Happy New Year!

My Dear Friends,

..and Prosperity & Good Times to last All Year!!

-- HappySurfer

Career Development Courses for Doctors

Like all other professionals, doctors too need career development skills for career advancement.

Oxford Medical is one of UK's best providers of medical interview skills training and career development courses.


The interview skills training, part of the medical management course for doctors, will have the participant learning how to structure, prepare and deliver a medical presentation, will have him able to identify his areas of strength and exploit them to his advantage, among other skills. He will also be able to practise the new interview skills at a mock interview. Courses are conducted in a small group to ensure excellent feedback.

SpR medical management course for doctors and teach the teacher course for doctors are also available at Oxford Medical.

With the current competitive climate within the NHS medical job market, Oxford Medical is fully aware of what is required. Their tutors are experts in this field, fully trained and have vast experience in the medical selection process. Their courses are among the best medical management courses in the United Kingdom. Courses are conducted in Oxford and Central London.

Direct Satellite TV and the "Yellow Dot" Syndrome

I have been experiencing some glitches on Astro, our local direct tv network, these past few days. It must have been the weather. I call this syndrome the "yellow dot" because of the yellow dot (either square dot or round dot) that appears when reception is bad.

Even though direct TV has enhanced the tv-watching experience, these spells of interruptions can be rather frustrating especially when you are watching something nice or an exciting end to a (Hong Kong) drama series.

Just like our Internet service prodivder, Streamyx, Astro also gets the brunt of subscribers' wrath when things go (even slightly) wrong. However, apple-to-apple, I think Astro's packages are priced higher than what's offered in the West.

Take this Direct Satellite TV company in the US for instance. Their basic package goes for only $29.99, hardly a dollar a day, and they have much more channels too. And all digital channels at that.

A visiting colleague from the States is very happy with what he is paying for for his direct TV in Texas though he is not much into tv but the movies and different programs on tv do make his family happy. They have DirecTV access to Sports Programming, Movies, and local channels, Plus DirecTV DVR and the best in high definition programming. No wonder they are happy.

Debit Cards Not Affected by the Tax

Now what am I going to do with so much credit?! Wondering what I'm talking about?

With people cancelling excess credit cards ahead of the government tax taking effect next year, credit card issuers (banks in particular) have been increasing credit limit of cardholders probably in a bid to retain clents. I got a HUGE increase on my card. Crazy, I say! But oh well, it could come in useful someday....I think..

Debit cards and petrol cards are not affected by the tax (of RM50). Other cards not affected include closed community charge cards used at workplaces, schools and clubs, as well as loyalty and e-money cards like Touch ’n Go, according to the Association of Banks in Malaysia.

The tax (RM50) is only chargeable when the credit or charge card is issued, on the anniversary date or upon renewal. Which means, it is still not too late to have your card(s) cancelled, if you wish.

“Banks and other card issuers are allowed to enter into arrangements where cardholders may apply for redemption or reward points or rebates they earn through using their cards for the payment of the service tax,” the Associate of Banks said.

And added, "Member banks and other card issuers will be contacting their cardholders in respect of the imposition."


Source: The Star

Shopping for Copper Cookware

Copper cookware is not common in homes here. I think this is due to not many of this type of cookware is carried in stores. If you would like to check out some copper cookware, you may want to visit the site of Ruffoni copper cookware.

They have an extensive range of different copper cooking utensils from the common saucepans to casseroles and stockpots to even specialty cookware such as fondue sets, butter melters, sugar pans and such.

They also have a wide selection of molds - for cakes, puddings, fruits and vegetables, etc.

Shopping with Ruffoni will have you enjoying these benefits and more:

* Free Shipping on All Ruffoni Products
* Expert Customer Service To Assist You
* 30 Day No Hassle Returns
* Low Price Protection
* Product Information & Images That Describe Everything
* An Organization Who Stands Behind Their Products & Services

There is no better time to check them out than now. Ruffoni cookware is having a sale now..

The French are Lighting Up in Public Again..

Strange that I had this post on ciggies written up yesterday. There is an announcement today that Cigarette prices go up on Jan 1.

So, is this price increase good news or bad news for you?

Take a closer look at these tobacco ads. See anything amiss? Doctors and a dentist are promoting cigarettes. Santa is on the scene too, an athlete as well. Even baby is getting into the action.

Fortunately, these are old tobacco ads otherwise, we'll be seeing some serious protests and picketing on the streets and in front of government offices.

Three years after France outlawed smoking in public places, The French Are Lighting Up in Public Again..

Interesting stats in France: Studies show that complaints by people of exposure to second-hand smoke at work, which dropped from nearly 43% in 2006 to just 9% the following year, has now gone back up to 21%, according to Non-Smokers' Rights (NSR).

The reason? Widespread government enforcement of the law never materialized as expected, leaving employers and workers less worried about being fined nearly $200 per infraction. Some employees now light up at their desks or by the coffee machine instead of joining their shivering colleagues outside, and many bosses turn a blind eye to it.


Source: Time.com

New Cutting Edge Technology for Fire Retardation/Fire Rating

More often than not, newspapers feature disasters or bad news on their frontpage. This goes to show that bad news sells. I just opened up TheStar online and as usual, there is more news featuring catastrophes than pleasant news. One of them is a passenger ferry disaster in northern Philiipines, a second disaster in three days! Another item is on the bus accident that killed ten, another a heist, yet another unruly Christmas revellers in Gurney Drive, Penang. The only good news headlined is the increase in price for cigarettes beginning Jan 1, though smokers would take that as bad news.

On extended dry hot spells, fire would most likely add to the disasters. Fires can actually be avoided or perhaps damage could be minimised and lives saved with new improved fire rating materials.

Fire rating used to be referred to as fire proofing but now fire rating is the preferred term as there is really no way anyone can fire-proof anything.

In buildings, there is now a leading edge fire protection for structural steel. Nullifire S707 intumescent basecoat is the most advanced and versatile water-based fire protection coating of its type. Among other advantages, Nullifire S707 intumescent coating system comprising of primer, intumescent coating and top seal provides high quality, decorative fire protection for structural steelwork for up to 2 hours. What this means is that it allows more time for occupants to get out to safety.

There are many ways of fire rating and fight-fighting, fire spray is only one of them. Products carried by Remedial Building Services of Australia are popular with the construction industry for their compliance to stringent standards and are safe for use.

The Tsunami on Boxing Day 2004

Five years ago today, December 26, a 9.15-magnitude undersea earthquake off the Indonesian coast triggered a tsunami that was a truly international catastrophe. The tsunami struck 13 countries, killing 226,000 people of 40 nationalities, 166,000 alone dead or missing in Aceh.

Time Magazine reported that five years later, a first-time visitor to the worst-affected countries — Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand — might find the wave's terrible path hard to detect, thanks to a multinational, multi-billion-dollar reconstruction effort. Across Aceh, thousands of houses were built with foreign aid in what were once wastelands. In Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, new homes surround a 2,600-ton ship pushed a mile inland by the Tsunami. It is now a tourist attraction.

Below are pictures (Then and Now) of two of the affected places. More can be viewed on Time.com.

Flattened Towns in Banda Aceh, Indonesia
A lone mosque stands among what is left of a village



One Year Late
Acehnese men enjoy an afternoon at the beach a year after the tsunami. Male tsunami survivors reportedly outnumbered women by a ratio of about three to one in some villages.



Endless Carnage in Sri Lanka
Rescue workers remove bodies from the wreckage of the "Queen of the Sea," which was derailed by the tsunami in Paraliya, Sri Lanka. The crash left almost all 1,200 passengers dead, and may have been the worst rail accident in history.



Fascination and Remembrance
A woman uses a portable videocamera to tape the wreckage of the "Queen of the Sea." The site became a tourist attraction.



Where were you on that fateful day and what were you doing? Do you remember? It may seem quite sometime ago but events like these have a strange way of triggering us of what we were doing or where we were then. Maybe the memory escapes us but for those who were affected, that memory will stay with them all their life. But life goes on..

Issues with Hip Replacement Cup

Hip injuries in senior people are fairly common. I have known of a few cases among friends and relatives and more often than not, some sort of surgery was required. This surgery involves hip replacement or commonly-known as durom cup hip replacement.

Zimmer Durom is one of the manufacturers of hip replacement cups and zimmer durom cup types available are designed for use in young, active patients who are likely to outlive a conventional hip prosthesis. Unfortunately, these cups are failing at much higher than expected rate. This failure rate has occurred within the first two years.

If you are someone with issues on zimmer durom cup and require an experienced medical product liability attorney, the Maglio Christopher Toale & Pitts Law Firm will be able to file a lawsuit in the United States on your behalf. The Maglio Christopher Toale & Pitts Law Firm has for years represented patients across the country in lawsuits against hip and knee joint replacement manufacturers regarding defective hip and knee joint replacement devices.

Copper.net Internet Services

Wish we have more choices when it comes to Internet service providers. Over in the U.S., Copper.net provides services starting at $9.95/mo. for a basic dial-up plan for unlimited dial-up internet access. Top up a little bit more, you can upgrade to a Hi-speed or Broadband plan.

A cheap dial-up plan does not mean you have to forego on features. The plan provides

# Free Technical Support
# 56K Dial-up Internet Service
# V.90/V.92 Compatible
# Nationwide Access
# Email Account Included

With the Hi-speed plan, you get their standard features plus up to 5 email addresses and up to 19 times faster the speed and at only $9.95 the first month.

With the Broadband plan, all the above features of the Hi-speed plan, plus a back-up dial-up service, up to 125 times faster and does not tie up the phone line.

Copper.net specializes in dial-up & DSL internet services in the United States and Canada. An all-American owned and operated company, Copper-net takes pride in offering services at an affordable rate. Reputed as America's best provider for Dial-Up Internet Service, they have been providing customers guaranteed service since 1997.

Copper.net is not just dial up anymore! They offer a variety of internet services to meet your needs. Their services include broadband Internet, call alert, archiving, Dial-up Internet, DSL service, email, satellite Internet, Internet Phone service and web-hosting and design.

If you are in the U.S. or Canada and are looking for a more superior, quality dial up service, Copper.net would be the one choice that is sure to meet your needs and more. Many services offer limited connections or charge you by the hour. With Copper.net you can surf without worry because their service is unlimited for residential usage! Isn't this reason enough to sign up with Copper.net?

Friday Frolics - Are You Prejudiced?

But I know that already. :p

Your turn..

You Are Not Prejudiced

Not only are you color blind, but you're also ethnicity blind, gender blind, and sexual orientation blind. You don't judge someone until you truly know them. And even then, you're probably reluctant to judge. You try to treat everyone equally. Everyone has a fair chance with you. Good job - there's not a prejudiced bone in your body.

Are You Prejudiced?

Quizzes and Tests, Oh My!

Popular Vodafone's Icelandic frog advert makes Malaysian woman a Facebook cult hit

In an earlier post, What's in a name?! Lots!, I remember we talked about the different unusual names that people have and the attention they bring to their owners.

Know this face? The 19 year-old, from Port Klang, Malaysia, has been bombarded with hundreds of “friend requests” from Icelandic nationals on the social networking site because her name sounds similar to the phrase on the popular Vodafone advertisement.

The commercial, starring popular actor Pétur Jóhann Sigfússon, features a frog who lisps the slang word “Essassu”, which roughly translates to “is it you?”.


It was later discovered that the phrase was similar to the Malaysian woman’s name on Facebook.

She is now an internet sensation and has become the centre of a Facebook group “We want to get Essasa Sue to Iceland!”.

Organisers said it started as a “joke” but now it has almost 1,000 members.

Hundreds of people have since “friended” her on her site over the past few weeks and at last count Miss Sue, whose real name is Essasa Sie Sue Wei, has almost 2700 friends with the number getting higher by the day.

Miss Wei was even interviewed by The Daily Telegraph.

Source: Icelandic frog advert makes Malaysian woman a Facebook cult hit..telegraph.co.uk

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

RIP Brittany Murphy ((November 10, 1977 – December 20, 2009)

According to Wikipedia, at 8:00 a.m. (16:00 UTC) on December 20, 2009, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to "a medical request" at the Los Angeles home Brittany Murphy and husband, Simon Monjack, shared.

Brittany had apparently collapsed in a bathroom. Firefighters attempted to resuscitate her on the scene. She was subsequently transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead on arrival at 10:04 a.m. after going into cardiac arrest.

The official cause of death is yet to be determined, but Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter told the Associated Press: "It appears to be natural."

An autopsy was performed on December 21, 2009. Full results will not be available for several weeks; authorities are looking into her medical records and toxicology reports.

Murphy was a type-2 diabetic, and suffered from a thyroid condition.

Murphy starred in several films, including Clueless (1995); Girl, Interrupted (1999); Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999); Don't Say a Word (2001); the TV adaption of the novel The Devil's Arithmetic (2001); 8 Mile (2002) and Uptown Girls (2003) as well as many lesser-known films, such as Spun (2003). In 2004, she starred in the romantic comedy Little Black Book, and the critically acclaimed Sin City (2005). She starred in two Edward Burns films: Sidewalks of New York (2001) and The Groomsmen (2006). In 2009, she was cast in the Lifetime TV movie, Tribute, as the main character, Cilla. She was set to appear in the Sylvester Stallone film, The Expendables, which will be released in 2010.

Murphy was also a voice actor. She voiced the character Luanne Platter on the FOX animated sitcom King of the Hill for the entirety of the show's run. She also provided the voice for Gloria the penguin in the 2006 feature Happy Feet. She was nominated for an Annie Award for voice acting in the King of the Hill episode "Movin' On Up".

In late 2002, Brittany began dating Ashton Kutcher, her co-star in Just Married. In May 2007, Brittany married British screenwriter Simon Monjack in a private Jewish ceremony.

RIP Brittany Murphy..


Related articles:
Celebrities Mourn Late Brittany Murphy
Brittany Murphy -- Frantic Rescue Effort
Brittany Murphy's Last Meal: "Noodles, Gatorade"
Coroner completes Brittany Murphy autopsy
Brittany Murphy's Many Faces
Brittany Murphy Remembered
Small, private funeral for Brittany

Cheap Auto Insurance

If you are a car-owner in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Maryland, and are looking for car insurance, you may want to check out IFA Auto Insurance Company (www.ifaauto.com).

IFA Auto is an auto insurance company that specializes in cheap car insurance for automobiles in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They provide low cost NJ car insurance and PA car insurance and they have different payment options which work well for their clients. Also, you can make payments online, check up on claims and other convenient features.

At Ifaauto.com, you can get a quote online in about a minute. Other than learning about their cheap auto insurance, you can also learn about the services the company provides and the features available plus their company history and benefits the company offers. If you are interested, there are sections dedicated to displaying the company's policies and their components as well as details about group discounts.

They have been highly rated in their services and good pricing, so anyone looking for NJ auto insurance or PA auto insurance would sure to be satisfied with their services and low rates.

How to Increase Your Business Revenue

If you are running an online business either selling products or services, you would want people to visit your website and buy your products or services, Philadelphia Adwords can make it happen.

Philly AdWords is a full-service advertising agency specializing in sales-oriented strategies for small to medium sized businesses. Their Pay Per Click in Philadelphia has helped many businesses generate increased sales. Each Pay Per Click campaign that they take on is monitored daily and is fine-tuned to maximize revenue at the most efficient investment.

Besides Pay Per Click management, their other core products and services include Online Branding, Online Media Buying, Traditional Media Buying, Social Media Strategies, Web Hosted Telephony, E-Commerce Consultation, Sales Training, and Sponsorship Sales. With their expertise and experience, no other company is in a better position to help any business with SEM in Philadelphia.

SEM or Search Engine Marketing involves people searching for a product or service that you offer. Your website shows up at the top of the results. A visitor clicks to review your site and your offerings, then emails you, calls you or buys your product online. That's what Philly Adwords do. They make all this happen on your website thus generating sales. Watch a video of how Philly Adwords can make a difference to your business.

Installing a Home Gym for Convenience

Gyms are becoming popular again here in Kuala Lumpur. Hopefully, that is a good sign of people becoming more aware of the benefits of exercise and keeping fit and trim.

Our busy work schedule can sometimes derail our exercise routine. Some of us with cash and space to spare could easily work around that by having one of those home gyms thus eliminating the need to travel to and from the gym. Are you one of those who have a gym membership?

Buying a Car is Not like Buying a Pencil

Buying a car is not like buying a pencil. Buying a car involves some research. If you are looking into a car purchase and have no idea where to look for information, thecarconnection.com is a good place to start.

The people at thecarconnection.com are experts in everything related to cars having test-driven all the cars listed on their website. On their site, you will find buying advice, pictures, expert ratings, safety features, spy shots and shopping guides, tips and expert advice, and more.

If you are planning for a Chevrolet Equinox, check out their Chevrolet Equinox pics and browse through vehicle features, both inside and outside. There is even a slideshow to show you more features.

If a Ford is what you are looking for, check out their Ford Taurus pics for a better view. Similarly, there are Honda Civic pics and Kia Forte photos and others to help you with your decision-making.

I have not come across a better website that offers a more complete editorial source for car news and reviews than thecarconnection.com

A Holiday at Avista Resort

I just got back from a short vacation in Penang, the Pearl of the Orient. Unfortunately, the hotel I stayed in is nowhere like Myrtle Beach Resort being located in downtown Georgetown. Myrtle Beach Resorts would have provided a much more memorable holiday experience I am sure.

Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Resorts are popular accommodations with holiday-makers. There is nothing more relaxing than having a holiday condo with a view to start with.

Avista Resort is a new Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Resort designed with the customer in mind. All the attractions and activities plus the beach and the warm weather would melt away all traces of any stress and leave you relaxed and rejuvenated.

Avista Resort will be a perfect spot for family fun, romantic getaways, weddings, conventions, golf or full body relaxation. That is one holiday destination that is going on my holiday list.

Friday Frolics - What Color is Your Birthday?

This is cute! Never knew there is a color attached to a birthday. What's yours?

My Birthday is Purple

You are the independent type. It's hard for people to peg, label, or stereotype you. You enjoy people and things from all walks of life. You're incredibly open minded. You tend to be a bit fickle and even moody. You can end up hating what you love and vice versa. Your preferences and actions can be a bit mysterious at times. It's hard to predict what you'll do.

What Color Is Your Birthday?

Learn Something Surprising About Yourself

Online Tutoring for K-12 and College Students

The other day at a food outlet at a mall, I overheard two expat moms talking about their schoolgoing children's schoolwork and homework and how difficult it is getting tuition for their children.

They need to know about TutorNext. TutorNext offers K-12 and college students high quality online tutoring and assignment help and they are a leading online tutoring company in the world.

Students mostly face maths problems more than they do other subjects, so online math tutoring is what they need most. The best part is, tutor help is available 24/7.

Not only will students be able to obtain help with regard to maths answers, the highly-qualified tutors at TutorNext will be able to provide students with Precalculus help, statistics help, chemistry help and help with other Science subjects. Tuition for English is also available. All these at the cheapest rates.

Explosion at AEON Jusco New Outlet in Malacca

At a glance, this could pass for being a piece of artwork, but it is not. It is the aftermath of a gas explosion that occurred inside a new AEON Jusco outlet in Malacca. Reported to be the largest AEON Jusco outlet in the country, it is slated for opening on Thursday, day after tomorrow.

The force of the blast blew a 2m-wide hole in the building’s wall, showering glass and debris over a 25m radius and causing a small fire.

The explosion killed a 25-year-old supervisor and injured 16 others - seven with serious injuries, three in critical condition.


Source: The Star..Supervisor killed in gas explosion

Looking for a Job Switch?

Most of us are in a job that does not match what we studied for but we trudge on because it puts food on the table, pays the bills and generally keep us going. Or perhaps we find that the job is not that bad afterall.

Some of us go on to widen our horizons by going back to school to learn a trade, for instance. Or we think we could do better at something else.

These days, there is a lot of career choices. If you find yourself looking at a new direction and are looking for a suitable school, there is a wide selection of technical schools available in the U.S. with disciplines from Arts & Design to Healthcare to Culinary Arts to Aviation.

Check out CollegeSurfing.com and find the school that is right for you. While you are at it, you may be interested to know the types of jobs that pay better or what you can do with the type of education you intend to sign up for.

OvationCredit Can Repair Your Credit

The economic recession has resulted in a whole lot of people falling victim to loss of income and into credit. Over time, this could lead to your credit report not telling the truth about your credit standing.
















Being plagued by inaccurate and misleading credit reports can have some serious repercussions like the inability to get financial borrowings approved when needed. When this happens, you will need to have your credit report corrected.

In the U.S., OvationCredit is one company that can help with credit repair. They can help you with late payments, collections, charge-offs, bankruptcies, judgments, liens, inquiries, foreclosures, repossessions, fraud, identity theft, incorrect personal info and many others.

With OvationCredit, you could get started for free. What you need do is to sign up to get into their system. You will then be assigned a case advisor who will prepare your case for disputing. All this is done without you spending a single cent. You will only start paying, on a monthly basis, when there is work done. Of course, you could cancel anytime.

OvationCredit is one company that is able to fix credit problems and get you back to healthy credit again. Their programs are based upon extensive research of consumer credit laws, experience with credit bureau and creditor tactics, and persistence for their clients. Their programs are 100% legal and have helped tens of thousands of Americans correct and update their credit profiles resulting in higher credit scores.

Stone Benches For Your Garden

Besides being extremely durable, garden benches, or rather, stone garden benches can be beautiful pieces to perk up any park or garden in addition to being functional. Requiring no maintenance, stone benches are ideal for outdoor or indoor use.



There are many different styles of stone benches. There are Victorian stone benches, modular stone benches, modern stone benches, contemporary stone benches, even art deco stone benches.

Stone benches are made from a variety of material such as limestone, sandstone, granite, basalt, cast stone as well as solid jade benches.

If you are looking to buy a stone bench, either for yourself or as a gift (afterall it's Christmas), Stonebenches.com would be the place to check out. They are the ultimate source for stone benches of every size, finish, style, and material. Choose from their wide selection of stone bench themes which include religious, wedding, even pet theme, memorial benches, family and inspirational stone benches. You can even create your own theme.

Don't forget to also check out their accessories. There are planters, garden plaques, fountains, bird baths and stepping stones. Aren't these stepping stones just so pretty?

Christmas Lights..Let it Glow! Let it Glow! Let It Glow!

Is your house or apartment building all decked out this year? Wanna have a photo of it displayed online on NY Times?

That's right, NY Times will display some of the photos online at nytimes.com/home.

Send them your favorite photos of holiday lights, from plastic snowmen to Nativity scenes to homes so bright they can be seen from space. Tell them where the photo was taken and be sure to take your photo at night when the lights are at their brightest. Here's where you can Submit your photo..

Chinese Horoscope 2010, Year of the Tiger

We are fast approaching the end of yet another lunar year, the Ox year. The Year of the Tiger takes over next from Feb 14, 2010 and will last until Feb 2, 2011.

What does the Tiger Year hold for each one of us. Is it going to be a good year or one with challenges?

In the olden days, Chinese people would consult the Almanac to have an idea of what's in store the following year. True or false, it gives some direction to avoiding major pitfalls or to carry out important activities. These days, people read the horoscope more for the fun of it, I think.

Want to know what's in store for you, anyway? Among Horoscope readings received from well-meaning friends and co-workers, I've picked the best I think is good for sharing here. It's a bit long though, so I thought I'd create a blog where I can park it without it taking too much space here on this blog.

Read Chinese Horoscope 2010 to find out what's the general outlook for you next lunar year in terms of your career, wealth, relationship, health, people around you, for the animal year you were born in.

Friday Frolics - What Beatles Song Are You?

After my recent posts on John Lennon, it's such a coincidence that I should stumble upon this personality quiz relating to The Beatles. Interesting how things happen in waves. So, this week, let's find out what Beatles song are we.

You Are "Across the Universe"

You are spiritual, deep, and at peace. You try to keep life in perspective. You can't help but realize how small you are in the universe. You're just thankful you exist. You tend to be a stream of consciousness thinker. You just let your thoughts flow, even when they don't make sense initially. You trust your intuition to guide you. You know that whatever is in your heart is right and true.

What Beatles Song Are You?

We Have a Quiz for Almost Everything

Tiger Woods to take Indefinite Break from Professional Golf

Tiger Woods announced a leave from professional golf to work on saving his family, using the word “infidelity” for the first time in a statement on his Web site.

Asking for understanding from his fans, business partners and fellow competitors on the PGA Tour, Tiger Woods announced on his Web site Friday that he would take an “indefinite break from professional golf” to try to rebuild his personal life.

Woods, the top-ranked golfer in the world, has not been seen in public since crashing his SUV into a neighbor’s tree in an early morning accident on Nov. 27. He has spent the last two weeks in his Orlando, Fla., area home, recovering from injuries and hearing a flood of reports of marital infidelities linking him to multiple women that has swamped the worldwide airwaves.

Woods and his wife, Elin, have been married for five years and have a 2-year-old daughter and 10-month-old son.

Earlier this year, Woods became the world's first athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings, according to Forbes magazine.

Bloomberg News reported that Woods’s image was taken down Friday from the homepage of the Web site for Accenture Plc., the consulting company that has used him in its marketing since 2003.

Nike, another Woods sponsor, issued a release that said: “Tiger has been part of Nike for more than a decade. He is the best golfer in the world and one of the greatest athletes of his era. We look forward to his return to golf. He and his family have Nike’s full support.”

There were no immediate reactions from Woods’s other sponsors, including AT&T, Gillette, Tag Heuer watches and Gatorade.



This is a transcript from Tiger Woods' website:

Tiger Woods taking hiatus from golf
By Tiger Woods


I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try.

I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What's most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.

After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.

Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.


Sources:
NY Times - Woods Says He’ll Take Break, But How Long is ‘Indefinite’?

The Star - Tiger Woods takes 'indefinite' leave from golf because of 'infidelity'

Time Magazine's "Top 10 Everything of 2009"

In less than three weeks, we would have come to the end of yet another year and 2010 looms before us.

Time Magazine has rounded up the year with their list of Top 10 Everything of 2009, yeah, Everything good and bad . The list is categorized into four categories.

In the News, Politics and Science category, you'll find the Top 10 Animal Stories, Green Ideas, New Species, even Oddball New Stories among others.

Under Arts & Exhibitions you'll find Top 10 Albums, Art Exhibitions, Plays and Musicals, Magazine Covers and so forth.

Then in the Business, Tech & Sports, you'll find Top 10 Sports Moments, Worst Business Deals, Gadgets, iPone Apps and Video Games.

And under the Pop Culture tab, you'll find Top 10 T-shirt Worthy Slogans, Buzzwords, Apologies, Awkward Moments, Feuds, even Top 10 Pariahs, etc.

Here's the complete list of Top 10 Everything of 2009. There are too many to link so if you're interested you can visit the site. This is very good for general knowledge.

* Albums
* Animal Stories
* Apologies
* Art Exhibitions
* Awkward Moments
* Best Biz Deals
* Breakups
* Buzzwords
* Children's Books
* Crime Stories
* Editorial Cartoons
* Facebook Stories
* Fashion Faux Paus
* Fashion Moments
* Feuds
* Fiction Books
* Fleeting Celebrities
* Gadgets

* Green Ideas
* Heroes
* iPhone Apps
* Late-Night Jokes
* Magazine Covers
* Medical Breakthroughs
* Movie Performances
* Movies
* New Species
* News Stories
* Nonfiction Books
* Oddball News Stories
* Pariahs
* Pictures of the Year
* Plays and Musicals
* Political Gaffes
* Quotes

* Religion Stories
* Scandals
* Scientific Discoveries
* Songs
* Sports Moments
* T-shirt-Worthy Slogans
* TV Ads
* TV Episodes
* TV Series
* Tweets
* Underreported Stories
* Untruths
* Video Games
* Viral Videos
* Worst Business Deals

Holidaying in Argentina

In the earlier post, we talked about skiing in Argentina, what about for those who don't ski? Would people travel to Argentina for a holiday?







Argentina offers the visitor lots of things to see and do. You can take in the city sights and soak in the local culture, do a bit of historical tourism, and travel to nearby towns where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery Argentina has to offer. There are vineyards and wine-testing to partake in.

Other activities include horseback riding, mountain climbing, mountain biking, go to the theater, visit museums and craft centers, or play a hand or two at the casinos.

Tours in Argentina are aplenty and are at very good rates. Should you prefer not to join tours but find your own way around, you would at least need accommodations. This list of hotels in Argentina would be helpful.

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is a must-see with its beautiful streets and European architechture. It has all the attractions of a big and modern city, combining new age with traditions. In the city, nightlife only ends when the sun comes out, so there are a lot of bars and restaurants that are open all night, expanding party-time until the morning. There is certainly no shortage of hotels in Buenos Aires from highrise elegant and prestigious hotels to beautiful and stylish boutique hotels.

Argentina may be a huge country but a visit to Argentina is not quite complete if one does not visit El Calafate. El Calafate is a small town situated in the southern part of Argentina. The attraction in this little town of 8,000 is the National Park and glaciers. The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the most visited in the world. Here is a list of hotels in El Calafate.