Thursday, 29 March 2007
Of Sarcasm and Forgetting a Bra
There is nothing Posh about forgetting to wear a bra when gallivanting about in thin T-shirts, as you've unfortunately been known to do. It is obvious to us that the bra may be a foreign concept to you - much like American football, or the good sense to avoid Tom Cruise - so allow us to explain: You're a 32-year-old woman with perky breasts that apparently like to breathe. Keep shunning that bra and in five years you'll end up with pendulums hanging off your clavicle that hubby David Beckham might mistake for soccer ball bags.
Source: IMDb.com "Magazine Editors Urge Beckham To Get a Bra"
The Time Is Right To Write On Poop, Panda Poop
Source: LiveScience.com "Chinese to Turn Panda Poop into Paper"
Selangor Broadband to Be Very Slow In The Next 3 Years
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
Cervical Cancer Vaccine
A vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and vulvar and vaginal pre-cancers in women, called Gardasil, was launched in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
It is the first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, a disease caused almost exclusively by a highly common sexually transmitted virus called the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) that includes over 100 different strains.
In Malaysia, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer after breast cancer.
“The vaccine has been shown to be effective in studies done on women between 16 and 26. The majority of women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer are between the ages of 40 and 50.
“We hope that the vaccine will protect the generation of females now. It will not make a major impact on those in their 50s because many are already infected.”
“Some 1,500 Malaysian women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year.
“Pap smear tests, which start at the cost of RM5 or RM10 from government clinics to below RM100 in private hospitals, are readily available. Yet most women just don’t take it. “
NCSM is offering the vaccine at a subsidised price of RM999 at its Women’s Cancer Detection & Breast Clinic.
For more information call 03-2698 7351.
Water Retention
He also mentioned that low cost houses and other smaller buildings will not be required to do so, leaving a big question mark... what about larger houses? Shop lots? That's right, keep guessing (and don't forget to save money to pay for the system) and see how many you have got right when the ruling is finalised.
Source: Star Online Nation "Harvesting rainwater on roofs"
Another Reason Not To Beef
However, do remember to breathe. Here is something that might comfort you: This is only a study based on 387 women across 5 American cities. And the study was conducted from 2000 to 2005 on adult males' mothers. What do all these mean?
That this is a retrospective study where questionnaires were handed out and the elder women filled in the blanks from memory. Hence, the accuracy is questionable. Phew! Nonetheless, less beef just to be safe.
Source: Star Online World "Eat a lot of beef? It may affect your son's sperm"
ps. forgot to mention the suspected causes: Hormones or contaminants from the cattles' food intake.
New Climate Zone Next Century
The tropics will also face changes, though the article did not say in what way. A new earth is on the way, folks, but we need not worry as most of us reading this wouldn't be around for the experience.
Tuesday, 27 March 2007
Goodbye Magazines
Coincidentally, I bumped into this news from Reuters that Time Inc. (Time Magazine, yeah) is discontinuing its weekly newspaper insert magazine called Life. The reason cited was similar - readers moving from print media to online news and photos. However, it will make Life's 10 million or so photos viewable online, with "the most important collection of imagery covering the events and people of the 20th century available for free for personal use."
Another magazine that I know of was Digital Camera & Photography which I never had a chance to read until someone passed its last issue (Dec-Jan 2007) to me. This magazine was less than one year old! Quite a comprehensive magazine, so a pity on its demise. However, I was not told what the reason was.
Any other publications that are reaching the end of its life? Do drop a line here.
Meet The Yellow Digi People Session
Have you seen the Digi advertisements on TV lately? Notice the yellow round and chubby guys running around? It seems they are called "Yellow Coverage Fellows" and Digi's promotions attracted more than just customers. According to Star Online Nation "Little Rachel Chan gets to meet DiGi’s ‘yellow men’ ", little Rachel Chan was so mesmerised by these guys that she wrote a letter to Digi asking the YCF to follow her to school (the YCFs are portrayed to follow people around in the ads).
Guess what? Digi responded and got two YCFs to go to school with her! They took her in an MPV and while at the school why not entertain the other kids as well? They handed out goodies to the others and also did what Rachel called the "boing-boing" dance.
Now that is cool marketing! And coming today marks another interesting launch: Digi's new Prepaid Fu-Yoh! Possibly another word that will be uttered as often as "wah lau eh!"
Digi's website: http://www.digi.com.my/
ps. I have friends and colleagues that laugh out loud whenever we mention theDigi advertisment about feng shui. :D
Start Your Petitions Online Today!
At the time of blogging, the total number of signatures collected from all the petitions on the website were a little over 50 million.
For all of you interested in petitioning something, head on over to there. According to the website: "PetitionOnline.com provides free online hosting of public petitions for responsible public advocacy." I have not tried it myself because at the moment I have got nothing to protest about. Maybe you, the one reading this, got some ideas?
Monday, 26 March 2007
When You Are Bored, Start Counting Dots
Delicate Sunset
Delicate Sunset
Originally uploaded by James Neeley.
James Neeley did a great job with nature's arch from Arches National Park, Utah. Look at the colour of the sky and the magnificent arch standing there.
mer de tranquilite
mer de tranquilite
Originally uploaded by in touch.
Check out that very nice tower and its reflection by in_touch.
Sunday, 25 March 2007
Bad Prince and The Two-Timer?
Rapists Have New Fear
Eshler on the other hand feels this device will give the woman time to escape as the attacker is still in pain. Besides that, this device may provide sufficient proof that a rape was intended as the attacker would need to go to a doctor.
Source: SHelper "Anti-rape Device to Hit the Market" via Digg
A New Way of Identifying Lost Children
To say the least, D-land security was very impressed and the ‘finder’ equally impressed and my redhead boy was wearing M&M’s on his lips and chin.
There it is. Not only can you retrieve lost USB drives with this you can also find lost kids. Thank you!
Anti-Pirate Dogs In Danger
Sources:
1. Engadget "DVD pirates put out his on Lucky and Flo the crime dogs"
2. Star Online Nation "Three remanded over RM10m disc seizure"
Related link: Star Online TechCentral "Pirates should 'Beware of Dog' "
Friday, 23 March 2007
Our Shuttler's World Rankings
Malaysia's Datuk Michelle Yeoh to Wed
Source: Star Online Nation "Michelle planning 3 wedding banquets"
Thursday, 22 March 2007
Don't ever feel you are unlucky because there are worse...
Aisya had undergone a surgery to create eyelids for her from tissue from her lips but the operation failed as the eyelids were fused back together.
Latest updates from Daphne's blog post "Spare Your Change: Help Aisya...".
Winning Photos That Say More
Finbarr O’Reilly, a Reuters photographer based in Senegal, won the World Press Photo of the Year 2005 with this picture of a mother and child at an emergency feeding centre in Tahoua, Niger.
Heroes May Die
All is not what it seems as I had blogged in "New Heroes". I am still quite confused and I have read the following quote a few times, but will there be a cliffhanger or not? Please tell me!
The season finale will also set up the show for season two, Kring said. "There is a cliffhanger quality to some of the episode, but more in terms of what is the fate of some of our characters, as opposed to what the story is going to be."
Wednesday, 21 March 2007
That Scarf That Goes Around That Neck
And Booker, if you have not known, Hobb is our mutual friend.
Monday, 19 March 2007
Breaking Down Carbon Dioxide The Human Way
Among Hybrid Animals
This process is called hybrid speciation: Two animal species can mate to produce a third species that is capable of reproduction. This third species will then mate with either one of the other species and pass on its genes, producing more hybrids.
Reading further into this article, it seems "different species" referred to same kind of animals but of different errr... how to word this... like in the article butterflies with yellow markings are one species and butterflies with red markings are a different species and these two species mate to produce the third species with both red and yellow markings. It is not as drastic as a dog and a cat mating... phew! Newly identified examples are insects and fishes.
Source: National Geographic News "Interspecies Sex: Evolution's Hidden Secret?"
So errr... word of the day: Hybrid Speciation
Sunday, 18 March 2007
road to nowhere..
road to nowhere..
Originally uploaded by carlos jm.
carlos_jm's photo reminds me of the Jerry Bruckheimer production company logo. That aside, nice photo with a suitable title.
Gruesome Punishment
Thursday, 15 March 2007
Malaysian Tourism Website Is UN Standard
The official tourism website is http://www.tourism.gov.my/
A Tiger and its Pig Siblings
Source: Reuters blog "Paging Christopher Robin"
another eye shot
another eye shot
Originally uploaded by SophieMuc.
More eye shots! This one from SophieMuc. Like the B&W with some colour in the iris.
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
The "Fat Talk"
How many of you out there agree or disagree about this?
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
Suddenly Koo-Tan
Photo from Star Online Sports "New All-England champions now the pair to beat"
Malaysian Government Websites Unite
Oh Night.
Oh Night.
Originally uploaded by Simon Pais.
Simon Pais did a great job here with shadows covering most parts of the face except for the eye and some...
Monday, 12 March 2007
Be Aware of Hunger
Corporations are urged to encourage staffs to either skip a meal or have a light one and donate off the remaining sum of monies which they would have normally spent. Even so, the donation amounts were set at RM10, RM20 and RM50 for breakfast, lunch and dinner, respectively.
The campaign is hoping to raise RM50,000 for the World Vision Malaysia Children's Development Fund to fight hunger and poverty.
A Few Eyes...
Iris
Iris
Originally uploaded by Surrealist.
This is indeed a world of wonder! Surrealist managed to get really up close and personal with this eye. :O
Memoirs of a Bedouin
Memoirs of a Bedouin
Originally uploaded by -ViDa-.
Interesting ornaments surrounding an eye by -ViDa-. :)
Sign of the times...
Sign of the times...
Originally uploaded by Dalla*.
Great eye macro and great technique by Dalla*. I have heard of reversing lenses to shoot macros... but I still do not have any idea about it. Please excuse my ignorance and let's enjoy this photo. :)
The eye
The eye
Originally uploaded by yellowrubberduck.
yellowrubberduck did such a great work here... the tone is red giving the eye an eerie feel.
Sunday, 11 March 2007
"I Can Cut Thru The Sandstone Like a Warm Knife Thru Butta!"....said The Tree
"I Can Cut Thru The Sandstone Like a Warm Knife Thru Butta!"....said The Tree
Originally uploaded by taylorkoa22.
taylorkoa22 said he was pretty sure he screwed up the photo... but to others, it did pretty well! It gives me that dreamy feeling and the saturated colours are nice, too.
Cascade DxO
Cascade DxO
Originally uploaded by ecstaticist.
Great macro of drops of water by ecstaticist... and refreshingly green, too!
Halal Food Monopoly
Incidentally, in another article by Star Online titled "Cash for appointments claims ridiculous, says Khairy", Khairy was alleged to having runners who will charge the public that wanted to meet with him. In one case, the fee was RM150,000. But of course, Khairy has denied such things.
Pirates of the Caribbean III Posters and Image Stills
Saturday, 10 March 2007
EPF at Risk?
Lim Kit Siang's blog mentioned that previously EPF had been into the banking foray through Bank Islam and Bank Pertanian where they suffered massive losses (Bank Islam suffered loses of RM2.3 billion in two years of audited accounts).
The blog also mentioned that EPF should also look into another example where Sime Darby ventured into the banking sector through UMBC and lost RM250 million in an undisclosed short period. At the time, Sime Darby's own CEO Azlan Zainol said the investment will bring long-term benefits and that they had employed specialists to handle the investment...
*****
Could our Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) be at risk? EPF just made an announcement that it will make a majority shares purchase from Rashid Hussain Berhad's (RHB) previous holding company Utama Banking Group Bhd. The purchase will be worth RM2.25 billion!
This has drawn criticisms from various parties with the primary concern that EPF has no experience in the banking sector.
Source: Star Online Nation "PM: EPF aware it is dealing with public funds"
Niu Niu
Check out Yahoo! News' "Panda looks for a new leg" for a video of Niu Niu.
World's Friendliest Sitcom?
Thursday, 8 March 2007
// and the moon has turned red over one tree hill //
// and the moon has turned red over one tree hill //
Originally uploaded by -bwr-.
Thought the eclipse craze was over but this photo taken by -bwr- is really great!
Do Not Underestimate Malaysia's Smart Tunnel...
Source: Star Online Nation "Smart tunnel can withstand quakes"
Official website: http://www.water.gov.my/project/smart/no2/index1.htm
Equal Sex
Check this out from Reuters blog "Equality of sexes: a pedestrian step".
Wow Factor: The US$3.3 million Photo
Source: PopPhoto.com "The First $3M Photograph"
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
Something About Americans and Coffee
"Coffee is gaining a higher profile among American consumers as they enjoy an expanding menu of options amid an exploding cafe culture," National Coffee Association of USA Chief Executive Robert Nelson said.
More statistics from the original Reuters article "More adults prefer daily cup of coffee: survey".
Smoking Is Crucial
His opinion was based on when the USSR collapsed, smokers rioted due to the fact that they could not get their hands on cigarettes!
Tobacco also contribute a hefty sum to China, amounting to approximately 80 billion yuan (US$10.33 billion) in tax PER DAY! What's more alarming, the World Health Organisation estimates smoking kills 1.2 million Chinese last year.
The Spider's Way...
Scientists used to think this happens because the males would need to escape fast after sex, else risk getting eaten by the females. But recently, scientists also discovered that the pedipalp left in the female after sex is more likely used to prevent other competing males' sperm from entering the female!
And here's another eye opener... virgin females mate for approximately 16 seconds while those already have a pedipalp plugged in have sex in half that time!
Source: NewScientist.com "'Chastity belts' block rival sperm in female spiders"
Tuesday, 6 March 2007
Lickin' Good
Lickin' Good
Originally uploaded by Edgar Thissen.
Edgar Thissen did another great job. Tiger portraits... and to make things better, they were looking straight into the camera. Brrr... scary!
Humour #2
Anything goes, these days.
Source: Star Online Nation "PM: Reports that I'm remarried just rumours"
Humour #1
Quim en pleno vuelo, probando el estabilizador ;-p
Quim en pleno vuelo, probando el estabilizador ;-p
Originally uploaded by xip.
xip managed to catch this photographer in action during a marathon in Barcelona(?).
Sumatra Quake
Latest update from Reuters "Two quakes kill at least 70 in Sumatra" indicated the death toll reached 70.
Update (4:40pm)
There was a second earthquake 2 hours later measuring 6.0. Reuters reported at least 11 people were reported killed from these two quakes while CNN reported at least 30 were killed.
Source: Reuters "Quake kills at least 11 in Sumatra, felt in Singapore"
*****
I was waiting for my lunch in a restaurant and I felt myself slightly disoriented. I thought there was something wrong with me until I came back to the office and colleagues started talking about an earthquake.
Quick news reporting by Star Online, CNN and Reuters as well as the Malaysian Meteorological Department from the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation indicated there was an earthquake in Sumatra. The magnitude of it ranges from 5.8 to 6.3, depending on which report and where it was detected.
No tsunami warning was issued as yet.
Sources:
Star Online "Quake hits Sumatra, tremor felt in Singapore"
CNN.com with the same title (both through Reuters)
Malaysian Meteorological Department website
Sunday, 4 March 2007
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, black !
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, black !
Originally uploaded by 45street.
Well, 45street managed to produce a rather nice sequence for the lunar eclipse earlier.