Blood Diamond - movie review

Blood Diamond - starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, Arnold Vosloo & Michael Sheen. When I read how this movie has stirred some controversies and protest from African nations it got me to get this movie. The movie doesn't tell you about the diamond industry in the African continent but a similar tale that could happen in any of those African nations. Why the name Blood Diamond - it's where human blood are sacrificed in order to get your hands on those diamonds which have been extracted illegally with brutal slavery as well.

Leonardo acted as a scrupulous diamond dealer from South Africa that went into Sierra Leone. He happened to hear about rare diamonds found at a certain riverbed and got hold of a local guy who was forced by illegal miners to mine at that area. A lady reported bumped into their illegal venture and love blossomed too between her and Leonardo.

In the midst of a civil war commotion, they risked their lives to mine and cover the story respectively. The local guy did it to save his family by getting them out from the country. Leonardo did it due to his hunger for a bigger stone. The reported was there due to her passion for her work. A remarkable story and though each movie may exaggerate certain part of the story, it's still a prevalent situation in Democratic Republic of Congo where illegal mining of diamonds fund conflicts in DR Congo. It's where 1,000 people die everyday fueled by diamond smuggling.

In the early days of 1990s, different factions in countries like Angola, Liberia, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo (also known as Congo Brazzaville) were funded by diamonds being sold to the world even though the mining process of brutal slavery. In a way, the world was funding the civil wars in those countries listed as above.

You can play a part too to help the situation in Africa as in before buying diamonds consumers should ask retailers for their policies on conflict diamonds and for certification that their diamonds were mined and sold legitimately.

Reading: The lure of Sierra Leone diamonds - BBC News (you'll learn more about how it affects the livelihood of the people in Sierra Leone)

Reading: Conflict Diamonds and the DR Congo - World Vision

Tags: Movies, Cinema, Review, Blood Diamond, Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly

Red Travel

Imagine getting to drive the latest Ferrari model, with specially tailored journeys around Italy, the opportunity to stay overnight at the finest hotels, having a meal at Italy's most renowned restaurants and well-trained staff attending to your most demanding requests.

A company, Red Travel, has prepared a wide range of services that will be able to meet your needs.

* The Tour Director leads the way in his Alfa Romeo Spider, leaving you free to enjoy the drive while he plans the best itinerary. He’s a Ferrari expert and will let you into the Cavallino’s soul.
* Your luggage will be in the safekeeping of the Security Manager and his VIP shuttle; you’ll find it awaiting you in your hotel room.
* The Art & Leisure Director is available to help you get the most out of your stay, wherever you are.

Numerous MNC companies have used this tour as an incentive for their top managers or even to entertain their main clients.

To view a typical Rome-Florence-Siena-Mediterranean Sea tour, click here.

Tags: Red Travel, Tours, Lifestyle, Leisure, Travel, Italy, Ferrari

US$4,000 MP3 Player

My my - US$4,000 for a single MP3 Player????

Well, Gresso, an elite mobile phone manufacturer has decided to diversify into the MP3 Player market by producing a MP3 Player, named Symphonia, which has similar function as a normal non-branded MP3 Player. This new MP3 Player has 1GB of memory only.

What's so unique about it then?

* made from Blackwood and White Gold, Blackwood and Pink Gold, White Gold and Pink Gold

* ancient blackwood and 18 carat gold in each case

* innovative flat keyboard of the player has special patented scratch-resistant covering, that the company claims is as hard as diamond

* figures and letters on the keyboard are cut by ultraprecise laser

Prices for the gadget will be between EUR 3000 (US$4000) to EUR 5000 (US$6500). This one small gadget is as good as a downpayment for a new house. (source: Gizmag)

Tags: Gresso, Symphonia, MP3 Player, Blackwood, Gadget, Technology, Lifestyle

Double Standard?

The Malaysian Education Ministry has handed out RM1.409 million to 248 chinese schools for the year 2006, the highest handout since year 2001. The money was used for school refurbishment and extension projects. That figure worked to about RM5,682.00 per chinese school throughout the whole of Malaysia. (source: 7 Mar 07, The Star)

On the other hand, a single school in Penang, High School Bukit Mertajam, has been allocated a staggering development fund of RM20.0 million that will be used for construction of a hostel, teachers' quarters, a sports pavilion and a laboratory. Bear in mind that this development fund itself was specially allocated under the 9th Malaysian Plan. How privilege! (source: 19 Jan 07, The Star)

How did a development fund for a single school made it into the 9th Malaysian Plan wherelse funding for any chinese or tamil schools have not been specifically mentioned. Am I being picky here? Such practise is really double standard or pure discrimination does exist straight at your face.
Tags: Education Ministry, Malaysia, Chinese School, 9th Malaysian Plan, High School Bukit Mertajam, Discrimination, Double Standard, School

Dear God

There was a man who worked for the Post Office whose job it was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses. One day, a letter came addressed in a shaky handwriting to God with no actual address. He thought he should open it to see what it was about.

The letter read:
"Dear God, I am an 83 year old widow, living on a very small pension. Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension check. Next Sunday is Christmas, and I had invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with. I have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope. Can you please help me?
Sincerely, Edna"

The postal worker was touched. He showed the letter to all the other workers. Each one dug into his or her wallet and came up with a few dollars. By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which they put into an envelope and sent to the woman. The rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of Edna and the dinner she would be able to share with her friends. Christmas came and went. A few days later, another letter came from the same old lady to God. All the workers gathered around while the letter was opened.

It read:
"Dear God, How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful gift. By the way, there was $4 missing. I think it must have been those bastards at the Post Office.
Sincerely yours, Edna".
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humor, Post Office, Christmas

Toilet Race

From the title, you could have thought that people were racing to the toilet. But in this case, the toilet as a whole is being used in a race. The recent annual toilet race has been held at a Lithuanian town of Trakai.

A portable toilet (left pic) will have 1 competitor sitting inside it with 4 of his/her mates pushing it across a frozen Lake Galves. At least some people still have some sense of humour rather than being potato couch or succumbing to the sins of the world. Even that, can't they find something better else to challenge with each other. (source: Metro UK)
Tags: Toilet Race, Portable Toilet, Lithuania, Trakai, Lake Galves, Weird

Internet Cafe in Shanghai

Received the following photos via email on the opening of a new internet cafe in Shanghai of China. I thought it was a franchised playboy cafe.If you noticed (not the young girls), each customer is accompanied by a hostess dressed in red. You could see that the customers are playing some games BUT the mouse is being held by the hostess. I do frequent internet cafe in Kuala Lumpur but definitely I'll be the one holding that mouse as I want to feel the game's impulse and tenacity.Ok, there's a guy in yellow shirt having control of his game. But really wonder where would you put your hands when your mouse is being controlled by the hostess.The way that they are dressed are just inviting even non-gamers to go in for some cheap fun (you know what I mean) and those hostess are real young. What's the main purpose of the hostess there? Is this really in Shanghai?

Tags: Internet Cafe, Shanghai, China, Hostess