Wednesday, May 30, 2007

How to lower Car Insurance rates

No matter what car you own, there is no escaping car insurance as car insurance is a compulsory requirement of owning a car. However, insurance costs vary depending on the model/make of the vehicle. Other factors that could affect the insurance cost are your driving history, who is the driver of the car, and what is the vehicle used for.

Even though car insurance is part and parcel of owning a vehicle, it is shocking that insurance costs have gone up. It is worthwhile to check out rates from various sources in order to secure the best deal. Luckily, there are steps we can take to lower insurance such as sometimes it may be cheaper to sign up for a new insurance rather renewing your insurance. That's what I did once and was surprised at how much I saved.

Another way to lower the insurance cost may be to add a second person that has a good driving record. It can help reduce the premium costs. If you are buying a new car, if it comes with free insurance, it would be a savings for you but then again, if you already have existing driving convictions, that would not help.

Of course, one of the surest ways to have a lower premium is to be free of claims because this will result in a discount for every year there is no claim.

Remember to shop around for the best deals. Also, loyalty pays with motor insurance so you may want to find the best insurer and stick with it. Talk about shopping, insurers advise shoppers to take it easy doing Christmas shopping so that they do not get into the Christmas car park stress.

Haadyai

Several locations usually frequented by security officials and Malaysian tourists were the targets in the recent explosions that rocked the suburbs of Haadyai in southern Thailand. It is a pity that Haadyai is not spared the violence as it is a popular holiday destination with Malaysians who are looking for a short holiday.

I remember I enjoyed the seafood while I was there. Shopping was great too with the currency to our advantage. With the current situation of violence and unrest, it will be awhile before I visit Haadyai again.

A Way to Track your Diet Program

The other day, I watched a program on the 10 Best Fast Foods. All the 10 deserved to be norminated, of course but what amazed me was seeing the amount of fries that was served with each order!

We all know that food intake and the type of food we eat have a bearing on our health and weight. There is a website I found that has great information on diet and fitness. If you are on a diet, how would you know whether you are on the right track or whether you are eating the right type of food?

www.MyFitnessPal.com has a 100% free calorie counter. This journal-like calorie counter makes it easier to track your diet. It is flexible as it works with any diet plan, including Atkins, South Beach, The Zone and others. How would you know how many calories you have burned if you do not have a system to track it? The calorie counter is able to help you here.

Signing up for membership is free. The site offers a lot of information including a searchable food database of over 6,000 items. You will be able to find the nutritional contents of what you are eating, and consequently, enable you to make better food choices. There is no better way to lose weight than to lose weight the healthy way with MyFitnessPal.

Sweet Hammock Memories

As a child, my neighbour's children and I used to play on a hammock in their backyard. It was a lot of fun but we couldn't all get on it because it was not big enough to accommodate the three of us. We would take turns.

Hammocks come in many forms and can be made of various materials. There are chair hammocks, portable hammocks, fabric and rope hammocks, even camping hammocks and they can be made of canvas, cotton or polyester.

Camping hammocks are popular these days for their many advantages over tents. Camping hammocks cost less, are small and lightweight, more comfortable than sleeping on the ground and as you are off the ground, you won't be bothered by those creepy crawlies.

A hammock is great for relaxation. So, if you are thinking about getting one, why not check out the details on HammocksRock.com. The site has a lot of information to help you make an informed decision.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Pear and Ginger Cheesecake Recipe

I am not a big fan of cakes but sometimes, the fancy takes me. For me, the best cakes in the whole of Kuala Lumpur would have to be from a cake shop called La Manila. They have the best cheesecakes! Talk about cheesecakes, here is a recipe baking enthusiasts would love. It's a recipe for a Pear and Ginger Cheesecake from Yahoo! Food. Happy baking!

Get rid of dampness with Dehumidifiers

A friend and her family bought an apartment in an apartment block close to a hill. They enjoyed the cool and fresh air, the area being away from the city. They recently moved out of the apartment after the children began falling sick quite often due to coughs, colds and later bronchitis. They suspected that the dampness of their apartment had something to do with it. True enough, the children are now alright and hardly fall sick.

It was unfortunate that my friend was not aware of dehumidifiers then and that there are many types and sizes of home dehumidifiers to suit one's needs. The small and portable units are flexible and can be moved about the house wherever they are needed while the larger central unit will need to be installed by a contractor.

Some people just buy the first dehumidifier they see that looks good. If you spend a little more time looking at what options are included, you can be sure that you are getting a more useful machine. There are certain features to look out for when buying the best home dehumidifier and knowing dehumidifier tips will help you pick the right one.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Black panties

I hope your Monday has not been black or won't be. If it is or has been, let me cheer you up a little with a joke on black.

Karen lost her husband almost four years ago and still hasn't gotten out of her mourning stage. Her daughter is constantly calling her and urging her to get back into the world. Finally, Karen says she'd go out, but didn't know anyone.

Her daughter immediately replies: "Mom! I have someone for you to meet." Well, it was an immediate hit. They took to one another and after dating for six weeks, he asks her to join him for a weekend in the Catskills. Their first night there, she undresses as he does. There she stood nude except for a pair of black lacy panties; he in his birthday suit. Looking at her he asks: "Why the black panties?"

She replies: "My breasts you can fondle, my body is yours to explore, but down there. . . . I am still in mourning."

He knows he's not getting lucky that night. The following night the same scenario. She's standing there with the black panties on, and he is in his birthday suit, except that he is wearing a black condom.

She looks at him and asks: "What's with the black condom?"

He replies: "I want to offer my deepest condolences"



There. Hope you are feeling better.

Sunday, May 27, 2007

A Visit to Walt Disney World

Going on holiday with a guided tour is still the norm for holiday-makers. However, the Internet has also been the source for independent travellers who want variety and flexibility in their schedule. Besides, Internet rates can be more cost-effective.

You can find any type of accommodation anywhere in the world on the Internet. Take for instance, if you are planning a trip to Orlando, this site, Orlando.com, provides the most affordable prices on the widest selection of hotels, car rentals and flights throughout the greater Orlando Florida area. They also have vacation packages and offers services for car rental and flight reservations and a city guide offering tips on getting around in Orlando, dining, entertainment, nightlife, shopping and others.

Orlando, Fla., is best known as the home of Walt Disney World. It also serves as a tourist destination for shopping, culture and other family-oriented activities. With six theme parks, all close to a variety of Orlando hotels, no wonder over 50 million visitors travel to Orlando each year to experience the theme parks, cuisine and shopping.

Car plunge



This is a terrible sight, innit? It looks common enough, just another car accident. Wrong! This car plunged from the sixth floor of a multi-storey carpark in Penang and the 27-year-old lady driver lived to tell the tale. She just sustained a broken left arm. That's one lucky lady.

Indychai is a Revolutionary News Site

Oftentimes we find ourselves not having enough time to do what we want to accomplish. Seems like we need more than 24 hours in a day. Some of us can hardly find time to read the daily papers and some of us just skim through news sites online. Even the latter can be quite time-consuming if one is time-constrained.

If you are someone who are interested on what's going on in India, here is one site you will like, Indychai.com, the India Hyper Aggregated Portal. This amazing site has a fantastic compilation of news on India, all on one page. You can read everything from Business news to Bollywood, from cricket to technology, and more. All topics are neatly arranged on the page.

When you mouse over the headlines, the gist of the story appears in a little box. You can even enlarge the font by clicking on the font enlarge button on the top right. You can also view RSS through most popular RSS readers or get updates via email. Indychai.com is still evolving with new features in the pipeline.

A little explanation on Indychai:

Indy stands for India.
Chai in national Indian language means Tea, so go on and enjoy your Indy Chai now.

Do you need a supernatural boost?

I have always believed in the supernatural because I have reason to believe that we, Earthlings, are not alone in this Universe. Whether it's charms, sixth sense, the occult, communicating with a higher authority, seances, psychic powers - these are all real. Although I'm not for using these unseen powers for evil purposes, I have no objection if they are used to do good or to help someone out of an unfavorable situation.

Here in Malaysia, the older generation of the Taoist/Buddhist faith, usually consult the Chinese almanac before they embark on a major project such as moving house or choosing a date to get married. Some even go to temples to consult with a medium who goes into a state of trance in which the spirit of the temple deity would take over the medium's mind, body and soul. There would be a temple person doing the translation. To non-believers, they would say it's a hoax but the surprising thing is that these mediums would be able to reveal true information of the person's situation, family history, etc. As a child, I once was literally chased by a medium for some 50 meters. I'm not kidding, but that's for another post.

The East has its own methods to put things right, what about the West? Tarot card reading could be one of them. The East has mediums, would people with psychic powers be the equivalent in the West? There are love psychics who are able to provide honest and accurate readings. I read with interest that there is a team of Australian psychics who use their gifts to help with love and relationship issues and they promise that they provide a clear, accurate and honest psychic reading. Always!

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Website optimization Firm on the "cutting edge"


Too bad I'm just a blogger who only needs a simple blog. But if I were to be running a business, I'd need a good site with more website traffic. I know I'd engage a website optimization firm to elevate my company search engine presence in the market place.

ThinkBIGsites.com (TBS) is a full-service, cutting edge web marketing company that specializes in website design, development and bringing web traffic to your website. You can't go wrong with ThinkBIGsites because their team is comprised of world-class graphic designers, PHP database programmers, SEO specialists, Internet Business Consultants and website hosting technicians. Their website optimization services include website and logo design, search engine optimization, hosting, marketing plans, reciprocal linking, pay-per-click campaigns, e-commerce, lead generation, copy writing, photography and custom web applications.

If you are looking to heighten your corporate branding with more website traffic to increase sales, profits and productivity for your company, there is no better company than ThinkBIGsites.com to help you realise your corporate goal.

Gold is a Good Investment

Even from a very young age, I have heard stories from my elders about the importance of gold, particularly in the form of jewellery. They told stories of how they exchanged pieces of gold jewellery for food during the Japanese occupation of then Malaya.

Gold in contemporary times has not lost its popularity. On the contrary, gold is purchased as a means of preserving wealth and purchasing power as well as diversifying investments. Gold comes in the form of coins or ingots. Modern women also invest in gold jewellery.

If you are looking into purchasing gold or other precious metals, why not let Monex Deposit Company (MDC) assist you? They have been America's gold and precious metals investment leader for over 30 years. They can help you purchase gold or other precious metals for immediate personal delivery or arrange for convenient and safe storage at an independent bank or depository.

Event-planning is challenging

Anyone who has organized or helped to organize outdoor meetings or functions would know how critical it is that everythng must be in order to ensure a successful function. The list of to-dos seems endless. A checklist is important and helpful.

The other day, my friend who was seeing to the setting up of a conference offsite had to go through some difficult moments when they realised they did not have sufficient network cables among others. Luckily, there was a store nearby.

Teak furniture as heirlooms

Of late, I've had the honour and pleasure of attending quite a number of house-warming parties. Each home is unique and elegant with its own level of cosiness. Each decor is fascinating and reflects the home-owners passions, for example one owner simply loves red so she has a chilli-red lounge set that is a great conversation piece. Another loves chandeliers, yet another places emphasis on the outdoors, the garden and patio where a lovely set of teak outdoor furniture sits invitingly.

Did you know that teak is hardy and lasts for years? They are so lasting that teak furniture can be passed through generatiions as heirlooms.

Friday, May 25, 2007

Furniture Stores

Malaysia still has a lot of land to be developed. This is evident looking at the rate of housing estates popping up especially in the outskirts. Developers are not only building up, more and more houses are on sprawling grounds. Sometimes I wonder if the units will be sold off. They normally are snapped up depending on who the developer is though location is the biggest draw.

New homes spell business for furniture stores. Home-owners are actually spoilt for choice from the availability of DIY stores to stores that stock up on imported furniture to antique furniture stores.

System to completely disable stolen handphones

Handphones are a hot item here and last year, 100,000 handphones were reported lost in the country though the actual number could be higher if all losses were reported. I have many friends who have lost phones, not once but some, a few times either due to their own carelessness or the phones were stolen. One friend loaned his phone to someone he hardly knew and the guy disappeared after that. Up to today, he has not been traced.

With the alarming rate of stolen or lost phones, the government has decided to set up a system and when installed, will render lost phones useless. This system has been in place in Britain and Australia with promising results. Read story

Vinyl Stickers for Treasure Hunt organizers


A couple of friends who are event organizers recently asked me if I knew of anyone in the sticker business. They are looking to print stickers for a treasure hunt that they are organizing and are looking for an alternative source. At the time they were asking, I had no lead but now I do after I came across this site that makes vinyl stickers

Customized Stickers is a premier custom sticker and label maker who can design personalized adhesive labels in any color, shape or size. Their stickers are weather-proof, strong and long lasting, UV resistant with photographic quality of crisp, vivid colors. The quality adhesives they use ensure no bubbling, fading, peeling or cracking. Best of all, artwork and typesetting is absolutely FREE. You can be sure of their quality as they only sell custom stickers - full concentration on stickers alone. With the volume they are handling, and their buying in bulk, they are able to pass on the savings to their customers.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Middle Wife



KL has got fluffy skies today. Look again at the picture above. I do have to apologise though that most of the sky pictures that I took show the Twin Towers. I couldn't help but include them as our sky is so small and the towers are so tall and so prominent that wherever you turn to, the twins just stick out. Oops!

It is a hot day today. Summer is in the air? lol I was told even Beijing could be hotter and the winds carry the Gobi Desert sand everywhere. My colleague who is in Spain is such a lucky fella. His itinerary brings him next on a cruise on the Mediterranean. Envy! Envy! While down south in Auckland, another friend is getting ready for Winter yet another in Shanghai is expecting her baby in July.

Babies remind me of midwives and midwives remind me of this sweet story. Sweet? haha!! What do you think? Read on..

----- *The "Middle Wife"
by an Anonymous 2nd Grade Teacher :

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second-grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.

She holds up a snapshot of an infant. "This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday."

"First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord."

She's standing there with her hands on t he pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

"Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!'

*

*Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans.

*

*"She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!'

*

*Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.

"My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this."

*

*Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.

"And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!"

*

*This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!

"Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe.

They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, so there must be a lot of toys inside there."

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another "Middle Wife" comes along.

Now you have two choices...laugh and close this page or pass this along to someone else to spread the laughs. I know what I did!!!

Live every day as if it is your LAST chance to make someone happy.


*

Source unknown

Told you it's sweet. I shed a tear. Strange...... :)

Have a happy day.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Show off your pictures in a Digital Photo Frame


The other day, in a new colleague's office, I saw something interesting sitting on her desk. It was a digital picture frame which she brought over from the States. What she has holds 5R pictures. She said these digital frames can be bought online and she recommended Digitalframez.com.

Digitalframez.com is an online electronic store specializing in LCD digital photo frames. With these digital photo frames, digital pictures can now be displayed anywhere at home or in the office instead of the pictures being filed away and looked at only occasionally. Digitalframez stocks frames ranging from 7 inches to 10 inches. They are easy to operate and are affordable and with every 9- and 10-inch frame order, you get a free 128MB memory card.

Take an All Inclusive Holiday


Are you planning for a holiday but not sure where to go or what package to take? Why not check out Vacations.net? Vacations.net aims to provide an all-inclusive online experience to holiday-makers seeking the Best All Inclusive Resort. You can find holiday packages in popular beach and sun destinations, including Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Mexico.


Your room, meals, drinks, and activities are all included in one price. Experience an all-inclusive vacation resort that offers great value, no hassles, and an abundance of fun and relaxation. Choose the vacation style of your choice from numerous vacation styles available such as Adults Only, Adventure, Golf & Spa, Just for Couples, Family Friendly and lots more.

Take an online tour of the beautiful resorts on Vacations.net and check out their great rates and tremendous savings of up to 50% off regular rates. An all inclusive holiday may be what you are looking for.

Lasik Complications do happen

A colleague had Lasik surgery and now has almost perfect vision. He has been wearing glasses at a very young age and now has no need for them. He is a very satisfied customer indeed.

However, there are people who come out of the operation with Lasik Complications. Lasik complications may be few in percentage, but do happen. So, if you are one of these unlucky people, there is this site that has good information for people with problems after Lasik surgery. The site uses plain language without excess technical terms which makes for easy understanding. Do check it out.

Anna and The King













Ever wondered what happened to this little Princess? Well, wonder no more as she's no longer little but has turned into a 16-year-old young lady. Time does fly.

Melissa Campbell as Princess Fa-Ying

Your Credit Card experience

Just about everyone has a credit card (or two or three or a grand collection), so what kind of experiences, good or bad, have you encountered with your credit card?

We have often heard or read about people running up excessive debt on their Credit Cards and a host of other negatives. At one time, a minimum payable amount of 20% of the outstanding balance was imposed but that was amended down to 10%. The Malaysian government felt 20% would be too taxing to the common folk. Whether it's 20% or 10%, both these have their pros and cons, of course.

Credit card security also poses a problem as credit card fraud seems to be widespread. At the same time, credit cards can make life extremely easy and convenient and many people earn nice rewards each time they use their credit cards. Do you have any interesting story to share on your credit card experience?

A Little Quiz

It's been awhile since our last quiz, so here's one to get your brain-cells working a little on this blog. I am not sure about the Ministry of Education of Ireland though. Enjoy..


























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A Co-operative Bank with an Ethical twist

Taking out a loan from a financial institution is a common affair. Banks give out loans for various purposes. They may be personal loans, loans to finance education, loans to start a business, etc., etc. Generally, loan borrowers are not too concerned as to the source of the financial institutions's funds. However, some people do.

For those who feel strongly that the money they borrow has not come from the profits of unnecessary pollution, human rights abuses or any other activity which is in conflict with their personal code of ethics, one Co-operative bank would certainly meet their requirement. This Co-operative Bank is a UK Bank and its products are only available to UK, Channel Islands & Isle of Man residents and British expatriates overseas (subject to any restrictions laid down by English law). So, if you are in the UK and need a loan from a financial institution that upholds an ethical policy, you may want to check out this Co-operative Bank. Check out their other loan products too. They offer the lowest rates.

Moods of a Woman

From time immemorial, it has been noted that women not only look different from men (duh!), women think and feel different too. Here's a poem that reflects that universal truth. See if you agree.

An angel of truth and a dream of fiction,
a woman is a bundle of contradiction,
she's afraid of a wasp, will scream at a mouse,
but will tackle her boyfriend alone in the house.

She'll take him for better, she'll take him for worse
she'll break open his head and then be his nurse
but when he's well and can get out of bed
she'll pick up the tea-pot and aim for his head.

Beautiful and keenly sighted, yet blind; crafty and cruel,
yet simple and kind she'll call him a king,
then make him a clown, raise him on a pedestal,
then knock him flat down.

She'll inspire him to deeds that ennoble men or
make him her lackey to carry her fan.
She'll run away from him and never come back
but if he runs away, then she'll be on his track.

Sour as vinegar, sweet as a rose,
she'll kiss you one minute, then turn up her nose,
she'll wind you in rage, enchant you in silk,
she'll be stronger than brandy, milder than milk.

At times she'll be vengeful, merry and sad,
she'll hate you like poison, and love you like mad.




MOODS OF A MAN
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Horny.


Source unknown

Subliminal CDs


Most, if not all, of us listen to music when we are driving. Some would prefer to listen to motivational tapes, or CDs these days. I too listen to them when the fancy takes me.

I found a site that stocks a really wide selection of subliminal CDs. There are CDs for boosting Brain Power, overcomming Fears and Phobias, improving Skills and Relationships, weight loss how-tos, increasing Femininity/Masculinity/Personality, improving your Health, even stopping your Addictions.

There is a Special Offer right now that if you buy today, you will receive:

- Two Free Hypnosis sessions
- A Free book, "How to Get the Truth Out from Anyone"
- Free Memory Course
- 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee
- and much more

By the way, they are giving away a Free mini-course. Check it out! It's on http://www.subliminal-cds.com/

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Stock up on phone batteries

Technology has made the world borderless. We can practically shop online from any store in the world, do banking online anywhere, call anyone wherever he is. Just yesterday, I called a colleague forgetting that he is on a holiday in Spain. Oops! When I called him, it was probably 3:00am in the morning over there. No wonder, he sounded grouchy. lol

The phone is a wonderful tool, no doubt, but what's not so wonderful is that you could be left holding on to a dead line when the battery is out, just like the other night when I was on the phone with someone in Penang when my cordless phone battery went flat.

Ringgit sets new record















According to The Star, the ringgit yesterday hit a new nine-year high against the greenback on speculation that Asian currencies will benefit from China's decision to widen the yuan's trading band.

The People's Bank of China has allowed the yuan to move as much as 0.5% either side of a daily fixing against the US dollar from yesterday, compared with a previous limit of 0.3%.

The local currency closed at 3.392 at 5pm yesterday from a daily high of 3.4015. It has risen 4% year-to-date, the third-best performer in South-East Asia, after the peso (5.7%) and baht (7.2%). More..

Getting a bank loan approved online

The other day, I accompanied a girlfriend to the bank. She was looking for a housing loan. Banks are really doing a roaring business, as from the time we set foot inside the bank, we noticed that the queues got longer and longer with each passing minute. We were on queue at the loan division and that too was a long wait. I thought then, how nice if it was as easy as getting a california mortgage rate where you just need to go online and get the loan approved (online).

Monday, May 21, 2007

Does God Exist?

The Table Cloth Story gave us some interesting exchanges. Here is another story to give us more food for thought. Does God exist? What do you think after reading the story?


A MAN WENT TO A BARBERSHOP TO HAVE HIS HAIR CUT AND HIS BEARD TRIMMED. AS THE BARBER BEGAN TO WORK, THEY BEGAN TO HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION. THEY TALKED ABOUT SO MANY THINGS AND VARIOUS SUBJECTS. WHEN THEY EVENTUALLY TOUCHED ON THE SUBJECT OF GOD , THE BARBER SAID: "I DON'T BELIEVE THAT GOD EXISTS."

"WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?" ASKED THE CUSTOMER.

"WELL, YOU JUST HAVE TO GO OUT IN THE STREET TO REALIZE THAT GOD DOESN'T EXIST. TELL ME, IF GOD EXISTS, WOULD THERE BE SO MANY SICK PEOPLE? WOULD THERE BE ABANDONED CHILDREN? IF GOD EXISTED, THERE WOULD BE NEITHER SUFFERING NOR PAIN. I CAN'T IMAGINE A LOVING GOD WHO WOULD ALLOW ALL OF THESE THINGS."

THE CUSTOMER THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT, BUT DIDN'T RESPOND BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO START AN ARGUMENT. THE BARBER FINISHED HIS JOB AND THE CUSTOMER LEFT THE SHOP. JUST AFTER HE LEFT THE BARBERSHOP, HE SAW A MAN IN THE STREET WITH LONG, STRINGY, DIRTY HAIR AND AN UNTRIMMED BEARD.

HE LOOKED DIRTY AND UNKEMPT. THE CUSTOMER TURNED BACK AND ENTERED THE BARBER SHOP AGAIN AND HE SAID TO THE BARBER:

"YOU KNOW WHAT? BARBERS DO NOT EXIST."

"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?" ASKED THE SURPRISED BARBER. "I AM HERE, AND I AM A BARBER. AND I JUST WORKED ON YOU!"

"NO!" THE CUSTOMER EXCLAIMED. "BARBERS DON'T EXIST BECAUSE IF THEY DID, THERE WOULD BE NO PEOPLE WITH DIRTY LONG HAIR AND UNTRIMMED BEARDS, LIKE THAT MAN OUTSIDE." "AH, BUT BARBERS DO EXIST! THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT COME TO ME."

"EXACTLY!"

AFFIRMED THE CUSTOMER. "THAT'S THE POINT! GOD , TOO, DOES EXIST! THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO HIM AND DON'T LOOK TO HIM FOR HELP. THAT'S WHY THERE'S SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING IN THE WORLD."

IF YOU THINK GOD EXISTS, SEND THIS TO OTHER PEOPLE--- IF YOU THINK GOD DOES NOT EXIST, DON'T BOTHER.


Source unknown

A Flag in Every Home

Most homes in Malaysia do not own a National flag. I think it's not for lack of patriotism but rather it's difficult to buy one as not many stores stock up on flags as they are not a fast-moving item. If you are a foreigner, it's even more difficult to buy one. Fortunately, there is the Internet. My American friend who was looking for American flags, in particular US flags found this useful flag website.

I checked out the site and found the store well-stocked and the site user-friendly with a menu system which makes navigation easy and finding an item easy. I like it that the World flags are conveniently categorised alphabetically. They have Outdoor Flagpoles & residential flag pole kits to go along with the flags. However, if I have a choice to further improve the site, I would not use red text as in the 'Home' page, for instance. Red text is not commanding enough. A darker text color would have better impact.

Anyway, if you are looking for flags, flagposts, pins, patches, decals, even patriotic wear, you have come to the right place as United-states-flag.com is the largest online vendor of flags and flagpoles, with approximately 50% of the online market. It is owned by OnlineStores.com, a leading online retailer with several other stores. Right now, they are offering great discounts on certain items. You may want to check them out.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

A Cruise Holiday

Malaysia can be considered a blessed land. Being a peninsula and well-protected by Indonesia and The Philippines, the waters are not rough in the sense that shipping vessels are able to ply the waters with little or no risk from bad weather.

Because of this positive condition, holiday cruises are available for people who can only get away for a short vacation that includes stopovers in some interesting nearby cities for sightseeing and shopping. On a 4D/5N Malaysian cruise, for example, one can begin one's holiday from Singapore, along the way stopping by at Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi and on to Phuket, which is part of Thailand. A cruise holiday can be exciting and relaxing at the same time as everything is being taken care of, from food to entertainment.

Recipes for my friends


These days, I've been watching a lot of cooking programs on TV. They are all very interesting, shows like Cooking with Floyd, Anthony Bourdain, Jamie Oliver's and some local shows such as Hochiak where the hosts take viewers to the various specialty food outlets, sometimes to the kitchen to see how the food is prepared.

I love food. Who doesn't? And I love cookbooks. They make great gifts for friends who love cooking. When I come across recipes from magazines and newspapers that I know my friends would like, I'd cut them out for their collection.

These days, one can get lots of recipes online. The Internet has become a limitless resource for recipes. Recently I found a lifestyle site which is a great resouce for family life people and what I like about it is their large recipe section, just the site for food and cooking fanatics.

If you love cooking, you simply have to check out this site. They've got a Top Ten list of recipes for some of your favourite categories, recipes from A-Z, Vegetarian recipes, Cuisine, recipes for occasions and more. Want to see how the chefs do it? You can. They have more than 1000 free video recipes. With close to 9000 recipes from famous chefs like Floyd and Bourdain on their search list, you will never run out of ideas. I simply have to tell my friends about this awesome site.

My Friend and her Office Furniture

Have you ever moved office and if so, did it give you the jitters or sleepless nights? One of my girlfriends will be moving office soon, actually, not the entire office, but her own place. To begin with, she does not like the new office furniture because it's made locally while the current set is from the States. That explains, doesn't it?

She is not biased or anything but according to her, there is a marked difference in the quality of the furniture. Also, the new colour scheme leaves a lot to be desired, she said. I guess she doesn't have a choice but to go along. I wonder what would she have to say about the feng shui of the new setup. lol

Friday, May 18, 2007

Universal Studios Tickets

Last December, a colleague brought his family to Hongkong Disneyland. They enjoyed themselves so much that they intend to go to Disneyland again but this time to somewhere different. They will be going to Orlando end of this month as school wil be out for two weeks then.

Jim, that's my colleague, have already bought all the necessary tickets. He said he got them all from Orlandofuntickets.com which is the ultimate source for Disney World and Orlando theme parks, dinner shows and attractions. There are tickets for endless options at the lowest prices available.

A friend who has been to all the Disneylands once said thatt he enjoyed the Walt Disney World in Orlando the most. It has four theme parks, two water parks and much more to offer. He said the key to having a great time is to be sure to be equipped with the necessary Universal Studios Tickets. Looks like you won't go wrong if your tickets are from Orlandofuntickets.com

“This blog post is based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.”

The Golf Ball

Good morning! Here's a Friday morning joke to start your day on a positive note.

A man staggers into an emergency room with two black eyes and a five iron wrapped tightly around his throat. Naturally the doctor asks him what happened.

"Well, it was like this", said the man. "I was having a quiet round of golf with my wife when she sliced her ball into a pasture of cows. We went to look for it, and while I was rooting around, I noticed one of the cows had something white at its rear end. I walked over and lifted up the tail and sure enough, there was my wife's golf ball......stuck right in the middle of the cow's butt. That's when I made my mistake."

"What did you do?", asks the doctor.

"Well, I lifted the tail and yelled to my wife, 'Hey, this looks like yours!"


lololol.......
So, Golfers...beware!!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Audio Travel Guide

Do you love travelling but simply can't find the time to browse through brochures or dislike the hassle of lugging them around? A revolutionary audio travel guide could be just what you need.

Variant Guide offers travellers convenient guides that come in MP3 format. Just like you would listen to music, you can now listen to travel guides. They are simple to use. You just upload them to any audio device that support MP3 format and they are good to go, going with you wherever you bring them. Variant audio guides are not only convenient, they are affordable too and provide all the necessary information you will need for your travel.

Manchester United is coming to KL

After all the hype and opposition from the Asian Football Confederation, fans of Manchester United will get to see their football idols play in Kuala Lumpur afterall. They will be playing against a selection of Malaysia's best. July 27 is the date, note it down.

Too bad, there won't be Beckham this time around, if not we might even get to see Victoria in KLCC or Bukit Bintang or even at The Curve? How about that, eh? Okay, enough, get back to earth! lol

Romance for Everyone

I read with interest (and sadness at the same time), a blog post about love and romance. The blogger wrote about his breakup with his longtime girlfriend. What saddened me about the post is their breakup after so many years of courtship. He did not elaborate on the reason for the breakup.

I have friends who also broke up after being together for many years. What about in the case of married couples? Will they break up when suddenly one morning, they realise that they no longer love each other anymore? Will they just pack up and leave? Can a relationship be that impermanent and flimsy that it can be cast aside so simply? Isn't love supposed to last? Or am I too idealistic or living in a romance novel-type of world?

I believe like anything else, nothing just drops from the sky. One must work at it, even relationships. Both parties would have to contribute to its success, don't you think? I am certainly no expert but my simple and naive mind says that for any relationship to survive, some romance is necessary. I recently stumbled upon a site, RomanceforEveryone.com, and it's a real gem of a site, I tell you. I love this site, but don't just take my word for it, check out the site for yourself. You will find lots and lots of romance tips to make any relationship last forever. Afterall, isn't love and romance supposed to last forever?

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

The Table Cloth Story

Below would make a great Christmas story but Christmas is such a long way off, and as impatient as I am (sometimes), I thought I'd have an early Christmas story. This is a true story. Enjoy.

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October, excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work.

They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished.

On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large damaged area on the plaster in the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home.

On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus.. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet.. "Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?"

The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria.

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again.

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church.

The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving.

The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.

He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid

Who says God does not work in mysterious ways.
So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best. When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need.

Amen.

Source unknown

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Know The Secret

Does it take a lot to be happy? I see some friends lead simple lives, wear simple clothes, do not go shopping that much, do not socialise that much, have simple hair-dos, have never gone for manicures and pedicures, and yet they appear to be blissfully happy with themselves and the life they lead. Perhaps they have found The Secret?

The Secret


One day, one friend asked another,
"How is it that you are always so happy?
You have so much energy,
and you never seem to get down."

With her eyes smiling, she said,
"I know the Secret.
I'll tell you all about it,
but you have to promise to
share the Secret with others."

"The Secret is this:
All I do is live a simple life,
have some really good friends,
a happy family and enjoy nature.
I have learned most of the time
I don't need half of what I think I do.
With the above thoughts,
I learned the 'Secret' to a happy life."

The questioner's first thought was,
"That's too simple!"
But upon reflecting over her own life,
she recalled how she thought a bigger house
would make her happy, but it didn't.
She thought a better paying job
would make her happy, but it hadn't.
When did she realize her greatest happiness?
Sitting on the floor with her nephews and nieces,
playing games, eating pizza or reading them a story.

Now you know it too!

And now I pass the Secret on to you.
Once you get it, what will you do?

Please tell someone the Secret too.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

The wonder of folding tables

While we are on the subject on blinds and furniture, I saw some folding tables that were used at a fundraiser recently. My colleague was on the organizing committee and I was there to give support. About the folding tables, I noticed they were really neat which reminded me of the mahjong tables which are also foldable and can be easily stored away. Folding tables are great in that they save space and are practical and versatile. They are also used here as prayer tables - to hold offerings.

Orlando vacation rental


Time-sharing is becoming more and more popular here. Every December, a colleague and her family spend a week in Bali. They like the food and shopping and of course the slow, touristy pace is one of the attractions. I wonder if the standard of accommodation in Bali is as good as or better than Orlando vacation rental, the latter I have heard favourable reviews on.

A house-warming party to look forward to

Besides shopping for clothes, shopping for home furniture is fun. A cousin asked that I accompany her shopping for her new apartment. Major pieces of furniture such as closets and cabinets have been done up. The lightings are also fixed. In fact, she has almost everything in order as the furniture that she ordered months ago have all been delivered. She just need some bits and pieces to complete the look. We went looking for some decorative items and paintings and she selected some nice pieces. Now, her concern is picking a date for her house-warming.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Winner of the Shortest Essay competition

I'll leave you with this for the weekend. Have a wonderful weekend, y'all!

This is a story of a 16-year-old boy from New Hampshire who won the World's shortest essay competition.

He was awarded a scholarship at the University of Harvard for his imagination and humour ....Here's an example of absolute brilliance....

Shortest Essay:
An English university creative writing class was asked to write a concise essay containing the following elements:

1) Religion 2) Royalty 3) Sex 4) Mystery

The prize-winner wrote:


"My God," said the Queen, "I'm pregnant. I wonder who the father is."

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Restohof for great ESL teaching jobs in Korea

A teaching job can take one places. If you would like to see the world and are teaching English, Korea would be a great place to work and play. Check out Restohof.com. They have a wide selection of available ESL teaching jobs specially gleaned by a select number of top sites. You can read about the experiences of others and gather some interesting information here.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Astro to raise charges by 15% from next month

Yes, Astro to raise charges by 15% from next month. This is lousy news for those of us who derive such sweet pleasure from channel-switching from Disney to Chinese serials to Discovery Channel to NatGeo to Tamil movies, football, BBC, CCTV, old movie reruns, etc., etc., etc., and back to Disney.

Of course, we all have a choice, i.e., to stay with the subscription and suffer the increase or to cancel the subscription altogether. So, what will it be?

In the meantime, someone took the initiative and started an online petition though I doubt it'll even cause a ripple. She listed the following grouses. See if they ring a bell and if they do and you want your voice heard, why not sign the petition.

Dear Astro Customer Care and Astro Management,

I am disheartened with your decision to increase monthly fees.We strongly protest your decision for reasons shown below.

1. You have not improve your program quality. There are still a lot of repeated old programs. Repeating programs to provide more viewing opportunities to viewers is a lame excuse. For those who regularly watch Astro.. Its just too many Repeated Programs !!

2. You proudly claim to have more than a million subscribers. And the numbers are increasing everyday. You should be able to reduce your overall cost per subscriber through economy of scale. Increasing the fee cannot be substantiated.

3. You have advertisement revenues. Advertisements in ASTRO are just like those in free TVs! Subscribed TV should be free from advertisement in the first place.

4. You have monopoly of the market for 25 years for you to enjoy better profit and recover start-up costs. Your fee increase is simply abuse of such power granted to you by the government.

5. Your service quality is below expectation. We can't receive programs during bad weather. So, should we deduct a fee for every failure to receive programs ?

6. You have listed your company as public listed company. You should already have more working capital to finance your operation and not charging us any extra fees.

7. You should not pass the burden of failure to improve your company efficiency, mismanagement and unproductive operating cost to us. Increasing fees is an irresponsible act of blaming your failure on us, your customers.

8. Most customers are contracted subscribers under your promotion package.They cannot terminate the subscriptions as it will be deemed of a breach of contract. Your decision to charge extra fees is daylight robbery.

9. In order to enjoy certain latest movies or live telecast , we need to pay extra on top of the monthly subscription. Shouldn't that be included as perk of being an Astro subscriber rather than paying extra ?? If I need to pay extra for a particular live telecast for example of a boxing match why in the world do I need to pay monthly for the sports channel?? I would rather be watching free TV with advertisement since you have advertisement in most of the programs anyway.

Please reconsider your decision to restore public trust and customer confidence in your "esteemed" company.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Romance Novels and Kites


Romance novels. Okay, let's see a show of hands as to who reads romance novels. Do guys read romance novels or is it wrong for guys to read such novels? This was posed to listeners by the radio DJs this morning. I managed to catch two listeners who called in and gave their views.

The first, a lady, said there is absolutely nothing wrong with guys reading romance novels. The second, a gentleman, said the same thing and that he, his dad and his brother all read these novels and he went on to say that he uses the tips he picked up from them in his relationship with his wife.

Now, what do you think? Care to share your views?

Looking at the weather today, it's going to be yet another lovely sunny day. Yesterday was great too. As I stepped out of the office, the clearest of blue skies greeted me. These days, I enjoy looking up at the sky in the evenings the minute I step out of the office and yesterday's evening sky made me gasped with delight.

The blue sky was totally clear. Even the clouds cooperated by letting the clear blue sky take centre-stage for a change. Just as I looked up, a small grey and red plane was gliding by. My! What a lovely sight which I have not seen for a very, very long time. And then in the distance I saw a kite. It was just a simple white kite, nothing fanciful but it was such a delightful sight that brought back the old days of kite-flying and kite-chasing. (Yes, I was an outdoorsy girl-next-door.) I regretted I didn't have the camera with me then to document the FOs (flying objects).

By the way, did you know that kite-flying goes back a long way?

Monday, May 7, 2007

Some fun pictures to share

Some interesting shots to share. Not mine though except for the captions. (Source unknown.)

Don't look down, just keep walking.


They must be very brave to be sitting so near to the edge.

























This is quite an achievement, I tell you!


Someone tell me this is a fake picture, please. It's too stressful for the heart.


Wheeee...... Head first!

What is the future of Culture?


According to National Geographic, approximately every two weeks, an entire language is lost, taking with it irreplaceable knowledge. Find out what the future holds for them with Wade Davis, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence as he takes you on his adventure uncovering the truth of disappearing cultures in "Light At The Edge Of The World" a brand new four-part series program



An exploration of tradition and cultural diversity as seen through the eyes of Wade Davis, this live documentary aims to raise global awareness of threatened traditions, environment, and communities from around the world.

In the meantime, you can read more about Wade's views on Vanishing Cultures.

Sunday, May 6, 2007

A vacation home rental in Florida


When it comes to visiting a foreign land, what better tour guide than to have someone who knows the place like the back of his hand? A former colleague volunteered to take us to Disney World by road. He was from the US and has done the same road-trip several times so he knew the place through and through. The plan was to rent a vehicle and get a vacation home rental to allow for flexibility. Noticed I said 'he was'? We never made the trip and never will with him as he passed away in Korea when he was assigned there.

Villas in Italy


A friend once said that he would like to own properties all over the world so that when he visits on holidays, he could stay in his own homes. He was also thinking about having his friends visit. He was thinking along the lines of villas in Italy, the French Riviera and one each in every Continent. What a beautiful dream. Hope it comes true for him.

Obesity is not sexy

The other day, while waiting for a girlfriend at a mall, I couldn't help noticing that a good percentage who passed by me were on the broad side. No wonder the government is concerned about the rise in obesity in the country. Even some of my colleagues are visibly expanding their waistline. Unfortunately, their workload prevents them from visiting the gym as often as they'd like to. A few have resorted to taking weight loss pills such as Hoodia. Hoodia is an appetite suppresant that tricks your brain into feeling full. Perhaps this alternative will work for my colleagues.

New York! New York!


New York has got to be one of the most visited cities in the world. When I think of New York, Sex And The City comes to mind somehow.

I saw a documentary about New York, just the other day. Central Park was one of the places covered. Such a fascinating park smack in the center of the city. There are many places of interest in New York for the tourist. No wonder I have heard it being said that New York is a city that never sleeps. I read that for the regular tourist, hotel rooms can be pricey. Perhaps a New York Bed and Breakfast package would be a better arrangement when in New York.

Market research

Did you know that over 80% of Asian car consumers are aware of some form of alternatively fuelled vehicle, with Toyota and Honda the brands most associated with alternative vehicle development? How did I know that? I just came across a market research report, of course, how else would I know.

Market research can be conducted in various methods. I remember one time at a mall, I was asked to participate in one where I had to view a series of tv commercials and was asked as to whether I remembered seeing a particular commercial. OMG! I didn't notice it. Some observation power I had or lack of it, rather. lol

Best Current Account

When the government announced that government departments will no longer be open on Saturdays, banks followed suit. Even the Post Office even though privatised is also closed on Saturdays. Many of us felt let down, me included, as most of us do out banking on Saturdays being on a 5-day workweek. And if we need to do anything official such as applying for a passport or conduct banking matters, we would have to take leave or time-off from work.

Like all things, people get used to this new regime and they work around it and get on with life putting the inconvenience behind them. Over here, if one does not need to interact with a physical person, banking is pretty convenient as there are many bank branches available. ATM machines are everywhere, even in shopping malls and some are installed in company premises for the convenience and safety of employees.

When it comes to banking, everyone has a favourite bank, one that he or she feels comfortable with either with the bank staff or its services. My favourite is one where I do not have to move my money from savings to current or vice versa. That sure saves me the inconvenience. By the way, if you are in the UK and if you are looking into opening a bank account, why not check out www.alliance-leicester.co.uk? They have been awarded the “Best Current Account Provider” award in 2006 and that should say a lot about this bank.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

New Web Site Provides Plastic Surgery Information

There many reasons why people undergo plastic surgery. A friend's son was badly scarred and disfigured after a bicycle accident. One of the spokes of the wheel pricked the area near his right eye but he was lucky it missed his eye. That mishap left a big gash near the eye-brow. He had to go for corrective surgery and luckily it improved his look, made him look more like before the accident. I have met him. He is as handsome as before. His parents are so relieved.

Some people undergo plastic surgery on a voluntary basis, i.e., to enhance their looks. A friend had her nose enhanced with a higher bridge and better structured while another had her eyes double-lidded. Both ladies suffered some discomfort but vanity transcends pain, I guess.

Have you ever considered plastic surgery? It is important to know enough information and procedures involved to be able to make informed decisions. There is this site I found that has educational information which is useful for anyone who considers plastic surgery. It's a Resource Guide for Plastic Surgery. It has information on the reasonable expectations of the results of plastic surgery as well as the procedures involved for each type of surgery.

Hair loss equals prosperity

Some people lose sleep over hair-loss while others don't care two hoots. To the Chinese, hair-loss is actually a sign of prosperity. There is a saying that goes something like "Our of ten bald men, nine of them are rich." So, if you find yourself losing hair, it is a good sign. However, a friend chose looks instead and went for a hair transplant. I must say the effect is rather stunning.

Makeup mirrors

The other day, I went with a friend to pick out a mirror. She wanted one of those full-length types. There were a few types but she was not sure which to get when she went there alone earlier on so she asked that I go with her to help her select. The shop also has a wide array of makeup mirrors. Some of them are really pretty, kinda reminded me of Barbie's.

A crewed yacht holiday




A colleague who has gone on many cruises and has enjoyed them so much has signed up for yet another cruise holiday.

In June, he and his wife will be spending a week in the Mediterranean. He said for a change. they are trying out one of those Crewed Yacht Charters where the pace would be more leisurely and allows them more time to explore more places. I am looking forward to hearing about it.

No exam life insurance

Life insuranfe is an important consideration in life but sadly not everyone values it as so. A girlfriend who is doing insurance parttime laments that it is not easy to convince her clients to sign up for something so important as life insurance. Her short of quota some months was in part due to her clients failing the medical test. She wishes that she's selling no exam life insurance, then her quota would be met more easily.

A log cabin holiday

When was the last time you went to Port Dickson? For the benefit of our foreign friends, Port Dickson is a coastal town an hour's drive south of Kuala Lumpur. This town is the closest beachside town to KL and is popular among locals where weekends are mostly packed.

Due to Port Dickon's popularity as a getaway holiday destination, many hotels and resorts have been built along the beach. I remember spending a weekend in one such resort and staying in one of those cabins or chalets which was above the water. Talk about cabins, I read something about Pigeon Forge cabin rental and that their cabins have all the modern luxuries.

Teak outdoor furniture


My colleague, Allan, has a beautiful garden. Esther, his wife, loves gardening and she has what we would call 'green fingers'. The flowers that she has planted bloom all-year round. That's the plus-side of Malaysian weather - our plants flower any time of the year.

During the weekends, Allan, Esther and their children enjoy having breakfast outdoors, in the garden. Due to the weather conditions, they have already changed their garden set a few times over the years. Perhaps they should invest in teak outdoor furniture as they are more resilient and look great too.

Read about your favourite celebrities

Hands up if you are originally from Lansing, Michigan, or from Toledo, Ohio. If you are from Lansing, you would be from the same town as Burt Reynolds and if you are from Toledo, you would be from the same place as Katie Holmes. I am sure you know who they are but if you don't, you can read about them in the Women & Men section of an encyclopedia I just discovered. These two celebrities are among others featured. Check them out.

Friday, May 4, 2007

ComputerRentals.com offers PC & Mac rentals

Recently, a friend's company held an offsite meeting in a holiday resort, an hour's drive from KL. It was a two-day meeting where employees from various branches came together for a sales pitch. Maggie asked me to go along for the ride, sort of to accompany her. She was in charge of logistics.

I had a first-hand view of her staff working with the equipment for the meeting. It was a tough job. They had to bring PCs, printers and audio-video equipment from their office and setting them up was a real challenge despite them having the help of the hotel staff. Maggie appreciated all that effort and decided that for the next meeting, she would recommend to her superiors to rent equipment instead and have them professionals set it up.

If you are in the US or Canada and are looking for short-term computer rentals for businesses at trade shows, conventions, training sessions, and short term projects, there is this site I found that would meet your need and they even have Mac Pro rentals. ComputerRentals.com is one of the oldest and most respected names in business and has been operating for over 25 years.

AccuWeather.com

I have friends who would read what their Zodiac sign says before they start the day. This may be crazy to some of us but not to these people. My grandma used to consult the Chinese Almanac before she embarked on any major project. For the olden Chinese folks, this Almanac is something like their guide in life. Believe it or not, it has made life easier for them with no major mishaps and such.

These days, our life has evolved to us being outdoors more than indoors. For this, the weather plays an important part in our life. Just like the Chinese Almanac, wouldn't you say a reliable weather forecast is an advantage? A weather widget on your site would be a great tool. The one from netweather.com is customizable and easy to install and has 3M international locations that come in both English and Spanish.

Want to win $5000? Why not join the accuweather video challenge? Besides the cash, you will win the chance to do a real video forecast for AccuWeather.com.

Egg-throwing hijackers

Looks like Malaysia, probably KL, has a new hijack tactic. Just received an email of the following. Was told that it came from a bank staff. So people, do be careful of egg-throwing hijackers out there.


Pls take note of this ............

FYI – Pls be careful!
Hi Everyone,

I want to bring a very serious issue under your attention: This has happened to three of our staff members in the last two weeks.

The hi-jackers throw eggs at your vehicle, hoping that you then slow down and put your wipers on. Once you put your wipers on, you cannot see a thing . This is just what the hi-jackers want. They stand a few meters away, and once you have pulled over, they attack and take your car. Maybe even your life.

In the event of this happening to you, just keep going. Open your window slightly, put your head out the window for vision, and just keep driving, until you are safe.

PS:Kindly forward to all you know. It may just save somebody's LIFE..

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Lasik surgery is effective

There are many things in life we take for granted. Eye-sight or rather good eye-sight is one. A son of a colleague had ambitions to be a pilot but when he went for the tests, he did not make it. He did not have good enough eye-sight. He was devastated but he didn't give up. He went for Lasik surgery, one eye first and then the other and now his eye-sight is close to 20/20. However, his interest is no longer in being a pilot. He is happy doing something else now but his corrected eye-sight through Lasik has relieved him of wearing glasses or his contacts he alternates with glasses.

Many people have misconceptions about Lasik surgery or lack the confidence that Lasik is effective. USAEyes.org concluded that 90% of patients achieved 20/40 vision or better – good enough to drive without glasses – and 65% achieved 20/20 vision, after a review of US Food and Drug Administration clinical trials, peer-reviewed data, and individual patient outcomes.

A true story of the dead

Once in awhile we hear of strange tales. Have you heard this one? This is a true story of the dead. Source unknown though.

This is a true story of a young college girl who passed away last month in Shah Alam. Her name is Priya. She was hit by a lorry while going home. I don't wanna mention the name of the college.

She has a boyfriend named Shankar. He stays in Johor. Both of them are true lovers. They are always on the phone to each other. You can never see her without her handphone, which Shankar bought for her. She spends 3/4 of the day talking with Shankar. Priya's family knows about their relationship. Shankar is very close with Priya's family. (Can you imagine their love)

Before she passed away she always told her friends, as well as her parents, "If I pass away please cremate me with my handphone".....

After her death, people couldn't carry her coffin. I was there. A lot of them tried to do so but still could not carry it. Everybody, including me, had tried to carry her coffin, the result was still the same - it could not be carried.

Eventually, they called their neighbour, a "bomoh" (witch-doctor) from Thailand (Pak Darin), who is a friend of Priya's father. He sat down near the coffin and started speaking to himself slowly. After a few minutes, he said, "This girl misses something here". Then her friends told Pak Darin about her wish to be cremated with her phone.

He then opened the coffin and placed her phone and SIM card inside the casket. After that, they tried to carry the coffin. It could now be moved and they carried it into the hearse easily. All of us were shocked. (Can you feel the fear. I'm shaking at this moment)

Priya's parents didn't inform Shankar that Priya had passed away. After two weeks, Shankar called Priya's mom.

Shankar :...."Atte, I'm coming home today, please cook something nice for me. Don't tell Priya that I'm coming home today. I wanna suprise her."

Priya's mother replied.."You come home first, I want to tell something very important to you."

After he came to Shah Alam, they told him the truth about Priya. Shankar thinks that they were playing the fool. He was laughing and said, "Don't try to fool me. Please tell Priya to come out. I have a gift for her. Please stop this nonsense".

Then they showed him the original death certificate to him. They gave him this as a proof to make him believe. (Shankar started to sweat)

He said.. "It's not true, we spoke yesterday. She still calls me." Shankar was shaking with fear by now.. suddenly, Shankar's phone rang.

"Ai-ya-ya!! see, this is from Priya, see this...it's her hand phone number." He showed the phone to Priya's family. All of them told him to answer. He talked using the loudspeaker mode.....all of them could hear the conversation.
Loud and clear...no cross lines, no humming. It is the actual voice of Priya's. There was no way others could use her Sim card since it was nailed inside the coffin.

They were so shocked and asked for Pak Darin's help again. Pak Darin brought his master (Tok Chen) to solve this matter. He and Pak Darin worked for 5 hours...then they discovered one thing !!!













DiGi. Best coverage ever including those in hell and heaven, ONE FLAT RATE~!!!!!!!


Gotcha! lolololololol............

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Keep fit on a treadmill



Staying healthy is every individual's own responsibility. Most of us, office workers, lead sedentary lives except for some who take pains to work out and include exercises and games in their busy schedule.

Some of my friends play tennis at least once a week, some are involved in weekly badminton games, a few are into brisk-walking while some go to the gym in their country clubs where they go on the treadmill.

My colleague's three children are in Australia and he is looking into getting a treadmill for when he visits them. The treadmill is his favourite workout machine. He can choose to walk or run on it. He attributes his fitness to working out on the treadmill. What a coincidence that I came across this online store, fitonline.com.au, Australia's premiere online fitness equipment store. They deliver the big brands at the lowest prices direct to your door.

Among their current most popular treadmillsa re Infiniti Treadmills. Fitonline.com.au not only has treadmills. They also have elliptical trainers, rowing machines, bikes and strength equipment enough to start a home-gym.

North Shore Auto Auctions Launches New Website

Ever since Malaysia opened up her doors to the world to market their vehicles here, the locally-produced cars have suffered a decline in sales. Not only new car sales are affected, even used cars have been affected. Recently, it was reported in the local dailies that some used car dealers had to close down their business. Not all is lost as with the glut in used cars, it is now the buyers market as used car prices have hit very low much to the buyers benefit.

Cheap cars can also be purchased through auctions. The vehicles in actions are normally those that have been repossessed. It is possible to get a good deal from such auctions.

Talk about car auctions, if you are in the Chicago area and are looking for used cars for sale in Chicago, you don't have to look any further as Chicago's best kept secret for cheap used cars is now online. You'd be surprised that opening bids on cheap used cars start at only $200! There is a huge selection of used cars ready to be auctioned and financing is available. Check out the North Shore Used Car Auto Auction. It is Open to the Public!

How to be listed on top in a web directory

When we submit a site to a web directory, we do not have any say in its standing or position, do we? This would mean that our website could be lost in the thousands in the list. Now, there is a directory that allows us to place our site at whatever position we desire it to be.

By submitting a dollar amount to Big Web Links will enable our site to be listed any place we want it to be. If a site is among the top 10, it would have the chance to be listed a total of four times on the directory. It will be listed on the top 10 listings page, on the top 20 top links and a listing details page for each.

This new approach to web listing is now catching on as opposed to the conventional method of listing by popularity, Page Rank or alphabetically. These bid web sites are great to boost website traffic, plus Big Web Links having a PR of 7 would definitely boost up the PR of sites that link to it.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Play Backgammon online



The Internet has made many things possible and available online including playing games of skill and chance such as Backgammon. Backgammon is a popular game where people get together to have some fun. One can still play the game even without friends available. Just go online where you can find thousands of players from all over the world. This is where you can hone your skills and improve your game.

If you are a beginner or one who is totally new and would like to know how to play the game and learn the strategy, you can get information you need about playing the game from BackgammonMasters.com or visit another backgammon online source for news and information at www.Gammonish.com.

If you are a boxing fan, you might be interested to know that BackgammonMasters.com will auction off heavyweight boxer Roman Greenberg's famous shorts for $100,000 in an effort to help the young prospect make it to the world championship. All proceeds will go to charity for Arab and Jewish youth in distress.

At 24, Greenberg is one of the youngest heavyweights to compete at this prestigious level of professional boxing. His undefeated record stands at 25-0 (17 KO’s).

Win a BMW

It's exciting to be at an auction. You see the auction price going up and up and before you know it, the item is sold. In a regular auction, the highest bidder wins the auction. I just found out there is another type of auction where the lowest unique bidder actually wins the auction. Interesting, isn't it? There are many great prizes to be won on bid4prizes. There is a BMW 3 series, a 42" Plasma television, notebooks, games, iPhone, Nintendo Wii, cash prizes and many more.

The lowest unique bid for any prize starts at one penny, but if more than one person bids a penny, then that penny is no longer the lowest unique bid, and 2 cents is. If more than one person bids 2 cents then 3 cents is the next lowest unique bid. And so on and so on. Bidding can be done online as well as on your cellphone.

Excuse me while I go bid for that Beemer. And if I do win it, you'll be sure to read about it here.