Sharapova Wins

Maria Sharapova won her first tournament since returning from a 10-month injury layoff when Jelena Jankovic retired because of an arm injury in the first set of the Toray Pan Pacific final Saturday. Sharapova was up 5-2 at Ariake Colosseum when the seventh-seeded Serb took a timeout to have her right arm examined by the trainer. Jankovic returned to the court and lost the first two points of the eighth game before retiring.

the beauty wins

Happy 21st Birthday Chung Chieh

Tonight was the 21st birthday of my friend since Primary 3! He had his birthday held in Little Cottage and there were around 150 people that attended. Many old Chung Ling mates were there too!

Earns and Carter

the cake

Morven buat pattern

the guys

the birthday boy and family

the birthday boy and his girlfriend

wei dee

general meeting? or beer meeting? LOL

yves seah

Ling Chun always the best

KRS gang

Berlin Wall-A Brief History of the Iron Curtain that Divided a City

The Berlin Wall was a physical barrier erected by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) (East Germany) completely encircling West Berlin, separating it from East Germany, including East Berlin. The longer inner German border demarcated the border between East and West Germany. Both borders came to symbolize the Iron Curtain between Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc.

Prior to the Wall's erection, 3.5 million East Germans had avoided Eastern Bloc emigration restrictions to escape into West Germany, many over the border between East and West Berlin. During its existence from 1961 to 1989, the Wall stopped almost all such emigration and separated East Germany from West Germany for more than a quarter of a century. The Wall included guard towers lining large concrete walls circumscribing a wide area (later known as the "death strip") containing anti-vehicle trenches, "fakir beds" and other defenses. After its erection, around 5,000 people attempted to escape circumventing the wall, with figures of the resulting death toll varying between 98 and 200.

During a revolutionary wave sweeping across the Eastern Bloc, the East German government announced on November 9, 1989, after several weeks of civil unrest, that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans climbed onto and crossed the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. Over the next few weeks, parts of the wall were chipped away by a euphoric public and by souvenir hunters; industrial equipment was later used to remove almost all of the rest. The fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for German reunification, which was formally concluded on October 3, 1990.

After the end of World War II in Europe, what remained of Nazi Germany west of the Oder-Neisse line was divided into four occupation zones (per the Potsdam Agreement), each one controlled by one of the four occupying Allied powers: the Americans, British, French and the Soviet Union. The capital, Berlin, as the seat of the Allied Control Council, was similarly subdivided into four sectors despite the city lying deep inside the Soviet zone. Within two years, divisions occurred between the Soviets and the other occupying powers, including the Soviets' refusal to agree to reconstruction plans making post-war Germany self-sufficient and a detailed accounting of the industrial plants, goods infrastructure already removed by the Soviets.Britain, France, the United States and the Benelux countries later met to combine the non-Soviet zones of the country into one zone for reconstruction and approve the extension of the Marshall Plan for European reconstruction to Germany.

On August 23, 1989, Hungary removed its physical border defences with Austria, and in September more than 13,000 East German tourists in Hungary escaped to Austria. This set up a chain of events. The Hungarians prevented many more East Germans from crossing the border and returned them to Budapest. These East Germans flooded the West German embassy and refused to return to East Germany. The East German government responded by disallowing any further travel to Hungary, but allowed those already there to return. This triggered a similar incident in neighboring Czechoslovakia. On this occasion, the East German authorities allowed them to leave, providing that they used a train which transited East Germany on the way. This was followed by mass demonstrations within East Germany itself. (See Monday demonstrations in East Germany.) The longtime leader of East Germany, Erich Honecker, resigned on October 18, 1989, and was replaced by Egon Krenz a few days later. Honecker had predicted in January of that year that the wall would stand for a "hundred more years" if the conditions which had caused its construction did not change.

Protest demonstrations broke out all over East Germany in September 1989. Initially, they were of people wanting to leave to the West, chanting "Wir wollen raus!" ("We want out!"). Then protestors began to chant "Wir bleiben hier", ("We're staying here!"). This was the start of what East Germans generally call the "Peaceful Revolution" of late 1989. By November 4, the protests had swelled significantly, with a million people gathered that day in Alexanderplatz in East Berlin (Henslin, 07).

Meanwhile the wave of refugees leaving East Germany for the West had increased and had found its way through Czechoslovakia, tolerated by the new Krenz government and in agreement with the communist Czechoslovak government. To ease the complications, the politburo led by Krenz decided on November 9, to allow refugees to exit directly through crossing points between East Germany and West Germany, including West Berlin. On the same day, the ministerial administration modified the proposal to include private travel. The new regulations were to take effect on November 17, 1989. Günter Schabowski, the Party Secretary for Propaganda, had the task of announcing this; however he had been on vacation prior to this decision and had not been fully updated. Shortly before a press conference on November 9, he was handed a note that said that East Berliners would be allowed to cross the border with proper permission but given no further instructions on how to handle the information. These regulations had only been completed a few hours earlier and were to take effect the following day, so as to allow time to inform the border guards. However, nobody had informed Schabowski. He read the note out loud at the end of the conference and when asked when the regulations would come into effect, he assumed it would be the same day based on the wording of the note and replied "As far as I know effective immediately, without delay". After further questions from journalists he confirmed that the regulations included the border crossings towards West Berlin, which he had not mentioned until then.

Tens of thousands of East Berliners heard Schabowski's statement live on East German television and flooded the checkpoints in the Wall demanding entry into West Berlin. The surprised and overwhelmed border guards made many hectic telephone calls to their superiors, but it became clear that there was no one among the East German authorities who would dare to take personal responsibility for issuing orders to use lethal force, so there was no way for the vastly outnumbered soldiers to hold back the huge crowd of East German citizens. In face of the growing crowd, the guards finally yielded, opening the checkpoints and allowing people through with little or no identity checking. Ecstatic East Berliners were soon greeted by West Berliners on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. November 9 is thus considered the date the Wall fell. In the days and weeks that followed, people came to the wall with sledgehammers to chip off souvenirs, demolishing lengthy parts of it in the process. These people were nicknamed "Mauerspechte" (wall woodpeckers).

The East German regime announced the opening of ten new border crossings the following weekend, including some in symbolic locations (Potsdamer Platz, Glienicker Brücke, Bernauer Straße). Crowds on both sides waited there for hours, cheering at the bulldozers who took parts of the Wall away to reinstate old roads. Photos and television footage of these events is sometimes mislabelled "dismantling of the Wall", even though it was merely the construction of new crossings. New border crossings continued to be opened through the middle of 1990, including the Brandenburg Gate on December 22, 1989.

West Germans and West Berliners were allowed visa-free travel starting December 23. Until then they could only visit East Germany and East Berlin under restrictive conditions that involved application for a visa several days or weeks in advance, and obligatory exchange of at least 25 DM per day of their planned stay, all of which hindered spontaneous visits. Thus, in the weeks between November 9 and December 23, East Germans could travel "more freely" than Westerners.

Technically the Wall remained guarded for some time after November 9, though at a decreasing intensity. In the first months, the East German military even tried to repair some of the damages done by the "wall peckers". Gradually these attempts ceased, and guards became more lax, tolerating the increasing demolitions and "unauthorized" border crossing through the holes. On June 13, 1990, the official dismantling of the Wall by the East German military began in Bernauer Straße. On July 1, the day East Germany adopted the West German currency, all border controls ceased, although the inter-German border had become meaningless for some time before that. The dismantling continued to be carried out by military units (after unification under the Bundeswehr) and lasted until November 1991. Only a few short sections and watchtowers were left standing as memorials.

The fall of the Wall was the first step toward German reunification, which was formally concluded on October 3, 1990.

Just now in class, we where shared by Mr. Michael Moeller about the history of the incident, with a few German families sharing also their experiences too. This talk was held in conjunction with the anniversary of the demolition of the wall. Below is a video about the brief history of the iron curtain that divided a city.

To Arthur !

Guinness celebrates its 250th anniversary today, and although the Irish don't really need an excuse to raise a glass.

Guinness is a popular dry stout beer that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness (1725–1803) at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is based on the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide.

To ARTHUR !!!

21

Finally, its my birthday! This year was still almost the same usual way, but this time I celebrated my birthday with 3 different groups. 1st was with my German classmates at Malaysian German Society, 2nd was with my family and finally was with my dear friends ( Sierras, Tits, baby Jons, looims, brother Khoo Tengs and sister Liew Irenes, and Jim Foos ) at Mois. Thanks to those that celebrated with me ( espescialy abang Khoo Tengs although u had some difficult situations to deal with on that night but you still managed to show up thank you so much), and to those friends that called me up and wished me thank you so much. I was so surprise some friends which I didn’t contact with for quite some time called me up too. To those that wished me in Facebook, smses and so on I just wanna say a big thank you to you people.

Like my father's come to pass, 20 years has gone so fast, wake me up when September ends.

Happy Birthday Tits!!!

Happy Birthday to my friend and my Form 4 class goalkeeper! Its always a pleasure as a right-back to play alongside him because he has a pair of save hands. Happy Birthday to you Soon Chye Tits!!!!!!!!!!! hohoho!

Kai Yan is back!

From Left : Kai Yan, Puan Hui Ping, Me and Tau Kua

Kai Yan is back! I met up with him after he wanted to meet the whole gang, however all are studying overseas leaving me and Tau Kua both person available for him to meet up with. Anyhow it was fun and just like old times we talk and talk till it was almost dinner. Take care pal and see you again!

Happy Birthday Yi Chin!

Happy Birthday to my friend and my Jelutong head Chuah Yi Chin aka Tau Kua! Good luck and all the best!

Alex Ferguson the Whisky Bottlehead nose

Who would have thought it? Alex Ferguson verbally attacks another manager for their arrogant behaviour, only to go and do exactly the same thing himself. His latest mumblings really are "beyond the pale."

But the Scotsman's latest verbal attack, or mind games as some would try to make you believe, is nothing new. It is old and irritating—much like Ferguson himself.

Normally, the United manager would leave his "mind games" until the tail-end of the season hoping to derail his rival's title charge, or before another team's crucial games. But it seems he just couldn't wait that long before getting out his famous little book of hypocrisies, and his smug little grin that smacks of a disturbed old man, lost in his own delusions of grandeur.

If you speak to a few less-than-intelligent United or Everton supporters about Rafa Benitez, amongst other rabid ramblings, they will be quick to tell you how arrogant the Spaniard is. They will harp on about an incident from a couple of seasons ago where Rafa claimed Everton was a "small club."

Notice how I used quotation marks when I wrote "small club."

Quotation marks, as you undoubtedly know, are used when a person says the exact words mentioned within the quotation marks. So, if you had not read the orginal quote from Rafa Benitez, you would rightly assume that he said the words "small club" when talking about Everton.

Read a few headlines or articles from national newspaper about the "small club" incident, and you get the same intentionally misleading paraphrasing and misquotation that you get from idiotic football supporters, reveling in their ingrained hatred that has been passed down from previous generations.

Arrogant Liverpool manager calls Everton a "small club."

What Benitez actually said was: "When you play against the smaller teams at Anfield you know the game will be narrow and compact and at times we were a little bit nervous."

No mention of the word "club" and no mention of the word "small" either.

If you listen to Ferguson's moans about Benitez and the incident, without hearing the actual quote from the Liverpool manager beforehand, you would be forgiven for thinking Benitez really did say what many are trying hard to make out.

Ferguson confidently states: “Benítez called Everton a small club, which just points to his arrogance," as well as "'Everton are a big club, not a small one which Benitez arrogantly said," (this quote came two years after the original "small club" incident).

This brings us nicely back to the subject at hand.

Manchester City have constructed a sky-blue billboard with the words "Welcome to Manchester" under a picture of their new signing, Carlos Tevez. Many have read into this as being a subtle dig at United, and Ferguson's response to this was to say: "It's City isn't it? They are a small club with a small mentality, all they can talk about is Manchester United."

Manchester City have won the FA Cup four times, the League Cup twice, and the top flight English title on two occasions.

City are without doubt, in terms of honours, a smaller club that Manchester United. But to state that city is a small club can be considered quite arrogant and a touch disrespectful, surely?

If Ferguson is going to tell the world and his wife how "arrogant" Benitez is for saying Everton is a smaller team than Liverpool, then calling City a small club, according to Ferguson's very own moral standards, must be ridiculously worse than what Benitez actually said.

But for me, the disturbing thing is not the senile "mind games" of an old man paraded as an angel, but the way some United supporters consistently jump to Ferguson's defence and incredibly ignore any form of hypocrisy that pours from his mouth.

I love football. I am a massive supporter of football.

I think Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world and last season they had one of the best squads ever constructed in English football. They play some sublime football and a major contributing factor is the intelligence and ability of their manager of 23 years, Alex Ferguson.

But I still hate the man.

Not because I'm jealous. Not because I'm biased. Certainly not because I support Liverpool. But because these are the type of people I despise in everyday life. The arrogant people who appear to believe they don't have to follow the rules of decency, and rules the rest of society is expected to adhere to.

I would lay my house down, if those same blind and in-group bias-led United supporters—who ignore the contradictions and hypocrisy that would make many other club's supporters whince—were to have Alex Ferguson as their employer or school teacher, I'm pretty certain their attitude towards his arrogant and contradictive behaviour would be considerably different.

But whilst he is leading the club to success after success, it's easy for some to just turn a blind eye.

It's even easier for those who know the score when it comes to the "great" man and his "mind games," and are happily, and intentionally, backing the manager for the sake of a pathetic football rivalry.

Welcome to Anfield AA!

Liverpool FC confirmed this evening that Alberto Aquilani has successfully completed a medical and agreed a five-year contract with the club. The player will now continue his rehabilitation from an ankle operation under the guidance of Liverpool's medical team and is expected to be fully fit in approximately four to eight weeks' time

Having passed a medical and agreed a contract with Liverpool, here are ten things you need to know about Alberto Aquilani.

Alberto is a Roman centurion, having made 147 appearances for the club he has supported since he was a boy. He celebrated his 100th game for Roma in style, scoring a 35-yard screamer in a 2-0 victory at Palermo in the opener of the 2007-08 campaign.

The Roma fans nicknamed their hometown hero 'Il Principino' or 'the little prince'.

England boss Fabio Capello was in the hot seat at Roma when Aquilani took his Serie A bow, aged just 18, in a 3-1 victory against Torino on 10 May 2003.

Roma were runners-up in Serie A on four occasions while Aquilani was at the club, but they won the Coppa Italia twice and the Supercoppa Italiana once with him on the books.

The new Kop star was so nearly the hero in the 2006 final of the Supercoppa Italiana, bossing the first half and scoring two well-worked team goals before his side somehow threw away their 3-0 lead and lost a classic encounter 4-3 to Inter Milan.
Aquilani will become the third Italian player to represent Liverpool under Rafa Benitez. As well as current Reds full-back Andrea Dossena, goalkeeper Daniele Padelli made one start in a 2-2 draw against Charlton in May 2007 during a six-month loan spell.

Alberto has tasted Champions League action for Roma against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, but he was not involved when his former club slumped to a heavy 7-1 defeat at Old Trafford on 10 April 2007.

As well as boasting 20 caps and five goals for Italy U-21s, Alberto has represented the senior Italian side 11 times. He scored a brace for his country in a World Cup 2010 qualifier against Montenegro on 15 October 2008. Speaking about the game, Aquilani said: "I couldn't ask for anything more. It was the most beautiful night of my life."

Alberto is engaged to 20-year-old Italian actress Michela Quattrociocche, who shot to fame following the success of her 2008 debut film 'Scusa Ma Ti Chiamo Amore' ('Sorry If I Love You').

Born on 7 July 1984, 25-year-old Alberto shares his birthday with former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. Liverpool's new recruit will be hoping that - with a little help from his friends - he will soon be bringing more silverware to Anfield.