2007 Deaflympics Games

2007 Winter Deaflympics - the name speaks for itself, it's for athletics who have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in the better ear - essentially a need to use some visual means to converse either in lip reading or a sign language. The games have started on 1 Feb and will end on 10 Feb.

The host city is Salt Lake City this time. The Winter Deaflympics, founded in 1924, is the second oldest international sports event after the Olympic Games.

Individual events under Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Curling, Ice Hockey and Snowboard are the only sports being contested in this games.
Tags: Winter Deaflympics, Salt Lake, Deaf, Decibels, Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Curling, Ice Hockey, Snowboard, Sports

Whirlwind Romance Package

With the Valentine's Day being 11 days away, hoteliers are coming out with luxury deals for couples who are willing to spend or afford it. Ritz Carlton's US$100,000 package is nothing now compared to the Whirlwind Romance Package.

Millenium Hotel located in Los Angeles, London (England) and then New York will accommodate this package. Why 3 cities? This package is opened to North American citizens only. You have to book now as the package will start on 10 Feb 2007 and ends on 18 Feb 2007 ..... not bad, an 8 days package.

Just by looking at the package details, my saliva is already drooling:-
* On 10 Feb, a 1st class flight to the first destination in Los Angeles
* Chauffeured, upon arrival, to the Millennium Biltmore
* 2 nights stay in the Presidential Suite
* VIP tickets to the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art
* Private shopping tour on Rodeo Drive
* 4-course dinner for two with unlimited flow of champagne

On 12 Feb:-
* 1st class flight to London, England
* chauffeured in a Rolls-Royce upon arrival to the Millennium Hotel London Knightsbridge
* 3 nights stay in the Presidential Suite
* A romantic dinner at the award-winning celebrity chef Brian Turner’s Mayfair Restaurant
in Grosvenor Square
* Scenic balloon ride
* The Rolls-Royce is at your expense during your stay in London

On 15 Feb:-
* First class flight to New York
* A limousine ride upon arrival to the Millennium Broadway
* 3 nights stay in the Penthouse Suite
* VIP tickets to a hot Broadway play
* VIP tickets to visit the Museum of Modern Art
* Helicopter flight over Manhattan with champagne toast
* Luxury limo transfers
* Private dinner and dancing on the stage of the 103-year old Hudson Theatre
* On 18 Feb, a first class flight back to your city of origin

Really can't imagine that sort trip and I'm very sure the lady you had in mind to bring along will fall on her knees instead. Value for this extraordinary package - US$150,000.00
Tags: Millenium Hotel, Valentine's Day, Whirlwind Romance Package, Los Angeles, London, New York, Suite, Penthouse, Rolls Royce, Rodeo Drive, Mayfair Restaurant, Broadway, Hudson Theatre, Museum of Modern Art, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Lifestyle, Luxury

Interview with Financial Times

Malaysia's Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was interviewed by the Financial Times while he was in England recently where the interview transcript is being published online.

Extracting from the transcript, it did quote the PM saying "But fortunately for us, we are doing a lot of things to make our (Malaysia) government do well. The Muslims are being looked after with all sorts of policies, ensuring their progress, increasing their economic participation, providing education for the children, as we do also for other children. From that point of view, they are satisfied. From another point of view, they are sick."

I wonder who was he referring to as sick.

When asked on the issue of declining FDI in Malaysia, the PM was quoted as saying "Since then, Vietnam is catching up, China catching up and India catching up as low cost producers. Of course, slowly China is becoming high cost, in certain areas. So naturally we cannot any more be a low cost producer. So where are we today? We are moving up the value chain. We have become, although we are a higher cost producer today, we are offering higher skills. We are going for value-added products that are more sophisticated technologically. There is FDI for that. But we have to deliver."

The PM did mention that Malaysia is embarking on the bio-tech industry but only 1 sophisticated technology???? What else? From knowing quite a number of foreign business associates who tried to start their business ventures in Malaysia, they were faced with so many hurdles that made them gave up on it and skipped over to neighbouring countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. So, if we are not cost effective at the bottom of the value chain and neither at the higher value chain due to tons of red tapes and you know what, where are we heading to?

And lastly on the issue of New Economic Policy that was put in place for the ethnic Malay race, the PM stated that "The objectives of the new economic policy introduced in 1971 in terms of providing fair equity participation in the economy have yet to be achieved. We aim for 30 per cent [participation]. In some sectors, yes, we have achieved that goal and we can stop."

We can stop? Which sector? When is the government stopping it? Stop to what extent? Or is it just to please the readers only?
Tags: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Interview, Prime Minister, Financial Times, Muslims, FDI, New Economic Policy, Malay

Don't Look Back

Want to be part of a theatre performance in Kuala Lumpur?

If yes, you can drop at the former Majestic Hotel at Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin everyday from 8pm to 10pm. The theatre performance is directed by Tristan Sharps who has put up this performance in Brighton & London (England), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Moscow (Russia). Next venue will be Australia and Romania. The production is called "Don't Look Back" and will end by 11 Feb 2007. Awwwwww.... I'm going to miss it as I'll be back at KL only on 14 Feb.

You'll be guided into the building where a group of 3 persons will enter with half hour interval before the next 3 enters. You'll meet a character who'll interact with you. This character is played by local theatre actor Thor Kah Hoong. The production is loosely based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

The 3 persons will have to go through the production on their own, going into different rooms & corridors to see the happenings. Various sounds, images, slideshows and also live actors will try to picture the story to you. So keep your eyes opened throughout the journey.

The director of the production stated that "the audience will feel that they’re watching something happening and then suddenly realise that they themselves are a part of the story and art is “happening” around them." Moving forward is the right cue when you are in the building as timing is of the essence here. As with the story of the Greek myth, it was told not to look back. Wonder what is at the back of you since they told you not to look back.....hehehe.

Interesting? New way of telling a story to you with you being part of it. Interaction in this production is very important. This production is presented by British Council in cooperation with Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (Aswara) and the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry. (source: The Star)

Tags: Don't Look Back, Theatre Production, Performance, Culture, Arts, British Council, Tristan Sharps, Kuala Lumpur

Ling-N Collections

If you are keen on ladies' shoes that are associated with designers' quality and brand name, click at the following site.

The business is run by a local Malaysian shoe designer, Karina Ng, with close affiliations to Michael Ong, the Toi brothers of Zang Toi, Pamela Roland of New York, Jimmy Choo of London, Bernard Chandran of London and Kuala Lumpur, among others.

The retail outlet, The Millenium Boutique, is located at Lot F4, First Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre. If you are keen on her shoes and handbags and thought of buying it, email me for a password that will get you a discount up to 10%.

Tags: Ling-N Collections, Shoes, Handbags, Shoe Designer, Michael Ong, Zang Toi, Melinda Looi, Pamela Roland, Jimmy Choo, Bernard Chandran, Millenium Boutique, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Fashion

Whale Hunting

The picture (below) was not taken at a construction site where the red earth has been dug up. That red pile is actually whale's red meat which were not fit for consumption and ready to be buried at landfill site. The location: Iceland.

Iceland and Japan are the main culprits in whale huntings. After my generation and the next, the following generations may not get to see any more whales in ocean. This is sad as it's not owing to self extinction through death but due to over doing the huntings. Demand for such whale meat has dropped but the whale hunting industry is still being sustained.

Greenpeace has been organising protest over the whale hunting stating that there in no scientific, economic or environmental justification for it. (source: Greenpeace)

Various protests were held/initiated on whale huntings:-

* Iceland's whale hunting makes waves with critics csmonitor.com

* Iceland breaks whale hunting ban - World Environment - MSNBC.com

* Help Save the Whales, Britain Urges More Nations - Environment News Service

* New Zealand colluding with Japan to illegally slaughter whales - CDNN, New Zealand

Japan has even tried to call for a special meeting amongst members of an international whaling group to help lift a global moratorium on hunting of whales, but several countries opposed to the practice may boycott the assembly. (source: Reuters News via Alaska Report)

Tags: Whale, Whale Hunting, Iceland, Japan, Greenpeace

Seven Wonders of the Medieval Mind

I thought I knew a lot about the Seven Wonders but then I found out that there are different types of Seven Wonders. The following are the Seven Wonders of the Medieval Mind (meaning: Middle Age time):-

Stonehenge

Colloseum (below)

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa

Great Wall of China

Porcelain Tower of Nanjing

Hagia Sophia

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Tags: Seven Wonders, Seven Wonders of the Medieval Mind, Stonehenge, Colloseum, Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Great Wall of China, Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, Hagia Sophia, Leaning Tower of Pisa