Wednesday, December 05, 2007

China Turning to Nuclear Power

China, in its quest to generate more power to sustain its economic growth (at a rate of 11% per annum) in all sectors, are turning to nuclear power.

China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group Co. being one of the main nuclear power operator in China has ordered two nuclear reactors recently from Areva SA, who so happened to be the world's largest nuclear reactor maker. The 2 new nuclear reactors will be located in Taishan city at southern Guangdong province.

Upon completion of the nuclear reactors by Areva SA, it gets to supply fuel to operate 2 of those nuclear reactors up to year 2026. What a good deal indeed! This 2 nuclear reactors will be partly owned by Electricite de France SA, Europe's largest power generator.

Besides Areva SA, Toshiba Corp.'s U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Co. is another company that is competing for those nuclear reactors that China has intended to build.

Guess how many of them? China intends to add 2 nuclear reactors each year and targets to have 26 by year 2026. What a staggering reliance on nuclear power. Just this year alone, China has awarded Areva SA and Westinghouse Electric Co. to build nuclear reactors at a cost of US$11.9 billion and US$5.3 billion respectively.

The government of Malaysia did sound out that nuclear power is possible in year 2020. Let's compare the cost when it comes around. Indonesia has plans laid out to build a huge 4,000 megawatt nuclear plant by 2010 and targetted to have 6 gigawatts of power by 2025.
Tags: Nuclear Power, Nuclear Reactor, Nuclear, China, Taishan, Guangdong, Areva SA, Toshiba Corp, Westinghouse Electric Co, China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group Co, Electricite de France SA, Megawatt, Gigawatt

Christmas Season

With Christmas coming nearer, shopping centres are deluged with shoppers. Some sales are going on around here and there. I have no time to shop for the Christmas presents too.

Besides that, even jokes are centred around Christmas themes.





































Tags: Christmas, Santa Claus, Snowman, Funny, Humour

India to Threaten Malaysia

With the recent loud cry with demonstration from the Indian community via a non-governmental organisation called Hindraf, the land of India, located thousands of kilometres away from Malaysia, has heard the call of their sons and daughters who somehow ended in Malaysia being the 2nd to 5th generation that have resided in Malaysia.

For example, I'm the 3rd generation in my own family that has since resided in Malaysia. My grandparents from Hainan Island, China came to Malaysia when they were very young. Have never met my paternal grandpa who passed away when my dad was young.

Going back to the main topic, the Indian government wanted to meddle with the internal affairs of Malaysia with the intention of using military force to threaten the Malaysian government to treat their Indian men/women in the land of Malaysia real nice.

Wow, what a threat. The Indian government gave the reason that due to their slow reaction on the Sri Lanka scenario, it turned into full civil war and it's not easy to assist now. They don't want a repeat of Sri Lanka in the land of Malaysia. What were they thinking there?

Now, Malaysia will remain peaceful as long as India don't threaten Malaysia with military force as published in the India Daily on 30 Nov 2007. The steps that could be taken by India against Malaysia are as follows:-
* fiscal, trade and diplomatic boycott is the first step; and
* Indian Navy should be authorized to use all means including serious blockades to make the Malaysian authorities know that India will not tolerate ethnic abuse of Indians in Malaysia.

Crazy or what? Even though I don't agree fully with how the Malaysian government handled those recent demonstrations, I'm still a Bangsa Malaysia that cares for Malaysia. India, with their millions of citizens in dire poverty have not been taken care by any parties but now wants to meddle with those destitute lifes in Malaysia.
Tags: Hindraf, Demonstration, India, Bangsa Malaysia, Malaysia, Indian Navy

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Can of Worms

A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon. Four worms were placed into four separate jars.




The first worm was put into a container of alcohol. The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke. The third worm was put into a container of chocolate syrup. The fourth worm was put into a container of good clean soil. At the conclusion of the sermon, the Minister reported the following results:-



The first worm in alcohol -Dead.












The second worm in cigarette smoke -Dead..






Third worm in chocolate syrup -Dead.






Fourth worm in good clean soil -Alive.








So the Minister asked the congregation - What can you learn from this demonstration?









Maxine was setting in the back,Quickly raised her hand and said, "As long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate,You won't have worms!"
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Drink, Smoke, Chocolate, Clean Soil

Monday, December 03, 2007

Exhausting Drama Day

After those initial discussion way back in August 2007, it has bore fruits on 2 December 2007. Yes, the first of the 5 dramas has been played yesterday morning and prayers were heavy prior to the starting of it.

Beyond Control, anchored by Joshua Lim, pulled off one of the best performance we have seen for the last few years. A legal background fella, he was able to say those right words that made the drama more meaningful.

We have received feedback that the last scene was very touching that some people were filled with tears. Joshua's life took the worst turn when he accidentally hurt his son and as he couldn't take that setback, he went drinking that same night. Unfortunately, he was hit by a car after I managed to avoid him (in the first car). I was driving in the first car that avoided and scolded him after stopping at a distance. You should have seen the way we filmed how the bottle was flung up high with soft wind sound while it was turning 360 degrees on the way down.

At the end of this morning service, the crowd was really appreciative of our efforts. Some came to me saying that it was an excellent performance. There was a joke to this drama which I have told most of them, "Do you know our Senior Pastor gave me 20-25 minutes to put up a drama for each Sunday?". Guess how long was Beyond Control? A good 45 minutes. If another 8 more cast members were to join this team, we can produce a full scale movie.

So, what was my Senior Pastor's comment? hehehehhehehehehhehe..... he went overseas for an Advanced Leadership Seminar and will be back in Kuala Lumpur on 5 December. Phew! But my next question, how long are our next 4 dramas going to be?

Most of the supporting crews went for a quick lunch while a few of us went for another video shoot in between. At 1.30pm, another 2 teams took the stage for their practises. The standard was pushed quiet high by the first team and the pressure is now on the next 4 teams.

As for me, by the time I reached home it was almost 6pm. A few of us went for dinner at a Teochew Porridge near Pearl Point, Old Klang Road around 8.30pm and my migraine set in after that. It didn't go off even on Monday morning which caused me to call in sick ..... aargh, too tired/exhausted from only the first drama. One down, four to go.
Tags: Christmas Drama, Christmas, Beyond Control, Senior Pastor, Pearl Point, Old Klang Road, Teochew Porridge

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Drunkard in Night Scene

Our Beyond Control team members were finally catching up with the drama fever and we did go out one night for a video shoot. Don't forget, this Beyond Control team will be acting on 2 December 2007, Sunday (please click here for direction).













Joshua Lim, after having lost control of almost every
thing in life was somehow in the doldrums, getting drunk from excessive drinking. In this scene, he was knocked down by this oncoming car, driven by a driver who was on his handphone.
Discussing some finer moves.
Ok guys, get into positions now!
This few guys were hoping that the last video shoot was alright before we can call it a night.
Tags: Christmas Drama, Christmas, Beyond Control, Drunkard

Chinese Marching Towards Africa

In reading this article found in BBC News/Africa - China in Africa: Developing ties, it brought some memories back to me.

What triggered my old memories? This article mentioned that Chinese migrants are venturing into Africa land getting involved in the agriculture, construction and trading businesses. True statement. In Khartoum of Sudan, there is a convenient store that I will usually shop for chinese food/products.

In the construction sector, my company contracted two China construction companies as our subcontractors. Besides this two companies, there are quite a number of China companies involved in the same sector. Why are they in Sudan?

The Chinese migrants are flocking into Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Senegal too where agriculture is the main focus.

I remembered while walking in Khartoum city centre, the Sudanese sitting nearby would shout "Chinese, Chinese". I just smiled. At another corner, one or two other Sudanese would say the same thing and I would reply "Malaysie, Malaysie" (that's how they pronounce Malaysia).

Even in my office, the Sudanese cannot comprehend that I came from Malaysia. One guy was so sure that I'm from China, not Malaysia. Why did he think that way? He was more confused when I pointed at a Malaysian Indian colleague and said that he's from Malaysie too. To which my Sudanese colleague said "He's from India".

To them, Sudanese people are generally with the darker skin complexion and almost everyone looks like that. They just cannot understand how come an Indian and a Chinese can be a Malaysian. It was real hard to convince them.
Tags: Africa, Sudan, Khartoum, Chinese Migrant

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 ...