Newest Country in the World - Kosovo

Kosovo, one of the latest place on earth where its government representatives broke ranks from their main government, Serbia, and has declared independence. Another new country being added? No notice was given by Kosovo prior to that with USA and the major European countries (Britain, France, Germany and Italy) supporting Kosovo's cause.

This is their flag. Officially, the six stars were to represent six ethnic groups.

Kosovo's profile:-
* Population about two million
* Majority ethnic Albanian; 10% Serb
* Under UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 1999

* 2,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independence
* Nato to stay to provide security

In my schooling days, I would take the initiative to read up on all countries' names and also trying to remember their capital city. I think I have lost count with the number of new countries springing up every now and then. The former USSR and Yugoslavia have broken up into so many countries.

For Yugoslavia, it has given birth to the following countries:-
* Slovenia
* Croatia
* Bosnia
* Serbia
* Montenegro
* Macedonia
* Kosovo

Rumours were strong that following areas may break away when possible - Republika Srpska / Vojvodina / Sandzak / Northern Kosovo Presevo Valley / Western Macedonia. What a mess therein.

Certain countries have opposed Kosovo's declaration of independence, namely, Russia / China / Cyprus / Romania / Slovakia / Spain. Taiwan declared their support for Kosovo where it got China fuming.

Kosovo is basically populated by ethnic Albanians and the minority Serbs are really not happy with this surprise independence.

Imagine overnight, someone in the government changed your citizenship.
Tags: Politics, Kosovo, Albania, Albanian, Serbian, Serbs, Yugoslavia

Oldest Man Still Alive and Kicking in Malaysia

Didn't I tell you all Malaysians to check the electoral listing. Have you checked, be it whether you have registered to vote or not, it doesn't matter.

Just key in your Identity Card number and check. If it shows "REKOD TIDAK DIJUMPAI" (record not found) then you are alright. But if you knew that you haven't register but somehow your name appeared in the latest listing, please do report to BERSIH or the Election Commission (doubt they would or could do anything).

In one of the latest random check, this Identity Card number was provided - 810422016825. If you key in this number, it would show a person by the name of Md Melahtu B Bungkus that was born in the year of 1881. He would be 127 years old today, still alive and kicking at the vicinity of Taman Dato' Harun, somewhere off Jalan Kelang Lama.


I'm very sure that officials from the Guinness World of Records would like to interview him and list him as the oldest man or person that is still alive and kicking and would be making his way to the polling centre on 8 March 2008. Somehow, this man has not 'bungkus' yet. Anyone can verify whether this man is still alive and kicking? Interesting electoral list indeed!

Tags: Md Melahtu B Bungkus, Oldest Man, Politics, BERSIH, SPR, Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya, Election Commission, Guinness World of Records, Taman Dato Harun

Special Police Protection for the Rich Hongkies

The rich people in Hong Kong do get preferential treatment from the Hong Kong police force.

Edison Chen, the controversial Hong Kong singer/actor that has slept (yeah, crude word but it was true) and took numerous nude photos (numbering up to 1,300 - you didn't know?) with known female actresses/singers, came back to Hong Kong for a press conference on Thursday to explain and extend apologies to the whole world especially the ladies involved in his scandal.










The police force has to assign 100 personnels to be at the press conference. A group of the police force formed a barricade surrounding Edison's Merz S Class upon Edison's arrival. Reporters couldn't get close to him.

Another group of police was in the conference hall to prevent crazy newspapers and TV reporters from having a free for all (police's photos taken from ESWN).

I went into the Hong Kong police website but couldn't find the page that allows common citizen to hire the police force for protection purposes.

At yesterday's press conference held at Hong Kong International Trade & Exhibition Centre in Kowloon Bay, Edison admitted taking all those photos (so, it was not fakes at all) where he mentioned it was supposed to be private affairs (yeah, really private till each of the girls thought they were the special one in Edison's heart). He said that he didn't distribute a single photo and blamed it on an anonymous person by the name of Kira.

You can view/listen to his press conference (thanks to technology) right here where he mentioned about quitting the entertainment industry and would be helping out at charities. So, case closed now? Hong Kong triads lifted the threat of cutting off his hand?
Tags: Edison Chen, Hong Kong Singer, Hong Kong Actor, Hong Kong Celebrity, Hong Kong Entertainment, Edison Chen Sex Scandal, Hong Kong Sex Scandal, Edison Chen Press Conference, Hong Kong International Trade & Exhibition Centre, Kira, Hong Kong Police, Hongkies, Hong Kong Triads

Inflation of 100,000% is Possible

Zimbabwe's economy is definitely heading somewhere - down the drains, yeah all the drains.......

Latest inflation figure was estimated at 100,000% (but compared against which year?). When a country was required to print a larger currency denomination, which in this case was a 10,000,000 (Ten Million) Zimbabwe dollar note, it has sounded to the world that their smaller denomination notes were of no further use. Why was that so?

Previously bus fares were at Z$1.5m (that's in millions) and now, it's Z$3m. School teachers have to quit their jobs and took up menial jobs near their homes leaving schools without teachers in the new year.

A pair of branded lady shoes was selling at Z$150m in early 2008 but it went up to Z$450m lately.

You would be considered lucky if you could get a job which pays you Z$500m per month which worked out to US$100.

Banks have issued new rulings due to chronic shortage of cash:-
* staff who earn over Z$1m a month must be paid by cheques (where high bank charges would eat up a portion too).
* no cheques of Z$50m or above (US$416) are acknowledged by the banks and there are limits on the amount of cheques that can be drawn each day.
* only Z$3m (US$21) could be withdrawn from the ATM (per day I presumed).

In a way, that piece of 10,000,000 dollar note that was issued lately could be quite worthless. Such hyperinflation could happen when a government doesn't control their spendings and when cronies were the ones getting paid if ever spent by the government.

Related blog posting:
* Zimbabwe's 10,000,000 dollars note
* How High Can Inflation Hit Us? 100%? 100,000%?
* What's Happening to Zimbabwe?
Tags: Zimbabwe, Africa, Inflation, Hyperinflation, Economics, Zimbabwe Dollar

Why Men Are Never Depressed

Men Are Just Happier People--

What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Depressed, Happier

Red Roses Available in Black Market

Imagine that Valentine's Day is near and you hoped to get some stuff that was red in colour for your wife/girlfriend. Suddenly, you can't see anything that was red in colour across the city.

The following conversation overheard in a florist shop:-
Man: I'm looking for some flowers for my girlfriend.

Shopowner: They are not available, Sir.

Man: What do you mean? You have no red roses? It's Valentine's Day today and you don't sell flowers in your shop?

Shopowner: It's very unfortunate, Sir. We can't sell RED roses but I suggest that you buy other type of flowers instead.

Man: How come it's not available throughout the city. Where are those red stuff?

Shopowner: The religious police made their rounds and warned shopowners to stop selling red coloured stuff as the red coloured items were banned.

Man: ???????? Fine, fine. Get me a bouquet of carnations then and please wrap it with red coloured wrappers.

Shopowner: Sorry Sir but we could not sell RED coloured wrapper as well. This is my selection of coloured wrappers but no red colour.

Man: This is crazy. Any ideas where I could get what I wanted.

Shopowner: You could go to the back lane. There's a guy there who has what you wanted but I'm warning you first, the police could be watching. Those items you wanted are only found in the black market now and the price were much steeper.


The above conversation could happen in Saudi Arabia as shops couldn't sell red coloured items in view of the Valentine's Day as it was considered un-Islamic - being viewed as as encouraging relations between men and women outside wedlock.

Florists took the risk of despatching orders for flowers in the middle of the night to avoid being caught. Rich fellas went over to Bahrain or United Arab Emirates to celebrate the Valentine's Day.

Related blog posting: What The Roses Say About You
Reading: Saudis clamp down on valentines -BBC News/Middle East
Tags: Red Roses, Saudi Arabia, Black Market, Valentine's Day

No More High Definition HD DVD???

Just when I was targetting to buy a DVD player, this piece of news came about - Toshiba to discontinue HD-DVD business. Toshiba promised to provide continuous technical support to customers who have bought their HD DVD earlier. Why the discontinuation? It seems that it was not selling as well as Blu-Ray DVD.

Pity the earlier purchasers. Even though Toshiba would provide technical supports, movie producers may not be producing DVDs in HD format since there would be lesser HD DVD users, less profitable. So, what's the point of owning one HD DVD when you don't have movies / softwares catering for it which means lesser usage of it, lesser breakdowns. Sometimes I really find such statements by an multinational companies ridiculous.

Looks like the HD DVD would be down the drain. What's the difference between a HD DVD and a Blu-Ray DVD? Read it in Engadget - Blu-ray vs HD DVD: State of the Division.

How did it come about with two different technologies for a DVD? I remembered those days (yeah, during my era and I doubt the young generation could relate to this) there was a war between the VHS and Betamax video format player and Betamax lost the war. This DVD thingy could be the same issue.

Now, what is Blu-Ray? You better read it in Blu-Ray.com.

Which consumer electronics manufactures this Blu-Ray DVD? I have to study which of this is the better ones now. It seems that Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson have it in their stable. Too many choices but Sony's DVD player seems to be getting headline when comparison was made against Toshiba's HD DVD.

Alright, I'm heading to the nearest electrical store to buy a Blu-Ray DVD player. What about the HD technology for TVs????? Going to be redundant soon??? Manufacturers, please decide fast as I want to buy a High Definition TV. Please don't surprise me as what Toshiba has done.

Reading: Analysts react to HD DVD demise - MacUser
Reading: HD DVD bids us adieu; Blu-ray triumphs - The Hollywood Reporter
Tags: HD DVD, Blu-Ray DVD, Toshiba HD DVD, DVD, DVD Player, VHS, Betamax, High Definition, Audio Visual Technology, Audio Visual, High Definition TV