BasicMaths iPhone OS application

This is an application based on the drill-and-practice instructional strategy. Similar to memorization, such a strategy presents the tasks to be completed repetitively to build up the foundation skills for more meaningful learning in the future.

This application provides exercises covering basic mathematical skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The exercises are targeted for children under 12 years, with varying degrees of difficulty depending on their age.

Memory iPhone OS application

This is one of my first iPhone OS applications for the iPhone 3G and iPod touch devices. It is a Memory game. One of the ways to improve your memory is to regularly engage in activities focused on the sensory and short-term memory.

Sensory memory allows an individual to look at an object or item and thereafter remember what it looks like with just a brief moment of observation. Short-term memory goes longer, retention from a few seconds to possibly as long as a minute.

The main aim of this application it to help trigger and exercise your sensory and short-term memory capacities. Your objective is to identify, remember and match pairs of pictures. There are many different pictures included in this application to fully stimulate your memory. Reveal all the pictures in the smallest number of moves or in the shortest amount of time.

Go get it from

You can also view a video of this game in action at YouTube.

Kayaking to Pulau Ubin

I made another trip to Pulau Ubin last week, and I've attached a few photos. The picture below is my AE AF 10.5' kayak.


Additional photos of the journey there:











This is Chek Jawa at low tide. Looking at the barnacle-markings on the walkway, that is the high-tide level.

Parrots

Here is a video of our Congo African Grey opening its cage.

Can you chew gum in Singapore?

Advanced Elements inflatable kayak

If you enjoy kayaking and have storage space constraints, a good alternative to fulfill your need for outdoor water sports is the inflatable kayak. There are many brands available, but after some reading and research, I settled for the Advanced Elements kayaks. I own the 2007 AdvancedFrame Convertible as well as the AdvancedFrame 10.5'.

As there isn't any Advanced Elements reseller/distributor in Singapore, the Convertible was purchased in the US while the 10.5' was shipped using VPost courier service. I've been able to kayak at several places in and around Singapore, often in the sea. While you now do not require any special permit to paddle your personal kayak in the sea, you would need to be a member of the Singapore Canoe Federation (SCF) if you wish to use your own kayak in the reservoirs managed by the SCF, such as the MacRitchie Reservoir, Pandan Reservoir and Marina Bay basin.

One of the first trips I made on the Convertible was to this land mass known as Pulau Ketam (literally, it means Crab Island). If you use Google Earth, fly to 1°24'0.26"N 103°57'8.53"E.

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Pulau Ubin was my next stop. At the south-eastern part of this island is the Chek Jawa, a marine wetlands that will interest nature lovers and conservationists. A boardwalk provides access to the wetlands, but with a kayak, you could go further and see it from a different angle. Fly to 1°24'28.92"N 103°59'33.02"E with Google Earth.




This was one of the rewards:


I will have to make another trip to Chek Jawa again to take a few more pictures of what you can see there.

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Following that, I decided to make full use of my SCF membership and paddled in the Marina Bay basin. Many new developments have happened and will be happening. In 2007, we celebrated our National Day in the Marina Bay, and the world's largest floating platform was purpose-built for this celebration. This next photo only showed the viewing gallery as the platform wasn't ready then.

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Last week, I decided to check out the recently-opened Singapore Flyer observation wheel, the world's largest for the time being.

Embroidery fun

Using the digital image below


with some leather and a really good machine, I get this unique and one-of-its-kind card holder:


You can now personalize your own bags with your favourite characters:

MINI Cooper S Cabriolet

I drive a 2006 Pepper White MINI Cooper S Cabriolet. To me, this car is the most fun car that I've ever driven, even better than the sheer driving pleasure offered by the Ultimate Driving Machines I've owned. For the price that I paid, there are other bigger and more powerful cars.

However, this is a car that you buy with your heart, and not with your head. Furthermore, it's a cabriolet for that wind-in-the-face experience when driving it with the top down. If you are keen to learn more about MINI and meet other MINI drivers in Singapore, go to MINISG.COM

My other mini things include Mac Mini, O2 Mini (sold), and radio-controlled 1/10 scale electric MINI car. Only the iPod Mini is missing from the list.