On the Last Day of 2015

Google features an interesting animated doodle today for year-end 2015. Go to the front page to view this (minus the green border).

And do you see the bottom line which says: Watch and remember the moments of 2015? Go on, click on Watch and remember. You will see in a two-minute You Tube video what was trending in the world in the past one year of 2015. Interestingly what is the colour of that dress is also featured in the video if you know what I'm talking about. (I shall have to write about that dress based on my own experience. Come back and read about it later.)

In a nutshell, the Google page lets you explore the year's biggest moments and the questions they inspired. Watch and remember... Enjoy!

Happy New Year, Everyone!
May it be your best ever!

Christmas morning

Christmas morn - sunny, blue skies here in Kuala Lumpur. Hope your Christmas Day is just as beautiful!

Merry Christmas!

And from Johore, the Sultan wishes all Christians in Malaysia a "happy Christmas".

A page from The Star..

Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar (pic) wishes all Christians in Malaysia a "happy Christmas".

On his Facebook page Friday, Sultan Ibrahim hoped they would have a wonderful time celebrating Christmas together with their families and friends.

Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, writing on the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page, also wished all Christians a Merry Christmas.

“On behalf of Johor Football Association and all JDT (Johor Darul Takzim) players, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Merry Christmas to all our Christian fans.

“For all of Bangsa Johor, I wish you all a very happy new year. May the coming year be filled with success and blessings for all,” he wrote.

Malaysia is made up of 13 states and three federal territories (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya in West Malaysia and Labuan in East Malaysia). Johore is the southern most state in West Malaysia. It's is just across from Singapore and connected by the Causeway. Here's a map for better understanding.

The World's Most Expensive Christmas Tree is in United Arab Emirates

Kuala Lumpur, like all other cities around the world, is beautifully decked in Christmas best. Shopping malls and complexes as well as hotels are drawing in crowds eager to share the joy and beauty of the Christmas decorations.

Shopping is great too as huge discounts are everywhere. Bargain-hunters take note.

Speaking of Christmas decoration, if you are in Abu Dhabi, UAE, I suppose this is one Christmas tree not to be missed.

Source: Bloomberg
The glitzy Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE, has done it again!

At the hotel lobby stands what has been named the Most Expensive Christmas Tree in the World.

Though it has yet to be certified by Guinness World Records as the Most Expensive Christmas Tree, this 43-foot Christmas tree is decked with USD11 million worth of 181 items of jewellery of bracelets, necklaces, earrings and watches studded with diamonds, pearls, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones along with the traditional baubles and such.

The Emirates Palace Hotel still holds the Guinness World Record they set in 2010.

This hotel also holds a few other 'firsts', one of which is the installation of the world's first gold vending machine. Another record recently set in June is when Capital Gate, the tilting glass tower, was named the “World’s Furthest-Leaning Manmade Tower” by Guinness.

Let me take this opportunity to wish you

MERRY CHRISTMAS
and
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Friday Frolics - What Does Your Christmas Tree Say About You?

Christmas is just one week away, how time flies!

Let's then take a Christmassy quiz this week. If you have a Christmas tree how would you decorate it? Take the quiz below and find out what your decoration of the Christmas tree tells about you.

Happy Holidays!

You Are Charitable

You like to party and live it up during the holidays. This is a time to be festive and celebrate. You are resourceful, quirky, and artsy. You like something that's a bit outside the norm. You aren't traditional. You like your holiday decor to have personal meaning. Your ornaments and decorations each tell a story. This holiday season you are hopeful and optimistic. You are thinking of the future and giving generously.

What Does Your Christmas Tree Say About You?

More Fun, Free Quizzes!

Last Week's Quiz: What Greek Island Should You Visit?

Friday Frolics - What Greek Island Should You Visit?

Let's go to Greece today. Virtually, of course.

According to Wikipedia, Greece features a vast number of islands, between 1,200 and 6,000, depending on the definition, 227 of which are inhabited. Crete is the largest and most populous island; Euboea, separated from the mainland by the 60m-wide Euripus Strait, is the second largest, followed by Lesbos and Rhodes.

Greece is a popular holiday destination which boasts a number world famous islands. In today's personality quiz, let's find out the Greek Island that we should visit based on our personality. Mine says I should visit Kos.

Source: Wikipedia

You Should Visit Kos

A Greek island sounds appealing to you, but you still want to be in the middle of the action. Kos is big, interesting, and populated enough to keep you from getting island fever, while still offering many old Greek charms. Your curious mind will enjoy historic castles and ruins, including the tree where Hippocrates educated his students back in the day. A person like you craves variety and excitement. Take in a beautiful beach, exciting nightlife, or even a waterpark.

What Greek Island Should You Visit?

More Fun, Free Quizzes here!

Last week's Quiz: The Soap Bubble Test

A Gift for a Bass Guitarist

Have I got a gift idea for you!

If you have friend or a loved one who is musically-inclined, i.e. in the bass guitar department, consider this wonderful gift of a bass note chart.

Measuring 8-1/2" x 11", it's a handy poster packed with 56 different chord notes for bass. It looks great by itself, or you can have it framed all ready for your gift-recipient to adorn his or her wall of a music room or studio.

Needless to say it's a great learning tool and one that will certainly expand the chord note vocabulary.

Friday Frolics - The Soap Bubble Test

See if this week's quiz is as true for you as it is for, for the most part.

Have a great weekend!

You Are a Perfectionist

You are not a person who is concerned with details. You only tend to see the big picture. You act quickly but not impulsively. You think through your actions, even if only briefly. You are a big dreamer. Your head is in the clouds with your latest scheme, and it's sometimes difficult to get you back down to earth. You are a bit mysterious and withdrawn. You have deep spirituality that others can't grasp.

The Soap Bubble Test

More Quizzes Here!

What You Missed Last Week..

Friday Frolics - The Cherry Blossom Test

Do you love cherry blossoms? This week we are doing a quiz on cherry blossoms. Pick the cherry blossoms you like best, and see what they say about you. Here's what my choice says about me.

Happy Friday, everyone!

You Are Fearless

You live your life boldly, without fear. You are a true pioneer and nonconformist. You may be different, but you aren't disagreeable. You like to cooperate and work with others as much as you can. Your quirky ways inspire people to be themselves and let loose a bit. You radiate acceptance and confidence. You are spontaneous and a big believer in following your bliss. You can't go wrong making yourself happy.

The Cherry Blossom Test

Fun, Free Quizzes!

What Makes You Resilient is last week's Personality Quiz

Friday Frolicis - What Makes You Resilient?

Are you resilient? Of course you are! Want to know what makes you resilient? Take the quiz below to find out.

Happy Friday, everyone!

HappySurfer's Positivity Makes Her Resilient

You have an amazing sense of optimism that has followed you through even the most difficult times in life. You don't gloss over the negative, but you do make a conscious choice to highlight the positive. The negative could swallow anyone up! You find that little glimmer of hope in everyone and in everything. And you have faith that it will glow. You are resilient because you never give up. You believe that the best is yet to come.

Your turn..

What Makes You Resilient?

More Fun, Free Quizzes!

Find out the Quiz you missed last week.

Paris - two days after the attacks

Many artists shared their sympathy with France after the attacks that killed to-date 132 people in Paris.
Source

KL Tower lights up in blue, white and red

The Kuala Lumpur Tower lights up in blue, white and red (the colours of France's flag) joining other landmarks around the world in solidarity with France after the terror attacks in six different locations in Paris on Friday night.

The Star

Other landmarks include Sydney's Opera House, The London Eye, Stockholm's Ericsson Globe Arena, Madrid City Hall, Shanghai's Oriental Pearl TV Tower and New York's One World Trade Center.

On Friday night, militants and suicide bombers launched attacks at restaurants, a concert hall and a stadium in Paris killing 129 people and injuring 352, including 99 who are in a serious condition..


The Star also reported..

PARIS: Several foreigners have been identified as victims of Friday’s deadly terrorist attacks in Paris, which left at least 129 dead and more than 300 injured:

- ALGERIA: Two Algerians were killed, the official APS news agency said, citing diplomatic sources as saying the victims were a woman aged 40 and a man aged 29.

- BELGIUM: At least three Belgians including a dual French national were killed, according to the Belgian foreign ministry.


- BRITAIN: One Briton was killed, the Foreign Office says, adding that a “handful” were feared dead.

- CHILE: A man and a woman, including the niece of Chile’s ambassador to Mexico, were among the dead.

- MOROCCO: One Moroccan has been killed and another injured, according to the embassy in France.

- PORTUGAL: Two Portuguese nationals are reported to have died, according to the Lisbon government. A 63-year-old national who lived in Paris and worked in public transport was killed near the Stade de France sports stadium, while the second victim, killed at the Bataclan music hall attack, was a dual-national born in France in 1980.

- ROMANIA: Two Romanians were killed, according to the foreign ministry in Bucharest.

- SPAIN: 29-year-old Alberto Gonzalez Garrido was killed while attending the concert at the Bataclan theatre, Spanish authorities said.

- SWEDEN: One person of Swedish nationality was wounded by gunfire and another was killed, according to the foreign ministry, which said it was still verifying the information.

- TUNISIA: Two young Tunisians, sisters who lived in the French region of Creusot and who were celebrating a friend’s birthday in Paris, were also killed, according to the Tunisian foreign ministry.

- UNITED STATES: A student from California was killed in the attacks, her university said.

Other US citizens and a Swiss woman are reported to be injured, while two Brazilians were wounded in the attacks, President Dilma Rousseff said. – AFP


A really sad incident for humanity..

Friday Frolics - The Scribble Circle Test

Do you like to scribble or doodle? There is mounting research that your scribbles actually say a lot about you. This week's Personality Quiz is to pick the scribbled circle you like the best, and learn what it says about you.

Oh gosh! Are you like me?

You Are Accomplished

Of all the types, you are the most motivated and the most driven. You want to achieve all your goals. You thrive when you're able to work hard and be creative. You are constantly impressing people. Some people say you are a bit competitive and calculating, but you really just love to win. You do your best to seize every opportunity and find success. You are extremely ambitious.

The Scribble Circle Test

More Fun, Free Quizzes!

Did you miss last week's quiz?

Friday Frolics - What's Your Decorating Style?

A girlfriend has just moved into her new apartment and she's still in the process of fine-tuning the décor. So we went to Ikea the other day to see what she can find for her new space. And oh, speaking of Ikea I'm just so glad that Ikea will be opening its second store in Malaysia and it's going to be here in Kuala Lumpur too! Yay! It's at Jalan Cochrane in Cheras to be exact. Many people would be happy. I know I am. :D

Alright, I digress. Let's get to the matter at hand today, a Personality Quiz. Since we are on the topic of Ikea, let's do a Decorating Style quiz, shall we?

Have a happy day ahead!

My Style is Bright

You are an optimistic and sunny person. And you like your surroundings to be as bright and as cheery as you are. You love colorful things, but you also understand that less is more. You are likely to work with a home's natural sunlight and architecture. You aren't afraid to make bold choices in decorating and in the rest of your life. You like to be surrounded by things, people, and events that pop. There is nothing subdued or boring about your style. However, you are never too much - you are just the right amount!

Your turn..
What's Your Decorating Style?

More Fun Quizzes!

Last week's quiz: What Pumpkin Treat Are You?

Platinum Wedding Rings that won't break the bank

Are you looking for a wedding band that won't break the bank? That can happen and just a click away too as the perfect platinum ring(s) can be found online.

Save hundreds of dollars at Joy Jewelers and be assured too that you are getting high quality platinum wedding bands. They have a vast selection of platinum 950 wedding bands with gold inlays, diamond accents, unique shapes, and special finishes - anything you wish for for that special someone (and yourself).

All of their platinum bands are solid platinum 950 alloy, with Ruthenium or Cobalt. These blends are more durable than Platinum / Iridium alloys you might find selling for less elsewhere.

Check out Joy Jewelers platinum wedding bands today. You won't be disappointed.

Haze situation today, 3 November 2015

Haze? What haze? Malaysia is all clear today, the entire region as well except for a few places with a slightly higher reading such as Singapore to the south, Hat Yai (Thailand) to the north and Medan (Indonesia) to the west and a few places dotted here and there in Kalimantan and The Philippines.

Source

Therefore we are seeing blue skies again in Kuala Lumpur. Yay! That is after more than a month of overcast weather and hazy skies. The rains are back but mainly in the evenings and much needed to ensure we continue to have sunny days and clear skies.

If you are planning a holiday overseas why not consider Malaysia? Now that the haze is gone and our currency rate is at it's all-time low, Malaysia could offer you a real value-for-money vacation with plenty to see, eat, do and shop.

The Star reported that Malaysia has emerged as the leading destination in Asia, beating out nine other countries including Singapore, Korea, Macau, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The announcement was made at the 22nd Annual World Travel Awards gala ceremony in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Tourism Malaysia was also recognised as Asia's Leading Tourist Board at the same event.

Other notable winners from Malaysia were AirAsia which received the honour of being Asia's Leading Cabin Crew, while One World Hotel Malaysia was voted as Asia's Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel.

More..

Pangkor Laut Resort also came out winners in the category of Asia's Leading Wedding Venue while Resorts World Genting secured the title of Asia's Leading Themed Resort.

The winners in the Asia category will compete against other winners worldwide in the Grand Final, which will be held in Morocco in December.

The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge all sectors of the tourism industry.

Winners of the competition are chosen by travel professionals and high-end tourism consumers.


There you see. What's not to love about Malaysia, eh? Welcome to Malaysia!

Friday Frolics - What Pumpkin Treat Are You?

Sweet! It's Friday again. How time flies, doesn't it?

We have sunshine again here in Kuala Lumpur. Seems like the air quality in the region is much improved. Even Riau in Indonesia where the fires were raging has a PSI reading of 31 today. Can you believe it? Nice, huh! Lets hope it stays that way though here in Malaysia we are all prepared for the floods normally associated with the year-end North-east monsoon. The people in Kelantan (north-eastern state) are particularly wary after the devastating flood of last year which left many families displaced and much devastation in its wake.

As regards this week's Personality Quiz, since Halloween is just around the corner and pumpkins are associated with Halloween, let's take a quiz associated with the pumpkin and see what Pumpkin Treat we are.

Happy Friday, everyone!

You Are Pumpkin Bread

You are considerate and generous. Your heart warms when you're able to do something unexpectedly nice for someone else. You know it can be a cold world out there, and you have plenty of happiness to spread around. You try to give as much as possible every day, and you know that small acts of kindness can often mean the much. Whether you're being a good listener or sharing a slice of your pumpkin bread, people feel lucky to be able to count on you.

What Pumpkin Treat Are You?

More Fun Quizzes!

Last week's Quiz: What Flavor Croissant Are You?
And, Happy Halloween too!

Blue skies back in Kuala Lumpur again

Oh beauty! We are back in business, I mean, we are back to normal in the air quality department. We had rain yesterday and the day before which explains why we are seeing blue skies and playful white clouds today. Gosh, I have missed them!

Wheeeee..........

Petronas Twin Towers illuminated in blue to mark UN day

Tonight, Malaysia's iconic PETRONAS Twin Towers will be lit up in blue joining other famous landmarks around the world in marking the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.

Apart from the Kuala Lumpur landmark, other structures taking part in the event include the Sydney Opera House, the Paris Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building in New York.

United Nations was established on 24 October, 1945, after World War II in order to prevent another such conflict.

At its founding, the UN had 51 member states; there are now 193 according to Wikipedia. The headquarters of the United Nations is in Manhattan, New York City



Sources:
-The Star
- Wikipedia

The Haze - Bad news and Good news

The image below shows firemen putting out a fire in Ogan Ilir in southern Sumatra. By the way, Sumatra is separated from Malaysia by just a narrow Straits of Malacca which explains why skies over Peninsula Malaysia get shrouded with smog when these peat fires start burning large tracks of dry forest land in Sumatra.

Dousing the flames: Firemen putting out a fire in Ogan Ilir, southern Sumatra. — AFP

This is the type of fire hotspots that have been raging the last two months and the very same ones that are causing the haze in the region. There are hundreds of these hotspots in various parts of Indonesia, especially Sumatra and Kalimantan.

It has been reported that 32 helicopters and aircraft were already deployed over Indonesia to put out the fires.

Six of these were from Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. This includes seven fixed wing water-bombers and four planes for cloud seeding.

Two Russian Beriev Be-200 amphibious water-bombers, capable of dropping 12,000 litres each, have also been brought in.

The Met Department says the northeast monsoon is expected to kick in soon and it is hopeful that by the middle or end of next week, the skies will be clear. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

If you are planning a trip to Malaysia, it is still safe to make that trip. The sky may not be blue and clear but people go about their business without the need for a mask. So, there. It's still ok to enjoy a holiday here in the country or in Kuala Lumpur for that matter. I swear.


Source: The Star

Friday Frolics - What Flavor Croissant Are You?

Cool, it's Friday again!

Here's an interesting Personality Quiz for you this week. It's about flavoured croissants. Don't fancy croissants? Never mind, just take the quiz. Find out what it says about you - and it'll be a lot, trust me. Pretty interesting questionnaire too. Enjoy..

Happy Friday!

p/s: We take a break from Haze talk today though it's still bad in KL and all over the country. Singapore is getting it worse today with western Singapore recording a reading of 231. Oh gosh!

You Are a Chocolate Croissant

You are deeply passionate and emotional. You feel everything, and you don't hide what you're feeling. You have a strong personality, but you have the grace needed to smooth over any rough edges. People appreciate your strength. You are sharp and confident. You're always up for an interesting debate, and you have a fun comeback for anyone who tries to insult you. You don't have a mean bone in your body, but you also don't care what others think of you. You think you're living right. You enjoy treating yourself, and you always make sure to do a little something to make the day a little nicer. You understand the benefits of delayed gratification, but you'll have your gratification now, thank you!

What Flavor Croissant Are You?

More Fun, Free Quizzes!

Last Week's Quiz: The Sushi Chopstick Test

Haze situation and a little Surprise..

This morning I stopped to take this picture of this very fertile papaya tree silhouetted against the morning sun. Actually, I wanted to show that the air quality has improved a tad, at least here in Kuala Lumpur, as opposed to yesterday's API readings. No acrid smell in the air.

As you can see, the sun is not just a well-defined egg yolk in the sky. However, today, schools in Penang, Putra­jaya, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Kedah, Perlis, Negri Sembilan and some areas in Pahang and Sarawak remain closed.

Let's take a look at the API numbers for today. As you can see the north-western region of the peninsula is getting hit really hard - in purple. But let me draw your attention just a bit to one area in southern Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. I've circled it in red with an arrow pointing to it. That's a 999 reading! See that? Pity the people there.

Source: http://aqicn.org/map/malaysia/

And here's an interesting picture I stumbled upon on The Jakarta Post. This shows the vicinity of the Lake Gardens in Kuala Lumpur taken three days ago. Read caption below the image.

Thick haze obscuring Lake Gardens in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. The haze from the fires in Indonesia has spread across the country itself, as well as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. (The Star/ANN)

Alright, here's why we are getting the haze.. a hotspot map. Notice the lines of hot spots in Sulawesi and Papua. In Papua, "people are opening new agriculture areas, like palm oil", according to The Jakarta Post.

Source: http://asmc.asean.org/home/

From The Jakarta Post..

The fires raging in forests and peatland across Indonesia, which produce the thick haze that has spread across South-east Asia in recent weeks, are unlikely to be put out in the next month or two.

This means the crisis could persist into the new year, experts said, as the latest reports show hot spots emerging in 18 provinces in the archipelagic state in the past few days.

On a brighter note, not all parts of the country are shrouded in haze. There is still bright sunshine and beautiful weather in Sabah particularly at resorts at Semporna. Ask these people..

Stripping incident reported in Semporna

Current Haze Situation in KL (and Malaysia)

Little wonder that schools are shut today in a number of states. Seremban has hit 184 and as you can see the high API readings are mostly concentrated on the lower half of west coast of West Malaysia.

Mondays shouldn't start like this. If anything, Mondays should come with blue skies and bright sunshine.

No matter, may your weather be what you hope for wherever you are.. Happy Monday!

Source: http://aqicn.org/map/malaysia/

I Say A Little Prayer - My Best Friend's Wedding

A lovely song for a Saturday..

The haze is really bad today here in Kuala Lumpur, probably the entire peninsula. Still, life has to go on, right? Right?

Enjoy the video from My Best Friend's Wedding.



For those of you that have been wishin’ and hopin’ and saying a little prayer for another taste of the 90s classic My Best Friend’s Wedding, you are in luck!

US TV station ABC have announced they are developing a script for a TV show that will follow the iconic story of shy food critic Julianne and her secret love Michael (and, of course, her other best friend, George).

Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz and Rupert Everett probably won’t be returning to reprise their roles, with the show set to hire a new cast of actors to take up the mantle.

Source: Woman's Day

Friday Frolics - The Sushi Chopstick Test

Sushi seems to be the type of food that people either love or loathe... with no in between. Select the piece of sushi you are most interested in, and find out what it says about you.

You Are Courageous

You attain mastery of whatever interests you. You are extremely sharp and a quick learner. You are excited by knowledge, and reading is not enough for you. You like to conduct your own experiments. You are a whimsical and idiosyncratic person. You embrace your quirks - they make you who you are. You are inventive, creative, and completely ingenious. You are extremely gifted.

The Sushi Chopstick Test

More Fun Quizzes!

Last Week's Quiz - How's Your Attention Span?

Friday Frolics - How's Your Attention Span?

Just when I thought it's going to be a sunny day today, alas, it's not to be. Yes, it's still hazy out there here in Kuala Lumpur despite the readings.

We haven't had real sunshine since the haze started a month ago. I miss the sparrows chirping outside too and the pigeons in flight in groups. This morning was the sunniest these past weeks.

I have a shot taken this morning to show for it.

Talk about attention span, the weather I mean, this week's personality quiz is just about that - attention span - but you already know how you fare. Take the quiz anyway to see if it matches your real attention span.

Happy Friday!

Your Attention Span is Long

Your attention span is amazingly long. You can concentrate well, and your mind doesn't stray easily. Even if you have a mundane task to complete, you can get it done easily. Because you don't get distracted, you accomplish more than most people. Your self discipline is your greatest strength. You can will yourself to do almost anything. All you have to do is put your mind to it.

How's Your Attention Span?

More Fun, Free Quizzes!

Last Week's Quiz: The Quilt Test

Malaysia Haze Index Today

From where I am, Kuala Lumpur, the haze is still bad. I know because I still need shades when I go out even though the sun is just a dull orange ball in the sky.

But surprisingly the API reading on DOE's website shows otherwise. In fact, it looks very good on the chart. Take a look..

Except for Port Dickson with a reading of 103, it's either green or blue everywhere else.

Source: DOE

Yesterday, the haze was so bad in Langkawi that flights were not allowed to take off with visibility at just 500km.

I also read the other day the haze is also affecting migratory birds making their annual journey here to escape the winter of east Asia - China, South Korea and Japan. Malaysia is one of the places these birds escape to. As migratory birds use the stars to guide them in their long distance flight south, the haze could make their flight difficult.

Today, there is a news report that the people of Songkhla had sent a letter of complaint to Indonesia. People over there are affected by the choking haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia. The letter, among others, stated that the haze had started to take its toll on public health.

The Air Pollutant Index readings in seven southern districts of Thailand on Tuesday were 210 in Satun (dangerous to health), Songkhla 163 (dangerous to health), Phuket 136 (dangerous to health), Pattani 102 (moderate), Yala 97 (moderate), Narathiwat 72 (moderate) and Surat Thani 59 (moderate). - Bernama


Source: The Star

Gretsch Electromatic Hollowbody Electric Guitar

Looking for a guitar on a budget? The gretsch electromatic at Guitar Center may be what you are looking for. Guitar Center is now offering huge discounts for the Gretsch guitars so you're at the right place if you're in the market for a Gretsch.

Famous musicians including George Harrison, Pete Townsend, Steven Stills and Neil Young have all slung Gretsches around their necks.

For you, who are familiar with guitars, here's some guitar lingo you would understand:

The G5420T Electromatic Hollowbody Electric Guitar is a sharp Gretsch guitar with a bound single-cutaway hollowbody featuring sound-post bracing and elegant bound f holes. Other features include a maple neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and hump-block pearloid inlays, silver plexi pickguard, three-position pickup switch, classic "G" arrow control knobs, rosewood-based Adjusto-Matic bridge and Bigsby-licensed B60 vibrato tailpiece, vintage-style open-back tuners and chrome-plated hardware.

Better yet, have a listen to the beautiful sound of a Gretsch. Enjoy!

Friday Frolics - The Quilt Test and KL Psi - The Haze

This week's personality quiz is The Quilt Test or rather on patterns and colors and what your choice of them say about your personality. Pick the quilt that you like best to find out.

At this time of the year in this part of the world the Haze is one thing that's a part of life whether we like it or not. It affects everyone. We had some rain yesterday but still not good enough to rid the smog here in the capital city and the Klang Valley though other parts of the country are seeing better air quality today. And no sunshine today.

Image source: DOE


Here's The Quilt Test. Happy Friday, everyone!

You Are Connected

You are a mild-mannered, friendly, and social person. You value others and enjoy having lots of friends. You are simply happy to be in the company of those you know. You try to be as easy to get along with as possible. You comfort others with your sweet and gentle way of being. You do your best to never be harsh or cross. If you have to be honest with someone, you are never brutal. You communicate kindly and effectively. You find warmth in human relationships, especially if there is a high degree of reciprocity. Your friends tend to be as compassionate as you are. You enjoy the process of connecting with another person, and you believe that we are all interesting in our own ways.

Now your turn, take

The Quilt Test

More Fun, Free Quizzes!

Last Week's Quiz: What Flavor Cupcake Are You?

Haze Update Kuala Lumpur and around Malaysia today

Yesterday's psi was bad, today's psi is worse. I found a new use for my sunglasses when outdoors in this haze - never mind the stares. Birds around the neighbourhood are conspicuously missing. It's unusually quiet today. I wonder where do they escape to in this weather.

Schools in several states will be closed again tomorrow due to the worsening haze. Schools in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan and several parts of Sarawak will be closed.

Schools affected in Sarawak are located in Kuching, Sri Aman and Kota Semarahan.

More: API readings worsen throughout Malaysia

PSI Update - evening of 26 Sep 2015

If you are still visiting this space for updates, this is the latest, current haze situation in Kuala Lumpur, and Peninsula Malaysia for that matter. It's getting hazier. Needless to say visibility is very much affected.

I'm not showing East Malaysia, Borneo, because it's almost green (Average), a few blues (Good). Kuching is the only yellow dot with a PSI reading of 101.

As you can see, there are more yellow dots here now on the Peninsula than what was shown this morning.






In this haze situation, everyone loses.. more so those closer to 'ground zero'.

Boats carrying goods and passengers are seen on the Batang Hari River covered in a thick haze in Jambi on the Indonesian island of Sumatra September 25, 2015. - REUTERS

Just read that Singapore is moving against Indonesian firms over the haze and has launched legal action that could lead to massive fines against Indonesian companies blamed for farm and plantation fires spewing unhealthy levels of air pollution over the city-state.

PSI in Kuala Lumpur today - 26 Sep 2015

Stepping out of the house to go out for a roti canai and teh tarik breakfast this morning, I stopped in my tracks for a reality check. The smell of barbecue in the air sure didn't match the time of day.

Hey, it's morning and no bbq happens that early in the day - at least as far as I know or accustomed to.

You've guessed it. The air is bad today and visibility is rather poor too here in KL. The PETRONAS Twin Towers are actually my guide. I don't see them today. Yep, our PSI must be more than 100 today, I'm guessing. According to DOE the wind is blowing the smog over from Southern Sumatra towards the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia. KL, Malacca and others on this side of the Peninsula are receiving the brunt of it.

Let's have a peek at what the chart says.

Below is the PSI reading good until 12:00noon. There's no rain so far so it's still hazy out there and that bbq-esque 'fragrance' is still wafting through the air - kinda reminds me of Kenny Rogers and Nando's. LOL

Malacca is the yellow spot you see there with a reading of 120 psi..

Friday Frolics - What Flavor Cupcake Are You? PSI in KL today

Ah, it's Friday again. Yes!

Though it's hazy out there today here in Kuala Lumpur, we are still ok in the API/PSI department - in the 70s. Thanks to the wind direction and the much reduced number of hotspots. Well, there are worse things here in the country than the haze right now, but.. I won't go into that.

If you are in Singapore, I feel for you. With a PSI of more than 317 (as reported yesterday), schools are shut today, a precedent. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reminded people to take care of their health.

In a Facebook post Thursday, the PM of Singapore wrote; "Please drink plenty of water, and avoid going outdoors if you can. Look out for neighbours and friends, and stay safe." - The Straits Times/Asia News Network

A man wearing a mask watches from a bumboat as he passes the haze-shrouded central business district in Singapore Sept 24, 2015. The three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reached a hazardous level of 317 at 8pm Thursday. - Reuters
Source: The Star: Singapore schools close for first time as haze hits hazardous levels

Here's a PSI chart for today, 25 Sep courtesy of DOE Malaysia.

And this one shows the hotspots, wind direction and who and why we are getting the haze..

No, wait, MSN has a better picture of the hotspots..

An officer points to fires or hot spots in Kalimantan, Indonesian part of Borneo, on a screen at the Fire Command Post at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Jakarta September 22, 2015.

And now the quiz.. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. Make it great!

You Are a Carrot Cake Cupcake

You are a complex person. You have many interesting layers to your personality, though others might not know it. You are drawn to a cross section of people. You friends play different roles in your life. You are like a cupcake because you are are deceptively simple. There's actually a lot to you! There are many ingredients in your life, and you only want them in proper amounts. Being you is a delicate art.

What Flavor Cupcake Are You?

More Fun Quizzes!

Last Week's Quiz: What Flavor Iced Tea Are You?