Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Goodbye 2013 - Hello 2014!

It's Goodbye 2013 today and Hello 2014 tomorrow!

To borrow from a cute greeting that came in an email..

Have a Great End of 2013!
2013 is finally coming to a close, and I didn't want it to end
without wishing you all the best for the upcoming year.

So here it is, in 2014...
May you always make the right move.


 May your cup runneth over with love.

 May you always find shelter during the storm.

 May you remain good looking and looking good.

 May you find the perfect diet for your body and your soul

 May you find perfect balance in the company you keep.

 May you have as much fun as you can before someone makes you stop.

 May you manage to make time for time Out!

 May all the new folks you meet be interesting and kind.

 May you always know when to walk away... and       when to RUN!

and may your friends & family always bring you joy...


Yes,  H A P P Y    N E W   Y E A R !

Monday, December 30, 2013

Yes, It's Party time!


This being the holiday season and all, the Dictionary has aptly drawn up a list of 8 Party Words for us to revel in.

After the 10 Words for Happiness, I couldn't resist sharing this set of yet another list of 'happy' words, words that are most appropriate for this time of the year. 

So, happy partying whichever revelry or merry-making you will be partaking in. 

1. Masquerade [mas-kuh-reyd]
A masquerade is a festive gathering of people wearing masks or other disguises, often elegant, historical or fantastic in nature. Writers have been dazzled by masquerade balls since the term entered English in the late 1500s ultimately from the Italian mascherata. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet the "star-crossed lovers" meet at a masquerade.

2. Fete [feyt, fet]
A fete is a festive celebration. It comes from the French word of the same spelling, meaning "feast." It’s counterpart in Spanish is fiesta. Fetes sometimes have religious associations, but not always.

3. Shindig [shin-dig]
A shindig is a large party, usually with dancing. An Americanism that emerged in the mid-1800s, it might be influenced by the earlier terms shindy and shinty. Shindig is a portmanteau of shin and dig, no doubt referring to the movements of the legs while dancing.


4. Salon [suh-lon]

During the Enlightenment, it became popular for leading thinkers of society, from artists and musicians to philosophers and politicians, to gather together in the home of an intellectual for an afternoon or evening of lively conversation. Salon comes from the French term meaning "lounge." In the late 1600s, salon began to refer to a well-furnished room in a home, designed for entertaining guests.


5. Wing-ding [wing-ding]
Though less common than shindig, wing-ding is another term to describe a party. A rhyming reduplication of wing, this term evokes the flapping motion of a bird’s wing. When it first entered English in the 1920s, it was an Americanism to describe a fit of rage, though by the 1940s, it could also refer to a wild party.


6. Clambake [klam-beyk]
When English speakers started using the term clambake in the 1830s, they were referring to an outdoor party in which clams were cooked, traditionally on hot stones. Over time, the word took on a more general sense of a "picnic"--no clams required. By the 1930s, clambake could be extended to refer to any type of lively social gathering, even one that didn't feature food as a focal point.


7. Prom [prom]
In the United States, a prom is a formal dance held at the end of high school, usually for seniors. It was first used in English in the late 1800s, and is a shortening of the word promenade, which comes from the French meaning "a leisurely stroll." A promenade could also refer to the march of guests into a ballroom during a formal ball. In the UK, prom is used to refer to promenade concerts in which some of the audience stands.



8. Soiree [swah-rey]
A soiree is a party held in the evening, especially one held for a particular purpose. English speakers have been holding soirees since the late 18th century, when the term entered the language from the French soir meaning "evening." Soiree ultimately comes from the Latin sērus meaning "late."

Saturday, December 28, 2013

TC Helicon Mic Mechanic


If you are in the business of making music, a sound engineer is an important part of your setup. How would you like to have your own personal sound engineer with you at every gig? Now you can with a tc helicon mic mechanic.

TC Helicon's top quality Mic Mechanic is an astounding vocal effects pedal, with the ability to shape your vocals as if you had your own personal sound engineer with you at every gig.   With Mic Mechanic, you can always sound your best with its time-tested tone and effects you can take anywhere.

Some key features include:

* 8 high quality Reverb and Echo presets
* Separate Reverb (Room, Studio, Hall) and Delay (Tap and Slap), with combinations of both
* Footswitch tapping can match echoes to song tempo
* Tone button for Adaptive EQ, Compression, De-essing and Gating
* Auto Chromatic Pitch Correction
* Easy connection between standard mic and mixer

Friday, December 27, 2013

Friday Frolics - The Present Wrapping Oracle

Trust you are having a rocking holiday season filled with lots of love and joy, wishes coming true, good food, great company, lots of everything else good that comes with a wonderful holiday. Presents too, of course.

And speaking of presents, let's take a quiz on present wrapping and see what it says about us. Psst, it does tell on you.

Happy Friday everyone! We are enjoying great weather here in Kuala Lumpur. Hope you are having the same wherever you are.



You Are Confident

You go all out when you give gifts. You want to give a present that will wow, even if it's a little over the top.


You are spontaneous and impulsive. You tend to do things quickly, and you're quite impatient.


You are very organized and together. No one would ever accuse you of being a slob.


Your style of dress is classic and chic. The clothes you wear will never go out of style.


Last Week's Quiz: What Kind of Christmas Card Are You?

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Looking for a Fender Custom guitar?

If you are looking for a guitar, say a Fender Custom, you would probably go online looking for the best guitar you can find - best both in price and its match to what you are looking for.

Fender Custom Time Machine Stratocasters are easily available online at many reputable sites. Of course, one has to be somewhat well-versed on these musical instruments to be able to tell the better versions of such guitars.

The site I happened to stumble upon, has a number of great reviews on the Fender guitar shown here. Just a quick one, this reviewer said the following:

This is the finest Strat I have ever played. The combination of the quartersawn neck, the hand wound Abby 69 pickups, and the resonant body, make this guitar incredible. I wouldn't sell it for 5x what I paid brand new.It's funny and very obvious that all the haters posting in regard to this guitar have never owned one, and clearly don't get it. If you are comparing a MIJ guitar with parts to this CS 68, you haven't got a clue.


Well, whatever you are looking for, I hope you get what you want. Happy shopping!

Friday, December 20, 2013

Friday Frolics - What Kind of Christmas Card Are You?

Yay, Christmas is just days away! For you who are celebrating this holiday, this must be a busy week running around to ensure you get everything you need. Sent out your cards yet?

Speaking of cards, let's do a Christmas card quiz this week, shall we? This will be the last Christmas-related quiz before this holiday is over. Take the quiz to find out what kind of Christmas Card you are.

Happy Friday!
Merry Christmas!



You Are a Cute Christmas Card

You love the holidays, and it's hard for you to feel any sort of seasonal burnout.

You're the person who thinks the holidays don't start soon enough. You have your Christmas cards picked out months in advance.


The holidays make you feel happy and content. You're tickled by every gift you receive and every old friend you reconnect with.

You are a thoughtful gift giver, and you take the time to make each object you give unique and special. You like to see someone's eyes light up when they open your present.


Last Week's Quiz: The Ugly Christmas Sweater Test
The Week Before: What's Your Holiday Personality


Friday, December 13, 2013

Friday Frolics - The Ugly Christmas Sweater Test

Have you heard of this thing called the 'ugly Christmas sweater'? But there is and there's even a quiz about it, which we shall do today, this week. Pick your choice of the 'ugly Christmas sweater' and see what it says about you.

Happy Christmas shopping!



You Are Self-Reliant

You like to live life on your own terms. Above all else, you value your independence.

You enjoy spending time alone and observing the world around you. You love the solitude of being alone with your thoughts.



You like the freedom to do whatever you choose. You don't plan, and you prefer to be as spontaneous as possible.

You prefer to walk alone, but you do enjoy the company of others, as long as they are happy with you being you.


Last Week's Quiz: What's Your Holiday Personality?

Thursday, December 12, 2013

What does the 11th lunar month hold for you?


Ever wondered why some months life is easier but at other times not so smooth? Yes, the forces around us are constantly at work. Like karma, we don't see it but without a doubt, we are feeling the influence it has on our life whether we like it or not.

We are now in the beginning of the 11th lunar month, two months shy of the new lunar year. There is good news for this month as this 11th lunar month which began on 3 December ending on 31 Dec, looks set to be a good month. Read on..

The festive season has officially arrived! We will be entering into the 11th Lunar month which will be from the 3rd Dec to the 31st Dec 2013. Many will be celebrating Winter solstice (22nd Dec), Christmas and New Year. During this festive month, individuals will be busy running errands, traveling or even moving house. Despite the hectic schedule, many will squeeze in time in pursuing a quality lifestyle. Beautiful things, branded goods and glamorous experiences will be simply irresistible. Many will not hesitate to spend huge sums of money to indulge in these. If you are in the hospitality line or businesses that sell luxury items and experiences, this will be a great month to tap on.

This lunar month will be a highly energized one where individuals who have leadership qualities will rise in their respective areas, particularly in the social, political, military, medical and spiritual arena. These individuals will influence and lead a large number of people to make huge changes. There will be movements and even revolution.

All levels of transformation will be completed this month. In other words, ideas that have been formed will mature and take shape. To illustrate this, many ideas thought about or discussed previously may die off and their corresponding plans will be aborted. However, many ideas will be supported, the necessary actions will be carried out and they will materialize in this lunar month. The Law of attraction will be very effective at this time. This will be a fantastic month to make your dreams come true. However, a word of caution: be careful of what you wish for.

We will expect this month to be a joyous one with heavy indulgences. It will be advantageous for us to develop intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. Let there be light.

For those who need to cleanse their crystals or have been using their crystals actively, you might want to use the moonlight of the 18th December 2013 to do so.

Source:
Jmine Consulting
www.jmine.com.sg

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

10 words for Happiness


10 Words for Happiness - just the thing for a happy surfer's blog, don't you think? Found this on the Dictionary's homepage today.

Let's go through the slideshow, shall we?

Word #1 is, of course, Happiness
- Defined as pleasure derived from attaining what you consider to be good, the term happiness comes from the Old Norse root happ, which literally means “chance” or “good luck.” The noun happiness entered English in the 16th century, though the adjective happy predates this noun by 200 years.

#2 - Mirth
- Jollity, especially when accompanied by laughter.

#3 - Joy
- The emotion of great delight caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying.

#4 - Bliss
- Supreme happiness, often associated with the joy of heaven.

#5 - Elation
- A feeling of great joy or pride, or of exultant gladness.

#6 - Glee
- Open delight or pleasure. This term has had musical associations since around 1000 when the noun glee could be used to refer to entertainment of the harmonious variety. The meaning of delight came about 100 years later. By the 17th century, glee was considered obsolete or comic by various dictionary editors, only to reemerge in common usage in the late 18th century.

#7 - Exultation
- Lively or triumphant joy, generally over success or victory.

#8 - Euphoria
- A state of intense happiness and self-confidence. The term is sometimes used in pathology to describe the state of patients. This term has existed in English since the late 1600s and comes from the Greek euphoria meaning “a state of well-being.”

#9 - Jubilation
- A feeling or loud expression of joy, or a festive celebration.

#10 - Rapture
- Ecstatic delight or joyful ecstasy.

Well, what more can I say but Best wishes for a Happy Day of blue skies and all things nice!


Friday, December 6, 2013

Friday Frolics - What's Your Holiday Personality

Yes, Christmas decorations are up everywhere and school is out, so there's a lot more buzz around.  Last week, we did a Pie Quiz. Let's continue the holiday vibe with yet another holiday quiz this week and find out what sort of Holiday Personality have we got.

Happy Friday, nevermind the overcast weather here in Kuala Lumpur and probably the whole of Malaysia - with flooding to boot. Make your own sunshine and don't forget that smile! :D



Your Holiday Personality is Spiritual

It doesn't matter if you're religious or not... the holidays carry deep spiritual meaning for you.You like to take this time to reflect on your life.

You act deliberately and conscientiously during every day of the year - and even more so during the holidays.



While you like giving and getting gifts as much as anyone else, you do your best not to overspend or overconsume.

You also take time to connect with the natural world during the holidays- whether that means playing in the snow or planting your Christmas tree.


Last week's Personality Quiz: What Holiday Pie Matches Your Personality?

Thursday, December 5, 2013

A gadget for songwriters - TASCAM DP-006 Digital 6-Track Pocketstudio

If you are a songwriter, this lightweight, portable 6-track digital multitrack recorder is definitely one to check out. This excellent tascam dp-006 comes with two built-in high-quality stereo condenser microphones built directly in the front of the unit allowing you to record vocals or acoustic guitar anytime without the need for extra equipment or set-up time.


The DP-006 is designed for on-the-spot recording. It's not called Pocketstudio for nothing. It's touted as the simplestt-to-use songwriting scratchpad on the market. If you are a songwriter, this could be what you've been looking for all this time. With such a handy professional sounding multi-track recorder, you can be ready whenever creativity strikes.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Homeloq.my is a Home services site to bookmark

Now, here is a website you would want close at hand and I mean really close because it provides solutions that could make your life a lot easier, a lot less stressful and more enjoyable.

Homeloq.my is an online home services agency in Malaysia with a range of services that could and will improve your quality of life. Simple issues like air-conditioning,  plumbing or other home nitty-gritty stuff can be fixed in no time by experts that are just ready with their expertise. Need a new alarm system for your new home or office, or some handiwork around the house, or even cleaning services, you can find them all here.

Services listed include from airconditioning to autogate, alarms and locks; from flooring, home renovation and plumbing to pest control; from computers to maids and tuition teacher for your kids as well.

Practically everything you need help on for your home can be found listed here.  This is more like a one-stop center for everything for the home from moving house to fixing it up with renovations, garden landscaping, plumbing, cabinetry, furnishing with carpets and curtains, lighting, even art can be found here.  How cool is that!  See what I mean?  Everything for the home can be found here, there is no need to look any further.

I find this site straight-forward and easy to navigate with services listed in alphabetical order and the number of service providers shown in parenthesis to give you an idea. Another good thing about such a directory kind of site is that it makes comparing rates so much easier as you don't have to search for similar sites like you would normally have to. Homeloq.my has them all at their site and obtaining a quote is just a mouse-click away.

I know my expat co-workers in the office would appreciate this website. At least they now have some leads to common services they might need in future. Frankly, every homeowner, expat or local, would do well to have Homeloq bookmarked because it will come in handy, I'm sure.  A working home is a happy home, right?