SEC ads (updated)

Found these rather creative ads, supposedly done by the Singapore Environment Council, which I'd never seen before. Basically the tagline says "Atmospheric pollution affects everyone" and it's supposed to imply that "everyone" also includes aliens, cupids, and even wiches (your usual fantasy/sci-fi/mythical fare). Rather different take. :) The "supposedly" in my first sentence refers to the fact that the url for the SEC website is wrong in the copy, which makes some people think it's not the real deal. Or perhaps it was just a creative proposal that wasn't implemented?

From http://www.adsoftheworld.com

Update: Well, according to my source, this was a genuine SEC ad that did appear quite a few years back. I wonder if this was just the draft still, as I really don't think they would let it out with the wrong url. Esp since the call for action was to visit the website for more info.

Environmental cost of googling...bad reporting?

Just read today on the BBC news site that googling emits a lot of carbon dioxide considering that it is an energy intensive process. A professor from Harvard University, Alex Wissner-Gross claims that a typical Google search on a desktop computer produces about 7g CO2, which according to him is as much as a boiling kettle. According to the Straits Times, we are a bunch of heavy internet users "One in four Singaporeans download movies, and one in five download songs from the Internet, with the heaviest users downloading over 20 movies and songs every month, according to a new study on media habits here. " That's a lot of kettles!!!

Latest update! The Harvard professor has spoken out against the newspaper, The Times, who published the original article. Apparently, the prof said "his study never singles out or even mentions Google. " Google also replied swiftly in their blog (I didn't know Google had a blog!).

DIY body form

I'm finding it difficult to pinch and tuck my own clothes on my body whenever I'm doing reconstruction. Took a look at the body forms at Spotlight and my eyes just popped!!

So, after searching the net, I managed to convince my hubby to wrap me up in duct tape so that I could get my own personal body form.

I thought the paper mache one is pretty good but I think it would get messy!

There's a video with instructions as well!






Update in 2011 - Just to tell everyone that if you're making this in Singapore or any other hot climate country, don't use the duct tape method! My form has totally warped in the heat, and the tape as become so sticky that sometimes it sticks to the fabric, leaving marks :-( 
I think next time I'll do the paper mache tute no matter how messy it will be !

Tiger claws

Last Saturday, ACRES was a tipped-off that someone in the ‘thieves market’ off Jalan Besar was selling tiger parts. An ACRES team of undercover investigators discovered a small basket containing about 20 alleged tiger claws. The seller stating they were ‘tiger claws’ from India and they should be bought for ‘good luck’. She proceeded to show them the different ways they could be used, as jewellery etc. The police were called and the goods confiscated and the seller's details taken down.

(pic courtesy of ACRES)

According to ACRES, AVA is now investigating further. Anyone found selling or advertising endangered species parts for sale can be fined up to $50,000 per specimen and or sentenced to up to 2 years in jail. I'm surprised and disturbed that she was able to get the claws into Singapore.

Vinegar Rinse

I still haven't been able to find a suitable alternative to the Beauty and the Bees beer shampoo, and now my scalp is starting to itch and I'm getting oily patches. Sweeteepye had mentioned ages ago that using apple cider vinegar as a rinse.

I am now rinsing my hair over the sink with about 3 tbsp of the vinegar with about 1 litre of cold water. I just dunk my whole head (except face) into the sink and let it do work. After about 5 mins of rinsing, I step into the shower and use my normal shampoo. It definitely feels a lot better and the itch has gone now. I do this alternate days :-)

I'm going to start soaking my scalp in beer but I think I will wait 'til I'm in HK since a can of beer is cheaper there! :-)

Finished the jacket...

that I was blogging about earlier but heard that it's freezing in Hong Kong now so might not get the chance to wear it for CNY :-(