Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter



Image source: 123greetings

SEO tip - Choose a good title to attract traffic

I am certainly no expert in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) but this little I know. If you would like to attract traffic to your site...

Choose a good title for your post for the keyword(s) you are targetting. This will provide the right meta tags for search engines (Google, Yahoo!, etc.) to locate your site/article and to place your article high up on SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages).

For example, I just posted about audio books with this title: Buying audio books online. I then performed a search on Google using the exact terms and guess what. The article showed up on Page 1 (albeit listed at the bottom in 10th position) among About 430,000,000 results. That is 430 million. How cool is that!?

Here is the proof..

This is just an example. There are posts in the blog that constantly make the front page of Google search results.

Try it and see increased traffic..

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Air Asia offers 2 million FREE seats from April 2

Free AirAsia flights to several destinations are up for grabs from April 2.

If you are planning a vacation early part of next year to ASEAN countries (the Far East) or domestic locations, you are in luck. Free seats are for destinations including Penang, Alor Setar, Johor Baru, Kota Baru, Terengganu, Vientiane, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, Chiangmai and Siem Reap. Travel period is between January and April next year.

There is more - If you are a member of AirAsia's BIG Loyalty Programme, you get priority to redeem the seats a day before.

The BIG Shots, as the members are called, will get first pick within 24 hours for the two million seats up for grabs from zero BIG Points onwards.
More..Free AirAsia flights up for grabs


Btw, here is the layout of the plane if you would like to pick a seat of your choice.

Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is on at Putrajaya

Wheeeeeee! Hot air balloons took off to the skies on Thursday (Mar 28) at the 5th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta - check out details. It must have been a sight to behold. Will you be there? The fiesta ends tomorrow, Mar 31.


For four days, every morning from 7am to 9am, balloonists will participate in a ballooning competition, vying for Rudy's Trophy - a trophy named after the late fiesta chairman and co-founder Khairuddin Abd Rani.

In the evenings, the balloonists will again take to the skies for a balloon show at 6pm.

Members of the public can go for the tethered hot-air balloon rides from 7.30am to 10.30am and 7pm to 10pm daily for RM20 per person. The ride will be hoisted 60 feet off the ground. - Bernama
Source: The Star..Hot air balloons dot Putrajaya sky

Friday, March 29, 2013

Harry Potter Actor Richard Griffiths dies at 65


Richard Griffiths, a versatile British actor who won a Tony Award for “The History Boys” and played the boy wizard’s unsympathetic Uncle Vernon Dursley in the “Harry Potter” movies, has died. He was 65.

Agent Simon Beresford announced Friday that Griffiths died a day earlier of complications following heart surgery at University Hospital in Coventry, central England.

He paid tribute to Griffiths as “a remarkable man and one of our greatest and best-loved actors.”

More from Time.com

Wall collapse in busy Melbourne street

Before my visit to Melbourne several years ago, friends told me that the city is windy. Indeed it is as we (my girlfriend travel companion and I) found out on our arrival one late winter/early spring day. The nights were so cold indoors even with the heater on. We stayed in a friend's apartment in the suburb of Prahran. Prahran is a part of Greater Melbourne, with many shops, restaurants and cafes.

I won't digress further but back to windy Melbourne, I just read about a collapsed wall that killed two pedestrians in Melbourne.

The Australian reported that:

TWO pedestrians were killed when a wall collapsed on a busy Melbourne street yesterday and an injured teenage girl is fighting for her life.

The young man and woman were killed when a wall on a vacant construction site fell onto a footpath on Swanston Street about 3pm (AEDT) yesterday.

Another woman, believed to be 19, was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and is in a critical condition after surgery.

Strong winds swept through Melbourne yesterday, and one freak gust of up to 100km/h just before 3pm made the 3m wall fall onto the victims.

Witnesses say passers-by desperately dug through the rubble to try to help the people trapped underneath. More..Wind gusts blamed for fatal wall collapse in busy Melbourne street

Friday Frolics - What Chocolate Dessert Are You?

Chocolate-lovers, this week's Friday Frolics personality quiz is for you. Take the quiz to find out the type of chocolate dessert you are.

Happy Chocolatey Friday, everyone!



You Are Chocolate Mousse


Compared to most people, you are blissful and content with your life.

You enjoy each moment, and you try your best to live simply. You think people cause their own anguish.


You are charming and a bit of a smooth character. You can always get by on your charm.

You are confident and sure of yourself. You are comfortable with your own skin and don't try to be someone else.


Last Week's Personality Quiz: The Sushi Chopstick Test

Thursday, March 28, 2013

The haze is back in Kuala Lumpur today

Check out Haze situation for June 22, 2013

Is the haze back in KL? It smells like someone is having a huge barbeque party. Not likely during the day, of course, and in this hot weather? The smell of smoke is in the air (even permeating indoors) and the city is shrouded in smog as you can see in the image above. The Petronas Twin Towers are like a watermark against the hazy sky.

When smog happens here, a common guess is that open-burning is taking place across the Straits of Malacca. This activity is normally associated with land-clearing in preparation for farming season.

Incidentally, currently is the season for tomb-sweeping for the Chinese Buddhist/Taoist community. The burning of paper-offerings could also contribute to the bad air quality. However, this period usually brings rain so it sort of negates the bad effects of open-burning somewhat.

The actual tomb-sweeping day is April 5. Tradition dictates the period to visit the tombs as between ten days before and ten days after April 5. All visits will have to be made within this period. For auspicious reasons, it is compulsory for all family members (who are planning to visit the tomb(s)) to go at the same time. Married daughters are not included.

There is a huge Chinese cemetery in the city, the Kwang Tung Cemetery, and during this period during the weekends, the roads are usually congested with traffic leading up to the cemetery. This sprawling Chinese cemetery covers some 343 acres and has been in existence for more than a hundred years. It has been maintained in its original historical state and is the final resting place of prominent city pioneer, Kapitan Yap Ah Loy (known as the Founder of Kuala Lumpur) and other KL early leaders including Loke Yew and Yap Kwan Seng. Kuala Lumpur has roads named after their prominent leaders.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Strong 6.0 earthquake struck central Taiwan

I was reading about the 6.0 earthquake that jolted Taiwan this morning when my PC had a jolt itself and quit on me. The IT personnel had it checked and got it up and running again. Apparently it was a small glitch about hard drive clutter. Thank goodness!

I am always grateful that I don't have to know about how to clean hard drive, for instance, or about fixing other computer issues having an efficient IT department inhouse.

Back to the earthquake, here is an image from The Star that shows the earthquake's location.


It was reported that the strong earthquake shook buildings in Taipei, injuring at least 19 people, mostly from falling objects. A 72-year-old woman became the first known fatality from the quake. It was reported that a temple wall she was standing next to collapsed and crushed her. This happened in the rural county of Nantou,

High speed rail service has been suspended pending safety checks while the metro system in the capital Taipei was also temporarily suspended. The quake’s depth was a relatively shallow 15 kilometers (9 miles).

Many buildings in Taipei swayed. School children in Nantou were seen on tv fleeing from their classrooms during the quake. Nantou county was the epicentre of a 7.6-magnitude quake in September 1999 that killed around 2,400 people in the deadliest natural disaster in the island's recent history.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes


Source: The Star

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) 2013

If you are already in Langkawi or in Penang or somewhere in the northern part of Peninsula Malaysia, here is an exhibition not to be missed if you are interested in aircrafts and such.

The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) 2013 kicked off this morning with awesome a 22-aircraft airshow. The opening ceremony was held outdoors for the first time, at the tarmac of the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Some useful info from the LIMA website:

Opening Hours
26 – 28 March 2013 Opens to Trade Visitors Only 1000-1700
29 - 30 March 2013 Opens to Trade and Public Visitors 1000-1700


Admission:

Public Visitors
Public Visitors are required to register on-site at the registration hall. Admission fee is at RM10.00 per person whilst minors below 16 years of age, the elderly and the disabled will not be imposed any admission fees. Visitors are required to obtain entry badges at the registration hall before entering the exhibition. Badges issued are strictly non-transferable. Identity checks will be conducted. Please bring along your passport/NIRC for security checks on the day of your visit. Visitor without a valid badge or found to have gained access with another person's badge will be prosecuted.

Visitor Attire
The organizer reserves the right to refuse entry to visitors in jeans, Bermudas, shorts sandals, slippers or sports shoes. Minors below 18 years old are not allowed entry during trade days.

Shuttle Services
Available between the maritime and aerospace site during exhibition and also between major hotels and the town area. Car Rental Vehicles can be rented from numerous car rental companies available at the Langkawi Airport. Our official travel agent Mejustif Events and Travel Sdn Bhd will also be able to assist you in your vehicle requirements.


Image source: lima.com.my


Monday, March 25, 2013

One-Pot Meals - try them all

Let's start the week with food, which I seldom write about, I must confess.

One-pot meals, I like! At the MPH Bookstore last week, I browsed through a cookbook on one-pot meals. I've always been interested in one-pot meals simply because (I think) they are easy and less time-consuming to prepare. They could be nutritious too if you put in the right foodstuff.

There are lots of cookbooks on one-pot meals and plenty of ideas to pick up. The Internet too offers tons of recipes and ideas for such meals. I came across an article on the Martha Stewart site yesterday - all 52 different one-pot meals for the busy you! Which means you can try out one recipe a week for the next one year! Game?

Here are just a few. You can check out the entire list on Martha Stewart's One-Pot Meals.. recipes included, of course.

Chicken with tomatoes and mushrooms. Yum!

Salmon, red cabbage and new potatoes. Yum Yum!

Pork and plums. Yum Yum Yum!

Do you have your own favourite one-pot meals to share?

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Guide for newbies - 13th Malaysian General Election


Did the title get you excited? When is the 13th General Election? Your guess is as good as mine. The PM has not announced the dissolution of Parliament so until then, we can only speculate.

If you are a newbie at this forthcoming General Election, you may want to acquaint yourself with what to expect. For newbies, check out Guide to 13th Malaysian General Election.

The rest of us could also use the info. This time around, indelible ink will be used, so expect to have your hands checked for indelible ink.

To confirm or find out where you will be voting, visit the Election Commission website, (www.spr.gov.my), though the site takes a while to load.

Formula One is in Malaysia - 22, 23, 24 March


Well, whaddayaknow, Formula One (F1) season is here again! Kicked off in Australia last week, this week, the circuit hits Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur to be exact. The flagoff at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is due in about four-and-a-half hours just as I am writing this.


Sebastian Vettel stormed to pole position at the qualifiers yesterday at showery Sepang. Malaysian weather is quite unpredictable, with sunshine one hour, storm the next. F1 had to be halted a few years ago due to extremely bad weather. To be exact, the year was 2009 because of torrential rain, the race was declared over after 31 laps.

F1 attracts tourists wherever it is held. If you are planning to visit Malaysia during the F1 weekend, make your hotel booking early, like months ahead, or suffer the consequences of having to pay something like three times the normal hotel rate or worse, find yourself without accommodation.

If you are collecting merchandise, head on over to the Sepang International Circuit where booths are set up with exclusive merchandise for sale.

For fans, a number of exhibitions are being set up around KL in various malls and shopping complexes.

From The Star..
Meanwhile, Petronas Dagangan Bhd (PDB) is organising the Petronas Xtrack at the SIC open car park from 9am to 3pm today and tomorrow.

The exhilarating Xtrack, which is free for the public, houses activities such as All Terrain Vehicle rides, rally, drift and go-karting. There will be prizes up for grabs too.

At the Concorde Inn KL International Airport’s Melting Pot Cafe, enjoy an F1-themed barbecue dinner.

Closer to the city centre, there are several F1 related activities and promotions taking place.

Race cars used in 2005, 2010, 2011 and 2012 are on display at the Ferrari Roadshow at Mid Valley Megamall.

The roadshow held on the ground floor of the Centre Court will end tomorrow.

Exclusive F1 merchandise from McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes AMG Petronas are on sale.

Over at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the public can feast their eyes on the latest Spring Summer Collection at the Pitstop fashion runway showcase featuring brands such as Oroton, Bread & Butter, Bebe and Shinju Pearls.

Remember to also check out the Caterham One Team exhibition which is being held until tomorrow at the mall’s Bukit Bintang entrance with race cars and various merchandise on display.


For concert-lovers, American hard rock band Guns N Roses will take to the stage at the SIC helipad area once the 56 laps are over. This is for this evening. The concert is free and open to all grandstand ticket-holders and hillstand ticket-holders who upgrade their tickets.

For those in KL, you can catch a series of live performances at the Twin Towers@Live 2013 concert. The concert will be held at the entrance of the Petronas Philharmonic Hall at 5pm. Yesterday was Day 1 of the concert. Backstreet Boys performed last night so not sure if they'll be performing again tonight.

The concert is free for all in the general public zones.

Next stop: Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai..12-14 April

Btw, here's a look at the results so far, courtesy of Google..




All images (except the last one) are from: formula1.com


Saturday, March 23, 2013

Earth Hour 2013 - March 23 @ 8:30pm

Earth Hour 2013 happens tonight, March 23 -- 8:30pm. If you happen to be in the KLCC area, watch the lights go out at the Petronas Twin Towers and back up again one hour later. Many shoppers and employees watch this spectacle every year.

Happy Earth Hour wherever in the world you are..


Earth Hour is the single, largest, symbolic mass participation event in the world. Born out of a hope that we could mobilize people to take action on climate change, Earth Hour now inspires a global community of millions of people in 7,001 cities and towns across 152 countries and territories to switch lights off for an hour as a massive show of concern for the environment.. from the Earth Hour website.

Setting up a Printing business?

Indeed the wonders of the Web know no bounds. For instance, if you are looking into setting up an online business, for instance, you can find every aspect of it online. I was just reading an article on how to set up a shoe store online. Very cool info there and one site led to another, I found myself reading about setting up a brick-and-mortar business like a printing business, not that I have any expertise nor inclination towards this line

But seriously, if you are looking into a printing business, there are workflow software solutions available to give you a headstart. If these solutions are out on the market, every attention to detail and research would definitely have been put into developing the print industry's management tool.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Friday Frolics - The Sushi Chopstick Test

Here's a little quiz for Japanese food lovers or more precisely, sushi lovers. Maybe not. Everyone can take this simple Friday Frolics personality quiz. Go on, take The Sushi Chopstick Test and find out a little bit more about yourself.

Have a frolicking fabulous Friday, everyone!



HappySurfer Is Courageous


You attain mastery of whatever interests you. You are extremely sharp and a quick learner.

You are excited by knowledge, and reading is not enough for you. You like to conduct your own experiments.


You are a whimsical and idiosyncratic person. You embrace your quirks - they make you who you are.

You are inventive, creative, and completely ingenious. You are extremely gifted.

Last Week's Friday Frolics Quiz: What Kind of Leader Would You Be?

Malindo Air takes off on its maiden flight

Contrary to the announcement made in Sept last year, we don't have to wait for May for more travel choices when Malaysia's second low-cost carrier, Malindo Air, gets on board.

Today, Malindo Air takes to the skies with its maiden flight taking off from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu at 6:50am.

Set up as a hybrid airline, Malindo Air stands between full-service airlines and low-cost carriers. In our local context, Malindo Air is in between Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia. Still,
Malindo Air gives travellers another choice of air travel at a lower fare.

Malindo Air is a joint-venture between Malaysia's Nadi Sdn Bhd and Indonesia's largest domestic carrier, Lion Air parent PT Lion Grup. The airline will be operating the Boeing 737-900ER airplanes, which have a capacity of 180 seats each and capable of serving destinations within a five and a half hour range. There is also provision for business class.

All flights will take off from KL International Airport.

Below are a few pictures from the Malindo Air FB page:

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Banks to charge 50 sen to process a cheque from April 2014

Read on The Star today that come April 1 next year, banks will impose a cheque processing fee of 50 sen on the issuer of the cheque to promote greater efficiency says Bank Negara. This fee would be in addition to the existing stamp duty of 15 sen per cheque leaf.

And effective May 2, 2013, the fee for Interbank GIRO or IBG transactions done online via internet banking and mobile banking, would be at 10 sen.

Read more here: The Star..BNM: Banks to charge 50 sen to process a cheque from April 2014

Times they are a-changing..

Wicker furniture for all weather


Experts say women spend more time looking over products in a store than do men. This is attributed to each gender being wired differently thus both genders may do things directly opposite of each other. Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus? Indeed.

..which brings me to shopping and talking about shopping, have you been to IKEA Damansara? They are having their March Sale at the moment but not many days left as it ends on March 24.

Image source: homeandpatiodecorcenter

Furniture became the topic of discussion this morning after someone brought up that she is looking to replace her sofa set.

Her husband is looking at wicker furniture this time around and found some really nice ones online. I have to agree that online furniture stores do have a huge selection of furniture and needless to say the best Whitecraft All Weather Wicker Montecito Collection if you are looking to buy wicker furniture.  They come with colour consistency, durability and strength.

These wicker sets are not only beautiful, they are also maintenance-free, easy to clean, hygienic, safe and sanitary. When it says all-weather, the material used is weather-resistant and will not rot, fade, crack or split. It is UV-protected, and cannot be damaged by rain, sun or salt water thus they make great patio or poolside furniture.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

1,000-year-old Chinese bowl bought for US$3, sold for US$2.2mil

Behold a simple Chinese pottery bowl that was picked up for US$3 that turned into a massive US$2.23 million windfall at a Sotheby's auction yesterday, March 19.


From The Star..

NEW YORK: A 1,000-year-old Chinese bowl that was bought for US$3 at a garage sale in New York state sold for more than US$2.2 million at an auction on Tuesday.

An unnamed New York family bought the "Ding" bowl, which is from the Northern Song Dynasty, for no more than $3 in 2007 and displayed it on a mantelpiece with no idea as to its real worth, Sotheby's said.

Sotheby's said the only known bowl of the same form, size and almost identical decoration has been in the collection of the British Museum in London for more than 60 years. - Reuters



Old is gold indeed!

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Extend your summer with an outdoor heater

As some places in the north are experiencing the heaviest snowfall in fifty years, some of us here in the tropics are going through hot and humid weather. Where climates are concerned we can't have the best of both worlds at the same time. Fortunately, we can relocate (at least temporarily) to avoid suffering extremes of temperatures.

Here in Malaysia we can escape from the heat and humidity by staying indoors with the air-conditioning switched on or go to a mall to stay cool. Some of us make a quick escape to the highlands such as Cameron Highlands, Frasers Hill or Genting Highlands, Gentings being just an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur.

I remember once we (friends and I) were staying in an apartment in Gentings and the nights were so cold, we wished the place was installed with a heater like one of the two in the images above which have been borrowed from this site: http://www.patioshoppers.com/catalog/Patio_Heaters-4-1.html.

If you are living in a temperate climate and enjoy longer summers, patio heaters or outdoor heaters can help make that happen. Heating units like these provide you the ability to spend more time outdoors with your family and friends.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Singapore: The World's Richest City


Singapore used to be the dullest city in the world according to WSJ Money magazine, but now it has become a dazzling haven for the ultra-rich.

The magazine last week named Singapore as the World's Richest City. Singapore is seen as one of the safest places where the world's ultra-rich park their billions. Eduardo Saverin, former Facebook founder, is one of them.

Recent developments have seen more great nightclubs and fun attractions. This little island state has 450 Ferraris, serves a cocktail with a diamond in it, has Louis Vuitton headquarters there and lots of opportunities to buy wealthy stuff such as yachts. Bottomline, if you've got a lot of money, there's a lot you can do there. Watch the video..


Incidentally, Singapore could be the only country in the world where you can park your flashy car(s) right inside your living room even if you are living in a highrise apartment. You can read about it here: Super-rich living in high rise flats store flash cars in their living rooms


Friday, March 15, 2013

Friday Frolics - What Kind of Leader Would You Be?

Are you already leading a team or aspiring to do so? This week's Friday Frolics quiz is about leadership and what kind of a leader would you be.  Take the quiz below to find out.

It's once again a hot, blue sky Friday morning here in Kuala Lumpur. Hope your day is, or would be, just as lovely wherever you are.

Happy Friday, everyone!



You Are a Democratic Leader


As a leader, you try to make decisions that benefit as many people as possible.

You know that you can't please everyone, but you do like to get everyone's input.



You are good at facilitating compromise and consensus. You meet people half way.

You may have the final say, but you don't want anyone to feel like you made an unfair decision.

Last Week's Quiz: The Colorful Pattern Test


Thursday, March 14, 2013

We have Pope Francis

The papal Twitter account @pontifex announced the election of the new Pope with a simple phrase in Latin: "Habemus Papam Franciscum" ("We Have Pope Francis").

VATICAN CITY: Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis I on Wednesday, becoming the first Latin American pontiff in a surprise decision that signalled a desire for a more open Catholic Church.

The 76-year-old moderate emerged smiling on to the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to cries of "Long live the pope!" as tens of thousands of pilgrims cheered, cried and applauded. More: The Star..Argentina's Bergoglio elected first Latin American pope


Pet shop girl

Source: Wikipedia

I was amused the other day seeing a lady at a petshop going really close up to a little dog inside its glass enclosure which was placed on eye-level standing up. It was like nose against nose. Didn't want to disturb this mutual admiration, I moved on. For some reason when I see a dog, I think of the reality television series Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.

Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan is a documentary-style reality television program centering on animal behaviorist Cesar Millan as he works to rehabilitate dogs with behavior problems ranging from inconveniences like excessive barking, to behaviors that could leave the owners little choice but to medicate or euthanize their dogs if not corrected.

The program is a demonstration of his rehabilitation techniques, not a guide to training, so you don't see a sportdog field trainer 400 in use, for instance.

This program was aired exclusively on the Nat Geo Wild channel. The series finale aired on 15 September 2012. I hope Astro reruns this series which dog owners would be able to pick up a tip or two handling dogs.

Do you have your own experiences handling dogs? We would love to hear from you.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

FREE McDonald’s Breakfast of Egg McMuffin on 18 March 2013

If you are an early riser and don't mind queuing, on Monday March 18, in conjunction with National Breakfast Day, you can get to enjoy for FREE McDonald's classic Egg McMuffin, made with the farm fresh egg cooked to Sunny Perfection, topped with deli-styled smoked chicken roll and tasty cheese in a warm, toasted English Muffin. Join over 30 countries for this free offer.

Redemption details:
McDonald's Free Egg McMuffin giveaway on the National Breakfast Day - no purchase required.

Redemption period:
18th March 2013 (7am - 10am)

Redemption outlets:
McDonald's Breakfast outlet in Malaysia - check Restaurant locator

Terms and conditions:
- Limited to one free ala-carte Egg McMuffins per customer
- Tickets for free breakfast will be given out at 7am to the first 1,000 customers
- Redemption time varies by restaurant - refer to Restaurant locator in link above for opening hours
- Not valid through McDelivery

Website: http://www.mcdonalds.com.my/

Camp gear should also include a survival kit


Last weekend, I encountered a group of five friends at the mall who were excitedly talking about their forthcoming school camping trip. In our sometimes unpredictable weather, I was thinking to myself that it would be a good idea that they also include a waterproof jacket among the Camp Gear they will be packing.

If one were to actually go camping in the wilderness, an indispensable camping tip is to carry a survival kit when you venture away from your campsite. The kit should include water-purifying tablets, a water filter and a metal bowl, a survival knife, which you can use to hunt, to protect yourself and to signal for help. This can be found in a camping or outdoor goods store.

Waterproof matches are another must-have in your survival kit. They should go in an airtight container. Waterproof matches can be made by dipping regular matches in either nail polish or paraffin. A plastic medicine bottle makes a handy caddy for your waterproof matches. You will also need a flashlight in your survival kit plus extra batteries in an airtight container similar to the one you store your matches in. Having a flare gun and a mini LED torch aren't a bad idea, either.

In addition to toting a survival kit, you should also have a small first aid kit with you. Stock bandages, wound cleanser, latex gloves and cold packs in it. Happy camping!


Source: HowStuffWorks.com

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Second Anniversary of the 3.11 Japan Earthquake

Yesterday, Mar 11, Japan marked the second anniversary of the 9.03-magnitude earthquake that hit east Japan off the Pacific coast of Tohoku.

Relatives of the victims offer flowers during a national memorial service in Tokyo. Junji Kurokawa, AP - USA Today

According to Wikipedia, the earthquake triggered powerful tsunami waves that reached heights of up to 40.5 metres (133 ft) in Miyako in Tōhoku's Iwate Prefecture, and which, in the Sendai area, travelled up to 10 km (6 mi) inland. The earthquake moved Honshu (the main island of Japan) 2.4 m (8 ft) east and shifted the Earth on its axis by estimates of between 10 cm (4 in) and 25 cm (10 in).

On 12 September 2012, a Japanese National Police Agency report confirmed 15,881 deaths, 6,142 injured, and 2,668 people missing across twenty prefectures, as well as 129,225 buildings totally collapsed, with a further 254,204 buildings 'half collapsed', and another 691,766 buildings partially damaged.

Below are a few more photos from USA Today..

People pray for victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami on March 11 in Arahama district in Sendai, Japan. Japanese are marking the second anniversary of the disaster that claimed 19,000 lives and triggered a nuclear accident. Toru Yamanaka, AFP/Getty Images

A man attends a memorial ceremony in front of a destroyed government office in Ootsuti, Iwate Prefecture. Ken Ishii, Getty Images

Vehicles destroyed by the 2011 tsunami sit in a field of reeds in Namie. Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP/Getty Images

People gather around a disaster-control center destroyed by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami as they observe a moment of silence March 11 in Minamisanriku. Shizuo Kambayashi, AP

Buddhist monks march on the seawall as they mark the anniversary in Miyako, Iwate prefecture. AP

People offer prayers in front of a memorial dedicated to tsunami victims on a beach in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. AP

A woman lights candles during a service for the victims at a park in Tokyo. Itsuo Inouye, AP


Baseball players from the Netherlands, top, and Cuba offer a silent prayer for victims during a ceremony at the World Baseball Classic tournament at the Tokyo Dome. KJazuhiro Nogi, AFP/Getty Images

A tsunami thunders ashore on March 11, 2011, top, in Natori, Miyagi prefecture. Destroyed homes and debris have been removed, as shown on March 6, as repair operations continue along the coastal area. Kyodo News Service via AP

A ship rests on a wharf on April 10, 2011, left, after it was washed ashore during a tsunami at the port in Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture. The ship has been removed and repairs to the damaged port continue.

A street in Miyako, Iwate prefecture, left, is clogged with destroyed cars, buildings and debris after an earthquake and tsunami on March 12, 2011. The same road has been cleared of damaged buildings and is open to vehicles on March 1, 2013. Kyodo News Service via AP


Related article:
- Remembering Japan - One Year Later