Monday, February 28, 2011

All that glitters is Gold

Gold does not go out of style. Despite its high price, goldsmith shops here are still doing good business. People buy gold jewelry as gifts for weddings and new arrivals to the family or simply to add to one's collection though people don't flaunt them so much these days for safety reasons.

Investors, however, are looking at another angle to owning gold. Gold is and has been for centuries been used to preserve one's wealth hedging against inflation, now more urgently needed than ever. You can start small and slowly build up your investment portfolio. You can buy gold coins to start with or open a gold investment account with a bank here.

Spot gold is around US$1,412 per ounce. As for the Ringgit, Ringgit is quoted at 3.0555 to the US dollar.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

10 Islands to Explore Before You Die

If you have been to Penang, you have visited one of the 10 islands that is soon to be swarming with visitors from all over the world.

Penang made it into Yahoo! Travel's list of 10 Islands to Explore Before You Die. What is it that these islands have that sets them apart from the rest?

"Each of these places offers something that you can’t find anywhere else, from the largest man-made archipelago to hot springs so therapeutic they’ve been popular since Roman times."

1O Islands to Explore Before You Die..

1. Bali
2. Vieques, Puerto Rico
3. Easter Island, Chile
4. Ischia, Italy
5. Chiloé, Chile
6. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
7. Key West, Conch Republic
8. Penang
9. Galápagos, Ecuador
10. Palm Islands Dubai

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Singapore scrapping Radio and TV Licences

The Singapore Government announced last Friday that it has decided to scrap compulsory radio and TV license fees. Malaysia is ahead on this as licences for radio and tv have been scrapped many years ago.

Besides, the licence fees paid in Singapore were a lot higher than what Malaysians used to pay. In Singapore, all residences with working TV sets have had to pay an annual fee of $110 per household, even if the sets not used to watch TV programmes, say, for playing console games and watching DVDs or only cable programmes.

Similarly, all vehicle-owners with a working radio set had to pay the $27 radio licence, even if it was used for playing CDs or MP3 music files.

I believe our radio and television licence was just RM24 a year. Correct me if I am mistaken.

Product Reviews that are Realistic

How many of us first read a product review before we buy the product? Probably not many but when it comes to something we take in orally, our natural instinct would be to first read up on the product, wouldn't you agree? Better be safe than sorry later.

We often come across product reviews that just talk about the positive aspects and they sometimes can be biased and possibly misleading. As consumers, what we really need is a review that covers both positives and negatives and let us decide on whether to part with our money. Here is a site that does just that: www.supplementcritic.com/animal-cuts-reviews/. I would have a lot more confidence going by product reviews on this site than from one that just sings praises all the time. What say you?

Friday, February 25, 2011

SEO Elite helps rank your site higher

When people search for something online and come to your site, it is a good thing when that happens. It just means your site is getting organic traffic and we all know that getting organic traffic is a good sign. It is an indication that your site is ranked high enough to be visible on the Internet for that particular keyword or keywords. It also means that you are doing something right in the area of SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

SEO can be a difficult-to-understand topic for some of us but there is a lot of expertise around to be tapped into if one is looking for SEO help. There are even softwares available for self-help. There is this seo elite software that has been recommended by a friend.

Where to register as a Voter?

Have been receiving a number of hits lately on where to register as a voter. Thought I don't mind sounding like a broken record.

Again, have you registered to vote? It is every citizen's right to vote. Of course, it is also your right not to vote. The latter simply means that you give up exercising your right of choosing the government you want, one that will bring the country and people forward.

In case you have not registered as a voter and would like to start exercising your right, you can register to vote at any Post Office.

However, if you have already registered and would like to confirm that you are in the system, here is where you can confirm your registration. It will take you to this page..

Register to vote. Exercise your right as a citizen.

Friday Frolics - What Origami Animal Are You?

Happy Friday, Everyone! And here's a Friday Frolics quiz for you. What Origami animal are you? I'm a cat. Meowwww......



Happysurfer Is a Cat



You are agile and mysterious. You have your own way of navigating the world.

You enjoy exploring new ideas and places, but you also like to be able to retreat quickly.



You are a bit standoffish and aloof, but you aren't shy. In fact, you are brave and courageous.

Always resourceful and fearless, you can handle any situation. You are a survivor.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Enter to Win a 2011 Independent Handbag Designer Award!


Are you a handbag designer? If you are, you may want to
Enter to Win a 2011 Independent Handbag Designer Award!

Calling all handbag designers:

Handbag Designer 101 and InStyle are looking for undiscovered talented designers to compete in the Fifth Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards! You can enter your handbag to compete for one of nine awards, including Best Handmade Bag, Most Socially Responsible and Best Red Carpet Ready Evening bag. There’s also a Fan Favorite category, which will be voted on by the readers of InStyle.com!

Prizes include developing collaboration pieces, design sponsorships, and more. The application process is open now through April 30 on HandbagDesigner101.com. Good luck!

Adapexin - Burn Fat or Your Money Back!

Holidays do things to people and sometimes they may not be such desirable things. Nothing to worry about, of course, if you don't consider not being able to fit into your tightest jeans a problem.

Looks like I'm not the only one with such a concern. Two other colleagues are singing the same tune after the Chinese New Year holiday. One even suggested taking adapexin, the #1 Diet Pill of 2010. Worth checking it out.

Air Asia Big Sale is back - from RM5 a ticket

Air Asia's Big Sale is back with air-tickets from as low as RM5! There are a million seats going at this rate. With patience and luck, you may be able to book the tickets you want. Each year, a colleague manages to take a few holiday trips with his family thanks to Air Asia's huge discounts over the years.

The sale is on.

Booking period is from Feb 22 to 27.
Travel period is from 13 Sep 2011 to 29 Feb 2012. Good luck..

Even their rooms are going for form as low as RM5!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Know more about Acne

Battling an acne problem? Here's a site you may want to check out - getacnetreatments.com. It has a lot of information on acne and reviews of a long list of acne treatments.

Acne is not only a problem for teenagers, but for many adults as well. So what causes this skin condition?

Popular belief has it that acne is caused by dirt. It is typically caused by the abnormal shedding of dead skin cells around our hair follicles. Our skin is covered with hair follicles and when one becomes blocked by dead skin, oil and dead cells build up which causes swelling and redness.

Hormonal changes can also cause acne as at puberty and in changing estrogen levels in women.

Whatever the cause, there are effective treatments out there that can help to reduce the build-up of dead skin cells and to keep pores and hair follicles clear.

Women loved and left dry by Casanova

What do these four ladies have in common? If you've read The Star today, you would know the answer but for the rest, make a guess. The clue.. the presence of Datuk Michael Chong, MCA Public Services and Complaints Department chief - the gentleman in the picture.

For locals, if you know who Datuk Michael Chong is, you would be able to guess the answer to the question. To save you the trouble of guessing, Datuk Michael Chong is savior of sorts for people in trouble, ranging from being cheated, involved with loan sharks, missing persons, visa issues, you name it. Even foreigners go to him for help.

Again, what do these four ladies have in common? The answer is, Trouble. They all have fallen for the same Casanova and have been cheated of (their feelings and) their cash.

The story..Women come forward after being loved and left dry by Casanova

The point is, are women more prone to confidence tricksters? Just this morning, a colleague forwarded an email warning about a group of three women who have struck another victim relieving the poor elder woman of thousands of ringgit. More details to follow in a subsequent post. Stay tuned.

Image source: The Star

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

I may need Appetite suppresants

I think I have added on some pounds. All that feasting over the Chinese New Year holiday has vastly increased my appetite. I read that when you begin to increase your food intake continuously, your appetite increases as a result.

On the other hand, when you eat less, your appetite decreases in tandem. I guess this could be how one can maintain one's weight - by eating moderate amounts. However, for anyone who needs a little help in the discipline department, there is an easy way out. Look for the best appetite suppressants to help you do the job. That way, you won't be so tempted.

Christchurch hit by a 6.3 earthquake

Feb 22 (Reuters) - New Zealand's quake-ravaged Christchurch city was struck by a strong earthquake causing further damage after a strong quake hit the city last year, local media reported on Tuesday.

The quake was measured at magnitude 6.3 by local scientists with a focal depth of 5 kilometres, 10 kilometres southwest of the country's second biggest city. More..


In case you are wondering, Kuala Lumpur (or rather Malaysia) not sitting atop any tectonic plate fault line is not prone to earthquakes. In this part of the world, Indonesia, which has the Pacific Rim fault line bordering the archipelago is often affected by earthquakes.

Related articles:
Huge quake hits Christchurch - A large 6.3 magnitude earthquake has struck Christchurch, with reports of buildings down and serious injureis, five months after the city was badly damaged by a 7.1 magnitude quake.

Witnesses said there were buildings down all around Cathedral Square in the city, with the church destroyed.

Multiple deaths reported to police - Multiple fatalities have been reported to police following the 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch this afternoon.

Emergency services are attending.

The central city is currently being evacuated with widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Multiple buildings have collapsed, there are fires in buildings in the central city and people are trapped.

Update: Feb 23..Rescuers Press Search for Survivors in N. Zealand Quake

Image source: nzherald.co.nz

Monday, February 21, 2011

Puduraya bus terminal to reopen on April 16

Having not been to the Puduraya bus terminal or its vicinity ever since it was closed for upgrading last April, I was naturally excited by its progress driving by it the other day. The area is also quite devoid of traffic jams right now as you can see in the picture below.

Let's take a closer look.. New paintwork, of course. See the covered pedestrian walkway/waiting area in front of the terminal by the road? Commuters would appreciate this - great for rain or shine. The place is not quite ready yet, note the boarding.

Front-view.. Completely new look..

Familiar entry ramp. If you are driving, this is the only way in. This is one-way. Exit is through another way, at the back of the complex.

Good news for you if Puduraya is your hub for public transportation for going outstation, e.g., for going back to your hometown. The authorities have now set April 16 for the new date for the opening of the RM52mil terminal.

We will see a host of facilities that will improve the level of transportation services. There are two escalators heading to the basement where buses are parked and one travellator from a new main entrance to the ground floor.

Before, the waiting area was hot and uncomfortable for travellers waiting to get on or for people waiting for friends and family to arrive. The place used to be dusty and filled with carbon fumes. In the new terminal, heat from the bus engines and smoke will no longer affect the passengers at the ground floor with the new air-conditioned waiting area.

Other new features include ticket counters on the first floor, a surau (prayer area) on the second floor and a food court on the fourth floor.

All the 198 previous tenants including bus operators, food outlets, retail outlets, convenience stores and baggage storage will return to Puduraya. There will be 51 ticket counters for 72 bus companies.

Travellers to note:
- Puduraya terminal will only be for northbound routes
- Bandar Tasik Selatan terminal will be for southbound routes beginning March l, 2011

Information on and Map of Bandar Tasik Selatan


Related articles:
"Puduraya terminal" temporarily relocated to Bukit Jalil Parking Lot F
Puduraya bus terminal to close for 4 months from March 19
Kuala Lumpur Public Transportation
Opening of Puduraya bus terminal rescheduled to April 16, The Star

Sunday, February 20, 2011

A Vietnam fruit, though Dragon fruit it is not - Milk fruit

People in Malaysia are blessed with the availability of a wide variety of local fruits. Someone at the office once commented that her diet of fruits at lunch is as effective as the best diet pills in the market. Talking about fruits, yesterday, I had the chance of tasting a fruit I have not ever tasted before.

What do you think is this fruit? A round green fruit. Seen anything like it locally? This fruit comes all the way from Vietnam, Saigon to be exact or rather Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
I have no idea what it's called but this friend said people in Vietnam refer to it as a milk fruit because the juice looks and tastes milky. How it's eaten over there is to sort of roll or squeeze the fruit to make the contents soft and juicy so that it can be sucked out with a straw. I tried that but to no avail as the pulp is too thick for a straw to go through so what I did was to cut the fruit into half, as in the picture, and scoop up the flesh with a spoon. Yum! It's sweet and aromatic but if you dig in deeper, it becomes sappy and you'll find sap on your lips as a result but nothing to worry about. It can be easily wiped off.

Here's how the fruits look like. The fruits are greenish with a tinge of pink at the base the more ripe they become. The skin is smooth and has a shine, almost glossy. It's round (totally) and fits snugly in your grasp. It feels like a mango, only a little softer and a lot smoother and nicer. I know, it's only a fruit.. The leaves are interesting. They are green on the top but brown on the underside. It's a seasonal fruit and they are available December onwards. It's in abundance right now. That's a Malaysian fifty sen coin for comparison.
Btw, any Vietnamese resident reading this? Would appreciate your first-hand insight on this delicious fruit.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Friday Frolics - What Miniature Chocolate Bar Are You?

This week's Friday Frolics is a quiz on chocolate or rather miniature chocolate bars.

Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America, with its earliest documented use around 1100 BC.

Just because we love chocolates doesn't mean they are good for our pet cat or pet dog too. One of the alkaloids in chocolates, theobromine, renders chocolate toxic to some animals, especially dogs and cats. Now you know.. For more information on Chocolate, you can check out Wikipedia. Now the quiz. Find out what miniature chocolate bar are you. Mine makes me out to be a dark and sinister person. Sigh..



You Are a Special Dark Chocolate Bar



You are a deep and complex person. You don't let anyone get too close to you.

You stay a mystery, and you're good at keeping secrets... especially your own.



You prefer to stay on the outside a bit and observe. You find people fascinating.

You seek to understand and appreciate the world. There is more to you than anyone will ever know.


       

Best diet pills for women

I have always thought diet pills can be used by both sexes. Recently, I found out that there are diet pills/fat burners that are made specially for women. What should people look for in these best diet pills for women?

As a rule of thumb, measure the supplements based on the following and you would not go wrong:

* Overall Value
* Weight Loss Power
* Speed of Results
* Appetite Suppression
* Long Term Results
* Customer Results
* Safety
* Cost Per Pound Lost

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Goldfish Magic trick

Dogs, even tigers can be trained to perform tricks but can fish do tricks? In a magic show performed by Chinese magician, Fu Yandong, fishes were able to swim in unison.

However, animal activists in China say the now-famous magic trick that showed goldfish swimming in sync for the Lunar New Year is abusive and are asking the state broadcaster not to show it again. The worry is that magnets were implanted in the fish or that they were controlled by electric current.


Fu is scheduled to perform the act again during Thursday's China Central Television (CCTV) broadcast of the Lantern Festival, which ends the Lunar New Year events.

Wondering what the fuss is all about? Here's the video.




Source:
Chinese worry New Year magic act is cruel to fish

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Wishing Tree in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

There is a tree in Hong Kong that people go to to make a wish. Oranges and joss paper bundled together are hurled onto the branches. Sometimes several attempts are needed to accomplish the feat of having the bundle stay on a branch. Wishes must have come true because the wishing tree is still as popular today.

Don't we wish we have a tree like that here in Malaysia? But we do. Yes, we do have our very own Wishing Tree. It is located in Ipoh at a temple ground. It is at Kwan Yin Tong, Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah and it has attracted people from as far away as Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Taiwan as well as Western countries. So, the next time you are in Ipoh visit the tree and have a wish granted. It is believed that the spirit of a Tibetan deity dwells in the tree and is able to grant people their wishes. The temple is open daily throughout the year.

According to The Star, state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, who visited the temple, said Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Kadir would visit the temple tomorrow at 10.30pm.

“He will be making an important announcement, which will be good news for the temple,” he added.

Behold the Wishing Tree..




Source: The Star

Tossing the Yee Sang for a better year ahead

The activity of tossing the Yee Sang (raw fish salad) is termed to Lo Hei or Lo Sang, in the Cantonese dialect, which is the lingua franca in Kuala Lumpur. For those of you who have done the Lo Hei, what did you normally wish for?

Lo Hei or Lo Sang means to prosper so it is customary for 'tossers' to wish for a myriad of good tidings while tossing the dish. The things tossers ask for and especially the way it is worded can be rather amusing. It's a lot of fun Lo Hei, actually, and the activity builds commaraderie because everyone at the table takes part in it.

Lo Hei wishes can include from the common getting a fat bonus and better increment to striking the lottery, making money at the share market, good health, children doing well at school, adding a new bundle of joy to the family, and so forth. Whatever is good will be brought out afterall Chinese New Year festivities is a time to start afresh for the new year, and starting off with all things good and positive hopefully will ensure a good year ahead.

Generally, Gong Xi Fa Cai is the usual greeting. For newly-weds, friends and family would add an additional greeting for the presence of little feet in the coming year. A neighbour down the road must have had the greetings come true as she is not only expecting a baby but twins. Isn't that cool? I hear there is going to be a boy and a girl too.

I met her and her husband at the supermarket the other day and noticed the size of her stomach. The supermarket floor looked shining and smooth. I sure hope the floor tiles are of the non slip and non skid type for the sake of ladies on the family way and the elderly. A mis-step would be hazardous for anyone.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Chinese New Year food, and others

Chinese New Year is celebrated over fifteen days - this year, from Day 1 on Feb 3 right up to Day 15 on Feb 17 - and today being the 13th day into the new year, we are still celebrating the biggest festival in the lunar calendar.

Chinese restaurants are abuzz with diners every night tossing the customary Yee Sang and savoring symbolic dishes considered to be lucky in Chinese culture. Fish (steamed whole) and prawns are a must-have. Fish symbolizes abundance as in so much that it spills over to the next year (prosperity), while prawns happiness. Others include a dish of oysters and a hair-like seawood/algae (for good tidings and prosperity), lettuce (for health and vigor), (white-cut) chicken (serving a whole chicken symbolizes wholeness and prosperity) and many others.

Let's reverse a little to the first day of the new year. Buddhist Chinese families serve a popular New Year's day dish (Jai), also known as Buddha's Delight. It is a Buddhist tradition that no animal or fish be killed on the first day of the lunar year. If we want mercy, we should also be merciful at least on the first day of the new year. Vegetables are considered to be purifying, and many of the ingredients in this dish, from lily buds to fungus, have their own special significance.

Friends and families are still visiting each other bearing gifts of foodstuff that range from peanuts, mushrooms, wine, sweets and chocolates, etc., - symbolic food for good tidings of happiness, health and prosperity. It is customary to include mandarin oranges in the gift ensemble. Mandarin oranges sound like 'gold' in Chinese so they symbolise prosperity or luck. Oranges are given in pairs and a minimum of two oranges would suffice but more are usually given. Children and adults who are not married are still collecting red packets of lucky money (angpows) given by married seniors. The new year decorations are still up and people still greet each other with 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' and other good wishes.

The Chinese New Year rounds off its festivities with Chap Goh Meh, literally means the 15th night in the Hokkien and Teochew dialects. This day represents the fifteenth and final day of the Lunar New Year. It is also the occasion of the first full moon of the New Year.

The occasion is marked by feasting and various festivities, including the consumption of tangyuan (glutinous rice balls in soup) and Nian Gao (sweet glutinous rice cake). In traditional Chinese culture, it is also celebrated as the Lantern Festival (not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival).

Not sure if it is still practised today but in ancient times, during the Lantern Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns.

In some regions and countries, the Lantern festival is also regarded as the Chinese version of St. Valentine's Day, a day celebrating love and affection between lovers in Chinese tradition. Chap Goh Meh officially ends the Chinese New Year celebrations. This year, this day falls on Feb 17.

If you happen to be in Penang, CHINGAY and a lion dance on poles will be among the performances to be featured at the Chap Goh Meh celebration at the Esplanade in Penang on Feb 17 according to The Star.

There will also be a 24-season drums presentation, dondang sayang float, Baba Nyonya dances and a concert featuring local artistes. You can also feast on Penang's culinary delights at the food fair.

For singles looking for a partner, a mandarin orange throwing event, involving 3,000 oranges, would be held at the Esplanade at 7.30pm that day.

Happy Chap Goh Meh!


Image source: The Star

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone!
May you have Love in your Life
And Joy in your Heart, Always..




Image source: Wikipedia

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Austin Personal Injury Attorney

This still being the Chinese New Year, it is probably not a good time to bring up something as inauspicious as personal injury but then again, accidents don't pick their dates to happen. Accidents happen anytime they want.

If you are in Texas, USA, and have been injured in an accident through no fault of your own, but due to someone else's negligence, and are looking for an attorney who will fight for your rights, you may want to contact an Austin Personal Injury Attorney of the The Law Firm of O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath.

They have committed and experienced lawyers that provide their clients with superior client service and legal representation. These professionals are experts in personal injury and auto accident law and will vigorously fight for your full recovery. O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath is a Law Firm that prides itself on being approachable to their clients and aggressive toward their adversaries. Call them today for a free initial consultation.

O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Lifestyle of The Rich and Famous.. Michelle Reis

According to The Star..

Chinese dailies reported that actress Michelle Reis received RM39mil in ang pow from her in-laws after she gave birth to a boy, who has been named Jayden Max.

Her in-laws had given her RM210mil in ang pow after she became pregnant.

Reis also gave out RM370 in ang pow to each newsman covering her delivery at a Hong Kong hospital on Tuesday. She has also released a photograph of the newborn with her husband Julian Hui.

They, however, have yet to give the baby a Chinese name.

Image source

Egypt Erupts in Jubilation - Hosni Mubarak steps down

Events like this sets not only the country back but the whole world back several years. Citizens will have to work at bringing the same standard of living back to where it was. Even tourist dollars will have to be coaxed back. According to the NY Times, "This was meant to be a banner year for Egyptian tourism. The ministry of tourism was anticipating more than 14 million visitors in 2011, a record. It was hardly unrealistic, considering that Egypt had 12.5 million visitors in 2009, and in the first nine months of 2010, despite the continuing global recession, had already seen 10.5 million visitors pass through the country."

Worldwide, economy takes a dip when something this unsettling takes place. Everyone is affected in such a situation, sort of like the elements (the sun and the rain). There is no escape for anyone. Share markets everywhere were affected and went south. Even the KLCI lost 33 points on Thursday and continued to slide on Friday. I foresee the trend will be reversed come Monday now that Tahrir Square is back to normal.

NY Times..Egypt Erupts in Jubilation as Mubarak Steps Down
- CAIRO — An 18-day-old revolt led by the young people of Egypt ousted President Hosni Mubarak on Friday, shattering three decades of political stasis here and upending the established order of the Arab world.

Shouts of “God is great” erupted from Tahrir Square at twilight as Mr. Mubarak’s vice president and longtime intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, announced that Mr. Mubarak had passed all authority to a council of military leaders.



BBC.. Egypt's Mubarak resigns as leader
- Vice-President Omar Suleiman made the announcement on state television

Hosni Mubarak has stepped down as president of Egypt, after weeks of protest in Cairo and other cities.

The news was greeted with a huge outburst of joy and celebration by thousands in Cairo's Tahrir Square - the heart of the demonstrations.

Mr Mubarak ruled for 30 years, suppressing dissent and protest, and jailing opponents.

The Star.. A day Egypt will long remember
- CAIRO erupted in loud cheers which could be heard for kilometres around reflecting the joy of Egyptians that long time President Hosni Mubarak has finally stepped down after 18 days of massive demonstrations.



Hosni Mubarak
* Elevated from vice-president when Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981
* Supported Sadat's policy of peace with Israel
* Maintained emergency law for entire presidency
* Won three elections unopposed
* Fourth term secured in 2005 after allowing rivals to stand
* Economic development led many Egyptians to accept continued rule
* Survived 1995 assassination attempt in Ethiopia
* Faced Islamist threat within Egypt, including Luxor massacre of 1997 and Sinai bombings
* Regularly suppressed dissent, protests and political opponents


Sources:
- NY Times
- BBC
- The Star

Friday, February 11, 2011

Friday Frolics - What Kind of Cookies should you Bake?

This week's quiz on Cookies is probably a little late with the Chinese New Year almost over and all baking is done. Still, it's good to know for the next round of cookie-baking. Check out what kind of cookies you should be baking. Btw, hope everyone had a good time during the holiday.



You Should Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies



You are the type of person who has more friends than you can count. You're very popular.

You are outgoing and fun loving. You don't worry too much... you just enjoy life.



You may be well liked, but there's nothing bland or ordinary about you.

You like to write your own rules. Who knows what you'll throw into your chocolate chip cookies?

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Egypt is a popular tourist destination... but not now...

This image is on the frontpage of The Star today. At first glance, I thought the big patch of brown was a swarm of bees. They are actually Egyptian anti-government protesters gathering in Cairo’s Tahrir Square yesterday as they mark the 16th day of protests against the 30-year-old regi me of President Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt with her rich history and interesting attractions is a popular holiday destination but sadly tourists were seen leaving the country when the protest started. I read that close to a million tourists have left the country. There goes the tourist dollar, and lots of it too.

What do we normally associate Egypt with? The pyramids come to mind, don't they? The pyramids even made it into the Transformers movie, Revenge of the Fallen, which incidentally, is being shown on HBO this month. The Nile River cruise, according to my friends who have taken the cruise, is a must-do when visiting Egypt. Let's hope all this will come to an end soon and life can pick up where it stopped for their citizens.


Image source: The Star..Protesters believe military won’t shoot them

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

How to Increase website traffic

It is no secret that successful online businesses have more traffic than their competitors. And we all know that website traffic is critical for any online business. Traffic equals sales or conversions and more traffic increases these results. Therefore, any marketer who seriously wants to see more business needs to first increase website traffic.

In order to have website traffic increase, the site would need to be visible on the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). Not only does the website have to be visible, but it has to appear on the first page, ideally on the top few positions, i.e., above the fold. Research has shown that top-ranked companies get more traffic, thus more sales.

One search engine optimization company that can help you increase your website ranking and in turn increase your website traffic is ThinkBigsites.com. While most companies in this industry are still using antiquated SEO methods that simply do not work any longer to produce organic search engine optimization results, ThinkBIG uses new strategies and formulas to ensure clients websites get on the first page of search engine results.

Clients who are taking part in their organic search engine optimization services will see their SEO status increased and stabilized within 3 to 6 months.

ThinkBIG uses methodologies listed here to ensure your site gets to the top of search engine rankings. They do a Meta data length and relevancy analysis. Meta data length is analyzed because Meta's that are too long or too short can harm SEO potential. Links are also analyzed and broken links are then fixed or removed because broken links do more harm than good. Website architecture is very important because websites that are poorly developed can harm the ability for search engines to crawl a website.

Site maps are very important. They tell search engines which pages of your website you would like to have indexed. ThinkBIG will create a site map and insert code that tells the search engines to go to the website site map and index the appropriate pages. ThinkBIG will then submit site maps and websites to Google, Yahoo, MSN and DMOZ to make sure the site is indexed to appear on the rankings.

Many of us are not aware but Content Heading is crucial in page ranking. ThinkBIG creates keyword-rich content headings to help search engines use these headings to determine the main topic of the page and assign it more substantial weight in the overall algorithm of rankings.

These are just some of the many methods employed by ThinkBig to deliver results. Compared to antiquated methods used by others, these are cutting edge that will ensure your website gets top ranking and traffic that you want and deserve.

Google logo today, Feb 8 - Jules Verne

Google has an interesting logo today on its website. It is to commemorate the birthday of Jules Verne.

From Wikipedia,
Jules Gabriel Verne (French pronunciation: [ʒyl vɛʁn]; February 8, 1828 – March 24, 1905) was a French author from Brittany who pioneered the science-fiction genre. He is best known for novels such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870), A Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864), and Around the World in Eighty Days (1873). Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before air travel and practical submarines were invented, and before practical means of space travel had been devised. He is the third most translated individual author in the world, according to Index Translationum. Some of his books have been made into films. Verne, along with Hugo Gernsback and H. G. Wells, is often popularly referred to as the "Father of Science Fiction".

The image is in the form of a series of portholes in an underwater vessel - what else! On the right is a joystick which you can manoever in four different directions to view the sea life. You will notice that the lower you go, the darker it gets. Very cool! Quick, get on to Google.com. This is what it looks like.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Gosh! It's good to be back! I have missed you!

It's really hard getting back 'to work' (read blogging) after a good week's holiday. I certainly enjoyed myself. I hope you did too. I thought I'd better get over the holiday mood and get back to the good ole circle. Besides, today's a good day to 'start work', coincidentally.

Was wondering what to write about this being the first post of the lunar year and then looking at the collection of angpows (red packets/envelopes) an idea came to mind. Thus this image of the new year zodiac animal. No prizes for guessing what animal it is. Or have I got zero artistic inclination? Oh well..

Some people collect stamps and postcards, I have recently started collecting angpows. Kind of a weird whim, I know. But they are so pretty, don't you think? Besides, having them with you also means having all the good wishes that have been bestowed on you.

Hope you have had a wonderful start to a new year. Again, here's wishing EVERYONE a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Rabbit year.
Gong Xi, Gong Xi, Gong Xi Fa Cai!!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Fernando Torres moves to Chelsea FC

From Manchester United news the previous post, let's move on updates of another football club, two in fact.

Fernando Torres from red to blue moving from Liverpool FC to Chelsea FC for a transfer fee of 50 million pounds (RM250 million) making him the third most expensive player in football history. Fans furious over the 'betrayal'..

















Source: Daily Chilli

Manchester United beats Aston Villa 3-1

On a lighter note for Manchester United fans, the team is now five points ahead of second-placing Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League. Wayne Rooney's first-half double guided unbeaten Premier League leader Manchester United to a convincing 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on this morning.


Here is the League table as of today courtesy of the Official Website of the Barclays Premier League..

Source..The Star..Rooney scores 2 as Man United beats Villa 3-1

Aftermath of the flood in Johore











That's a mattress alright amidst the debris left behind by the flood. Household items like mattresses, sofa and even refrigerator lying washed up on the railway track in Segamat after the floods had receded.

After days of incessant rain and floods, the situation is improving and the number of evacuees are returning to their home and some to catch up with preparations for the Chinese New Year.

The sun is shining again and the worst appears to be over.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who visited the site, said flood victims could expect aid from the Government to rebuild their lives, adding that the authorities would assess the damage.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Segamat Flood update - and other towns in Johore, southern state

While most of us will be celebrating Chinese New Year in a joyous mood, this year's Chinese New Year will start on a sad note for a lot of families whose homes are hit by the current bad floods particularly in the south and in Sarawak. The Star today carries a series of articles on the flood situation such as the one below.

Segamat flood updates on Facebook - including a tip on getting from Gemas to Kuala Lumpur.

Below is a picture from a Chinese-language newspaper..


KTM Berhad was forced to cancel several intercity train services in Negri Sembilan and Johor.
Source: 40,000 evacuated to relief centres as floods hit five states


Related articles:
Mercy Malaysia to help flood victims in Johor and Sarawak

Airlift for the stranded, DPM also orders food to be sent to Johor flood victims

More than 47,000 flood victims in Johor evacuated (Update)

Messages on situation in Johor pouring in via Twitter


Gemas town centre













Kota Tinggi

Happy Chinese New Year to You!

My Dear Friends,