Christmas at the London Zoo

I don't mean for Malaysia to be a copycat but then again, good things should be copied shamelessly as what a colleague used to say. Isn't there an idiom that goes something like to be copied is the best form of flattery?

I saw two pictures in The Star that capture the spirit of Christmas, of all places, at a zoo. It's the London Zoo and the animals even receive gifts. How sweet!

It got me wondering if our Zoo Negara (National Zoo) too celebrates our major festivals with the animals or create a festive atmosphere both for the animals as well as for visitors.

Maybe they do now. I'm guilty of not having visited the zoo in the last ten years or so even though I pass by it quite a bit. Come to think of it, anyone who commutes to work using the stretch of the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) in the Ulu Kelang area passes by the National Zoo at least once a day.

Here is the location of Zoo Negara. It is worth a visit when you visit Kuala Lumpur.


View Larger Map
And now a look at Christmas at the London Zoo..

A lion holds a "Christmas gift" during a photocall marking Christmas at the London Zoo on December 12, 2012. - AFP - 13 December, 2012

A penguin eats a fish next to a Christmas tree at London Zoo on December 12, 2012, during a photocall to mark Christmas. - AFP - 13 December, 2012
Merry Christmas, everyone! The End of the World has been postponed.

Taylor of Old Bond Street

I sometimes wonder if Malaysia is the only country in the world in an effort to play down her colonial past has changed road names in Kuala Lumpur. I can imagine foreigners who have been living here some decades ago coming back to Kuala Lumpur for a visit struggling to find Mountbatten Road, for instance, or Weld Road or Birch Road.

Came across this interesting name for a business, taylor of old bond street. This is a company that started out selling hair care products but now also carries other toiletries in their product range. The company has been in business for 137 years! It must have started in the old Bond Street in London thus its name, and the business has now expanded to the United States.

An Obituary in the London Times

Oh, this is too good to pass up. It is an Obituary printed in the London Times says the email. A brilliant piece. Read on..

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense,
who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he
was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red
tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable
lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend
more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not
children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old
boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens
suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his
condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing
the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their
unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental
consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but
could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to
have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became
businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their
victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a
burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed
to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a
little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust,
by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his
son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If
you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and
do nothing.

London 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony - 9pm BST Aug 12

Source: London2012.com

Tonight's Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games promises to be the biggest Olympics closing show ever! Expect an extravaganza of singing, dancing and silliness.

The Closing Ceremony celebrates the achievements of athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games. It also includes a handover from one host city to the next. In 2012, London will hand over to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic Games. The Closing Ceremony also features the extinguishing of the Olympic Flame, signalling the end of the Games.

To celebrate the fact that music has been one of Britain’s strongest cultural exports over the last 50 years the Closing Ceremony has been titled, ‘A Symphony of British Music’.

Broadcast worldwide, the Closing Ceremony will start at 9pm (approximately 4am Malaysian time, August 13) and will feature more than 4,100 performers, including 3,500 adult volunteers and 380 schoolchildren from the six east London Host Boroughs.

March of the athletes will begin with the flag-bearers of the participating delegations entering the Stadium in single file, closely followed by the athletes. In the tradition that began at the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games as a way of bringing the athletes of the world together, at the Closing Ceremony, athletes march together, not by nationality.

Three flags will be hoisted, one at a time - the flag of Greece to honour the birthplace of the Olympic Games; the host nation flag (UK) and the flag of the next Summer Olympics host (Brazil). The corresponding national anthem will be played as each flag is being hoisted. On the rostrum, the Mayor of the Host City will join the President of the IOC and hands him back the flag. The President of the IOC then symbolically presents the flag to the Mayor of the next Host City of the Olympic Games. The President will then make a speech declaring the Games closed.

The Olympic Flame, which has been burning in the Cauldron since the opening of the Games on July 27, will then be extinguished. Extinguishing of the Flame can be a moving moment for all those involved in the Games and possibly for everyone else watching the event. The Olympic Stadium will then come alive for one last time in these Games with celebrations.

Closing Ceremony Director Kim Gavin said: 'We want it to be the best after-show party there has ever been.'

Everyone is guessing as to who will be performing at the Closing Ceremony. The London Symphony Orchestra will be joined by some of the biggest pop artistes from the past 50 years. According to the BBC, George Michael has already confirmed his participation and the Spice Girls and Tinie Tempah are among acts reported to be performing. Other sources have suggested Adele, Take That, Paul McCartney (of course).

Malaysia too has a home-grown talent performing at the Closing. Samantha Tan will be one of about 100 professionals “peppered among the volunteers” at the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony.

Let the party begin!

Source: London2012.com

You can watch the Closing Ceremony live. Live-streaming of the London 2012 Olympics Closing ceremony available here at the Official Olympic Channel by the IOC - 9pm BST / 4am Malaysian time, August 13. Here's a Time Zone Converter if you'd like to know your local time.

See you in Rio de Janeiro in 2016!

p.s. Check out Google doodle for the Closing Ceremony


Sources:
- London2012.com
- Telegraph.co.uk
- bbc.co.uk

Closing Ceremony - Last one of the Google Olympic Doodles

Google Doodle presents its last doodle of the Olympic doodle series today, Aug 12, which is the last day of the London 2012 Olympic Games and in which more records have been broken on the last day of the Summer Games.

The last doodle is dedicated to the Closing Ceremony slated to start at 9pm BST, approximately at 4am Malaysian time, August 13, if you could stay up to witness what promises to be the best closing ever, an extravaganza of singing, dancing and silliness.

See the entire series of the Google Olympic doodles.

Google Olympic doodle Number 16 - Rhythmic Gymnastics

Google's Olympics doodle today features Rhythmic Gymnastics. This is the 16th in the Olynpics doodle series. This should be the third last Google doodle before the London 2012 Olympics come to a close tomorrow.

Check out all the other Google Olympics doodles.

Google Olympic doodle Number 15 - Soccer

Google has churned out yet another Olympic doodle that is interactive. This is the third interactive Google Olympic doodle after Hurdles and Slalom canoe. Soccer gets the honour today and this is the 15th Google doodle in the series for the London Olympics.

Going to the Google Search page today will take you to the Soccer Google doodle. After today, you can still continue to play Olympic soccer.

Other Google Olympic doodles include the earlier doodles for archery, swimming, gymnastics, hockey, fencing, table tennis, shopt put and the opening ceremony; pole vault; synchronized swimming; javelin; hurdles; slalom canoe and today's doodle, soccer.

Pandelela Rinong wins a Bronze medal for Malaysia

Yes! Pandelela Rinong won another medal for Malaysia. She secured the bronze in the 10m platform event.

On the podium for gold, silver and brozne winners of the women's 10m Platform Diving
Silver medallist Brittany Broben of Australia, gold medallist Chen Ruolin of China, and bronze medallist Pandelela Pamg of Malaysia on the podium for the women's 10m Platform Diving final on Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre.

Winning a gold, Chen Roulin, the 19-year-old Chinese diver, completed a sweep of the platform events for the second straight games.

With a silver and now a bronze puts Malaysia at #53 on the Medal Count together with Estonia, Indonesia, Serbia, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Tunisia.

Well done, Pandelela! We are so proud of you.

Wikipedia has more about Pandelela Rinong and her achievements.


Source: London2012


Related article:
Pandelela wins historic diving bronze in 10m platform..The Star

More Olympic Games medals for Malaysia?

We read everyday of records being broken at the London Olympics - of the best this and the best that. Malaysia too has her fair share of bests and firsts.

Yesterday, The Star carried an article that said Ken Nee is first Malaysian to reach diving final in the Olympics.

The article said..
YEOH Ken Nee continued to make Malaysian diving history yesterday – becoming the first Malaysian to qualify for the final of an individual event in the diving competition at the London Olympics.

On Monday, he became the first Malaysian diver to qualify for the semi-finals when he was placed ninth out of 29 divers in the men’s 3m springboard event. Only the top 18 made the semi-finals.

This means the hope of another Olympic medal after the silver medal win by Lee Chong Wei in badminton, is still alive.

Yet another glimmer of hope comes from Pandelela Rinong who has made it into the semis of the 10m platform.

Pandelela, Malaysia’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony on July 27, qualified in second place in the qualifying session. She scored a total of 349.00. China’s Chen Ruolin was the top qualifier with a score of 392,35.

Germany’s Christin Steuer was the third best qualifier with a score of 341-75.

Another Malaysian diver everyone is watching is Bryan Nickson Lomas. We will see him in action on Aug 10 (tomorrow).


Update:
In the evening, The Star reported that Pandelela makes it to 10m platform final

The Sarawakian lass finished a creditable fifth in the field of 18 contestants in the semi-finals, with a score 352.50 points.

The top 12 qualified for the final, which will be held at 2am Friday (Malaysian time). We shall know the result in the morning papers.


Image source: The Star

Google Olympic doodle Number 14 - Slalom canoe

Today's Google Olympic doodle, number 14, is dedicated to Slalom canoe. Just like the earlier two doodles for Hurdles and Basketball, this Slalom canoe doodle is also interactive allowing you to try your hand at canoeing. You can play Slalom canoe here..

A little extra information on Slalom canoe at the London Olympics from Wikipedia..

The canoeing races at the 2012 Olympic Games in London are being contested in two main disciplines: the slalom, from 29 July to 2 August, and the sprint, from 6 to 11 August.[1] The slalom competition was held at the Lee Valley White Water Centre and the sprint events will be staged at Eton College Rowing Centre also called Dorney Lake.

A total of 330 athletes are expected to take part. The men's 500m races will be replaced by a 200m race; in addition, the men's C2 500m will be replaced by a women's K1 200m race.[2] This was confirmed at an International Canoe Federation board meeting at Windsor, Berkshire, on 5 December 2009.[3] For the first time, women will have two individual events in sprint canoeing. Because of the changes, the finals will now be spread over a three-day period instead of the traditional two days which had been in effect since the 1976 Olympic Games. - Wikipedia

Dorney Lake, the venue for the sprint discipline

Google Olympic doodle Number 13 - Basketball

Google celebrates the Olympics today with their Google Olympic doodle Number 13 featuring Basketball. This is the second interactive doodle after yesterday's Hurdles doodle and allows you to shoot balls into the hoop within a timeframe of 24 seconds.

Here’s how to play the game. After clicking the “play” button, you have 24 seconds to shoot as many basketballs into the hoop as possible. Tapping the space bar sets the shot and tapping it again shoots the ball towards the basket. Clicking on the left side of the mouse also works. Play the Basketball game..

Basketball is a team sport, the objective being to shoot a ball through a basket horizontally positioned to score points while following a set of rules. Usually, two teams of five players play on a marked rectangular court with a basket at each width end. Basketball is one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports. - Wikipedia

Google Olympic doodle Number 12 - Hurdles

The Google Doodle team is getting better with their Olympic doodles. Google doodle no. 12 is for Hurdles. What makes this doodle interesting and unique so far is that this doodle is an interactive doodle that lets you 'compete' in hurdles.

To get started, just click on the "play" button. Use your keyboard arrow keys to start running down the track and the spacebar to jump over a hurdle. You can time yourself and share your result on Google+. Depending on how well you do, you will be rewarded with one, two or three gold coins.

Perform a Google search today will take you to the hurdles doodle.

Here is where you can play the interactive hurdles doodle later on: http://www.google.com/doodles/hurdles-2012

You can also use a game controller to play the hurdle doodle. It works with Google's Chrome browser and very recent versions of Firefox. Very cool, check it out!

Google Doodles for the 2012 London Games so far include for archery, swimming, gymnastics, hockey, fencing, table-tennis, shot put, pole vault, synchronized swimming, and javelin. There is even a doodle for the Opening Ceremony.

Silver medal again for Lee Chong Wei

Datuk Lee Chong Wei (left) put up a gallant fight but lost 21-15, 10-21, 19-21 to Lin Dan in the men's singles badminton final of the London Olympics at the Wembley Arena on Sunday.

His gold medal hopes have been once again dashed by China’s Lin Dan, his nemesis in the men's badminton singles.

This is the second time Chong Wei has lost to Lin Dan in the clash for the Olympics gold medal. In the men’s singles final in the 2008 Beijing Games, Chong Wei lost 12-21, 8-21 to the Chinese ace.

More..Gallant Chong Wei forced to settle for silver by Lin Dan

Google Doodle's 11th Olympic doodle

Javelin is Google Doodle number 11 in the Google's Olympics doodle series.

A javelin is a light spear designed primarily for casting as a ranged weapon but was later used for a sport. The javelin is almost always thrown by hand, unlike the arrow and slingshot, which are projectiles shot from a mechanism. However, hurling devices do exist to assist the javelin thrower in achieving greater distance.

The word javeline comes from Middle English and it derives from Old French javelin, a diminutive of javelot which meant spear. The word javelot probably originated from one of the Celtic languages. - Wikipedia

With Lee Chong Wei's silver medal for Badminton, Malaysia stands at no. 48 in the Olympics Medal Count. Datuk Lee's medal is Malaysia's only medal win so far.

Source: Google Search

Google's 10th Olympic Doodle is Synchronized Swimming

Google's 10th doodle for the Olympics is Synchronized swimming.

Synchronized swimming (often abbreviated to Synchro) is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers (either solos, duets, trios, combos, or teams) performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music. Synchronized swimming demands advanced water skills, and requires great strength, endurance, flexibility, grace, artistry and precise timing, as well as exceptional breath control when upside down underwater. - Wikipedia

Google doodle No. 9 - Pole Vault

Google's ninth doodle for the London Olympics is for Pole Vault. Here are the other eight Google doodles.

Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole (which today is usually made either of fiberglass or carbon fiber) as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, Cretans and Celts. It has been a full medal event at the Olympic Games since 1896 for men and 2000 for women. - (Wikipedia)

Google Doodle Doo..

A Google doodle a day keeps the blues away! Indeed, Google has done up a daily doodle of the games in the London 2012 Olympics. Today's Google doodle is dedicated to Shot put.

The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" (throwing in a pushing motion) a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting (throwing) action. - (Wikipedia)

Yesterday's Google doodle was for Table tennis.

Others so far include:

Fencing

Gymnastics, Hockey, Archery and Swimming

Opening Ceremony

Which is your favorite Google doodle? Also, show us your doodles if you are doing any doodling yourself.

Google doodle of London Olympics Opening Ceremony

Without fail, Google keeps track of major milestones of people and events, and this time, it's the 2012 London Olympics that Google is commemorating. Featured above is the Google doodle dedicated to London 2012 Opening Ceremony.

If you go to the Google search page, below the doodle, you will also see a link to Google's very own page dedicated to the Summer Games in London whose Opening Ceremony is scheduled to begin in 8 hours time- 9pm UK time, 3am Malaysia time.

Live-streaming - London Olympics Opening Ceremony

Indeed! Today is the day! The day sports fans around the world have been looking forward to - the 2012 Summer Olympics or commonly known as London 2012.

The most happening place in the world right now in the context of sports has got to be London, the venue of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

While a girlfriend is smack in the middle of all that London Olympics action, (she lives there and even has tickets to some of the games!), some of us (meaning me) are happy enough just getting news from afar.

BBC is doing a great job (as always) of keeping the world updated on the activities leading up to the actual Summer Games.

After seven years of preparation, the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics is due to take place later at 4pm London time which is roughly about 10pm Malaysia time.

The three-hour spectacle in the Olympic Stadium is expected to be viewed by a global TV audience of a billion people.

The image below shows the Olympic flame heading along the Thames on the Queen's rowbarge Gloriana on the final day of the torch relay.

The torch relay is on the last leg of its 70-day journey - BBC

The final torchbearer of the 70-day relay will be 22-year-old basketball player Amber Charles, who played a key role in London's winning bid and who will carry the flame in front of City Hall and Tower Bridge.

The relay ends late in the evening with the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony but the identity of the person who will take on the honour remains a mystery. Will it be David Beckham doing the honours?

You can get more news of the London Olympics at the BBC website.

I'm sure you'd want to join the billion who will be witnessing the Opening of the London Olympics. The Opening Ceremony will be at 9pm, i.e., approximately 3am Malaysian time. You can watch the live coverage of the Opening Ceremony on the following channels:


Official Olympic Channel by the IOC

NBC channel - only available in the United States and U.S. Territories

In Malaysia, Astro ESPN Channel 812 will be screening it live.

Enjoy!

What's in store in the Sixth Lunar Month

Today is the first day of the sixth lunar month and according to a prediction I read about this lunar month, (from 19th Jul to 16th Aug), this is going to be an intense month and which it’s intensity will build up very quickly.

The report went on to say there will be displays of aggressive behaviour with people fighting to lead and having a strong desire for independence and freedom. This will be caused by people’s willingness to do what it takes to achieve their objectives that will include doing the right thing as well as adopting any underhanded means. Spreading rumours, engaging in gossip, partaking in corruption or scandals might be considered and adopted.

However, there will be rewards, job opportunities, good news and even money making opportunities in the midst of such misery. However such positive outcomes will not come about easily and be without conditions. A great deal of diligence, self-discipline, an eye for details, patience and perseverance will be required to work through the odds. Even though it will be necessary to work hard, it will also be vital to maintain good healthy habits and avoid being a workaholic. You might want to prioritize your tasks to handle important matters and plan your schedule properly. Failure to do so might result in a high likelihood of losing control and end up in a cycle of a cat catching its tail.

Incidents recorded in The Star in the past week or so include..

UK border staff vote for strike during Olympics
Passengers arriving for the London Olympic Games could face long queues at airports after a union representing passport officials said its members had voted to back a strike in a dispute over pay and job cuts.

Protesters stand under red umbrellas during a Day of Action for the 2014 Health Accord in Vancouver, British Columbia July 18, 2012. The red umbrella has been adopted by health care advocates and medical practitioners concerned about the federal government's announced cuts to provincial health transfers in coming years. The protest was held in several cities across the country. -Reuters - 19 July, 2012

Mapuches take part in a protest against the government by placing their hands through a barrier into a jar of cement, which hardened around them, in a public square in Valparaiso city, about 121km (75 miles) northwest of Santiago (Chile) July 18, 2012. -Reuters - 19 July, 2012

Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest in front of the ruling government party Popular Party headquarters in Madrid July 13, 2012. Spain created an emergency fund to protect its regional governments from defaulting and warned pensions will also be overhauled as public anger mounted on Friday over the deep spending cuts needed to dodge an international bailout. REUTERS/Juan Medina - 14 July, 2012

Firefighter Fabian Corona, 36, remains tied with strings and chains to a lighting post at Zocalo square in Mexico City July 11, 2012. Corona, a firefighter for 16 years, along with seven other colleagues, began on Tuesday a hunger strike as they claimed that they were unfairly dismissed. - REUTERS/Edgard Garrido - 12 July, 2012

An Occupy Wall Street activist takes part in a march in downtown Manhattan in New York July 11, 2012. - REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz - 12 July, 2012

A protester wearing a mask takes a photo with a cellphone at the entrance to Congress in Guatemala City, July 10, 2012. A group which calls itself Anonymous Guatemala, is protesting outside Congress against the high salaries of politicians and unnecessary expenses when the people in Guatemala are still poor, according to the protesters. REUTERS/Jorge Dan Lopez - 11 July, 2012

...and something pretty for a change..

A young woman picks sunflowers as the sun sets near the small Bavarian village Puchheim on July 18, 2012. Meteorologists forecast nice sunny weather during next two days for southern Germany. -AFP - 19 July, 2012


Sources:
- www.jmine.com.sg
- The Star