'Doomsday' Vault Design Unveiled

What Doomsday? Something's happening that I have not heard of?

Norway has designed a vault to house seeds from all known varieties of food crops. I like this country as they do really plan so far ahead. This vault is built in anticipation of future catastrophes, such as nuclear war, asteroid strikes and climate change.

Construction for this vault shall begin in March and the first seeds shall be in by year 2008.

The vault's location has been examined and climate forecast has been made up to 200 years ahead. The Norway government has begun its contribution of US$7.9m with Germany (US$9.5m) and Ireland (US$3.8m) following their footsteps. The collection and maintenance of this vault shall be done by The Global Crop Diversity Trust, a foundation for food security.

More info on the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

Reading: Food crops in a changing climate - The Royal Society

Reading: What is a genebank and how does it work? - The Global Crop Diversity Trust

Tags: Food Crops, Doomsday, Vault, Norway, Svalbard International Seed Vault, The Global Crop Diversity Trust, Climate, Environment, Seeds

Pan-Asian - UnMalaysian?

The recent ban on Pan-Asian looks in advertisements are not going to be accepted by government-owned television stations. Now let's see, RTM1, RTM2, TV3, NTV7, 8TV & Channel9, all these channels are government-owned and they are the only free TV channels available in Malaysia. Pan-Asians can only be involved in advertisements that will run in the only private television channels (other than those mentioned above) under the Astro station.

Why the non-acceptance? Even though if the Pan-Asians are having full & legitimate Malaysian citizenship? Reason? Discrimination Again?

Reading: Models with Pan-Asian look not happy with proposal
Reading: Malaysian models defend the mixed look
Reading: Move seen as giving others a chance
Reading: Ad agency explains why Pan-Asians are preferred models
Tags: Pan-Asian, Discrimination, Advertisement, TV Channels, Malaysia, Models

English Gone Foreign

With the latest transaction done for the purchase of Liverpool by both George Gillett and Tom Hicks, there are now 7 English football clubs in the English Premier League that are owned by foreign owners:-

Manchester United - Malcolm Glazer, owner of American football's (NFL) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chelsea - Roman Abramovich, owner of Sibneft, a Russian oil company

Portsmouth - Alexandre Gaydamak, interest in financial and real estate businesses

Aston Villa - Randy Lerner, owner of NFL's Cleveland Browns and MBNA Corporation, bank holding companies

Fulham - Mohamed Al Fayed, owner of Harrods Department Store, with further interest in aviation companies, casino, real estate and hotel

West Ham - Eggert Magnusson, Icelandic businessman

Liverpool - George Gillett, owner of NHL's Montreal Canadiens, with interest in resorts, golf courses and food industry and Tom Hicks, owner of NHL's Dallas Stars and MBL 's Texas Rangers

The above owners are multi-billionaires/millionaires in their own capacity. They bought football clubs due to their 'want to win' attitude and that's the trait that brought them to where they are right now. On the other hand, the foreign owners see these investments simply as a business opportunity or a personal plaything.
Tags: Sports, Football, English Premier League, Manchester United, Malcolm Glazer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chelsea, Roman Abramovich, Sibneft, Portsmouth, Alexandre Gaydamak, Aston Villa, Randy Lerner, Cleveland Browns, Fulham, Mohamed Al Fayed, Harrods, West Ham, Eggert Magnusson, Liverpool, George Gillett, Montreal Canadiens, Tom Hicks, Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, NFL, NHL, MBL

Wealthy Gourmands

During 6 Feb to 9 Feb 2007, Bangkok will be hosting an event where food being served is fit for the king. The food fits me as well just that the price is way too high. This event is known as the Epicurean Masters of the World II.

If you were a famous food connoisseur or a wealthy person famed for visiting high class restaurants, you would have been invited as one of the 25 guests. Otherwise, you would have to pay up to 1m Thai Baht (about US$29,000 or £15,000) for a one-off meal!!!! So far 15 persons (who is rich and crazy about food) have reserved their place. The diners are coming travel from around Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the US, and include shipping, real estate and gaming magnates.

The venue is at the Dome Restaurant, 65th floor of the State Tower in Bangkok. Top Michelin Star chefs from France, Italy & Germany have been flown in to prepare the excellent dishes. Each dish will be accompanied with different vintage wine.

The menu:-
* Crème brûlée of foie gras with Tonga beans
Alain Soliveres (chef)
1990 Louis Roederer Cristal

* Tartar of Kobe beef with Imperial Beluga caviar and Belons oyster
Antoine Westermann (chef)
1995 Krug Clos du Mesnil

* Mousseline of pattes rouges crayfish with morel mushroom infusion
Alain Soliveres (chef)
2000 Corton-Charlemagne, Domaine Jean François Coche-Dury

* Tarte Fine with scallops and black truffle
Antoine Westermann (chef)
1996 Le Montrachet, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

* Lobster Osso Bucco
Jean-Michel Lorain (chef)
1985 Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

* Ravioli with guinea fowl and burrata cheese, veal reduction
Annie Feolde (chef)
1961 Château Palmer

* Saddle of lamb "Léonel"
Marc Meneau (chef)
1959 Château Mouton Rothschild

* Sorbet "Dom Pérignon"
* Supreme of pigeon en croute with cèpes mushroom sauce and cipollotti
Heinz Winkler (chef)
1961 Château Haut-Brion

* Veal cheeks with Périgord truffles
Heinz Winkler (chef)
1955 Château Latour

* Imperial gingerbread pyramid with caramel and salted butter ice-cream
Jean-Michel Lorain (chef)
1967 Château d'Yquem

Reading: Bangkok banquet beckons for rich - BBC News/Asia-Pacific
Reading: 10 courses, 18 Michelin stars and £15,000 a head - Guardian Unlimited
Tags: Lifestyle, Luxury, Food, Gourmand, Food Connoisseur, Bangkok, Thailand, Dome Restaurant, State Tower, Michelin Stars, Chef, Epicurean Masters, Vintage Wine, Travel

Low EPF Dividend

Employees Provident Fund ("EPF") in their press release has disclosed that they have declared a higher dividend. Compared to previous year only? What about previous years? The stock market has been hitting the high end since last quarter of year 2006.

Why did I say that EPF's dividend is low? It's when their funds/assets are compared against what Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera ("LTAT") has.

LTAT
10% dividend from a total fund of approximately RM4.72 billion.

EPF
Gross investment income for 2006 rose by 1.45% to RM13.30bil, from RM13.11bil in the previous year. Their total fund available is RM262 billion. Thereby, the ROI is around 5%. EPF's total fund is around 55 times more than LTAT's funds.

Real disappointment actually!
Tags: EPF, Employees Provident Fund, LTAT, Dividend, ROI

Love Package @ Ritz Carlton KL

I had highlighted earlier what Ritz Carlton of Las Vegas could offer for their Valentine's Day package and Malaysia's Ritz-Carlton in Kuala Lumpur has also prepared a package for the love birds in Malaysia. The best of this package is that you'll have everything prepared and they'll disappear from your sight so that the couple can enjoy the intimate time.

Ritz Carlton's In The Mood For Love Room Package includes:-
* Personalised in-room check-in
* Full butler service
* One butler-drawn Lover's Bath per stay
* Romantic turndown (chocolate cake, scented candles and bath salt)
* Romantic Valentine’s set dinner for two which has caviar, champagne, oysters in the menu
* Champagne breakfast served in-room
* Health Club access with 24 hour gym, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi

Such package won't come cheap especially with Ritz Carlton's brand name. Be prepared with at least RM1,500.
Tags: Lifestyle, Luxury, Ritz Carlton, Valentine's Day, Love, Package, Kuala Lumpur

Mysterious Death

There was this case in this hospital's Intensive Care ward where patients always died in the same bed and on Friday mornings regardless of their age, gender, medical history or medical conditions. This puzzled the doctors and some even thought that it had to do with the supernatural.

Why the death at that same bed on Fridays?

So the doctors decide to go down to that particular ward to investigate the cause of the incidents....

Come Friday morning, everyone at the hospital ward nervously waited for the terrible phenomenon to occur again.

The new unknowing patient laid there..... Some doctors holding wooden crosses, prayer books and other holy objects to ward off evils ......... waiting .... the patient was resting still. Then 8am...... 8:30am........

Just before the 'cursed' time...... the door to the ward swung open......

(scroll down)















Then Ah Soh ("old chinese lady"), the part-time Friday cleaner, comes in and unplugs the life support system so that she can use the vacuum cleaner.
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humor, Cleaner, Mystery, Hospital, Death