The Story of Malaysia's JobStreet

If you are a working adult, chances are that you have stumbled upon JobStreet. I got my current job via JobStreet Malaysia. Click the source below for the success story of the Malaysian company from its early beginnings to its current status around Asia.

Source: Forbes.com "Turning Classifieds Into Cash"

The Worm That Smells Like Lilies

The above white worm is a sample of the giant Palouse earthworm, Driloleirus americanus which can grow up to 3 feet in length, smells like lilies and spits at attackers. These worms are now in the middle of a legal suit between conservationist groups and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because the groups want the worms to be protected under the Endangered Species Act but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service only label the worms as vulnerable.

Source: LiveScience.com "Rare 3-Foot Spitting Earthworm Found in Legal Battle"

Martian Alert!

Since the image of a "statue" taken by NASA's Spirit Rover has been flooding the blogosphere, it might as well flood this blog:

Via Reuters Oddly Enough blog.

From flickr: Diaper Check - Tai Shan - Panda cub papercuts art

Diaper Check - Tai Shan - Panda cub papercuts art
Originally uploaded by poyee_lam0321.

Drawing of a cute and mischievous looking Tai Shan. Check out poyee_lam0321's other cute drawings here.

From flickr: fresh

fresh
Originally uploaded by Hilary (curioush).

A drive-in for donuts! Simply brilliant! Just when are we going to get one in Malaysia? How about a drive-thru, as well? Brilliant, brilliant!

Re: Return of Amazing Fujifilm with the F100fd?

Previously, I was elated with the news from Fujifilm about the new F100fd, as you can see in my post here. Then, today I went to DPReview forum "Stark Realization (F100fd)" and read that there are no aperture (ability to manually control the aperture size) and shutter (ability to manually control the shutter speed) priority modes. :O Uncool! :@

World's Largest Stem Cell Facility in Malaysia

This sounds like good news:

Pahang will host the world’s largest stem cell manufacturing facility when US-based Bio-Cellular Research Organisation (BCRO) sets up operations in Janda Baik, Bentong, this year.

Source: Star Online Nation "Janda Baik site for stem cell manufacturing facility"

It Is Smurfs Season!

Looks like my favourite blue childhood creatures are coming alive in a 3D movie this year end. Click here to go to the IMDb page. Below is a video about the Smurfs and also where I learnt of the existence of the movie:

I have failed to embed the video here. You would have to visit 5min to see the video. *SHY*

Source: 5min via Digg

Danger of Caffeine During Pregnancy

A report by US researches discourage pregnant women from drinking more than 2 cups of coffee (equivalent to about 200mg of caffeine) as caffeine doubles the risk of miscarriage. Women who are seeking to get pregnant are also encouraged not to drink caffeine related beverages at least 3 days before.

It is believed that caffeine stresses the foetus' metabolism and decrease blood flow in the placenta.

Click on the link below to find out more about the research.

Source: Reuters "Caffeine doubles miscarriage risk: study"

From flickr: hasbro mighty muggs: darth vader

hasbro mighty muggs: darth vader
Originally uploaded by j_pidgeon.

j_pidgeon the collector has a cute vader in his collection! Fierce, evil and cute. :D

Return of Amazing Fujifilm with the F100fd?

Fujifilm rocked the world a couple of years ago with the amazingly low noise compact digital cameras F30 and F31fd (both 6 megapixels, but now discontinued) and was lauded for staying away from the megapixel race. However, Fujifilm soon joined in and came up with the F40fd (8 megapixels) and F50fd (12 megapixels) last year. The F50fd was criticised for its noisy 12 megapixels sensor but DPReview gave it a Highly Recommended rating due to its other functions and "better" noise performance COMPARED to other 12-megapixel compacts.

Fujifilm is now at it again with the newly announced F100fd (also 12 megapixels but with a newer 8th generation SuperCCD sensor and a newer processor). This one also improved on the optical zoom - from 3X to 5X and has a wider wide-angle of 28mm. It also boasts wider dynamic range and higher ISO sensitivity of up to 12,800 (!!!) but at a reduced 3 megapixels. Sounds like the compact camera I have been looking for but lets wait for the reviews to come in and see.

Previously blogged about the older F series here.

INSANE: Streamyx Sucks Update

I have discovered that if you are connected to 60.50.???.??? range of IPs, you will face my problem of not connecting to majority websites. I had encountered that for the past 4 nights and just now. I tried disconnecting and reconnecting many, many times and once I got IPs different from those, my internet is back to normal again.

My encounters in the past are here and here.

Have Lots of Money Will Fly to Space

SpaceShipTwo (middle) and its fuselages WhiteKnight II

SpaceShipTwo preparing for re-entry

Richard Branson recently unveiled the Virgin Galactic spaceship that will take passengers up to space for about 5 minutes of zero gravity. The total flight time will be about two and a half hours. The price to pay is US$200,000.

Source: Reuters.com "Virgin Galactic unveils SpaceShipTwo model".
Photos from Flight.

INSANE: Streamyx Sucks Night #4

It is now into the fourth night. Besides going to google related sites, I can't go anywhere. This will be really @#%&^ fun. Let's count how long Streamyx will be like this.

Below is a screen grab from Streamyx's product page. Really, an experience never before:
Previous night's Streamyx sucks here.

Garfield and Friends Visit

Garfield, Jon and Odie dropped by for a visit. :PCreate your own here. Got to know via del.icio.us here.

Olympus Super-Zoom Super Camera SP-570 UZ

This came as a surprise as I thought the super-zoom would stop at 18X optical zoom from Olympus, Fujifilm and Panasonic. However, Olympus' recent announcement of the 10 megapixel super-zoom digital camera SP-570UZ with 20X optical zoom was record-breaking! The range is 26 - 520mm (35mm equivalent). This means slightly wider than the 27mm wide angle from Olympus' previous long zoom and Fujifilm. The telephoto end is also longer than the 504mm sported by the Panasonic DMC-FZ18. Besides that, it uses 4 AA batteries - no more limitations with proprietary batteries! The macro focus distance of just 1cm is also very interesting for such a long zoom.

However, its small sensor at 1/2.33" is not too encouraging (noise issues) and the use of xD memory cards would surely turn off a lot of potential buyers (me included). Let's wait for the reviews to come in, just to be sure.

Photo from Olympus' website here.

INSANE: Streamyx Sucks!

THREE NIGHTS! It has been three nights including tonight. Streamyx at my area sucks! Can't surf to anywhere and can't do any MSN messaging. It's a good thing I can still come in here and blog about this. TM is at one of its best again!

EPF Dividend @ 5.8%

The government has announced that the EPF (Employee's Provident Fund) dividend for 2007 is 5.8%, a slight increase from 2006's 5.15%.

Source: Star Online Nation "5.8% dividend for EPF"

Thaipusam Holiday Status Extended

According to an update from NST Online, our Prime Minister has announced that Thaipusam is also a public holiday for Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Before this, it is a public holiday only in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak and Pulau Pinang.

Update 21/01/2008: Additional link to Star Online here.

"From Inside A Women's Prison"

That was the title used in Carolina Camps' report about a women's prison called Prison 33 in Argentina. She started off with a sad story of an inmate who killed her abusive stepfather. Carolina wrote of why she changed from a prejudiced person to one that could understand and sympathise with the inmates with emphasis on children born and raised in prison by their inmate mothers.

Click here for a slideshow of photos taken of some of the inmates and their children.

MBPJ Meet the People Sessions!

It sounds like miracles but according to Star Online City Watch, it is a reality (!):

BEGINNING this year, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will organise its meet-the-people sessions twice monthly on the first and third Friday of the month at Bilik Seminar 1 & 2, Level 1, MBPJ headquarters, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, PJ, between 8.30am and noon. The council has also provided facilities for the public to lodge their queries at the counter or call the Complaints Unit at 03-7956 3544 ext 117 or the council 24-hour hotline at 03-7954 2020 or send email via aduan@mbpj.gov.my.

But how effective it is, we will have to wait and see...

Identity of Mona Lisa Revealed

After centuries of guessing and speculating, researchers have confirmed the identity of the mysterious woman in Leonardo da Vinci's famous art piece, Mona Lisa. The woman's real name is Lisa del Giocondo, wife of Florentine businessman Francesco del Giocondo. This is confirmed from the notes of the artists friend, Agostino Vespucci.

To learn more, click here to go to National Geographic's page.

INSANE: Major Hollywood Studios Fire Writers!

According to a CNNMoney.com report, 20th Century Fox Television, CBS Paramount Network Television, NBC Universal and Warner Bros. Television say they have terminated dozens of writers' contracts causing major disruptions in current season programming. This, combined with the on-going writers' strike will further endanger next season, the report said. :O

Attack of the Clones!

World's first cloned animal Dolly (pic) was euthanised recently due to an incurable lung disease.

We have come to the point that cloned livestock might become food on our tables. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light while the European Food Safety Authority is in the process of evaluating it. It is advantageous to breeders as they can have clones that produce the best milk and meat, while people fear of the unknown effects of consuming such animals.

Would you consume clones like you will eat the naturally born ones?

Source:

1. Bloomberg.com "Cloned Animals May Be Used for Food in U.S., FDA Says"
2. Photo from BBC News here.

Faces of Good

Check out some of the faces of philanthropists that are helping to make the world a better place. Also included are brief descriptions of what they are doing to achieve that. Click on the link here to begin.

INSANE: Weirdest High Heels Ever?

What do you think of these Marc Jacobs heels? Go to The Glam Guide and vote!

About Diabetes

Do take some time to read this article about diabetes (due to failure by the pancreas to produce insulin to regulate glucose in the body) from Star Online: Know this sweet enemy. It is a good read and probably a good starting point to know more about this disease. Here are some facts from the article:

There are 3 types of diabetes:

1. Type 1 - Auto-immune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells causing lack of insulin.
2. Type 2 - Inability to utilise insulin at the target organs.
3. Gestational diabetes - Insulin resistance triggered by hormones during pregnancy.

Symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst and increase in appetite. Also included in the article are the consequences of uncontrolled diabetes, treatment for it, the screening process, etc.

And something worth noting:

It is dreadful that Malaysia has the highest population of patients on dialysis due to diabetes in the world today!

INSANE: Singapore Condo Price

I really don't know anything about properties but a curious me went to read "IOI Prop unit buys Singapore land for condo project" and was shocked to find that Singapore condominiums cost S$2,000 to S$3,000 per square foot! :O

Going by the existing market price of between S$2,000 and S$3,000 per sq ft for recent condominium projects in Singapore...

INSANE: Flourescent Pig Gave Birth to Flourescent Piglets

A female pig that was genetically modified to glow under UV lights gave birth to 11 piglets, with two inheriting their mother's glowing feature. Scientists hope that they could use their research to grow human organs on pigs.

Great in the name of science, but poor animals have to suffer mutilation... difficult to strike a balance there, isn't it?

Source: msnbc "Green pig gives birth to glowing piglets" via LiveScience.com Blog

Drink and Exercise Moderately to Live Longer

Danish researchers, through information gathered between 1981 and 1983 of 12,000 men and women of ages 20 and older, found out that the best way to live longer is by drinking about 1 to 2 glasses a day and doing regular exercises. The heart disease risks could be reduced by up to 30 to 49 percent!

Source: Star Online "Drink, exercise and live longer, study finds"

Higher Heart Disease Risk for Anxious People

This is article from Reuters tells of anxious people, are more susceptible to heart diseases such as heart attacks, after factoring in things like diet and smoking. Anxious in this case include people who are ambitious, assertive and hostile. These people are grouped as Type A.

"Look at what happens when you are anxious. Your body reacts as if it is in danger. It is the flight or fight response. The reactions are very similar to those brought on by anger or a Type A personality that have been observed in earlier research."

Source: Star Online "Anxious people have higher heart risk - study"

Cooking Oil Buying Frenzy

Malaysians are in a panic, rushing in and out of hypermarkets, supermarkets, shops, etc. to buy cooking oil. This began from a "2 bottles of 5kg palm oil-based cooking oil per person limit imposed earlier. From tomorrow (Monday, 7 January 2008), only a maximum of 5kg of cooking oil will be allowed per person.

Read more about this by clicking on these links from Star Online:

1. Panic buying and hoarding creating artificial shortage
   
2. A rush for cooking oil
   
3. 5kg buying limit on cooking oil
   

Subprime Word of 2007

Thought it would be interesting to tell everyone that comes here that the American Dialect Society chose "subprime" (most likely due to the current crisis in the US) as word of 2007. The word beat other runners-up such as "green", "Facebook" (more popular among younger people) and "Googleganger" (???).

Source: CNNMoney.com " 'Subprime' named Word of the Year"

From flickr: mei lan

mei lan
Originally uploaded by A Pandographer (Cassie).

What a lovely and caring moment. Awwwww... :D

From flickr: quantum warp

quantum warp
Originally uploaded by in touch.

Truly cool and wacky! Here's another angle also by in_touch.

A Little About Earthworms

According to LiveScience.com, earthworms come out of the ground when there is too much rain. Even though earthworms need to stay in damp places, but they can't absorb enough oxygen if they are soaked in too much water. Click on the LiveScience link to know more.

Some Advice and Praises from the Top

Not touching on Health Minister's DVD sex scandal, but can't resist to post these advice and praises from the top guns:

From Deputy Prime Minister:

... party members must exercise discipline and abide by the code of conduct of the party.

What he did was noble, courageous and right. It is not easy for anyone to do this and I appreciate it.

I don't think this will provide mileage for the opposition as Dr Chua has done the right thing and I know the people appreciate his sacrifice.

We did not force him to do this.

From Education Minister:

He made the right decision. I respect his decision to resign from all posts. He has put the party and the country before self.

... although what is wrong is still wrong, a friend is still a friend.

Let this be a lesson to us. If it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone.

Source: NST Online "Najib: Let scandal be a warning"

INSANE: Crude Oil Prices Touched US$100 A Barrel

It finally happened, though briefly. Crude oil reached US$100 a barrel. The increase was blamed on the unrest in Nigeria where militants killed 12 people in the southern oil city of Port Harcourt on New Year's day.

Source: Bloomberg.com Worldwide

Previously...

1. INSANE: Oil Prices Approaching US$100
2. INSANE: Breaking the US$93 Barrier
   
3. INSANE: Crude Oil Prices Higher Than All Time
   
4. INSANE: Oil Prices Break US$90
5. INSANE: Oil Prices Set Another Record High
6. INSANE: Oil Prices At All Time High

From flickr: Bottoms up! :)

Bottoms up! :)
Originally uploaded by GooseGoddessS.

Looking for food on a fine early January. :)

Visitor from a PS3

I am proud to have a visitor from a Playstation 3, even though only one. :D Cropped screenshot taken from Google Analytics.

New 2008 with Some Yellow Daisies!

Let's begin 2008 with some daisies taken at my cousin's place some weeks ago. Here's to a better future! :D

Linked from my flickr.