Will The Same Protestors Dare To Protest No Plastic Bags Day Now?

When the Penang and Selangor state governments implemented the No Plastic Day beginning on a Saturday, we can various forms of protest from many parties. These 'protestors' protested for the sake of protesting just to create a ruckus or made some noise to Pakatan Rakyat's ideas even though it may benefit the earth or the environment.

The Malaysian Plastic Manufacturers Association ("MPMA") northern branch even gave the reason that as many as 1,600 workers may lose their jobs if Penang was to further extend the No Plastic Days to other days besides Saturdays and effect the no more FOC plastic bags from today onwards.

MPMA northern branch is running a campaign, purposely going against the Penang state government, by giving out free plastic bags on the first three Sundays in January 2011.

Parti Gerakan Penang branch has even blasted the Penang state government for this no plastic bag policy.

Then we have web portals, such as this, writing about the negative effect it will have on the Selangor state government if the No Plastic Bag Day is to be carried out on the Saturdays. It mentioned that voters will be against such environmental policy.

Suddenly, the federal government has now decided to follow both the Penang and Selangor state governments to impose the 'No Free Plastic Bags on Saturdays' beginning next Saturday itself.

In launching this new ruling yesterday, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry staff gave out reusable cloth bags to shoppers at the Alamanda shopping centre. May I know who paid for those cloth bags? Taxpayers' monies?

I can't wait to see MPMA northern branch, people that walked away from payment counters and Parti Gerakan Penang to protest even louder now since it's being implemented nationwide. The federal government is doing this quickly before Kedah and Kelantan (under Pakatan Rakyat ruling) decide to impose it. No face lah. I supposed MPMA as a whole and Parti Gerakan as a whole will be protesting too?

For those of you in Penang, bear in mind that when you shop at hypermarkets, supermarkets, departmental stores, pharmacies, fast food restaurants, nasi kandar outlets, convenience stores, chain stores, petrol kiosks or mini markets, bring along your own fabric bags / biodegradable bags / reusable bags to store your stuff.

I was caught off guard on Saturdays at times when I shop at Giant or Tesco. Forced to pay the RM0.20 for each plastic bag. Even IKEA imposes the RM0.20 ruling. Subsequently, I have bought those bags of my own to overcome this situation and stationed those bags in my car boot. Just have to remember to bring it along haha.

But have I seen customers protesting at the payment counters and walked away as what was written in the web portals? Nope, I didn't see that personally. Can't imagine people walking away after having selected their goods with care over a period of time just because of RM0.20.

Be prepared for those nationwide campaign against the federal government's decision. No?
Tags: Fabric Bags, Biodegradable Bags, Reusable Bags, No Free Plastic Bags, No Plastic Bags

First Spaceport Is Ready

You have heard of airport but what about a spaceport.

The world's first commercial spaceport is being built in near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico state and it has been named Spaceport America. It's owned by the state, built at a cost of US$198 million and it's runway is about two miles long.

Yes, that's the name of the place where the spaceport is located haha.

As of now, the only people that have gone up to space at this point of time are the astronauts and the too wealthy cum whom you know people.

But with this spaceport being made available, the reality of flying up to the space is becoming a dream come true for those who has it. Has what? You must be loaded as well as it won't come any cheaper just to have a seat on a 'spaceship' of such nature.

Of course, you need a spacecraft to fly you up from the spaceport too. A company that is eagerly waiting to launch their spaceship? spacecraft? spaceflight? whatever you call it is Virgin Galatic ("VG"). VG, a space tourism company, will be obtaining their spacecrafts from the Spaceship Company ("SC"), partly owned by the Virgin Group, which has been testing their spacecraft since 2004.

SC's spacecraft by the name of SpaceshipTwo is undergoing massive rocket testings to prepare for its maiden flight in nine to eighteen months' time.

VG will be the main anchor tenant at Spaceport America.

The person linked to all this space ventures is none other than Sir Richard Branson.

If you are really keen to be part of this historic space trip, you can register your name with SpaceShipTwo. In order to fly, you have to make a deposit with them. Of course, otherwise any Tom, Dick and Harry will be applying for it and not turning up on that day itself.

Although it's becoming a reality, it will only be a dream come true for the millionaires around the world. According to Forbes, there are about 10 million, I'm referring to the US$1 million cash, millionaires in the world today.

Hmmmmm that's a large market but if not wrong, a lot of them are quite old and not fit to board such flight. I don't mind becoming a proxy to fly on your behalf.

Related post - The Spaceship Company
Tags: Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Spaceport America, Virgin Galatic,  Spaceship Company, Virgin Group, SpaceShipTwo, Sir Richard Branson

Complete & Finished

People say there is no difference between COMPLETE & FINISHED....

But there is.

When you marry the right one, you are COMPLETE...

And when you marry the wrong one, you are FINISHED.....

And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you

are...

COMPLETELY FINISHED !!!!!!!!!
Tags: Funny, Humour, Complete, Finished

Everything Is Getting Less

Our communication - Wireless

Our phones - Cordless

Our cooking - Flameless

Our food - Fatless

Our desserts - Sugarless

Our labour - Effortless

Our relations - Fruitless

Our attitude - Careless

Our feelings - Heartless

Our politicians - Shameless

Our government - Useless

Our education - Thoughtless

Our mistakes - Countless

Our arguments - Baseless

Our youth - Jobless

Our boss - Brainless

Our needs - Endless

Our situation - Hopeless

Our salaries - Getting Worthless
Tags: Less, Lesser, Humour, Funny

Lesser Payouts For Your Big Small Lotteries

Looks like the economy is hitting Malaysia deep in the pocket, not only of the general public but corporate giants as well.

Cash loaded companies that are into the lottery business are reducing the payouts for the winners' purse effective 15 December 2010. No Christmas bonuses for you.

Not one company but three had obtained approval from the Ministry of Finance. It looks like your RM1 is worthed lesser now.

The Sports Toto-4 Digit Big Game, Sarawak Turf and Equestrian Club-1+3 Digit Big Game and Magnum-4 Digit Big Game are the usual big timers in the local scene's lottery game. Will this affect the players' decision in reducing their betting stakes or stopping eventually? Don't think so.

People who have been buying will continue to harbour the hope of becoming richer or even becoming a multi-millionaire. I know of a person who will somehow hit top prizes a few times in a year and I have heard of people who have not hit any single prizes at all.

There was this funny part where a friend was reading the back pages of the newspaper, apparently looking at the lotteries' results. Out of a sudden, he gave a loud shrieked and shouted "Aiyoh, my car registration number came out as the top prize". I took a look at the newspaper and indeed it was.

So, I asked him "Which number did you buy this time or you reversed your registration number instead?"
His response "That's the thing, I didn't buy this time!"

Some people are like that. What are you complaining about when you didn't do it? I thought he bought other numbers at higher stakes and eventually not a single dollar was placed. Talk about complaining.

Wasting my time talking to him about it ........ kept on mumbling on the wasted chance lah, this lah, that lah, if lah, should have lah. Anyway, wasted actually otherwise the meal that we were having would have been on him.

Hello friend, thinking about it, you should have bought it lah! If you have bought it I would have gotten a free meal.

Reading: BToto, BAssets, Magnum get MoF nod to reduce prize pay-outs - The Edge
Tags: Lottery, Betting, 4 Ekor, 4D, Sports Toto, Big Small, Berjaya Toto, Magnum, Sarawak Turf and Equestrian Club

Recognised Sexy Structure In Malaysia

Malaysia has one structure that has been recognised as one of the Top 10 sexiest buildings in the world and that is our Penang Bridge. The informal selection was made by members and editors in travel website VirtualTourist.com's forum.

The Penang Bridge came out as number nine in the listing. The other chosen sexy buildings are as follows:-
1) Quadracci Pavilion, Milwaukee Museum of Modern Art; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Its description lies somewhere between a glorious yacht, a graceful dove, and a modern dancer. Be sure to catch the Pavilion's Burke Brise Soleil at the beginning and end of the day when its wings open and close.

2) Absolute World Towers; Mississauga, Canada
The supermodel of modern architecture, the twisting Mississauga towers have probably grown tired of hearing the compliments.

3) Sonneveld House; Rotterdam, The Netherlands
The strong, silent type, Sonneveld House was way ahead of its time when it was built in the early 30s. Aside from its clean lines and modernist design, the home also contained a bell system to contact household help, telephone system, and highly daring color combinations.

4) Casa Batlló; Barcelona, Spain
Gaudi's curvy masterpiece is made all the more amazing when one realizes this sensuous building was completed over 100 years ago.

5) Sydney Opera House; Sydney, Australia
It was opened in the era of polyester and bad hair but this structure has always been timeless.

6) Millau Viaduct (Viaduc de Millau); Millau, France
In a land where beauty is everywhere, the competition for the sexy title is fierce. Simple but stunning, this structure's clean lines and an intimidating scale only add its undeniable magnetism.

7) Zwinger; Dresden, Germany
The oldest building on our list, Zwinger, which was heavily influenced by Versailles, was all but destroyed in the Second World War. Painstakingly restored, it was the building's power, imposing facade, and largesse that put it on our list.

8) Walt Disney Concert Hall; Los Angeles, California
Now that the controversy has died down Angelenos can't imagine their city without the shimmering panels that gleam like diamonds in the strong California sun. The building is especially vibrant now that its dazzling and vivacious new music director, Gustavo Dudamel, has taken the reigns.

9) Penang Bridge; Malaysia
As slinky as a screen siren, this particular choice is almost more sculpture than bridge. Slithering across the water to connect the island of Penang with the Malaysian mainland, the bridge is also known for its annual marathon.

10) Fallingwater; Mill Run, Pennsylvania
Having been featured on the cover of no less than Time magazine, Fallingwater remains just as mythic and legendary as its creator, the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright. Built for the Kaufman family of Kaufman's department store, the gutsy house is situated on top of a waterfall, not merely with a view of it as the family first anticipated.

I have seen items 5 and 9 only. Loooooooong way to go in my travelling. How come buildings in Istanbul were not favoured?

(The above had been extracted from Reuters Life)
Tags: Quadracci Pavilion, Absolute World Towers, Sonneveld House, Casa Batlló, Sydney Opera House, Millau Viaduct, Zwinger, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Penang Bridge, Fallingwater

Malaysian Brains in Melbourne

Extracted from Anilnetto.com

Happened in Melbourne, Australia.

10 Nov 2010
1. Arrived early at hospital, so decided to walk down the street to check out an expensive shop by famous Melbourne-based designer. Was pleasantly (but sadly) surprised to learn the ‘local designer’ was a Malaysian whose entire family migrated from Malaysia!

2. Went back to hospital. Was registered by a loud receptionist who was Malaysian whose family migrated from Malaysia!

3. 20-30 minutes wait later, was seen by a specialist (endocrinologist) who studied at Melbourne Uni and then migrated to Melbourne… from Kuala Lumpur! (Oh btw, since this was public hospital, this Malaysian endocrinologist was also teaching/supervising an Australian medical student while she was consulting me).

4. Referred for thyroid biopsy. They booked me in for Monday (only five days later).

15 Nov 2010
Thyroid biopsy wasn’t nice, but the surgeon was very friendly and made me feel assured. I recognised the accent again, so as I did for others above, I asked… The surgeon was from Johor Bahru!!! From my observation of conversations, this ex-Malaysian was obviously senior and well-respected, and was using my procedure to teach an Aussie medical student!

Public hospitals will never be of 5-star luxury, but my 100%-free-of-charge experience thus far has been more than acceptable. But I am very disturbed (!!!) by the series of expert EX-MALAYSIANS treating me in Melbourne! Receptionist, Doctor Surgeon, all Malaysians! What the…!

I’ve heard and ranted about brain drain, but to experience it so real and personally was disturbing…
Tags: Brain Drain, Melbourne, Ex-Malaysian, Endocrinologist, Surgeon