Grown to three Galaxy S3

We have grown from one Galaxy S3 to three yesterday.

I traded in the kids' Galaxy W ($180) for the Galaxy S3 ($760) at a shop in Suntec.

I am getting better at dealing with these guys who are often no better than used car salesmen. Otherwise I would have to settle at $160 for the Ws.

The kids are understandably excited about their new toys, so soon after the finals. The over protective screen protector ($2) I got off eBay should arrive by Monday.

The street shops are sitting on a time bomb. Online shopping will be putting them under a lot of pressure. If you don't mind the wait, so much stuff can be bought off eBay from China and Hong Kong at a fraction of our street prices. I have gotten all the phone cases from eBay. They are 80 to 90% cheaper.

The S3 is a marvel and very delightful device. Imagine this in the end would just be another notable product in the evolution of handheld tech. What else is waiting to be invented?

MAS restricts property loans

Kudos to MAS for the timely action before we run into grave financial risk. This would certainly make the front page in our newspapers this morning.

In mid August I suggested that only MAS can do something about this now. Didn't take them too long to move on this.

Nobody knows if these measures are sufficient but I think it prudent to act lightly than be heavy handed. I wouldn't be surprised the government has to act again. They can fold their arms only if positive price expectation is destroyed. It is really hard to fight the Fed QE3.

Like it or not, we are all helping to pay for the West's mistakes. During the Asian financial crisis, the region paid its own bills. Such is life,  no wonder everyone wants to be the hegemon.

Gmail Spam Folder

Lately I have noticed that emails from SPH, Singtel, the Zoo, Night Safari, NLB have often been assigned by Gmail to the spam folder. Now NUS Alumni newsletter has joined them too.

I noticed they are all local. Meanwhile I get lots of unsolicited mail from e.g., Godaddy.com and others. None ever got sent to the spam folder save the obvious ones.

What gives? Why? Is there a white list of sorts?

I can no longer afford to summarily delete mail marked as spam by Gmail.

Testing TP Link 3.5G dongle & wireless router

Lucky a second time this week to visit the ECP. I brought along my TP Link dongle and wireless router to pair with my iPad. Quite credible access for the rated 1.5 Mbps Singtel published for the free service that comes with my 10 Mbps Adsl plan.

I must add that I am writing this post from the car park next to the former Mcdonalds.

PC finally kaput

After four to five years and with two change of motherboards and a hard disc this Acer desktop running Windows XP pro is finally kaput.

I ran it hard and it was fortuitous I bought extended warranty.

Three eBay purchases from Hong Kong

Yet more satisfied purchases from Hong Kong via eBay. Took them slightly more than a week to arrive. Three items from three vendors. A Kindle Touch case birthday gift for my sis and two Galaxy S3 covers because we plan to upgrade the girls Galaxy W to the S3.

29.8C indoors :-(

It was a no fun 29.8C indoors last night and I am amazed it took us so long to turn on the aircon!

Not surprised that we are inundated by rain this morning. That familiar pattern.