Thursday, March 31, 2011

A tip to increase traffic to your site

Google has a nice doodle today. It's to honour Robert Bunsen who would have been 200 today if he were still alive. Does the name ring a bell? Bunsen? Something to do with science?

Robert Bunsen, the German scientist who developed the Bunsen burner.
What else is happening around the world today? Libya is still worrisome, so is the nuclear leakage in Japan, floods in Perlis, mudslide in Krabi, Thailand, and tourists had to be helped out to safety on Tao Island. McD served its last breakfast this morning. The outlets must have been crowded with long queues. And traffic to my sites seeking printable vouchers has also tapered off.

I'm no expert on SEO but I must be doing something right on keywords in the title of the posts. I read that keywords in the title can get your post/blog listed higher up on the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages) meaning that your post appears higher up in the page of search results. Research has shown that chances of people clicking on your site are much higher when you are listed on top, preferably above the fold on page 1.

"Bring Your Daughter and Son to Work" Day

In the west, some corporations have a program that involves giving children of employees a chance to see what their parent(s) do at work. They call it 'Bring your daughter/son to work' Day.

Malaysian parents who work in the airline industry will soon have a chance to let their children experience their nature of work.

KIDZANIA Kuala Lumpur recently unveiled its first outlet fixture in the form of an AirAsia fuselage as part of its airport terminal facade.

The fuselage taken from an actual Boeing 737-300 aircraft will eventually be fitted out to house realistic flight simulators that will allow children to “pilot” an airplane.

AirAsia check-in counters will also be set up at the main entrance of KidZania, which will see children checking in to receive boarding passes to enter.

The 80,000 sq ft indoor educational theme park at the Curve NX is accessible via a bridge connected to The Curve shopping mall. It is expected to open to the public in the fourth quarter of this year. Parents may want to take note.

Besides being a part of an airline crew, children can also role -play as a bank customer, taking a driving course, being a journalist for a day as well as hosting and supporting a tv programme production.


Source: The Star..Where kids can be pilots and cabin crew

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Slow Dance and The Mayan Calendars made simple

I was watching a documentary the other night about the Mayan calendar prediction most of us are familiar with. It says the world will come to an end on Dec 21, 2012.

There would be earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis of such proportions that together they would wipe out life on Earth. I believe there is always that possibility. A meteor could even hit Earth and break it into smithereens. In fact, one did hit Earth billions of years ago destroying 97% of life on Earth. What survived were just wriggly worms at the bottom of the ocean. Scientists have discovered that the universe is infinite and in this infinite universe, everything is possible, including the obliteration of the human race lest we think we are a superior being. We are mere travellers in time and a small speck in the spectrum of things.

Given our vulnerability and the impermanence of everything around us, including ourselves, it only makes sense to really live life as best as it could be lived. Take life a little easy perhaps and stop to smell the roses, so to speak.

Someone sent me a chain email of a poem purportedly written by a terminally-ill girl and recipients have been requested to forward it in the hope that enough email addresses could secure treatment funds from a certain cancer society. Like all chain emails or letters, this one has been busted as a hoax by Snopes, the hoax-buster. But if we look beyond the hoax bit, the poem (written by David L. Weatherford, an adult male child psychologist), is worth paying attention to though. The poem is one from his poem collection. It's titled

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast.
Time is shor, the music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask How are you?, do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores running through your head?

You'd better slow down, don't dance so fast.
Time is short, the music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time to call and say,'Hi'

You'd better slow down, don't dance so fast.
Time is short, the music won't last..

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift.... thrown away.

Life is not a race, do take it slower
Hear the music before the song is over.

Back to the Mayan calendar.. Here is a set of two videos about Mayan calendars. This is a collaborative work of two experts in this field who have spent decades researching the subject as well as visiting the Mayan lands seeking truths and clarifications. Each video is an hour and thirty minutes long but they both are worth watching. Not only will you learn about the different Mayan calendars, you will also get an insight into the Evolution of Consciousness, a mind state that results in the creation of events throughout time. Insightful.


Monday, March 28, 2011

Fashion Designer's Muse

Many of us (me included) are fortunate enough not to be needing the help of fat burners to stay slim and nice (ahem!). A fashion designer's muse, perhaps? Possibly. LOL!

Anyway, my point is, if you do need fat burners, be sure to get the best fat burner you can find. How would you know if a particular fat burner is good? Do a check on the rating for a few key criteria, i.e.,

* Effectiveness
* Speed of Results
* Quality of Ingredients
* Product Safety
* Long-Term Results
* Customer Feedback
* Company Reputation
* Guarantee
* Reorder Rate

In need of a Good Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury, sometimes through no fault of our own, can put us through a lot of inconvenience to say the least. Worse case, it can render us immobile for a period of time resulting in extended leave of absence and/or possibly loss of income.

Personal injury can even cause permanent damage, loss of limbs or faculties and lifelong treatment may be needed to put one back to leading a close enough normal life. When it comes to that, life will never be the same again. A good personal injury lawyer can help us achieve recovery of damages when we have been injured in an accident. There are good lawyers everywhere in the world. Even if you are in Tucson, for instance, a search for lawyer tucson can yield pages and pages of good personal injury lawyers. But you already knew that..

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Free Breakfast at McDonald's

A white-and-orange butterfly fluttered by as I was leaving McDonald's this morning. Perhaps like me, s(he) too wanted some free breakfast today.

In case you are not aware, McDonald's is generously treating everyone to 2 free sets of breakfast with just a RM5 purchase - 2 drinks would make up that amount.

McDonald's wants to thank everyone for making them the favourite restaurant again for the second year in a row. This achievement culminated in McD being the proud recipient of the prestigious Gold Putra Brand Award. This is the country's Top Brands award, the winner being determined by the Malaysian consumer. Let's celebrate with McDonald's! You'll need a voucher though to redeem this offer. Print the voucher here.. Hurry! Offers valid until Mar 31 only..

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Samsung home theatre system

These days, a house with ample rooms would normally see one of the rooms being made into a family recreation/entertainment area. This is where the family can get together for some family fun together.

A home I had the pleasure of visiting the other day has a family room so well done up, it took me by surprise - comfy seating enough for at least ten people, appropriate lighting system, even a drinks bar. Of course it shouldn't surprise me because the entire house is exquisitely furnished being one in an exclusive neighbourhood.

For a family who loves movies and singing, their trusty samsung home theatre system must be giving them hours of pleasure and entertainment. When they entertain, karaoke sessions would normally extend past midnight. This room is sound-proof so no fear of disturbing the neighbours though the next house is quite a distance away. Nice.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Earth Hour 2011, Sat, Mar 26, 8:30 - 9:30PM

At 8:30PM tomorrow, Saturday 26th March 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

Happy Earth Hour 2011!

Friday Frolics - The Sandwich Test

Somehow this week's personality quiz reminds me of the sandwich restaurant, Subway. Btw, did you know that Subway is an American restaurant franchise and is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. (DAI)?

According to Wikipedia, Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with approximately 34,187 restaurants in 95 countries, 97 now according to the Malaysian Subway site. It is the largest single-brand restaurant chain globally and is the second largest restaurant operator globally after Yum! Brands (35,000 locations).

World travelers can expect the same high quality ingredients regardless of what nation they are visiting. You create your own sandwich with your choice of baked bread and variety of vegetables and condiments. Yum! In Malaysia, you can enjoy Subway sandwiches are a reduced price with their daily special. Have you tried a sub from Subway before? Now, take the quiz..



You Are Reasonable






You're the type of person who makes sound and logical decisions. You are very down to earth.

You're a bastion of sanity in this insane world, and people know that they can count on you.



You aren't likely to get swept away in the moment. You have both feet firmly planted on the ground.

You are modest and humble. You always keep your ego in check and sometimes wonder why others can't do the same!


Image source: Subway Malaysia site

Thursday, March 24, 2011

6.8 magnitude Earthquake hits Myanmar near China and Thailand borders

Another earthquake has struck Asia, this time in Myanmar near its borders with China, Thailand and Laos. The 6.8 magnitude quake hit about 55 miles (89 km) north of Chiang Rai, Thailand. One person was killed by a roof collapsing in Chiang Rai. Watch report from CNN below.




Source: CNN.. Earthquake hits Myanmar near China and Thailand borders

Scarves that tickle

Hmm...I wonder if these scarves are available here in Kuala Lumpur.


Source Unknown

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79


Elizabeth Taylor, the actress who dazzled generations of moviegoers with her stunning beauty and whose name was synonymous with Hollywood glamour, died Wednesday in Los Angeles. She was 79.

The cause was congestive heart failure, her publicist, Sally Morrison, told The Associated Press.
More..Elizabeth Taylor Dies at 79 - NY Times

Elizabeth Taylor: 'The last movie star' - MSNBC

Remembering Elizabeth Taylor - See unpublished pictures from LIFE

R.I.P., Ms Taylor.

Sources:
- NY Times
- MSNBC
- LIFE

Happy 5th Birthday, Twitter!

Twitter turned 5 two days ago on Mar 21. Twitter, that microblogging site has a membership of 200 million users, making it one of the most-visited services on the Web.

If you are a Twitter user, you would be enjoying this easy and fast way of getting in touch with your buddies and family or letting them know your whereabouts and activities. You would probably be knowing more about your sports or music idols. Sharing information is never easier.

In honor of its fifth birthday, CNN shares five ways how Twitter has changed the digital communication game. See if you agree.

1. Made a fast flow of information faster
- news spreads faster than ever with Twitter.

2. Removed the celebrity filter - Lots of stars chat with their followers shares photos, or even just updates on their everyday lives, let fans see stars in a way they never could before.

3. Created "thought leaders" - When a single tweet puts your thoughts in front of hundreds of thousands of people, you're able to help set the agenda in your community.

4. Strengthened the "second screen" - With Twitter, nobody has to watch a TV show by themselves again. You can have a real-time conversation with thousands of fellow fans watching the same show. Stats has shown that Twitter traffic increases by a factor of 30 whenever "Glee" is on. And during this year's Super Bowl, there were 4,000 tweets sent per second.

5. (Over)simplified the conversation - 140 characters may not be enough to tell our story so some of us will have to shoot out two or more tweets.

For more details and some interesting links, read the CNN article.

So, are you on Twitter yet?

Related article:
Twitter turns 5, goes from 0 to 140 million tweets a day

Source: CNN

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Anwar Slams Sex Video - I'm not the man

Jan 9, 2012 Update: High Court verdict: Anwar not guilty

Latest update: 'Anwar Ibrahim' video clip



Sex video shocker is the frontpage story on The Star today. (Google ads on my site today would probably feature PSAs (Publc Service Ads) only. But what the ....!, we all want to know more about it, don't we?)

At time of writing, the Most Viewed list of articles in The Star today shows that 8 out of 10 listed are on the same subject matter.

The excitement is about the release of a video recording of a man resembling an opposition party leader having sex with a foreign fair-skinned prostitute, believed to be from East Asia. This revelation has shocked the nation in the latest scandal to rock the country.

The politician held a press conference. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has vehemently denied that he is the man in the sex video, saying that this was a “scurrilous attack” on him.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim: “It is an evil political conspiracy. It is an attack against my character and my family. This is something we have endured the last 13 years.”

“Every time we face elections – in 1999, 2008 and now, these allegations surface.”

Dr Wan Azizah: “If the (sodomy trial) says that Anwar is with a man, why is this video with a woman?” she asked.





This is The Carcosa Seri Negara, an old colonial mansion that has been converted to a posh hotel where Queen Elizabeth stayed during her visit. It plays hosts to other visiting dignitaries as well.

This is the venue chosen by a mysterious Malay man, who only wished to be known as “Datuk T”, who unveiled the video tape in high security and secrecy. Security was so tight that "Before the screening, the editors and senior journalists were told to surrender their wallets, mobile phones, cameras, notebooks and pens.

They were checked with hand-held metal scanners and also made to wear robes over their clothes before being allowed into the room.

The four men who were with “Datuk T” were apologetic and polite to the media during the security checks.

Two of them were wearing dark glasses ala US Secret Service agents."


Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has denied claims that police were involved in the recording of the video. The 22-minute black-and-white video shows the man having sex in various positions and was recorded by hidden CCTV cameras in a hotel room in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 21.





If you are interested, the links are below..

Most Viewed at time of writing
* Sex video shocker
* Family of murdered contractor sees red
* Anwar: I’m not the man
* Sex video becomes talk of the town in a matter of hours
* PAS may review ties if video is authentic
* Cops not involved in sex video, says Najib
* High security and secrecy before screening
* Zaid: It is standard PKR reaction
* Video of man resembling politician shown to pressmen
* KL, Jakarta to sign maids MoU

Update:
Anwar lodges police report


Source: The Star

Monday, March 21, 2011

Take A Caribbean Vacation with a Difference - A Super-Inclusive Package

Contrary to popular belief, a Caribbean vacation need not cost an arm and a leg; not if you take advantage of one of those excellent value Super-Inclusive Caribbean vacations at Breezes Resorts & Spas.

What is a Super-Inclusive vacation package?

Super-Inclusive means you need only pay one price and that one price covers not only your room, with a choice of deluxe accommodations, it also includes everything else: all entertainment, all meals and snacks, unlimited premium beverages, land and water sports activities (aided by professional instructors) and tours. No tipping allowed and no wallet needed. At Breezes Resorts, Super-Inclusive is not only about more, it is about better.

Caribbean resorts like the ones at Breezes offer the finest beach locations and the most comfortable accommodations. You will be greeted by the friendliest smiles and the warmest wishes when you leave. You can expect to taste excellent food and a variety of choices from the world-class chefs, and improve your golf or tennis game with the help of their world-class golf and tennis instructors.

If you and your family or friends are looking to enjoy the Caribbean water and sun, Breezes Resort has a resort for you.

Breezes is also the place for company functions with their state-of-the-art equipment including projectors, A/V equipment, flip charts, microphones, podium and office supplies. Together with their unparalleled selection of sporting activities and entertainment venues, Breezes Resorts is ideal for incentives and group meetings. Take advantage of their Caribbean vacation special offer. Save up to 35% off Breezes Resorts & Spas from Apr 16 to Dec 23.

2 Free Big Breakfast from McDonalds

Ran out of ideas for breakfast? Why not head on over to McDonald's, spend a minimum of RM5 with a friend and get TWO Free Big Breakfast.

But you'll have to hurry because offer is valid until end of March. Here is where you can get the 2 Free Big Breakfast voucher.


This post was inspired by Lina's post.. Thanks, Lina.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Friday Frolics - How Confrontational Are You?

Do you like to get to the bottom of things the direct approach or just ignore it and let it be? Here's an interesting quiz. Find out if you are confrontational or how confrontational you are.



You Are a Diplomat



You're no stranger to confrontation, but you do try to keep things in perspective.

Even if you're in the right, no one likes to hear that they're in the wrong.



You approach confrontations with tact, manners, and even a little bit of manipulation.

You know that you can attract more flies with honey than vinegar!

A Cool Book-vending Machine by MPH

The vending machine has got to be one of the best inventions of our time, wouldn't you agree? Necessity being the mother of all inventions, these smart machines that dispense products including the very basic drinking water to sodas, coffee, tea, soups, toys, to foodstuff and snacks such as cookies, cakes, buns, gumballs, nuts to cigarettes, DVDs, even condoms have become an integral part of our life in a way.

According to Wikipedia, Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita, with about one machine for every twenty-three people. Japan's high population density, relatively high cost of labor, limited space, preference for shopping on foot or by bicycle, and low rates of vandalism and petty crime, provide a fertile environment for vending machines. While the majority of machines in Japan are stocked with drinks, snacks, and cigarettes, one occasionally finds vending machines selling items such as bottles of liquor, cans of beer, fried food, underwear, iPods, porn magazines, sexual lubricants, live lobsters, fresh meat, eggs and potted plants.

But of course, here in Malaysia, we have less "exciting" items from vending machines. To be unveiled next month at the KL Bookfair, will be MPH's book-vending machine. Malaysians will be the first in this part of the world to be able to buy books through a vending machine, thanks to MPH Bookstores Sdn Bhd.

These vending machines will be located in universities, hospitals, banks, office buildings and LRT (Light Rail Transit) stations.

"The stock will be changed often so every time someone walks past it, they will see new books,” says Donald Kee, COO of the bookstore chain.

The books in the machines will be at least 20% lower in price than those sold in brick and mortar stores, with the possibility of bigger discounts later on.

The machines will have a touch screen so customers can read synopses. And in the future, says Kee, MPH will try to add book reviews and other features. Payment modes include credit cards, debit cards and the Touch‘n’Go toll and fare cards.

I look forward to these. I know some people would swear by the Kindle but don't you think there is something nice about having a physical book in hand?


Source: The Star..Easier access to books via the vending machine

Thursday, March 17, 2011

World's Germiest Attractions

We were talking about general cleanliness in the office the other day and inevitably public toilets, doorknobs and such came into the picture. It is hard to avoid public toilets sometimes or avoid coming into contact with, say, a doorknob of the office conference room. Eeky, eh?

Alright, another scenario. What about touristy places or world famous tourist attractions? These places would definitely have lots and lots of germs accumulated over time. LIFE came up with a list of The World's 'germiest' attractions. The list also includes those picked by TripAdvisor.

Top of the list is The Blarney Stone. Ireland's Blarney Stone, which untold numbers of pilgrims have kissed in hopes of being blessed with the gift of gab.

At #2 is the Seattle gum wall..which people have been sticking their old chewing gum on a wall outside Seattle's Market Theatre for years, and the tradition has, erm, stuck. (Pictured here is a similar gummy landscape in San Luis Obispo, Calif., but you get the idea.)

See the other germiest attractions. You might have been there.. or planning to visit?

We can't avoid germs, viruses, microbes and the like but we can certainly take steps to avoid infection. Here are a few

Top Ways to Avoid Germs/Infections (courtesy of http://www.germophobic.net/)

1. Wash Hands Regularly
2. Wash hands thoroughly (Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" 2 times in a row
3. Avoid Touching your eyes and mouth. (Most germs come from the hands, don't let them into your body) 4. Use antibacterial/antimicrobial hand gel, such as Purell, after touching things that others have touched
5. Children do carry a lot more germs than adults. Make sure to apply rules 1-4 after playing with children.


Image source: LIFE.com

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Augmented Reality apps for Travellers

Travellers who own an Android phone or an iPhone can now have data on hotels, restaurants, Starbucks, landmarks, shopping offers and lots more at your fingertips. Thanks to augmented reality apps.

CNN suggests 10 fantastic AR apps that every traveller should know about. Some of them don't cost anything, free to download. Let me list just three.

1. Wikitude
Price: Free
Platforms: Android 1.5+, iPhone 4.0, Symbian with compass, Bada

2. Layar: ArchINFORM
Price: Free
Platforms: Android 1.5+, iPhone 3.1+

3. Lonely Planet Compass City Guides
Price: $4.99
Platforms: All Android

Check out CNN for details of the 10 fantastic AR apps. Travelling will never be the same again.


Image source: CNN

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The Ides of March is Today - the day Julius Caeser was killed

Today is March 15 and in Roman times, it would be referred to as the Ides of March referring to the day of the full moon. Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was killed in 44 B.C. Julius Caesar was stabbed (23 times) to death in the Roman Senate led by Marcus Junius Brutus, Gaius Cassius Longinus and 60 other co-conspirators. At least there is some sort of commemoration of this in Rome: The Ides of March is celebrated every year by the Rome Hash House Harriers with a toga run in the streets of Rome, in the same place where Julius Caesar was killed.

Today is not the fullmoon however. Full moon this month falls on this Saturday, March 19. Unlike other full moons, this one of the second lunar month will come closest to Earth and thus termed Supermoon.

This Saturday, the moon will swing around Earth more closely than it has in the past 18 years, lighting up the night sky from just 356,577km away. The full moon will appear bigger and brighter.

For astonomers and people who enjoy watching the sky, Saturn will also be visible to the naked eye on that night. What is rare is that there will also be a planetary alignment on that day. Of course, it does not mean that all the planets will be in a straight line.

“Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune will be very close to the sun within a 50° angle and this qualifies as a planetary alignment – it’s impossible for all the planets to be in a straight line”, according to Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) Astronomy Club academic adviser Assoc Prof Dr Chong Hon Yew.


A little diversion here. Watch this fun video of Toga run..

Ides of March Toga Hash Run, Rome 2002

Notes on this video from the source: Ides of March is when Julius Caesar was assassinated ("E tu, Brute?") and to commemorate this notorious event in the history of our great city, Rome H3 organizes a celebration weekend every year in mid-March: The weekend starts with a Friday Night Pub Crawl in downtown Rome to get us in the mood... On Saturday we run somewhere in the scenic surroundings of Rome through ancient ruins (you wish), beautiful landscape , some shiggy, and backyards of mad Italian landlords. Saturday night dinner in a local Italian restaurant with traditional Roman food (pasta, that is..) and copious amounts of nectar of the Gods wine, that is). Sunday morning is the time for the the Toga Run that gives you the unique chance to run through the world famous sights like Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Forum Romanum, Pantheon, Fontana di Trevi and Spanish Steps posing in a state-of-the-art toga !

And if you are interested, here's how to drape a Roman toga..


Sources:
- The Star..Earth’s satellite to appear larger and brighter on Saturday
- Wikipedia - Ides of March

Monday, March 14, 2011

Radiation from the Japan nuclear blast

The Star today reported..

SOMA, Japan (AP): The second hydrogen explosion in three days rocked a stricken Japanese nuclear plant Monday, sending a massive cloud of smoke into the air and injuring 11 workers.

Hours later, the US said it had shifted its offshore forces away from the plant after detecting low levels of radiation.


Was told there is an SMS that is going around today. Perhaps you would have received it too. I got it from a concerned friend. It says:

"A nuclear power plant in Fukumi, Japan, exploded at 4:30am today. If it rains tomorrow or later, don't go outside. If you are outside, be sure that you have rain protectors. It's acid rain. Don't let it touch you. You may burn your skin, lose your hair or have cancer. Please pass, stay safe and remind everyone you know."

What do you think? Do we over here have cause for concern? Any experts reading this can shed some light?

Btw, good to have an idea of Travel warnings after Japan's earthquake


Update: Tues, Mar 15:

Perhaps this would help to allay fears..Group: No need to monitor radiation here. The article says:

PETALING JAYA: It is not necessary for Malaysia to monitor the possible radiation fallout due to a nuclear meltdown in Japan at the moment, said the Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia.

Its president Nithi Nesadurai said that given the distance of the country from Japan, it was not of immediate concern for the Malaysian Government to monitor the possible fallout.

“I am sure countries closer to Japan such as the Philippines and China are monitoring to see if the possible fallout will reach their shores.

“We can always look at their results and decide our next course of action later,” he said.


Click on link above to continue reading.

However, food and food products coming in to Malaysia from Japan are being screened for radiation contamination after explosions at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The Health ministry is concerned that the explosions would affect perishable exports from Japan. Fish, fish products, fruit, fruit products, cereal, beverages and meat in both fresh and canned form were imported from Japan last year.

Satellite Photos of Japan Before and After the Quake and Tsunami & How You Can Help

Cities and towns in northeast Japan hit by the tsunami as a result of the 8.9-magnitude earthquake Friday afternoon are now in ruins. What they were before is a stark contrast from how they are now after the disaster. *gasp*

Below are satellite photos of two cities showing them before and after the tsunami. You can go to NY Times for photos with interactive feature of other cities where you can move the slider to compare satellite images, taken by GeoEye, from before and after the disaster.
Image source: NY Times


If you are wondering how you can help, here's
How you can help
Image source: CNN

Lee Chong Wei claims All England title for the second time

Great job! World number one Lee Chong Wei overpowered arch-rival and Olympic champion Lin Dan to retain his Yonex All England Open Championship title on Sunday afternoon.

The Malaysian overcame a flutter in the second game to prevail 21-17 21-17 in the men's singles final at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena. More from The Star..

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Truth about Coca-Cola and Pork

Alright, moment of truth..

Remember the video on what happens when Coca-Cola is poured onto a raw piece of pork and worms come squirming out of the meat? Convincing little show, wasn't it? How many of you believed that?

I didn't believe that and didn't watch that video (sure don't want that scene to be imprinted in my permanent memory) and continue to enjoy pork.

I personally know people who saw that video and have stopped eating pork since. Here is the real deal..

According to Snopes, the unbiased urban legend debunking site, the claim that pouring Coca-Cola onto a raw piece of pork will cause worms to come crawling out of the meat is ... *drumroll*.....FALSE.

The less-than-fantastic reality is that pork products made from domestically-raised animals and sold on the consumer market are pretty reliably free of worms, and pouring Coca-Cola over a slab of raw pork won't get you much other than perhaps a nicely marinated piece of meat. More on Snopes.

There you go! The truth. Now, go spread the right word.. (Poor porky..)

Japan post-Tsunami - in pictures

Let's look at some pictures of the devastation caused by the tsunami that hit northeast Japan on Friday, Mar 11. Radioactive danger from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station has become an added concern.

Some pictures... Don't these look like Lego bricks or some kids building blocks? They are actually displaced cargo containers in Sendai after the tsunami.

This is heart-wrenching. Residents evacuated to a shelter in Natori city, Miyagi prefecture.

Homes burned and ships were piled in a mass of debris in Kisenuma city, Miyagi prefecture.

More Boats

An aerial view of Sendai's airport.

A boat and cars swept by the tsunami on a street in Miyako City.

Overturned cars amid piles of rubble in a residential area in Oarai, near Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture.

Police officers patrolled near the nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture on Saturday.

A worker cleaned up debris at a hotel in Nakaminato, Ibaragi Prefecture, on Saturday.

More pictures available in the NY Times..

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Virgin eggs of China

Indeed, One man's meat is another man's poison. Many people find our 'King of fruits, the durian, repulsive. I'm sure there are equally stomach-churning food in the world, to me, that is.

Have yet to try balut of The Philippines, the stinky tofu of Hong Kong/Taiwan, nor moldy cheeses. But one food I can't see myself eating it has got to be those "virgin eggs" of Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province in China.

"Virgin eggs are actually eggs boiled in the urine of virgin boys.

See what I mean? (No offence to anyone..)


Source: The Daily Chilli

Does Supermoon cause Volcanic eruptions, Tsunamis and Earthquakes?

The above image, tsunami waves created a whirlpool off the coast of Oarai in Japan's Ibaraki Prefecture on March 11 following the magnitude 8.9 earthquake.

Some theorists claim that Japan's devastating earthquake was caused by the Moon.

On March 19, fifteenth day of the lunar month, the Moon will be at its closest distance from the Earth in 18 years. The event - known as a lunar perigee or "supermoon" - happens when a full or new Moon comes within 90 per cent of its closest approach possible.

Blogger Daniel Vogler wrote on weather website AccuWeather: "The last extreme supermoon occurred on January 10th, 2005, right around the time of the 9.0 Indonesia earthquake. That extreme supermoon was a new Moon."

Professor George Helffrich, a seismologist at the University of Bristol in the UK, said: "Complete nonsense. The moon has no significant effect on earthquake triggering."

Geologists said that the deadly Ring of Fire bordering the Pacific Ocean was the cause of Friday's earthquake.

Dr Roger Musson, of the British Geological Survey, said: "The cause of this earthquake is that the Pacific Plate, which is one of the largest of the tectonic plates that makes up the crust of the Earth, is plunging deep underneath Japan.

"It's being pushed down and it can't slide down smoothly so it sticks. It sticks for tens of years and then eventually it breaks and moves very suddenly down and as it does so it buckles and gives the seabed a sudden kick over areas of hundreds of square kilometres and that displaces an enormous volume of water."

Chris Ryan, co-director of the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre, said the Pacific Ring of Fire was also behind Christchurch's deadly quake last month.

But what turned Friday's tremors into a devastating tsunami was the sheer force with which the earth shook.

Measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale, Japan's quake is the seventh strongest ever recorded - up to 1,000 times more powerful at its epicentre than New Zealand's.

It struck 10km below sea level, 125km off Japan's eastern coast. Several quakes had preceded yesterday's monster tremor, including a 7.3 magnitude quake on Wednesday.

Ryan said it took a specific type of quake to generate tsunami waves. "This has been caused by movement in the sea floor," he said.

"To cause a tsunami, it has to move vertically (not side to side), pushing the water up. It takes a huge amount of energy to do that. And the larger the quake, the larger the amount of water displaced".

Despite the huge scale of Friday's quake, Ryan said it was about half as forceful as the 9.1 monster that tore across the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day 2004, claiming an estimated 220,000 lives.

"The amount of energy generated is about double,"Ryan said.


And I'll be attending a wedding dinner at a hotel on Mar 19. It must be an auspicious day for weddings.


Source: Daily Chilli

Friday, March 11, 2011

Japan earthquake, tsunamis cause widespread destruction

Watching CNN videos of the waves sweeping across paddy fields, airports, displacing cars and boats is giving me goosebumps. My heart and prayers go out to everyone affected. Below is a CNN video..


According to CNN
• Thousands feared dead after tsunami
• 8.9-magnitude quake triggers huge waves
• Evacuations near nuclear power plant
• Tsunami alert for 50 countries, territories

The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in recorded history struck off the island nation's shore on Friday, collapsing buildings, touching off widespread fires and unleashing walls of water up to 30 feet high.

The waves swept across rice fields, engulfed towns, dragged houses onto highways, tossed cars and boats like toys -- reaching as far about six miles (10 kilometers) inland in Miyagi Prefecture on Japan's east coast.

Hundreds of people were dead and hundreds more missing, Japanese media reported, citing local and national police. Tens of thousands of people were displaced, according to Japan's Kyodo News agency.

More..Widespread destruction from Japan earthquake, tsunamis

Friday Frolics - What Planet Should You Rule?

Having dreams of ruling the world? How about starting with ruling a planet first. Now, find out which planet you should rule.



HappySurfer Should Rule Saturn



Saturn is a mysterious planet that can rarely be seen with the naked eye.


You are perfect to rule Saturn because like its rings, you don't always follow the rules of nature.

And like Saturn, to really be able to understand you, someone must delve beyond your appearance.


You are not an easy person to befriend. However, once you enter a friendship, you'll be a friend for life.

You think slowly but deeply. You only gain great understanding after a situation has passed.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Gwyneth Paltrow, the Country Music Star

Gwyneth Paltrow sings? Gee, I never knew that! I remember her in Shakespeare in Love. I was fascinated at how she could remember all that script. But of course, that talent paid off. She received an Oscar for Best Actress. A career spanning more than two decades, Ms Paltrow has also received many other award nominations including for both Iron Man and Iron Man 2.

Married, she is a mother of two, runs a lifestyle blog and has released her own cookbook and now the 38-year-old is moving in on husband Coldplay rocker Chris Martin's turf.

According to Galaxie, After wow-ing audiences as the singing temp in Glee, and then carrying forward that character to rave reviews at the Grammy stage, it was just a matter of time before Gwyneth Paltrow scored herself a record deal. And what a sweet deal it turned out to be!

Atlantic Records has snapped up the actress and closed the deal for just under a million dollars for her first full-length album. The album is expected to lean towards country-pop.

More about Gwyneth Paltrow..
Why is Gwyneth trying to reinvent herself as a country music star?


Sources:
- Galaxie
- DailyMail

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

MATTA Fair is back - Mar 11 thru 13

The Matta Fair is back! Running from tomorrow, Mar 11 until Mar 13, this much-anticipated travel fair returns with lots of offers from hundreds of exhibitors.

In Kuala Lumpur
Date : Mar 11 - 13, 2011
Venue: Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), - Tun Razak Hall 1, 2, 3

Running concurrently are the MATTA Fair Sarawak 2011 and MATTA Fair Perak 2011 the venue for the latter is Stadium Indera Mulia Perak.


Image source

Flood havoc in Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley

Were you caught in the traffic jam on Monday? Was shocked to see how bad it was in parts of KL after a heavy downpour. The image below is shocking. This happened below the overhead LRT bridge in Jalan Chan Sow Lin.



Source: The Star..Downpour creates havoc in the Klang Valley

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Manchester United lost twice in a row!

What birthday present would you get someone who is a huge football fan? Why, football gifts, of course! And talking about football or rather soccer, oh dear, Manchester United lost two of their recent matches. Horrors!

Watching Manchester United play Chelsea last week was a torture but watching them play Liverpool was worse! The team happiest would be Arsenal who didn't quite capitalise on Manchester United's loss to Chelsea, fortunately. Oh well, that's football.

And another nail-biting episode coming up when Man United play Arsenal in the FA Cup. Who will you be rooting for?

The Unforgettable March 8

Three years ago today, Malaysians went to the polls and the rest as they say is history, which includes five states crossing over to the Opposition. Let's take a little peek through the time-tunnel to three years ago to a Reuters report:
(Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition has won unprecedented control of five of Malaysia's 13 states in general elections held on Saturday, opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim said as counting continued on Sunday morning.

"Tomorrow we will start building a brighter future...This is a new dawn for Malaysia," Anwar, de facto leader of opposition party Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party), told reporters.

Keadilan and its opposition allies, the ethnic Chinese-backed Democratic Action Party and the main Islamist party, Parti Islam se-Malaysia, had won the northern states of Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Perak and central Selangor state, Anwar said.


Politics is never a nice subject to broach on, is it? So let's just leave it at that and move on to something more positive, more pleasant, if you will.

If it's your birthday today, and I know one special person is celebrating it on this date, let me wish you

Happy Birthday!

May each day of the year be filled

..with joy and love, blue skies..

and all things

nice..

Monday, March 7, 2011

Celebrate St Patrick's Day in Kuala Lumpur

Just as beer is to Octoberfest, Guinness brew is to St Patrick's Day - celebrated worldwide on March 17. Here in Malaysia, Guinness Anchor Berhad is taking the festivity to a whole new level this year by bringing St Patrick's Day fun to last the whole of March.

This is the fifth year Guinness is hosting this enjoyable and renowned festivity in Malaysia with a wide array of street parties and fun activities. So keep a lookout for the entertaining activities and consumer promotions.

In line with the celebrations, Guinness is bringing 36 parties across the country to places like the Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bahru, Malacca, Ipoh, Kuantan, Kota Kinabalu, Miri and Kuching.

The celebration, themed “Merry Goes Round in March”, will culminate in its most exciting showcase at Changkat Bukit Bintang on March 17 where there will be street entertainers, dances and buskers livening up the party giving revellers a taste of the global party experience as celebrated in other major cities around the world. Check out the merry events below..


..and get an idea on how Changkat Bukit Bintang will be decked up for the Street Party on St Patrick's Day, Mar 17.

For more info on locations, promotions and activities at participating outlets, log on to the Guinness Facebook page at facebook.com/guinnessmalaysia


Source: The Star

Saturday, March 5, 2011

How much are you paying for your haircut?

How much are you paying for your haircut? Or a hotel room when you go on holiday, a packet of ciggies, or gasoline for your car? Let's take a look at how much these cost 55 years ago. Comments in bold italics are comments made then. This came through email.

A haircut..
‘If they think I’ll pay 30 cents for a hair cut, forget it.’


Hotel room..
‘There is no sense going on short trips anymore for a weekend. It costs nearly $2.00 a night to stay in a hotel.’

A pack of cigarettes..
‘If cigarettes keep going up in price, I’m going to quit; 20 cents a pack is ridiculous.‘

Gasoline..
‘When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon. Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.’

These are just some examples from an email. Here's one more...Talk about how inflation has drastically reduced purchasing power of our currency..

‘I’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it’s going to be impossible to buy a week’s groceries for $10.00.‘

I wonder what will it be like in another 55 years. You might want to leave some meaningful quotes/comments for your children or grandchildren to quote you in 55 years from now. LOL!

Of course, life is not the same now. We are doing things differently which is a far cry from those days. I want to think we are better off now than before. Progress and technology have seen to that. We certainly have come a long way.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Friday Frolics - What's Your Favorite Color?

We all have a favorite color, don't we? Know what your favorite color say about you? Take the quiz to find out.



Your Favorite Color is White



You are a calm, peaceful, and even neutral person. You are happy to fade into the background.

You enjoy being around bold and bright people. You complement big personalities well.



You may have a lot of life experience, but you still have a very innocent heart.

You have the purest thoughts and intentions. You are a person of high moral character.