Disputes on New 7 Wonders

Just when the world's citizens numbering about 100 million (via online, SMS and telephone voting) have chosen the New Seven Wonders and officially declared on 7 July 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal, there seems to be some disputes on how the New Seven Wonders were chosen.

Before I reveal who is disputing it, below are the official New 7 Wonders of the World?
Petra, Jordan
The Taj Mahal, India



Chichén Itzá, Mexico
Christ Redeemer, Brazil
The Roman Colosseum, Italy
The Great Wall, China
Machu Picchu, Peru

UNESCO, the United Nation cultural body that designates world heritage sites, disputed by stating "this campaign responds to other criteria and objectives than that of UNESCO in the field of heritage". So how now?

In order not to confuse the world, UNESCO has also declared that UNESCO is not involved in this New 7 Wonders project. This project is actually funded by Bernard Weber, a Swiss-born Canadian who is also a filmmaker, museum curator, aviator and explorer.

UNESCO also stated that criticised the ballot, saying it sent out a "negative message to countries whose sites have not been retained." Good move by UNESCO......are they going to officially denounce the new 7 wonders then?
Tags: New 7 Wonders, N7W, New Seven Wonders, New Seven Wonders of the World, Lisbon, Portugal, Petra, Jordan, Taj Mahal, India, Chichén Itzá, Mexico, Christ Redeemer, Brazil, Roman Colloseum, Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, Peru, UNESCO, World Heritage, UN, United Nation, Bernard Weber

Police or PM Need to Change Attitude?

After the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance has held its forum in Johor Baru, the Deputy-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Najib Abd Aziz, came out to say that "the fact that the police could solve 40% of all reported cases showed it was doing a good job. By Interpol standards, it is already considered good if a police force could solve 25% of all cases. We are close to doubling that”.

This was in response to Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz who on Sunday said that police should accept criticisms levelled against the force by the public which were raised in the said Parliamentary Caucus. What a total letdown by the police force.

So folks out there, only 40% of your cases will be solved.....the rest will be investigated or a file will be opened but no guarantee it will garner any results.

What to do when Malaysia's Prime Minister himself sat on a submission since 29 June 2007. A 632-page report was submitted by former Party Keadilan Rakyat youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor about alleged wrongdoings of a senior Cabinet minister and this PM has said that he has yet to read it. The Best Part - the PM said "I DON'T KNOW" also.

My my my, a case involving a senior Cabinet minister and he's taking his own sweet time to read that. I would have jumped out of my seat hearing such a report which has been submitted. And when your big boss has this sort of attitude, you can't blame the police force (part of the civil servants) for not going all out in solving cases brought before the police.

You tell me!
Tags: Deputy-General of Police, Mohd Najib Abd Aziz, Nazri Aziz, Prime Minister, Ezam Mohd Nor, Police

Borneo International Tattoo Convention

The 2nd Borneo International Tattoo Convention 2007 was held recently in Sibu town, Sarawak. Sarawak is a Malaysian state which is located across the South China Sea (from West Malaysia) at Borneo Island. Together with Sabah, they formed the East Malaysia.

This convention brought acclaimed tattoo artists from all over the world and not forgetting the local talents as well. This convention was organised by Borneoheadhunter Studio based in Sarawak.

Definitely a great place to take those marvellous photo shoots on the art potrayed there. Indeed an eye opener.

A pretty Sarawakian lass, Simonette Tan, was at the convention and got a load of pictures in her blog, Obsession. She got herself a tattoo and guess where she had it tattoed?

Tags: Tattoo, Borneo, Sibu, Sarawak, Borneo International Tattoo Convention, Borneoheadhunter, Simonette Tan, Obsession

Change of Singapore's Hospitals' Names

Do you know why New Changi Hospital (NCH) changed its name to Changi General Hospital (CGH)?

Because NCH stands for "Never Come Home". That's why business was very bad before it changed its name. Now CGH stands for "Can Go Home". So business is picking up.

Business in Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is still going strong because SGH stands for "Sure Go Home"!

Now National University Hospital (NUH) is also considering a name change. It stands for "No Use Hospital"!

What about Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Not too good a name, no wonder so much problem. It stands for " Tiam Tiam Si Hospital " (Die quietly) and now ' Tan Teo SARs Hospital " (Waiting for SARS disease).

So, be careful of choosing which hospital to go if anyone is unwell.
Tags: Singapore, Singapore Hospital, New Changi Hospital, Changi General Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, National University Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

How to Liven Up a Boring Meeting!

Do you keep falling asleep in meetings & seminars? What about those long & boring conference calls? Here's a way to change all that:-

1. Before (or during) your next meeting, seminar, or conference call, prepare for the meeting by drawing a square - 5"X5" is a good size.

2. Divide the square into columns -- five across and five down. That will give you 25 one-inch blocks.

3. In each block, write one of the following words/phrases (different countries may have their own colloquail):-

-synergy
-strategic fit
-core competencies
-best practice
-bottom line
-revisit
-take that off-line
-24/7
-out of the loop
-benchmark
-value added
-proactive
-win-win
-think outside the box
-fast track
-result-driven
-empower(ment)
-knowledge base
-at the end of the day
-touch base
-mindset
-client focus(ed)
-ballpark
-game plan
-leverage

4. Whenever you hear any one of those words/phrases, check off the appropriate block.

5. When you get five blocks horizontally, vertically,or diagonally, stand up and shout BULL****!"

Testimonials from satisfied "Bull**** Bingo" players:

"I had been in the meeting for only five minutes when I won." -- Jack W., Boston.

"My attention span at meetings has improved drastically." -- David D.,Miami

"What a gas! Meetings will never be the same for me." -- Sue S., NYC

"The atmosphere was tense in our last process meeting as 14 of us waited for the fifth box." -- Joseph R., St. Louis

"The speaker was stunned as eight of us screamed BULL****! for the third time in two hours." -- Kathleen L., Atlanta
Tags: Bingo, Boring, Meetings, Seminars, Conferences

Honda's New Aircraft???

Saudi Arabia's version for the Honda Accord. This car was sighted at a competition organised by Jeddah Boys.

Tags: Honda, Honda Accord, Motor Vehicle, Car, Saudi Arabia

Mandarin - Chinese Language

In Malaysia, we can read lots of issues involving the Chinese Language schools. It's always about lack of chinese language medium schools or insufficient fundings for such schools. Some of this schools are privately owned or a semi-government sponsored.

Opposition MPs will create a pandemonium in the parliament whenever such schools were overlooked in the annual budget or Ministry of Education's plannings. The present government would either keep quiet or state that they have done this or that in response to those outcry.

Not surprisingly, our previous invaders where we have gotten independence from i.e. Britain has embarked and acknowledge the strength and future of Mandarin, the Chinese Language. The same is happening in USA too where even primary schoolchildren are being exposed to the Chinese Language.

Just look at the statistics pertaining to the Chinese Language in Britain:-
* 27% rise this year in pupils sitting the version of the GCSE (SPM equivalent)
* 1st stage of the new Asset Languages qualifications system, where entries have gone up 900%
* few independent schools, among them Wellington College and Brighton College, have attracted headlines by making Chinese a compulsory subject for new entrants
* 400 state schools in the country where some Chinese is taught
* Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, which works closely with the government and represents more than 85 per cent of secondary schools, has signed an agreement with the Chinese government to bring teachers from China to help in British classrooms

United Kingdom could see the future and that's why they are a powerful country in terms of economics & financial. They see the needs and implement it fast enough wherelse in Malaysia the Chinese Language could be taken as a racial issue. See how backwards my country could be at times.

On 31 Aug, Malaysia would be celebrating its 50th year of independence. Are we just celebrating that we are free from British colonial rules OR should we look at how high can we achieve after all these years.
Tags: Chinese Language, Mandarin, United Kingdom, British, Britain, Specialist Schools and Academies Trust