Man United - Champs in England and Europe

The save by Edwin Van der Sar that won the UEFA Champions League for Manchester United. Another cup to be placed in their trophy laden cabinets back at Old Trafford. Marvellous, superb, fantastic, what more can I say for this team. Some of my friends just couldn't accept the fact that Manchester United is the champions of England and Europe again.

Now, let's see who will be leaving Chelsea in weeks to come. Even the match commentators did mention that there will be a major revamp in staff & players. For a start, looks like Avram Grant will be looking for a new job soon. Rumours said that Didier Drogba (esp after that straight red card in this morning's match), Frank Lampard and Andrei Shevchenko could have new suitors.

Tags: Manchester United, Man Utd, Man United, Man U, UEFA, UEFA Champions League, Moscow, Luzhniki Stadium, Old Trafford, Edwin Van Der Sar, Chelsea, Avram Grant, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Andrei Shevchenko, Football, Soccer

Marvel Super Heroes Theme Park

Tatweer Dubai has finally confirmed that their leisure and entertainment park, Dubailand, has gotten Marvel Entertainment (creators of superheroes action characters such as Spiderman, The X-Men, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk and the Marvel comics) to develop a superheroes theme park. It will be ready in year 2012.

I really wonder what sort of theme will they have inside this theme park. You get to swing with spidey web all over the theme park? Participate in a fight against evil figures together with Fantastic Four? Break unthinkable stuff that blocks your way like Incredible Hulk?

Well, it's a place that you can fantasize, so why not? It will be nice to be appointed as the official blogger for this Dubailand. You get to be invited to all events, all openings, all new rides, all new restaurants (quite hungry now).

Reading: Tatweer to develop Marvel Super Heroes Theme Park - Gulfnews
Tags: Marvel Super Heroes Theme Park, Marvel Super Heroes, Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Comics, Theme Park, Dubailand, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tatweer

Just How Much is 500 Million Dollars?

Zimbabwe, which has an 165,000% inflation rate, is trying to ensure that their citizens do not need to carry tons of money while going out to buy their stuff.

When I was in Sudan, I have to carry a bulk of of their 1,000 Sudanese Dinar wherever I go so that I would have enough to pay for stuff that I wanted. A simple meal at a restaurant would cost me easily 3,000 Sudanese Dinar (equivalent to US$15). At this point of time, Sudan has made their currency becoming smaller denomination where 100 Sudanese Dinar is equivalent to 1 Sudanese Pound, which is still at the same exchange rate of 2 Sudanese Pound = US$1.00. Sudan is not linked to any international currency exchange rate and they change their denomination as they like.

Wherelse in Zimbabwe, the value of their money has dropped even further. When I blogged about the new issuance of the 10,000,000 (Ten Million) Zimbabwe Dollars in January 2008, the situation was already bad enough. In January, their 10,000,000 Zimbabwe Dollar was equivalent to US$3.90 at the height of the 165,000% inflation rate.

Today, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (tried to find their link but to no avail) has done something that nobody has done before which is to issue a 500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million) Zimbabwe Dollar note. Today, their 500,000,000 Zimbabwe Dollar is worthed US$2.00.

What's the percentage of increase like? 10,000% on top of 165,000%???
Which works out to 1,650,000,000% inflation rate right now? One Billion???????

Going back to history, in 1980, one Zimbabwe dollar was worth more than US$1.00.
Reading: Zimbabwe bank issues $500m note - BBC News/Africa
Tags: Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Dollar, Economics, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Planes You Have Never Seen Before

There are many plane designs lately and most of it may not have been commercially viable but test flights were conducted too.

Besides bird watchers, there are also plane watchers and that's the reason why you could catch a glimpse on photos taken by such enthusiastic plane watches who sat at airports upon hearing rumours of weird airplanes that would go on test flights.

I wonder who was the airplane manufacturer that did it for Emirates but they sure do have big ambitions.
The plane's landing on one wheel will trigger the release of the rest of the wheels in few seconds later. What a trial?

This Swissair must be a hot plane that requires lots of fresh air intake into its system.
This KLM Royal Dutch Airlines believes that two pilots' heads are better than one.
A cargo plane called Dreamliner created by Boeing.
A Hawaiian Airlines' commercial passenger jet with numerous turbo boost (10 engines?) to reach your destination at half the time. Could it stop in time upon landing then?
One of those idea for a private jets. So weird! The whole body is out of proportion.

Airbus A380 will lose their status as the biggest passenger airplane when this Delta Airlines' plane goes commercial. This is humonguous.

What a big belly for a cargo airplane. Looks like it didn't manage to go commercial with that weird design or did it actually take-off.
Another one of those powered jets. 8 engines?
What kind of spaceship inspired designs is this? And the airline company was willing to accept such design and to even give it a test?
It was tested but it didn't make it commercially. Maybe too wide for many airports in the world.

Tags: Plane, Aeroplane, Airplane, Boeing Dreamliner, Airbus A380, Emirates, Swissair, Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Scottish Logic

A man in Scotland calls his son in London the day before Christmas Eve and says, I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.

"Dad, what are you talking about?" the son screams. We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Leeds and tell her."

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like hell they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this," She calls Scotland immediately, and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says, "they're coming for Christmas and they're paying their own way."
Tags: Scottish Logic, Scotland, Funny, Humour, Jokes

Visit to Myanmar Refugees

A long weekend for Malaysians owing to the Wesak Day today. Saturdays was my usual personal stuff, with my young adults cell group in the late afternoon. Thereafter, lazed at home till night to watch the English FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Cardiff. Not much of interest in this match even though it's a final, just because my team was not in it ..... hehe

On Sunday, as usual, attended church service in the morning and went over to the project site of my new house to see the work progress. It's already 30% complete as per the architect's approval and targetted to finish by year end for the 38 units of houses for this phase. Went with another family who bought at the same place. Talking about what we can do in future too......

Went back and the migraine attack came to haunt me from afternoon till 11pm. In between still managed to drive to Segambut area for dinner with friends. One of those days that I couldn't feel anything for food. The migraine was irritating me the whole meal and my friends noticed that I didn't take much too (as I'm the usual big eater, a bandaraya known to many). After dinner, straight for home and knocked off immediately on my bed.

This morning, woke up at 8am, fresh and excited. Arranged for a visit to the Myanmar refugees in KL. My group of friends brought some food for this group of kids and food preparation was on-going to be served after some lessons (taught other volunteers) for the kids.
A photo war went on, clicking away to see who gets the best picture.
As there was another group of volunteers who came earlier, we were planning for the next trip.
Children listened with full attention. This is their only way to learn about English and the world that they are living in, though far from their original land of birth.








Ladies from various organisations do volunteer their time to teach these kids. They could be from the USA, UK or even the foreign embassies.













Their window to the future is not within their control but the caretaker's wish for all of them is "To become a future leader for Myanmar when they grow up".

These are some of the stuff that they make to earn additional income to support the kids. They would have photo albums, bookmarks, season greeting cards, etc.....

Different organisations would take their stuff on consignment basis and sell it for them and all profits were channeled back to the home.
Myanmar traditional cloth which was of very good materials and handwork. Yeah, hand made indeed. Didn't ask about the price as I didn't bring enough money at all, just enough for my earlier breakfast and the toll when I left the house.
They have even started to make Christmas stuff in order to be sold at the end of the year.

This is a group that doesn't sit at home with folded hands and legs, waiting for donations to fall on them but they do work hard to support themselves.

My group did talk about getting a computer set for them at the end of the year.
Tags: Myanmar Refugees, Myanmar, Burma

Why Is Peter Crouch So Expensive?

Rafa Benitez, the Liverpool manager, who plays Peter Crouch sparingly has slapped a price tag of £15million on him. Peter who is seeking for first team football may want to ply his trade elsewhere if he was guaranteed first team football (presumably in the Premier League as well).

Football club managers who have an eye on Peter were shocked with the value placed by Liverpool. Since Rafa doesn't need him badly, why wouldn't a manager offload him cheaply and off the payroll as well.

There's definitely a reason for it ....................
Reading: Benitez slaps £15million price tag on Crouch - Soccernet
Reggie Lee's drawing sourced from today's Star Football pullout
Tags: Football, Soccer, English Premier League, Peter Crouch, Rafa Benitez, Liverpool, Football Club Manager, Reggie Lee