Shrimp Recipes

I love eggs, any way they are cooked. I love shrimps too and shrimps or prawns as they are commonly referred to here, are one of the food I look for in a buffet line. I have to remind myself, everything in moderation, though.

I found an interesting site on shrimps as food, that is. The site has recipes, cooking tips, nutrition and health facts, etc. It's at http://www.eatshrimp.com/. You might want to check it out.

Goji Berries & Goji Berry Products

Soups are a big part of Chinese cooking. Soups can range from the ordinary vegetable soup to the more complex and nutritious herbal soup where a variety of herbs are put in together with meat and boiled over low fire for many hours. One of the ingredients in such herbal soups is wolfberries, also known as Goji Berries.

From as far back as I can remember, as children, we were reminded to eat our Goji berries if we wanted to improve our eye-sight. I supposed that is not unfounded as according to the Wikipedia, wolfberries (Goji berries) have long played important roles in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) where they are believed to enhance immune system function, improve eyesight, protect the liver, boost sperm production and improve circulation, among other effects.

Goji berries are naturally sweet in taste and can be consumed in various ways. They can be eaten raw or consumed as juice or wine or brewed into a tea. There is now no need to have friends and relatives bring them back when they visit China as Goji berries and Goji Juice can be bought online.

Labour Day & Wesak Day holidays

The next two days will be Public Holidays in Malaysia. We celebrate Labour Day and Wesak Day on May 1 but as they fall on the same day, May 2 is an extension of the Public Holiday.

Anyone who has taken off today would be having a 5-day off-period - just nice for a short holiday somewhere, which reminds me that I should be doing some shopping for Mother's Day gifts.

Happy holidays! Happy Wesak Day! And for me, happy shopping!

Outsource your Accounting

Every year, thousands of students graduate from universities with a myriad of disciplines. Even with a degree in hand, many find themselves jobless, for months some of them.

If you are in the UK and an accountant and are looking for a job or something better, such as being your own boss, here is a site I found that might be useful to you. Offer your expertise to the unlimited number of companies that require your accounting expertise and service. Being your own boss will give you the freedom you need.

If you are in business, this Justaccountants site could be valuable to you whereby you would be able to find accountants that meet your business special needs and requirements. They have services for accounting and bookkeeping, Payroll Bureau, tax advice, VAT services, IR35 consultancy and services for company formation.

Virginia Tech footage -- Delete email - DO NOT open

Good morning! Something here for your information. Not sure if this is another one of those much-ado-about-nothing thingy but I figured it's better to be safe than sorry.


Beware..Beware..
This warning is put out by the Information System Operations Center.
While interest in the subject may be there, Do Not fall for this. If you get an email promising video footage of the VT shootings, delete it and
DO NOT follow the link.

What:
In the wake of recent events at Virginia Tech groups of unscrupulous persons have begun circulating an Email promising Video Footage of the massacre. This Email directs the user to a link to download the footage then loads a banking Trojan on to the users system and from there attempts to steal banking account, password, and PIN information from the users system.

Action: Urgent
All organizations and users should immediately delete all Emails regarding the Virginia Tech Massacre that offer camera phone footage of the incident.

An IT Coordinator

============================================
Malware spam promises Virginia Tech video

Hackers have begun cashing in on the Virginia Tech university tragedy by spamming out malware-infected emails.

Hackers have begun cashing in on the Virginia Tech university tragedy by spamming out malware-infected emails purporting to offer cameraphone footage of the attack which resulted in more than 30 deaths.

Email messages carry a photograph of gunman Cho Seung Hui and claim to link to a Brazilian movie website carrying footage of the campus shootings.

But clicking on the link downloads a malicious screensaver file which installs a banking spyware Trojan.

The Trojan attempts to steal passwords, usernames and other information from online bank users, opening the possibility for identity theft and allowing bank accounts to be raided by cyber-criminals.

"It is pretty sick that cyber-criminals use tragic events like this in their attempts to make cash, but sadly it is not the first time and unlikely to be the last," said a senior technology consultant.

"It is of paramount importance that everyone treats unsolicited emails with suspicion, and thinks twice before they run a unsolicited program or click on a link.

"Regular antivirus updates, firewalls, security patches and a good serving of common sense is a must."

Past malware and spam campaigns have taken advantage of headline breaking news stories such as Hurricane Katrina, the Indian tsunami and the terror bombings in London.

Own a beautiful home by the Black Sea

Several years ago, a colleague and his wife went to Eastern Europe for their honeymoon. One of the countries they covered was Bulgaria. They loved the visit so much that they made another trip there recently. On their second trip, they were surprised to find that there were a lot more foreigners and a lot more new housing areas.

From newspaper articles I read, tourism has boomed in Bulgaria and along with that, property market has picked up tremendously. A rural property some three or four years ago could be bought for 5000 pounds but of late the prices of such a property have gone up three times.

Tourism in Bulgaria is expected to rise what with the recent approval of a no-frills airline being given the right to fly into Bulgaria. The influx of tourists has boosted the property market as more and more Europeans are taking advantage of cheap prices of properties and invest in overseas property.

Bulgaria has a lot to offer having beautiful beaches by the Black Sea and ski slopes for an additional spot of recreation. Golf too has become a popular sport with their summers lasting from May to October. Cost of living is low whereby a meal for two with a bottle of wine can be bought for 10 pounds.

Pinkmayflower

"Work won't kill anyone". Have you ever come across this expression? This is commonly used by the Chinese community especially those of Cantonese origin. Unfortunately, it may not be true as work does kill. I just received an email that a blogger in Singapore had just passed away due to her workload. Read Pinkmayflower's last entry. You could even feel her stress. May she rest in peace.

Read her friend's tribute.

There is a lesson to be learned here. Take time to de-stress. Nothing is more important in life than life itself. It is precious yet fragile. Don't sweat the small stuff. Peace.

Family problems

Here's one for you to figure out. When I first read it, it reminded me of a former colleague who had three marriages and their relationships posed some confusion for those handling their official documents. Now, go figure this one out.


Two men were sitting in a bar, drinking shot after shot.

One of them said to the other, "You know, my parents are forcing me to get married to this so called homely girl from a village whom I haven't even met once. We call this arranged marriage. I don't want to marry a woman I don't love.

I told them that openly and now have a hell lot of family problems.

The other man said, "Talking about love marriages...I'll tell you my story. I married a widow whom I deeply loved and dated for 3 years.

"After a couple of years, my father fell in love with my step-daughter and so my father became my son-in-law and I became my father's father-in-law. My daughter is my mother and my wife my grandmother.

More problems occurred when I had a son. My son is my father's brother and so he is my uncle. Situations turned worse when my father had a son.

Now my father's son, i.e. my brother, is my grandson. Ultimately, I have become my own grand father and I am my own grandson. And you say you have family problems!!

Streaming video Player - LePlayer

How would you like to be able to view any video without having to quit from one website to go to the next? Now, you can. LePlayer, the streaming video player enables to do just that, browing from 4 million videos from thousands of categories. LePlayer gives you the freedom to watch millions of videos from around the world while you surf, email, chat or word process by clicking a button (Float Video).

LePlayer is simple and easy to use with click and play. You can just choose by clicking on Search Topic or do a search in MyLiveSeach, Google or MSN by clicking Search Web. Here is a screenshot of LePlayer:


Player: Complete LePlayer v2.1 with new controls, search bar and bookmarks

The System Requirements are pretty basic. You just need Microsoft® Windows® 98, Me, 2000, XP, or NT 4.0; 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 MHz minimum required (single or dual processor system);* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended; a 64MB of RAM minimum although a 128MB RAM or higher is recommended; video adapter and monitor of XVGA 1024 x 768 or higher-resolution; TCP/IP network-level connection to the Internet and minimal broadband connection of 256K downstream; an ADSL or Cable of 512K or more recommended.

By the way, besides viewing videos, you can also submit your video for inclusion.

LePlayer is a freeware. Download a copy of LePlayer today.

Chocolate Covered Company Mothers Day Berries

At a buffet dinner, I always enjoy the desserts (who doesn't?). I never did realise marshmallows could taste that good. The Serena Brasserie at the Nikko hotel has a chocolate fountain whereby you run the marshmallow in the chocolate flow and voila! chocolate-dipped marshmallows. Yum!!

The other day, I came across this Chocolate covered company online which offers a wide array of very unique, hand-crafted, chocolate dipped fruits. How would glazed fruits in chocolate or even pears or figs or strawberries dipped in chocolate grab you? Mouth-watering thought, eh?

Mother's Day is just around the corner. Their lovely Mothers Day chocolate gifts would make great Mother's Day gifts your mom or your children's mom would love. Or what about Mothers Day chocolate covered strawberries? I am sure they would also be a hit.

At the same time, don't forget to bookmark this site, www.ChocolateCoveredCompany.com, for other occasions. Theirs would make great gifts to remember you by.

Coronation of the 13th King of Malaysia

Long live the King! Daulat Tuanku!

Today is the coronation of Malaysia's 13th King or Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He is Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, the 44-year-old Sultan of Terengganu. Today has been declared a Public Holiday for civil servants, banks, post offices, etc., but unfortunately, not all private companies observe this public holiday. I am in the office. :( For those are off today, enjoy your day.

Related articles:
The Star: King to make changes at the Palace
Wikipedia: Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Football - Champions League

Oh! The Blues beat the Reds in this morning's Champions League semi-finals match. The score: 1 - 0. While in yesterday's match, Manchester United came out winning over AC Milan with a score of 3 - 2. Rooney saved the day.


Lucky break: Cristiano Ronaldo (left) celebrates after scoring Manchester United’s first goal against AC Milan in the Champions League semi-final, first leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday. United won 3-2. – Reuters/The Star


No quarters given: AC Milan’s Kaka (right) confronts Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs in the Champions League semifinal, first leg on Tuesday. – AFP/The Star

Btw, here's a good article on AC Milan.

Comforters can be great gifts

When it comes to giving presents, I would always think about practical gifts. I would rather give something that the recipient could use than something I know will stay stashed away in the store-room collecting dust or on the 'to-recyle' list.

Among the gifts that I have picked was a comforter and my friend loved it. If you are looking for bedding material, either for a gift or for your own use, why not check out Downdeals.com? The company makes most of the items you see in bedding departments at stores including: Macy's, Bloomingdales, LL Bean and more.

With hundreds of high-quality down bedding items direct from the manufacturer, there's no reason to shop anywhere else and nowhere else will give you the bargain price that Downdeals offers. Plus, you get a further 25% discount on comforters and shipping is free for orders more than $50.00.

AskPatty Gets a Second Life

Gone are the days where drivers were all men. These days, cars are driven as much by women as by men. Car-buyers are a good mix of men and women too but how many of us women can truthfully say that we know enough of cars to manage it alone? Not many? That will change with AskPatty.com.

AskPatty.com offers automotive advice for Women. It is a safe place for women to get advice on car purchases, maintenance and other automotive related topics. Getting advice from Patty is easy. You can click on the "Get Advice" link and questions can be submitted via email or in an interactive blog. You will get your response from Patty the same day. That's AskPatty on automotive advice.

AskPatty is launching a new site, AskPatty's Second Life Page. What is Second Life, you may ask. Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 5,823,554 people from around the globe. This is a world where the people believe in free expression, compassion and tolerance as the foundation for community in this new world. Wanna get away from the ills of this world? Teleport to AskPatty in Second life

Let's go bowling

How good are you at bowling? Or have you ever bowled? Ten-pin bowling, I mean. Bowling is a game which involves no direct opponent and yet the pressure can build up so much that you could screw up your game.

I know, because I've been bowling for some years now but these days, my scores can be as bad as just a little over a hundred pinfalls. Jeez.... Of course, my excuse is that I don't bowl as regularly as I used to. Considering that I have my own bowling ball and my own bowling shoes so I should be more consistent, right? Wrong! Sometimes, my scores reflect those of a novice's. lol

Anyway, if you're interested in the sport and would like to know more about it, here's a site you might want to check out.

Need another Credit Card?

Debts, the bane of the economy and who is to blame? Let us just cover debts on a personal level. I am no expert but it is not difficult to tell that personal debts are caused by excessive spending especially spending from borrowed money. Credit cards come to mind. Buying with a credit card is actually spending from borrowed money.

There are people who are simply collectors of credit cards. When you think of it, it makes sense to have more than one what with every card having its own merits and features. In this respect, I would say credit cards are a help, wouldn't you? Of course, a good measure of discipline is in order to prevent over-spending.

If you would like to apply for a credit card, you may want to check out Credit Card Applications website. They sure have a wide range of credit cards available. For people with good credit, they have cards with low interest rates or cards that offer rewards such as frequent flyer miles. This would be great for people who travel frequently either for work or pleasure. For people with bad credit, they have cards that offer a way to rebuild their credit history. Pay them a visit, you may find what you need.

Sunday Brunch

I know, it is only the beginning of the week but in case you are thinking ahead and wondering what to do or what to eat on a lazy Sunday, why not check out this new setup at the Nikko Kuala Lumpur Hotel. Then adjourn to the KLCC for some shopping.

For foreign readers or you who are not familiar with Kuala Lumpur, the Nikko hotel is just a short distance away from KLCC. On foot, it will only take ten minutes or so. If you use the main road, you will get to experience the Jalan Ampang traffic, some nice buildings, a Chinese temple (photo opportunity here) and if you decide to take the backway, you will get to view a part of the KLCC Park.

If walking is not your cup of tea, you can always hop onto the LRT (Light Rail Transit) which is just beside the Nikko and KLCC is only one stop away. Convenient, isn't it? And it is only for less than RM1, probably 70sen but I am not so sure. Oops! I make a poor town-guide, don't I?

By the way, Jalan Ampang (Jalan means road in Bahasa Malaysia) is sometimes referred to as "embassy row" for obvious reasons - the French and the Chinese embassies are located on this road and a few others.

Petronas Twin Towers - the Skybridge

This is a picture of the Petronas Twin Towers and the Skybridge. This picture was taken in February one evening. The Skybridge links both towers on floors 41 and 42. I have not been up there but I will, one day. Did you know that it was pre-assembled in South Korea and transported here?

The Petronas Twin Towers may not be the tallest buildings in the world but no doubt about it, they are awe-inspiring and to quote a well-travelled friend from the US:

"It is interesting there are many tall buildings in the world but none of them have the majestic beauty like the KLCC Twin Towers. They just shine like a star at night time. :)"

Don't just take my word for it. Come see for yourself too.


Related article:
View from the Skybridge

SecureZIP - The next generation of ZIP

There is no denying that the Internet is part of our daily life, be it at home or in the office. For most of us, not a day goes by without us being online, unless the computer is broken. Lots of applications come through to us through our mailbox(es), emails, attachments, and whatnot but unfortunately not all of them are secured and problem-free. Even for large corporations huge resources of information have known to be wiped out due to unsecured files coming through.

Data security is a serious matter and there is now a true security application that is currently free and for a limited time only. It is none other than "SecureZIP - The next generation of ZIP". SecureZIP sets the standard for desktop data security. It is the best solution for protecting email messages and attachments, as well as data stored on hard-drives, laptops, and portable media. Check out the free download at www.securezip.com. Remember, it is for a limited time only. So hurry!

Magnetic Man

This is really amazing. A gift in aid of charity. That is so wonderful. Will computers go haywire if he comes near one? Magnets wipe out data, don't they?

MAGNETIC MAN: Axes, knives and hammers are among the things which stick naturally onto Liew Thow Lin’s bare chest and stomach. For the full story, Magnetic man does stunts for charity

Talk on Altantuya case sub judice

Do take note:

The Star reported that

Any allegation linking Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the murder case of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu is tantamount to contempt of court, and action can be taken against the culprits.

Allegations against the Deputy Prime Minister, in any form, are sub judice as the case is still in the court, said Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow. More..The Star

Related story: Najib: I will answer allegations

Ecommerce software

Here in Malaysia, ecommerce is fast catching on. Our fast-food outlets are online, even curry powder has gone online, I hear. Not only businesses are getting on the ecommerce trail, lots of young people are now in ecommerce. Selling online has never been so easy. Why? Because there are plenty of ecommerce software in the market.

Take for instance this ecommerce software from Ashop. It offers a complete solution for merchants to sell online. There are thousands of easy-to-use features, a fully customizable design and you can start selling right away. That's how easy it is. You can sign up for a free 10-day trial. As for pricing, you can choose the right pricing package to suit your need and there are no hidden fees.

Ashop Commerce's software is an Award Winning shopping cart software! Your entire website and online business managed from one complete ecommerce shopping cart software because it is a fully turn-key e-commerce solution. It's easy to use and efficient and has all the features and contents of an online store.

Here are 6 Reasons why you should choose Ashop's ecommerce software.

1. It's Affordable
2. It's Easy to set up
3. Great Technical support and Customer servce
4. Their 100% optimised shopping carts will ensure that your store will get found on search engines
5. Customisable design without restrictions
6. Theirs is a Total Solution - Securely hosted, free emails, 128 bit SSL checkout security, design services, full fraud alerts and web promotion services.

So, sign up for a 10-day free trial today!

Another Monday

A view like this most mornings does wonders especially on a Monday morning. I had my camera with me this morning so I thought I'd share this beauty with you. The tinted glass doesn't do it justice though. Hope you'll have a great day too!



Let's backtrack a little to last Friday. This was what greeted me as I stepped out of the office on Friday evening. Awesome, don't you think? Look at the bands of light filtering through the clouds. The wide dark band is visible on the top picture while the second picture has the KL skyline in the distance.

I was surprised to see someone else clicking away too. -lol- Is he a blogger too, I wondered. When the job was done, we bade our farewells and went on our separate ways while the beauty was lost to the night.

A Net Scam

People in Malaysia are still falling prey to scams. The latest being a student. Despite so much publicity, this student was scammed of RM148,000. A really sad case.

Overseas Property Investment

A friend and his wife just love travelling. They go on holiday at least once a year and their last vacation was in Egypt where they also took in a cruise along the Nile. Their next holiday destination is North Africa, Morocco, I think I heard them mentioning the other day. Also, they are looking into overseas property investment and an overseas property in Morocca may be on the cards?

Another place they are eyeing is Dubai and with the country expanding like nobody's business, property investment in Dubai is something to think about plus they have friends in business in Dubai too. I hear Dubai is a great shopping paradise. But I digress.

Today is Earth Day

Today, April 22, is Earth Day. I painted a morbid picture in last year's post. I wonder if there's any improvement in our environment?. How do we measure it? One thing is for sure, the weather is not what it used to be and that sure doesn't spell improvement. However, we can't give up and can still take steps to saving the Earth in our own little way.

Another inspirational article form the NST: Your health / Holistic Healing: A sick planet is not healthy for us

Watches at 70% discount

A colleague asked whether it's alright to give someone a watch for a birthday present. His cousin's birthday is just around the corner and he'd like to get her a present. My colleague is not Chinese and he heard that Chinese people do not give clocks as presents. He'd like to know what's the meaning behind this belief.

The Chinese people do have a lot of beliefs but some of these are pure superstition but about giving clocks as presents, it is because the phrase 'presenting a clock' in the Chinese language also mean 'impending demise'. Now wouldn't you say it's inauspicious to give someone a clock? However, a watch is a different word altogether so giving a watch as a gift is perfectly alright. I told my colleague that.

He's a busy man and asked me where's a good place to buy a watch without having to visit too many places. Considering his tight schedule, I recommended him an online watch store where there are many brands including Timex Watches. There are other brands too such as Casio (including G-Shock and Baby-G), Seiko, Citizen, Pierre Cardin and others. Why pay retail when he can get a discount of 70%. Sunglasses and gift vouchers are also available too.

Sell Your House and Rent It Back

I have come across quite a number of abandoned houses, even new houses. I'm referring to houses that are abandoned because the home-owners are not able to meet their mortgage payments and had to leave their property behind. This could be a universal problem. If there is such a program as in sell your house and rent it back, these cases of abandonment wouldn't need to happen. I don't think we have it here but I found one in the UK.

The site, rentbackmyproperty.com offers UK homeowners the ability to sell and rent back their property. This service has become popular for the many benefits this program has to offer. If a homeowner is suffering a temporary financial setback (such as job loss or illness) and would need to sell his home but would still prefer to live in the same house, he can sell his house and rent it back.

For whatever reason you need to sell your property, they will be able to help you close the sale efficiently in the shortest time-frame. You pay no real estate agent fees, no legal fees. Selling your property this way is a lot more hassle-free because you won't need to entertain unmotivated public viewers because you get an immediate offer. And you get to rent it back to continue living in your own home until you are ready to move on. You can even buy back the property later on.

I remember a colleague had to quickly sell her house because she was emigrating to the US. If this program was available here, she wouldn't have to go through the stress she went through. This is one service Malaysia really needs.

A Musician's Dream

Once in a while you find a site that gets you really excited, one whose topic is close to your heart, a real gem. I just found one. Even though I don't play any musical instrument, just going through the music notations on this site is exciting and you can find more than 100,000 guitar, bass, and drum tablatures. A colleague who plays bass guitar in his band would go wild with their selection of tTabs: bass tabs available here! Wouldn't this be any musician's dream?

Finding the tabs you are looking for is easy through their alphabetical system. If you are a musician yourself, you can even make changes to the tablatures. You are also welcome to add new tabs to the list. I have bookmarked this site.

PHP training

Companies these days recognise that employees are their most important assets and that education can make a tremendous difference, both in terms of productivity and employee long-term performance. Therefore, companies are wiling to invest a big portion of their funds on training their staff.

In order for education and training to be beneficial, the syllabus will need to be of value and properly structured. Take for instance, PHP training solutions from OTG. With over a decade of experience, it's no surprise that OTG's instructors have improved on traditional instructor led training and their PHP training courses are taught by Zend Certified PHP MySQL training instructors. Their structured learning programs also ensure that students retain more information, When it comes to PHP training, nobody does it better than OTG!

Toast the Trends

Toast the Trends is a series of blogs that discuss the latest trends, including fashion, electronics, entertainment, home decor. Get fashion and beauty tips, home decor ideas and trends, hot news in the entertainment scene and information on the latest gadgets - all available on Toast the Trends. Plus, check out how you can win an iPod.

Nurofen Plus

I have to confess, I am a big believer of painkillers. One of my girlfriends is just the opposite. She would rather go through the pain than take a painkiller while my thinking is, why suffer when there is something that offers relief? To each his or her own, I guess.

The painkiller that I normally take is paracetemol or commonly known as Panadol. Recently, a cousin recommended Nurofen Plus, an alternative painkiller, which she said is very effective in treating severe pain such as back pain, neuralgia, dental pain, those monthly cramps and severe migraine headaches. Even pain due to arthritis can also be relieved.

Nurofen Plus provides powerful pain relief through the dual action of ibuprofen and codeine. How they work is that the ibuprofen targets the site of pain locally. It also reduces inflammation and fever. The codeine works centrally to reduce the brain's perception of pain.

Bollywood DVDs

At lunch awhile back, a colleague was expressing his delight at the prospect of his going for his regular Friday evening badminton session. It's not just the game but more so that the game is on a Friday, he enthused. Is it just him and me or does everyone feel a certain high, come Friday?

There is something interesting for me too this weekend. We (our usual company) will be celebrating a birthday and it's going to be held downtown. It's especially more meaningful as the birthday girl, Pat, has not been joining our regular town-paintings of late. The thing is, she has found a new activity that keeps her happily at home. She's now into watching South-Asian (Indian) serials on Cable TV. I can empathise with her as some of us would rather be at home glued to the TV some days too what with Heroes, and CSI on.

Maybe Pat should stock up on Bollywood DVDs instead so she can watch her favourite Indian Movies at her own time instead of having to be glued to the TV at fixed times and we missing her company.

Income Tax Filing

This year, Malaysians will be able to file their Income Tax return online. This is an alternative to the current paper-forms method. I was looking forward to doing it online until I recently read about the information leakage and that other tax-payer's personal information has popped up online and it happened on many occasions. This is freaky. And the deadline is April end. Decisions. Decisions.

Running for good health

Most of us, adults, lead sedentary lives, being cooped up in our air-conditioned offices and glued to our office machines, in this case it's the computer, mostly. Even the food we eat has cause for concern as more and more people are expanding in the mid-section territory. It is therefore important that we get into some form of exercise to stay fit. There are many forms of activities that anyone can be involved in. One such is running.

Running is an ideal sport for a lot of people because it does not involve investing in a great deal of expensive equipment or gear. With only a few basic pieces of gear, a novice runner can be ready to hit the streets and start running as opposed to golf or rock-climbing where one has to invest in a lot more money in getting the expensive gear.

Whether one runs for recreation or competition, one has to know the basics in order to get the desired results. For example, one has to be appropriately attired especially wearing the right type of running shoes. A site I found, has information on the type of shoes to use with tips on how to buy running shoes. The site even tells you about how long running shoes should last. If you are a novice runner, this type of information will be most helpful to get you started right and then lead you on to Advanced Running Techniques. I have learned much from these running tips. I'm sure you will find them useful too.

Friday! Thank God It's Friday!

May you have a wonderful Spring weekend - which brings to mind the blooming flowers - the cherry and peach blossoms, the daffodils and the tulips in the fields, the ducks in the lake, the tadpoles in our ponds. haha...

And laughter in the classroom..

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face."

"Yes," the class said.

"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"

A little fellow shouted,
"Cause your feet ain't empty."

---------------------------------

The ingenuity of advertising..

Levi Ad


Tomotei Ad

Best Google Ad

Fridge magnet


WHO THE HELL DESIGNED THIS RIDE?


**grin**

Auction site for Services

I haven't bought anything through auctions but my friends told me that auctions can be a fun way to shop and sometimes you could get items at real bargain prices.

Auctions for goods I have heard of but recently, I came across this auction site for local services including pet sitting, auto care, even Reiki therapy. This site is in the US, based in Phoenix. Sellers can register and list services for free and there is no end-of-auction fee. As for Buyers, registration is also free and no payment is necessary until service is complete. If there is any service you need, why not check out http://www.AzizzleAuctions.com? You may be on to a new way of getting things done and cheaper too perhaps.

Owning Property in the Mediterranean

Just as foreigners are buying properties in Malaysia, Malaysians are also buying properties abroad. If you are looking to invest in foreign property, why not consider properties in the Mediterranean countries? Property in Cyprus particularly North Cyprus Property is attractive with prices as low as £30,000 for an apartment and detached villas with pools going for less than £100,000.

Wellington Estates Ltd only build on land which is owned outright by themselves and this means customers can buy with complete confidence. They also have finished properties for sale.

Postcards from America - Photo Contest results

Back in November of last year, I posted four postcards that were finalists of the Postcards from America Photo Contest. Well, here are the results.

The grand prize went to Postcard # 4 - Crater Lake, Oregon with 52% of the votes. Congratulations to Lisa Panak of Milpitas, California


The other results:

Postcard 1: Detroit, Michigan (14% of the votes)


Postcard 2: Lightning in Hopkinsville, KY (21% of the votes)


Postcard 3: Miramar Beach, Destin FL (13% of the votes)

Ask and you shall receive

Be careful what you ask for because you might get it.


A woman goes to Italy to attend a 2-week, company training session.

Her husband drives her to the airport and wishes her a good trip.

The wife answers: "Thank you honey, what would you like me to bring for you?"

The husband laughs and says: "An Italian girl!"

The woman kept quiet and left.

Two weeks later he picks her up in the airport and asks: "So, Honey, how was the trip?"

"Very good, thank you." "And, what happened to my present?"

"Which present?" She asked.

"The one I asked for - an Italian girl!!"

"Oh, that," she said

"Well, I did what I could; now we have to wait for nine months to see if it is a girl!"


See what I mean?

Pass it on

Here's one of those stories that reminds us that there is hope yet for the human race if we only remember to shower some kindness on anyone who has a need for it. You could have read this before but it's worth another read.

He was tired and aching and on his way home from a long day at work, so he almost didn't see the old lady stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His old Pontiac was still sputtering as he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.

He said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson."

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire.

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, "Pass it on."

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan .

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin.

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: "This isn't a tip, it's a gift. You don't owe me anything. Somebody once helped me out and if you feel you want to pay me back, don't let this chain of love end with you, pass it on."

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it to closing time.

That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard....

She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a gentle kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson."
----
There is an old saying "What goes around comes around." Today I sent you this story, and I'm asking you to pass it on. Let this light keep shining.

Good friends are like stars....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.
----

Source unknown


.

Massacre in US campus

There is hooliganism in schools here but killings? Thank goodness none recorded so far, I think. The recent killing of 32 students in Virginia Tech is really sad and scary. I wonder what drives this type of killings especially from those that young?

Cooking eggs

Gawd! Mondays, it's exhausting, sometimes. Today is one of them. Is this our way of paying back for two glorious days of weekend? Am I glad it's almost the end of the day. Some de-stressing is in order, I say.


A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband.
Suddenly her husband burst into the kitchen.

Careful. CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh my GOD!
You're cooking too many at once.

TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter.

Oh my GOD! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER?

They're going to STICK! Careful.

CAREFUL!

I said be CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking!

Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind?

Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them.

Use the salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!"

The wife stared at him.


"What the heck is wrong with you? You think I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?"

The husband calmly replied, "I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm driving."

Little Buddha

I've always been fascinated by stories of reincarnation and Malaysia being a country that practises freedom of worship has had on many occasions been visited by visiting Buddhist religious figures. An aunt over the weekend attended a public lecture attended by 500 other devotees.


Among the Lamas present was Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, a no ordinary four-year-old. Revered across the world and dubbed the Little Buddha or Little Lama, he is believed to be the reincarnation of the late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchong, a highly revered Buddhist master of the 20th century who died in 2001.

An exhaustive spiritual investigation ended in a remote valley of the Himalayas where Tulku Tenzin lived. His reincarnation was officially recognised last year and he was ordained in India by the 14th Dalai Lama

Source..The Star..Little Buddha comes to PJ

Related story: Centre to host reincarnation talk this Sunday

Northumbria Numbers improved website

Out here in Malaysia, some car owners are very particular about getting the right number plate for their new car. The people who are most concerned are normally the Chinese folks, who would normally pick car number plates that are supposedly auspicious, normally those that sound like positive words such as prosperity or luck. But these days, even the non-Chinese will consult their Chinese friends to help pick a nice number plate.

If you are in the UK and are looking to find a car number plate, you might want to check out this site, www.northumbrianumbers.com. This site has a massive selection of private number plates. You can do a search for ageless car registrations, prefix type registration numbers and current style number plates. Looking for a number plate with your name? Do a search, you may find it, who knows! While you are at it, you might also want to check out their Bargain page with huge reductions.

On the other hand, do you have a cherished number to sell? They are always interested in buying quality private car number plates for their stock especially the ones that do not have any "year letter". Alternatively, they may also be able to help you sell your car number plate for a commission upon sale. Best of all is, Northumbrianumbers.com does all the transfer paperwork so there is no hassle for the customers.

A Bali vacation

H, a colleague, and her family go to Bali at least once a year. She said her family likes the place and is a cheap vacation destination. Friends who have been there also vouch that a holiday in Bali is money's worth, plus the exchange rate is to our advantage and the shopping is excellent. You can get designer wear for a much lower price than if you were to buy them here.

By the way, did you know that Indonesia Visa fees have increased. The new Visa fees for all nationalities are as follows:

1. Transit Visa = RM75

2. Single Entry Visa = RM150
(Business/Socio-cultural/Tourism/Educational)

3. Multiple-entry Visa = RM375
(Business)

4. Limites/Temporary stay Visa (Visa Tinggal Terbatas)
a) 6 months = RM190
b) 12 months = RM375
c) 24 months = RM660 way

Keeping your money in a cooperative bank

My colleague has a bank account with a cooperative bank. In fact, her whole family keeps a big part of their money in the same bank. This started from the days when their father, head of the family, worked with a Cooperative society which then expanded its services to include a Cooperative bank.

My friend said the interest is good plus they get other advantages, the main one being account-holders enjoy the advantage of a very low interest rate for housing loans. That enabled her to own three properties. There are other programmes that account-holders have access to, such as education loans for themselves and their dependants. Cooperative banking nowadays are on par with regular banks where services are concerned.

Shuttle to the Low Cost Carrier Terminal, Sepang

Shuttle hub: The shuttle buses pick up and drop off passengers outside the entrance to Subang Parade in front of Digital One.

Here is some good news for AirAsia passengers especially if you are living in Subang Jaya or thereabouts. There is now a shuttle service from Subang Jaya to the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) whose hub is at the Subang Parade. Each trip is only at RM9 and the service begins as early as 4:45am, the last being at 9:30pm. You can also take the same shuttle back from the LCCT to Subang Jaya.

Source: Subang-LCCT shuttle service

Ideas on Debt Relief and Debt Consolidation

Not only national debts are rising, personal debts are growing in tandem. Just the other day, my colleague mentioned that the Malaysian national debt currently stands at more than 640B. Woh!! Isn't that terrible for a small nation like Malaysia with just about 23M people?

Never mind, we'll leave national debts to the national hot-shots but on a personal front, how can we help ourselves? I recently found this site with some good tips on Debt Relief and debt consolidation. One particular artcle that caught my attention is about the downside of buying a house now with the escalating costs of buying and the interests rising. This article is quite a revelation really. It also has an article on 101 Ways to Save, offering tips like adjusting your thermostat, changing your lightbulbs and a host of other simple but practical ideas. I like this site for the down-to-earth topics that it covers.

Gandhism (Mahatma Gandhi)

We know Gandhi was a great man and we know about the non-violence he practised, but did you know that his family is carrying on his legacy of non-violence as well? Read the inspiring story below and be amazed.

Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, in his June 9 lecture at the University of Puerto Rico shared the following story:

I was 16 years old and living with my parents at the institute my grandfather had founded 18 miles outside of Durban, South Africa, in the middle of the sugar plantations. We were deep in the country and had no neighbors, so my two sisters and I would always look forward to going to town to visit friends or go to the movies.

One day, my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference, and I jumped at the chance. Since I was going to town, my mother gave me a list of groceries she needed and, since I had all day in town, my father asked me to take care of several pending chores, such as getting the car serviced.

When I dropped my father off that morning, he said, "I will meet you here at 5:00 p.m., and we will go home together."

After hurriedly completing my chores, I went straight to the nearest movie theatre. I got so engrossed in a John Wayne double-feature that I forgot the time. It was 5:30 before I remembered. By the time I ran to the garage and got the car and hurried to where my father was waiting for me, it was almost 6:00.

He anxiously asked me, "Why were you late?"

I was so ashamed of telling him I was watching a John Wayne western movie that I said, "The car wasn't ready, so I had to wait," not realizing that he had already called the garage.

When he caught me in the lie, he said: "There's something wrong in the way I brought you up that didn't give you the confidence to tell me the truth. In order to figure out where I went wrong with you, I'm going to walk home 18 miles and think about it."

So, dressed in his suit and dress shoes, he began to walk home in the dark on mostly unpaved, unlit roads.

I couldn't leave him, so for five-and-a-half hours I drove behind him, watching my father go through this agony for a stupid lie that I uttered. I decided then and there that I was never going to lie again.

I often think about that episode and wonder, if he had punished me the way we punish our children, whether I would have learned a lesson at all. I don't think so. I would have suffered the punishment and gone on doing the same thing. But this single non-violent action was so powerful that it is still as if it happened yesterday.

That is the power of non-violence.
---
Source unknown

Find out who is Eric Schiffer

I would gladly go to a cinema to watch a comedy. Comedies are energising. They don't say "Laughter is the best medicine" for nothing, right? Know why I love watching comedies in a cinema? The sound of laughter in unison is like music to the ears. It's like everyone is happy and laughing at the same time. Plus, if the actors are my favourites, it's a bonus.

However, not every actor is cut out for comedies but once in awhile some actor would give you a surprise. Have you heard of Eric Schiffer? He's now in discussions to appear in an Action-Comedy film alongside a well-known star. We'll have to see how he fares. Schiffer recently agreed to star in the new upcoming independent release of a Charles Bronson remake, titled “Death Wish Returns”. Filming will begin in December 2007 in Glasgow, Scotland, and will be released in mid 2008.

A way to boost your site ranking

What do we do when we want to have our site noticed so that it gets people to come visit to get some traffic? We list it in a directory but it doesn't stop there. We get it listed in more directories. Unfortunately, for most of us, our site would be lost somewhere among the hundreds and thousands of sites in the directories.

There is now a directory where you can determine where you want your site to be placed. Big Web Links is just the web directory to make that happen for you. You can determine your sites postion on the directory. How? You just bid for position. Your blog placement is determined by the contribution you make to the listing. If your site is among the top 10, your site will also appear on the top 20 listing and that would mean a double listing for your site to boost traffic.

About Love and Life

This is a story for the die-hard romantics. It's a lovely and touching story, one of those again you'd need to have some tissues on standby. There's a real moral to it though - for couples primarily.

My husband is an engineer by profession, I love him for his steady nature and I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders.

Two years of courtship and now, five years into marriage, I would have to admit, that I am getting tired of it. The reasons of me loving him before, has now transformed into the cause of all my restlessness.

I am a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it comes to a relationship and my feelings. I yearn for the romantic moments, like a little girl yearning for candy. My husband is my complete opposite; his lack of sensitivity, and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage has disheartened me about LOVE.

One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a divorce.

"Why?" he asked, shocked.

"I am tired. There are no reasons for everything in the world!" I answered.

He kept silent the whole night, seemingly in deep thought. My feeling of disappointment only increased. Here was a man who was not able to even express his predicament, so what else could I expect from him?

And finally he asked me: "What can I do to change your mind?"

Somebody said it right... It's hard to change a person's personality, and I guess, I have started losing faith in him.

Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered: "Here is the question. If you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind.

Let's say, I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death. Will you do it for me?"

He said: "I will give you your answer tomorrow...." My hopes just sank by listening to his response.

I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of paper with his scratchy handwriting underneath a milk glass, on the dining table near the front door, that goes....

My dear, "I would not pick that flower for you, but....please allow me to explain the reasons further.....

This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading.

"When you use the computer you always mess up the Software programs, and you cry in front of the screen. I have to save my fingers so that I can help to restore the programs.

You always leave the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to open the door for you.

You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city. I have to save my eyes to show you the way.

You always have the cramps whenever your "good friend" approaches every month. I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your tummy.

You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and stories to cure your boredom.

You always stare at the computer, and that will do nothing good for your eyes. I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip your nails and help to remove those annoying white hairs. So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand...and tell you the colour of flowers, just like the colour of the glow on your young face...

Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more than I do... I could not pick that flower yet, and die ... "

My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting...and as I continue on reading... "Now, that you have finished reading my answer, and if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favorite bread and fresh milk...

I rushed to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread....Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone...

That's LIFE, and LOVE. When one is surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement fades away, and one tends to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and dullness.

Love shows up in all forms; even in very small and cheeky forms. It has never been a model. It could be the dullest and most boring form.

Flowers, and romantic moments are only used and appear on the surface of the relationship. Under all this, the pillar of true love stands...AND THAT'S LIFE
---

The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problems, but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect.
---
Source unknown

Free Credit Counselling

Have you heard of Consumer Education Services Inc., CESI? This is a non-profit organization committed to empowering and inspiring consumers in the U.S. to becoming debt free. In short, this is a Credit Counseling Service and they are doing a great job.

As costs of goods and services are constantly on the rise, more and more people are trying hard to stay out of debt. When debt sets in, the quality of life suffers. The Mission of the Consumer Education Services Inc., is dedicated to improving the consumers' quality of life by providing avenues and tools for financial independence and financial freedom.

CESI's services include providing learning tools and resources to help consumers better manage their finances and to achieve the goal of becoming debt free. Online courses assist consumers with the necessary skills to better manage their finances.

CESI provides free credit counselling and assistance is offered over the phone, online and onsite. Their professional counsellors have helped many get out of debt and stay out of debt by managing their finances.

Their Debt Management Plan has helped many regain control of their finances. A Debt Management Plan (DMP) allows for more affordable monthly payments and at reduced interest rates.

According to surveys, credit card debts have increased significantly. CESI offers effective credit card debt counselling as well as help pay off credit card debts to help their clients avoid bankruptcy.

The CESI website provides some sound and practical personal financial tips. There are tips on budgeting, tips on buying a car, how to prevent identity theft and scams as well as investing and more.

CESI is doing a great service to the community by equipping the people to better manage their finances with educational programs so that they will be able to make smart financial decisions.

The House of 1000 Mirrors

How about a Japanese folk-tale to start off the week? After you've read it, tell me whether you believe it's true - that the people around you mirror you. Interesting thought for the day.

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was a place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the house, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often."

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."

All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?

Happy Easter!

Image borrowed from Le Meridien's newsletter

Finding the Perfect Bra

Special note: This post is for the ladies but gentlemen may also enter.

The bra — sexy fashion statement or medieval instrument of torture? Madonna would agree that it's the former, of course, afterall she holds the franchise for wearing on the outside what's supposed to be worn inside.

It's interesting to note that studies show that 70 percent of women are wearing the wrong bra. Most bras are adjustable in at least two places — the back and shoulders so comfort is of utmost importance.

Next to comfort, the most important thing about a bra is that it should lift the breast to just the right height. Bend one arm at the elbow to form a right angle. Then lay your arm across your middle. Your bust should be halfway between your shoulder and elbow. Read article for more tips.

Finally, keep in mind:

* Smooth, silky bras look best under all fabrics.

* Match bras to your skin tone, not to the color of the garment you're wearing.

* If you have large or small breasts, shop in specialty lingerie stores or boutiques. Not only will you be personally fitted, but you'll also have much more of a selection. Department stores commonly stock their greatest assortment of styles in medium sizes.

* Get fitted every year, says Blankenship, even if your weight doesn't change.

* And now, the $10,000, time-honored bra question: Will wearing bras prevent you from sagging? "My instinct tells me anything that helps against gravity is the right thing," Blankenship says. "But while it's impossible to know scientifically, beautiful bras make us feel beautiful. And that's always good."

Source: iVillage

Need a Gift Tag?

Do you enjoy giving gifts besides receiving them? It warms my heart when I see the recipient's face lit up upon receiving a gift. Some gifts come without gift tags. That's alright by me but as a rule I would always include a gift card to go along with the gift. If I'm not able to make one, I'll just pick one up from the gift-shop. Now, I can have ample stocks of gift tags from Creativeanduniquegiftideas.com.

Check out these lovely free printable gift tags. Just print them out and keep and voila(!) you'll have one ready to use when you need it. Neat idea, eh?

Party with Earth, Wind and Fire

Have you ever attended a seminar where singing was part of the curriculum? I remember one time we were all shrieking to an Earth, Wind and Fire number. That was quite fun and energising. Talk about Earth, Wind and Fire, I didn't know they were in town recently.



They were here to perform at the F1 Gala dinner on Friday, April 6. That must have been some party. It was held at the KL Convention Centre and just look at that floor space.

Party with Earth, Wind and Fire..the Star

Forums are a good source of information

Joining forums is a great way to learn about a certain topic. Take for instance, if I would like to know more about health and fitness, I would join a forum that covers health and fitness and if I would like to know about phones and phone services, I would definitely join a forum that has such information and the Vonage VOIP forum comes to mind. This site not only has a community forum, it also reviews the services offered. You'll find information on Vonage phone features, the advanced services and the Vonage benefits. The site also covers Vonage news and press releases to enable me to make informed decisions.

What Your Start-the-Day Ritual Reveals

Everyone has a set routine in the mornings, something like a start-the-day ritual. Have you ever wondered if there is any meaning to it?

Cosmopolitan polled guys to learn what they feel the urge to do first thing in the morning. Find out what tops their a.m. must-do lists and what sexy things each choice says about a man.

So, guys, what is your set routine? Any one of these?









25% Push the Snooze Button
A cutie who routinely can't get his butt up doesn't take life too seriously. "He is probably able to roll with the punches and doesn't put a lot of pressure on himself," says Alon Gratch, Ph.D., author of If Men Could Talk. If erotic a.m. action is on your agenda though, you're going to have to initiate it.









16% Brush Their Teeth
In addition to having minty-fresh morning breath, this hunk is reliable and down-to-earth (duh, he does deal with practical concerns first). But he's not a big bore. "Although he might be a stickler for details, that means he has an appreciation for the finer things," says Gratch. Like gourmet meals, pretty jewelry and sensual loving.









26% Must Shower
Anything but lazy, this focused, driven stud feels the need to seize the day. "He must shower in the morning in order to refresh, get active and get going," explains Gratch. Not one to waste a single minute, the guy almost always has a plan, so he may not want to just lounge around in bed all day.




20% Must Have Sex
Yeah, if they're lucky. But hey, if you're awake and ready for action, lucky you too. "This man is energetic and fun-loving, and he has a good sense of humor," says Gratch. He clearly has a killer sex drive too. So even if you're not into doing the deed at dawn, he'll be up for it later on.
What Other Men Do in the A.M.

6% get their caffeine fix
3% turn on the tube
2% work out
1% read the sports page
1% make a cell phone call

Light up your home with European-style chandeliers

I went to a house-warming party a fortnight ago. It was held in a new part of town which I wasn't familiar with. I was supposed to meet up with a friend and go there together but at the last minute, she was not able to make it so I went alone. Even with a map, I got lost and ended an hour late.

Anyway, I was glad I showed up as the new house was simply spectacular. They've got the most beautiful chandeliers I have ever seen! Chandeliers are really amazing. They add a certain magic and luxury to a home. Sally, the house-owner, said they bought them all online. She said she was surprised that these European-style crystal chandeliers can be so inexpensive and they offer free shipping too.