Michael Phelps' Regime Diet

I was very sure that Michael Phelps would break the record for the most number of golds won in one Olympic Games when he won his first event with such a commanding distance. In the end, he did it in style, 8 golds with all in record time (7 world records and 1 Olympic record) at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. To be at this stage at a young age of 23 is really something to shout about.

I still remembered those days of mine when I was 20 years old where I took part in my church sports day. At that age, I was at full fitness / strength. I won 6 medals out of 6 events in 5 hours plus. Started off with 1,500m - Silver (defended my 1999 silver title and lost to a different fella ........ sigh), followed by 100m - Bronze (1999 didn't take part) and then the 400m - Gold (1999 defending champ).

The day went on with my High Jump - Silver (defended my silver medal ...... nothing to shout about as I should be winning the gold seeing that the previous year's winner was not around but unfortunately another guy won it who was not there in 1999. The same scenario happened in the 1,500m).

Almost by noon time, we had the 4x100m relay - Gold (1999 defending champ) where I started off as the first runner (by this time my strength was dwindling). My last event was Long Jump - Bronze (unable to defend my 1999 title). I remembered I really did struggle in this long jump event where I shortened my run up. The first jump was totally awful where my thigh was so weak it didn't give the push needed to take off ............. hahaha. The 3rd and final jump was good enough for the bronze medal. The guy who won the gold was placed third in 1999. And I don't think I broke any of the records set in 1999 ....... hehehe

My training for this sports day started off 3 months earlier and it was jogging initially and ended with intensive training towards the big day, a minimum of 1 hour a day. Food wise - nothing in particular as I just whacked anything that my eyes saw. In this sense, it was a lot of food. Only on the morning of the sports day, I took milk and raw eggs and energy bars for the needed carbo.

In the case of Michael Phelps, his training schedule entails work outs for up to 5 hours a day and he swims 80km a week. My my my ........ pale in comparison for my case. To keep up with the energy required for such strict training, he requires 12,000 calories of food per day.

His breakfast - 3 fried egg sandwiches with bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise (don't worry about the side effect of getting fat now); 3 chocolate-chip pancakes (size of a discus); western omelette with fries; 3 slices of french toast with sugar; a bowl of grits and 2 cups of coffee. It requires 45 minutes to finish.

Lunch - 2 ham and chess sandwiches with mayo; a pound (0.45kg) of pasta and energy drinks.

Dinner - a pound of pasta with carbonara sauce, a large pizza and energy drinks.

hmmmmmmm I think I have no problem walloping all the food as listed (if you knew me well enough) but then I will bloat up at the same time without any sporting activities. Even if there are activities, it won't be enough to burn up all those 12,000 calories. Besides the training, I need a sponsor to pay for that amount of food.
Tags: Michael Phelps, Swimming, Olympic Games, Calories, Sports Day, Regime Diet

Pathetic Advertorial by Local University

The advertorial as below was placed by a local university, University Tun Hussein Onn ("UTHO"), in the New Straits Times ("NST") newspaper on 23 Aug 08. Three days later, NST placed an apology for publishing that advertorial. NST stated that the advertorial contained gross factual and grammatical errors. I should say that UTHO should have apologised for those terrible mistakes.

Furthermore, this advertorial was placed in honour of a royal family's princess by the name of Raja Zarith Sofiah, for obtaining a degree from UTHO. In the advertorial, UTHO was so confused about Raja Zarith Sofiah being a male or female.
If this is the sort of english language that is being taught in Malaysia's current education system coupled with zealous politicians that were fighting for reverting back to Malay language for the Maths and Science subjects, then good luck.

For those zealous politicians, these are the type of english language that you wanted our students to possess and you have succeeded. Congratulations!

Reading: A disgrace to Malaysian tertiary education - Adrian Hoe
Related post - The State of Malaysian Students Education
Tags: Education, Malaysian Education, University Tun Hussein Onn, Raja Zarith Sofiah, Convocation Ceremony, Honorary Degree Award, English Language, Malay Language

Smell of a New House

Over the weekend paid a visit to my new house project site. Satisfied over its work progress and the major works are concentrated within the interior and porch area. Mainly the toilets, laying of tiles, internal wall paint, installation of power points / lighting points / doors / windows. The developer is still targetting handover by Jan '09.
The back portion of my row of houses are already plastered and awaiting the erection of the brickwall as its divider.

Related post - New House Near Completion
Tags: House Renovation, New House

MPAJ Rules for House Renovation

I saw this in a forum, where it stated that Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya ("MPAJ") has new rulings for house owners.

House owners are to apply for renovation permits which cost up to RM300. Besides that, you may have to pay for RM50 for putting up a board in front of the house and RM200 for a rubbish crate to be put outside your house and some deposits (could run into hundreds too).

You must apply for the renovation permit if you intend to do the following:-
* installation of grill (door or window);
* installation of wardrobe;
* installation of kitchen cabinet;
* installation of awning; and
* laying of new tiles onto existing tiles ... (crazy or what?)
* changing of old wall / floor tiles to new tiles
* anything to do with the roof, porch or fencing

To apply for the above permits, you have to pay RM5 for the application form ......... hehehehe.

If you are not happy with the high cost involved, bring it up Ong Tee Keat, the Member of Parliament ("MP") of the area. Might be the future president of the Malaysian Chinese Association. Why did I bring up his name? Firstly, he's the MP. Secondly, he has these bold words in his personal blog "Rela Berkorban Dan Berjuang Untuk Anda!" (Ready to Sacrifice and Fight For You). That's a strong statement, so go and see him .......... if he can't help you to reduce cost, ask him to re-consider the bold statement.
Tags: MPAJ, Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya, House Renovation, Ong Tee Keat

Wealth of European Football Clubs

Not all European football clubs are as wealthy as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, AC Milan or Inter Milan. Most football clubs are unable to match the funds found in the bottomless pit that these few mentioned clubs have.

No matter what, existing football still have to fight for their survival in the respective leagues. The Board of Directors of each football club will stretch their means in getting the right players in order to for the club to perform better and thus, getting promotion and hope to alleviate their tight financial situation.

In Romania, a second division club, UT Arad, wasn't able to negotiate for cash payment for their defender, Marius Cioara. All UT Arad could get from the other club, a fourth division club, Regal Horia, was just 15 kilograms of meat. The best thing is that Marius Cioara somehow went back on his decision to play for Regal Horia.

I don't know what sort of contract Marius has signed off but he has decided to change his career. He's flying off to Spain not to play for another football club but to find a job in agriculture or construction industry.

Now, Regal Horiato is really in deep problem. They are without the player they have signed and lost their one week supply for food for the team. Will those six top European teams I mentioned earlier face such a situation? That's the vast difference found in European clubs.

Reading: Romanian player sold for a chunk of meat - ESPN Soccernet
Tags: Football, Soccer, Romania, UT Arad, Regal Horia, Pro Sport, Marius Cioara

National Leaders in a Train Ride

Singaporeans will love this one! But our Malaysian, Pakistan and Filipino friends should also appreciate the humour!

General Musharraf, Dr Mahathir, Gloria Arroyo & Lee Kuan Yew were sitting in a train.

The train goes through a tunnel and it gets completely dark for the next 8 seconds.

Suddenly there is a loud kissing sound and then a slap! The train comes out of the tunnel. Arroyo and Musharraf are seated across each other, both looking perplexed.

Mahathir, seated across LKY, is bent over holding his face, which is very red from an apparent big slap. All of them remain diplomatic and nobody says anything.

Musharraf is thinking: 'These Malaysians are all crazy after Arroyo. Mahathir must have tried to kiss her in the tunnel. Very proper that she slapped him !'

Arroyo is thinking: 'Mahathir must have moved to kiss me, but kissed Musharraf instead and got slapped.'

Mahathir is thinking: 'Damn it, Musharraf must have tried to kiss Arroyo; she thought it was me and slapped me instead. Shit !!'

Lee Kuan Yew is thinking: 'If this train goes through one more tunnel, I could make another kissing sound and slap Mahathir again !!'
Tags: General Musharraf, Dr Mahathir, Gloria Arroyo, Lee Kuan Yew, Train

Only 435 Restaurants Authorised to Collect Service Tax

I'm sure many Malaysians were frustrated when it was announced that the 5% service tax need not be paid (with certain exceptions imposed by the Royal Malaysian Customs) with effect from 1 July 2008 but were clueless as to which Malaysian restaurants or cafes have been exempted from doing so.

NOW - you need not crack your head anymore in questioning the restaurants or cafes' operators' rights to collect the 5% service tax.

Click here to download the list of restaurants or cafes still authorised (only 435 of them)

Your rights as a resident of Malaysia (irrespective of nationality):-

1. The public can decline to pay service tax to restaurant owners who fail to display their service tax license issued by the Royal Malaysian Customs.
2. The public have the rights to demand for receipts or invoices indicating that the 5% Service Tax payment or 5% tax inclusive payment has been made.

If you have been forced to pay the 5% service tax even though their name is not in the list, please do the nation a favour as in report the incident at cd@customs.gov.my or kastam@customs.gov.my or to the Head of the Internal Revenue Division at the respective states’ Customs offices.

Remember this, you have a hand in deciding how Malaysian business will operate with integrity.

Reading: Report restaurants still charging service tax - Berita Malaysia

Related post - Abolishment of 5% Service Tax
Tags: Malaysian Restaurant, Service Tax, 5% Service Tax, Royal Malaysian Customs, Service Tax Act 1975