Photos of Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer's seminar

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Cesar Millan LIVE in Singapore Seminar

I am looking forward to meet the world renown Mexican-born American dog trainer Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer tomorrow night. Cesar will be in Singapore this weekend 2 & 3 June at Marina Bay Sands to deliver his LIVE Seminar. I booked my seat online on 5th May 2012.

The reason I am attending the seminar not so much to learn about dog training but more to meet the guy and learn the way he conducts his seminar. I am familiar and very much agree with his training philosophy, that dogs require strong 'pack leadership' from their owners, in the form of exercise, discipline and affection (in that order). "Calm assertive" is also what I preach. Cesar is widely known for using his trademark verbal cue a tsch sounds. It's funny because in the last few years I've had clients making the tsch sounds in my presence and the dog totally ignores the owner. I've had to explain to them the tsch sounds isn't some kind of magic word or cue. Many of us would use words such "NO!" or "AHH AHH" (my preference). On it's own, words have no meaning to the dog. You have to follow through with a correction at a level that would deter the dog. In time the dog forms an association of the verbal cue with the unpleasant consequence and he learns to refrain from the negative behavior when the cue is given.

 

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Pet Projects

Okay, just in case you are wondering why I haven't blogged since November last year - first, the Christmas festivities in December and then Chinese New Year in January. The usual parties, meeting up with friends and Chinese New Year visits. After that I undertook a number of Doggie Projects - A Pet Care Talk at NUSS, a "How to Train Your Dog" TV program by Ngee Ann Poly's  Mass Communication students and earlier this month shooting an episode of "Xiaxue's Guide To Life" on Dog Training. These have kept me really busy.

NUSS workshop

The Pet Talk at NUSS was a bit of a challenge, mainly because they don't allow dogs on their clubhouse. I mean how are you going to interest your audience without a dog? It can potentially be boring. And then I did my presentation with Powerpoint for the first time where in the past I have given talks mostly utilizing whiteboard and transparencies. You see, a lot of my IT knowledge are self taught. Fortunately I found someone, a poly graduate who is an animal lover and passionate about animal behavior to help me with the Powerpoint Slides as well as take care of running it during my talk. In the absence of a dog, I decided to play the part of a dog for the purpose of demonstration and audience participation.

Everything worked out fine. I also managed to secure sponsorship of goodie bags from Royal Canin - dog products, food, treat, toy and souvenir. Participants were very happy as the free gifts were worth more than the fee they paid for the talk. Registration exceeded the targeted 20. Everybody had a good laugh with me acting as a canine for participants to practice training on. The talk ended right on time.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic TV project - Alpha Dog

For this project I brought along Rolo, a parti color labradoodle. Rolo is a really people-friendly dog, not overly attention seeking. Students of Mass Communication are involved in the different aspect of TV production - Producer, Floor Manager, Cameraman, Host, Control Room and Post Production. They all adored him. The most difficult role must be that of the host. She was a bit nervous and had difficulty remembering her lines. Slides show :
https://youtu.be/-cxiGDwhxYA

Xiaxue's Guide To Life (http://clicknetwork.tv/guidetolife) 

Early this month I did a video shoot with Wendy Cheng, Singapore Blogger Queen better known by her pseudonym Xiaxue, a celebrity blogger who posts about her life, fashion and local issues. Her blog, which attracts about 50,000 readers per day, has won prestigious blog awards and earned her sponsorship deals, as well as stints as a columnist and TV show host. However, she is a contentious figure in the Singaporean blogosphere, with some of her offensive posts sparking national controversies.

Shooting an episode of  "Xiaxue's Guide To Life" at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. "Xiaxue's Guide To Life" is an online tv program of Clicknetwork.tv which is owned by TV celebrity Irene Ang. It was supposed to be titled The Dog Whisperer. In this episode Wendy (Xiaxue) learns how to train a dog and teaches some simple tricks. I am very comfortable in front of a camera but I wasn't sure what it would be like working with Wendy. I have a certain impression of Wendy having read some of her blog posts. I must say I don't approve of her frequent use of the "fxxx" word and her overly cosmetic look but that doesn't mean I condemn her. It's just the way I feel and I don't pass judgement. It was a pleasant meeting I must say and she wasn't crude like I thought she would be and with no airs. Best of all, no "f" word was uttered!

 

 

Is your dog driving your nuts? Dog problems - Aggression, Barking Incessantly, Begging, Biting/Mouthing, Chasing, Chewing, Digging, Hyperactive, Jumping on People, Pee & Poo all over the place, Pulling while Walking, Separation Anxiety, Submissive Urination, Whining. I can help you. http://www.petzcentral.com Email me for time schedule.

A Gem among election candidates

By now I am sure most of us would have come to know the name Nicole Seah, a young 24 year old candidate of the National Solidarity Party standing for the election in Marine Parade GRC up against PAP team led by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. She is now the second most popular Singapore politician online after Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. To date she had amassed close to 31000 fans. I am not going to compare her with PAP candidate Ting Pei Ling as many have done online. I simply think she is a Gem among all the election candidates. In my younger days I used to listen in awe the speeches made by Minister Mentor, then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Never would I have thought being moved in the same way listening to a young girl her age. No one would think that she's just another pretty face. I am so very impressed with her sincerity, maturity and conviction in this undertaking. She handles reporter's question like a seasoned politician. Her parents are so blessed to have a daughter like her. They ought to be proud and so too Singapore.

All the best Nicole and may God bless you!

RIP Elizabeth Taylor

I am saddened to receive news that the holywood actress Elizabeth Taylor has died yesterday in Los Angeles at the age of 79. A woman of great beauty she is remembered by many of us for her movie role as Cleopatra and her colourful private life, which saw her married eight times to seven different men. She won two Best Actress Oscars over the course of her career. She was married to Richard Burton twice, and often referred to him as the love of her life. Elizabeth will reportedly be buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, next to her mother and father. RIP Elizabeth Taylor  

A new road named Albert Winsemius Lane

A new road has been named after Dr Albert Winsemius, Singapore's Chief Economic Advisor from 1961 to 1984.So who is Albert Winsemius?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Winsemius

Albert Winsemius (1910-1996), a Dutch economist, was Singapore's long-time economic advisor from 1961 to 1984. He led the United Nations Survey Mission to Singapore,^[1] and was to play a major role in the formulation of Singapore's national economic development strategy. In 1960, Dr Winsemius led the United Nations team to examine Singapore’s potential in industrialization. At that time, Singapore had just attained self-government and was facing high unemployment and growing population. He presented a 10-year development plan to transform Singapore from an entrepot trade port into a centre of manufacturing and industrialization.

Albert Winsemius Lane as it is called is located off Clementi Road/Sunset Lane. It is not quite a road as you would expect a road to be. It starts from the entrance to the soon to be completed Centre for Aquatic Science Research CASR Blog, squeezed between the NEA South West Regional Office and the Eastlodge Hostel. Set up by Singapore-Delft Water Alliance (SDWA) at the bank of Sungei Ulu Pandan along the the Park Connectors, the centre is set to be the hotspot for freshwater research and is the first if it's kind in Asia. It will be open to the public showcasing their projects and technologies for public education.

Credit: SDWA

SDWA is multi-national, interdisciplinary research Centre of Excellence for Water Knowledge involving PUB (Singapore), National University of Singapore and Deltares (The Netherlands), established through an initiative of the National Research Foundation in Singapore. SDWA is hosted by National University of Singapore and provides research home to scientists and engineers from all partner organizations. 

View CASR location in a larger map

Bruce Lee playing Ping Pong with Nunchaku

This video in black and white, of the Legendary Kungfu master and actor Bruce Lee is making it's round in China and is a hot item on YouTube. I wouldn't be a surprise that Bruce Lee actually could do this but it is most likely editing by computer software. Fake or real it is nevertheless really awesome and entertaining. A Limited Edition of the Nokia N96 mobile phone is featured at the end of the video clip so this could be a Nokia advertisement.

Does God Exist?

I've received this story by email many times. And then today I received it in the form of a Youtube video. It seems that the story had been circulating for some time since 2004 when it was first attributed to Albert Einstein. Always careful to make sure information are true and accurate, I did a little research and found that there are doubts about the story or at least that the boy in the story wasn't Einstein. http://www.religioustolerance.org/culeins.htm

Singapore Heritage Fest 2010 Concert

English Concert - 20 August 2010, Friday, (8-10pm), SMU Campus Green
Lovers of local Music and supporters of local bands party the night away with popular bands from the past and rising artistes of the present. The English concert features a tapestry of musical genres and local bands such as The Great Spy Experiment, Tania, Gypsy featuring Mel and Joe Ferdinands, Wendi Koh, former members of the Flybaits and The X-Periments – all hosted by popular Radio DJ and Host, Hamish Brown. 

English Concert - 21 August 2010, Saturday, (8-10pm), SMU Campus Green
If you are a big fan of Chinese evergreen songs, then mark this date on your calendar right now. Featuring artistes such as Chen Wei Lian, Chen Diya and Carrie Yang, Yi Ge Da Liang Ge Xiao, Xian Hong, Hong Shao Xuan, Pan Ying, Li Fei Hui, Ye Pei Fen, Li Chuan and Huang Qing Yuan, it's going to be an evening of songs and music under the stars.

Admission is free.

ONCE UPON A SINGAPURA, A journey through local music

On 7 & 8 August 2010 Esplanade presented National Day Celebrations ONCE UPON A SINGAPURA, A journey through local music at the outdoor theater. Bands of the 60's The Mysterians performed their hits such as Please Don't Tease, The Vadham family's Moses and Regina delivering familiar oldies and Sausalito in tribute to their brother Chris Vadham of Western Union Band, Terry Mortimer of Tony & Terry and Peter Diaz of the Surfers played some memorable rock & roll songs. This is such a wonderful event to reminisce about the good old music of the 60's and our very own local bands.

Regina & Moses Vadham singing Sausalito







Terry Mortimer of Tony & Terry and Peter Diaz of The Surfer "Can't Buy Me Love"

Brian Richmond interviews Terry Mortimer of Tony & Terry and Peter Diaz The Surfers.

World Cup predictions - Mani the Parakeet vs Paul the octopus

"Paul" the octopus in Germany say's Spain is gonna win the world cup 2010. Here in Singapore we have "Mani" the parakeet who has become a sort of celebrity status predicting Holland will win. Considering that Paul the Octopus picked Germany to win the Euro 2008 but Spain won, his credibility should somehow have been dented. Being a Singaporean I am betting on our own psychic animal, haha. In a video clip from Reuters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy4hzSatq8Q) it is reported "Mani, the seven year old bird from Malaysia......". Singapore viewers in particular are left wondering if that statement is true as otherwise it may leave viewers from other parts of the world confused that Singapore is still part of Malaysia. Singapore broke off from the Federation of Malaysia and became independent in 1965. We celebrate our 45th year of independence this year on the 9th of August. Here is a report from our very own CNA Channel News Asia.

"Every Touching Moment" 感動每一刻 [Shanghai 2010 World Expo]

Chinese President Hu Jintou declares open The Shanghai World Expo 2010 tonight with artistic performances, spectacular fireworks and high tech display. An estimated 70 million visitors are expected during the 6 months expo.

Opening Fire Works


Expo Song "Every Touching Moment" 感動每一刻
JJ Lin (林俊傑), Stefanie (孫燕姿) , Tanya (蔡健雅), Ah Du ( 阿杜)


Singapore Pavilion Tour

Shanghai Expo Count Down

Countdown to Shanghai Expo, 10 days to go. For me it's 30 days count down to our Shanghai trip. Certainly we will set aside some time to visit the Expo when we are there. I am however not quite sure what this exhibition is really about. Perhaps we will at least visit the China Pavilion as well as our own Singapore Pavilion. I am proud that our famous Singapore singers Stefanie Sun, JJ Lin, Tanya Chua and Ah Du will feature in a video clip during the expo.
 
Singapore Pavilion Theme Song - "Every Touching Moment" 感 動每一刻
Composition : JJ Lin
Lyricists: 林秋離 許環良 Venus
Vocalists: JJ Lin 林 俊傑 , Stefanie 孫 燕姿, Tanya 蔡 健雅, Ado 阿 杜 


Interview with the designer


The Singapore Pavilion

Kym Ng and Quan Yi Fong

Mediacorp U Channel artists Kym Ng and Quan Yi Fong shooting the TV program "Buzzing Cashier" at Commonwealth Crescent Market 31, Commonwealth Crescent, Singapore 140116.