Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Apple Launches iPhone

As previously blogged on 20 Nov 06 and with the on-going MacWorld Conference & Expo being held in San Francisco, Apple has announced the much speculated new mobile phone called the iPhone.

The iPhone will serve both as an iPod as well as 3G phone, somehow cramming a "3G" radio, iPod functionality, 2 megapixel digital camera and even a version of OS X into the phone-size package. No indication of its pricing yet. (Full specs)

Reading: Apple Officially Launches iPhone, Apple TV - PC Magazine
Reading: Macworld Expo: Jobs Unveils the iPhone - PC World
Tags: Apple, iPhone, MacWorld, MacWorld Conference & Expo, San Francisco, iPod, Technology, Smartphone, Launch, OS X, 3G, Wi-Fi

Principality of Sealand - FOR SALE

Interested to buy a country? According to Yahoo! News, the world's smallest country, Principality of Sealand, is up for sale by its owners at a price of US$950 million.

The sovereign principality was founded in 1967 in international waters, six miles off the eastern shores of Britain. The official language of Sealand is English and the Sealand Dollar has a fixed exchange rate of one US dollar. Passports and stamps have been in circulation since 1969.

The history of Sealand is a story of a struggle for liberty.

Sealand has a picture gallery and Flickr has a collection of it too.

Tags: Sealand, Principality of Sealand, World, Smallest, Country, North Sea, For Sale, Citizen

Visit Malaysia Year 2007

Malayisa has designated the year 2007 as the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 ("VMY 2007"). Various activities/programmes/events have been planned/ arranged/fixed to be held during the year. The VMY 2007 is being held in conjunction with Malaysia's 50th Independent Year.


On 6 Jan 06, the launching of VMY 2007 was held in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. In view of the VMY 2007, a 60m high Eye on Malaysia giant ferris wheel began its operations with the VIPs getting the first rides including the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Eye on Malaysia allows visitors to experience a 360-degree panoramic view of Kuala Lumpur during a 12-minute ride. It is similar in concept and style to the famous London Eye in London of course. There are a total of 42 gondolas comprising 39 units for the public, one for VIPs and two for disabled passengers. Each of the gondola can carry eight persons.

Malaysia has two international airlines, Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, that are serving international and domestic routes.

(picture source: Screenshots)
Tags: Travel, Leisure, Vacation, Tour, Visit Malaysia Year 2007, VMY 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Eye on Malaysia, Holiday, Adventure, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia

I Got Character

Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humor, Character

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Super Salesman

An Indian moves to Montreal and goes to a big department store looking for a job. The manager asks, "Do you have any sales experience?" The Indian says, "Yeah, I was a salesman back home". Well, the manager liked the young man, so he gave him the job. "You start tomorrow. I'll come down after we close and see how you did, but let me give you a bit of advice. If a customer comes looking, say, for toothpaste, you might suggest for him a toothbrush, or shaving cream etc. You get the idea?" "Of course," the young man said.

His first day on the job was rough but he got through it. After the store was locked up, the manager came down. "How many sales did you make today? The Indian says, "One" The manager groans, "Just one? Our sales people average 20 or 30 sales/day. How much was the sale for?" The Indian says, "$101, 237.64 ." The manager exclaims, "What? $101,237.64?

What did you sell him?" The Indian replied, "First I sold him a small fish hook. Then I sold him a medium fishhook. Then I sold him a larger fishhook. Then I sold him a new fishing rod. Then I asked him where he was going fishing, and he said down at the coast, so I told him he was going to need a boat, so we went down to the boat department, and I sold him that twin engine Chris Craft. Then he said he didn't think his Honda Civic would pull it, so I took him down to the automotive department and sold him that 4X4 Pajero."

The manager says "You mean a guy came in here to buy a fish hook and you sold him a boat and truck?!" The Indian says, "No, no, no, he came in here to buy a box of Kotex for his wife and I say since your weekend's already screwed up you might as well go fishing."

Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humor, Salesman, Montreal, Indian

Monday, January 08, 2007

World's Most Expensive Chocolates

Chocopologie by Knipschildt
Cost: US$2,600 per pound
Where: Norwalk, Connecticut, USA
Knipschildt Chocolatier was founded in 1999 by Fritz Knipschildt, who got his culinary education as a chef in Denmark. The most-expensive chocolate he sells--a $250 dark chocolate truffle with a French black truffle inside--is available on a preorder-only basis. It's made of 70% Valrhona cacao, which is blended into a creamy ganache with truffle oil. The truffle is then hand-rolled with a dark truffle on the inside and dusted with cocoa powder.

Noka Vintages Collection
Cost: US$854 per pound
Where: Dallas, Texas, USA
Noka chocolate is a compilation of the finest dark chocolates, sourced from select plantations in Venezuela, Trinidad, Cote d'Ivoire and Ecuador. The Vintages Collection of chocolate is 75% pure, single-origin cacao, with other ingredients that include cacao butter and sugar. Noka does not use any type of emulsifier, such as soy lecithin, in their chocolate-making process, nor do they add vanilla.


Delafee
Cost: US$508 per pound
Where: Neuchatel, Switzerland
For those who enjoy a sparkle in their chocolate, there's Delafee. The chocolate is prepared with fine cocoa beans and flakes of edible 24-karat gold applied by hand to each praline. Other ingredients include sugar, coconut oil, cocoa butter, milk powder and vanilla.




Godiva "G" Collection
Cost: US$120 per pound
Where: New York, USA
The well-known chocolatier, which originated in Belgium, recently introduced the "G" Collection of chocolates, which are made with various ingredients and flavors, such as Palet d'Or, Tasmanian Honey and Mexican Hot Chocolate. Each chocolate is comprised of premium cocoa beans and other ingredients that are dependent on each type of bonbon.

Richart
Cost: US$120 per pound
Where: Lyons, France
Richart chocolate is made from 70% Criollo cocoa from Venezuela--considered the best cocoa in the world. It has a mild-but-full flavor and is only paired with the finest ingredients, such as almonds, raspberries and exotic spices. The cocoa used in each chocolate is finely ground to ensure a smooth taste.

(source: Forbes)
Tags: Food, Chocolate, Dessert, Knipschildt Chocolatier, Noka, Delafee, Godiva, Richart, Lifestyle, Luxury

Obsession


Pattaya International Fireworks Festival

Pattaya is definitely firing up its presence internationally. Covid19 has hit many nations really hard and Pattaya wasn't exempted from ...