Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Housing for Super Rich Russians

The super rich Russians will be having an extra option of where to stay. An upcoming estate will house only 150 to 200 mansions (note that it's not a house or bungalow but a mansion). Each of these mansions will cost about £10m to £15m.

The developer, a Russian billionaire himself, Aras Agalarov will construct these mansions within an area of 340-hectare (850 acres) at Istra region just outside Moscow.

This estate haven will have the following built within the area:-
* roads with fir trees and white camomile flowers;
* 18-hole golf course;
* an exclusive private school;
* 14 artificial lakes and waterfall
* a spa and beach resort with imported white sand;
* minimum 2,000 square metres around your mansion;
* a salt-water swimming pool; and
* guaranteed right kind of neighbours.

Somehow, everything have its own pros and cons and the cons are:-
* potential buyers must have a personal interview with Agalaro;
* to sign a 30-page document agreeing to abide by Agalarov's own, at times eccentric, rules;
* forbidden from hanging out washing;
* forbidden from home improvement;
* forbidden from letting off fireworks; and
* all bodyguards will be banished to small houses on the edge of the community.

Most Russian billonaires could be having as many as five or six bodyguards. Imagine two hundred families moved in with that many boduguards, the whole estate could be occupied by 1,000 bodyguards. Could set up an army infantry within this estate haven.
Tags: Aras Agalarov, Russian Billionaire, Russian, Istra, Bodyguard

SMS Scam

Received this via email from a friend. Any readers received this SMS before or any of your friends were a victim?

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Hi guys and girls,
Below was the content taken out from my brother's email to me, this was what happened to him this morning……so every one of us be careful when receive any SMS from stranger.

Today morning, while I still sleeping, I heard my hand phone SMS tone ringing. Then I open my eye and c, got a sms from number 012-4928392 send me a sms with content: "Long time no see already, how are you now?". First when I saw this SMS I thought it maybe from my old friend... then i reply: "Fine how are u"

Then at 10:30am i receive a message from the same number and the content shocked me: "Anda telah memilih untuk mengaktifkan perkidmatan kami, cas sebanyak RM10/mingguan akan dikenakan sebagai yuran perkidmatan. Untuk membatalkan perkhidmatan, sila SMS FINE OFF kepada number 333431 and sebanyak RM20 dikenakan untuk setiap sesi pembatalan."
I quickly check my balance and c... my account had already being subtracted RM15.

Just now I email Maxis to report the case and asked maxis to trace this number, and Maxis said will give me the report by tomorrow.

----------------------------------------

Tags: SMS Scam, SMS

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

CIMB Cheque Deposit Machine

One month ago, I made payment for my credit cards at CIMB Bank Berhad's branch located at City Square Shopping Centre. As requested by the bank officer, I proceeded to bank in my cheque at their cheque deposit machine. I told the officer that the time printed on the receipt paper was wrong and he said he would get it fixed. I deposited at 1pm plus but the time printed was about 5pm plus.

On that payment date, it was already one day passed the deadline and knowing there will be some slight finance charges on the late payment.

On the next two days, I noticed that the said cheque has not been cleared from my current account. I went to the bank and enquired about to which the bank officer said "there must be a delay at the cheque clearance dept in CIMB Bank". It took one week to clear my cheque.

This month, I have to pay additional finance charges imposed by CIMB Bank for their mistake. I was late for one day but CIMB Bank took another six days to clear my cheque. Good thing my usage for the month was quite low and the finance charges caused by CIMB Bank's negligence were minimal i.e. around RM5.00 (my own estimation, could be more). The issue was not the amount as I have already paid for it just now but the principal lying behind their advertisements and promotions.

And when I made the payment today, the officer behind the counter said next time I could deposit the cheque at their cheque deposit machine. I said "No thank you as your bank didn't clear my cheque and delayed it for a week to which I'm paying additional finance charges through no fault of mine". The lady officer at the next counter laughed about it and said "Dia bimbang tak clear lagi". So, was it happening frequently?

CIMB Bank can continue to claim how big they are, how much deposit they are getting via their wealth management division and expanding regionally but they can't even handle a small thing like this.

Maybe because I'm not a member of the CIMB Club which caters for the rich and famous (membership conditions as below) who will "enjoy highly personalised service" as quoted in their website.

CIMB Club - exclusive invitation for:
* Individual depositor with a credit balance of RM150,000 and above.
* Individual Unit trust investor with an investment amount of RM100,000 and above purchased through the bank.
* Individual mortgage customer with a good track record and facilities of RM500,000 and above.
* New mortgage customers with facilities of RM500,000 and above.
* Individual holding a credit card with a limit of RM75,000 and above with good track record.
Tags: CIMB, CIMB Bank Berhad, Cheque Deposit Machine, Finance Charges, Bank, Dispute, CIMB Club, Credit Card

Why Men are Always the Born Loser???

Thought # 1
When we are born, our mother's get the compliments and the flowers.
When we are married, our brides get the presents and the publicity.
When we die, our widows get the life insurance.
What do women want to be liberated from?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thought # 2
The average man's life consists of :
Twenty years of having his mother ask him where he is going, forty years of having his wife ask the same question; and at the end, the mourners wondering too.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thought # 3
A man was walking down a street when he heard a voice from behind, "If you take one more step, a brick will fall down on your head and kill you." The man stopped and a big brick fell right in front of him. The man was astonished.

He went on, and after a while he was going to cross the road. Once again the voice shouted, "Stop! Stand still! If you take one more step a car will run over you, and you will die." The man did as he was instructed, just as a car came careening around the corner, barely missing him.

The man asked. "Who are you?" "I am your guardian angel," the voice answered.
"Oh, yeah?" the man asked "And where the hell were you when I got married?"

--------------------------------------------------------
Thought # 4
Everyone in the wedding ceremony was watching the radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle to give away to the groom. They reached the altar and the waiting groom; the bride kissed her father and placed some thing in his hand. Everyone in the room was wondering
what was given to the father by the bride. The father could feel the suspense in the air and all eyes were on him to divulge the secret and say something.

So he announced "Ladies and Gentlemen today is the luckiest day of my life." Then he raised his hands with what his daughter gave him and continued, "My daughter finally, finally returned my credit card to me."

The whole audience including priest started laughing..........but not the poor groom!
Tags: Man, Born Loser, Mother, Wife, Guardian Angel, Bride, Jokes, Funny, Humour

On a Stormy Night .....

They were together in the House. Just the two of them. It was a cold, dark, stormy night.








The storm had come quickly and each time the thunder boomed he watched her jump. She looked across the room and admired his strong appearance...and wished that he would take her in his arms, comfort her and protect her from the storm.










Suddenly, with a pop, the power went out... She screamed... He raced to the sofa where she was cowering. He didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms.

He knew this was a forbidden union and expected her to pull back. He was surprise d when she didn't resist but instead clung to him.

The storm raged on... They knew it was wrong... Their families would never understand...

So consumed were they in their FEAR that they heard no opening of doors...just the faint click of a camera......


Tags: Stormy Night, Jokes, Funny, Humour

Monday, October 29, 2007

Beyonce's World Tour

Ethiopia, in celebrating the much delayed New Millenium, did invite Beyonce to be part of that celebration in Addis Ababa.






And these 2 pictures were taken at that concert in Ethiopia.

No wonder the Malaysian government didn't agree with her performing in Malaysia.

Just look at that exposure of her skin.

Conditions to be adhered to while performing in Malaysia should be:-
* no hugging or kissing audience members or fellow artists
* no jumping or shouting
* no throwing objects on stage or at the audience
* no foul language
* AND OF COURSE NO SKIN from the tops of their chests to their knees

When I read "no throwing objects at the audience", I assumed that singers cannot throw themselves at the audience which is more of safety concern. 100% that the singers won't come out alive from the audience's grasp.

Well, Gwen Stefani did meet all those requirements in her recent concert in Kuala Lumpur and a Malaysian audience had an unforgettable night. I'm not into Beyonce's music but what's the hoo-hah about when the Malaysian government decided not to issue a licence for her concert. But the thing is was it the Malaysian government who disapproved first or Beyonce decided to shelve the idea of having the concert in Malaysia.

Black Eye Peas just held their concert in Genting (near Kuala Lumpur) last Friday and their fans enjoyed the music that were belted out. So, no problem with their kind of music and dressing was not an issue. I guess Gwen Stefani and Black Eye Peas wanted their fans to hear their music and gave them the opportunity of seeing them live in Malaysia.

You Beyonce fans can just take a flight over to Thailand and Indonesia for her coming concerts if you really like her so much. I mean if you really like her so much, what is the cost of air tickets/hotel accommodation compared to seeing her live for the first time or the umpteenth time. To me, Beyonce didn't put her Malaysian fans at heart.

Nowadays, the concert organisers are very careful with the government regulations as the organiser for Pussycat Dolls was fined by the local council (at the suburb area where the concert was held) for flouting decency laws. Will Pussycat Dolls come again?
Tags: Beyonce, Beyonce-Concert, Entertainment, Music, Gwen Stefani, Pussycat Dolls, Black Eye Peas

Datuknametoolongitis Syndrome

You have to read this posting which I picked up from an email. The original author should be residing in Sarawak, Malaysia. If you knew who the original author is, please let me know.

For easy understanding in the article below, a Datuk is a title bestowed by the Sultans / State Governments.
-------------------------------
I suffer from an incurable disease. Its called Datuknametoolongitis.

Datuknametoolongitis is typically characterised by the sufferer's inability to remember people's names in full, especially that of the Datuks. At best the sufferer can absorb the first three syllables of the name. Anything after that becomes pure gibberish.

Jalan Datuk what-what-what?

Kuching, my hometown, is a city that discriminates victims of Datuknametoolongitis, like me. I'm saying that because 70% of the roads here are named after famous people, most of whom are Datuks, some of whom have unfortunately very very long names.

Many years ago I remember studying at a Chinese Primary School along Pineapple Road, not too far from Palm Road. I remember a Jalan Keretapi (Train Road) near Wisma Saberkas.

There's even a oddly named Jalan Central Barat (Central West Road) , which is a strange fusion of Malay and English words.

Jalan Rambutan. One of the few old road that retained its name. No, there's no Jalan Coconuts.

I then travelled to Perth Australia where I stayed for eight years growing accustomed to road names like Hay Street where I do my shopping, and James Street where there's good bubble tea, great coffee and fantastic pubs at night. The longest road name I've came across is probably Sir Charles Court Promenade, which is more of a walkway on campus than a road.

And then I return to Kuching. And I experienced reverse culture shock.

There are some changes with Kuching that I can put up with. Then there are some that I cannot. One road, two names. One new, one old. Kinda defeats the purpose of changing its name isn't it?

Gone was Jalan Central Barat, its now Jalan Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui . Gone were Palm Road and Jalan Keretapi, its now Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce.

I have nothing against their names. I don't even know who the heck they are. But I'm sure at one point or another probably they did something so magnificient the city council decided to name a road after them. Then another. And another And one more. Then another...

As if remembering long and complicated names wasn't difficult enough for sufferers of Datuknametoolongitis like me, I was further punished by having to differentiate between two almost similar road names. Two roads, similar names. But the difference is day and night.

Its not that I didn't try remembering the names. Believe me, I tried. Its very difficult to know the names by heart. One trick I find very useful is to associate the road name with food.

Doing so helps me remember long road names, but makes me hungry very easily.

It's too bad some road names are a bit too long for me to use that trick.

Umm... Jalan Murtabak?

Then they start naming the roundabouts after these famous people.

Try reading them double fast without pausing.
How bad can this get? I thought those were the worst, I have no idea.

Until I came face to face... with The Mother of All Long Roundabout Names.

Its not true what they said about Sarawakians living on trees you know. That's not what we're famous for.

We're famous for giving road directions to tourists.

Imagine the following scenario:-
Angmoh tourist: "Excuse me, how do I get to the library?"

Local Sarawakian: "Oh that's easy! From here, go along Jalan Datuk Abang Abdul Rahim , turn right at Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman and drive until you reach Bulatan Datuk Temenggong Abang Kipali Bin Abang Akip . Do a 3 o'clock towards Jalan TunKU Abdul Rahman, make a left at Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce and drive until you reach the roundabout at Bulatan Datuk Amar Abang Haji Suleiman Bin Haji Taha . Exit at Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg , then turn left at Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho . Soon you'll reach Bulatan Datuk Menteri Abang Haji Mohammad Zin Bin Haji Salleh , where you should turn into Jalan Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Muhammad Salahuddin until you arrive Bulatan Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah Bin Datuk Bandar Abang Haji Mohammad Kassim .

The library is just on your left. Any questions?"

Angmoh tourist: "Huh?"
Tags: Kuching, Sarawak, Road Names, Datuk, Roundabout

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Terrorist List

A Terrorist List has been compiled by the Government Accountablity Office of USA. Go and check it out whether your name has been mentioned.

When we were in Sudan for our work assignment, we did mention that we could be banned from entering USA seeing those Sudan (being sanctioned by USA) immigration stamps in our passport. The USA embassy in Malaysia will require all expired passports and request you to list down places visited for the last 10 years before approving your visa application. And this list could be used to review people applying for their visas.

The Terrorist List's purpose is to assist the relevant authorities on the following:-
* check persons seeking visas
* travellers entering or leaving the country
* domestic airline passengers and persons stopped by state, local or federal law enforcement.

The listing itself grew tremendously i.e. from 158,734 names in June 2004 to 754,960 names by May 2007. It did worry the Homeland Security of USA on the huge increase. How are they to monitor that number of people?

If you found your name listed errorneously, you could write in to get your name off it.

Just make sure that your name won't be listed in the FBI's most wanted terrorists....hehehe
Tags: Government Accountability Office, United States of America, USA, Terrorist, Homeland Security, Federal Bureau Investigation, FBI

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Most Expensive Game Boy

World's most expensive Game Boy gadget has been made available now. And this limited edition has loaded the Mario Brothers classic.

The uniqueness of this edition is that it's made of 18k gold with pave diamonds being part of the casing as well. It weighs 27 ounces.

The price - £12,500… you wouldn't want to press hard on those buttons then even though your game character is dying anytime.
Tags: Game Boy, Mario Brothers, Most Expensive Game Boy

Hardest Chinese Characters

I have been made known that I'm a banana man due to me being a chinese but yet do not know how to read / write chinese characters. Though I knew those really simple ones, it wouldn't have helped. Can't blame me as from young, my dad spoke to me in english language and I was sent to a malay language school all the way (in primary and secondary).

When I came across this ranking of the hardest chinese characters, I almost fainted by the number of complicated strokes just for a single character:-

"Exorcism""Noodle"
"Oneness"

Friday, October 26, 2007

MRSC 2007

Malaysian Revival Songwriting Competition (MRSC) Final 2007 is just around the corner i.e. on 2 December 2007. Prior to that, the organiser is organising a Boot Camp for all the participants to be held on tomorrow (from 10am to 10pm) at Sunway Mentari, Petaling Jaya.

Bloggers who are interested to attend the Boot Camp, please email me at jonash1@yahoo.com and entitle the email as "Star Maker". The organiser, Star Maker, would appreciate if bloggers could blog about the Boot Camp leading to the Final to be held on 2 Dec 2007.

This competition is also held in support of 3 organisations namely, National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia, Real Love Ministry and NIE Asia.

Tags: Malaysian Revival Songwriting Competition, MRSC 2007, Boot Camp, Star Maker Songwriting, Music, National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia, Real Love Ministry, NIE Asia

Lim Goh Tong's Hairdresser

The recent passing away of the Genting Group founder, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, revived my mom's faded memories.

During my mom's youthful age of 18 - 19, she worked as a hairdresser in a hairdressing saloon located at Jalan Pudu area known as Lee Ying (opposite of Maybank, Jalan Pudu) which is still in existence today albeit different owner. My mom is 63 today and counting those ages, it was like some 45 years ago, during the 1960s.

She remembered that, Lim Goh Tong then, always had his haircut at my mom's hairdressing saloon and at times she did the haircut for him. She said even then, he was just a simple businessman, not fussy.

His wife then was staying in one of those shoplots near the existing Pudu Plaza which was near Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong's shop (dealing with hardware materials) but not sure whether he owned that business or not.

It was during that time he started to venture into constructing his way up to Genting hill. And the rest was history in which the popular hill resort Genting - City of Entertainment was developed.

This is what I call A Man With A Dream Will Not Be Denied.


Tags: Hairdresser, Lim Goh Tong, Genting, Jalan Pudu, Pudu Plaza, Pudu, History, City of Entertainment

Quattro and Uno

Five Englishmen in an Audi Quattro arrive at the Italian border. The Italian customs agent stops them and tells them: "Itsa illegal to putta fiva people inna Quattro." "What do you mean it's illegal?" asked the Englishmen. "Quattro means four," replies the Italian official. "Quattro is just the name of the automobile," the Englishmen retort disbelievingly.

"Look at the papers: this car is designed to carry five people." "You can'ta pulla thata one ona me," replies the Italian customs agent. "Quattro means four. You hava fiva people ina your car and you are therefore breakin'a the law".

The Englishmen reply angrily, "You idiot! Call your supervisor over - we want to speak to someone with more intelligence!" "Sorry," responds the Italian official, "He can'ta come. He's a busy with two guys in a Fiat Uno." (uno is one in english language)
Tags: Audi Quattro, Fiat Uno, Italian, Quattro, Uno

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Israel Warns of World War III

My my ............ Israel can really predict things and a destructive one indeed. Why does a country need to warn the world about a forthcoming world war unless they themselves are ready for it. It has been published in Israel's national news.

George Bush, President of USA, mentioned about the World War III too at a White House news conference. Stoking the fire???? Are they hinting about something?

The Israel national news said that there will be allignments between certain nations if the World War III starts with the following grouping:-
* Group A - Israel / United States / Britain / France / Germany

* Group B - Iran / Russia / China / Syria / North Korea






They must be really joking. There is even a name for the war - The War of Gog and Magog. The basis of this war was said to be a prophecy as stated in Ezekiel 38:1-6 as follows:-

The word of the Lord came to me; Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him and say: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army - your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops - the many nations with you.

From this paragraph, people have deduced the following theories:-
1. Hashemite Kingdom Theory: The Islamic Nations will come against Israel either by an Iraqi-led, Jordanian led, or Turkish led coalition. The enemy from the north refers to the areas of Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. These Islamic nations make up the lands occupied by Magog, Gomer, Togarmah, Meshech and Tubal.

2. Caucus Theory: Gog and Magog are the Arab nations in an alliance with the Muslim republics of the former Soviet Union. This theory leaves out most of Russia, and includes only the southern part.

3. All Europe Theory: Gog and Magog are the sons of Japeth thus the originators of the European races. Gog and Magog therefore indicates all of Europe. This is not a widely held theory and I could find little support for it.

4. Russian Theory: The Hebrew word 'rosh' in verse 3 is identified with Russia, 'Tubal' with Tiblisi or Tobolsk and 'Meshech' with Moscow, therefore Gog and Magog refers to Russia. This is one of the most commonly held views and is based on a different interpretation of the Hebrew word Rosh (used as a noun rather than adjective), similarities in the pronunciation of words, and the Greek translation of Rosh referring to a tribe of people found in what is now Russia.

5. Indo-European Theory: Gog and Magog include the nations descending from Japheth: Russia, the Caucasus(Turkey), Iraq, and the Islamic republics of Central Asia. The coalition is an alliance of Arab nations, Muslim republics, Georgia, southern Russia and the Black sea area.
Tags: Israel, USA, World War III, WWIII, George Bush, The War of Gog and Magog, Gog and Magog, Ezekiel 38, Hashemite Kingdom Theory, Caucus Theory, All Europe Theory, Russian Theory, Indo-European Theory, War, Meshech, Tubal, Russia

Warning on Beer

Police are warning all men who frequent clubs, parties and local pubs to be alert and stay cautious when offered a drink from any woman. Many females use a date #### drug on the market called "Beer."

The drug is found in liquid form and is available anywhere. It comes in bottles, cans, or from taps and in large "kegs". Beer is used by female sexual predators at parties and bars to persuade their male victims to go home and sleep with them. A woman needs only to get a guy to consume a few units of Beer and then simply ask him home for no strings attached sex.

Men are rendered helpless against this approach. After several beers, men will often succumb to the desires to sleep with horrific looking women whom they would never normally be attracted. After drinking beer, men often awaken with only hazy memories of exactly what happened to them the night before, often with just a vague feeling that "something bad" occurred.

At other times these unfortunate men are swindled out of their life's savings, in a familiar scam known as "a relationship". In extreme cases, the female may even be shrewd enough to entrap the unsuspecting male into a longer term form of servitude and punishment referred to as "marriage". Men are much more susceptible to this scam after beer is administered and sex is offered by the predatory females.

Please! Forward this warning to every male you know. If you fall victim to this "Beer" scam and the women administering it, there are male support groups where you can discuss the details of your shocking encounter with similarly victimized men.

Click the picture below to see the effect when you are over dozed with Beer.

Tags: Beer, Sexual Predator

Everyday Heroes Who Changed Lives

NOT YOUR COMMON HOUSEWIFE
--------------
Life has not been that easy for Isang, a 40 years old housewife who lives in a nipa hut located in a muddy hill in Barangay Bagumbayan, Loboc, a village 29 kilometers away from the capital of Bohol province, Philippines.

Her husband only earns Php150.00 for every 1,000 pieces of coconut he can peel in a day. Food and education expenses for the three children are paid thru this daily income of Isang's husband.

Yet this economic difficulty did not stop Isang from helping those in need, particularly those sick with Tuberculosis ("TB"). She tirelessly walks two (2) kilometers just to visit people with TB symptoms in their village and convinces them to submit their phlegm or sputum to the health center for examination.

Like a doctor, she is on-call and would even visit TB patients at night when they need her. Like a philanthropist, she continuously helps those who are sick even without financial returns because she has a vision for her village – a place free of TB, a disease that killed both her grandfather and uncle.

Isang is a member of the Bagumbayan TB Task Force, a group of TB community volunteers organized by World Vision's Social Mobilization on TB (SMT) Project to assist in finding and curing TB patients. She is only one of the many TB task force members in the country.

The TB Task Force members are not doctors, nurses, or professional health workers. They are ordinary villagers – fishermen, farmers, teachers, housewives, and others – who do something more than ordinary in their lives. They change lives by helping TB patients get cured.

AN ABLE DISABLED
--------------
Disability has never been a liability for Perfecto in making a difference in his community.

Perfecto Cacho, 48 years old, met an accident in 1985. His right leg had been amputated after being trapped in his seat inside a jeepney rammed by a delivery truck. But being disabled did not stop him to be productive in life and to do public service.

"I can still walk and I can still talk," he confidently said.

He is currently a purok (village) leader in the village of Burgos, San Antonio, Zambales, a province located in the Western coast of Luzon and also a member of the Burgos Bagong Lakas TB Task Force (Burgos' New Strength TB Task Force)

In the village under his authority, health had always been his priority.

"My first project was to encourage teenagers to stay away from drinking liquor and doing drugs, and to stay fit," he said. As a purok leader, he is always involved in barangay (village) meetings with other leaders. This is where he learned about World Vision and its SMT Project.

"I volunteered in the project because I know this will greatly help in improving the health of the people," he said.

During the 2006 World TB Day commemoration in their municipality, Perfecto ignored the dust and the prickly heat of the sun as he actively helped in distributing flyers and comics to people in the streets and in each house he passed by.

Aided with wooden crutches, he easily maneuvered his way to join in the election-style campaign parade conducted by their task force in the community just to be able to give information on TB prevention and control.

"I will continue to be part of this project as long as I can, as long as I am healthy," he remarked, "I knew a friend who died because of TB."

Perfecto may not be physically perfect with his disability but he is definitely contributing in making his community TB-free.

Since 2003, the SMT project had been mobilizing communities by organizing TB Task forces nationwide to assist the National TB Program in increasing the number of TB cases discovered and cured.

World Vision trains TB task forces to identify people with TB symptoms for referral to public health facilities, to act as treatment partners to TB patients, to conduct health education in villages, and to implement the Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS). World Vision also creates TB and DOTS awareness in the community to increase demand for DOTS services.

At present, there are already 268 TB task forces organized by the project with over one million Filipinos as beneficiaries.
Tags: Tuberculosis, TB, Health, Barangay Bagumbayan, Loboc, Philippines, Burgos, San Antonio, Zambales, Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse, World Vision, TB Task Force

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Proposal to Mary

I have blogged about scam emails or those hoax stories/urban legend that circulate round the whole world without anyone verifying how true were they. And now, I have received another one where a guy, purportedly trying to propose to his girl, is using the email system to circulate a proposal, hoping that it would reach her. It has a proper website set up for it as well. It could be a hoax to see how good was the response towards such an email.

In that website, there are no advertisements so it's not a method generated to earn money indirectly by diverting traffic to it. Check it out for yourself.
*****************************************************
You could help me a lot to spread my proposal to Mary - it is important that it is distributed as widely as possible so that it eventually reaches Mary. If you would like to support my proposal to Mary, please send the following text by email to a lot of people :-)

------------- SNIP (email text follows) ---------------
WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS, PLEASE HELP TO DISTRIBUTE IT TO OTHER PEOPLE!
For a long time I have tried to find a special way to propose marriage to my girlfriend Mary, whom I know for five years now. I wanted it very special, romantic and memorable, something our grandchildren would still remember.

And here is my idea: I will send out the proposal to Mary to 50 complete strangers, people I don't know - hoping, that they will forward my proposal to many people, which in turn forward it again etc. And some day, I hope, it will reach Mary, after it has travelled a very long way. I know, it will take a long time and I am quite nervous.

From the poem my Mary will know immediately that the proposal is for her.
I have created a homepage (http://www.proposal-to-mary.com/) where you can find the current status of my quest. You can use the homepage to check if the proposal has already reached Mary (in that case it is not necessary anymore to forward the mail).

Once the proposal has reached Mary, I will put a note on these pages. Also I will publish there how many people have read the proposal so that everybody can see how far it has spread and that it is getting closer to Mary.

And of course you will find there what I am waiting for most: Mary's answer! I can't tell you, how nervous I am. Will she accept my proposal? Will she like the unusual way how she got it, through the hands of thousands of messengers all over the world?

Please cross your fingers for me! And please - help me by sending the mail to your friends to help it spread, so that it eventually reaches Mary.

And here is my proposal:-
Mary, please forgive me, as you know English is not my native language. And I am not a poet. But I mean it from my heart.

My angel, five years ago, I will always remember the day when fate made us meet, blissful Alaskan moments in May. Earth spun around us and a journey began. Love, warmth, happiness, enough the years to span.

The longer it lasts the more grows our bond. And with 80 still - of you I will be fond. Whatever happens, I will stay at your side.

Through good and bad, together let us stride. No second with you was ever wasted. You are the sweetest I have ever tasted. We have spent so many years - why not a life? Mary, will you marry me - and become my wife?

Mary, if you have received that and have recognized me, then give me a sign so that I can continue with the romantic part of my proposal.
------------- SNIP (email text end) ---------------
Tags: Spam Emails, Spam, Scam, Hoax, Proposal To Mary

Michael Jackson's Dead?

News came from Santa Barbara, California — During a search for evidence at the Neverland Valley Ranch, investigators discovered a corpse that has been identified as that of Michael Jackson, Santa Barbara police officials announced Tuesday.

"Coroners have officially pronounced Michael Jackson dead. From what we can tell, he died between 18 and 20 years ago," forensic investigator Tim Holbrooke said. "We are not certain, at this time, who—or what—has been standing trial in that Santa Maria courthouse."

According to Holbrooke, Jackson's corpse was buried just inches below a stretch of the miniature-train tracks that run throughout Neverland. The largely desiccated corpse wore the remains of a red, zipper-covered leather jacket and a single glove.

"We positively identified the body as Jackson by his dental records and DNA," Holbrooke said. "But even before we conducted a single forensic test, we began to suspect that that we'd uncovered the real Michael, and that the disturbing figure claiming to be Jackson was a fake."

Holbrooke said that, although the corpse was in an advanced stage of decomposition, when investigators compared the body to early-career publicity photos of Jackson, they saw a striking resemblance in bone structure and facial features. But when they compared the body to photos taken after 1987, the resemblance was negligible.

"This discovery raises a lot of questions, but it also sheds light on a number of disturbing incidents," Holbrooke said. "Frankly, Jackson had been acting pretty strange."

Forensic experts and music critics are postulating that Jackson was dead before the release of the multi-platinum album Bad. Detectives are currently analyzing the lyrics to "Man In The Mirror" for any clues relating to a look-alike entity that many suspect murdered the youngest member of the Jackson 5 and assumed his identity.

"We believe that Neverland served as some sort of freakishly whimsical tomb constructed by Jackson's killer," Holbrooke said. "We also suspect that all of the iniquities that occurred on that ranch were the work of the imposter. I wouldn't have ever thought it possible, but we are looking at a situation where the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old cancer patient is the tip of the iceberg."

Holbrooke said that, while the living Jackson is the leading suspect in the murder investigation, he "could be another victim of some sort."

"Basically, we have no idea what type of creature we are dealing with," Holbrooke said.
A member of the investigative team that discovered Jackson's body described the experience as "otherworldly."

"As we neared the perimeter of Neverland, the dogs started whining and howling like crazy," Santa Barbara County detective Frank Poeller said. "We had to pull them into the house. When we got to Jackson's bedroom, one of them almost choked himself to death on his leash trying to get out through the window. Minutes later, the same dog led us to the corpse."

A representative from Jackson's self-created label, MJJ Productions, said he was not surprised to find out that the current Jackson is an imposter.

"When we were recording 'Heal The World' for Dangerous, I could tell something was terribly, terribly wrong," MJJ manager Luke Allard said. "Michael didn't seem like himself anymore. He'd demand bizarre food and sit for hours in a hyperbaric chamber. His appearance began to become more and more peculiar. Soon afterwards, he started wearing a mask and confiding in a chimpanzee."

"I remember thinking, 'This man has become a monster,'" Allard said. "If only I'd known how right I was."

Allard said he thinks that the imposter broke ties with Jackson's former friends and surrounded himself with children who were too young to notice the radical change.

Vanity Fair reporter Beth Pither visited Neverland in 1994.

"A strangely fearful staff member led me to Jackson, but ran off before I opened the door," Pither said. "Standing there with my hand on an ice-cold doorknob, I heard strange, unnatural sounds—leathery wings flapping, a sorrowful wail, and loud hissing. A wave of dread passed through me as I opened the door, but all I found was Michael and some kids in pajamas eating ice cream and watching 101 Dalmatians."

While their claims have not been corroborated, other Neverland visitors have reported that when when Jackson entered a room, lights flickered, faucets ran blood-red, and screams escaped from the walls.

To aid in the investigation, the FBI enlisted Dr. Richard Weingarden, a noted expert on the paranormal from UC Santa Barbara. After only two hours, Weingarden abandoned the project.
"The smell of sulfur, the decaying facial features, the bizarrely high-pitched voice—it sounds exactly like..." Weingarden said, trailing off. "I'm sure it's nothing. Not a big deal. Nothing to be terrified about, certainly. I have to go. I've got a family."

Thomas Sneddon, the prosecutor in Jackson's child-molestation lawsuit, said it remains to be seen how the shocking discovery will affect the trial.

Megan Gustafson, who left her post as president of the Akron, and Michael Jackson Fan Club after the singer was accused of molestation, offered a positive view of the grisly revelation.

"This is very disturbing news," Gustafson said. "But to be honest, it's kind of a relief too. Thriller and Off The Wall are really amazing records. Now I can pull them out of my 'ruined by child abuse' storage bin and start listening to them again."

Above article was extracted from Neverland Ranch Investigators Discover Corpse Of Real Michael Jackson - the ONION
Tags: Michael Jackson, Neverland Valley Ranch, Neverland, Santa Barbara, California, Forensic Investigator, MJJ Productions, Vanity Fair, Michael Jackson Fan Club, Santa Maria Courthouse

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

To Win a Person's Heart

To win a man's heart ................... To win a lady's heart ................

Ridiculous Road Markings

You can't blame the drivers in this accident ................ When the road markings are like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tags: Road Markings, Accident

Video Shooting Madness

The Teenage Girl's drama team was at Cineleisure Damansara, filming their part at a shop called Seraphina.

The team was assessing the shop and planning where to start.
Last minute planning between my co-director with the first few girls before the video shooting began. And what was I doing taking pictures?????
CUT!!!!!!! Shouted the co-director and back to the scripts for them............. they managed to mumble their words at last.
Kerk said "I think this angle is not right". All we had was just a handheld video camera but it was good enough. With the number of people inside the shop, other shoppers thought this shop's goods were fantastic and they came in to have a look as well.





Halfway shooting, I noticed that the payment counter and changing room were resemblance of a kitchen and a shower area. Really cute.


After finishing our video shooting at the shop, we went to a karaoke place located 2 floors above Seraphina.

Nope, we were not celebrating the success of the video shooting earlier but to continue. Yeah, the drama entailed a scene at the karaoke place too.

Now this 3 guys, Lud, Jon & Terence were supposed to be 3 customers enjoying their time in the karaoke lounge. They were testing the microphone's working condition.

Kerk, our cameraman, worked unceasingly trying to capture the best angle and moments.


The papasan (missed his face) 'introduced' his girls to the 3 customers. The papasan was the karaoke caretaker and we managed to talk to him to play that special papasan role ......... hehehe. Producer's role lah.
So, the customers were enjoying their time chatting with the girls, who are college girls trying to earn extra income to sustain their lavish lifestyle.

Ain't it true. It's a fact which is happening in the real world.
This picture was taken just before Niki's (right) parents found her in the company of these men.

A fight erupted as her dad was too angry. The mom held on to the daughter. Didn't take any pictures as I was busy directing how the fight should be, how the others should react and where should stand for the best angle to be captured by the cameraman.

Long day indeed for some of them. The video shooting started at 4pm by gathering at one house to take the scene in the girl's room and moved on to Cineleisure Damansara. The whole thing ended around 12 midnight. So, it was a solid 8 hours involvement. For me, 4 hours was tiring too.

Some of our friends found out the long hours we took to film the drama and said "Wow, it must be exciting and you fellas must be making sure the best is done".

Upon hearing that, another friend said this "Those fellas took so long to film it because all amateurs and not Hong Kong movie stars. They kept having CUT!!! Do it Again! No, No, No, not like that one, cut, cut, cut...........". Nevertheless, we enjoyed our time.
Tags: Christmas, Christmas Drama, Cineleisure Damansara, Seraphina, Video Shooting

Monday, October 22, 2007

“Panties for Peace” Campaign

You ladies out there who are reading this particular blog posting. If you had any compassion for the recent oppression by the military Junta in Burma (also known as Myanmar) on the monks or its citizens, you can play a part in protesting against such harsh treatment by the military Junta.

Activists based in Chiang Mai of Thailand has started a Panties for Peace Campaign where ladies will send their panties (whether worn or clean or those got holes in it) to Burma embassies throughout the whole world.

Liz Hilton, a supporter of the Lanna Action for Burma and a member of the Empower Foundation said this: “The people of Burma are doing what they can inside [the country]. We should do whatever we can outside. Most of us are not politicians, we are not powerful people. But women do have the power of their panties—let’s use that.”

You must be wondering of all things, why a lady's panties. Am I being sexist here? Well, according to a supertitious belief, the Junta members or military regime will lose power the moment they come into contact with those ladies panties.

Todate - Burmese embassies in UK, Thailand, Australia and Switzerland have received the panties. I wonder how are those embassy staff are reacting to it.

If you wanted to support this campaign, please browse for the embassy's address nearest to your place of stay. Ain't women fighting for women's power, now is the time to show your power.
Tags: Burma, Myanmar, Panties For Peace, Junta, Military Junta, Lanna Action For Burma, Empower Foundation, Lady's Panties, Burmese Embassy

How Adam Got Eve?

Adam was hanging around the garden of Eden feeling very lonely.






So, God asked him, "What's wrong with you?"
Adam said he didn't have anyone to talk to.
God said that He was going to make Adam a companion
and that it would be a woman.

He said, "This pretty lady will gather food for you, she will cook for you,
and when you discover clothing, she will wash it for you.






She will always agree with every decision you make and she will not nag you,
and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've had a disagreement.
She will praise you!




She will bear your children.








and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them.








"She will NEVER have a headache and will freely give you love and
passion whenever you need it."







Adam asked God, "What will a woman like this cost?"
God replied, "An arm and a leg."






Then Adam asked, "What can I get for a rib?"

Of course the rest is history......................











Tags: Adam, Eve, Garden of Eden, God

Pattaya International Fireworks Festival

Pattaya is definitely firing up its presence internationally. Covid19 has hit many nations really hard and Pattaya wasn't exempted from ...