Vinegar Egg - Production & Consumption

In Taiwan, Japan and China, "Vinegar Egg" has been seen as a great dish to nourish the body and improve health.

The benefits of the vinegar egg is that the egg yolk is acidified, causing the breakdown into simple substance, releasing vital nutrients from the yolk. The vinegar also causes the egg to be more easily digested. This is similarly applied to the egg white.

Furthermore, the shell of the egg is also softened by the vinegar, releasing the calcium into the solution. The dissolved calcium also gets easily absorbed by the intestines. Calcium aids growth and can prevent or alleviate diseases like high blood pressure.

Health Benefits of Vinegar Egg

• Reduce Stress
• Good for Rheumatism
• Improve Sleep
• Prevent Osteoporosis
• Improve Appetite
• Helps in countering Asthma
• Reduce Cholesterol and Blood Pressure
• Improve constipation
• Aids Digestion
• Combats Aging
• Slimming Effect
  
• Improve Skin Texture

What You Need

Basically, you just need to have a chicken egg (best if it's fertilised), a jar, rice vinegar, ceramic spoon (do not use metallic spoon), satay stick, and some wipes.

How to Make a Vinegar Egg

1. Clean the Egg. Use Rice Vinegar to wipe the surface of the egg repeatedly.
2. Pour 14 spoonful of Rice Vinegar into the jar.
   
3. Ensure that the egg is completely submerged into the vinegar. Tighten the cap of the jar.
   
4. Upon contact of vinegar, the egg shell begins to break down. You will observe bubbles (see picture below) forming on surface of egg.
   
   
5. On Day 2 and Day 3, open the cap to allow gas to escape for one minute once in the morning and once at night.
   
6. On the 4th Night, break open the egg first. Use the ceramic spoon to bring the egg up and peel off the outer layer of the egg with a satay stick. Pour the egg white and yolk back into the solution. For the outer layer of the egg, divide it into smaller pieces and then pour it back into the jar too. Use the stick to stir. The Vinegar Egg is ready to be consumed.

How to Consume the Vinegar Egg

1. Prepare 4 spoonful of water
2. Add 1 teaspoon of honey into the water and stir
3. Scoop 2 spoonful of Vinegar Egg solution and mix with honey solution. Gulp the mixture down.
   
4. Consume the Vinegar Egg twice a day. In the morning, take it with an empty stomach. At night, take it right before sleep. Finish the Egg within 7 days.
5. After consuming, do allow 30 - 45 min before eating breakfast. Do not drink dairy products as vinegar could react with them.
6. After 7 days, continue the process again.

Local Opposition needs to form a Shadow Parliament

Recently, each state in Southeast Asia had its fair share of troubling issues in local politics. Singapore wasn't spared too, even though on the surface, the political field still remains peaceful compared to our neighbours.

A few weeks ago, I chanced upon Workers' Party member Yaw Shin Leong's blog and saw his post expressing his remorse for voting for the PAP candidate at the place he resides. He also added that Workers' Party will continue to aim to be a check on the PAP government. Here's a snippet of his entry.

"For the record, it is not the intention of Singapore’s opposition, specifically the Workers’ Party to become Singapore’s government in the near or mid-future. As such, Singaporean voters can definitely vote in more opposition members without fears, contrary to MM Lee’s warnings."

While many political apathetic Singaporeans have come to agree with this philosophy, the politically concerned Singaporeans (like myself) will tend to disagree with it. Anyway this was my comment to his post:

"If everyone feels that this is the way, then Singaporeans could unknowingly vote in more opposition than they thought and MM Lee's nightmare might take place.

The Opposition should begin forming a "shadow parliament" so that in the event that they are voted in, they could have the people with capability to be in place. We do really want to avoid having the case where the opposition is voted into Parliament in big numbers but they do not have the substance to bear such responsiblities.

So while MM Lee's speech might be controversial, there are still some valid points."

In my opinion, the main factor that is drawing back votes to the Opposition lies primarily in the quality of its members and the uncertainty of voting them in. One way of countering these problems would be to establish a Shadow Shadow Parliament or Shadow Parliament out of Parliament, whichever way you want to put it.

With an established SSP format, the Opposition can go further to construct a SSC (C for Cabinet). In this way, voters can be certain that if they were to vote for the Opposition, they are assured of a group of MPs that could represent them and have the substance to mete out quality debates in Parliament.

Opting to be a mere check on the government will not bring a political party too far.

My Style of Watching Soccer Tournaments

I just don't feel right keeping quiet watching the moves of the players in the soccer field until they score and then let out a loud roar of "GOAL!" I would constantly ask questions to my Brother and then irritate him as he watched on with all his concentration.

Euro 2008 ended with a little disappointment for both of us. We supported Germany since its superb performance back in World Cup 2006. The match started with the Germans pounding on the Spanish but that didn't last long. With a disappointing 1-0, Spain claimed the throne.

Back to my style of watching soccer tournaments. While most fans will be impressed by the strategies and good footwork, I tend to make fun of the players, especially on what they look like:


Fernando Torres was the hero of Spain when he scored the goal. Don't you think he looks like he's from Narnia? Sergio Ramos looked like an elf from Lord of the Rings with his headband on. Otherwise I thought he looked like Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars.

Kuranyi was sent in to substitute Klose in the second half of the match. When he entered, I thought there was going to be a rap or some kind of hiphop dance for us to savour, but of course there isn't.Schweinsteiger performed great in the Euro (except for the final match). And he has a rather rowdy look. Looks like a big bully in school. Haha.

In my opinion, soccer matches should be more fun instead of all the anger and frustrations (usually from vexed gamblers). Awaiting for South Africa 2010 World Cup!

Religious Touting in Singapore

23 June 2008

On the way back home, I took a cab. The ride was smooth and comfortable until I reached my place. After paying for ride, the taxi driver handed me a pamphlet.

Darn! Without looking at the pamphlet, I already knew it could only be a religious one. And indeed it was. It was an article distributed by The Glory Presbyterian Church for the Singapore Every Home Crusade Co. Ltd.

Singapore is a secular state. It is multiracial and multireligious. Everyone has his or her own freedom and space to practise religion. Nevertheless, I have had encountered more than a handful of religious touting incidents. I shall attempt to recall some interesting ones:

• On one occasion, a taxi driver started a religious preaching once I boarded his taxi. He started to criticise other religions and pointed that his religion was the only true religion. My family and I were utterly annoyed but kept silent as he rattled on.
  
• When I was younger, I frequently bumped into an auntie who would shove a religious pamphlet to me and then refused to let me go away.
  
• Even on my first day in school at NUS, I encountered a surveyor who asked questions leading to religion and then introduced himself as a member of a religious society of the campus. Throughout the first few weeks of school, he kept calling to engage me with activities organised by the society.
  
• In the train, I encountered some teenagers who were moving around the region to share about their religion. They picked up a conversation with me and then handed me pamphlets and postcards of their organisation.
  
• I ever heard from a friend that there was someone at his door, telling him that he had a demon in his house when that person saw his alter.

In my view, it matters not which religion is being touted. What matters is the act of touting. I guess no one really enjoys being commercially touted, being shoved a facial treatment advert and getting your face scrutinised and commented by the sales personnels. Religious touting is also not enjoyable. Every religious buildings can have its own banners and posters spreading its message to the public, but no more than that.

The choice of religion should rest upon the hands of the individual. All religions are for the good of mankind. For world peace to be even a least bit realistic, everyone has to commit their part to accomodate religious differences...

Cycling - Moving in the Green Way

16 June 2008

Was notified by my Brother that I appeared in the newspapers. That notification kept me excited till the evening when I finally saw the article... It's really a very small appearance.

In the afternoon, went to Rivervale Plaza to purchase a bicycle. I reckoned that a bicycle would really be beneficial for me to meet up with her. Firstly, it would be a great exercise. Secondly, it would really save cost. Thirdly, I could contribute to a Greener world.

Was upsold by the shopowner to purchase a mountain bike instead. Installed in a basket for my bag, a bell and a comfortable cushion backseat. All for about S$160. The decision factor arrived after a simple Maths breakdown of how this bike could save more than I spent on it.

It was challenging to carry one person at the back, since I had never in my life done that. Often we had to alight from the bicycle when I gave up conquering the upward slopes. Still remembered how Jian Hao and I used to learn bicycle riding from Wayne and Zhi Yong after our PSLE.

Singapore is really a good location for cycling. Especially where I stay since Aljunied GRC has committed to a barrier free zone. Following the new regulations allowing foldable bicycles on board trains and buses, there would surely be a renewed interest in cycling. I could envision a scenario where I could cycle to the train station, travel to Clementi, and then cycle to NUS. This has a potential saving of more than hundreds of dollars per month! And talk about how much benefits that is to the environment.

However, more has to be done in order to get everyone to cycle in a small island. Already, there are much discontent between walking pedestrians and cyclists as well as between drivers and cyclists.

At night, found out that my Brother also had a bicycle (secretly). Haha...

Aljunied GRC Boathouse Opening cum Mass Walk @ Bedok Reservoir

15 June 2008At 8.30am, grassroots leaders and residents from Aljunied GRC gathered at the Bedok Reservoir for the Official Opening of the Boathouse. The Mass Walk proceeded thereafter.

The participants for the Dragonboat Festival donned the shirt depicting their respective constituencies. There were 3 categories for the interconstituency competition - Grassroots Organisations; Youth Executive Committees (YECs) & Constituency Sports Clubs (CSCs); Residents. We performed some warm-up and then went on board the 20-seater Dragonboats.
The Guest-of-Honour for the event was Foreign Affairs Minister Mr George Yeo. Special guests include Mayor Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua and Mr Yeo Guat Kwang. After a speech by Mr Yeo, the guestsperformed the ceremonial brushing of the eye of the dragon boat. Mr Yeo and Mayor Zainul then boarded their respective boats and participated in the first race of the day.
The overall champion was Paya Lebar-Kovan Constituency. Despite coming last for all events, we enjoyed our Sunday morning. My Parents were present to express their support for the event as well as their son, me!

The event lasted till about noon. Met with James to discuss over his artistic talent.

In-Camp Training - A Waste of Time?

My batch of NSmen were twice lucky with the changes implemented for National Service. First, NS was trimmed from 2.5 years to 2 years. Second, we had the in-camp training (ICT) reduced from a 13-year cycle to a 10-year one.

After being operationally read for about 1.5 years, I received the SAF 100 call-up to ICT. The comfortable civilian lifestyle made me think of various reasons (excuses) to seek for deferment. However, there were none. A call made at the eve of the ICT to the NS hotline informed that I had to bring full battle order to the my reservist camp. Information from fellow ICT mate Tengda said otherwise...

Met with Bryan and Tengda at the entrance to Seletar Camp before strolling in to our Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group (CBRE DG) camp.

In the 5 days, we made new friends among our platoon. It was also totally cool to be able to see old faces when we returned back to our unit for updates. The backgrounds vary from each individual and there were much to learn from conversations with each other. For instance, there was a Medic from Defence Science Organisation. Had a great bonding session with Tengda and Bryan.

Equipment Training and Combat Fitness Test proved useful in bringing back the memories of these knowledge.

A lot of people complained that in-camp training is a complete waste of time. I bet to differ. Donning the green uniform certainly adds on some lethargy but the refresher trainings are required to ensure that Singapore would constantly have a batch of reservists soldiers ready for action if necessary. Also, the abundance of resting time in between activities should not be fret up on, since who would want to be immersed in an intensive programme anyway?