is simple, fast and surprisingly fun. Answers appear as you type. Normal calculators and spreadsheets make you type and press Enter. Change the numbers, press Enter. Change the numbers again, press Enter. You can try a demo at the end of this article.

You can see how you got an answer and change the numbers in real-time. You don’t have to switch between viewing a cell’s results and editing the details. Write what makes it easy for you, not the computer. Type 6.6 billion (or 6.6b), not 6600000000. Write “distance = mph * hours”, not “=E3 * C2″. Reference your results by name, not cell number.

You can share a link to any calculation - no logins, no attachments, no fuss. Readers can see your thoughts, change the numbers, and comment back with a new link!

The best part is that your original link stays the same. If someone changes the numbers, they get a new link when they save the page. Compare this to trying to post a spreadsheet or screenshot to your blog - link to a live, editable calculator.

Instacalc

The Sentosa launches “Tranquility in a Bustling City” Photography Competition
(15 December 2008 – 28 February 2009)

Celebrating the new website launch www.thesentosa.com and Singapore’s melting pot of cultures, festivities and inspiring creations of tranquil destination escapes amidst the concrete jungles, The Sentosa Resort & Spa will be launching its first-ever Photography Competition - “Tranquility in a Bustling City” on 15 December 2008.

The new website exudes style with luxury. The vibrant rich images set in muted dark background portrays the elegant chic of the open-concept resort grounds, Spa Botanica and its award-winning restaurants – The Cliff, The Terrace, The Pavilion and The Garden.

Minutes away yet worlds apart, each page tells a story of what the guests can expect at the resort - experiential. Clean and sleek in design, the website is user-friendly with easy navigation for information access. For busy urbanites with no time to read through the website, the refreshing Photo Gallery showcases the lush tropical escape in just minutes.

Themed “Tranquility in a Bustling City”, avid photographers are invited to submit innovative pictures capturing Singapore as a resort getaway amidst a cosmopolitan city. Images are to depict elements of tranquility and relaxation or a sense of getaway and escape in Singapore amongst tall city hub buildings, shopping scene, fashion scape on Orchard Road, the Sentosa island, The Sentosa resort and other interesting highlights. Creativity and inspiration are of no bounds.

Attractive prizes comprise a Grand Prize with two-night Villa Package worth S$5100, a Second Prize with three-night Simply Spa Package worth S$2600 and a Third Prize with two-night Deluxe Getaway Package worth S$950.

Registration is complimentary and entries must be submitted in both print and digital formats (saved in a cd-rom). Each entrant may submit up to five entries for selection. All entries are to be sent by hand or mail, together with completed entry forms by 28 February 2009, 12 noon. Winning entries will be announced and featured online on the resort’s new website www.thesentosa.com from 2 April 2009.

So get your camera clicking and stand a chance to win a luxurious stay! To sign up, simply click here for the Terms & Conditions and Entry Form.

With these two new projects, HDB has launched a total of 7,793 units under the BTO system in 2008, in towns like Punggol, Choa Chu Kang, Sengkang, Yishun, Woodlands and Bukit Panjang.

Sunshine Court (view map)

Sunshine Court is a Standard contract comprising 164 SAs, 117 3-room and 171 4-room flats. Located along Choa Chu Kang Ave 3, it is opposite Sunshine Place, a neighbourhood centre which houses a supermarket, foodcourt, and commercial shops to serve the daily needs of the residents. There are also educational institutions nearby such as Choa Chu Kang Primary, Concord Primary and Bukit Panjang Government High School. This is the first time that SAs are offered for sale in Choa Chu Kang. The SAs are equipped with elderly-friendly features such as grab bars and non-slip flooring. Also, the SAs are fitted with built-in wardrobe, kitchen cabinets and cooking facilities.

Punggol Regalia (view map)

Punggol Regalia is a Premium contract comprising 546 4-room and 183 5-room flats. Located at the junction of Punggol Field and Punggol Place, it is well served by the Punggol MRT/LRT stations and Bus Interchange, and is conveniently located near the future Punggol Town Centre.

Pricing of the New Flats at Sunshine Court and Punggol Regalia

To ensure that public housing is affordable for first-time home buyers, new HDB flats are priced below their equivalent market prices. In pricing the new flats, HDB considers several factors such as location, flat attributes, project design and prevailing market conditions. Pricing details and resale comparables for Sunshine Court and Punggol Regalia are in Tables 1a and 1b of Annex 1.

6 Most households will not need to use cash to meet their monthly mortgage payments. For example, a typical 3-room unit at Sunshine Court costs about $135,000. For a family with a household income of $2,200, the monthly mortgage instalment is about $460, after factoring in the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) of $20,000. The $460 monthly mortgage instalment can be fully paid using CPF contributions. Eligible first-timers whose average monthly household income is $4,000 or less in the 24 months preceding application can qualify for an AHG of up to $30,000. Further details of affordability of flats at Sunshine Court and Punggol Regalia can be found in Tables 2a and 2b of Annex 1.

HDB will continue to offer flats of different pricing, flat sizes, design types and locations to cater to the different needs and budgets of flat buyers.

Application Procedures and Enquiries

Applications for the new flats can be submitted online from 30 Dec 2008 (Tue) to 12 Jan 2009 (Mon). More information on the development and details of the application procedures can be found at Annexes 2 and 3.

Source: HDB

Contracts launched under BTO offer either 2-room, 3-room, 4-room or 5-room apartments, or a combination of the flat types, with standard or premium finishes. Tender for construction will be called only when most of the apartments in a specific contract have been booked.

How Build-To-Order Works

HDB will announce the sites where new flats will be built and invite applicants to submit an application within the application period. They will be given indicative prices and preliminary designs to help them decide on their preferred choice. After the application period closes, HDB will assess the response before deciding on whether to offer all, one or none of the contracts for booking.

HDB will then conduct a computer ballot and invite applicants to book a flat. When most of the flats in a particular contract are booked, HDB will call tender for the construction of the flats.

The keys to the new flat will be issued to applicants when the construction is completed.

Optional Component Scheme (OCS)

Flats of Standard Design do not come with floor finishes to the living/dinning room and bedrooms. Under the Optional Component Scheme (OCS), buyers of these flats can opt to have ceramic floor tiles provided to their flats, in addition to the options for internal doors. For those who opt-in for these floor finishes and doors, the cash out-lay required in renovation works will be lessen as the price of this component will be added to the selling price of the flat.

In buying a Standard Flat, you will have the following choices under the OCS:

• opt-in for both the internal doors and the basic flooring;
• opt-in for the internal doors only;
• opt-in for the basic flooring only; or
• do not opt-in for the internal doors and basic flooring.

As Premium Apartments come with special design attributes and full finishes, buyers will be given the option to opt-in for the internal doors only. The price of the internal doors will be included in the selling price of the flat.

HDB Studio Apartments come in two sizes, 35 m² and 45 m². They accommodate one- or two-member households comfortably and are easy to upkeep. To spare you the hassle of renovation, the apartments are sold in ready-to-move-in condition. Each apartment comes with floor tiles to the entire flat, built-in wardrobe, window grilles, built-in kitchen cabinet with cooker hood and stove as well as wall tiles for the bathroom/WC and kitchen. For safer and more convenient living, the interior of each apartment is also fitted with useful and elder-friendly features such as lever taps, non-slip tiles, level flooring from one area to another, support hand bars, as well as pull cords linked to an alert system in case of emergency.

Sold on 30-year leases, the Studio Apartments are affordable and good value-for-money. Look no further, because a Studio Apartment is the perfect answer to your needs.

Eligibility for Studio Apartments

The main applicant must be a Singapore Citizen and at least 55 years old at the time of application. If your other applicant(s), if any, are your spouse, parents, siblings or children, they must be:

• SCs or Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs) and
• At least 21 years old at the time of application.

If your other applicant(s) are other than those above, they must be:

• SCs and
• At least 35 years old at the time of application.

You must include your spouse in your application. If you are unmarried, divorced or widowed, you may apply for an SA solely for your own occupation.

Source: HDB

With effect from 1 January 2009, more places in Singapore will be smoke-free:

• Lift Lobbies
• Markets
• Multi-storey & Basement Carparks
• Hotel Lobbies
• Ferry Terminals
• Playgrounds
• Exercise Areas
• Non Air-conditioned Shopping Centres, Shops,
• Factories & Offices
• Within 5 metres of Entrances & Exits

List of No Smoking Public Places and Public Service Vehicles:

• Any amusement centre.
• Any foodshop, except that the Director-General may designate for smoking, such part of the outdoor refreshment area of the food shop not exceeding 20% of the total floor area of that outdoor refreshment area.
• Any air-conditioned hall, ballroom or function room (including any such premises located in a hotel) during such time when it is used for holding a meeting, conference, seminar, course or an exhibition or for the purpose of serving meals.
• Any cinema or theatre.
• Any enclosed premises of a bank to which members of the public have access for the purpose of carrying out banking transactions.
• Any clinical laboratory, healthcare establishment, hospital, maternity home, medical clinic or nursing home.
• Any indoor ice-skating rink, roller-skating rink or roller-discotheque.
• Any indoor sports arena, bowling alley, billiard saloon, gymnasium or aerobic or fitness centre.
• Any lift.
• Any public library or any library in any institution of higher learning.
• Any public museum or public art gallery.
• Any air-conditioned office premises, except that the manager of such premises may designate for smoking, any enclosed room therein -
  • (a) which is independently ventilated; and
  • (b) which is not -
    • (i) required to be used by any person employed in such premises for the performance of the duties of his employment; or
    • (ii) a pantry or other common area to which persons employed in such premises have access.
• Any air-conditioned factory.
• Any enclosed or air-conditioned corridor, lobby, stairwell or other common area of -
  • (a) any building which wholly or principally consists of office premises; or
  • (b) such part of any building which consists wholly or principally of office premises.
• Any enclosed or air-conditioned common area of any private residential premises or building.
• The Supreme Court, the Subordinate Courts and Small Claims Tribunals.
• Any air-conditioned area in the terminal buildings of Singapore Changi Airport, except that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore may designate for smoking, any enclosed room therein -
  • (a) which is independently ventilated; and
  • (b) which is not -
    • (i) required to be used by any person employed in such terminal buildings for the performance of the duties of his employment; or
    • (ii) a pantry or other common area to which persons employed in such terminal buildings have access.
• Any air-conditioned shopping mall or complex, including any shop, atrium, corridor, lobby, stairwell or other area within the shopping mall or complex, but excluding any place or premises used as a discotheque, pub, bar, lounge or night club.
• Any underground pedestrian walkway.
• Any area occupied by a queue of 2 or more persons in a public place.
• Any air-conditioned shop.
• Any air-conditioned restaurant, bowling alley, billiard saloon, arcade games room (including jackpot machine room), gymnasium, fitness centre, library, reading room, theatre or cinema in any private club.
• Any school, junior college, polytechnic or any training institute established under the Institute of Technical Education Act (Cap. 141A), including any area within its compound.
• Any enclosed or air-conditioned part of any building, hall of residence, canteen, lecture theatre, sports and recreation centre or stairwell in any university.
• Any public swimming pool, including any changing or shower room, or any area in the vicinity of such swimming pool which is likely to be frequented by any user of the swimming pool.
• Any washroom (including any mobile toilet), whether managed privately or otherwise, to which members of the public or a section of the public have or ordinarily would have access whether on payment of a fee or otherwise.
• Any sports stadium, including any facility, shop or common area within its compound.
• Any community building, community centre or community club belonging to or managed or maintained by the People’s Association, including any facility, shop or common area within its compound.
• Any bus interchange, bus terminus (except a bus terminus which is situated along the side of a road and does not provide for boarding of or alighting by passengers) or bus shelter, including any facility, shop or common area within its compound.
• Any hawker centre, except that the Director-General may designate for smoking -
  • (a) such part of the outdoor refreshment area of the hawker centre not exceeding 20% of the total outdoor seating capacity; or
  • (b) where the hawker centre does not have an outdoor refreshment area, such part of the indoor refreshment area of the hawker centre not exceeding 10% of the total indoor seating capacity.
• Any discotheque, pub, bar, lounge or night club in any premises or building (including any private club), except that the Director-General may, subject to such conditions as he may specify, designate for smoking —
  • (a) such part of the outdoor refreshment area of the discotheque, pub, bar, lounge or night club not exceeding 20% of the total floor area of that outdoor refreshment area; and
  • (b) any enclosed and independently ventilated room not exceeding 10% of the total indoor refreshment area of the discotheque, pub, bar, lounge or night club.
• Any omnibus.
• Any private bus.
• Any private hire bus.
• Any school bus.
• Any taxi.

Sentosa brings you Asia’s first Segway adventure tour with a focus on fun and education. Visitors can choose from an introductory Fun Ride where you will learn the basics of the advanced mobility device, the Segway. And, a Guided Eco Adventure around the Sentosa Island without breaking a sweat, as you glide on our Gogreen mobile Segways.

Sentosa Segway Price:

• Fun Ride: S$10.00
• Guided Eco Adventure: S$35.00

Segway Time:
10am – 7.30pm daily

Segway Venue:
Beach Station

If you have a blog or personal website, do you want to know what type your blog/site is? Here is a tool that help you understand that; for example, this is what it tells about Singapore Delivery (the doers):

The active and play-ful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.

The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

It will also show what parts of the brain were dominant during writing.

Watch other episodes

• Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain - Low
• Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
• Alicia Keys - No One
• Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major - Lollipop
• Timbaland Featuring OneRepublic - Apologize
• Jordin Sparks Duet With Chris Brown - No Air
• Sara Bareilles - Love Song
• Usher Featuring Young Jeezy - Love in This Club
• Chris Brown - With You
• Chris Brown - Forever
• Ray J & Yung Berg - Sexy Can I
• Rihanna - Take a Bow
• Coldplay - Viva La Vida
• Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl
• T.I. - Whatever You Like
• Rihanna - Disturbia
• Rihanna - Don’t Stop the Music
• Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine
• Chris Brown Featuring T-Pain - Kiss Kiss
• Ne-Yo - Closer
• Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
• Mariah Carey - Touch My Body
• Madonna Featuring Justin Timberlake - 4 Minutes
• Pink - So What
• Finger Eleven - Paralyzer

Randy Pausch was a professor of Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction, and Design at Carnegie Mellon University. From 1988 to 1997, he taught at the University of Virginia. He was an award-winning teacher and researcher, and worked with Adobe, Google, Electronic Arts (EA), and Walt Disney Imagineering, and pioneered the non-profit Alice project. He also co-founded The Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon with Don Marinelli. (ETC is the premier professional graduate program for interactive entertainment as it is applies across a variety of fields.) Randy lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on July 25th, 2008.

I strongly suggest you read Randy’s invaluable book “The Last Lecture (buy from Amazon)”. Or, you can borrow at NLB (Eng 004.092PAU).

A New Year’s Resolution is a commitment that you can make to a project, a habit, and/or a lifestyle. Here is a list of popular new year’s resolutions:

• Lose Weight
• Managing Debt
• Save Money
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Eat Right
• Get a Better Education
• Drink Less Alcohol
• Quit Smoking Now
• Reduce Stress Overall
• Reduce Stress at Work
• Take a Trip
• Volunteer to Help Others
• Holiday and New Year Health-e-Cards

Have you done your list of New Year’s Resolutions? If not, start it right away. Be specific about your new year’s resolutions! Happy 2009! Once it’s done, you need to stick to your new year’s resolutions; the video below is helpful: