19-year-old teen, dies in Pioneer road crash.

Passersby knew something was wrong when they saw white cloth draped over a motorcycle this morning.

The bike, still standing upright, seemed to have collided with a trailer.

A heavy machine operator who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan, 70, told Shin Min Daily News that he saw the accident unfold outside his Pioneer Road office. 

He said the motorcyclist slumped to the side, then remained motionless. The man's helmet, glasses and slippers fell off.

A police spokesman said they received a call at about 8.15am, alerting them about an accident involving a trailer and motorbike along Pioneer Road towards Tuas West Drive.

Paramedics pronounced the 19-year-old motorcyclist dead at the scene.

Investigations are ongoing.

Article from: http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/teen-19-dies-pioneer-road-crash?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#sthash.L1xmogSG.dpuf

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Man Guilty of Threatening PM Lee.

A 33-year-old man who sent four identical threatening messages to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Facebook account earlier this year was convicted on a charge of criminal intimidation yesterday.

Tan Yeong Hong also pleaded guilty to two counts of hurting two policemen.

The court heard that Tan believed he had been approached 10 years ago by an unnamed Chinese man, and was instructed to pass "data" to Mr Lee.

At about 8pm on June 24, he went to Mr Lee's Meet-the-People (MPS) session to pass him an article that he had typed.

Tan carried a black haversack containing a hammer, but said he had no intention to use it.

As Mr Lee was not present, Tan passed the article to a grassroots leader.

Later that night, Tan used his mobile phone to send four threatening private messages to the Prime Minister's Facebook account.

The messages, sent at 8.49pm, read: "Eh, You challenged me to visit your MPS but you are not here. I will find and stage an Attack on you when I have information on your Public Appearances. You know who i am." Tan also included his identity-card and mobile-phone numbers.

Tan claimed he was prompted to do so by "someone with a hidden audio and surveillance device planted in my house".

Subsequently, "the people in the audio and surveillance system" in his house told him to find Mr Lee when he made a public appearance, Tan said.

Tan was asked by the voices he heard to throw a hammer at Mr Lee, "because he refused to take the document from me after he had asked me to prepare it".

Tan then checked Mr Lee's Teck Ghee ward Facebook page to determine his next public appearance, which he wrote down on a piece of paper.

Shortly after 2pm on June 25, a senior manager of the Online Communications Unit of the Prime Minister's Office, which manages Mr Lee's social media accounts, lodged a police report about the four messages.

The police ascertained Tan's identity later that day, and officers who interviewed his parents were told that he was a violent person who always armed himself with a knife, which he kept inside his bag.

When four officers approached him at the carpark below his block in Hougang Avenue 1 at about 7.55pm the same day, he refused to disclose his identity and turned hostile.

Tan threw a punch at Senior Staff Sergeant Cheong Kok Leun and then elbowed Staff Sergeant Ryan Tan Yik Mong. He was subdued and arrested.

A search of his home uncovered a bag containing a hammer, a chopper and several knives, among other things. There was also a piece of paper in the bedroom listing Mr Lee's potential public appearances.

Yesterday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Andre Chong urged the court to impose a total sentence of between 18 and 23 months' jail.

While Tan was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the offence, a report from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) found that he was not of unsound mind at the same time. He was also found to be fit to enter a plea in court.

In his mitigation, Tan, who did not have a lawyer and has been remanded since his arrest, said: "I did not know that the charges are so severe."

District Judge Matthew Joseph said that it was "in the interest of justice and fairness" that Tan be assigned a volunteer defence lawyer by the court, given the IMH report and the nature of the charges he was facing.

The case will be heard again on Oct 15.

The offence of criminal intimidation carries a jail term of up to two years and a fine. For hurting a public servant in the discharge of his duty, Tan could be jailed for seven years and fined and caned.

Source: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/man-guilty-sending-fb-threats-pm-lee#sthash.J4k21Wne.dpuf

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Hang Mioku, Plastic Surgery Addict Injects Cooking Oil Into Her Face

Hang Mioku, now nearing 50, was once a beautiful young South Korean woman, but after countless surgery and an illegal oil injection in her face, she became disfigured. Even after surgeons refused to continue working on her, she still sought out plastic surgery in her home country.

Even after being refused further surgery, she would look in the mirror and think "I'm beautiful." But that still wasn't enough for her as she continued to pursue operations. Her appearance changed so drastically that after returning home, her parents didn't even recognize her as their daughter.

Hang Mioku's drastic change led her parents to take her to be evaluated by a doctor. The doctor determined that she was not in a healthy mental state, concluding she had a severe physiological disorder. After the evaluation, she started treatment for her disorder, however, she concluded these treatments were too expensive and stopped them entirely.

Soon after ending her treatments Hang Mioku began receiving silicone inject, but these also became too expensive to keep up. Later, she found an unlicensed person to give her injections, but these injections were of cooking oil, not silicon. These injections led to her face to become large and more disfigured. The disfigurement was quite bad and she became bullied by people around her, especially children who gave her the nickname "standing fan."

Because of her appearance, she became quite popular on South Korean television, especially daytime talk shows. Sympathy poured in for the woman in the form of monetary donations, which allowed her to seek surgery to fix her appearance.

The surgery was a semi-success. While her face is still puffy and disfigured, it is not nearly as large as it was after the oil injections. Even so, it made her see that all the surgery and anguish she went through to achieve her idea of beauty was in vain; she now sees the damage she has done and wishes to have her original face back.

Source

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Vape vs Tobacco. Are they really safe?

E-CIGGS - Are they safer than tobacco? Or are they a high-tech way to hook a new generation on a bad nicotine habit?

Nobody knows yet.

Research into the effects of e-cigarettes lags behind their popularity. But ready or not, the era of e-cigarettes is here. It’s a booming, billion-dollar industry -- on track to outsell tobacco products within a decade. The number of teens using these products doubled between 2011 and 2012. 

Are They Safe?

The nicotine inside the cartridges is addictive. When you stop using it, you can get withdrawal symptoms including feeling irritable, depressed, restless and anxious. It can be dangerous for people with heart problems. It may also harm your arteries over time.

So far, evidence suggests that e-cigarettes may be safer than regular cigarettes. The biggest danger from tobacco is the smoke, and e-cigarettes don't burn. Tests show the levels of dangerous chemicals they give off are a fraction of what you'd get from a real cigarette. But what's in them can vary.

"E-cigarettes may be less harmful than cigarettes," Drummond says. "But we still don't know enough about their long-term risks or the effects of secondhand exposure."

Opponents say that because nicotine is addictive, e-cigarettes could be a "gateway drug," leading nonsmokers and kids to use tobacco. They also worry that manufacturers -- with huge advertising budgets and celebrity endorsements -- could make smoking popular again. That would roll back decades of progress in getting people to quit or never start smoking. 

Others look at possible benefits for smokers. "Obviously, it would be best if smokers could quit completely," says Michael Siegel, MD, MPH, a professor at Boston University's School of Public Health. "But if that's not possible, I think they'd be a lot better off with e-cigarettes. They're a safer alternative."

Siegel compares replacing tobacco with e-cigarettes to heroine users switching to the painkiller methadone. The replacement may have its own risks, but it's safer.

Some supporters believe that e-cigarettes could help people quit, just like nicotine gum. Initial research looks promising, but more long term, in-depth studies are needed.

What Parents Should Know

• Nicotine can affect brain development in children and teens, Drummond says.
• Some e-cigarettes have candy flavoring, which could make them appealing to kids.
• They don't leave a smell like tobacco. So it's harder for parents to know if their kids are vaping.

What Adults and Smokers Need to Know

• If you don't smoke, don't start vaping. There are no health benefits and some risks.

• If you smoke and are trying to quit, you're better off with an FDA-approved method of quitting, Drummond says, like the nicotine patch or gum. There's good evidence that they help. E-cigarettes may turn out to be an effective way to quit, but we don't have the proof yet.

• If you're not planning to quit, would it be healthier to switch from tobacco products to e-cigarettes? Maybe. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/features/electronic-cigarettes

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Singapore Dumbest Criminals

This was an old article back in 2014 and in the history of criminals, this three Singapore criminal deserves an award.

This is the article from Straits Time.

SINGAPORE – Three youths had their scheme to rob a cabby all planned out – one would grab his neck from behind, the second would assault him, and the third would grab the money.

But when they did the deed in the early hours of Feb 2, they fled with a very small loot, and made a big mistake.

The coin pouch they managed to snatch contained only $5, and one of them left their iPhone in the vehicle.

On Tuesday, Muhammad Fauzi Fitri Kamaruzaman, 18, and Muhammad Aizan Abdullah, 17, were sentenced to probation in a community court after pleading guilty to robbing Mr Abdul Latiff Ismail, 53.

They were each ordered to perform 150 hours of community service, and their parents have to sign a $5,000 bond to guarantee their good behaviour. Meanwhile, a pre-trial conference has been fixed for their accomplice, Muhammad Istiqlal Hamdan, 18.

A community court heard that the three had boarded Mr Abdul Latiff's vehicle having planned to rob a the taxi driver. When the vehicle reached its destination, Fauzi, who was seated directly behind the driver, grabbed his neck. Aizan punched his face four times, while Istiqlal grabbed the coin pouch from their victim.

While fleeing the scene, Fauzi realised he had left his iPhone in the taxi. Agreeing to Istiqlal's suggestion that he report his phone had been lost, Fauzi went to the police station to say he had been assaulted and had lost his phone, wallet and watch.

The three were arrested later the same day. Investigations also revealed Istiqlal had thrown away the coin pouch, which was not recovered, while running away from the victim.

The penalty for robbery between 7pm and 7am can be a jail term of between three and 14 years, and up to 12 strokes of the cane.

-------

Never laughed so hard.

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Chanel Authenticity Guide

Purchasing your first Chanel can be a very scary thing, because let’s face it- it’s the price tag that makes it a scary one. Also, the prices go up, esp on the classic pieces. Because of these factors, many try to buy pre-owned pieces to save money.

To be completely honest with you, I have never purchased pre-loved~~BUT , I feel that I know the brand inside & out, and am knowledgeable enough to share my information/tips with you so that you don’t regret your purchases. Yes, if you can~ I first and foremost recommend to purchase directly from Chanel or reuputable department stores like Saks and Bloomingdales. Why? Because they are large {luxury} purchases, and very pricey. A question that I hear often is,

“Gosh, how can you justify the price tag?”

 Before you judge, I agree…spending so much on a material item made out of leather and cloth can be superficial and frivolous. People judge all the time. As long as you aren’t using money on yourself that you shouldn’t, incurring debt upon yourself, and if you have the resources to do so, I don’t think it is frivolous at all. Why? Chanel is timeless, and it will never go out of style. It is a brand that is passed down from generation to generation. I believe anyone in fashion will tell you the same. Instead of making 3-4 handbag purchases a year on styles that will likely fade within the next few years, I think it is wise to save all of that money and buy ONE great bag that encompasses your style.. and rock it… often, & well. There is nothing that compares to the look of timeless. Just take care of your Chanel WELL  to preserve its lifespan- (that’s why I’m sharing my how-tos and tips here also, because

Out of all of the Chanel I own, I decided to use these three handbags below as visuals, because they are the two most timeless designs of  Chanel- The classic JUMBO flap and the cerf tote.

The double C lock

is also referred to as the ‘Mademoiselle’ lock, because Coco Chanel never married. The C’s in every authentic Chanel bag interlock the way they are pictured below-  the right C should always be over the top left C hook.

There are four grommets (holes) in each flap. On jumbos the four grommets are side by side- { OO         OO}.  On the small and medium/large flaps, the grommets are right under one another-{one hole with one right under it}.Under the grommets closest to the edge of the flap you will see this tiny little stich holding the flap to the body of the bag together. ALWAYS look for this tiny little detail!

Stitching

The quilted stitch design was designed by Coco Chanel to resemble the quilted jackets of horse jockeys back then. Look carefully, and notice that all of the stitching always matches up with each other (esp where the back pocket is) There should be at least ten stitches PER inch. Anything under that is simply not authentic

If you want to get really nitty gritty, look at the bottom of the bag. This applies only to the jumbo- small medium/large of the classic flap is smooth on the bottom in both caviar and lambskin. As for the JUMBO CAVIARS -the bottom should be clean and flat, and there should be a seperation in the right and left partitions of the bottom. 1 perfect diamond consisting of 4 smaller perfect diamonds should be cut directly in half right down the center. *Note*- on jumbo lambskins it is completely smooth on the bottom with no separation partition.

Serial Numbers 

Serial stickers were first introduced in 1984 and continue to be used today. Bags made before this time, don’t  have stickers.

6 digit codes-bag was made some time between 1984 and 1986.

7 digit codes- handbag was made between 1986 and 2004.

ANY 8 digit codes means it’s a model, made in 2005, still being made TODAY.

8 digits is the max amount of digits you should see on a Serial Number. Anything over 8 digits is not authentic.

Authenticity Cards 

The “card system” was introduced the same time as the serial sticker. There should be absolutely no rainbowy “hologram” type effect. It is made out of plastic and feels just like a credit card.

As you see below, the serial number on the bag, and the number on the authenticity card, ALWAYS match.

It always comes with a small 2×2 creme envelop with info on the bag.

More details about hardware- Every single zipper pull has CHANEL (in all caps) printed on only the top face of the pull. Naturally, the color of its hardware will always match the rest of the bag’s hardware. The straps you see below (which come with every cerf tote) are the same leather- its pebbly caviar feel matches.

If you were to open your tote at the turn lock and take your first peek inside the bag, that serial number will always be at the TOP right hand corner of the bag. ( I pulled it out below so you could get a better look). *NOTE- on the reissues it is aways at the bottom left hand corner.

 As you probably know, Coco Chanel came from an orphanage, & her caretakers wore chains around their waists which held their keys. That is the meaning behind the chain. In a lot of bags made before 2008 there is no stitching in the leather interwoven in the chain– at all. If there is stitching on the interwoven leather in the chains, it will ONLY be on one side

The last thing that I want to firmly say, is that if I were ever to even consider buying preloved, I would not even consider it if it did have the original box, dustbag, and card. These things hold value in the bag+if the person took care of the bag very well with minor wear=it looks new/comes just as you would purchase at Chanel, then I would go for it. Always look at every single detail including the lining. The lining should always be very firm against the bag and not baggy in any way at all.

In conclusion, remember:

-hardware including double C lock, zipper pulls etc

-serial #s / authenticity cards

-the stitching/quality & craftsmanship

Source: hautecookie

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Gang tattoos and their meanings.

Tattooing in one form or another has been practiced for centuries. Originating in Asia, the art of tattooing for religious meaning, cultural tradition and even gang related or just for appearances has spread worldwide. While some tattoos are chosen because the wearer has an affinity for the artwork, many tattoos have a universal meaning that goes beyond the basic graphic. The following are a few examples of the meanings of tattoos that have a universal symbolism for wearers, artists and admirers.

1) Teardrop Tattoo

The teardrop tattoo first appeared in the 1960’s. The meaning of this tattoo can vary depending on how it is drawn. An empty teardrop can symbolize a friend or a loved one that was killed, and now the wearer of the teardrop is looking for revenge. The teardrop is filled in with ink when revenge has been achieved. In prison, the teardrop can also be a warning to other prisoners that the wearer has committed a murder.

2) Red Butterfly Tattoo

Originated from the Red Butterfly Gang, better known as Ang Hor Tiap. Gang members of the AHT were identified by the butterfly tattoos they wore on their thighs, groins or shoulders, said a former AHT member.

3) Cobweb Tattoo

Cobweb tattoos have become very popular these days with people who were never convicts, but the cobweb is most definitely a prison tattoo. People get cobwebs to symbolize a lengthy term in prison. 

The symbolism of the cobweb is the association with spiders trapping prey and criminals being trapped behind bars. The spider web represents the prison (that's deep bro.) This tattoo is commonly found on the elbow because it also represents a lot of time with your elbows on the table. I.E. you've been sitting in prison doing nothing for so long that a spider is weaving a cobweb on your elbow.

4) Three Dots Tattoo

The three dots tattoo is a very common prison tattoo that symbolizes 'mi vida loca' or 'my crazy life.' It doesn't symbolize any particular gang, but rather the gang lifestyle. It's typically found on the hands or around the eyes. 

The three dots tattoo can also carry some religious significance, representing the holy trinity. Dot tattoos are often done using the stick-and-poke method.

5) Centipede (Wu Gong) Tattoo

It just simply means that they never fail in any fights.

6) Eagle on Globe Tattoo

Eagle on globe means he 'control the world' and is 'accorded'. Started with one flying eagle, when he becomes ready, the globe is added. 

What other tattoo meanings do you know of? Like the snake coiling around a sword? It is said that that tattoo is associated with secret societies but we can't find anything about it. If you do know, please drop a comment and share your knowledge with us! 

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