Champions League Atmosphere in Khartoum

On Wednesday, where the Champions League finals between Man Utd vs Barcelona was to be played in Rome, we were invited to Petronas headquarters to watch the match live over there.

Malaysians from all walks of life were there. The Petronas management has put up a huge screen. What a good staff welfare planning.

They switched off the surrounding lights and my colleague's camera couldn't capture quite good. Moreover, there are fine dust all over his lens.

The match had just started and some people (including me and colleagues) were still eating roti telur, roti canai with free flow teh tarik.

That's the big screen and there are quite a number of people. Who do they support?

Let me tell you ...... almost all of them are Liverpool-Chelsea-Arsenal-turned-Barcelona-fan for the night.

Those sourish fellas just cannot bear Man Utd winning another trophy. During the two seasons where Chelsea was the English Premier League champions, me and my friends who are Man Utd don't feel that way till you have to belittle Man Utd day in day out.

Till today, you can still read comments in my or friends' Facebooks (those who are Man Utd fans) where they are still receiving sourish comments from the Liverpool-Chelsea-Arsenal clan. Hahaha ........ they are so cute. They just can't face the fact.

This was half-time break and everyone rushed to get another cup of drink.

Sad night indeed where Man Utd was beaten 2-0 by Barcelona.

Barcelona really well and Man Utd was no where near their usual. Man Utd could still beat a lower ranked EPL team on their not so good day but playing against Barcelona in a such a final is just not the same.

Just have to wait for the next season to watch those exciting matches again and renew the Liverpool-Chelsea-Arsenal rivalry again.

Thanks to Petronas for that wonderful night.
Tags: Champions League Finals, Man Utd, Manchester United, Barcelona, Petronas

RON97 and RON92

Extracted the following article from Paul Tan's blog.

You might have seen numbers like RON97 and RON92 at your neighbourhood petrol station. Fuel with a RON97 rating is more expensive, RM1.92 per liter at time of writing with the lower RON92 rating going for RM1.88.

Have you ever wondered what they mean? Why is RON97 more expensive than RON92, and can you use RON92 to save on fuel costs?

Let’s have a discussion. What petrol do you use regularly, and why do you like your choice of petrol? Or are they all the same to you?

RON97, RON92, who is this RON person?
You might have seen numbers like RON97 and RON92 at your neighbourhood petrol station. Fuel with a RON97 rating is more expensive, RM1.92 per liter at time of writing with the lower RON92 rating going for RM1.88. Have you ever wondered what they mean? Why is RON97 more expensive than RON92, and can you use RON92 to save on fuel costs?

RON stands for Research Octane Number, a rating used to measure a fuels knocking resistance in spark-ignition internal combustion engines. Before we attempt to understand this mumbo jumbo, we have to know what knocking is. Knocking is what happens when parts or all of the air-fuel mixture prematurely ignites before the flame from the spark plug can reach it. This can be caused by ignition timing that is too early or engine overheating, where the heat from the cylinder itself causes the mixture to combust before the spark plug can burn the mixture. This causes a decrease in performance and might also harm the engine.

It is a misunderstanding to think that RON97 fuels produce more power than RON92 fuels, even more so with the fact that in reality a higher RON number means the fuel burns less easily! RON refers to the ability of the fuel to resist knocking and nothing else.

By pumping the RON97 into a car which engine only requires the RON92, all you're going to get is an emptier wallet which hardly counts for performance gains via weight reduction!

Engines are designed to have a minimum RON rating for its fuel. Do check your service manual for the minimum RON rating that it requires. For engines that require a minimum of RON92, you might as well pump RON92 fuel and save abit of money since RON92 is cheaper by 4 cents per liter. Another common minimum RON rating is RON95, but since we do not have RON95 fuel in our market, we have to use RON97 fuel for the engine. These engines normally have higher compression ratios, like the one found in the Satria GTI so it needs higher knock resistance to withstand higher compression.

If you find that your engine can use RON92 petrol and decide to save abit of money, do check out if a petrol stations RON92 petrol is leaded or unleaded. All RON97 petrol is unleaded, but some RON92 petrol might be leaded although this is very very rare. Buy me a teh tarik with the money you save, thanks!
Tags: RON97, RON92, RON, Research Octane Number, Unleaded Petrol

Best CEO in Henan Province

Guess who's the best CEO in Henan Province of China?

The current person in charge of the Shaolim Temple is Shi Yong Xin, being the head abbot cum CEO too. He has been instrumental in bringing the Shaolin culture to the tourists and able to develop a good tourism development.

Under Shi's leadership, the Shaolin name has become a brand itself and has set up modern marketing strategies, international performance tours and online merchandising.

But some tourists or locals are critical of the tourism development plan. They said that the temple is linking itself to money or profit nowadays where this sacred place was known to be for prayer and meditation, by the locals or the monks. Now, tourists would have to buy tickets to enter the Shaolin Temple and in order to see some kung fu, tourists have to buy tickets for the performance.

Shi's team said that such moves in the modern day is necessary to preserve Shaolin kung fu and culture. They did mention that even movies are highlighting about Shaolin or kungfu such as Shaolin Soccer, Kungfu Hustle and Kung Fu Panda.

So, why not Shi and his management team ...... wonder who are in the management team?

For Shi's hardwork and perseverance since he joined them 20 years ago, he was rewarded with a car worthed US$125,000. That's really a CEO standard.

Reading: Shaolin Abbot fights back against critics - China Economic Net
Reading: Buddhism Inc. in Capitalist China - abc News

Tags: Shaolin Abbot, Shaolin Temple, Kung Fu, Martial Arts, Henan Province, Shi Yong Xin, Shaolin Culture

City in Danger?

Another email came in depicting terrifying situation where crime almost happened. This time at a shopping centre car park.

----------------------------------
I would like to share a life saving incident that all our loved ones needs to be aware.

Last Saturday, 11th April 2009, my girlfriend and I were in Mid Valley “The Gardens” for a movie. We finished around 8.40pm. I had parked my car just right above the ‘GSC Signature Cinema’ on the 5th floor. As we were getting into our car, we realized that the parking fee had not been paid. We decided to stop by the Auto pay station on the lower parking level to do the payment.

We drove 2 floors down and couldn't locate the Auto Pay Station. We decided to park our car at 2nd floor wondering if there should be a pay station in the mall at the lobby area. My girlfriend decided to wait in the car as she was on the phone. I was walking into the mall looking for an Auto Pay Station, failing to find one, I decided to walk 1 floor down. About minutes time, my girlfriend called me on my mobile phone and she sounded terrified. She was shouting for help. She told me that there is a guy who is trying to get into the car. The guy was trying to get into the car very calmly, pretending getting into his own car. He failed to open and refuses to continue trying as he noticed that she was on the phone calling for help. Luckily, she had locked the door just right after I got out earlier. I run up as quickly as possible to reach her.

The moment I reached to the parking area, I saw the guy walking away slowly from the car. He was walking towards the ramp heading to the upper level. As I ran up the ramp, though I could still see him I realized that I was running away from my car again. It could be teamwork just to divert my presence from my car. I got back to my girlfriend quickly to calm her down.

We made an official report to the Mid Valley security management to investigate on the CCTV. It was a lesson learned for us to be more careful in the parking zones. I’m happy that my girlfriend is still here with me today. Please be watchful in parking zones.

Tips that we should be aware - Never leave valuable items or your family members alone in the car at parking location.

Thank you.

Kind regards,
Remmy Anderson
Tags: The Gardens, Gardens Car Park, GSC Signature Cinema, Auto Pay Station, CCTV, Mid Valley Security

Scary Incident in a LRT

Re-posting Samantha Kong's incident while commuting in a LRT

I got cut by a man with his knife
Yesterday should be a day full of joy and fun for me. I had a great time at Sunway with Amber, we went shopping for our things. Later that, watched 'LoveY Man' with Reyvan, Derrick, Evon and Mei Quan. However, all that ends when I went back to my place using the train.

Derrick dropped me and Amber at the Kelana Jaya station. Amber stopped at Bangsar station where I got to stop at Masjid Jamek and changed to Star LRT station to go to Titiwangsa. So everything was fine initially till at Sultan Ismail station when a creepy scary guy entered the train. The worst part of it, at the same station many people got off from the train.

Next thing I know, the guy came and sat directly next to me very closely. He started to hold and grab my hand. When I told him to get his hand off from me, he said : "You got very soft hands." I was like WTF! So I tried to pull my hand but he took out a pocketknife and laid the knife on my arm.

The more I struggle, the harder he pressed the knife against my arm. I was so scared and didn't know what to do. He kept telling me that he want to bring me back home and play. I kept thinking how to get out from the situation. As time passes by, the harder the knife was on my arm.

I missed my stop at Titiwangsa because when I tried to get up, he blocked my way. Luckily at the next stop, Sentul, a group of working people came into the train and the guy was distracted by them. Quickly I pushed his hand off from my hand and managed to ran out of the train without him following me.

I thank God that I'm still alive now and nothing really very bad happened to me. So I advise all the gals out there to be very CAREFUL! As you see, I didn't even thought this will happen to me but it did. Never let your guards down!
Tags: Star LRT, Light Rail Transit, Sultan Ismail LRT Station

Phantom Money

In a small town on the South Coast of France, holiday season is in full swing, but it is raining so there is not too much business happening. Everyone is heavily in debt.

Luckily, a rich Russian tourist arrives in the foyer of the small local hotel. He asks for a room and puts a Euro 100 note on the reception counter, takes a key and goes to inspect the room located up the stairs on the third floor.

The hotel owner takes the banknote in a hurry and rushes to his meat supplier to whom he owes Euro 100. The butcher takes the money and races to his supplier to pay his debt. The wholesaler rushes to the farmer to pay Euro 100 for pigs he purchased some time ago.

The farmer triumphantly gives the Euro 100 note to a local prostitute who gave him her services on credit. The prostitute goes quickly to the hotel, as she was owing the hotel for her hourly room use to entertain clients.

At that moment, the rich Russian is coming down to reception and informs the hotel owner that the proposed room is unsatisfactory and takes his Euro 100 back and departs.

There was no profit or income. But everyone no longer has any debt and the small townspeople look optimistically towards their future.

-------------------------------------------
The above analysis may help solve the current financial crisis which is largely triggered by "phantom" money.
Tags: Rich Russian, Euro Dollar, Prostitute, Phantom Money

Running Out of Soft Drinks

Yesterday I blogged about Tea. Today it will be about soft drinks.

How often do you drink soft drinks? I seldom knowing that in long term it will not be healthy at all. It will be once in a blue moon kind of thing.

Even at KFC or McDonalds, I would pay a bit more to opt for Milo or Iced Lemon Tea instead. In Malaysia, soft drinks are aplenty. You can find it anywhere, every corner. The sales are good too. No matter how good is the sale it wouldn't have ran out of stock, right?

But it did happen in Ethiopia. The East Africa Bottling Share Company that produces Coke drinks shuts down its plant because it ran out of bottle tops. It was also rumoured that people in the nation are collecting those bottle tops to be sold back to the company at the rate of US$0.20 (£0.13) a kilogram. It's not so much about the bottle tops but it has caused 35,000 Coke sale outlets to be without any soft drinks to sell.

Suppliers to the bottling plant and distributors of the products were badly affected where 150,000 employees in the upstream or downstream businesses could be going without pay if the situation prolongs. It was mentioned that a state of emergency could have been declared.

This East Africa Bottling Share Company in Ethiopia is owned by Coca-Cola Sabco, a South African company, that owns Coke bottling plants in Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique and Uganda. Their interest don't end there. Coca-Cola Sabco also owns bottling plants in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

I'm not surprised with that "state of emergency". In Sudan here, the sale of Pepsi and Coke are very good in the sense that it's even consumed during breakfast, for some it's not one bottle but two.

Would you have taken softdrinks as your morning beverage instead of the usual coffee, tea, milo, milk, fruit juice or hot chocolate? My morning beverage in Sudan here is Milo. I brought along 2 kilogrammes of those Milo powder form. Hopefully can last till I leave.

Reading: Ethiopia hit by Coca-Cola drought - BBC News/Africa
Tags: Coke, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Ethiopia, East Africa Bottling Share Company, Coca-Cola Sabco

Will You Benefit From Drinking Tea?

Tea - always relate it to the 'teh tarik', tea with sweetened milk, a specialty within the indian muslim restaurant or stalls in Malaysia.

My mom will always mumble that I drink too much of such teh tarik as she said the tea leaves used for such tea is the lowest grade of all. Lowest grade? Why do they do buy such a grade? Because it's so much cheaper. This are actually tea dust gathered from tea producing factory, quoted by mom.

True? After hearing that for years, I'm still into teh tarik. When I travel overseas, the Lipton Tea is my travelling companion too. Don't leave home without it ..... hehe. A few cans of sweetened milk will follow along also.

This time round, I bought the Boh Tea. Went shopping last minute owing to last minute work in office on the day of travel and don't have time to travel round to shop for my preferred brand.

When I'm back in Kuala Lumpur, the next day's breakfast will certainly be at a mamak restaurant for my favourite cuppa of teh tarik and roti telur.

Too much of teh tarik?

The American Heart Association did a study where it was found that drinking three cups of tea a day cuts the risk of brain clots by 21 per cent and also will help in reducing blood pressure. How real is this? I'm on the right track at the moment. Already started drinking tea from my teenage life till now ...... should be living past 100 years old for sure.

There's this Tea Advisory Panel who agreed with the findings. Why not? They can't disapprove it hehe else the tea producers will go after their necks.

On the contrary, the American Stroke Association gave a warning where they mentioned that 'excess caffeine intake is believed to contribute to high blood pressure'. Who is telling the truth now? Or whose findings are more reliable and better researched?

Out of nowhere, I bumped into this article where the British Medical Journal mentioned that drinking black tea at temperatures of 70C or higher increased the risk. Am I supposed to bring along a micro termometer when I go for my teh tarik time? Or you just tell the tea maker to reduce the boiling temperature of the hot water?

I find that sipping the tea once it's being served is the best time to taste the tea aroma. After it has cooled down, though easy to gulp down the throat, I find the taste a bit bland already.

Whatever it is, I'll try as many type of tea brands as possible as tea leaves prices are increasing by the day. The black tea is about of US$2.70 per kilogramme nowadays. Why is the price increasing? This is economics lesson ........ drought has hit Kenya and India which caused shortfall in the crop.

Maybe not the teh tarik as it's the lowest grade of tea dust ?!??!!?

Any drop in the production in Kenya - largest grower of tea or in India - world's biggest producer of tea will certainly cause Russians and British, being the world's largest tea consumers, to pay more. Why the Russians and British? The people who's doing those counting should just drop by in Kuala Lumpur (yeah, this city itself will convince you). Walk around those mamak restaurant and you'll be shocked on the number of people drinking tea way past midnight.

Reading: Three daily cups of tea can reduce risk of stroke - Daily Mail
Reading: Steaming hot tea linked to cancer - BBC News/Health
Reading: Tea prices are surging. Is your mug next? - BBC News/Business

Tags: Teh Tarik, Lipton Tea, Boh Tea, American Heart Association, Tea Advisory Panel, American Stroke Association, British Medical Journal, Black Tea, Kenya, India, Tea Dust, Tea Grade

3 English Clubs To Sue Man Utd

When you fail, you blame someone else and sue them in the process for causing your own failure. This will be the highest calling of blaming other people.

The media has hyped that three relegation threatened English Premier League clubs, notably Middlesborough, Newcastle, Sunderland are reported to be doing that. For one whole football 2008/09 season, they have 38 league matches to play. With one match left, two of this three teams could be relegated if they fail to win their last match.

But what has it got to do with Man Utd?

Man Utd is scheduled to play Hull City, another relegation threatened team. In that case, why should you worry when the champion is surely going to beat a lowly team. The thing is Man Utd may not play with their top players who are being safe for the coming Champions League Final on 27 May 2009.

If Man Utd fails to beat Hull City, it may cause two of the said three clubs to be relegated as Hull City's points and goal difference are slightly better.

The said three clubs, as mentioned by the media, may sue Man Utd if they fail to field a full-strength team which is a requirement in accordance with the English Premier League law.

I always believe in this following story:-

I have a good news and a bad news for you. Which one do you want to hear?

The good news first ........

The good news is your future is in your hands.

What about the bad news then?

The bad news is your future is in your hands.

It goes to say that your future / destiny is in your hands and you can't blame others if you fail to do anything about it.

By the way, the football chiefs of the respective three English clubs have denied involvement of court proceedings and that such news were created by the media to boost their sales.

Whom do you believe?

Reading: Relegation-threatened trio dismiss Man Utd suit - Soccernet
Tags: Middlesborough, Newcastle, Sunderland, Manchester United, Man Utd, Hull City, Soccer, Football, English Premier League

China Satellite Crashed Into Moon

USA's trip to the moon may be matched by China soon. Although China's astronauts have not landed on the moon yet, it's gonna be sooner or later.

A China lunar satellite, christened Chang'e 1, has finally landed on the moon. What on moon is the satellite doing there? Well, it didn't actually land properly but crash landed hahaha.

Nevertheless, China's ambitious space project will see the setting up of a similar space station, with long term target to resemble the International Space Station that is being jointly-manned by Russia and USA.

According to leaked news, China do not want to be left behind in the space technology and has targetted to launch Tiangong-1, a space module, by Oct 2010 . This space module will be able to house China astronauts to conduct scientific research in zero gravity.

Tiangong-1 is only part of the humongous China project called Project 921 which will have China Human Spaceflight Project Office, China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and 3,000 other companies being involved.

It will take a number of years and spaceflights to bring their dreams come true in setting up the China space station.

At the same time, there are people doubting the story of USA's landing on the moon ...... wonder why?
Tags: International Space Station, Lunar Satellite, Chang'e 1, Tiangong-1, Space Module, Project 921, China Human Spaceflight Project Office, China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, NASA, USA, China, Moon

Things Seen in Dubai

The view outside my hotel room's window.

A construction spot just opposite the hotel.

No idea on what kind of car was that .... what a limo! The building at the background is high end condominiums.

Then I saw another limo, this time a Hummer limo??!?!?!?!??!?!?!??!?

Dubai airport has quite a number of self check-in machines to process the queues much faster. That is also provided that passengers are well versed on how to operate it. As for me, never used it before.

2,000 raffle tickets being sold at 500 Dirham each. The grand prize is an Audi R8 4.2 FSI Quattro. Want to buy one of those 2,000 tickets?








The latest 2009 model, made in Germany with good specs.















I wonder which of this lamp has a genie in it. One rub and one of the wishes would be to fly around the world and enjoy life at fantastic tourist places.













I have friends who collect ducks, dogs, cats miniatures for display throughout the house.

I'll start mine with camels then. I think I have two different kinds of camels now.






The camel at the bottom of this picture cost 375 Dirham. The stuff being carried by the camel are made of expensive materials.














It's not cheap but they certainly look colourful and nice. Will start collecting one by one.










This notice board will show you how big is this Dubai airport Terminal 3.

As the airport is big, this notice board will show where you are right now and the probable time you will need to walk to your boarding gates. From one end to the other end - it will take thirty (30) minutes.

You can actually cover it in less than 30 minutes. The 30 minutes timing is for those who wants to walk at ease, still able to look at your favourite items being on sale (no time to queue and buy though), get to see those handsome men and beautiful ladies walking pass you, smell those aroma coming from the cafes or restaurants and to let go your last pint of water in your body system.

I wonder who are they trying to kid around. This L Esprit de Courvoisier whisky is being retailed at 23,500 Dirham or USD6,527.77.













A plane, a plane, it's a plane (fantasy island????)

That's really mine.









Couples who walk down the church aisle after being pronounced as husband and wife may be enjoying that walk. Happiness abundant. Nothing will bother them.

Mine's different ............. why am I on this bridge walking into the plane heading to Sudan?










And the pathetic small toilet for economy passengers.

The toilet for business class is not any bigger also haha.
Tags: Hummer Limo, Audi R8 4.2 FSI Quattro, L Esprit de Courvoisier, Camel, Dubai Airport Terminal 3

Students Told Not To Wear Facemasks

With recent flu cases happening around the world, anybody would have been concern with the spread of the flu virus.

A meningitis bacteria was reported to be spreading in the Road Transport Departments training academy located at Tiang Dua, Malacca which affected people who were attending training classes there. Some of the people were quarantined.

At a nearby primary school (Star stated 300m away only; New Straits Times stated 2km away ...... so who is correct?), SRJK Tiang Dua, the parents-teachers' association took the initiative by buying facemasks for their students to wear as a precaution.

When the Education Ministry knew about it, the ministry sent a directive to the Malacca State Education Department to inform the school that all students be barred from wearing the facemasks. Can you beat that? On what basis was that directive based on?

Reasons given -
* to prevent undue panic among the general public
* assured by the health authorities that the outbreak is not viral in nature but a bacteria
* face masks would affect both students and teachers during classes
* by allowing the face mask, more speculations may arise resulting in undue panic among the general populace living nearby

Reading those reasons really made me faint. The PTA's initiative was to ensure that it does not spread only. It would have been better if the whole town's population was to don the facemask if possible. Personally, I'm sure it wouldn't have caused any panic unnecessary. Moreover, the facemask was bought by the PTA and not the health authorities.

Children are generally weaker in their anti-body fighting against viruses and bacterias. By having them wearing it, it would have been a much better condition for them to be at. It's more prevention than cure.

And then when the media or approach the health authorities and officials at the hospital (where trainees were admitted), both parties decided not to reveal any updates or information. I would say that this will definitely cause unnecessary panic when communication breaks down which will also lead us to more speculations.

Really give up on these fellas. Do you see my point?

The Health Ministry's minister Liow Tiong Lai blogged a bit about the scenario at the training academy.

Reading: Parents irked by mask off directive for students - Star
Tags: Facemask, Road Transport Departments Training Academy, Health Authorities, SRJK Tiang Dua, Malacca State Education Department, Meningitis

Meals at Hometown Hainan Coffee

Too many towns here and there now. First time seeing this Hometown Hainan Coffee. It's situated at Desa Petaling with its frontage facing the KL-Seremban Highway.

My group of friends who told had frequented this place a number of times told me their curry chicken is marvellous. That is after I have ordered their Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Really nice ..... maybe I was stucked in Sudan for too long and any food would have been nice. But this is exceptional. Smooth skin and meat itself. Serving is just nice for average diners. For me, not enough of course.

The cafe's set up was almost similar to the other cafes that has the word "town" in it too.

Just that this cafe's air-cond is like ........ no feeling of coolness. Their doorless entrance was just too big and you can't feel the air-cond coolness at all. Good thing I was not wearing a thick shirt.

People still packed the inner seating area. Well, a bit of coolness is better than nothing at all. They have seatings which is opened.

After finishing my chicken rice, I ordered their Toast with Kaya and Butter ...... irresistable. Go for the "Kiap" type as toast will be more crunchy.

Price is similar with other similar cafes which I found is quite norm nowadays and people are swarming into such cafes compared with the olden coffee shop frequented by my parents.

Tags: Hometown Hainan Coffee, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Hainan, Desa Petaling, Toast With Kaya And Butter

Man U's The Champ Again

Took this picture when it was shown on TV. Nobody can sue me for stealing any pictures hahaha.

Manchester United is the champions again for the third year running.

Gary Neville, the team captain, hoisted the Barclays Premier League cup.

Some people (you know who you are) will find this posting sickening. This post is really personal. If you are supporting other English clubs, be forewarned.

Now, that Man Utd has matched Liverpool's 18th English championships, there are Liverpool fans saying that it took Man Utd 20 years to match it.

Some Liverpool fans are saying that Man Utd is still behind Liverpool in terms of the 5 European championships won by Liverpool.

They only want to compare in areas where they are better? FA Cups not counted?

When Liverpool beat Man Utd 4-1 at Old Trafford, I saw a Liverpool fan stating that Liverpool's the best team as they beat the title holders in a facebook comments section. I responded by saying that "please look at the table" where Man Utd was still top of the table.

This fellas got offended and commented further "some people are soooooo stupid ...... this is what we called bragging rights ..................... some people just don't get it".

Very offended indeed but I put in my comments in response to that ....... hehe. I stated "Precisely mate, this is what I'm bragging about, that Man Utd is still top of the table inspite of the result". You could hear a pin drop after that.

When Liverpool was winning and catching up with Man Utd, everything was ok. When Man Utd wins, I can hear Liverpool fans saying that Man Utd's match has been bought or sold ?!?!?!??!?!

That's what I like about football. To Manchester United, well done!

Next interesting match will be in Rome. As of now, I have found many Liverpool fans throwing their Liverpool jerseys away and putting on Barcelona's jersey for the upcoming Champions League finals on 27 May 2009.
Tags: Manchester United, Man U, Man Utd, Liverpool, Barclays Premier League, FA Cup, Barcelona, Champions League Finals

Expired Gas Cylinders?

It was heard that according to a gas cylinder provider in Malaysia, the collar of the gas cylinder has the manufactured year being printed on it. The lifespan of a LPG gas cylinder is 11 years.

Do you know that LPG gas cylinders have expiry dates? Expired LPG cylinders are not safe for use and may cause accidents. In this regard, please be cautious at the time of accepting any LPG cylinder from your vendor.

Here is how we can check on the expiry of LPG cylinders.

On one of three side stems of the cylinder, the expiry date is coded alpha numerically such as A or B or C or D and some two digit number following this, e.g. D-06.

The alphabets stand for quarters:-
1. A for March (first quarter)
2. B for June (second quarter)
3. C for September (third quarter)
4. D for December (fourth quarter).

The digits stand for the year till it is valid. Hence D06 would mean December quarter of 2006. Please return back the cylinder that you get with an expired date. They are prone to leaks and other hazards.

This second example of D-13 allows the cylinder to be in use until December 2013.

My condo is being supplied with piped-in LPG gas and it has been a long long time since the last time I have seen one of this thingy ........

Is this true?

You should read Zach's blog at Life is Full of Experience who has checked on his gas cylinder after reading my blog posting.
Tags: LPG Gas Cylinder, LPG Gas, Hazard

Do Well Also No Use

In Malaysia, can I say that we are the only country that you won't be guaranteed a scholarship even though you are a top student in the country?

Every year, we get to hear such news. It's just news to the students out there that you won't qualify for a scholarship even though you score straight A's.

Ong Tee Keat, the MCA president, has already mentioned that current selection criteria for a Public Service Department ("PSD") scholarships is based on - merit (20%), race (60%), Sabah and Sarawak citizens (10%) and students from underprivileged groups (10%).

Previously, the government has mentioned that government scholarships were handed out based on meritocracy. But Ong Tee Keat has revealed something different now. On one hand, they will hold a press conference telling us something. On the other hand, someone else revealed something different altogether.

Can you imagine that top scorers are feeling bewildered on why their excellent results do not put them on top of the scholarship listing.

So much for the hyped up 1Malaysia that was mentioned just last month. So much for the new song that tries to bring people together. It doesn't mean anything if it's not being practised.

Even the world's not the end for such unfortunate top students, Malaysia is just going to lose those bright fellas to many countries who can't wait to adopt them.

So, what's the point of trying to draw Malaysians who are experts in various fields to return to Malaysia? You could have prevented it right from the beginning. A wrong plus a right do not equal a right.

Reading: Top scorers discover again PSD scholarships are not guaranteed - Star

Related posts -
* Why Bother Waking Up at 3am to Study?
* PSD Scholarships
Tags: PSD Scholarships, Public Service Department, PSD, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam, JPA, 1Malaysia

Are Fish Spas Clean?

Have you been to a fish spa before? I have seen one in Mid Valley itself and seems to be packed with customers.

Never been to one before but I rather go to a spa which has a full body massage. To me, this fish spa is on a different method and it has a certain element of health, in the sense removing your dead skin.

Somehow, things didn't turn up well for some as they patronise those fish spas. Unfortunately, it didn't go too well for two sisters in Singapore.

After a spa session with the 'fish doctors', they eventually need to see a real medical doctor as their legs had turned reddish, itchy and blotchy. This continued even after a week and further medical reference was required.

They have been told that they have been infected by fungal. The sisters went back to claim their medical fees and a return of the money spent in their previous fish spa session.

The fish spa owner has said that both the customers have signed the indemnity form that mentioned "the fish spa holds no responsibility for any ailments that arises after treatment".

What kind of indemnity is that? If there's nothing to be afraid of or that the fish spa is clean, such indemnity is not required at all.

In the end, common sense prevails. Consumer Association of Singapore said that indemnity could not be applied here and that the shop owner was trying escape from responsibility and liabilities caused.

That's one good reason that I don't go to a fish spa. It was mentioned that water is changed every two to three days ......... yucks.

At least a proper spa changes its bed covers after every customer.

Though the water might be clean, it's the same fish that is sucking and nibbling away ........ yucks.

Reading: Spa ordered to stop using fish treatment - East Valley Tribune
A nail & spa salon has been instructed to stop the fish treatment over health concerns.

Reading: Ban on Feet-Nibbling Fish Leaves Nail Salons on the Hook - Wall Street Journal
Cosmetology (first time seeing this word. would have simply assumed that they are experts those cosmet found in space hehehe) regulators insisted that fish pedicures are unsanitary.


How did the fish spa industry first started?
An old Turkish legend about a shepherd who injured his foot and stuck it into a hot spring teeming with small fish. The foot healed. Word spread. A treatment center for skin ailments grew around the springs near the Turkish town of Kangal. From Turkey, the practice spread throughout Asia, employing garra rufa, toe-size carp that live in warm water, have no teeth and, according to those in the business, like to suck off dead skin.
Tags: Fish Spa, Fish Pedicure, Fish Treatment, Doctor Fish, Cosmetology, Garra Rufa, Kangal

Attacked by Mat Rempits

Received this via email and you have to read on to understand the nature of the notorious Mat Rempits. I remember at one time, a certain political youth organisation wanted to glorify this group of people by giving them a greater name, a so to say positive identification.

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Dear friends,
On Friday night, 25th March 2009, I was robbed and slashed by a group of Mat Rempit, more than 15 of them and I was admitted to the hospital. It happened at about 2am at the road side of Arena Green condo in Bukit Jalil when I was entering my car after visiting a problematic student who was staying there.

I was seated at the driver seat in my own car and about to close my car door when a group of Mat Rempit on motorbikes, pull over with parang. Despite agreeing to give the robber my wallet which was at the back pocket of my trousers, the robber still slashed me on my hand and leg, just because I was too slow in taking out my wallet. Blood stain was all over the seats and my pants was soaked with blood. I was rushed to the hospital with slash wounds on my hand and leg and received 11 stitches on my knee cap which now I am temporary immobilize.

My colleague, 61 year old lady who was walking towards my car was pinned down to the ground and her gold chain was snatched and another colleague of mine, 31 year old who parked his car in front of my car, managed to run on foot to the guard house of the condo and he was chased by the Mat Rempit group. Another colleague of mine who parked her car behind my car managed to lock her car in time. The Mat Rempit group was also trying to open her car.

Luckily, there was an off duty plainclothes policeman riding a motor on his way home, happened to pass by while the robbery in progress and he rammed his motor onto them. They want to charge him with parang as well but the Mat Rempit group sped off when he was about to pull out his pistol.

It was a very daring robbery as there was a police road block on that night on the same road opposite direction about 100 meter away and the Mat Rempit group sped off in the presence of the police roadblock. The group of Mat Rempit outnumbered the police on the roadblock. Those police manning the roadblock only arrived at the crime scene after the Mat Rempit group has sped off.

The Mat Rempits are very cruel and inhuman even when I have agreed to give them all they want, they still chopped me with parang. I was told that they were probably high on syabu drugs when they committed the robbery.

Please inform your family members and friends to be careful especially when going out or coming home late at night. Police said that Mat Rempits are active past midnight and they always ride in a group.

Thank God I am still alive but traumatized by the whole incident. Now, I am resting at home, can't move around. It takes time to recover.

Thank you.

Chan Kok Keun
Manager - Testing, UTG
Scope International (M) Sdn Bhd
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Tags: Mat Rempit, Arena Green Condo, Bukit Jalil

Barbie Dolls Are Swarming Shanghai

Mattel has found that this is the right time to swarm Shanghai mega city with their Barbie dolls.

And when Mattel decided to do it, they want to give their best. Out came the world's largest Barbie flagship shop that will house 1,600 products at a six storey, 37,000 square feet emporium all dedicated to Barbie alone. All this done at a price of £20 million (wow ...... more than RM100 million????!!?!?!?!?!!).

This shop don't just sell the miniature stuff but dresses that could fit children and adults. Just when you thought that their clothings are not worth buying ........ think again.

What else could you find / do in this shop?
* £10,000 wedding dress designed by Vera Wang
* café's food designed by local celebrity chef David Laris
* a clothing line designed by Patricia Fields, the designer behind Sex and the City
* bar complete with karaoke
* day spa
* get their hair cut
* get their nails done
* the store offers a catwalk space
* shop assistants to teach customers how to sing and dance to the “Barbie Girl” song

Go look for the Barbie Shanghai shop when you are in Shanghai and it's located at No. 55o, Central Huaihai Road.

Reading: World's largest Barbie store to open in Shanghai - Telegraph (source of picture too)
Tags: Mattel, Barbie Doll, Barbie Girl, Barbie Shanghai, Shanghai, Vera Wang, David Laris, Patricia Fields

Economic Bailout

Very, very interesting. Sounds so simple, but feasible. I wonder ... interesting reading!

This appeared in the St. Petersburg Times newspaper. The Business Section had asked readers all week for ideas on "How Would You Fix The Economy?" A man nailed it.

Dear Mr. President,

Patriotic retirement: There's about 40 million people over 50 years old in the work force - pay them $1 million apiece severance with the following stipulations:-

1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - UNEMPLOYMENT FIXED
2) They buy New American cars. Forty million cars ordered - AUTO INDUSTRY FIXED
3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - HOUSING CRISIS FIXED

Like I have been saying, they are bailing out the wrong people.

Signed

Tags: St. Petersburg Times, Economic Bailout, Unemployment, Auto Industry, Housing Crisis