American Battery Ruling for Travelers

Travelers traveling to, from and within the USA will need to follow these guidelines for their batteries from 1 January 2008:

If you're planning a trip, bring your laptop computer, cell phone, camera, personal digital assistant, or other battery-powered device along. These items are safe to fly with!

Batteries pose little risk contained in the devices they power. Taking the battery out of the device does not enhance safety. To be safest, carry the device with you, not in your checked baggage. Do not remove the battery!

Carry your battery-powered devices or spare batteries in your carry-on baggage. In the passenger compartment, flight crews can better monitor safety conditions to prevent an incident, and can access fire extinguishers, if an incident does happen.

Finally, if you must carry a battery-powered device in your checked baggage, package it to prevent inadvertent activation. Cordless power tools, for instance, should be packed in a protective case, with a trigger lock engaged.

Many travelers like the convenience of readily available spare batteries. It's safe to travel with spare batteries, as long as you follow these simple spare battery tips.

From Safe Travel via DPReview.com

LRT Services Extended Tonight, but...

From Star Online City Watch:

RAPIDKL will be extending its bus and LRT services today. Commu-ters are advised to buy return tickets when using all the LRT services as all ticket vending machines will not be operational after 6pm. For the timetable, call 03-7625 6999 or visit http://www.rapidkl.com.my/

Services extended but the vending machines will not work after 6pm. Hmmm? Weird we are.

Is PJ Safer Now?

Is Petaling Jaya safer after the "Police smash gang of PJ robbers"? The rest of the news:

PETALING JAYA: Police believe they have smashed a gang of robbers preying on pedestrians in Petaling Jaya.

With the arrest of the suspects, aged 19 and 20, police believe that they have solved several cases of robberies involving pedestrians in Sungai Way, Kelana Jaya and other areas here.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi said the suspects were arrested near the Giant Hypermarket last Saturday, just as they were about to rob a member of the public.

"The suspects who were usually armed with a parang and screwdriver, preyed on victims who walked alone along five-foot ways and lonely roads,'' he said, adding that in some of the cases the suspects had injured their victims who had put up a fight.

ACP Arjunaidi said investigations showed that the jobless suspects did not have any previous criminal records.

He said police were still investigating as to how long the suspects were involved in robbery activities, adding that police were investigating them under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years upon conviction.

Source: Star Online Nation

From flickr: Vegalicious 2008

Vegalicious 2008
Originally uploaded by sonicwalker.

How would you like to be a vegetarian in 2008? These vegetarian meals are very tempting!

USB Donuts!

There is no escape from donuts! They come in way too many forms! Previously there were knit donuts that still look so edible. This time around, via Engadget, are USB donuts (left to right: chocolate, green tea and strawberry)!

Photos from Vavolo.com.

How Stress Are You at the Office?

How bad can a day at the office be for you? Comparable to these shown in the following video below? Caution: Violent content!

Oh no... had to take out the video. Can't seem to play it. Just click at the link of the source below to watch it. :(

Source: glumbert - Bad Day at the Office via del.icio.us

From flickr: Happy New Year

Happy New Year
Originally uploaded by ♡ Nina Larsen - ninazdesign.

From Christmas greetings, we move on to New Year greetings. Here is one cool shot by Nina.

From flickr: candy tree

candy tree
Originally uploaded by raspberrytart.

Sweet Christmas colours!

From flickr: Cosmic Jellyfish!

Cosmic Jellyfish!
Originally uploaded by jahdakine.

Moving Christmas colours!

From flickr: Christmas Colors

Christmas Colors
Originally uploaded by paper by design.

Jolly Christmas colours!

TV2 Going Multi-Racial

I guess the announcement that TV2 is going to have more non-Malay staff on-screen is a good move to promote Malaysia's multi-racial society but I do feel I need to comment on this (from Star Nation "More multi-racial face for RTM2"):

"The Malays were only watching shows in Bahasa Malaysia while the Chinese and Indians often opted for shows in their languages."

I feel that this is not true. The truth, in my own opinion, is the quality of locally produced shows. We see many people prefer watching foreign language dramas (such as Korean and Japanese), languages that Malaysians do not understand and not watch those that are locally produced (in a language we all understand). Do you agree?

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2008

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2008
Originally uploaded by IonBuck.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New 2008 Year to all of you out there!

From,
IonBuck and his FZ30 :P

Christmas @ The Curve

This is how The Curve would look like. Took these some weeks ago. Check out the fake snow... was so eager to get my hands on the snow only to realise the snow was made of foam... then I proceeded to run away from the spot, to higher ground. :PThere will be 'snow' at 7:30pm and 8:30pm and a light show at Center Court at 8pm.

Digital Cameras That APPRECIATE In Value

The Fujifilm Finepix digital cameras F30 and F31fd (pictured) are still very much talked about in the Fujifilm forum in DPReview even with the availability of their newer siblings. A lot of the praises go to their excellent low ISO images due to Fuji's SuperCCD sensors. The Online Photographer article "Digicam Appreciation" also reminded me of some of the posts in the forum about the availability of these cameras on various auction sites like eBay.

Still in high demand, these discontinued cameras are now selling at higher prices and as the article from Online Photographer mentioned, some are selling at double of their original prices!

I had wanted to buy the F31fd. I had dismissed it earlier due to its proprietary xD memory card. I was willing to live with this due to its excellent quality but unfortunately it is no longer available here and of course, I am not willing to pay for it at its current high price on eBay.

Photo from DPReview's review page of the F31fd camera.

From flickr: Meowie Christmas to you all

Meowie Christmas to you all
Originally uploaded by Huntey.

Merry Christmas from the feline species!

New RM50 Note From 30 January 2008

Front of the new RM50 note

Back view of the newRM50 (left) and the front of the current RM50

We are going to be using the new RM50 note (pictured above) from 30 January next year. The note will comprise of new security features (anti-photocopying, enhanced watermark and security thread, multi-coloured latent image of "50" when tilted and colour change when it is rotated, etc. etc.). However, don't go to the bank and exchange all your older notes because they will still be legal tender and will be phased out in a few years.

On the back, the note features our first Prime Minister Tuanku Abdul Rahman with his hand raised, declaring independence. It also depicts Malaysia's 50 years of independence from agriculture-based to the current microbiology technology advances.

Sources:

1. Star Online Nation "New RM50 note from Jan 30"
2. Star Online Nation "Anti-photocopy among new features of RM50 note"
   

The Christmas Conspiracy

Getting all jolly? Here is a conspiracy revealed by LiveScience.com. Santa's reindeers (despite general believes that they are males... even one is called Rudolph) are actually females. Male reindeers shed their antlers after the mating season, which is BEFORE Christmas while females have their antlers throughout winter. :D

Source: LiveScience.com "Are Santa's reindeer male?"

New Wall-E Trailer! :D

Checkout this cool new Wall-E Trailer!!!

WALL-E Exclusive Trailer

Add to My Profile | More Videos

From /Film via Digg.

2007 Year End Holidays Travel Advisories

From Star Online City Watch:

Travel Time Advisory

PLUS Expressway Bhd has announced its Travel Time Advisory for the Aidiladha and Christmas holidays and encourages Klang Valley residents to travel at the advised times. Call the toll-free PLUSLine at 1800 88 0000 or tune in to ERA, MY FM, hitz.fm, MIZ FM, LiteFM, SINAR, Xfresh, THR Raaga and THR Gegar for the latest traffic updates.

Holy Mad Cows! Lots and Lots of Eyes!

Check this site out(via del.icio.us)! Lots of eyes! Here are just a few of them:

From flickr: Santa Biggie

Santa Biggie
Originally uploaded by *Kendall*.

Another well wisher!

From flickr: Merry Christmas, you filthy rebel scum.

Merry Christmas, you filthy rebel scum.
Originally uploaded by A-Wix.

Christmas wish from a Stormtrooper! :O

Is Our Emergency Number 999 Working?

Very worrying to read about this opinion published on the Star Online Opinion section where a reader wrote in to complain that no one answered the call and the reader resorted to call 994 (previously assigned for fire emergencies, but now 999 was supposedly to handle all emergencies - previous post about this here) where the officer gave the number of the local police station to the reader... and once again, NO ONE ANSWERED THE CALL! Below, excerpts from the complain:

A robbery was taking place at a goldsmith’s opposite my workplace in Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh.

We even heard what sounded like gunfire.

I rushed to call 999 to report the robbery. For some 30 seconds, no one picked up the phone. A second attempt gave the same results.

In desperation, I dialed 994 and the call was picked up immediately.

I related what was happening to the officer at the Fire Department and he asked me to call the police station in my area and gave me the number.

I called the police station at the number given, but, again, no one answered the phone.

I alternated between calling 999 and the police station but was unable to get through to anyone at either place.

By the time I decided to give up, the robbers had already fled from the scene.

About 10 minutes later, some plainclothes policemen arrived at the scene and it was another 10 minutes before several police patrol cars arrived.

Sweeney Todd Coolness

Maybe I am just biased because I like Johnny Depp's style and kind of like Tim Burton's dark movies, but after watching the Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street trailer, I have to share it with you all. :D The one I watched was from Apple Trailers here but since I can't do any embedding, I have to do a search in YouTube so that I can put it here. The movie is about Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp, of course!) returning for revenge after being wrongly sent away by an evil judge.

You can also watch the featurette here.

Interesting PIXAR Stuff

Want to know some interesting Pixar stuff? Click here to go to Jim Hill's article about some really cool Pixar in-house jokes and easter eggs that they have discreetly included in their animations.

Source: Jim Hill Media via Drawn!

Northern Lights Mystery Solved

The colourful display of lights is believed to be caused by 'energy' waves traversing from the sun to the earth. Read more of the scientific stuff at National Geographic News here.

From flickr: Original Donuts

Donuts
Originally uploaded by *SteveH.

Ah yes, the original sugar coated ones! Hang on! Click on the photo and you will be taken to *SteveH's flickr site and there is a recipe waiting for you!

From flickr: Donuts at Different Angle

Donuts
Originally uploaded by Komshiki.

More of the donuts taken at a different angle!

From flickr: Donuts

Donuts
Originally uploaded by Komshiki.

andrewk has re-activated my craving for donuts (click here and here! Here I am searching flickr for donuts! And these ones... wow, taken with a nice prime lens, some more!

Christmas @ 1 Utama

Christmas is coming and all the shopping complexes are trying to attract the public with seasonal decorations and interesting events. Here is what 1 Utama looks like this year at the Oval (check out the huge 38-feet toy soldier!):

Remember the Number 15999

Remember:

15999

All victims of domestic violence, child abuse and natural disasters can call the above number, named Talian Nur for help and advice. This was launched by our Prime Minister.

Source: Star Online Nation "One number for distressed folk to call for help"

Income Tax for Year Ending 2007

Income tax forms are being sent out, according to Star Online's article "File tax returns by April 30". As the title suggested, file them by 30 April 3008 2008* or else... :(

*Year corrected after andrewk pointed out the mistake. *SHY!*

From flickr: Autumn Flow

Autumn Flow
Originally uploaded by aremac.

Have a very colourful week ahead!

FEI Federal Territories KL Grand Prix - The Leap #2

FEI Federal Territories KL Grand Prix - The Leap #2
Originally uploaded by IonBuck.

Click on the image for a brief description on the post-processing that I have done.

Mighty French

"The French, well known for their wine, food, and general joie de vivre, also benefit from government policies that give them 35-hour workweeks and five weeks of paid vacation."

From National Geographic News Photo Gallery "UN Rates Best, Worst Countries"