The Monsoon has started

If you are visiting the northern and north-eastern states or Peninsula Malaysia, you may want to take note of severe weather. Flash floods, thunderstorms, rough seas and strong winds of up to 60kph were expected to hit the northern part of the peninsula over the next few days, especially the coastal areas. The monsoon season has started.

The Meteorological Department (MMD) has issued a yellow stage warning, adding that heavy rain and thunderstorms with windy conditions were expected to occur over Kelantan and Terengganu beginning today. A yellow stage warning, the first of three warning levels, denotes a possibility of a monsoonal surge in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Coastal areas of east Johor, Kuching and Sarikei are vulnerable to sea level rise due to strong winds and battering waves. Flash floods are likely to occur in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur over low-lying areas affected by the city’s drainage system.

On Thursday, a mini twister swept through Mata Air, Jejawi, Perlis. Roofs were blown off while signboards were uprooted and houses damaged during the incident. A van was also overturned.

Source: The Star

Where to buy Martial arts and other sports products and accessories

Have had several hits and enquiries on martial arts equipment and where to buy them. Global Sports Store not only has equipment and accessories for martial arts, it has a vast array of products for a lot of other sports as well, including baseball, water sports, boating, cycling & wheel sports, skateboarding, fishing, golf and others.

The site is easy to navigate. You can either shop by price or shop by brand. You will find some of the best brands in the industry here. If you'd like to get updates, signing up to receive their Newsletter is a sure way to be informed of their latest sports products. Global Sports Store is having a sale currently on selected items, so you may want to check out the site. Who knows you may be able to get a good deal for the item(s) you've been wanting to buy or replace.

Logo design companies

A company logo aids and promotes instant public recognition. In a way, a logo gives identity to a company and because of that, every company logo is unique. If you are looking for help with your company logo, here's a site for you.

LogosRated.net is a site which rates and reviews online logo design companies. In order that you may view and compare the creative work of the design companies, LogosRated hired them to create logos for their site. Leading logo design companies hired include Logo Works, Logo Design Pros and The Logo Company. For more information about these companies, their profiles along with the logos they created for LogosRated can be found on the LogosRated website.

Buy Gold to Preserve Wealth and Protect Purchasing Power

If you are looking into diversifying your investment, including gold and silver in your investment portfolio would be a move in the right direction. Gold especially has been a much sought after asset for centuries and in current times, gold is the asset that can preserve wealth and protect the purchasing power. Gold can be purchased in the form of gold coins or gold ingots.

You can purchase gold and silver and other precious metals from United States Gold Bureau where you have the choice to have them delivered to you or have them stored safely at an independent bank or depository. If you need advice, the dedicated and professional staff at United States Gold Bureau would be able to help you with your precious metal investment needs. There is no better time to buy gold than now.

A new work commute

Guest post written by Sam Lowell

I ended up buying my old condo a long time before I switched over to the job that I currently have. Now, I didn't think that the commute would be that bad, but after a few years at my job, I decided that maybe it was time to move a little bit closer to downtown so I wouldn't have such a long commute.

I did that a couple of months ago and figured out that the new place that I bought is right by a greenway that runs right by my workplace, so I've been taking a bike commute.

Now the commute is definitely more calm and relaxing than rigorous, it's all flat, so I don't really sweat or anything when I'm riding. Plus, I've even encouraged a few of my coworkers to start commuting to work on their bikes too. Plus, I'm saving money on gas too. I actually got the idea after I got my ClearTVBundle and was reading up on ways I could go green.

I hope to keep up my good habit for a long time. And I've even lost some weight since I've been biking!

Volcanic ash over Borobudur

I'm saving this picture from The Star today for my girlfriend who is planning to visit Borobudur November end. She won't see this though until a week later as she's right now on an adventurous Turkey holiday.

That's going to be a lot of cleaning to do because the monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa according to Wikipedia.

I received a hit yesterday that enquired as to the distance between Bandung and Mount Merapi. I looked it up and from the map, Bandung is almost midway between Jakarta and the volcano and that distance is 310 miles or 500km. This would put Bandung roughly about 150 miles away from Mount Merapi, and the restless volcano is still spewing hot ash as of today after it erupted on Monday.

Image source: The Star

Going to Borobudur

Borobudur

Oh dear! The death toll is rising after the second eruption of Mount Merapi this afternoon spewing volcanic clouds of ash some 3,500m into the air. With all that chaos going on, it must be difficult for funeral arrangements to be properly carried out if need be.

A girlfriend will be going to Borobudur next month. She's wondering whether conditions will improve then. Over 42,000 have been evacuated to temporary shelters around Yogyakarta where my girlfriend and her party will be touching down.


Image source: encyclopedia.com

Of plastic bags and receipt printers

A lot of things in everyday life we take for granted or rather we assume it's going to be there since it's been there all the while. I was at a supermarket the other day and was not too happy when the plastic bag roll was empty. It got worse when even the weighing section had no plastic bag and the lady just stuck the price tag at the tomato, potato and pear among the lot! What a joke! I wanted to get some fish and the prospect of not having a bag for it put me off but was pleasantly surprised when the plastic rolls there are full.

Another item we take for granted when out shopping is the receipt printer. You wish you were at the next line when you have to wait while the cashier replenishes the printer paper or fixes a paper-jam. Okay, there are worse things. Anyway, my point is, things are not always what they are and to appreciate them when they are. Does that make sense?

Festival lights

One of the things I like about festivals here in Malaysia is the lightings in homes preparing for the celebration. These days, one can save on electricity with lights that consume less electricity. One of the energy-efficient lights and getting popular now are the C9 led christmas lights. C9 Christmas lights are the popular choice for lighting houses and buildings and are the largest bulb size available for LED Christmas lights.

Blue skies again

After a week or so of dismal weather, today's weather seems to be back to sunshine and blue skies. This picture was taken this morning. Couldn't help telling the world that playful clouds amidst a sky of blue are back to KL once again. Hope your day has been great too so far..

Celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights - Nov 5

Another holiday or rather festival is just around the corner. The Hindu festival, Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, falls on November 5. It's a Friday so it makes it even merrier the celebration extending into the weekend allowing Hindus a longer celebration without having to take additional days off.

Festivals are a time to spread cheer and goodwill by extending holiday invitations to friends and family for get-togethers. These occasions strengthen ties among the different ethnic groups especially in this country where people of different cultures and faiths live side-by-side.


Image source: InvitationConsultants.com

Haunted Hotels

I just read "10 Most Haunted Hotels" on TripAdvisor and was thinking I too have a hotel ghost story to tell though it was my travel companion who came face-to-face with the ghost. She even had her pullover removed. Yikes!

Those who have had experienced paranormal episodes in hotel rooms would identify with the reviews and revelations on the TripAdvisor article. Some of the stories do really give one a serious chill that no heated blanket can help but then again a heated blanket would work wonderfully on a cold wintry night under normal circumstances.

Image source: TripAdvisor

Buying presents in advance

Do you know of anyone who keeps an inventory of gifts so that he or she doesn't have to scramble to get one when the occasion comes along? I have a friend who does just that. Whenever she comes across something nice, she'd picked it up. She'd buy items appropriate for different occasions - birthdays, weddings, housewarming, etc. Naturally, toys top her list for the many nieces and nephews she has. I suppose she has to remember to stick to things that are not time-sensitive otherwise her presents won't be that much appreciated.

Mount Merapi erupts hours after fatal tsunami

Image source: National Geographic
Update from The Star..
MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia (AP): A volcanic eruption and a tsunami killed scores of people hundreds of miles apart in Indonesia - spasms from the Pacific "Ring of Fire," which spawns disasters from deep within the Earth.

Tuesday's eruption of Mount Merapi killed at least 18 people, forced thousands to flee down its slopes and spewed burning ash and smoke high into the air on the island of Java.

Meanwhile, off the coast of Sumatra, about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) west of the volcano, rescuers battled rough seas to reach Indonesia's Mentawai islands, where a 10-foot tsunami triggered by an earthquake Monday night swept away hundreds of homes, killing at least 113 villagers, said Mujiharto of the Health Ministry's crisis center. Up to 500 others are missing.

The twin disasters happened hours apart in one of the most seismically active regions on the planet.
Continue reading..

According to Reuters,

- The 7.5 magnitude quake hit 78 km west of South Pagai, one of the Mentawai islands, late on Monday.

- Most buildings in the coastal village of Betu Monga were destroyed.

- The Macaronis surfing resort on North Pagai island was also hit. In an official press release, World Surfaris said Macaronis had "experienced a level of devastation that has rendered the resort inoperable".

- SURF RESORT DEVASTATED
Reports via Facebook from a surfer at the resort suggested that all villas had been "wiped out" by the tsunami.

- In South Pagai island, waves penetrated about 600 metres into coastal villages, while in North Pagai island, waves reached to the roof of local houses.
More from Reuters..

Wondering in which part of Java Mount Merapi is on? It's south east of Jakarta nearer Bandung. Below is a Google map.

View Larger Map


Related article:
Mount Merapi Erupts - National Geographic

Indonesia tsunami kills 113, scores more missing

From The Star..

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP): A powerful earthquake triggered a 10-foot (three-metre) tsunami that pounded remote island villages in western Indonesia, killing at least 113 people and leaving scores more missing, an official said Tuesday. More..

Read also Indonesian tsunami kills 108, hundreds missing from Reuters

Losing 30lbs in 30 days

I've been missing a number of episodes of the Biggest Loser Asia 2 and was wondering how the contestants are doing. Has anyone been watching the series regularly?

On the subject of weight-loss, I read that hcg Austin has a weight loss program that is very effective. It's a Medically-supervised Weight Loss Program using the hCG hormone with quick weight loss as much as 30lbs in 30 Days. Amazing, right?

No reason not to have Health Insurance

I met up with a friend the other day whom I haven't met in a while to catch up on each other's life. What's nice about having friends in different lines of work or who have different interests and hobbies is you get new perspectives each time you get together. This friend of mine sells insurance besides holding down a day job.

From this friend, I learn about the importance of insurance and the various types of insurance and the different available policies for each type. She advises that everyone, especially those with dependents, should have a life insurance policy. As for health insurance, there's no reason not to take up one as there are many affordable health insurance policies available. Your insurance agent will be able to advise you.

Potracks to a small Kitchen's rescue

If space is a constraint in your kitchen, pot racks may be the answer to stretch usage of your available space. Enclume Potracks has a huge selection of different Styles. There are rectangle pot racks, square ones, as well as round and oval enclume potracks. In fact, there's one to suit every need and preference, in every size, finish, style, and material.

If hanging potracks are not your thing, there are also wall-mounted potracks as well as free-standing 5-tier cookware stand. Each Enclume pot rack is of the highest quality so when you purchase an enclume potrack, you can be assured of the best buy in the market. Besides knowing that you've bought the best product, shopping at EnclumePotracks also means you're paying the lowest price due to their Low Price Protection policy. You know you can get expert and helpful customer service. You also get free shipping on all Enclume pot racks. EnclumePotracks works hard to provide you with a great shopping experience.

The modern man owns health-monitoring equipment

People of today are an informed lot, certainly more informed and proactive than their forefathers before them. Take healthwise, for instance, the people of today take pains to know their body and take steps to keep their body in the best possible health by eating well, have enough exercise and rest, and get expert help when needed.

Some people even own monitoring equipment, such as blood pressure monitors and sugar level monitors and the like, but just short of owning an ecg machine as it's not easy for a layperson to interpret the readings. Handling this sophisticated machine is best left to the medical experts.

Wayne Rooney highest paid footballer

Reading the message board on the Manchester United website about Wayne Rooney's staying tells me that a lot of fans are happy about that. Me too. With the new contract, Rooney is now the highest paid footballer in the world making GBP250,000 a week!

Talk about football, I heard on tv the other day that David Beckham insured his body for 5Billion dollars or is it GBP, not too sure! A lot of hardwork has gone into making that body what it is. For lesser mortals, there is creatine powders, of course. These powders are effective in giving more energy to the muscles for a trimmer body.


Image source: ManUtd website

Is savings enough for retirement?

Good morning! I'm reading The Star online and came across this interesting article on savings for retirement. Below is an index showing the awareness level of retirement income. How do you think Malaysians compare to people of other countries?

The article is worth a read.

Have a great Sunday. Over here in Kuala Lumpur, the sun's rays are still somewhat filtered by the haze but I see blue skies and beautiful clumps of white clouds. Looks like today's going to be a wonderful day.


Image source: The Star

What's your favorite Point of Purchase display item?

I don't know about you but when I shop at supermarkets and hypermarkets in the evenings, I'd make sure that I check out before 9:30pm before the crowd builds up.

One thing that keeps me occupied while waiting in line is the point of purchase displays. My favorite POP display item has got to be batteries. Why? Because more often than not, I tend to forget to get them when I go shopping and having the display smack right in front of you when you check out is such a big help.

Friday Frolics - Color & I quiz

I wonder if it's our choice of colors that determine our personality or is it the other way around. i.e., our personality determines the colors we choose. Anyway, here's an interesting Friday Frolics personality quiz called, Color & I.

Here's how the result will turn out. This is mine, by the way, if you're interested. Click on it to enlarge the image.

Are you ready to find out what's your Color Profile? Here's where you can do it, the Color & I quiz..

Here's where you can find a lot more Friday Frolics personality quizzes..Enjoy!

Reviewing term life insurance

My! Doesn't time fly? We're now at the final quarter of the year and for people who diligently chart their course in life, this would be the time of year to start putting together plans for the following year.

Items like medical and life insurance are top-most in everyone's list. Of course, we do not constantly change our insurance policies but it is good to periodically review what we have signed up for and whenever necessary to compare term life insurance with that of others so we know ours is not lagging behind. I hope you have a beautiful day today..

Here, a rose for you! I received this in an email from a friend who suggests to send it out to all my friends while they are still able to enjoy it. Sure makes sense. Enjoy!

Avista Resort, leading resort in Myrtle Beach

Designated America's "Number One Family Beach, over 13 million visitors have been to the Grand Strand annually. There is no shortage of accommodations in this popular holiday destination as there are many hotels and resorts in Myrtle Beach.

Avista is one leading Myrtle Beach hotel. Guests can have a choice of one-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums, all with a lovely view of the ocean. At Avista, guests will be provided with outstanding opportunities to experience memory-laden vacations.

If you're a golfer, Myrtle Beach has some of the world's finest golf courses. While you're playing golf, your family can relax in both indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, and lazy rivers or go shopping where shops are just a stroll away from the resort, so are restaurants, nightspots and other entertainment venues.

Planning an upcoming getaway? Contact Avista's friendly reservation agents online or by phone. In the meantime, check out their website, http://avistaresort.com for more information.

Avista on Dwellable

Address Plaques, Mailboxes and Garden decor

Here is a wonderful source - http://www.mailboxandbeyond.com/ - if you are looking for that perfect address plaque for your home or office. Mailbox and Beyond offers all kinds of mailboxes, address plaques, personalized home and an extensive range of garden decor, primarily Whitehall products.

Those who are familiar with Whitehall products know that Whitehall offers an extensive line of personalized house address plaques, mailboxes, weathervanes, and garden accents such as hose holders, birdfeeders, etc.

At Mailbox and Beyond, you can find these aesthetically-crafted durable items to spruce up your home and garden, be it address signs, birdbaths or birdfeeders, twilight lanterns like those you see in Japanese gardens, doorbells and doorknockers, personalized aluminum doormats or even patio furniture. If you are in the US, most items ship for free.

Adirondack chair, butcher block countertop and memories..

Doesn't this pretty chair look just the perfect chair for the front porch? This is an adirondack chair or rather a bench seat rocking chair that is designed with love in mind, and an extra long seat offers plenty of room for two. Adirondack chairs combine solid construction with classic American style and are hand-crafted with the finest wood from plantation grown southern yellow pine, a renewable resource that resists insects and rot.

In every home, there is bound to be an item or two of furniture that stand out among the rest. I used to visit a schoolmate's home after school and I remember I was very impressed with their butcher block countertop in the kitchen. I was amazed when my schoolmate told me that it was her father's idea though he wasn't the cook at home. How fascinating! I was also fascinated by their stainless steel kitchen sink which was sparkling and huge or so I thought at that time. Strange how we perceive things differently as adults. Exposure makes all the difference, I guess.

Outer Banks vacation rentals

Malaysia does have many beaches and holiday venues all over the country, both East and West Malaysia. What's in short supply, however, is vacation homes. We need more vacation rentals similar to those like the Outer Banks vacation rentals found in North Carolina so that more people can enjoy the beauty of the country away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

I read that Outer Banks has some of the finest beach homes for rent in North Carolina and there are thousands of vacation homes to choose from.

2012 not end of the world afterall

Today's date is a special date - 20102010. In fact, it didn't ring a bell until I read Foong's post.

If the Mayan calendar were to be true, the earth has been predicted to end in a little over two years time, i.e., Dec 21, 2012. I just read in The Daily Chilli that the world will not end in 2012 afterall, just postponed.. Now, isn't that a relief?! You think?

Shopping in Bangkok and more..

Topic at the breakfast table this morning was Bangkok and the shopping there. A colleague who just came back from her shopping spree with her two daughters said that Bangkok is truly a shopping venue and that one of her daughters bought sixteen or was it 26 dresses! They had to buy an extra bag to hold the shopping goodies.

It always amazes me that people will go to great lengths to lug the extra baggage when they travel abroad. I have friends and colleagues who have brought back boxes and boxes of cookware from Langkawi and Haadyai, tons of clothes from Bangkok (of course), bundles of batik from Indonesia, bedding and towels from the US, and the list goes on. One even brought back a stained glass table-top from Bali! But then again, that is one beautiful artwork which now makes a great conversation piece at the patio.

One colleague vouches that bedding in the US are undoubtedly of better quality than the ones we find here. Talk about bedding, I came across one such site, matouk. They have great stuff and high-thread count luxurious bedding, towels, etc., and they've been in business since 1929!

So, are you one who doesn't mind all that lugging from your shopping? What's your biggest achievement?

Katherine Heigl medical scrubs on sale

If you are looking for medical uniforms online, you don't have far to look. Here's a website for hospital uniforms, medical and nursing scrubs and surgical scrub hats for both men and women. Blue Sky Scrubs makes the finest products in the industry and have thousands of customers all over the world. You'll find they have an extensive range of products to suit any preference and requirement. You can even have your uniforms custom-made.

If you fancy the scrubs worn by Katherine Heigl in Grey's Anatomy, there's good news. You'll find Katherine Heigl scrubs on sale now. In fact, a few other designs are also on sale at the moment. Medical scrubs are so comfortable that many people use medical uniform pants as nightwear or even as casual wear. Blue Sky Scrubs scrubs are not sold in stores, they are only available online at blueskyscrubs.com. Free shipping in the US for order above $155. Check them out!

Haze over Kuala Lumpur

Bad air quality normally doesn't bother me but unfortunately, the current haze over Kuala Lumpur is giving me a sore throat. Am drinking lots of water and juices and hope it'll go away soon. Not forgetting the Vitamin C too.

The air quality is still at acceptable levels according to the Department of Environment and the playgrounds are still filled with kids playing ball or on the ever-popular wooden swing sets The cause of the haze has yet to be determined by the authorities. Let's hope people are not contributing to it with open burning.


Image source: The Star

ACheapSeat for cheaper concert tickets

If you're in the US, where do you buy your concert or events tickets? ACheapSeat is where you'd want to go to for tickets from now on, be it concert tickets, sports tickets or theater tickets, Dancing show tickets, Horse racing tickets, tickets for circuses, boxing, the lot.

ACheapSeat is a professional ticket broker with access to many events across the US. This is where you can get the hottest deals on premium tickets every day and it's more than a few bucks you're bound to save. For the volume they buy, they are able negotiate great prices and the savings are passed onto you.

So, the next time you need BUSCH STADIUM TICKETS, Comcast Center Tickets or Caesars Palace Tickets, you know where to go for premium tickets at non-premium prices. Think ACheapSeat for your ticket needs - for convenience and tickets at cheaper prices.

Smile! You're on Candid Camera

Here is a site for photographers, photography enthusiasts and someone checking out Canon digital SLR cameras or simply checking out cameras and camera accessories.

CamerasDirect is a store for all things camera and more. Whether you are looking for DSLR cameras or compact digital cameras, you will find a wide selection of the popular brands including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus and more.

I think you'd be able to find everything you need on this camera store. There's a good selection of lenses, flashes, filters, memory cards and cardholders, batteries, camera bags, tripods and other accessories like lens covers and lens hoods, etc. Camcorders and binoculars are also available on CamerasDirect. There's more. The site is a resource for photography tips and answers to FAQs. Their product reviews can come in handy when you are looking to compare cameras to make an informed buying decision. Got questions of your own? Call them tollfree. Oh, by the way, there's a sale going on right now and you may be in for a good deal. So, check it out! You may never know what good deals you can find. Happy shopping!

Adam Lambert rocked a full stadium

Adam Lambert was in town last Thursday as part of his Glam Nation tour which started in June. Over 10,000
concert tickets were quickly snapped up filling the Putra Indoor Stadium in Bukit Jalil with screaming, excited fans.


In honor of his pledge to obey local rules, he did not kiss anyone. The glam-rocker created a stir by kissing his bassist Tommy Joe Ratliff at his recent Tokyo concert.

The 28-year-old American Idol 2009 runner-up who is openly gay, kept his word of providing “lots of glitter and leather” in his feather and gothic-themed ensembles at the highly-charged show. In the 90-minute concert, Lambert thrilled his fans with hits such as For Your Entertainment, Whataya Want From Me and If I Had You.


Source: The Star

Friday Frolics - What One Word Describes You?

If there's one word that describes you, what do you think it is?

You Are Enthusiastic

You have a zest for life, and you're always finding something new to be excited about. You have an amazing imagination, and unlike most people you tend to put your ideas into action. You're always looking to improve yourself. You never stop learning or growing. You are true to yourself and never a phony. You are always completely honest with people.

What One Word Describes You?

Quizzes and Tests, Oh My!

An Outdoor Cookout

Fireplace accessories are not common items here though they can easily be found online.

The other day, I saw a colleague checking out some brochures for BBQ grills and outdoor cookware. Tina and her family are planning a garden party end of the year. Besides cookware, they are also looking at some garden furniture and swing sets as well as canopies. Replanting flowers is also on their checklist she said. I'm sure it'll be a great party considering the amount of planning she and her family are putting into it.

Have you ever organized any outdoor cookout? It must have been quite an experience.

RM1 ticket and RM1 room from AirAsia

Start planning your holiday for next year. If you're planning on travelling between Apr and Aug, you are in for a HUGE travel discount from AirAsia - both on airticket and hotel room!

What's your favorite season to travel?

Everyone has a favorite travel season. What's yours? For me, Winter is certainly not my favorite. The big turn-off is the cold and having to pack sweaters and thicker clothing taking up valuable space which could otherwise be used for souvenirs and other nice-to-haves. (LOL! The shopper in me talking..)

I can still remember the wind and the excruciating cold when I was in South Island, New Zealand. But then again, it was September so being late Winter, it was expected to be cold especially when we were at the Mount Cook National Park and the Franz Josef Glacier. A visit to Mount Cook National Park is not to be missed if you travel to New Zealand.

Life insurance in Australia

If you are in Australia and are looking for a life insurance policy, here's a source. iSelect, Australia's number-one health insurance comparison site (based on hits January 2007), can help you compare, select and purchase not only life insurance but a range of insurance products from Australia's leading life insurers.

Life insurance isn't just for the main salary earner, if you are a homemaker you should consider how your other half would be able to run the household and keep down a full-time job if you weren't around. Life insurance can therefore be invaluable for both partners in a relationship.

Wondering how much cover you would need? iSelect has a Calculator to help you work out what's right for you. Compare participating Life Insurers and get a quote to ensure your mortgage, income or life is insured. If you'd prefer to speak with someone, you can call them on their tollfree line. iSelect has access to some of the largest Life Insurance Companies in Australia, providing choice and professional advice on Life insurance to Australians.

Google testing their driverless cars

Technology has taken us to the moon and back, made a lot of other activities possible and soon technology will make space tourism a reality. And in the offing too are cars that will operate without any need of a driver.

Yes, Google Inc. is road-testing cars that steer, stop and start without a human driver. The goal is to "help prevent traffic accidents, free up people's time and reduce carbon emissions" through ride sharing and "the new 'highway trains of tomorrow,'" project leader Sebastian Thrun wrote Saturday on Google's corporate blog.

According to Google's corporate blog, The cars have traveled a total of 140,000 miles on major California roads without much human intervention.

The cars know speed limits, traffic patterns and road maps using video cameras, radar sensors and lasers to detect other cars. The cars are safer because they react more quickly than humans according to their engineers.

They have been tested navigating San Francisco's curvy Lombard Street, Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard and the cliff-hugging Pacific Coast Highway, according to the blog.

Give your house an identity with an Address plaque

Many house-owners here take an address plaque for granted so much so some of the houses here do not have any indication of the address number. Simply put, the house has no identity.

If you live in a neighborhood where all the houses are in the same design, besides the color of your house facade and the garden, every house would look almost the same to someone who is new to the area. The one feature that gives your house its own unique identity is the house number.

An address plaque or address sign would make your house easily identifiable. Friends and family who would like to call on you would be able to find your place without the inconvenience of having to guess its location or knocking on the wrong door. Delivery personnel would also have no problem delivering their products be it a pizza or a washer. It would also make the mailman's job easier.

Time to rectify the problem and give your house its due identity? JustAddressPlaques.com may be what you are looking for. They have the largest selection of Address Plaques on the Market, carrying all the top manufacturers of address plaques, including Whitehall address plaques, as well as the latest styles and colors. They guarantee the lowest prices meaning that if you think you've found a lower price, let them know and they'll match it.

Happy 70th Birthday, John Lennon

If John Lennon were to be alive this day, he would have turned 70 yesterday or rather today in the west. Anyway, Happy 70th Birthday, John Lennon!

Below is the logo Google has done up to commemorate John's birthday. If you go to the Google site and click on the logo, you'll be treated to a lovely animated graphic to the tune of "Imagine". Very nice..

California Surfing and elsewhere..

Some things are worth waiting for. Here, a surfer waits for waves in the sea near Arpoador beach in Rio de Janeiro. More great surfing pictures at The Big Picture.

Here's another picture from the site.

South African surfers take to the water in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the highest number of riders on a single wave at Muizenberg in Cape Town, September 26, 2010.

Friday Frolics - What Color Is Your Birthday?

If there's a color attached to a birthday, what's yours? Mine's purple though the part about me being moody and all isn't true.

Well, it's Friday again. What can I say but have yourself a colorful day!

Your 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?

Waste Time at Work!

ImTOO DVD Ripper and DVD Ripper for Mac

Have you experienced having your favorite DVD quit on you as in scratched and not playable?  Yes, it happens.   That's why a lot of people make a backup copy of their DVDs on their hard drive.  To do that, you would need something called a DVD Ripper.  What a DVD Ripper does is it transfers the information encoded on the DVD on to your hard drive.

An ImTOO DVD Ripper has a lot of features.  It can rip DVD and convert to different video (AVI, MPEG, WMV, MP4, H.264/AVC, RM, MOV, XviD, 3GP, FLV, VOB, ASF, and DV) or audio (MP3, WMA, WAV, RA, M4A, AAC, AC3, and OGG) formats as well as rip DVD to HD video - all done at fast ripping speed and high quality conversion. It can also add subtitles and soundtracks to movies in addition to having video-editing features such as Clip, Merge, Split and Crop. Best of all it supports many phone brands and models including Apple iPad and Google Android-based phones: Nexus One, HTC Hero, HTC G2 Magic, HTC Tattoo, Motorola Droid, Motorola CLIQ, and Samsung i7500.

There is also the ImTOO DVD Ripper for Mac. Download both of these DVD Rippers for free. Give them a try! While you are at it, you may also want to try out another popular product, the ImTOO Video Converter Mac which you can also download for free.

Measuring Resting Metabolic Rate for weight management

If you are looking for measuring devices in relation to fitness and weight management, here is a site for you.

Health and Fitness Network stocks over 36,000 medical products from gadgets that measure resting metabolic rate to body composition analyzers, including Futrex. Futrex is fast, accurate, portable and simple to use and is now taking body composition analysis to the next level with their enhanced features. The new FUTREX-5500® now has a convenient new push button on the light wand, making body fat testing even faster and easier.

MedGem is used to measure resting metabolic rate or RMR and is now being used by Personal Trainers, Nutritionists, and Health Club Owners to help their clients lose weight. This convenient and simple to use measuring device has been certified accurate and is the measuring device of choice over the traditional metabolic cart.

For home use, BodyGem is the device for measuring resting metabolic rate. Owning one is the start of creating a personalized weight management plan and seeing it to fruition.

Being dedicated to the sale of products that measure fitness levels, there is no better site than Health and Fitness Network to help anyone manage his or her weight. Visit the site for more information or call them tollfree.

Tips For Going To A Professional Baseball Game

Contribution by Darren Saunders

The NFL might have the highest ratings right now when it comes to professional sports, but baseball will always be America's pastime. Have you ever been to a baseball game? If so, you know how enjoyable it is, especially if you're going with your kids. If you have never been to a professional baseball game, there are a few things you're going to want to know prior to arriving.

If you get to the stadium early, go ahead and park in the stadium lots, but be sure to park near the gates. This way you won't have to wait a long time when the game is over. You will be one of the first ones out. If you get to the game on time or late, look for parking around the stadium. Don't worry about crime. If cars that parked here were vandalized, the parking lot owners wouldn't have a business. When you get to the game, try to buy food items that everyone can share. This will cut the cost of your day down considerably. If the stadium isn't full, try to improve your seats in the middle innings. The ushers usually won't mind if those fans have already left. Just be sure to give him a $5 or $10 tip - depending on the city you're in.

These tips have helped me enjoy many baseball games throughout the years. When I cant make it to the game, I watch it on my satellite tv from www.directstartv.com/directv_programming/directv_seasonal_sports.html. Either way, Im a true baseball fan and that will never change.

How to Increase your Bustline

Ladies who want to increase their bustline no longer need to go for breast implants. This is because there is now a gel that can increase bustline.

Rodial Boob Job Gel, hailed as the miracle cream with subscribers like Eva Mendez and Scarlett Johansson promises to plump, firm and lift boobs as much as 2.5cm if applied daily for 56 days.

Makers Rodial claim it works by blocking fat cells as they travel round the body, increasing a woman's bust size.

The boob gel retails for RM611.50 per 100ml bottle.

I wonder if there are any side effects. Anyway, it's always wise to have health insurance, whether or not you're using the gel. If you're in North Carolina Blue Advantage health plans are not to be missed.


Source: The Daily Chilli

Security cameras in the city

If you are planning to visit Kuala Lumpur and may be unsure as to how safe it is, be assured that the city is a lot safer now than a few years ago. This is because of the many security cameras that have been installed in many parts of the city and other cities around the country.

According to stats published in the papers, the crime rate has gone down significantly since these cameras were installed. Still, it is advisable to always be alert to your surroundings when you are out and about, especially ladies. Better to be safe than sorry.

Keep warm in Genting Highlands

Did you know that redwood trees can grow to a height of 450ft? I wonder what's it like to be on top of one of those giants. Also, I wonder is it cold up there?

Talk about cold, if you're planning a trip to Genting Highlands and staying in one of those apartments, you may want to bring some warm clothing because nights are really cold due to the altitude and the mist and there's no heater in the apartment, let alone an infrared heater. Also, it can be a long cold walk to and from the indoor amusement park or casino or rather where the action is. So, be warned about keeping warm up in Genting Highlands.


Image source: Genting Highlands website

Maritime injury and claims

Kuala Lumpur being an inland city, we don't hear much about water sports, water activities, water-related injuries and the like. Unless one is involved in anyone of them, practically no one talks about boats and stuff, much less maritime injuries and claims.

The other day, I came upon a site about maritime law, injury claims, etc, and the success stories of this legal firm of Texas Maritime lawyers who have helped handle serious injury and wrongful death claims throughout the Gulf Coast region of Texas, in the cities of Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, and Port Arthur for injured offshore workers and their families in the recent BP oil spill.

If you're interested to know more, do visit the site. It's got lots of information - Rig explosions, overboard deaths, equipment accidents, diving injuries, unseaworthy vessels, lost wages, General maritime law, Death on High Seas Act, Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act - the whole works. Check it out!