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Hi All, My mum has been having headache and bloated stomach for 3 weeks and don't seem getting better after seeing a few western doc...any good recommendation for Chinese doc ? Appreciate your helps ! Thanks !

Yes... Gigolo! --------- 'They make place look so sleazy' Shop owners upset with China boys offering uncles special massages even in broad daylight By Hedy Khoo September 22, 2008 THEY can pass off as male models. Clean-cut, good-looking, toned bodies in tight-fitting T-shirts, and they sport trendy hairstyles. But their runway is the pavements around Lucky Chinatown shopping centre. It is there that these Chinese nationals, in their mid-20s, tout massage services to male passers-by. They show up daily as early as 11am till about 8pm, loitering around the entrance or at the fast-food centre there, shop owners pointed out. The moment the deal is agreed, they would offer to take the customer to either a rented room nearby or check into a hotel. Shop owners in the area say they have noticed the presence of these young men since late last year. They are unhappy that nothing has been done to stop these 'masseurs'. One shop owner, who did not want to be named, said the presence of the young men made him uncomfortable. 'Some of them even wait inside the building. I avoid going to the toilet unnecessarily, because whenever I walk past them, they would smile at me in a suggestive manner,' he said. 'The people who work here know what these young men are here for. 'They are spoiling the image of this area, making it look so sleazy even during the day.' Some workers in the area were also disturbed by how the men would blatantly solicit for business from passers-by in the area. One of them was so upset that he called The New Paper Hotline. Mr Mogan, a shipping consultant who works in the area, said he was approached by one of the men. 'I notice they smile at middle-aged men walking past. One of them even approached me and said, 'Massage, massage, $200'.' Mr Mogan, who is in his 40s, claimed that he also heard them saying that to other men. 'I feel very uncomfortable every time I walk by because I can feel them staring at me,' he added. 'This is a tourist area. They shouldn't be soliciting here. It spoils the image of our city,' he said. The men are apparently fly-by-night operators who come to Singapore on social visit passes to try to solicit men for massage and 'special services'. Many would disappear after a couple of weeks. However, shop owners said that the men have started to reappear in greater numbers since July. One shop assistant at the shopping centre said: 'At the start of this year, there were only one to three of them. Then in July, their numbers swelled to 10. 'I'm not sure if they all belong to the same group, but they seem to know one another.' A shop assistant, who wanted to be known only as Miss Pui, 24, has been working in the building for three months. She said: 'They hang around outside our shop at the lift lobby area or outside the entrance. 'I've seen them approach middle-aged women occasionally, but most of the time, it's middle-aged men or even the Ah Peks.' Miss Pui said that, at times, they would even enter her shop to ask for help. 'They would show me their SMS messages on their handphones, which is usually an address in English, and ask me how to read it and where the location is. They would say they don't understand English,' she said. Miss Pui said she was unfazed by the presence of the men. 'Opposite at People's Park where I used to work, there were quite a number of China women offering special services. Over here, it's China men. 'They don't interfere with our business, we don't interfere with theirs.' But Miss Pui revealed that upstairs on the second storey, there were also two nail parlours run by women which apparently catered only to men. 'Some of my male friends have been frightened off because they were approached by the men when they entered the building. 'Then when they went upstairs, they were approached by the nail parlour girls for massages and 'special services'.' At least one shop owner on the second floor was upset with the goings-on in and outside the building. She declined to be named, but said she was considering moving out. 'There are too many strange characters around here... and it makes the area look seedy. 'It affects my business because my female customers feel uncomfortable. Several have complained to me that their husbands were shocked when approached by the young men for massages and extra services.' Increased security patrols A spokesman for Lucky Chinatown said it takes 'a very serious view of the situation'. 'We have been in close touch with the police. 'On our part, we have already increased security patrols and, going forward, we are also increasing the security manpower.' A police spokesman said they are aware of the situation in and around the Lucky Chinatown area, and conduct regular enforcement operations in the area. Prostitution is not an offence under Singapore's laws. But soliciting is an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences Act. Under Section 19 of the Miscellaneous Offence (Public Order and Nuisance) Act, any person who persistently loiters or solicits for the purpose of prostitution in a public place can, if found guilty, be fined up to $1,000. Subsequent offences mean a fine of up to $2,000 or jail time of up to six months or both. The police spokesman said that many countries adopt a similar approach. They are flirty , physical and persistent A MALE journalist from The New Paper on Sunday posed as a passerby to find out first-hand if the young men outside Lucky Chinatown were indeed touting special services, and how they did it. His verdict: They were flirtatious, physical and pesky. And they did not take no for an answer, persisting in their offers for a pricey massage. When our team visited the building on Wednesday at about 5pm, there were two or three of the young men hanging around the entrance. Shortly after 6pm, another 10 arrived in a group. They split up into groups of two or three, or stood around on their own. They did not pay attention to women but would smile at men walking past and try to approach them, including The New Paper on Sunday's journalist. He had barely stepped out of the fast-food restaurant near the building entrance when he was approached by one of the men, who appeared to be in his mid-20s. The man smiled and asked politely in Mandarin: 'Do you want a massage?' When asked if there were any other services besides a massage, the man replied: 'Any service that you want is all included at $180 for about an hour.' 'First customer' The soft-spoken man, who was carrying a satchel, introduced himself as Sam and said he was from Shanghai. He also said: 'Lao xiong (brother, in Mandarin), please give me a chance. It's my first time here, and you will be my first customer.' He even gave assurances that it was safe and that they could go to a room he rented nearby for the services. But when told of the worry of being caught, the man said they could go to a nearby hotel but the room charges were not included in his fee. The man lowered his offer to $150, and again to $130 when his advances were rejected. He was bent on cutting a deal and refused to back down. As the journalist started to walk away, the man wouldn't give up. He followed him and tugged at his shirt sleeve. He let go after about 50m, when the journalist stopped talking to him. Even then, the man called after him loudly: 'Lao xiong, lao xiong...' http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,...,177507,00.html? Yes.. with the Gigolos and ERP, biz will be blazing in Chinatown! unstoppable! Huat Arh!

Brought 3 colleagues along with me to test drive all three cars before making the decision on which to buy. Colleague A drives a Honda Accord, B drives a Nissan Pressage and C drives a BMW 3 series. I test drove all three van, Wuling first, follow by Hafei then Dongfeng. Their verdict, HaFei MinZ 1.3, following is the reason why, . Fit and finish is best . Quietest ride . Doors close most firm . Chairs vibrate the least . Comes with a LG Dvd player and screen None of them likes any of the Vans, but if they have to choose, it is Hafei MinZ. So, that is it, paper work to be done coming Friday. Will post photos here when I take delivey.

Pls see this http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/4b671d0b010008i8 if these cars come to spore, will u buy? i feel if i own 1

HAHA, MALAYSIA BOLEH! AHMAD UNleashed RACIST remark calling another race "squatters" and giving threats to the race and Indian but never arrested. Instead the reporter, a Chinese female, got arrested instead! Malaysia boleh! Opposition MP Ms Kok also arrested. Raja Petra also arrested. One more to be arrested then can play Mahjong. KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysian authorities Friday arrested an opposition politician, a prominent blogger and a journalist, according to officials and reports, in a crackdown as the opposition plots to seize power. The three were all believed to be held under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows for detention without trial and has been used against government opponents in the past. Political observers said they feared the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which was humiliated in March elections and is now threatened by the opposition's plans, was planning a repeat of an infamous 1987 crackdown. "Is Malaysia in the grip of another ISA madness, akin to Operation Lalang 21 years ago when there were mass arrests under the ISA and closure of three newspapers?" said opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang who was jailed in that campaign. Malaysia's leading blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who has targeted government figures on his website "Malaysia Today", was the first to be taken into custody. Raja Petra has already been charged with sedition and defamation after linking Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife to the sensational murder of a Mongolian woman. Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar justified the arrest, saying the offending articles had insulted Islam and the Prophet Muhammad -- an offence in predominantly Muslim Malaysia. "We have called him in many times and advised him on his statements but he continued until he posed a threat," he said. Tan Hoon Cheng, a reporter for the Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily News, was also arrested after reporting on an outburst from a ruling party member who called the ethnic Chinese community "squatters". Her report triggered a major row in the coalition which is made up of race-based parties. The leading party, which represents majority Muslim Malays, was forced to punish the member responsible. "Her colleagues from Sin Chew Daily are shocked about the arrest," the newspaper said in a statement. "Sin Chew Daily will stand firmly by our editorial position." The Star daily's website also reported that Teresa Kok, a lawmaker from the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party which is a member of the opposition alliance, had also been arrested under the ISA. It did not give further details, but Kok has been defending herself against allegations that she complained about the noise of morning prayers at a mosque in her electorate. She has said the accusation is "preposterous". The Internal Security Act, which human rights groups have pushed to have abolished, allows for renewable two-year periods of detention without trial and is normally used against suspected terrorists. Malaysia's opposition, led by Anwar Ibrahim who is plotting to topple the government as soon as next week, condemned the move to deploy the law as "draconian and unjustified." The Centre for Independent Journalism said the measures "bear a disturbing resemblance to the period in the lead-up to the Operasi Lalang in 1987" when dozens of activists, artists, academics and politicians were detained. "Both incidents are similar in that it relates to ongoing political crisis within UMNO, but manifested as alleged racial tension by the government," it said in a statement. Three Malaysian newspapers -- the Sin Chew Daily News, The Sun which is a free English-language daily, and Suara Keadilan which is published by the opposition -- were also Friday reportedly threatened with suspension. The Star's website said the three had been issued with "show cause" letters from the home ministry, requiring them to explain their actions or face suspension.

I feel compelled to post this message here to tell u guys in Singapore how wonderful our learned PAP government really is. They are simply the best in the world and their willingness to accept low pay of only S$200K a month is really a blessing to all Singaporeans. Our country is democratic + meritocratic. We the locals have the blessings from foreigners who make up 30% of our population to work and occupy our schools while we spend time doing national service. As the word implies, we service the nation. This is our job but our nation is so good to provide us with free ali-baba bags, boots, clothes, makan, drinks and even transport on very safe 3-tonners. The foreigners here in Singapore, however, does not enjoy the benefit of free exercise, free gym, free clothes, free makans etc. As a result, you see them begging for monies in Orchard Road underpass and waterloo temples. You see them working like hell for a pathetic $2k a month while we enjoy free fresh air and training in our protected restricted camps. Next time u decide to complain about PAP, think again! Without Lee Kuan Yew, all of you will be maids and servants in another country! At least in Singapore people dont label u as an "immigrant" and get away with it! We have laws and we have orders. President pass by ERP still have to pay. Lee Hsien Loong go public toilet lau-sai still got to pay 20 cent. This is merit-based system that we are living on. Cheers to the PAP! PAP = Singapore. No doubt. Ahmad should apologise for remarks, says Abdullah PUTRAJAYA: Bukit Bendera Umnodivision chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail should apologise for calling the Chinese pendatang (immigrants). Party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the need for an apology was the general feeling of the people.

Its the time of wedding and for some its their first time holding hands and more. Saw this on a Dicovery progarmme, and was enthralled by the experience but 1 question keep lingering to me - on a bed of ice though lined with I-can't-remembered-what-animal-skin, how to make whoopee! http://www.icehotel-canada.com/

Now undecided Liu says even if STTA wants him to stay, he needs to think about it. He adds: 'I need space to do my job.' 'I need to be able to make decisions that won't be second-guessed.' 'I can't have people trying to disrupt what I am trying to achieve here.' By Lin Xinyi LESS than a day after welcoming the positive news that Singapore Table Tennis Association president Lee Bee Wah looked forward to working with him in preparation for the 2012 Olympics, Liu Guodong is having second thoughts about staying on as national head coach. He told The Straits Times yesterday: 'Even if the STTA wants me to stay, I will need to think about it.' This latest development comes as a shock after there were signs of progress on Tuesday night, when both Liu and Ms Lee said that they were looking forward to working with each other. Then, Ms Lee had said: 'I've considered that Liu Guodong has done a great job with the girls and met the target of a medal at the Olympics.' But, yesterday morning, Liu had a change of heart. He said: 'This whole saga - am I staying or am I going - has really hurt my pride.' If he is to stay on, his top concern is the environment he will be working in. Liu, 34, said: 'I need space to do my job. 'I need to be able to make decisions that won't be second-guessed. 'And I can't have people trying to disrupt what I am trying to achieve here.' If those assurances are given, Liu said he will stay on - '100 per cent'. However, as things stand, he is uncertain about staying put until he has had a discussion with Ms Lee. She did not want to comment on the issue when approached at the National Library last night after the closing ceremony of Read! Singapore 2008. Despite leading the women's table tennis team to a silver - Singapore's first Olympic medal in 48 years - there were initial doubts over Liu's future. This, after STTA chief Lee said that his fate would be decided by a coaching committee last Saturday. The uncertainty followed the fiasco in the Olympics' men's singles event, where Singapore No 1 Gao Ning played without a coach by his side and crashed out in the third round. Following the 'Gao Ning incident', Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan promised a full review of the controversy after Team Singapore returned from Beijing on Monday. Yesterday morning, the minister had a meeting with paddlers Li Jiawei, Feng Tianwei, Wang Yuegu, Sun Beibei, Gao Ning, Yang Zi and Cai Xiaoli. Dr Balakrishnan also met the coaches and team manager Antony Lee. It is unclear what was discussed. All Liu would say was that 'it went well'. Although there was speculation within the sporting fraternity that Liu had offered to resign yesterday, he quashed the rumour. He insisted that he will see out his current contract, which runs till Dec 31. This means that he will be in charge when the Republic's paddlers compete at next month's Volkswagen Women's World Cup in Kuala Lumpur. Liu said: 'We've worked so hard to get to where we are. I still hope that I can be here to consolidate our position, which will be harder than our rise to the top.' [email protected] Additional reporting by Wang Meng Meng http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_272769.html this is so incomplete without the Joker http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3247/273684...973b3a5e4_o.gif

As I have 3 kids, been hunting for a OPC Van that can ferry all of them in the weekends, been looking for something that I can afford and I can live with. Finally found one, Wuling Journey, sits seven, workmanship like a 1980's to 90's japanese suzuki swift. Can sccept lah, but when I broke the news to my friends and colleagues, for last two weeks, been Slap big time with all the Negative points! I have not recieved any positive pointers as yet. My fellow MCFer what do you think? This are the few points my friends raise. 1. If the agent goes under, where do I find parts? 2. How reliable is the agent aftersales service? 3. Chinese made are very unreliable, be prepared for breakdowns even it's new. 4. The undercarriage is prone to break. 5. Some cant imagine thay driving one, I think it's a image thing... 6. Most common is...You Sure REGRET owning one. 7. It's only 1051cc, very underpower. 8. Some look at the specs and got worried with the max speed of 105 only,never see before Honestly, I am a bit shaken, but will still go ahead as planned, letting go my loyal Yamaha for a Red Wuling, anyway, please give me your answers to the question raise by them, I am not trying to get any to agree or support my decision, just want to view any answers to the questions raise....thanks

A friend from oversea is asking me to recommend the best chinese and western restaurants in Singapore. Any recommendations ? Money not too big an issue Also not keen on franchise like Mortons or Lawry's that are avaliable in many other cities. Appreciate your input.

China Police in unidentified county using Skoda for their police vehicle. Should be the Octavia. http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjQ0MDg1MDQ=.html

Got this from an email... More added features of name... _________________________________________ Why Chinese shouldn't have Christian names: Anne Chang (Mandarin)-Dirty Anne Chin (Mandarin) - Keep quiet Faye Chen (Mandarin) - Dusty Carl Cheng (Hokkien) - Buttock Monica Cheng (Hokkien) - Touching your buttocks Lucy Leow (Hokkien) - You are dead Jane Tan (Mandarin) - Frying eggs Suzie Leow (Hokkien) - Lost till death Henry Mah (Mandarin) - Hate your mum Corrine Tai (Hokkien) - Poor fellow Paul Chan (Mandarin) - Bankrupt Nelson Tan (Mandarin) - Bird laying eggs Leslie Tong (Mandarin) - Rubbish bin Carmen Teng (Hokkien) - Leg hair long Connie Mah (Cantonese) - Call your mother Danny See (Hokkien) - Squeeze you to death Rosie Teng (Hokkien) - Screws and nails Pete Tsai (Hokkien) - Nose droppings Macy Koh (Cantonese) - Never die before

Can anyone recommend any good chinese Sinseh for my problem below :- My right foot tends to become numb after driving for a while. Have been to a few Chinese Sinseh but still cannot find the root of the problem. Any advise.

OK, those who supported the Chinese Pop Boys Band in the 1980s, there were quite a few. But which is your favourite? Let's poll

Not-so-secret weapon: GM's Chinese engines By Ian Austen Tuesday, March 25, 2008 OSHAWA, Ontario: General Motors car engines were once the stuff of American legend. The Beach Boys sang, "nothing can touch my 409," about a powerful Chevy V-8. Oldsmobile owners in 1981 were so angered that their cars had been fitted with Chevrolet engines instead of Oldsmobile "Rockets," subject of another hit song, that they successfully sued GM over the swap. GM has eliminated brand distinctions between its engines, saddling them with names unlikely to inspire songwriters, like Ecotec, Vortec and Northstar. But some owners of the Chevrolet Equinox, a "compact" sport utility vehicle built in North America, might be surprised to learn the origin of the engine under their hoods - it is made in China. Soon, China will move from exporting mostly low-end auto parts to the U.S. market, like wheels, to sending whole vehicles. Last year, Chrysler signed a deal with Chery Automobile, the largest Chinese car company, to supply a Dodge subcompact. But one of the most important steps on China's long march to an auto export industry was the little-noticed arrival of the humble engine inside the 2005 Chevy Equinox. "This is the first Chinese-made engine going into this market," said Eric Fedewa, an analyst at CSM Worldwide, an automotive research firm. "It was an experiment to see if GM could use its facility in China to take costs out of a vehicle." Engines, along with transmissions and interior components, are the most expensive parts of a vehicle, accounting for a quarter to a third of its manufacturing costs. GM has neither broadcast nor hidden the fact that the Equinox engine (and that of its twin, the Pontiac Torrent) is made in China. The car's sticker notes that 55 percent of its parts are from the United States and Canada, 20 percent from Japan, 15 percent from China, and the rest from elsewhere. But no sticker tells consumers the engine is built at Shanghai General Motors, a joint venture between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry, a Chinese company. Originally intended to power Buick sedans built for the Chinese market, the engine is the only one available in the Equinox base model. Starting this model year, a larger American-made motor became an option in a higher-end version of the SUV. The same model of engine as the one made in China is produced at a GM engine plant in Tonawanda, New York, about a two hour drive from the Canadian factory that builds the Equinox. GM does not break out internal costs, so it is not known how the Chinese engines compare in price to those from Tonawanda. Fedewa said an engine of this sort typically cost about $800 to $900 to make. Even in an era of global manufacturing, the Equinox is exceptionally international. Its engineering was largely done here in Oshawa, headquarters of General Motors of Canada. It uses a five-speed automatic transmission made in Japan by Aisin Seiki, though GM is a leading manufacturer of automatic transmissions. And the parts are assembled at a factory in Ingersoll, Ontario, a joint venture between GM and Suzuki, another Japanese company. Suzuki was a main driver in the decision to use the Chinese-made engine. Dick Kauling, a senior engineering manager at GM Canada who helped develop the Equinox, said his group worked closely with engineers at Suzuki, as well as GM engineers in Germany, China and Warren, Michigan. "The Suzuki guys said, 'We have the global logistics that can make this happen,' " Fedewa said. Suzuki proposed loading a container ship in Shanghai with engines, then having it stop in Japan to pick up transmissions on its way to Canada, he said. A 25-year GM veteran, Kauling remembers when car buyers hotly debated the differences between the engines in different GM brands, not to mention those from other automakers. But he said the old way of organizing production was less than efficient. Early in his career, the company was running short of engines for Chevrolets but had a surplus of Oldsmobile motors. He was assigned to find a way to modify the incompatible Oldsmobile engine - the two brands had not even been able to agree on common bolt sizes - to fit into a Chevy body. The Equinox experience was different, he said. "I don't think we're concerned where the parts come from," Kauling said. The Chinese engine "has got General Motors all over it." But the idea of using Chinese-made engines did not sit well with the Canadian Auto Workers, the union that represents workers at the Equinox factory. Because of its complexity, engine assembly employs a higher proportion of skilled, well-paid workers. Moreover, Basil Hargrove, the union president, blames much of the North American industry's problems on what he calls unfair trading practices by Asian manufacturers. "Today it's South Korean and Japan and tomorrow it's going to be China," he said. "It's only a matter of time before GM, Ford and Chrysler are going to deal with the crisis they face by going into these countries and shipping into here. Very few consumers ask: Where is the engine built or where is the transmission made?" Assessing the quality of Chinese manufacturing is difficult, partly because of the design of this particular engine. For instance, Gabriel Shenhar, the senior engineer of Consumer Reports auto test division, said that in the Equinox, the engine was coarse, noisy, used more fuel than similar vehicles and produced relatively little horsepower for its size. But he did not blame those shortcomings on the Chinese. "This engine's blueprint did not originate in China," Shenhar said. "The 3.4 liter, 185 horsepower has always been a lackluster engine." He said, "This is not the fault of Canadians that put the car together in Ontario but a reflection of GM's lack of attention to detail and halfhearted effort on this car." The magazine gives the Equinox a "worse than average" reliability rating, although Shenhar said its problems were not isolated to any particular part of the vehicle. Still, Fedewa, the analyst from CSM Worldwide, anticipates that the next Equinox models, expected in about two years, will not be fitted with Chinese engines. He said the past three years had shown that engines and transmissions did not travel well. "You're talking about assemblies that are big, bulky and heavy so it's hard to pack a lot of them into a container ship," Fedewa said. To keep costs down, GM maintains a relatively low inventory of the Chinese engines in Canada. That means that any disruption in the long supply chain from Shanghai could swiftly shut down the Canadian assembly plant. "The biggest fear of a vehicle manufacturer is that they can't build vehicles because of a parts shortage," Fedewa said. "Sourcing from half way around the world is very challenging."

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/197423/crazy_japanese_taxi/

Dear all MCF-ers, Just would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you .... Happy Chinese New Year

boy she rocks, listen to her singing lovin you

http://youtube.com/watch?v=15ykoPftc0Q 60 episode drama produce by TVBS n CCTV on Chinese cars. We will be able to see how China cars are produce.

I have a wedding banquet to attend this evening. The invitation states 7 pm but I think this is way too early. The banquet is in a hotel. So, can someone tell me when is the best time to go? I only know the bridegroom and nobody else so it will be quite awkward if I go there too early sitting by myself.

Hi folks, I'm looking for a chinese restaurant that provides room for 3-4 tables w/ Karaoke facilities. It has to be in the east side of Singapore (Bedok, Changi, Ubi, Paya Lebar etc). I'm planning for a company pre-CNY 2008 dinner. The criterias in order of importance are: 1. Food & Service 2. Room & Karaoke facilities 3. Ambience Thanks!

Hello.. Anyone knows of a good sin seh for sprains??? Best is in AMK area.. Thanks

For those wif an urge to puke, this video will be helpful. Video like this will drive suicide rate up. By dogs, with dogs, for dogs,

Are there any recommended freeware that can help a user with Chinese websites or at least allow a Chinese user to have a better experience? I am going to let my grandpa have my laptop to use now that he has broadband in his home. I am a noob at this area mainly bec my CL2 sucks... and the Chinese sites I go to for reviews are killing me (no fun searching thru Chinese- Eng Dictionary for almost every word) Any pointers would be appreciated by both myself and grandpa.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6961965.stm Chinese-made MG cars go on sale Chinese-made MG cars will go on sale in China next month, the brand's new owner has said. The cars - priced between $23,000 (