Volvo V40 Cross Country - Packed Full Of Safety - A Car Even My Wife Can Drive

OK ladies, please do not be offended by the title of this post. You see, Sammi has never driven but is about to learn. When I passed my driving test many years go (*ahem*), the most challenging part was managing to master the art of reverse parking.



Thanks to my buddy, Smith, and the team over at Wearnes Automotive, a couple of weeks ago, I was able to test drive the new Volvo V40 Cross Country... and guess what - this very cool and sporty looking car can reverse park itself!!



Just one of the very unique features, the V40 is a perfect example of how the Swedish manufacturer has become synonymous with driver and passenger safety. I had no idea, but Volvo invented the '3-point safety belt' back in 1958 - so it is fair to say that there is a bit of Volvo in the front seat of every modern car today.

Wait up!!! I cannot get past the fact that it can park itself - check this out:


We were fortunate to be left to our devices for the test drive and provided with tickets to visit the new 'Marine Life Park' at Resorts World Sentosa.



The car itself comes with a 1.6-litre 180 bhp engine, offering 270 Nm of torque, including 30 Nm overboost. The torque curve is relatively gentle, resulting in a particularly comfortable driving experience. The V40 can also (optionally) be tuned with Polestar Power Optimisation, which offers 200bhp and 260 Nm of torque. Fuel consumption is 6.1 litres per 100 km with CO2 emissions of 143 g/km... it threw me a little every time we stopped at a set of lights - I thought the engine had stopped! That was before I realized that in fact it did stop - the car cleverly turns itself on and off.



A few of the other safety features that would assist me (and Sammi, when she drives), inlcude the 'lane keeping aid' (alerts me when I'm swerving lanes), a roadside information display (including the ability to show me the speed limit on the display panel - now I know the speed limit on one stretch of our journey, I'm surprised I haven't had a ticket there by now), a driver alert control (tells me when I need to stop for kopi) and of course, the option of a pedestrian airbag.





In case you're a bit kiasu like me, you can also adjust the graphic theme of the display panel (depending on the passenger you are trying to impress). Choosing the 'Elegance Theme', provides an amber illumination that creates a calm aura. Or upon selecting the 'Eco Theme' it can display a green background illumination which is designed to create an 'environmentally inspired look'. An 'Eco Meter' is displayed on the left, with the current and accumulated fuel consumption figures being displayed. Finally, the 'Performance Theme' (my personal favourite) has a red background illumination which creates a 'sporty atmosphere'. In the centre of this display, a tachometer scale replaces the speed scale displayed in the Elegance and Eco versions. Vehicle speed is shown digitally in the centre of the display and the right side includes a power meter - a gauge that informs the driver how much power is available and how much power is being used at any given moment in time... making the driver feel very 'powerful'. :)




Other key features of the Volvo V40 Cross Country, include (but not limited to):

- A tinted panoramic glass roof - Seven different mood light options for the interior lighting - Two-piece, 40/60, rear backrest that can be easily folded to maximise loading
- Two different chassis setups: Dynamic and Sport - Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) system that uses a roll angle sensor to identify any skidding tendencies at an early stage
- Corner Traction Control that uses torque vectoring so the car corners more smoothly
- City Safety (active up to 50km/h) that keeps an eye on traffic in front and automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time
- Full set of crash safety features including a knee airbag on the driver’s side


Thanks again to the folk at Wearnes Autmotive for offering the family and me one of the first opportunities to take this safe, cool and sporty vehicle for a work-out.











The visit to the 'Marine Life Park' at Resorts World Sentosa was also a blast with the kids - although it was very, very busy, the experience was both breath-taking and amazing - actually, it was awesome!







ABOUT WEARNES AUTOMOTIVE

"Established in 1906, Wearnes Automotive Pte. Ltd. is the sole distributor for Volvo cars in Singapore and has consistently been one of the top Volvo dealers in Asia. The Volvo showroom is located along the prime automotive belt of Alexandra Road, boasting one of the most customer-oriented automotive facilities in Singapore. The premises accommodate a state-of-the-art service and repair workshop that gives special attention to the intrinsic safety qualities of a Volvo."
 

SKW Live - Be A Star... Why I Love My Grassroots!

Well I can certainly tell you, dear reader - life is about as busy as it gets right now!!

 

Don't misunderstand me - I am not complaining, just perhaps making excuses why I'm so far behind with my blogging. When you mix a very busy day job and career with outside activities such as press appearances and media interviews, along with the wonderful time I spend coordinating the family around their various hobbies and interests and of course, my commitments to GRL (Grassroots Leader) community activities, I reckon it's very lucky that I can survive with only a handful of hours sleep every night. :)

Coming off back-to-back weekends where I spent some time with the Singapore Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong - firstly at the AMK Task Force Work Plan Seminar held at ITE College Central Campus and last Saturday on my home turf in Fernvale (story time with the kids) - I was fortunate enough to be reminded once again of why it is that I love my involvement in Grassroots.

Story time with PM Lee Hsieng and MP Dr Lam Pin Min and the boys at Fernvale: 

You see, last Saturday evening I was invited to take on a new persona - the choice would be mine... the 'evil' Simon Cowell or the more pleasant Randy Jackson. I think I opted more for the latter, as I participated as a guest judge in the grand final of the 'Sengkang West Live - Be A Star' competition.

The serious (and not so serious) judging panel:

 

The competition, which has been months in the making, culminated with this huge event held at the Anchorvale Community Club MPH. Organized by the Sengang West YEC (youth executive committee), eleven finalists took the stage one final time in an attempt to be crowned the 'SKW Live Star'.

Prior to the event, I really didn't know what to expect - but I really must say now that the level of young talent in our local community is astounding! Every single performer put on a real show, and in a way, I wish that each of them could have been awarded first place.

Having said that, a young lady by the name of Cheryl came on stage and clearly blew everyone in the audience away (including myself) with that difficult to describe thing called the 'X-factor'. Judging was based on certain criteria - tone, pitch, overall talent, stage presence, presentation, interpretation (I'm elaborating a little on the what was on the scoresheet, but you get what I mean).

The Winner:

   

This winner had it all - in my comments and feedback, for one of those very rare moments I was lost for words. The remarks I did make began with a 'Wow'! Quite literally, the ballad component of her act left me shivering with goosebumps, followed by a desire to stand on my chair and dance as she leapt into a very upbeat performance which even included a rap... Like I said, 'Wow'!

The audience was extremely appreciative with people dancing, whistling, screaming, clapping - during the performance.

The Winner:

 

I am so glad and honoured to have been asked (along with Peter Leow and three other professional judges) to represent Sengkang West Grassroots organizations as a guest judge, and even happier to have witnessed all of this young talent.

In true Singapore style, there was a broad mix of cultures on display - along with the English perorming acts, we were treated to a very diverse range - from ballads sung in mandarin to what I could only describe as a 'Bollywood style' song in Tamil... once again, inspiring the urge to get up and dance.

I was given an appreciation award for this privelege (completely unnecessary but very grateful):

   

Let me tell you - Life is good here on the red dot!!

Congratulations for a job well done to the YEC organizing committee:

 

All the judges and performers together:

 

Finally, some of the young crowd 'going off':

 

[VIEW MORE PHOTOS OF THE 'SENGKANG WEST LIVE - BE A STAR' COMPETITION] 
(All images courtesy of Raymond Lee)

DOCUMENTARY: Dru Chen - Intentions Tour: (Singapore / Malaysia)

From January to March 2013, R&B / Soul Artiste, Dru Chen performed 20 shows in Singapore and Malaysia to promote 'Intentions EP'. This footage, collected and painstakingly put together by director Edwin Tejoz tells the story of his journey.

With a talented crack-team of R&B, Rock and Jazz musicians including Adam Shah, Weiye Tan and featured guests Charlie Lim, Kerong Chok, Jase Sng, Chris Toh, Brandon Gan, Dru Chen performed at the 'Mosaic Music Festival', while also headlining Timbre, Blu Jaz Cafe, Sultan Jazz Club (Singapore) and The Bee (Malaysia). Radio and college appearances included 93.8FM, NUS Live Lounge, RadioPulze, Ngee Ann Poly RadioHeatwave.

For more information, please visit http://druchen.net. 'Intentions EP' is available at http://druchen.bandcamp.com.

(Press contact: info@druchen.net)

Canadian Anti-Smoking 'Quit the Denial' Campaign Video - 'Social Flatulance'

Health authorities in Canada have come up with a campaign to curb 'social smoking', by comparing the smell of cigarette smoke to flatulance.

The key message from the quite clever Ontario 'Quit the Denial' campaign, is "Social smoking is as ridiculous as social farting".

'Just because I fart every now-and-then doesn't make me a farter':

In the video, the female 'social farter' is placed in the psychoanalyst's chair, and justifies her 'social flatulence' by saying that it's just a means to 'fit in with the crowd'.

She says, "It's true that I fart.... I really only do it when I hang out with my friends that fart. We hang out, we drink, we dance ... just have some fun being together... farting".

Watch the Video:

 

According to media reports, the campaign is "obviously intended to juxtapose the supposed `coolness' of smoking with flatulence, the campaign is being billed as a "gentle" poke at smoking in the face of widespread graphic tobacco warnings".

'Social smoking is as ridiculous as social farting':

 

Parenting At Its Worst

I'm just back in town after a month of travelling with very little access to internet.

So, I couldn't resist writing my first blog article after the short hiatus by exposing a couple of the worst efforts of parenting that have been reported in recent times.

 

Firstly, there is the news of a 38-year old mother from Utah (Robin Willette Rumsey), who along with her friend, 33-year old Krista Jean Miller, was arrested on multiple felony child abuse and endangerment charges.

She allegedly duct-taped her 14-year old teenage son, forced him to inhale marijuana and then poured hot Tobasco sauce in his eyes.

What was the outrageous punishment in retribution for, you may ask? The boy suffered the abuse at the hands of his mother for simply breaking a glass plate!!

West Valley Police Sgt. Jason Hauer, said "This is not discipline that any child should have to go through... It's definitely abuse."

The 14-year-old Utah boy has since been returned to his father's custody, Hauer said.

According to other reports, Rumsey and Miller had embarked on a pattern of abuse against the boy two years ago. It has been alleged that this was not the first time that the women had tried to force the boy to smoke marijuana and on another occasion they poured alcohol over his face and held him in a basement.

In another incident, role-model mother, Judy Viger thought it would be a very novel idea to hire two strippers to surprise her 16-year old son at his birthday in South Glens Falls, New York.

 

The strippers allegedly performed lap dances on her son and his teenage friends.

According to police, some of the boys were as young as 13 years of age.

The New York Daily News reported that an image posted online from the party showed a "scantily clad, tattooed woman clinging upside down to a seated teen".

The 33-year old mother was charged with five counts of endangering the welfare of a child. She is accused of "organising, managing and paying for two adult female entertainers who performed personal and intimate dances for five teenagers aged under 17".  

Great parenting, huh??