Pete's Write

This is Mercedes' version of the ultimate SUV, going places that other SUVs or soft crossroad vehicles fear. Forget those GLA, GLB, GLC, GLE etc, this is the response to the Land Rover Defender, the Toyota Landcruiser and the Prada etc.. The blurb from Wiki: Quote

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class, sometimes called G-Wagen (short for Geländewagen, "cross country vehicle"), is a mid-size four-wheel driveluxurySUVhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_G-Class
The latest version was just released late last year, and it's interesting that the older version is still being made, after 35 years. Now that's a long lasting vehicle. That version last I had the pleasure of going around for a few days in this latest version, and it certainly did the trick, in the busy streets of Phonm Phenh and also rising to the occasion when the going got tough..
Now let' not pretend this is a barebones Land Rover Defender, for despite the boxy looks and the industrial strength doors, this …

It was time to change the original equipment Goodyear Runflat Tires, and I chose Kim Hoe Tires, which offered a decent rate. Always check prices, and availability before you go - they still scampered to get the tires even though it was pre-arranged. Sometimes they carry second hand tires - trade ins from customers who sold their tires to upgrade. 
Personally I like them new.. and you should check the YOM - year of manufacture - which is on the tire wall.  The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensor is on the rim, so do remind them not to touch it.
After changing the tires, they usually include balancing and new valves. You need to run the tires for about 5-10mins then reset the sensor. 
Before you go off at top speed, they advise you run in the tires - one tank of gas worth. 

The Journey Of Your New Car – getting pumped

So now, you have put your precious money into buying that dream car and the day that it arrives in Singapore has come!
It lands in our port, someone picks it up and it gets transported to our showrooms for collection. Have you ever wondered about the fuel that goes into the car? Does it come empty? How much fuel goes into it? What kind of fuel goes into it?
Well here is the story of two companies who choose a quaint little station in the West Coast to top up the fuel for their new arrivals.
Both Honda and Toyota use a small Shell station down South, close to the Pasir Panjang MRT, and everyday, rain or shine, more than a dozen car transporters stop here to fill up the cars they carry. If you do the maths, that's about a ten cars or so per transporter and more than 100 cars each day! It also gives you an idea of the sales volume of these bigger car companies.
The station has a total of eight pumps, and the two outermost pair are eq…

https://www.engadget.com/2019/05/15/sound-united-buys-onkyo-home-audio/

Actually we all have to adapt, think positive and move on..

The old 5.1 systems were never really replaced by Atmos / DTS etc... our homes are getting smaller, and the WAF factor plays a far bigger role. Soundbars rule, and wireless speakers are the mainstay of many homes. Streaming and it's convenience is more important than sound quality. Our forum has also gotten more quiet over the past ten years.

A system with wires dangling everywhere is no longer a mainstay in homes.

No doubt choice is important, and having all the companies under one roof is not ideal. But in reality we often use components that have been shared by many companies already. Burr Brown makes chips for many companies and so do Sharc etc.

So like VW, who produces similar cars branded as Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda, we may see different product lines, streamlined with similar components but different sonic signatures.

These mainstream brands will alw…

It's may have been discussed in many places, but here's a summary of the pros and cons of landed housing vs a condo or other types of private housing.
(YMMV, and these are generalisations of course)
Landed pros
- it's yours and no one shares anything with you except the adjacent wall if you aren't in a bungalow - the ultimately in exclusivity (no shared elevators, your very own car park, porch and garden etc) - if you love to brag, this will give you a significantly higher 'I've arrived' bragging rights (YMMV and some will have extremely exclusive condos too) - you don't pay maintenance fees (but your conservancy charges eg clearing rubbish will be higher) - if it's freehold or 999 yrs, it's your forever (yes, the government can reclaim anything) - you can redo the place to any style you want - space, the ability to do it as you like, and most landed places are larger than condos and great for multi-generation homes - lower psf (especially if y…

Oh, how about a pool?  You do need space, and length to be specific..  10m is a minimum and even then it might be small. The cost of adding a few more meters is not as much as you think, so long as you have the space. But do make room for the pool pump and related items.  There are vinyl, fibre glass and concrete pools with rebar. The last is the more solid and will last you a long long time. But $$$. 
Many rental homes will get the former two, because they are cheaper and more temporary. Think about how long you want to stay there. A sunken pool cost more, but it's more sturdy and looks nicer.
Remember to cater for steps or even a relaxation area, like a bench to sit on and lights. 
You don't need a huge pump, but you do need to get a size proportionate to your needs. Your builder can advise you on this. 
During the building, make sure you shore up the walls around it, especially if you have an adjacent wall or neighbour. 
And factor in the cost of maintaining it, plus the c…