Brainbench - Predicting Employee Success

Hey, Brainbench are offering lots of free certification tests until october 31st

Brainbench - Predicting Employee Success

Deploy J2EE applications on Apache Geronimo

Deploy J2EE applications on Apache Geronimo

The Geronimo renegade: OpenEJB and Apache Geronimo's EJB implementation

The Geronimo renegade: OpenEJB and Apache Geronimo's EJB implementation

testing email blog

hopefully this will work one day

Loading OperaMini on J9 on Palmos 3.5-4.0

I have a clie SJ22 running palmos 4. So this link tells you the step by step instructions on how to run Opera Mini on this machine, using the IBM J9 KVM.

Monday 16th October

Last day of holidays!

Another early start, our transfer bus was late and worse it detoured via
katong!

(no-one was at the hotel,so we left whoever it was behind :-)

The airport was incredibly crowded, even though we internet checked
there was a long long queue! guard sent us to alternative spot. Security
check was sloooow since the were checking 3 gates at once, and 1 xray
guy who was very vigilant and slowwww. Flight crowded but abi ok.

Sunday 15th October

swim, thence Central library, picked up at noon at Intercontinental
Hotel. Abi just had 20mins nap but was curious and didn't cry

Went to Katong 5-star for the "best" hainanese chicken rice, then to Sim
Lim Square to look for camera case. Nice desserts in food hall eg: blue
jelly ice, jelly and fruit

Haze getting thicker, can hardly see to the other side of the river.
Packed bags furiously. Abi amused herself with toys.

After dinner, discovered a loud and not very nice sounding band playing
in the open air at Chijmes opposite our window. Priscilla phoned the
night manager while Abi conveniently cried in the background. Night
manager offered to get us to another quieter room, said others had
complained and that they had already requested a reduction in volume.
Amazingly Abi went to sleep after having a drink of water. Luckily for
us the 'band' stopped at 11pm

Saturday 14th October

The Esplanade (Durians), bumboat, lunch at Out of the Pan in vitality
court – crepes. Late 2^nd lunch with Daniel & family, Abi made new
friends with Faithe & Charis. Played furiously with lots of squealing
and giggling amongst the curtains and lighting features and banquettes
and late lunchers. Nice black sesame porridge for Priscilla's dessert.

Abi slept at 4pm as soon as she was put into the stroller, then woke at
7pm & we went to Raffles city food junction (again!). PP mini-pot 100%
MSG and she couldn't eat it either (horrible). CW had simpler stuff
which Abi could eat

Friday 13th October

Woke up early to go to the Jurong Bird Park. Really hot and humid.
Nice penguin display in air conditioned darkness but Abi wanted to be
outside.

Chris & Abi swim while PP slept, then PP & Abi swam while Chris slept.
12yo girl is from Perth, Serena, and Abi let her hold her in the water.

Dinner with Di Buck Leung, Sun & family at the Singapore Swimming Club

Riot at the playroom with kids while chris watched Singaporean Chinese
soapy.

Wednesday 11th October

Abi and Chris try to find pharmacy to buy Ventolin – no one sells it
without a prescription. Luckily it rains and there is a little breeze
to relieve the haze and humidity. Abi ate rice then rice noodle at
Kopitiam before walking around Bencoolen St and then Sunshine Plaza
surrounds. Kept on falling over – 3 times. Getting tired and cranky,
finally asleep on the walk back to Carlton hotel.

Quick dinner at the Kopitiam where we rushed it due to the Night Safari
tour pickup time at 6pm.

Waited till 6:30pm for the bus, this was a royal pain since they seemed
to have a lot of traffic. Once on the bus, we drove to the tour
companies HQ where people got on/off for their various tours and waited…
and waited… and waited.

Finally we left around 7pm, and got to the Safari around 7:30pm. Guide
pretty chatty but a bit inane. Tried to show us Malaysia, but due to the
haze, couldn't see a thing.

Night safari started with a tram ride, which took us through the various
fauna eg: lion, etc etc Abi whispered while other tourists proceeded to
tear through at full volume. The animals must be used to the loud
noise from the shows anyway. Abi made friends with a girl about 12
years old who was there with her grandparents.

Tuesday 10th October

Chris went to O'Briens café in Citilink tunnel for coffee and
complimentary wireless internet access. Priscilla and Abigail wandered
the open air courtyards of Chijmes complex for a while until it got too
humid and Abi was sweating. Walked to meet Chris. Bought some
frankfurt buns from a bread shop for Abi, plus some strange sandwich
that she didn't eat. Turns out it was a club sandwich with chilli onion
tuna with cucumber and tomato slices either side. Strange and very spicy.

Cousin Daniel phoned – he is taking the morning off and wants to meet
for lunch. He is some high achiever dude – where does he get the energy
from ? Walked to Suntec City and the underground eating area under the
Fountain of Wealth / traffic roundabout. Abi asleep for some of the
meal, woke and ate some rice and noodle and grabbed a pork rib. Then
had to be walked around cos she was bored in the restaurant – maybe we
should have sat out in the mall with a view to the Fountain. At 1pm the
fountain's external water jets are turned off to allow tourists (mainly)
to walk around the central fountain 3 times with their hands in the
water. An enterprising set up comprising photographer with wireless
transmitter taking shots of everyone going around the fountain, in the
hope of selling photos.

Visited the Koi Garden (set next to the walkway from one carpark), then
got into Daniel's car (leather baby seat and air conditioning). He has
taken the rest of the day off to drive us to the grave / ashes
repository at Mandai. A long drive, and so comfortable as Chris and
Daniel chat Abi and Priscilla nap.

Pay respects to ancestors, then Abi woke up and we went to show her.
Peaceful place except for the bizarre funeral music a bit like New
Orleans jazz band but out of tune.

Daniel drives to Katong area and dinner at Uncle Moo's house. Abi very
hungry and ate a lot of biscuits. Stop by Daniel's apartment (Hume
Villa) to pick up a few nappies. Visit next door mainly to pick up
money from Papa's account operated by Sun. Her eldest daughter Germaine
is 14 years old!!! Feel like time has flown (4 years since we saw them
at our wedding). Abi curious about their white poodle that ran up and
licked her face. Chris tried to buy some Ventolin cos the air pollution
was triggering his asthma. Need a prescription for the puffer. Abi
visited a neighbour with 2 japanese chickens, then walked to the end of
the street to meet Chris and Uncle Moo after their walk to the
pharmacy. Auntie Pat has expired packets of Ventolin – no thanks!

Dinner with Cheryl, Denis and baby Dylan. Chicken rice and white
chicken, steamed fish, chilli crab, vege in oyster sauce. Abi too
excited / tired to eat, just wanted to drink cold milo and water – no
air conditioning here. Ate 1 piece of rockmelon. While playing with
Eugene she tripped and fell onto the tiled floor – another little egg on
her forehead! Iced it for a while then Abi forgot her pain. Took photos.

Driven home by Cheryl and Denis, Dylan asleep in his mother's arms (no
mandatory baby capsule here). Went via Deepavali celebratory
decorations in Little India area. Chris and Denis take photos while at
a red light, with cameras through the sunroof.

Monday 9th October

Breakfast on the floor (picnic mode) with cereal from HK and milk that
we bought last night.

Walked around the swimming pool and function areas of the hotel with Abi
exploring.

Went to basement level of Raffles City for lunch at Subway (!) Abi
admired the 3 water features in the 3 atria.

Walked to Suntec City via Citilink underground shops to catch the SIA
hop on bus. Lots to see, Abi walked every now and then, lots of stairs
and escalators and changes of level which was annoying. Abi finally
asleep when we reached Suntec City Tower 2 shopping area with the kiddie
and maternity shopping zone and she had played a bit.

Went into some shops – clothes are definitely more expensive here in
Singapore than in HK. Chris bought a pair of Crocs after only a short
think. Abi tried on a pair but too big.

Finally made it to the SIA bus stop in the humid external atmosphere.
Driver didn't check our coupons and identification cos we probably
looked very touristy with the child and bags. Long bus ride around the
loop, abi started getting very restless and wanted to get off the bus
when she saw that other people were doing that. Distracted her for a
while with stickers.

Forced to change buses at Botanical Gardens – change of shift. Chris
grumpy. Abi explored the ramps and gardens.

Home to Carlton hotel for a quick wash, dinner for Abi at Raffles City
food court, then called Uncle Moo to co-ordinate being picked up to go
to dinner with them. Abi walked around foyer and stairs whilst waiting.

To La Pasat for famous satay dinner. Touts everywhere from the 14 satay
stalls. Eugene arrived separately from work in NW of city. Waterfront
area will be developed for casino and resort in the next few years.
Hope that this won't change the grungy atmosphere of satay street. Abi
didn't want to sit and eat, too much waiting already. Walked through
the eating hall to see the other foods on sale. Bought some rockmelon
but she only wanted to play with ice cubes from the drinks.

The only vegetables was roja, raw cucmber, pineapple, mango, fried
doughnut all smearedin peanut and soy sauce. Satays were chicken, beef,
mutton and tripe(!). Eugene drank pigs organ soup as a starter and had
pulled tea.

To save a seat at some satay markets you have to buy tissues from the
touts (no serviettes distributed), one place you use a packet of tissues
to reserve your table.

Home via mid-autumn lights of Chinatown.

Sunday 8th October

Woke and quickly ate breakfast. Tried to pack remaining toiletries and
food into bags. Missed taxi ordered by Auntie Pauline, then anxious
wait for her to ring him to come back – he rang the bell of no.19A
Cornell Court and Chris actually saw him waiting but thought he was
there for someone else. Thank goodness there's no traffic to the
airport on Sunday, Auntie Pauline was waiting with 2 trolleys and a
security guard who thought that she was loitering suspiciously!

Gave her the extra bags of clothes. We didn't have any problems with
the luggage allowance. Went straight to the boarding gate, didn't have
time to have morning tea with Auntie Pauline as planned.

Abi settled in to the flight and didn't struggle much on take off.
Distracted by in flight magazine. Luckily there was a spare seat across
the aisle so we got that too. Abi fell asleep in Priscilla's arms and
Priscilla ate her lunch while watching a movie (The Devil wears Prada)
until near to the end when Abi awoke and started to eat the chicken
rice. She preferred the baby meal dessert however which was vanilla
crème caramel. No to the chocolate icecream.

<>
Landed in Singapore and had a nappy change. Found the SIA counter for
the transfer mini-bus. Lazy driver wouldn't help Chris put our bags
onto the bus even though he helped others on our bus. Abi excited at
the window seat, waving to people in other cars / backs of trucks as we
drove to the city. Carlton hotel very nice, got a double width room
(1001). Pollution on the skyline is very hazy – due to Indonesian slash
and burn operations.

Chris' relatives (Uncle Moo, Auntie Pat and Cousin Eugene) came at 5pm
to our room, chatted and played with Abi. She had already started play doh.

Dinner at food court of nearby Raffles City. Food is cheap here, S$4 a
dish average. Abi enjoyed being the centre of attention from the oldies
who kept commenting that she resembled Carisse, Daniel's youngest daughter.

Back to our room and Abi fell asleep only after babbling a long time and
finally when Chris turned off all the dim lighting and closed the heavy
drapes.

Saturday 7th October

Lunch with Uncle Kwong Auntie Cecilia at Kaya Korean BBQ Restaurant
Causeway Bay opp. Times Square. Quiet booths with window view over street

Afternoon tea with Goo Ma at their place in Waterloo Road. Abi a bit
manic on their sofas and around their knick knacks, wanted to explore
the bedroom wing.

Persuaded to stay for a "quick" dinner before heading home – walked
halfway to Mongkok to a Shanghai Restaurant with booths, Abi very manic
and tired, wanted to keep walking outside and to upstairs restaurant.
Didn't finish the set meal cos it was too difficult to keep her
entertained/quiet. Taxi back to pick up our stuff from their apartment,
then taxi to Mongkok MTR. Abi asleep as soon as we started walking down
the first flight of MTR stairs.

Packed bags until 130am, too tired to stuff all our stuff into the bags,
but did it anyway. Scales borrowed from Auntie Cecilia show different
weights in different rooms, but we are over the limit of 50kgs. Set
aside some winter clothes for Auntie Pauline to take to Sydney for us.

Friday 6th October

Bit of packing in the morning.

Shopping at Tai Koo Shing while Chris went to Wanchai computer centre
for his new Clie. Abi ate rice noodle and shredded chicken then fell
asleep once we met up with Chris.

Night time walk to Causeway Bay and back

Fire Dragon and Lion Dance at Chinese Club and surrounding back
streets. Abi in backpack. Unusual atmosphere, lots of tourists and
locals with kids peering for a glimpse of the Dragon and Lion. Buses
still running past the parade

Thursday 5th October

Chris' ankle felt better but more ice was applied this time via pack of
peas/carrots/corn. Abi wanted her ankle strapped also. Then ate some
of the half defrosted veges from the bag.

Auntie Pauline helpfully suggested a Chinese medical man across the road
for Chris' ankle in case it was going to turn rheumatic later, but he
manfully declined in favour of strapping and more salon sip. Then
Auntie Pauline suggested lunch at Island Shangri-La hotel in Central
which has chocolate fountain dessert bar! Did we need to think about
it? Quickly on to the top of a no.23 double decker bus, then up some
escalators to a very elegant and expensive looking lobby. The Café Too
was beautifully designed with delicious looking
bottles/dishes/glasses/food and strong colours everywhere. The dessert
bar was right in the middle with 3 chocolate fountains. Crockery had
round and triangular shapes, shot glasses of salad oils in 5 colours,
tilted shot glasses of rich desserts hand blown glasses for water.

Staff rather paranoid as they hovered and tightened Abi's high chair
straps and cleared dishes and provided tissues for messy eating (hers).
Table setting had chopsticks as well as cutlery.

Abi was excited as we toured the many cooking areas with chefs making
dim sims, tagines of indian food, pasta, pizza, mein, sashimi, salads,
Vietnamese rolls, crepes etc etc. She actually ate some of the linguini
that we ordered for her – white sauce, ham, mushrooms, zucchini, and
some salmon ravioli all hand made of course. Sensational, not to be
wasted so mum finished it off.

Dessert bar was lovely to view. Lots of cakes, strudel, shot glasses of
chestnut and truffle, fruit salad everywhere. Abi liked the look of the
ice cream bowls (blue rimmed handmade glass) and relished the vanilla
icecream that she was given. Then Auntie Pauline took her for walks and
they returned with gummi bears, pizza, pasta, and more ice cream. Then
the final walk was for dipping fruit balls and marshmallows into the
fountains via skewers. Abi lovingly licked the chocolate from each
skewer: milk chocolate, white chocolate, strawberry chocolate. Too
tired to have her babycino.

Went for a walk to HK Park, fell asleep within half an hour of leaving
the buffet. Nice breeze as the women walked sleeping child and chatted,
Chris rested his ankle seated on a bench. Good atmosphere for a snooze
if not for the mozzies. Wedding couples/ groups posing for photos.

Chris walked under the umbrella water fountain feature on an impulse
comment from Priscilla. Set precedent for others wanting to go off the
paved path, and an example for schoolboys watching.

Bus back to home was caught in a massive traffic jam from Wan Chai to
Causeway Bay. Abi and Priscilla sat in the back seat which was noisy
but not arctic.

Simple dinner at home for Abi only – adults were stuffed from lunch and
Abi only seemed moderately hungry around 6pm. Bed without too much fuss
– wanted the stuffed toys to watch her having a bath.

Chris went foraging – mindful of bus routes home from Kowloon side if
his ankle started to hurt.

Wednesday 4th October

Walked with Abi up to the playground up Braemar Hill, near the Aroma
Walk. She enjoyed having the play equipment to herself, then wanted to
walk up and down the entry ramps and along the pavement. Chris grumpy
cos camera doesn't let him take close up photos like Uncle Kwong's.
Kathy invited us to the AISHK cruise to Sai Kung – but its $HK300 per
person and mainly involves going to beaches (Abi and PP can't swim at
the moment) – declined.

Walked down the steep steps of Aroma Walk to North Point MTR, Abi did a
lot of walking so progress was slow. Trees and rocks and water trickles
were nice, apartments nearby are quite old and face onto the MTR stack
as well as the vegetated hillside. Chris tripped and twisted his ankle
trying to take photos of Abi. She joined her mother in expressing
sympathy.

Hobbled along to MTR via lots more steps then went to Mongkok. Chris
valiantly gave up going to Sham Shui Po computers cos Priscilla couldn't
have managed Abi and stroller simultaneously with no lift to the surface
at Mongkok MTR. Lunch at Café de Coral – Abi loved the white sauce
baked chicken rice dish. Everyone is buying and selling mooncakes.

After lunch Chris did computer shopping, Priscilla and Abi went shoe
shopping. Abi was interested in the shoes and sandals in a lot of the
shops on the sportswear street, then Priscilla decided against going in
to any more and gave Abi a chance to fall asleep. Bought a pair of
jogger sandals at Columbia while child was sleeping. Walked through
ladies market looking for the hand generator torches – 2 stalls had them
but one with only 2 LEDs as opposed to 8. $HK20 each without heavy
bargaining. Went to nearby playground after Abi awoke and she played
for a while on the equipment (nice rubber surface). Disgusting public
toilets with mostly squat cubicles and cisterns that eventually flushed
but mainly onto the floor.

Bought a cool drink $HK6 from a busy stall frequented by schoolkids.
Gee they talk fast and Priscilla was very very rusty with her Cantonese
– managed to buy what we wanted although the apple juice was just
cordial (Abi insisted on holding the cup and inevitably spilt it all
over herself). Bought strap guards from a car accessories shop that
Chris spotted nearby. Also wet umbrella holders for the car (Japanese
of course).

Ate leftovers for dinner – need to clear the fridge cos we will be
leaving HK soon. Unexplainedly Priscilla bought ice cream during her
evening forage walk. Also bought Fresnel lens for maps and strapping
bandage for Chris' ankle. It was iced then Salon sipped only when we
got home after a day of walking can carrying child. Didn't find a
medium sized elastic ankle strap – all small or large – but did find
self adhesive strapping material and copper impregnated elastic strap.

Had to cancel tomorrow's trip to Big Buddha (Po Lin monastery) due to
injury and thus afternoon tea with Auntie Pauline in Tung Chung.

Tuesday 3rd October

Rest morning waiting for PP's doctor's appointment at 1230pm

Abi a bit bored so when Betty came to pick up the bowls from the sago
pudding Abi was keen to go off with her in the elevator. Spent some
time with Auntie Cecilia in Geoffrey's play room. Fell asleep after
Chris picked her up and walked a short distance towards St Paul's
Hospital to meet Priscilla

Nothing wrong with PP - after waiting over an hour for her scheduled
appointment – lunch at Fairwood opposite hospital. Small portions and
quality definitely not up to par with Café or MX. Positioned probably
mainly for nearby by school kids. Lotus leaf wrapped rice for PP was
dry and salty with undefined meats nothing like the photo. Abi liked
Chris' regular chicken and boiled rice, was kept amused by the window
view over the traffic intersection with lots of double decker buses and
trucks and cars turning past the shop.

Went to Tai Koo Shing City Plaza cos Causeway Bay was confusing and
crowded. Access via MTR much easier than via tram. Bought some toddler
clothes – Abi wanted to walk around the kiddie stores barefoot and play
with all the toys. Chris went to buy underwear.

Dinner at Café cos Abi said "sik sik" when we walked past the shop
around 530pm. They have a tea set menu with smaller portions just right
for us.

Tuesday 3rd October

Rest morning waiting for PP's doctor's appointment at 1230pm

Abi a bit bored so when Betty came to pick up the bowls from the sago
pudding Abi was keen to go off with her in the elevator. Spent some
time with Auntie Cecilia in Geoffrey's play room. Fell asleep after
Chris picked her up and walked a short distance towards St Paul's
Hospital to meet Priscilla

Nothing wrong with PP - after waiting over an hour for her scheduled
appointment – lunch at Fairwood opposite hospital. Small portions and
quality definitely not up to par with Café or MX. Positioned probably
mainly for nearby by school kids. Lotus leaf wrapped rice for PP was
dry and salty with undefined meats nothing like the photo. Abi liked
Chris' regular chicken and boiled rice, was kept amused by the window
view over the traffic intersection with lots of double decker buses and
trucks and cars turning past the shop.

Went to Tai Koo Shing City Plaza cos Causeway Bay was confusing and
crowded. Access via MTR much easier than via tram. Bought some toddler
clothes – Abi wanted to walk around the kiddie stores barefoot and play
with all the toys. Chris went to buy underwear.

Dinner at Café cos Abi said "sik sik" when we walked past the shop
around 530pm. They have a tea set menu with smaller portions just right
for us.

Monday 2nd October

rest day.

Abi excited to hear Owen's voice on the phone

visit to Tai Koo & Kornhill plaza/ Cityplaza. Spent most of the time
lookinf for food (afternoon tea) Food court is really nicely fitted out
with dark timber furniture and light panels for tables and lighting.
Abi loved the chicken pho which was a family shared dish. Priscilla
forgot to bring nappes!! Rushed to Tin Hau to buy more, then home to
change, then straight out to nearby restaurant.

Dinner at Hong Kong Old Restaurant (Newton Hotel) with A/Cecilia &
U/Kwong cos it's a public holiday and Betty has her day off. Abi well
behaved at the table with the help of stickers and a small sketch book
before the food arrived, then ate some plain buns at the sides of the
roast duck dish, then tried the roast duck. Lovely food finished with
chicken wontons in chicken soup which Abi drank with gusto. Took
leftovers home. Walked home with our hosts. Abi very well behaved
during her exploratory walk up the stairs with Uncle Kwong and made her
parents proud.

Sunday 1st October

Ferry from central. Abi scared of waves while negotiating harbour traffic.

DB lunch (brunch buffet)

Kids playing especially with Tim & Alicia. Coin rolling. Wolf. Jeffry
accident.

MTR home. Big nap.

Victoria park and lantern/mid autumn displays. Abi walked excitedly
towards and around the main display with birds and dragons. Fascinated
by the shadows from the spotlights above us. Wanted to go to the fabric
cones with smoke and music but the change of music from gentle arcadian
lullaby to drums mad her scared.

Fireworks (not) viewed from Central library upper forecourt. Better
fireworks in Sydney.

Uncle Kwong invited us up to give us 2 bowls of sago pudding left over
from the meeting dinner yesterday. Shared photos with Chris, made him
jealous of the quality of his shots. They didn't get a good view of the
fireworks from their balcony either!