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I Am Your Friend

You may not have ever seen me

But you know that I am here.

You can feel me in your heart

As you enter each new day.

I will always be there for you

I am your friend.

Someone to share the good times

As well as the bad.

I make no judgments by what you say

I just listen with my heart and

Hope to be of help in anyway I can.

I will be there for you now and forever

And always please remember I am your friend!

Oil Spill Spreads To Changi Beach

The oil spill from Tuesday morning’s collision between two large vessels has been spotted along a 700-metre stretch of Changi Beach.

According to a Channel NewsAsia report, oil patches were also spotted along Chek Jawa’s 150-metre stretch of its coastal boardwalk, which is popular among nature lovers. Clean up operations are underway at these locations.

Environmental groups are closely monitoring the situation and have expressed concern that the oil slick will hurt Singapore’s precious coastal wildlife.

Louis Ng, executive director of activist group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, told AFP, “If it more or less hits the sands, it’s mainly the invertebrates like the crabs, the sea snails that will likely be affected.”

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), it will conduct a study on the environmental impact of the oil spill once the clean up is completed.
As for East Coast Parkway, the NEA said the situation has stablised as large patches of oil have been removed by dispersants.

S’PORE CLOSES BEACHES AS OIL SPILL SPREADS
Singapore closes its beaches along 7.2 kilometers of its east coast as an oil spill from a damaged tanker continues to spread.

According to the Associated Press, oil dispersants and 3,300 metres of containment booms deployed by officials have been unsuccessful in keeping the slick from fouling the coast.

A pungent stench now envelopes the eastern coastline, a place normally crowded with families roller-blading, cycling and dining at some of the island’s best seafood restaurants on weekends.

Spots of rust-coloured oil was spotted floating next to a breaker wall at a ferry terminal while the nearby National Sailing Center shuts its doors to hundreds of school students.

Ho Shufen, a manager at the sailing centre, tells AP, “The smell was so bad yesterday, it made me nauseous. I don’t expect anyone would want to come here until the smell is gone.”

The National Environment Agency said it would take “the next few days” to clean up the coastline and advises the public to stay away from the affected beaches.

S’PORE OIL SPILL ‘CONTAINED’, CLEANUP CONTINUES
An AET spokesperson told AFP that the leaked crude was “more or less contained” and “won’t spread” out of the cleanup zone.

“The incident caused significant damage to the vessel’s hull and resulted in a spill of Bintu light crude oil that is now being cleaned up by specialists using a small armada of boats,” he said in a statement.

The Malaysia-based company told AFP, “Efforts resumed early this morning, with the addition of more than 100 personnel deployed along the shoreline in case the spill reaches the coast.”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in its latest update that 5,000 tonnes of crude had leaked from the Malaysian-registered tanker MT Bunga Kelana 3, double its estimate just a few hours earlier.

A crude oil slick about four kilometres long and one kilometre wide was spotted near the east coast of Singapore hours after the pre-dawn collision.

The MPA said that the Malaysian-registered tanker MT Bunga Kelana 3 has been damaged in a collision with a bulk carrier MV Wally registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

According to Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency, the collision tore a 10-metre gash in the Malaysian tanker.
Nobody was injured in the accident and ship traffic in the area has not been affected by the incident that took place 13 km off Singapore in the Traffic Separation Scheme at 6.10am Tuesday, according to the release.

The Traffic Separation Scheme is a commercial channel that runs along the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.

In the aftermath of the accident, both vessels were anchored off Singapore and neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia have been notified.

Singapore’s MPA said a total of 20 vessels from Singapore and Malaysia were involved in the cleanup effort while 200 personnel were on standby to attend to coastal areas that might be affected by the slick.
It also said the damaged double-hulled tanker — designed to minimise cargo spillage in case of an accident — was carrying almost 62,000 tonnes of crude.

Ho Yew Weng, response and projects manager of disaster management firm Oil Spill Response Singapore, told AFP, “It seems to be a lot but if it is light crude, it will just evaporate.”

Ho added that Singapore’s hot climate would make the crude disperse even faster, and with the oil’s prolonged exposure to the sun since morning, “a lot of evaporation would have taken place”.

Although the stench of fuel lingered over residential districts near Changi airport into the night, the smell was gone by the morning as joggers enjoyed the fresh morning breeze.

“If they manage to contain it, then it won’t affect wildlife that much,” Louis Ng, executive director of activist group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society tells AFP.

According to Singapore food-industry officials, 51 offshore aquaculture farms near the spill were loaned canvas skirting to cover their underwater nets and prevent any leaked oil from contaminating their fish.

Singapore Closes Beaches

Singapore closes its beaches along 7.2 kilometers of its east coast as an oil spill from a damaged tanker continues to spread.

According to the Associated Press, oil dispersants and 3,300 metres of containment booms deployed by officials have been unsuccessful in keeping the slick from fouling the coast.

A pungent stench now envelopes the eastern coastline, a place normally crowded with families roller-blading, cycling and dining at some of the island’s best seafood restaurants on weekends.

Spots of rust-coloured oil was spotted floating next to a breaker wall at a ferry terminal while the nearby National Sailing Center shuts its doors to hundreds of school students.

Ho Shufen, a manager at the sailing centre, tells AP, “The smell was so bad yesterday, it made me nauseous. I don’t expect anyone would want to come here until the smell is gone.”

The National Environment Agency said it would take “the next few days” to clean up the coastline and advises the public to stay away from the affected beaches.

S’PORE OIL SPILL ‘CONTAINED’, CLEANUP CONTINUES

An AET spokesperson told AFP that the leaked crude was “more or less contained” and “won’t spread” out of the cleanup zone.

“The incident caused significant damage to the vessel’s hull and resulted in a spill of Bintu light crude oil that is now being cleaned up by specialists using a small armada of boats,” he said in a statement.

The Malaysia-based company told AFP, “Efforts resumed early this morning, with the addition of more than 100 personnel deployed along the shoreline in case the spill reaches the coast.”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in its latest update that 5,000 tonnes of crude had leaked from the Malaysian-registered tanker MT Bunga Kelana 3, double its estimate just a few hours earlier.

A crude oil slick about four kilometres long and one kilometre wide was spotted near the east coast of Singapore hours after the pre-dawn collision.

The MPA said that the Malaysian-registered tanker MT Bunga Kelana 3 has been damaged in a collision with a bulk carrier MV Wally registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

According to Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency, the collision tore a 10-metre gash in the Malaysian tanker.

Nobody was injured in the accident and ship traffic in the area has not been affected by the incident that took place 13 km off Singapore in the Traffic Separation Scheme at 6.10am Tuesday, according to the release.

The Traffic Separation Scheme is a commercial channel that runs along the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.

In the aftermath of the accident, both vessels were anchored off Singapore and neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia have been notified.

Singapore’s MPA said a total of 20 vessels from Singapore and Malaysia were involved in the cleanup effort while 200 personnel were on standby to attend to coastal areas that might be affected by the slick.

It also said the damaged double-hulled tanker — designed to minimise cargo spillage in case of an accident — was carrying almost 62,000 tonnes of crude.

Ho Yew Weng, response and projects manager of disaster management firm Oil Spill Response Singapore, told AFP, “It seems to be a lot but if it is light crude, it will just evaporate.”

Ho added that Singapore’s hot climate would make the crude disperse even faster, and with the oil’s prolonged exposure to the sun since morning, “a lot of evaporation would have taken place”.

Although the stench of fuel lingered over residential districts near Changi airport into the night, the smell was gone by the morning as joggers enjoyed the fresh morning breeze.

“If they manage to contain it, then it won’t affect wildlife that much,” Louis Ng, executive director of activist group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society tells AFP.

According to Singapore food-industry officials, 51 offshore aquaculture farms near the spill were loaned canvas skirting to cover their underwater nets and prevent any leaked oil from contaminating their fish.

Asian Carriers Dominate 2010 World Airline Awards

More than 17.9 million air travelers from over 100 different nationalities were included in this year’s survey, which recognizes the best in the global airline industry. It was certainly a good year for Asian airlines, with Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines also making the Airline of Year Award's top 10 list:

1. Asiana Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Qatar Airways
4. Cathay Pacific
5. Air New Zealand
6. Etihad Airways
7. Qantas Airways
8. Emirates
9. Thai Airways
10. Malaysia Airlines

Other categories airlines were voted on include “Best Low-Cost Airline,” which was won by Air Asia, ahead of Air Berlin and Virgin Blue. Dragon Air was named “World’s Best Regional Airline,” with Silkair and Bangkok Airways coming in second and third, respectively.

Apple Dethrones Microsoft In US

NEW YORK: Apple, maker of the Macintosh computer, the iPod, iPhone and iPad, dethroned software giant Microsoft on Wednesday as the largest US technology company in terms of market value.

Microsoft shares shed 4.07 percent on Wednesday to close at 25.01 dollars, dropping its market capitalization -- the number of shares outstanding multiplied by the stock price -- to 219.18 billion dollars.

Apple shares lost 0.45 percent meanwhile to close at 244.05 dollars, giving the company a market value of 222.07 billion dollars.

The only US company with a larger market capitalization than the Cupertino, California-based Apple is ExxonMobil at 278.64 billion dollars.

Apple stock has risen steadily over the past few years as chief executive Steve Jobs, who returned to Apple in 1997, piloted the release of a string of hit products starting with the iPod in 2001, following by the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad this year.

Lee DeWyze Is New ‘American Idol’

Paint store worker, Lee DeWyze, captured the “American Idol” Season 9 title over longtime season front-runner Crystal Bowersox, the cool, dreadlocked single mother with the raspy folk-rock voice.

Lee, 24, looked like he was about to burst into tears after Idol host Ryan Seacrest revealed he won the contest.

He wins the coveted title as well as a recording contract after millions of Americans placed their votes for the bluesy guitarist despite what “Idol” judges had deemed a better showing by Bowersox in her performance finale.

“He’s a fantastic singer. Throwing in the fact that he has an appealing humble and unassuming persona, it’s no wonder he won the hearts of millions,” said Maria S., a die-hard fan of Lee.

Added Kelvin Lian, who watched the finale live on TV this morning, “I’m disappointed Crystal lost out because she certainly has stronger vocals than Lee.”

DeWyze’s cover version of U2′s hit “Beautiful Day” will be released as his first single.

Was Lee your winning choice?

Baby Rolls In Pushchair In Front Of Train Survive

2nd Baby survive from the train collision at the same train station.

Blackberry Or iPhone

In the smartphone deathmatch between RIM’s Blackberry versus Apple’s iPhone, it appears that Steve Jobs’ brainchild may be pulling ahead when it comes to the choice for bankers.

British bank Standard Chartered is replacing the Blackberry, currently its standard corporate communications device, with the iPhone. The move could mean thousands of bankers switching to the Apple device for on-the-go business communications.

The London-based bank is giving its corporate Blackberry users the option of switching to the iPhone, while the company continues to pay for monthly billing for business-related phone and data services.

“It’s a group-wide initiative involving wholesale and consumer banks globally,” a Singapore-based spokesperson for Standard Chartered told Reuters.

In a similar move last June, Singapore’s Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC) also gave its employees the choice of a Blackberry or an iPhone to access corporate email.

Peter Koh, head of technology infrastructure at OCBC, told Reuters, “This initiative is not intended to replace the Blackberry. Rather, we want to provide our colleagues with another option to access their office email and sync their contacts, notes and calendar while on the move.”

“Our colleagues can continue to enjoy the features and content available on their iPhone without the hassle of carrying another device in order to access office email,” he explained.

What does this mean for Blackberry developers, RIM?

“If more companies switch to the iPhone, this is of course bad news for RIM,” said Lu Chialin, an IT industry analyst at Macquarie Securities in Taipei. “However, it will take a long time for companies to do their own internal testing before deciding to change, so it will be a while before it has any effect on RIM.”

She explains the biggest issue for most companies choosing telephone and email hardware is data encryption. And because she feels RIM has a more effective system than other handset makers, the shift toward the iPhone is not one that will happen overnight.

So which smartphone do you prefer? Is the Blackberry in danger of being dialed out, or is the iPhone over-rated?