Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim expressed the need to make a rule so that no one photographs anything when our national anthem is played. Meanwhile, Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin kindly suggested that this should not be it and that a special space should be made available for photographers to do their thing (because there is the need to capture touching moments, etc.) so as not to distract others during the national anthem.
What do you think the outcome will be? Let's see if we will hear anymore of this as the two ministers discuss these.
News from Star Online here.
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Team Italy Fireworks
Here is a shot (click on it for a larger view) of Italy's opening sequence last Saturday at the same venue as the rest of the competition... @ Putrajaya International Convention Center (PICC, pictured right):
In my personal opinion, Australia's seem to create more crash, boom, bang compared to Italy's. However, I was nearer to the Australian fireworks display compared to Italy's. The louder and bigger fireworks from a nearer view probably affected my judgement.
Still, the Italian fireworks display was some of the best compared to the typical ones we were exposed to during National Day and New Year countdowns.
The sad part was after the fireworks. The jam was horrible. I went with a friend and we were stuck in a jam for over an hour JUST to get out of Putrajaya. These few nights would probably be THE time where our administration capital receive the most visitors. Something that the tourism ministry would brag about later with some statistics...
The Italian fireworks display would be my last live view as I would not be around for Japan's (tomorrow night, 30 August 2007 @ 10pm) and the grand closing finale (Sunday night, 2 September 2007 @ 10pm). Blessing that I would not be stuck in any more of these jams but then I won't be able to witness some of the greatest fireworks. Hope this will be a yearly event considering the success we see from afar. Not sure if the paying guests in PICC will have the same opinion, though.
Other related posts in this blog are here, here, here and here.
Update 11:09pm:
Some advice about TRAFFIC JAM in Putrajaya for the upcoming fireworks and National Day celebrations here: "Putrajaya to experience its first massive jam"
Still, the Italian fireworks display was some of the best compared to the typical ones we were exposed to during National Day and New Year countdowns.
The sad part was after the fireworks. The jam was horrible. I went with a friend and we were stuck in a jam for over an hour JUST to get out of Putrajaya. These few nights would probably be THE time where our administration capital receive the most visitors. Something that the tourism ministry would brag about later with some statistics...
The Italian fireworks display would be my last live view as I would not be around for Japan's (tomorrow night, 30 August 2007 @ 10pm) and the grand closing finale (Sunday night, 2 September 2007 @ 10pm). Blessing that I would not be stuck in any more of these jams but then I won't be able to witness some of the greatest fireworks. Hope this will be a yearly event considering the success we see from afar. Not sure if the paying guests in PICC will have the same opinion, though.
Other related posts in this blog are here, here, here and here.
Update 11:09pm:
Some advice about TRAFFIC JAM in Putrajaya for the upcoming fireworks and National Day celebrations here: "Putrajaya to experience its first massive jam"
CEO to Staff Pay Ratio - 364:1!!!
Could you believe it? The average comparison of large American company CEOs to their staff's salary is 364 to 1! Which means these CEOs earn an average of USD$10,800,000 a year! However, these figures are not even near compared to the year 2000 where the ratio was 525 to 1!
What eye opening information to us average people!
Read more from CNNMoney.com's story here.
What eye opening information to us average people!
Read more from CNNMoney.com's story here.
Monday, 27 August 2007
Tainted Vegetables Alert!
NST Online "Beware these greens: Tainted vegetables at Selayang wholesale market" highlighted that a very high percentage of the vegetables sold in the wholesale market is tainted with carcinogenic pesticides. This wholesale market supplies to three-quarters of the hypermarkets, wet markets, night markets and grocery stores in Selangor.
The article also advised that:
The article also advised that:
Vegetables must be soaked with salt to remove worms, larvae, eggs and pesticides.
"Choose vegetables with holes. The nice-looking vegetables are not always the best.
"Consumers must change their perception.
"When there’s no demand for nice-looking vegetables, farmers will reduce the use of pesticides.
"Eat more tubers and fruit vegetables like brinjal, cucumber and kacang, which contain less pesticide residues."
No to Dunkin' Donuts?
NOOOOOooooo!!! Dunkin' Donuts are cutting all the trans fats in their donuts according to this very sad article from CNNMoney.com: Dunkin' Donuts dumping most trans fats! Holy mad cows! Will donuts ever taste the same again? When will this come to Malaysia?
Healthy, healthy, healthy? Maybe the future, all of us will live longer but our taste buds would all be dead. :(
Healthy, healthy, healthy? Maybe the future, all of us will live longer but our taste buds would all be dead. :(
Sunday, 26 August 2007
Team Australia Fireworks (cont'd)
Ok, here is a shot of the Australian team's fireworks display. Damn nice stuff:
Will talk about my experience at the Team Italy's fireworks display yesterday in a bit. Meanwhile, someone posted the Australian fireworks on Youtube in two parts (kinda hilarious if you listen to the background exclamations and comments :P):
Will talk about my experience at the Team Italy's fireworks display yesterday in a bit. Meanwhile, someone posted the Australian fireworks on Youtube in two parts (kinda hilarious if you listen to the background exclamations and comments :P):Saturday, 25 August 2007
yogurt flavor soft ice cream
yogurt flavor soft ice cream
Originally uploaded by perago89.
Yum yum! Have this for your dessert after lunch on a hot hot hot day!
Must....Keep....Hair Dry
Must....Keep....Hair Dry
Originally uploaded by RoninRtist.
Wow! I know one person would be interested in this. Hence here it is in my blog! Great shot!
Friday, 24 August 2007
No Fuji Finepix for Me?
A few days ago, I e-mailed Fujifilm Malaysia to enquire about the availability of the F31fd, touted to be the best compact camera of all time due to its low noise in high ISOs and manual functions, but did not receive a reply. I had to call the company for the information, only to be greeted with disappointment. It is no longer available. I was told it is replaced with the F40fd which does not have manual functions and higher noise levels. I asked why Fujifilm still puts the F31fd on their website but errr... did not get any excuse for that. :(
A little bit more about the F31fd: it's able to photograph in low light and produce little noise at higher ISO sensitivities - a function unachievable by any other compacts. It also had manual functions like aperture and shutter priorities. Best compact camera in my humble opinion! Too bad it is not available anymore. :(
A little bit more about the F31fd: it's able to photograph in low light and produce little noise at higher ISO sensitivities - a function unachievable by any other compacts. It also had manual functions like aperture and shutter priorities. Best compact camera in my humble opinion! Too bad it is not available anymore. :(
Thursday, 23 August 2007
feet first !!
feet first !!
Originally uploaded by fungjigirl.
One of the wonderful things you can do with a waterproof camera!
Team Australia Fireworks
After a disappointing display by "Team Global" on Sunday night, I was entranced by the display by Australia, marking the start of the competition. Best fireworks I've ever seen in my life. Too bad that I was looking at the display near a construction site with two huge cranes on the left and right plus hoarding that blocks out the lower portion of the display.
Took some photos but not sure how they turned up. Hope to be able to upload some of them soon.
Related link: Fireworks!
Took some photos but not sure how they turned up. Hope to be able to upload some of them soon.
Related link: Fireworks!
Monday, 20 August 2007
Team Global Fireworks
Oh my goodness. After being quite impressed with Saturday's display of fireworks (blogged here), I went again yesterday night because the schedule said the display will be by "Team Global' meaning by all the nations participating in this competition. You have got to agree that you will assume the display here will be much better, right?
NOOOOO! It was typical displays (from my point of view, at least) of fireworks and lasted only some 5 minutes or so. The crowd (much, much smaller crowd compared to Saturday night's) were clearly disappointed! I had even invited some friends to tag along but luckily they declined. You lucky buggers!
Next up, Team Australia! The competition begins Wednesday, 22 August 2007.
NOOOOO! It was typical displays (from my point of view, at least) of fireworks and lasted only some 5 minutes or so. The crowd (much, much smaller crowd compared to Saturday night's) were clearly disappointed! I had even invited some friends to tag along but luckily they declined. You lucky buggers!
Next up, Team Australia! The competition begins Wednesday, 22 August 2007.
PM: "I have been fair, I want to be fair and I will always be fair"
Sounds like good news (and also sounds like the rumoured general elections is getting ever closer :P) from our Prime Minister that future government contracts will be in open tender and OPEN for multi-racial companies. He said this in MCA's (Malaysian Chinese Association) 54th General Assembly yesterday:
“If you can form a genuine joint-venture company with other races and not the Ali-Baba type, I promise you that I will give you contracts.”Links: Star Online here and NST Online here
Sunday, 19 August 2007
Fireworks!
The Malaysia International Fireworks Competition or MIFC started last night with Malaysia's own fireworks. The display took about 20 minutes and is much more interesting than those I have seen in the recent Merdeka offerings. The show took place in Putrajaya just outside of the lake overlooked by the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC for short, right).I managed to get about 60+ photos but I'm afraid with my skill, only about 5 - 10% are 'acceptable'. Here are a couple of those:
Interested? Click on the MIFC link above. You can choose to pay to go into PICC to have a grand view as shown in Star Online's video clip here or drive around the area and look for a suitable, legal AND safe spot to park and watch (errr... that was what I did last night :P).The schedule from the official website is as below:
The shows start approximately at 10pm on those dates and last for about 20 minutes! Unfortunately for me, I won't be around the area to watch the grand finale. Sob.
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