Stanley W

I am interested in purchasing a Electric Bicycle Conversion Kit to install on my Mountain Bicycle. I see quite a few items on eBay and the prices seem OK, but the shipping costs are really high, often higher than the item itself!

So I was wondering if anyone knew of where I could purchase a kit locally in Singapore to save on the shipping costs.

Also, I know some electric bicycles are legal in Singapore and some are not. If anyone could tell me what is the criteria for legal electric bicycles, I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thinking about staying at a ryokan onsen when I go to Hakone, Mt.Fuji. There are 2 of us and I am not willing to pay through the nose for a "high-class" ryokan. Could you recommend a place?

I just started watching Bones and it is a fun series to watch. What bugs me is that the FBI needs the constant assistance of the Jefferson Institute to solve crimes. Why? Do they not have something like CSI?

Is the Nan Feng Family like the family of Emp's sister?

And why is Emp called Emp? Is it short for his English name, his title or somethingelse?

I just got a Rancilio Silvia. I looked through the many articles concerning the Silvia, including those specifically concerning latte art. I got myself a stainless steel milk jug with shaped spout designed for latte art, and a thermometer and clip from a barista supply store.

I practiced the technique with skim milk (easier) and was more or less successful. I tried again with half-and-half (2%fat) and have not been successful. I have tried over 10 times.

I either get what I call a "foam" or a "fizzle". In "foam", the top foam comes out and already fills the top of the cup before the level is halfway. In "fizzle", the level goes up and up but the "white spot" that is supposed to signify the start of the latte art move, never materialises.

Additional information: I pour for 2 cups at a time, the cups are not the semi-hemispherical shape but not exactly a cylinder either.

I suspect that the milk has separated but I thought I did the texuring correctly.

I have a Krups XP5020 consumer grade semi-auto Espresso Machine.

I have to say that it is pretty decent but it is still a consumer grade machine.

It has a"fool-proof" milk frother enhancer (warning! warning!).

Anyhow, sometimes (only sometimes), it CAN produce decent microfoam with half and half milk. But lately, it could not foam for nuts. I thought the rubber bung that lets the air in might be stuffed up so I used a needle to clean it. Could not see through the hole so I used a small toothpick. I think it was a mistake. Coz now it foams but it make large bubbles instead of the microfoam I need.

Any ideas on how to fix the problem? Aside from getting a new machine coz I AM working on that.

Thank you.

I have a Krups XP5020 consumer semi-automatic Espresso Machine. It has served me well for over a year. But I am toying with the idea of upgrading to a better semi-automatic like a Gaggia or such-like. And yet I balk at paying for a new one.

Does anyone know where I can get a good second-hand machine? And maybe a grinder? At an affordable price?

Thank you.

My wife and I are planning to buy property of investment. Maybe a 2 bedroom apartment unit. The only thing is we cannot decide where. We are presently only considering Singapore and Australia.

Singapore rentals are very high. The tax is low. And the loan rates are low(er). However, the prices are on the upswing. There is a possibility that we might not be able to rent out the unit.

We are also considering Australia as we might retire there. Specifically Brisbane or Melbourne. And the property prices have been shooting up so fast, we are worried that if we do not buy now, we will not get a chance. There is also very low vacancy rate so we are quite sure to rent out the unit. However, the taxes are high. There is even a tax on the rent itself. And the rent is nothing great.

So any advice?

Four old men sit around a table play marathon poker. There is a spitoon and every so often one of them hacks and spits into it. After a while, they notice that the spitoon is almost full.

"Let's have a bet. Everytime someone loses, he takes a sip."

All of them are grossed out but they are betting men and so they agreed.

Soon, the first loser has to lift the spitoon to his lips and courageously sips as the others watch in fascination. To the surprise of the others, the old man did not just stop at one sip but continued, gulp after gulp until the spitoon was empty!

"Why did you do it man!? You were only supposed to take one sip!"

"I tried, but it was all clumped together."

<Told you it was gross. But is it funny?>

They introduced themselves as Erik, John and Steven.

The door opened and there stood a woman over seven feet tall, had hair all over, a severe case of acne and smelt worse than a rubbish dump on a warm summer day.

There came a deep, powerful voice, "Erik, you have been a bad man. You are to marry this woman and live with her forever."

The woman grabbed Erik and Erik was dragged away screaming "Noooo!" The door closed.

The door opened and there stood a woman four feet tall, had no hair, a severe case of boils and smelt worse than a decayed rat stuck in the car engine.

There came a deep, powerful voice, "John, you have been a bad man. You are to marry this woman and live with her forever."

The woman grabbed John and John was dragged away screaming "Noooo!" The door closed.

The door opened and there stood Shakira! Steven could not believe it!

There came a deep, powerful voice, "Shakira, you have been a bad woman...

I do wonder if the Japanese people in general really knew what occurred during World War 2? Do they know that there is something different in their history books as compared to other nations in the world?

I live in a country that was occupied by the Japanese. It was not a happy time. The stories are fantastic but you cannot dismiss them as fantasy because you hear various versions of the same event, of the same practises from different families and friends.

I am not about rehashing anger. But I would think the the truth is important. And those that do not know their History are doomed to repeat it.