Baffling jobs and Muar food

Have you ever looked through job ads and wondered what a particular job is all about? Here is one for you. What do you think Message Therapist Jobs entail?

That's baffling? Wait till you see this menu. The next time you visit Muar, be sure to check out the restaurant. This was submitted by Sharifuddin Sulaiman for The Star's Thumbnail column.

Did you know that Muar is not only famous for otak-otak and oyster omelette, Muar is also known for mee bandung and asam pedas.

Friday Frolics - The Classroom Test

I don't know about being studious but glad school's out and formal schooling is no longer part of my life. On the other hand, we are literally students for life as life is in fact a learning process. What do you think? What have you learned today or yesterday?

You Are a Studious Student

You are wise and thoughtful. You are very philosophical about life. When something is important enough, you will tell people about it. You like to mull things over for a while. You are original in both your thoughts and actions. You think the status quo is boring. You are good at working hard without expecting praise. Others often don't know about your accomplishments.

The Classroom Test

Other Fun Quizzes

Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore divorce rumours

Sad..

The 33-year-old actor and his wife of six years, Demi Moore, 48, have reportedly been living apart for months as rumors claim they're about to embark in an estimated $290 million divorce battle.

"Ashton and Demi have separated and the marriage is over," a source close to the couple told Star magazine. "The relationship ended because of Ashton's serial cheating. It's a painful time for Demi."
More on Ashton Kutcher cheating on Demi Moore? Couple facing divorce rumors as other woman comes forward - nydailynews.com

Related article:
Ashton and Demi, in Tweets

Explosion at Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang Jaya

Four people were injured while more than 300 were rescued and evacuated after a suspected gas leak caused an explosion on the lower ground floor of the Empire Shopping Gallery here early Wednesday.

The 3.45am explosion damaged two other floors in the complex. It also caused damage to the adjoining office block and studio apartments.

The damage to the lower and ground floor of the mall was caused by the impact of the explosion rather than fire.

Police have ruled out sabotage or terrorism as the cause of the gas explosion. Meanwhile, Selangor Mentri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who visited the scene, said the mall would be temporarily closed to the public, pending safety assurance by the authorities and building is deemed safe although no serious structural damage was detected at the location of the explosion. The temporary closure will affect 180 tenants.

Update: Sep 29
-----------------
The explosion caused extensive damage to this section of the mall.

Empire Shopping Gallery has been closed for the authorities to determine the cause of a gas explosion which rocked the building, injuring four people.

The closure, which covers the entire complex that houses a hotel, commercial and residential units, is effective until the structures are declared safe by the authorities.

Empire Shopping Gallery is a popular shopping mall attracting thousands of shoppers daily.

The management company that manages the mall confirmed that the building's main structure is still intact, noting that the damage is confined to glass panels, ceiling boards and several brick walls “mainly due to the rapid expansion of air during the explosion”.

About 300 people were rescued and evacuated, including some 170 hotel guests who were relocated to nearby hotels for safety reasons. Employees who turned up for work this morning were asked to go home as the mall is closed until further notice.

The effects of the explosion reached both ends of the mall, and all five levels recorded some form of damage.

Several windows as high up as the eighth floor of the 12-storey office tower were also shattered.

The public can get updates via various channels, including the mall's website (www.esg.com.my), Facebook (www.facebook/esg.com.my) and Twitter (Empire SHGallery.com). Alternatively, they can call 018-701 2880.

Related articles:
- Mall blast: Gas leak from restaurant was the source, Fire Dept confirms (Updated)
- Tenants a worried lot
- One to three months to know source of gas leak in Empire Gallery blast

Source: The Star

Happy 13th Birthday Google

Today is Google's 13th birthday. Happy Birthday Google!

Rolling In The Deep

Alright, you've heard Adele's "Rolling In The Deep". For another perspective, here's Linkin' Park's cover at the ITunes festival in London. Lyrics below to sing along.



Rolling In The Deep

There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, and it's bringing me out the dark
Finally I can see you crystal clear
Go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your ship bare
See how I'll leave with every piece of you
Don't underestimate the things that I will do

There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch
And it's bringing me out the dark

The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

Baby, I have no story to be told
But I've heard one of you
And I'm gonna make your head burn
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Making a home down there
As mine sure won't be shared

The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hand
But you played it with a beating

Throw your soul through every open door
Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold
You pay me back in time and reap just what you sow

(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
We could have had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
It all, it all, it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

You could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)

But you played it
You played it
You played it
You played it to the beat.

Cyber-crimes on the rise

Every now and again, we hear or read in the papers about people being scammed either in person or online. Indeed, cybercrime is on the rise and according to the Norton Cybercrime Report 2011, cybercrime is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide with more than a million people becoming victims every single day.The victims of cybercrime also paid dearly with a total loss of US$388bil (RM1.21bil) to ­cybercriminals in 2010.

Below is an email, received a number of times, of someone who almost fell victim. The thing to remember is, if something is too good to be true, it probably is.

Subject: New Cheating - you see RM200K in your bank account!

Beware times are bad!

Any cheque banked in into your account need a few days to transact. Although the amount appears in your account, but it's still pending for transaction, the person issuing the cheque can cancel the cheque at any time! A few days ago, one of my friends received a sms with the message: "You've strike 1st prize with a prize money of RM200,000 cash." The sms came with a contact no. My friend ignored it since he had heard of too many bogus scams using similar tactics. After a short while his handphone rang, a Miss Fang asked: "Sir have you received a sms telling you that you've strike 1st prize?" My friend answered: "Yes, I have"

Miss Fang: "Please let us have your bank account number so that we can deposit the money into your account." My friend thought, why not, let's see what you can do. My friend has a buddy who works in that bank. Hence, he gave her his account number. Ten minutes later, my friend's handphone started ringing again. Miss Fang said: "Sir, we have deposited your prize money into your account, please check and verify." My friend checked using his handphone and found that RM 200,000 was really deposited into his account. He was euphoric, just like that and he's RM 200,000 richer!

30 minutes later, Miss Fang called again. She was crying: "I'm sorry sir, I made a mistake, I forgot to deduct the tax before I deposited the prize money, 20% of RM 200,000 equals to RM40,000. Now the company wants me to reimburse the money. Can you please return the RM 40,000 tax? I beg you." My friend thought for a while and felt pity for the lady. Thinking of the money in his bank account, he went to the bank. Suddenly he thought of his buddy working in that bank and decided to ask his buddy to double check and confirm with him first. Upon checking, his buddy found out that the money was deposited using a cheque of a different bank.

Even though the cheque was deposited but the actual amount of money can't be transfered into his account on the same day. If the other party decided to cancel the cheque, then he'll not get this RM 200,000. My friend was shocked. He almost lost RM 40,000. Before my friend left for home on that day, the cheque was actually cancelled. If not for his buddy, if not for him being a professional, or if he was cared of letting others know of striking the prize then this bogus scam would be successful. This is a true story, please beware. Future scams could be even better planned. Please don't forget to forward to your friends and relatives to warn them from being cheated.

Kelantan government's push to implement Hudud law in the state

Sometime ago, there was an email circulating around which had a series of images of a boy lying down on the floor while a vehicle rolled over his arm. The boy was being punished for stealing. There was another email showing a video of a man whose seat of manhood was being cut of in plain sight of the public, including his wife. These two incidents took place in an islamic country where hudud law is being practised.

These scenes could be happening on our shores if the Kelantan government has its way as PAS Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat said the state government would go ahead and set up an Islamic state with or without the support of its Opposition coalition partners. (The Star)

DAP chairman Karpal Singh, who was taken aback by Anwar's stand to support hudud law said: “The punishments for these offences are flogging 100 times for intercourse between an unmarried couple, stoning to death for adultery, amputation of hand for theft, death for apostasy, flogging 40 times for alcohol consumption, flogging 80 times for false accusation of adultery and death by sword or crucifixion for highway robbery.”

However, The Government will not implement hudud law in Malaysia, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Hudud law applies to Muslims.

Google doodle in honour of Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets

Google pays tribute today to Jim Henson. James Maury "Jim" Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. If you are not familiar with The Muppets, how about Sesame Street? There you go..

Friday Frolics - The Library Test and the Floating Book Fair on Logos Hope

This week's quiz has something to do with the Library. The Library is where some of us go to during the weekend. Talk about Library, a floating book fair is coming to town in the form of MV Logos Hope. The ship that is run as a non-profit organization will be docked at Port Klang from Sep 28 onwards until Oct 24. Currently, it is in Penang and will be there until Sep 27. So, if you are in Penang, you have just a few more days to make the visit. More info and itinerary of MV Logos Hope..

How to get there..

And now for The Library Test..

You Are a Concrete Thinker

When it comes down to it, you're a practical person. You're only concerned with what works in life. You like to build your skills and knowledge about the world. You like to know lots of things. You are career-focused. You get a lot of satisfaction from working hard. You are always looking for ways to improve yourself and strengthen your ambition in life. You study a lot.

The Library Test

More fun quizzes

Passes to Arthur's Day 2011 celebration at Speed City

Oh, did I mention I won four passes to the Black is Back with Arthur’s Day 2011 celebration with my blog entry? Received an email from Nuffnang on Monday and will be at their office to pick up the tickets tomorrow or maybe have someone pick them up on my behalf. I know, I'm late but I have until 6pm tomorrow to collect the passes/tickets.

The party will be at Speed City KL, Selangor Turf Club. I can imagine the traffic. Oh gosh! See you there?

World's Best Cities

Take a guess, what do the ten cities listed below have in common?

1. Bangkok
2. Florence
3. Rome
4. New York
5. Istanbul
6. Cape Town
7. Siem Reap, Cambodia
8. Sydney
9. Barcelona
10.Paris

Spanning five continents, these cities make up Travel + Leisure magazine's compilation of cities with the most Visitor Value as in the most desirable destinations that visitors would want to visit. Historical landmarks, cultural hubs, and even jumping-off points to smaller locales are all contributing to a city's desirability.

The magazine took into consideration what's important for visitors: culture, food, shopping, and most importantly, cost – of both staying there and getting there. Topping the charts is Bangkok - a city infamous for its traffic, pollution and recent governmental tensions. But Thailand's steamy capital, bustling Bangkok, is also widely renowned for its unique cuisine, its cosmopolitan nightlife and its stunning Buddhist temples. Thus, the Top Ten list above and if you are looking to book your next holiday, this list is a good start. See full list at Travel + Leisure's website.

Psst..Air Asia is giving away free seats again


Source: Time.com

Sending 100 Kisses

Ahh, Wednesday today. I love Wednesdays because it means I've survived two working days and two more to go and I'm done for the week. How cool is that?!

What's not to love about today? It's Hump Day to start with, the sun is up, so is the local share market. Plus, I heard from a friend who seldom writes and being a serious person that he is, receiving a joke from him is a bonus so I thought I'd immortalize it in a post. A Disclaimer here though -- It's only a joke so no offence to anyone, yeah? Here goes..


A Punjabi lawyer working in UK wrote to his wife in India ...


Dear Sunita Darling,

I can't send you my salary this month because the global market crisis has affected my Company's performance, so I am sending 100 kisses. You are my sweetheart, please adjust.



Your loving husband,
Tuna Singh


His wife replied...



TINKU KE PAPPA,

Thanks for the 100 kisses. Below is the list of expenses I paid with the Kisses...:

1. The Milk man agreed on 2 kisses for one month's milk.
2. The electricity man, Kooldip Singh, agreed not to disconnect only after 7 kisses.
3. Your landlord Kapal Singh comes every day to take 2 or 3 kisses instead of the monthly rent.
4. Supermarket owner Jaswant Singh did not accept kisses only, so I gave him other items, I hope you understand..
5. Miscellaneous expenses 40 kisses.

Please don't worry about me, I still have a balance of 35 kisses and I hope I can survive the month using this balance...
Shall I plan the same for the next month?

Your Sweet Heart,
Kichi


****************************************************

The husband immediately sent the cash the next day itself.

New KTM Komuter trains to ease congestion

From one mode of transportation, the KL monorail, to another here.. to beat the traffic congestion, taking the Komuter train is another way of getting to and from work for those who live in an area where this train service is available. Unfortunately, this train service leaves much to be desired with the breakdowns and their not keeping to the schedules. Getting to work or classes late may be a daily consequence for some.

The good news is, KTM has bought 38 new six-car train sets (SCS) and the first set of SCS is scheduled to arrive at Port Klang on Sept 25. Another five more sets will be delivered between November and December, while the remaining 32 are scheduled to be delivered in stages from January to June 2012.

Below is a picture of the new six-car train set put up by KTM at KL Sentral for public display. Called My Komuter, the train has a design speed of 140km per hour and an operating speed of 120km per hour.

Interior of the new six-car train set.

Newly-added features include LCD info screens, LED destination indicator, two coaches for women, priority seating zone, dynamic route map, intercom and CCTV.

KTMB currently has 53 stations with the addition of two new ones in Sungai Gadut and Senawang to take passengers from Batu Caves to Sungai Gadut and Tanjung Malim to Port Klang.

KTM Komuter started its services with 64 Electric Multiple Units. On Aug 3, 1995, the first KTM Komuter train began taking passengers from Kuala Lumpur to Rawang. Free trips were offered until Aug 11, 1995.

There are also "women only" coaches.


Source: The Star

Tying the knot on the KL monorail

Yesterday, there was a wedding down the road. The groom's entourage was honking as they were approaching the bride's home.

It's that time of the year for marriages again. Generally, the 8th lunar month is an auspicious month for marriages, engagements, house-moving and anything major though most traditional Chinese folks would also consult the Chinese Almanac or someone in the know on such matters to pick the auspicious date. The 8th month began on Aug 29 and will end on Sep 26.

Some people choose the most unlikely places to get married. I have read of people getting married underwater but what about getting married on the KL monorail? This couple in the video must be a first in Malaysia. Check it out..

Emmy Awards on Tonight / Emmys Worst Dressed of All Time

Hollywood's top TV stars will be hitting the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles tonight. And while the envelopes are still sealed on who will be walking away with a golden statue, fans are buzzing about which leading ladies will be among the evening's best-dressed.

On the other extreme, there were some who came with the worst dress imaginable. Have you had a fashion faux pax? Can you beat any one of these?

Tina Yothers
1986

Lucy Liu
2000

Sarah Jessica Parker
2000

Kelly Osbourne
2002

Bai Ling
2003

Joan Rivers (Host of Fashion Police.)
2003

More on Emmys: Worst Dressed of All Time on US Weekly

I wonder if we'll get to see the Emmys live tonight on Astro.

Cristiano Ronaldo Tested to the Limit

Fans of Cristiano Ronaldo might be interested in these videos. They show a series of recent tests by Castrol being conducted on him to study his Body Strength, Mental Ability, Technique and Skill. Take a look, they are pretty interesting even if you are not a football fan.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team. Ronaldo became the most expensive player in football history after moving from Manchester United to Real Madrid in a transfer deal worth £80 million (€94m, US$132m). In addition, his contract with Real Madrid, in which he was to be paid £11 million per year over the following six years, made him the highest-paid football player in the world at the time, and his buyout clause was valued at €1 billion as per his contract. (Wikipedia)

Body Strength


Mental Ability


Technique


Skill

Plane crash at Nevada Air Race

According to The Star:

A vintage World War Two fighter plane crashed near the grandstand at a Nevada air race on Friday, killing at least two people including the elderly pilot and injuring more than 50 others, officials said.

The plane, a P-51 Mustang dubbed the "Galloping Ghost" that was being flown by well-known pilot Jimmy Leeward, crashed into a box seat area in front of the main grandstand at the Reno Air Races, said Mike Draper of public relations firm R&R Partners, which represents the race. More..

Scene after plane crashes at Nevada air race

Malaysia Day celebration at Dataran Merdeka Kuala Lumpur

For those of us who missed the Malaysia Day celebration at Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square) yesterday, a reader from The Star took a nice picture of part of it although it was a rehearsal. The Thumbnail submission won the day's RM50 prize.

In the background, you can see part of the Royal Selangor Club building. The club just celebrated its 125th anniversary.

There is a video afterall. Let's watch..

Friday Frolics - What Type of Cruise Should You Go On?

I've yet to be on a cruise but I think it should be fun on one. I've always thought all cruises are the same, i.e., with the same facilities and itinerary. Apparently, they are not. This week's quiz is about cruises and it says I should go on a Disney cruise. Check out the type of cruise that you should go on.

Have a cruising, happy weekend, everyone! It's one that's longer than usual, isn't it, considering it's a public holiday today. Happy Malaysia Day!

You Should Go on a Disney Cruise

You are family oriented, fun loving, and truly a kid at heart. For you, a cruse is less about the destination and more about the total experience. You love the idea of a cruise with a little nostalgia and lots of activities for everyone. A Disney cruise will wow you, entertain you, and give you memories to last a lifetime.

What Type of Cruise Should You Go On?

Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

PM announces repeal of ISA, three Emergency proclamations

Certainly a big step in the right direction for Malaysia as the country celebrates Malaysia Day today, September 16.

Indeed, a happy Malaysia Day!

From The Star: PM announces repeal of ISA, three Emergency proclamations

KUALA LUMPUR: Several draconian laws including the ISA and the three Emergency proclamations are to be repealed under major civil liberty reforms announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Thursday.

The reforms include:

*Total repeal of the Internal Security Act

The legislation, introduced in 1960 in the wake of an armed insurgency by Communist rebels, gives the police wide-ranging powers to detain suspects indefinitely.

It will be replaced by a new law that incorporates far more judicial oversight and limits the powers of the police to detain suspect for preventive reasons.

37 people are currently being held under the ISA. There will be a six-month transition period while the new laws are introduced, after which their cases will be considered under the new legislation.

*Total repeal of the Emergency Ordinance

Introduced following race riots in 1969, the Emergency Ordinance, which allows suspects to be detained without charge for up to two years if permission is granted by a Minister.

This too will be replaced by a law that will not compromise on national security and terrorism while increasing democratic accountability and judicial oversight.

*Removal of annual renewal of press and publication permits

All licences will now remain valid indefinitely unless they are revoked, in common with broadcasting regulations in many Western nations.

*Government to review Section 27 of the Police Act 1967

The Malaysian constitution guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. The law requires police permission before gatherings can go ahead, including on private land such as stadiums. This law will now be reviewed to bring Malaysia in line with international standards while ensuring that the police retain the power to prevent violent scenes on the nation's streets.

A host of other laws, including those governing banishment and residence, will also be abolished or reviewed. Any law found to be no longer relevant or justifiable will be repealed.

Full text of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's speech.


Source: The Star

Haze spreading across Southeast Asia

Malaysia is once again shrouded in haze and it's even preventing the sun from shining through here in Kuala Lumpur. This is what happens in September each year when land-clearing takes place in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The condition further worsens with the lack of rainfall.

CNN reports that there are 1,200 hotspots identified in Southern Sumatra. Fortunately, air quality is not as bad here in Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur as it is in Indonesia. Take a look at the video from CNN.

Mid-Autmn/Mooncake/Lantern Festival - 12 Sep 2011

Today, Sep 12, is Mid-Autumn Festival or often referred to as Lantern Festival or Mooncake Festival here in Malaysia. Mid-Autumn festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month which incidentally is believed to be an auspicious month for marriages, so you might see many Chinese weddings and engagements this month.

On the home-front, families get together for dinner just as they would during Chinese New year, Dumpling festival and Winter solstice. The Mid-Autumn Festival is therefore considered as one of the four most important Chinese festivals.

The Mooncake/Lantern Festival involves family members gathering together after dinner for some more family time in the spirit of figuratively gazing at the moon. The moon tonight is believed to be the fullest and brightest among all the year's fullmoons. Traditional food during this Mooncake festival includes the mooncake (of course), the pomelo fruit and the mini yam or taro. Children will play with colorful paper lanterns in various animal forms and colors. Lanterns would also be hung around the courtyard for that air of festivity.

A little bit on the mooncake delicacy. Typical mooncakes are round or rectangular pastries, measuring about 10cm in diameter and 4–5cm thick. A thick filling usually made from lotus seed paste is surrounded by a relatively thin (2–3mm) crust and may contain yolks from salted duck eggs. Mooncakes are usually eaten in small wedges accompanied by Chinese tea. (Wikipedia)

For families of Buddhist/Taoist faith, offerings of incense and food (mooncakes, pomelos, etc.,) will be made to deities including the lunar deity. My late grandmother found it impossible that man had landed on the moon so she continued her normal ritual of making offerings to the moon. Traditions die hard. I wonder if this tradition will stand the test of time, but no matter, it is fun while it lasts.

So, to you who celebrate this fun festival, let me wish you a Happy Lantern/Mooncake/Mid-Autumn Festival and a good harvest the following year!

Friday Frolics - Man among the coffee beans

No quiz this week but let's do something 'brainy' instead - with coffee beans.

We have seen how coffee beans look like. Now let's see if we can spot the man among the coffee beans. Ready? Start looking... Now!

Found him? Once you've found him you might ask yourself, "Why didn't I see him immediately?"

The result:
Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people. If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, the right half of the brain is developed normally. If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein. If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger! And yes, the man is really there!

After you've found the man in the beans forward the e-mail to your brainy friends. LOL! Have a wonderfully brainy weekend, everyone!


Source unknown. This came in an email from a brainy friend.

Black is Back with Arthur’s Day 2011

Hey hey hey! Nuffnang has done it again! Nuffnang is making it possible for you to join the annual Arthur's Day celebrations that will be surging around the globe, beginning in Ireland and Europe across to the USA and the Caribbean and finally hitting our shores. Kicking off at 17:59 GMT on 22 September 2011, it’s 24 hours of global celebrations and live music events to mark yet another year of Guinness goodness.

80 lucky blog entries will each win TWO pairs of exclusive passes to this money-can't-buy-passes world celebration where the hottest acts in music will be bringing the house down. Watch international R&B superstar, Taio Cruz, perform live. Yep, he's the very same sexy crooner who took the world by storm with two consecutive US Billboard No. 1 singles, “Break Your Heart” and “Dynamite”! All this happening on

Date: 23 September 2011 (Friday)
Time: 6 pm onwards
Venue: Speed City KL, Selangor Turf Club

Six local acts will vie to be the top two (based on votes) to perform on this night. They are Prema Yin, NakedBreed, Rosevelt, Dragon Red, Jin Hackman (feat. CSBTEA) and James Baum. Who do you want to see perform? Cast your vote here.

Am I excited? You bet! Coz Taio Cruz is gonna be there and I know it's gonna be Dynamite!



To Arthur!
To Nuffnang too!

The New Blogger interface

Blogger is still my choice of blog platform which I've been using for many years now. It's not a perfect platform but over the years, there have been many improvements done though I've yet to be using the new blog templates. I've been toying with the idea lately but the thought of having to retype the links is a big turnoff. Still, the inevitable will come one day.

Blogger recently introduced something quite radical, a new interface. Have you had the chance to try the new Blogger interface or are you already using it? Me, I'm glad there is still the old interface to fall back to. You can learn more about it on Blogger Buzz: Blogger’s fresh new look.

The new interface looks sophisticated, more of-the-times, if you will, though it takes some getting used to like all things new. I've been switching back and forth from old to new and back to old again. After doing that, switching, I'm now seeing a little glitch.

The paragraphing option doesn't work anymore. I have to go to Compose to do that (on the old interface as I'm still blogging from there). Anyone encountering this problem? Any suggestion to fix it? I haven't done much on the new interface to know everything there is to know about the features but I guess when the time comes for a total switch, then the hard-knocks would come. Now let me go to Compose to break the paragraphs. Sigh..

The Haze is back - The smell of BBQ in the air..

 The haze is back in Malaysia with the air quality in parts of Klang Valley dipping further. The Department of Environment (DOE) Air Pollutant Index (API) recorded a reading of 92 as at 7am this morning (86 the day before). Shah Alam drew closer to unhealthy level at 96, Port Klang at 81, Batu Muda - 88 and Cheras at 84. In other parts of Peninsula Malaysia, SK Jalan Pegoh in Ipoh worsened to 86 while Seberang Jaya 2 in Perai recorded 79.

A good API reading is from 0-50, moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-299) and hazardous (from 300 and above).

A few things to remember when the air quality is bad. Best to stay indoors as much as possible. If at all possible avoid going to areas where the haze reading is particularly bad. Drinking lots of water to stay hydrated is a wise move. Open burning is to be avoided. Holding barbeques is certainly not a good idea at this moment. Put them off until Halloween. Did I say Halloween? It must be because of some Halloween invitations I saw on a website that has all kinds of Halloween invitations with images of all manner of pumpkins, witches on brooms, costumes, masks and all sorts of other related items.


Image source: InvitationConsultants.com

Recycle Old Royal Selangor Pewter

Don't know what to do with some old pewter pieces that you have collecting dust at home? Send them to Royal Selangor to be recycled. Your generous act would also contribute indirectly to the environment as part of the proceeds goes toward the Malaysian Nature Society in their environment conservation efforts. Stand to win a lucky draw too. More details below from The Star:  

Royal Selangor has launched a donation drive to invite the public to donate their old and unwanted pewter items in aid of the Malaysian Nature Society. Only pewter made by Royal Selangor or Selangor Pewter will be accepted and melted down to be made into new pewter pieces for The Alam Collection, a new range inspired by Malaysia’s forest. One third of the sales from the collection will go to The Malaysian Nature Society to aid their continuous efforts in habitat conservation and environmental education. 

The first 100 donors will receive a free one year membership with the Malaysian Nature Society. All donors are eligible for a lucky draw with the prize of a 3 day 2 night trip to the 130 million year old Belum Rainforest. 

Closing date for lucky draw is Sept 30. Members of the public can drop off their old pewter pieces at any Royal Selangor store. For details, please call 03-4145 6233/6234/6237 or email communications@royalselangor.com.my. Image source: RoyalSelangor.com

X-Factor UK 2011 Auditions

The UK X-Factor is back again. A new season; new talents. Here are two you have to hear them sing.

Emmanuel Kelly, a victim, survivor of chemical warfare from Iraq, doesn't know how old he is but has managed to become a wonderful singer. Here is his performance on The X Factor - Emmanuel's version of John Lennon's Imagine. (You're going to need Kleenex for this one.)



16-year-old Janet Devlin from Northern Ireland with her beautiful voice is a contestant to watch. Listen to her version of Elton John's Your Song. I wish I could make it easier for you but the video has been disabled but you can watch it on YouTube - http://youtu.be/GaDFdtk0A2Y.  Enjoy it.

These are the judges.  Recognize anyone?

Image sources: - xfactor.itv.com - YouTube

American aircraft carrier in Port Klang

Update: The aircraft carrier will be here for 4 days in which Sailors will have the opportunity to volunteer their time at several local community service projects, including work in two children’s homes and a senior citizen’s home. - Source

Sometimes I wish Kuala Lumpur is situated by the coast where you can see boats, yachts or even ocean-liners gliding by, or at least located alongside a huge body of water such as a lake or a river where you can enjoy watching people sailing or watch fishing boats go by. Lovely!

Not sure whether the vessel is still at Port Klang but the American aircraft carrier, USS John C. Stennis, made a scheduled port call yesterday. The name doesn't ring a bell?

This same aircraft carrier was used in movies including Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Executive Decision and others. It also responded to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Indonesia.

Image source: The Star

Motorbike lanes in Kuala Lumpur

Having just arrived in Kuala Lumpur and being a big bike fan, an expatriate colleague bought a brand-new big bike and took it for a spin downtown. As he was nicely cruising along taking in the city sights, a traffic policeman waved him down. Apparently, he was riding along a stretch of road that is designated for motorcars and bigger vehicles only. Motorbikes are to use an inner smaller road running alongside the regular road. This is for safety purposes.

The City is back to life

The almost-a-week-long holiday is fast coming to a close after the Hari Raya celebration. For those who made their way home to their hometown, most will be travelling back to the city today. If one were to see our highway from the air, the road would look like a lengthy slithering creature. The city is getting back to life, to its insane city jams and hustle bustle of activity.

Traffic jams and queues are really a test in patience - in a good way, of course. I once had to queue for two hours trying to get onto the cable car at the Genting Highlands Skyway. The line extended right down to one floor below! I'm kidding you not! I remember it was on a public holiday, Labor Day, and fearing there would be no parking uphill, we (friends and I) decided to park at the Skyway and take the cable car up instead. Officially known as Genting Skyway, the cable car station is located around midway from the foothill to Genting Highlands uphill. Genting Skyway is more or less opposite where Awana Hotels & Resorts is. This hotel complex (with golf facilities) is also part of the Genting Highlands chain of hotels.

Above, aerial view of Awana Hotels & Resorts borrowed from the hotel website.

After the day-trip, going downhill from the cable car station was another test. We were caught in the jam for another two hours. As if that wasn't bad enough, we had to put up with whiffs of burnt tyres as well. Quite an experience and a lesson learned on patience on this never-to-attempt-again Gentings day-trip on a public holiday..

Another queue I try to avoid is the supermarket checkout queue. Lining up behind shoppers with trolley loads of items is one thing, but having to wait for a cashier fiddling with (not her fault of course) a less than perfect POS system is another. One thing I've learned to avoid a supermarket queue is to check out at least an hour before closing. Also, to never pick up any item without a price tag and/or barcode tag.

BernamaTV cameraman killed in Somalia

This is sad. That a BernamaTV cameraman was killed in Somalia by a stray bullet on a humanitarian aid mission. Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, 41, passed away at 11.07pm while receiving medical attention.

From The Star: According to BernamaTV journalist Khairulanuar Yahaya, Noramfaizul was travelling with members of the electronic media on a truck heading to the city's commercial centre to send visuals that were earlier recorded.

Khairulanuar said shots were fired at a government army truck that was accompanying the media vehicle and a stray bullet hit Noramfaizul, who was seated by the door. The bullet pierced his lungs. More..

May he rest in peace.

Related article: Somali govt pledges probe into shooting that killed Bernama cameraman PM: Cameraman a true hero Condolences pour in for Noramfaizul’s family Sombre mood as BernamaTV cameraman’s remains arrive home

Genting Highlands is still the place to visit when in Kuala Lumpur

Genting Highlands is still a great local holiday destination. I like it for its close proximity to Kuala Lumpur. Just an hour's drive will take you right up to the top of the City of Entertainment as Genting Highlands is known as.

The climate is still cool and it offers a reprieve from the heat and humidity of the city. When I was there late July, the thermometer at the lobby of First World Hotel showed a cool 15degC. For comfort, a sweater, a scarf or a little extra clothing may be required.

Starbucks at the entrance of First World Hotel is still the place to hang out for a cuppa though I wish people would use the e cigarette instead. The air outdoor leaves much to be desired. Have you been to Genting Highlands lately? Photos taken will follow in another post..

Friday Frolcs - How Do You See Love?

Gosh, how quickly time flies! It's Friday again and the first Friday of the eighth lunar month. For the traditional Chinese community, there'd be more engagements and weddings this month. The eighth month is auspicious for such happy occasions. Let's go lovey-dovey this Friday too and find out how we see love..

You See Love As Sweet

You are a ton of fun, and you love to bond with others. You make instant friends with people. Whenever you are single, you are very ready to love. You have an open heart. You are an easy person to be with and an easy person to love. You are a joy to be around. If you have good food, good company, and good weather, then there's not much more you can ask for.

How Do You See Love?

More Free Quizzes for Everyone