Apple iPhone out in first-half 2007?

A recent article on Chinese newspaper Commercial Times made headlines when it reported that Taiwanese contract manufacturer Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, has received orders from Apple to produce 12 million iPhones. It said that the phones are expected to be ready for a first-half 2007 launch. While rumours (here and here) of an Apple smart phone device have been circulating on the internet for a while, this latest report has certainly prompted many fans to believe that Steve Jobs will introduce the iPhone at MacWorld in January next year. Both Apple and Hon Hai have not commented on the report. Hon Hai currently produces iPods for Apple. (source: CNET Asia)
Tags: Apple, iPod, Hon Hai, Foxconn, iPhone, MacWorld, Technology, Mobile Phone, CNET

Wedding of Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes

The wedding of Tom Cruise & Katies Holmes was widely reported throughout the world due to Tom Cruise's popularity, the star of Mission Impossible movies. The wedding was held at a 15th-century Odescalchi castle (read more about the castle's history) which towers over the lakeside Italian town on the shores of Lake Bracciano about 25 miles northwest of the Italian capital.

The ceremony was performed by a Scientology minister before more than 150 relatives and friends. Holmes wore a fitted Giorgio Armani off-the-shoulder bridal gown with a train in ivory silk cadis adorned in Valenciennes lace and Swarovski beaded crystal embroidery, and Cruise also wore a handmade, Armani tuxedo. Holmes' father Martin Holmes, walked her down the aisle, and she carried a bouquet of flowers made by Armani. It included calla lilies wrapped in leaves of galax and steelgrass. Cruise's best friend, David Miscavige, was best man, and the matron of honor was Holmes' sister, Nancy Blaylock.

Other VIPs arriving in limousines or vans through the castle gates included Giorgio Armani, Brooke Shields, Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey, David & Victoria Beckham. Holmes was giving Cruise a wedding gift of a Vacheron Constantin watch engraved simply, "I Love You," the watch company said in a statement.

Church of Scientology (which I did blog about this so-called 'church' on 27 Oct) ceremonies contain many elements of traditional weddings, including rings and vows. But they also include certain Scientology fundamentals, including vowing never to go to bed without communicating about any differences. A spokesman for the Church of Scientology for Rome, Fabrizio D'Agostino, said an exchange of vows with a Scientology rite was not legally recognized in Italy, and would have to be preceded or followed by a civil union.

News is that they have flew off to Maldives for their honeymoon. Looks like the Paparazzis will be rushing there too.
Tags: Entertainment, Celebrity, Wedding, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Bracciano, Italy, Odescalchi, Church of Scientology, Maldives

Parents Turn Violent During Youth Sports

There was a case that had happened in Philadelphia which I had blogged about it on 24 Oct.
This time at Corpus Christi, Texas, the 5- and 6-year-old athletes were playing with all their hearts in a big championship youth football game. With 10 seconds left on the clock, a coach charged the field and tackled a referee, knocking him unconscious and sparking a raucous brawl. Some parents jumped in to protect their kids, others to protect adults at the bottom of the pile.

Good thing none of the kids was harmed and the police and the district attorney's office are already investigating the case where the coach will be charged for sure.

Peter Roby, Director of Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University, said parents are losing perspective on the point of playing sports and are viewing the game through their own eyes, rather than from their child's point of view. (source: CBS News)

Tags: Fight, Corpus Christi, Texas, Football, Sports

World Toilet Day 2006

yeah it's today and you are not supposed to use the toilet on the auspicious day....hahaha

well, i supposed the special day was organised to bring awareness on the importance of hygiene in toilet whether public or private (more so public). The organisation bringing such things up is 'flushed' with ideas on sanitation.

World Toilet Organisation (WTO - don't get mixed up with World Trade Organisation) has just organised a ........

World Toilet Expo & Forum 2006, from 16-18 November 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Next in line is the World Toilet Summit & Expo 2006 which is being held by the Russian Toilet Association in Moscow, Russia today itself to discuss on topics listed here (source: Poop Report).

This is big shitty business, may I say. If you think you are hygienic enough, try this Game and see how you fare in toilet cleanliness.

Tags: World Toilet Day, Toilet, Hygiene, Health, Bangkok, Thailand, Moscow, Russia

Season of Life

Things you can learn which are applicable to our season of life:-
* Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
* When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
* Take naps and always stretch before rising.
* Run, romp, and play daily.
* Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
* Be loyal.
* Never pretend to be something you're not.
* Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
* Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
* Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
* On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
* When you are happy, dance around and shake your entire body.
* No matter how often you are criticized, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.

* Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
If I had it all to do over I would work less and go for more joy rides with my sons and bride. The anchors on ESPN's SportsCenter often joke that "an injured athlete is day to day, but then again, aren't we all?" The reality is we are all day to day. Even moment to moment. Life can change in a heartbeat. When the opportunity for a joy ride comes along make it a habit to jump on board.

* When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
One thing I can count on when I come in the door is that Hannah will be there vibrating with excitement. Wouldn't it be nice to greet your loved one with that enthusiasm? Be sure to bring smelling salts the first time.

* When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.I love this one. People often don't know how to react to friends going through a trial like Joni. I wrote an earlier post about being a good cancer buddy that is being published in Crosswalk.com: The Magazine this month. We have found that the mere caring presence of friends has been healing. We don't need answers. We really don't need handy Bible verses. We just need a little emotional nuzzling.

* If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
This really resonates with where I am right now. I want to be a authentic follower of Jesus. And at times the way to do that seems buried in a sea of bad experiences, bad decisions, and bad Christians. But I intend to keep digging. I want to dig into His Word more completely and into fellowship with God more authentically. I want to dig into my shortcomings more honestly and allow the Spirit of God to reveal and repair those more completely.

I am believing in the promise of James 1:5 NIV "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
- Burchett Family
Tags: Motivation, Inspiration, Thoughts, Christianity, NIV

Everyone is Beautiful in God's Eyes

At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines, Iowa. I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons-something I've done for over 30 years.
Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical ability.I've never had the pleasure of having a prodigy though I have taught some talented students. However I've also had my share of what I call "musically challenged" pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano.

So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavour. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel. But he dutifully reviewed his scalesand some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn.

Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd always say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day." But it seemed hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in.

Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons. I thought about calling him but assumed because of his lack of ability, that he had decided to pursue some-thing else. I also was glad that he stopped coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching!

Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the upcoming recital. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did not qualify. He said that his mother had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still practicing.
"Miss Hondorf .... I've just got to play!" he insisted.

I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital. Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be all right.

The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my "curtain closer."

Well the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been practicing and it showed.Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he'd run an egg-beater through it. "Why didn't he dress up like the other students?" I thought. "Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?"
Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo ... from allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people of his age.

After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause. Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. "I've never heard you play like that Robby! How'd you do it? "Through the microphone Robby explained: "Well Miss Hondorf . . . remember I told you my mom was sick? Well, actually she had cancer and passed away this morning. And well she was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. I wanted to make it special."

There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into foster care, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy and I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil.

No, I've never had a prodigy but that night I became a prodigy of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil. For it is he who taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you don't know why. Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995.

Tags: Motivation, Inspiration, Thoughts, Dream

The Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Las Vegas Sands Corp ("LVS") was awarded the project to develop the Integrated Resort (IR) at Marina Bay by the Singapore government.

LVS committed a high development investment of US$3.85 billion. Together with the land price and other associated capital costs, the total investment by LVS would exceed US$5 billion. This is one of the largest investments in the world for a single IR. The IR will include the first casino in Singapore. The IR, to be known as Marina Bay Sands, is scheduled to be opened in 2009.

Its proposal includes plans for 2,500 hotel rooms, 1.2 million square feet of flexible meetings, incentive,convention and exhibition (MICE) space, one million square feet of retail space, three large entertainment venues and a Paiza Club, LVS' successful premium player venue.

It will also be the region's first museum that boasts the best in international cultural and populist exhibits; extensive entertainment programming spanning Broadway, Bollywood, music, sports, fashion and an array of entertainment from Southeast and North Asia; a high-end retail mall featuring sophisticated product offerings; world-class spa and fitness facilities; and fine dining restaurants offering gourmet cuisines from award winning chefs. To know more what are in store at Marina Bay Sands, read more in the IR factsheet.

Lead architect for the said IR is Moshe Safdie and Associates, USA (more architectural drawings in this site).

LVS is a hotel, resort, and gaming and exhibition/convention company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company owns The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Sands Expo and Convention Center, where it hosts exhibitions and conventions, in Las Vegas and the Sands Macao in the People's Republic of China Special Administrative Region of Macao.

The company is also developing additional casino hotel resort properties, including The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas and The Venetian Macao Casino Resort in Macao.
Tags: Travel, Leisure, Resort, Las Vegas Sands, Marina Bay, Singapore, Macao, Las Vegas, Casino