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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Selamat Hari Raya

Tomorrow, October 1st marks the first day of Hari Raya and I wish all muslims in the world, Selamat Hari Raya; especially my brother Malaysian Muslims.

Muslims celebrate the festival of Aidilfitri – popularly known as Hari Raya Puasa, or simply Hari Raya (Day of Celebration) in Malaysia – to mark the culmination of Ramadhan, the holy month of fasting. It is a joyous occasion for Muslims, as it signifies a personal triumph, a victory of self-restraint and abstinence, symbolising purification and renewal.Fasting during the month of Ramadhan is compulsory or wajib, whereby Muslims are required to abstain from satisfying their most basic needs and urges, daily, between sunrise and sunset. It is one of the five tenets of Islam; as is the paying of zakat (alms tax for the poor), which must be tithed by the end of Ramadhan. In Malaysia, the period of fasting ends when the new moon is sighted on the evening of the last day of Ramadhan. The actual sighting is conducted by state appointed religious officials at various vantage points (usually at hilltops) throughout the country. If the crescent is sighted, the following day is then declared the first day of Aidilfitri, which is also the beginning of the 10th month of the Muslim calendar Syawal. A time to forgive and forget Aidilfitri is celebrated for the whole month of Syawal, but in Malaysia, only the first two days are observed as public holidays. It is widely common however, to see Muslims taking the first week off from work. Urbanites make their annual pilgrimage to their hometowns (this is popularly referred to as balik kampung), to be with parents, relatives and old friends. Thus, cities like Kuala Lumpur get relatively quiet during the festive season of Aidilfitri.The Muslim community ushers in the first day of Aidilfitri by congregating at mosques for morning prayers. Everyone is usually decked out in their traditional best to mark the special occasion. Men are usually dressed in Baju Melayu, while the Baju Kurung, the quintessential Malay attire for females, is the prefered choice for the fairer sex. Then it's usually breakfast at home with the family, followed by a visit to the cemetery where deceased loved ones are remembered; graves are cleaned and cleared of overgrowth, and prayers are offered to Allah. This is also a time to forgive and forget past quarrels. Asking for pardon is done in order of seniority. The younger members of a family approach their elders (parents, grandparents etc) to seek forgiveness, to salam (Muslim equivalent of a handshake), then kiss the hands of the older person as a sign of respect. The usual greeting (that is uttered with the salam) during Aidilfitri is “Selamat Hari Raya”, which means “Wishing you a joyous Hari Raya”.Children and old folks are given duit raya or gifts of money, in small envelopes. In recent years, many givers have opted for the Chinese practice of putting the money in ang pow packets; however instead of the usual red, the packets are green in colour. Although the first three days are celebrated on a grander scale, many Muslims hold “open house” throughout the month, where friends and neighbours of other races are invited to join in the celebrations

Before the big day The joy of Hari Raya Puasa actually begins before the first day. A week or so before the big day, excitement mounts as the house is readied for the celebration with new furnishing and decorations. Children lighting kerosene lamps or 'pelita' Of particular interest are the last 10 days of Ramadan, where many keep vigil for Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Decree), the night when the Quran was sent down. It is believed that angels descend and shower blessings on that particular night, so homes are brightly decorated with oil lamps or pelita. Mosques, as well as government and some commercial buildings, are also decorated and brightly lit to mark the auspicious day. The most predominant colour seen in decorations during this season is green which is commonly associated with Islamic items. It is often combined with yellow or gold. Decorations with Islamic and Malay motifs As for motifs, by far the most frequently used symbol is that of the ketupat (rice cakes wrapped in coconut leaves); it is invariably used on Hari Raya greeting cards, hanging decorative items, and as a promotional image for the season. The ketupat is traditional Hari Raya fare and is often served with beef rendang (beef cooked with spices and coconut milk) and/or satay (grilled meat on a skewer). Other festive delicacies include lemang (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo tubes), serunding (dessicated coconut fried with chilli) and curry chicken.

House of Representatives Reject $700b Bailout Crisis Bill with 228-205 Vote

Atlanta, GA 9/29/2008 06:22 PM GMT

The House of Representatives voted against the proposed $700 billion bailout crisis bill on Monday by a 228-205 vote. The Republicans were the bulk of the nay votes, earning twice as many nay votes as yay votes as they prevented the $700 billion bailout bill. The bill was proposed by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, and was also backed by President George W. Bush. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 687 points minutes before the final vote was cast. As of 2:15pm, the Dow was down 517 points. The $700 billion bailout bill was proposed last week in a move that Paulson and Bernanke believed was vital to overwrite the economic crisis, which has seen several of America's largest banks file for bankruptcy or become acquired by other banks.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Protect your data

Today, nearly all corporate information exists in electronic form, so it stands to reason that enterprises must secure their databases as part of any information protection and control (IPC) strategy to protect sensitive information and comply with policy regulations. The growing internal threats to business information, the impact of government regulations on the protection of data, and how enterprises must adopt database security best practices to prevent the loss of sensitive customer data or company information. Protect your data.

Don't look back

You've got a big decision ahead of you -- how will you decide and what is the best option you should pick? Get it over with! Life is all about choices. In yours you alone have the power to select the changes and make the choices you want. You may often worry about whether the path you're taking is the right one. Keep in mind that there isn't one right way. You can keep making changes as you see fit. Sometimes options can be equally appealing but go ahead and decide for yourself and you shouldn't have any regrets.

Donation PLEASE

I'm not not avid gambler if that's what you term a dude that visits the various gaming outlets in this country every other day there's a draw. Da Ma Cai - Pan Malaysian Pools, Sports Toto, Magnum 4D---who will deny himself hope? A great man once told me, to buy the lottery is to give yourself a hope. A hope for a windfall. A hope for millions. A hope for yourself in a world other than your work that you do day in day out. Should you decide not to give yourself this hope, then don't!!!

Anyway, the issue that I wish to highlight is the emergence of many "touts" who solicit for donations at the entrances and sometimes in the premises of these outlets. Don't they know that it is taboo?

Oblivious to this belief, many of such people (might be some are genuine, but I guess the majority are not) "ply" their trade and work their route at these places of gambling. A recent scenario I chanced upon during my last visit (yesterday) to a place of chance for my own and many others' personal reasons, I sidestepped away from an Indian lass "manning" her post at the middle of the entrance to the outlet on my way in. After standing in line patiently awaiting my time to blow some hard earned cash, the call went out. "Donation please, sir donate, DONATION PLEEEEASE", the lass started with her continuous playback call. Luckily I got my turn at the counter after a nice short wait of 22 minutes. Apparently some "hopers" lined up in front of me were hoping more than usual. I quickly placed my bets and made my way out.

I took a long hard look at this lass, still standing in the middle of the entrance, and calling out non-stop for donations. I don't judge people but from the looks of the documents she had in hand and the dressing (and especially the age), she definitely did not look the part. It is my opinion that people should donate when they feel like it and those that help to collect donations do so in a proper manner and location.

When I turned away, one of the outlet staff came out to shoo the lass away...


Disturbing Trend: Virgins For Sale

Sex sells, and a virgin will cost you a million bucks.

A few more entrepreneurial ladies won’t pop their cherry for less than seven figures.

Natalie Dylan, who recently received her bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies from Sacramento State, went on Howard Stern earlier this month to sell her virginity for a cool mil to pay off her tuition bills. Um, last time we checked, state schools weren’t that out of reach, but we can’t blame the girl for upping her ante. Since Dylan’s sister is one of the working girls at Nevada’s most infamous brothel, and subject of HBO show Cathouse, she worked out a deal with proprietor, Dennis Hof, and her hymen is up for bidding at BunnyRanch.com. But Natalie is picking who will pluck her and all interested parties must first pass her interview process. In addition to deep pockets, the gent must have chemistry with the young businesswoman. “We’ll take bids until I find a suitor I’m happy with,” Natalie concedes. [NY Daily News]
Raffella Fico, a beautiful bikini model and reality show star, won’t give up her v-card for less than fame and fortune. At 20, Raffella might still be a chaste Catholic, but she’s a total whore for cash and publicity. Despite her seductive men’s mag spreads and bunking up as a co-ed for a season of Italian Big Brother, she swears she’s never had a boyfriend. So after all these lonely years, Fico promises to drop her panties for 1 million Euros or $1.8 million dollars. Whew, the conversion rate makes this selection even steeper! But unlike her American counterpart, Raffella is more egalitarian about her offer. “If I don’t like him, I’ll just have a glass of wine and forget about it,” she promises. After all, Fico wants to learn how to fake it and intends to use the money for acting lessons and a home in Rome. [The Telegraph]
Graciella Yataco is the smart seductress who started it all. The 18-year-old Peruvian model was barely squeaking by in 2005. She was responsible for her mother’s medical bills and also had to support her younger brother. So she decided, in an unprecedented move, to sell her virginity to the highest bidder. While a Canadian man offered her $1.5 million, mostly what she got from her religious countrymen was a lot of hate mail and public humiliation. Despite her sob story, no one offered to simply make a charitable contribution. So, after the desperate debacle, Gracia was somehow still hopeful she could better her situation on her own and at the last minute, she backed out of the deal. [BBC]

Would You Rather Orgasm Every Five Minutes Forever Or Never Have One Again?

I guess not. Too much of a good thing is not that good. Would even be a torture if it remains too constant and regular...

Paul Newman

Award-winning actor and world-renowned philanthropist, died Friday night after a succumbing to cancer. Newman was 83. The Hollywood legend picked up his only Academy Award for best actor for his role as a pool-playing hustler in “The Color of Money” but was nominated for a total of ten Oscars for films including “Cool Hand Luke,” “Hud,” “The Hustler,” “The Verdict,” and “Road to Perdition.” In 1986 he was presented an Honorary Award for his contribution to the silver screen and in 1994 The Academy presented him with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Newman left acting in 2007 after declaring “You start to lose your memory, you start to lose your confidence, you start to lose your invention. So I think that's pretty much a closed book for me.” Off screen Newman became a professional racing driver and claimed second place at Le Mans in 1979. He remained a strong figure in the sport and partnered with several ventures and eventually became the oldest driver to be part of a winning team in a major sanctioned race when, at 70, he captured the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1995. Newman was also a respected philanthropist who started his own line of food products, “Newman’s Own,” with A.E. Hotchner with all proceeds going to charities. By 2006 the line had donated more than $200 million to various causes.

Austria Holds General Election, Far-Right Parties Could Pick Up Victories

Atlanta, Ga. 9/27/2008 06:05 PM GMT

Following the collapse of a coalition government between the Social Democrats and the People’s Party after just 18 months voters in Austria will head to the polls on Sunday in what could be a big victory for the far-right Freedom Party and Alliance for the Future of Austria. Voters have expressed frustration with both the Social Democrats and People’s Party and that is being read by many as a potential swing to the far-right parties. Adding to the uncertainty of how the general election will turn is the voice of nearly 200,000 16 and 17-year-olds who are now eligible to vote in the general election.

Typhoon Hagupit Kills at least 32 in Vietnam as Flash Floods and Landslides Devastate Country

Atlanta, Ga. 9/28/2008 03:00 PM GMT

At least 32 people have been killed in Vietnam as Typhoon Hagupit triggered flash floods and landslides after dumping massive amounts of rain on the country. The storm had already killed at least eight in the Philippines and 17 in China before slamming Vietnam with heavy rains and strong winds which devastated farmland and washed away homes. Soldiers have been dispatched to help those stranded by Typhoon Hagupit but those areas hardest hit remain difficult to access. Meteorologists have predicted more rain which could pose greater problems for the capital city of Hanoi where the Red River is already nearing dangerous levels.

Medevec Helicopter Carrying Accident Victims Crashes in Maryland, Four Killed

Atlanta, Ga. 9/28/2008 03:22 PM GMT

A medical helicopter transporting victims of a traffic accident crashed in West Baltimore, Maryland early Sunday morning killing four of the five people on board the aircraft. The helicopter’s pilot reported bad weather while transporting the victims from a Washington park and notified officials that they needed to land at Andrews Air Force Base and have ambulances take the victims to the hospital. Shortly after radioing in the call just after midnight the helicopter disappeared from radar and a few hours later officials found the wrecked remains in a wooded area of Walker Mill Regional Park. The pilot, an emergency responder, a flight paramedic and one of the victims in the traffic accident died while the second victim in the traffic accident survived and was rushed to a hospital.

Six Kidnappers Shot Dead by Sudanese Forces

Atlanta, Ga. 9/28/2008 05:02 PM GMT

Six kidnappers who abducted eleven tourists and eight Egyptian tour guides in southern Egypt last week have been shot dead by Sudanese forces. According to reports the Sudanese military encountered a white SUV carrying eight armed men near the Libyan border and ordered the vehicle to stop. The SUV refused the order and sped off leading to a chase in which the military opened fire on the men, killing six. The remaining two men were captured and confessed to kidnapping the tourist, which included five Germans, five Italians and a Romanian as well as the eight guides. It is believed the kidnapped are being held in the Tabbat Shajara region of Chad. Negotiations for their release have been ongoing. The kidnappers have demanded a $8.8 million ransom for their release.

Free games online flash: Shoot em ups

Quickwars - free flash shooting games counterstrike shooting aiming practice, freedownload spot game call of duty COD, battlefield flash, halo, nintendo wii, all free games barrax psp flash cartoonnetwork games dress up games for kids cheats, Are you a hardcore gamer playing Counter-Strike,Call of Duty COD ,Day of Defeat DOD , Unreal Tournament, Dedicated server Quake, Medal of Honor MOH, Americas Army or Halo?

Rating: Cool

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Phones that are music to your ears‏

Do you like music on the go, but don't want to compromise on design, imaging and video?

Next to offering great sound, they also provide a splendid camera and excellent screen quality. Not to mention their looks...matching accessories...

Two new Walkman® phones that will fondle your ears and please your eyes. The W902 has a 5 megapixel camera, 8GB memory under the hood and a crystal clear 2.2" display.
The W302 is the most affordable Walkman® phone to date with a 2 megapixel camera, FM radio and TrackID in a slim & stylish package.
Sony Ericsson


September 27 --- connect to your loved ones

Today is a good day to connect with your parents and loved ones. If you haven't seen your siblings or your folks for a while, maybe you could plan a short visit. Or call them on the phone and catch up on family news. Don't forget how much they care about you!

Freddie Mac shakes up management

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three top executives are departing mortgage finance company Freddie Mac, which was seized by the government nearly three weeks ago.

The McLean, Va.-based company said its chief financial officer, Anthony Piszel; chief business officer, Patricia Cook and Timothy McBride, senior vice president for government and industry relations are leaving the company, effective immediately.

McBride's departure comes after the government banned all lobbying activities at Freddie Mac and its sibling company, Fannie Mae, as part of the Sept. 7 government takeover.

Freddie Mac named David Kellermann, previously the company's senior vice president and corporate controller, as acting chief financial officer, reporting directly to new CEO David Moffett.

The company said it would undertake an external search to fill the CFO position permanently.

The company said its business divisions will now report directly to Moffett, rather than the chief business officer, whose position is being eliminated. Freddie Mac is also establishing a new position of chief credit officer and named Raymond Romano to that role on an acting basis.

"I am excited about the changes we're making today, and believe they position us to best achieve the mission and goals of the company over the long term," Moffett said in a statement.

Earlier this month, the government seized control of Fannie and Freddie and agreed to pump as much as $200 billion into the firms to help keep them afloat.

Shares of Freddie Mac rose 2 cents to $1.88 in afternoon trading.

10 bizarre and daring feats of salesmanship

From Fortune's "The Art of Selling" special report continues with a look at how legends mastered the sales pitch - and raked in the revenues.

Mary Kay Ash
The beauty queen motivated her commissioned sales force with a woman's touch, offering diamonds, trips, and pink Cadillacs to top performers. A year after Mary Kay's launch in 1963, sales were $198,000; in 2007 they were $2.4 billion.

Brownie Wise
Formerly a rep for Stanley Home Products, Wise convinced stubborn inventor Earl Tupper that salespeople needed to demonstrate his plastic containers' patented "burp," ushering in an era of suburban Tupperware parties.

Gerard Lambert
The "Father of Halitosis" called bad breath a medical condition in Lambert Pharmacal Co.'s 1920s ads. In the process he made Listerine a bestseller.

John H. Patterson
National Cash Register's founder had strange and stringent rules for his hires. He built fields on NCR's campus and required salespeople to do exercises. He dictated how much they could pay for neckties.
He once fired an employee who nearly slipped from a horse during a character-building equestrian event he organized. Seen as the father of the modern sales force, Patterson mentored (then fired), IBM founder Thomas Watson Sr.

Herman T. Smith
The first black salesman hired by PepsiCo, the 28-year-old Smith was charged in 1940 with cornering the black consumer market, getting a jump on rival Coke. He and his team couldn't stay in white-only hotels, so they made train reservations on Pullman sleeping cars.

Joe Girard
Guinness World Records' top salesman sold 13,001 individual cars (six cars a day) in 15 years at a Chevy dealership near Detroit. Every month he mailed cards to his customers that read simply, "I Like You."

Tom Siebel
Oracle sales veteran Siebel started his own software firm in 1993. Though the Valley had gone dot-com casual, his strict code required salespeople to wear suits; he also named every conference room at headquarters after a customer.

Alfred Fuller
Fuller Brush legitimized door-to-door selling, with its salesmen visiting nearly nine out of ten American homes in the first half of the last century. In Disney's Three Little Pigs (1933), the wolf dresses up as a Fuller Brush man to get inside the house.

Big Pharma
In the '90s Big Pharma discovered that attractive, peppy cheerleaders made perfect pitchwomen. An outfit called Spirited Sales Leaders has placed more than 60 cheerleaders and dancers in pharma sales forces in the past four years.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Giving up control -- Lie back and relax

Its Friday!!!

With your loved one, friends, or family don't get caught up in wanting all the details up front. Let them take you somewhere you've never been. You will be surprised by how much you like giving up some of the control.

U.S. government seizes Washington Mutual

The U.S. government on Thursday made the largest bank seizure in American history, taking over Washington Mutual, the severely troubled savings and loan, and selling pieces of it to JPMorgan Chase in an emergency deal intended to avoid sticking the taxpayer with a bill for another bank, according to people briefed on the plan.

For weeks, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department had been nervous about the fate of WaMu, among the worst-hit by the housing crisis, and had pressed hard for the bank to sell itself. As panic gripped financial markets last week after the collapse of the investment bank Lehman Brothers, U.S. regulators stepped up their efforts, working behind the scenes, and at times going behind WaMu's back to work privately with potential bidders.

Indeed, the seizure and the deal with JPMorgan came as a shock to Washington Mutual's board, which was kept completely in the dark: the company's new chief executive, Alan Fishman, was flying from New York to Seattle at the time the deal was brokered, according to these people.

The shot-gun acquisition marks the second time since the housing crisis began that the government has pushed a troubled bank into the arms of JPMorgan Chase. In March, JPMorgan rescued Bear Stearns as it teetered into bankruptcy protection.

The deal will give JPMorgan branches in California and other markets where it does not have a footprint. But JPMorgan will also inherit a big loan portfolio of troubled mortgages and commercial real estate.

U.S. regulators had been trying to broker a deal for Washington Mutual because a takeover by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. would have dealt a crushing blow to the deposit insurance fund. The fund, which stood at $45.2 billion at the end of June, had been severely depleted after suffering a debilitating loss from the sudden collapse of IndyMac Bank. Analysts say that a failure of Washington Mutual would have cost the fund upwards of $20 billion to $30 billion.

"WaMu's impact could be enormous," said Jaret Seiberg, a banking industry analyst at the Stanford Group in Washington. "That is why we believe Washington Mutual is too big to fail in a conventional sense and you would have to see some sort of government stabilization effort."

"They were a deal machine in the late 1990s and spent the early part of this decade concentrating on residential mortgages," said Frederick Cannon, a banking analyst at Keefe Bruyette & Woods "The thrift business model was breaking down, even as they were building it up."

The takeover of Washington Mutual is yet another black-eye for its primary federal regulator, the Office of Thrift Supervision. It also oversaw IndyMac Bank, another big lender that suddenly collapsed in mid-July, and several other deeply troubled savings banks. Washington Mutual was the largest institution under its watch.

Washington Mutual long insisted that it could remain independent, but the giant thrift had quietly hired Goldman Sachs early last week to identify potential bidders. Among the banks that expressed interest were Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, Banco Santander, TD Bancorp and Wells Fargo. Each had different reasons for making an offer, but nobody could make the numbers work. Several deadlines past without anyone submitting bid.

Washington Mutual had struggled to find a partner earlier this year willing to inject fresh funds in its ailing business. This spring, it balked at an offer from JPMorgan to buy the entire company. Instead, TPG, the big private equity firm, led a group of investors that made a $5 billion capital injection in April.

EU bans imports of Chinese baby food with milk

BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Union has announced a total ban on imports of any baby food products from China that contain traces of milk, in response to the widening health scare over tainted Chinese dairy products. EU headquarters also called Thursday for tighter checks on other Chinese food products, despite a report from food safety experts that found only a limited risk to consumers in Europe. "The measures will also impose an exclusive, total ban all products originating from China for infants and young children, containing any percentage of milk," said EU spokeswoman Nina Papadoulaki. Tests will be carried out on all imported goods from China containing more than 15 percent of milk powder and random testing will be done on such products already on the EU market, Papadoulaki told reporters. The measures are due to come into force Friday.

The EU does not import dairy goods from China, but there have been concerns over other products, such as chocolate, candy and cookies that may contain milk products. Papadoulaki said increased controls introduced last week after the Chinese scandal had so far failed to discover any food imports tainted with abnormal levels of the industrial chemical melamine, which has been blamed for sickening 53,000 infants in China and killing four. "We are taking the measure for a precaution," she said. "We haven't detected any contaminated products within the European Union." France on Wednesday announced it was going further by banning the sale of all goods containing derivatives of Chinese dairy products. A report Thursday from EU experts found that even in the worst case scenario, adults in Europe would not exceed tolerable intakes of melamine by eating Chinese products. However if products got onto the EU market with levels of contamination similar to the highest levels found in China, there could be a risk to children, the report said. "In worst case scenarios with the highest level of contamination, children with high daily consumption of milk toffee, chocolate or biscuits containing high levels of milk products would exceed the tolerable daily intake," said the European Food Safety Agency based in Parma, Italy. It said children eating large amounts of the products could in theory exceed the tolerable intake of melamine by more than threefold. However, the agency added that there was no evidence such high levels of contamination were present in Europe. The EU said it imported from China about 19,500 metric tons (21,500 tons) of confectionary products, such as pastry, cake and biscuits last year, and about 1,250 metric tons (1,380 tons) of chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa. The EU last week told customs authorities to step up controls on Chinese imports that may contain dairy products and has requested China to halt imports of such products unless they are proven to be free of contamination. The EU did not mention any brand names of any Chinese products subjected to the ban or to additional testing. British supermarket chain Tesco's has removed Chinese-made White Rabbit Creamy Candies off its shelves as a precaution amid reports that samples of the milk candy in Singapore and New Zealand had tested positive for melamine.

MS Office for Android G1 is Coming; MS Exchange, Maybe Not

The T-Mobile G1 may have some serious problems getting traction with working folk because of two key, missing features: lack of Microsoft Exchange e-mail support and lack of Microsoft Office document support. Quickoffice says they're on the case for MS Office support, and working as fast as they can. Since they're trying to do Blackberry, iPhone and Symbian clients, too, their manpower is limited, they said. "We're currently developing our software for the Android platform and are very excited by the promise we're seeing with the ecosystem. The openness of the platform will help third party developers, including Quickoffice, build robust, applications for the device. We believe the G1 phone addresses consumer demands for devices with a slick user experience and high-quality applications, and are looking forward to being a part of system," said Paul Moreton, VP of product management at Quickoffice. Dataviz, makers of DocumentsToGo, said they aren't working on an Android product right now. Unfortunately, we don't have as happy a tale to tell about Exchange support. We asked both QuickOffice and DataViz (both of whom have worked with Exchange on other platforms) whether they were building Exchange conduits for Android. Both companies said no. Who do you think might step up to the plate?

Oil rises on bailout worries

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Oil prices recovered Thursday as investors worried the government's $700 billion economic rescue plan could lead to a weaker dollar, the currency of oil trading. Crude oil for November delivery settled up $2.29 to $108.02 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, recovering from a low of $103.22 a barrel as the session opened.Lawmakers were closer to reaching a bipartisan agreement on a controversial $700 billion plan to prop up the nation's ailing financial businesses on Thursday.President Bush addressed the nation late Wednesday, saying the country faces severe economic consequences if Congress doesn't approve the bill.Investors were worried about the plan's effect on U.S. dollar inflation, and about its effect on U.S. debt, according to Rachel Ziemba, energy analyst with RGE Monitor. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Congress wants to break the $700 billion into installments, which would give it more control over how much money leaves government coffers.Demand: Concerns about inflation usually prompt investors to purchase commodities such as crude oil as a hedge. Analysts say prices might have been even higher Thursday were it not for worries about declining demand. "Even if we do bail out (Wall Street), we're not going to see the rapid demand growth we've seen in the past," said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst with Alaron Trading in Chicago.With the economy in a tailspin, investors worry demand for refined fuels could suffer further."Americans are consuming less gasoline, and even consuming less distillates and diesel fuel," said Ziemba.Concern about falling demand has helped drive oil prices down from a record high of $147.27 a barrel on July 11.Gasoline prices continued to fall as well, shedding 1.5 cents Thursday to a national average retail price of $3.70 a gallon, according to motorist group AAA.Gulf shutdowns: Falling U.S. demand is keeping oil prices from skyrocketing, even in the face of lower production in the Gulf of Mexico due to this year's hurricane season, according to Ziemba.A majority of the U.S. facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, which account for about a quarter of all U.S. production, remained shut in the wakes of hurricanes Ike and Gustav.About 63% of crude production and 57% of natural gas production was still offline as of Wednesday, according to the Minerals Management Service.Damage to U.S. refineries in the region also caused Mexican state-owned oil producer Pemex to cut output by 250,000 a day.

Lawmakers split over bailout

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Chaos erupted on Thursday in the negotiations over the proposed financial bailout as lawmakers bickered over competing counterproposals to the Bush administration's $700 billion rescue plan.A meeting at the White House between President Bush, congressional leaders and the presidential candidates was meant to speed approval of an agreement, but instead revealed deep divisions between Democrats and Republicans.Earlier in the day, congressional negotiators said they had agreed to a set of principles on revisions to the rescue plan, which calls for the Treasury Department to buy up bad mortgage securities from banks in an effort to get them to lend again. The proposal will help homeowners, curb executive pay packages at participating firms and provide oversight of Treasury's actions, said Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., a key architect of the congressional effort, in a lunchtime address. "We've reached a fundamental agreement on a set of principles, one, for taxpayers, which is tremendously important," he said. "We're very confident we can act expeditiously."Details on the plansThe principles call for Congress to make $250 billion available immediately with $100 billion available, if needed, without requiring additional congressional approval, said two senior Democratic aides familiar with the negotiations. The second half of $350 billion would then become available by a special approval of Congress.On executive compensation, the draft would require limits on compensation for executives of any company participating in the bailout. These caps would apply for as long as the company is in the program. This would include some language to limit excess "golden parachutes."Treasury will also get an equity stake in the companies being helped by the bailout, though what type remains to be worked out.Still to be worked out is whether to allow bankruptcy judges to modify mortgage terms, a provision backed by many Democrats and community activists but opposed by Republicans and the banking industry.The bankruptcy provision is not the only sticking point, however. House Republicans are not on board, according to Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio."House Republicans have not agreed to any plan at this point," Boehner said. Instead, they issued a statement of economic rescue principles that calls for Wall Street to fund the recovery by injecting private capital - not taxpayer dollars - into the financial markets. Easing tax laws would prompt investors to put in their own dollars, they said.The plan also calls for: participating firms to disclose the value of the mortgage assets on their books, ending Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's securitization of "unsound mortgages," reviewing the performance of the credit rating agencies and having the Securities and Exchange Commission audit failed companies to ensure their financial standing was accurately portrayed.House Republicans also want to create a panel to make recommendations for reforming the financial industry by year's end.Meanwhile, the ranking Republican on the Senate Banking Committee has another idea. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said he doesn't support the Treasury plan until there is serious consideration of alternatives. He proposed Thursday adding funds to the Federal Reserve and Treasury to allow them to lend more to financial institutions.Bush still hopefulBefore the afternoon meeting, Bush said he expects a deal "very shortly." After, a counselor to the president said "we're getting closer. There's some more that has to be done. It's going to be a consensus plan at the end of the day.""Both sides are going to have to work hard to get to an agreement," presidential counselor Ed Gillespie said on CNN.Administration officials have spent countless hours this week behind closed doors with and in public hearings before Congress. Lawmakers were hoping to have a deal agreeable to both parties hammered out before Thursday's meeting at the White House.On Wednesday night, Bush took the nation's airwaves in a prime-time address in which he laid out a looming economic disaster. "The government's top economic experts warn that, without immediate action by Congress, America could slip into a financial panic and a distressing scenario would unfold," Bush said. "More banks could fail, including some in your community. The stock market would drop even more, which would reduce the value of your retirement account. The value of your home could plummet. Foreclosures would rise dramatically."

Bush meets with Middle Eastern leaders

WASHINGTON (AP) — In separate meetings with Middle East leaders Thursday, President Bush applauded Lebanon's efforts to forge a national reconciliation and told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the administration has not given up hope on an agreement to create a Palestinian state."I appreciate your determination and your desire to have a Palestinian state," Bush told Abbas in front of reporters before an Oval Office meeting. "I share that desire with you. It's not easy."Bush said the administration will continue to work with Palestinian authorities on security matters and on helping to coordinate international economic assistance."As you know, I've got four more months left in office and I'm hopeful that the vision that you and I have worked on can come to pass," he added.Abbas, seated beside Bush, told the president that he was thankful for U.S. support."Hope remains," Abbas said. "We cannot live without hope."According to Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who attended the meeting, Abbas said Palestinians are seeking "a comprehensive agreement on all the issues, without any exception. Either there will be an agreement on all the issues or there will be no agreement."Mideast peace talks were relaunched at a U.S.-hosted summit last November, and with prodding from the U.S., Israel and the Palestinians set a year-end target for reaching a final peace accord that would end six decades of hostilities.Despite months of negotiations, there have been no apparent breakthroughs, and the sides remain at odds over key issues like the final borders between Israel and a future Palestinian state, the competing claims to Jerusalem and the fate of millions of Palestinian refugees.Negotiations have been stalled by the resignation of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who stepped down amid a string of corruption allegations. Tzipi Livni, Israel's prime minister-designate, has signaled that she will keep peace negotiations going.In an earlier meeting Thursday, Bush lauded efforts by Lebanon's new president to promote reconciliation in a country the United States considers key to combatting extremism in the Middle East.In remarks at the outset of the Oval Office meeting with President Michel Suleiman, Bush said he has watched carefully the public statements that Suleiman has made since taking office in May."Your statements impressed me and we're most impressed by the national dialogue that you're holding in an attempt to seek reconciliation," Bush said. "The United States is proud to stand by your side. Our mission is your mission: a country that is strong and capable, a country where people can make a peace."Suleiman, seen as relatively friendly with Syria, was installed as president in a compromise after Hezbollah blocked pro-Western factions from electing a politician who took a harder-line stance against Syria. Suleiman's talks with Bush on Thursday also were expected to cover the expansion of the Lebanese army and peace talks between Syria and Israel.Under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, the post of prime minister goes to a Sunni Muslim. The majority is headed by Sunnis while the opposition is led by Shiites. Clashes last May between Hezbollah's Shiite supporters and pro-government Sunni loyalists in Beirut and other areas left 81 people dead and more than 200 wounded.Sitting beside Bush in the Oval Office, Suleiman said his country shares many U.S. values, including the promotion of liberty and the fight against terrorism. And he thanked Bush for his administration's support of the Lebanese government, particularly efforts to bolster the Lebanese army."There are so many things in common between the American people and the Lebanese people. We are here also to reaffirm our rights to have a prosperous Lebanon, a democratic Lebanon," Suleiman said. "Mr. President, we are also here to affirm the need to liberate all Lebanese territories and also to make it clear that the future of Palestinian refugees is in their homeland, not in Lebanon."The U.S. financial crisis took center stage at the White House later Thursday when presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, and congressional leaders met with Bush on a rescue plan for financial markets.Those meetings were last-minute additions to Bush's schedule. Already on the calendar were Bush's meetings with Abbas, Suleiman and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in Washington to rally congressional support for a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement.

RIMM Trading Higher Ahead Of Earnings --- September 25, 2008

Research In Motion (RIMM) shares are trading higher ahead of the company’s announcement after the close of results for its fiscal second quarter ended in August.

In June, RIMM had forecast revenue for the August quarter of $2.55 billion to $2.65 billion, with 2.6 million net subscriber adds and profits of 84-89 cents a share. The company forecast gross margins for the quarter of 50.5%, down slightly from 50.7% in Q1. The current Street consensus is for $2.6 billion in revenue and 87 cents a share. For the November quarter, the Street expects $2.94 billion and 98 cents. The consensus for the February 2009 fiscal year is $11.05 billion and $3.80. RIMM today is up $3.35, or 3.5%, to $100.06. Note that the stock has dropped close to 15% since the last earnings report.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Chinese girls

Before you decide to criticize or to partake in a relationship with a Chinese national. Never forget that they are human as well. Every action that you take will be scrutinized by someone.

Chinese girls, like any other girls around the world, have feelings. Being used for ‘pleasure’, and then abandoned, could destroy a girl’s outlook on life. There is nothing inherently wrong with having a girlfriend who hails from China. Such a relationship can you help you become better acclimated to the culture and learn more about your own country.

Unless you are seriously going to treat this relationship more than friendship and unless you are seriously considering marrying the young lady, don't do what would otherwise hurt her. Be careful and think about the consequences of your actions not only for yourself, your community, but also for the Chinese girl and her family.

Thought of the Day: Ying and Yang

Is he the Yang to your Ying or is she the Ying to your Yang? Ever pondered so? Relationships are complicated and compatibility is the key to success for any long-term relationship. Learn to love in the right way---unconditionally and truly. Most of all, Give and Take.

P/S: Do not mistake with taking everything that is given. That's selfish.

A lot of Bull: Scams that we can do without

Beware of similar scams. I had much entertainment the last few years replying to such scams and mostly from persons purportedly from Africa and always along the same lines of some coup or government clamp-down. The one below is new its from Russia. Read it for entertainment but always remember that the rule of thumb is never ever entertain them with your reply!

Dear Friend, I am using this open information system to seek your Godly attention and assistance. I valued your kind reasoning and understanding to my request,which I felt you could be of an urgent assistance to my elder brother. My name is Mr.Mikhail Gladovskov ,38years of age,a younger brother to Mr. Mikhail Gutseriyev from Kazakhstan, who was the formal CEO of Russneft groups. Russia 's seventeenth largest oil company. He was a fugitive, seeking assylum in Britain because my government issued an international arrest warrant for him on the charges of tax frauds which I believed was cooked to force him out of business.But he was later handed over to the Russian government and now government have started to confiscate all his personal properties, capital investments, assets and freezing of his accounts registered in his names.
My reasons for contacting you personally is because I needed you to please assist in accepting some of his funds in the banks(which are registered in his name)to your own personal account so that these funds will not be noticed and seized.A profiting percentages will be honored to you.
All facts and evidences to support my request to be sincere and recent shall be sent to you if you needed more details. Upon your acceptance, I will also disclosed the said amount in the fixed deposit account to you. This is not a must for you, if you don't have interest please kindly ignore this message. Here is my private email (mikhail_glados@mail2russia.c

So beware!

Simple DIY AC Servicing

The A/C or Air-Conditioning Unit (ACU) in your home needs to be serviced at least every 3 months. This simple servicing ensures that it is working well and prolongs its lifespan. A major service would include the chemical wash which is recommended every 6 months.

A simple Do-It-Yourself (DIY) service that you yourself as a homeowner can do is to clean out and wash the removable filters in your A/C. Refer to your A/C manual if you are unsure what these are. Doing the DIY service will not only help in extending the period between having a professional A/C service person attend to your A/C but will also save you money in electricity and for work that you can do yourself. An A/C that is well-serviced performs efficiently.

Perak Umno: Act on men who admitted having illicit sex

I read with much disdain the local news of Perak Tengah district councillor Zul Hassan and businessman Fairul Azrim Ismail after they admitted having accepted offers to have sex with Chinese nationals.

Zul, who is facing a corruption charge over a development project at Seri Iskandar in Perak Tengah, had been quoted as saying “what is important is we did not ask for the women. He supplied them to us. If people sedekah (donate), don’t you want to accept the sedekah?”

For both men and women, sex is not dirty. It is only the way that it is practiced that makes it vulgar and disgusting. Worse still these 2 men are Muslims. Islam strictly forbids it and yet they do it.

Sexual intercourse is a means to reproduction of the species. It is apparent at all level of life in this world. The obvious pleasure that happens during sex -- for example, at the time of penetration, erection, or ejaculation can eventually cause a person to gain interest in any sexual activity. Sex itself is not dirty.

The trade of sex itself is a social ill if it is not managed well. Many other countries, even Singapore, has legalized prostitution and the effectiveness of these legalization is that the people are more reluctant to act against society. In these countries it is illegal to solicit for sex. Sex workers are also commonly known as, for women: prostitutes, whores, chicken (the local term), and for men: gigolo and man-whore.

I'm not a prude but I am against the act of partaking in sex solely for sexual pleasure. It is also an insult to women to be "used" in such a manner even if they are willing or being paid for it. I am in total agreement with the Perak UMNO for their stand against such people. We are after all humans and what separates us from the sub-species is that we have the ability to think.

Gloria Plaza Hotel in Beijing China

Gloria Plaza Hotel Beijing boasts an excellent location on a major ring road in Beijing, close to the city's Embassy district, Wangfujing shopping street and Tiananmen Square. The hotel is a short 30-minute drive from Beijing's Capital Airport, and a 10-minute walk from Beijing Railway Station. The hotel is popular with both business and leisure travelers. All 420 rooms and suites are comfortably furnished and well-equipped (e.g. broadband internet access, IDD/DDD telephones, mini-bar etc.) to meet every traveller's needs. The hotel's Plaza Floor provides superb executive accommodation for those with business on their agenda. The meeting facilities offered by the Gloria Plaza Hotel can accommodate small meetings to large scale conferences. The Hotel can cater to any event such as theme function, cocktail parties and business banquets.

2 Jianguomennan Ave, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 11 100022 China

Bra on Bra off --- choose the right Bra

I find the bra so sexy. Its a fashion statement alright right from the bra burning episodes of the past. Liberation o' yeah and the deliberation by men and women alike throughout the centuries on all breast sizes.

A bra that is suitable in other words well fitting (supports well and is comfortable) can go a long way in maximum comfort and style. The disturbing fact is that the majority of women are not aware of this and normally don the wrong bra.

Wearing a wrong bra can be a real discomfort with pain the neck, back and shoulders besides causing the user shortness in breath.

Wrong bras are
· Tight. The bosom is literally bursting out. Do not confuse these with push-up bras!
· Loose. It feels like an oversized t-shirt!
· Off-center. The center of the bra isn't lying flat against your breastbone.

Have a professional choose your bras for you. Do a proper fitting before you make the purchase!

Happy Day Declaration

I hereby declare every day of my life (and yours) a happyday!

The Property that you buy

The property that you buy must be beautiful (as defined by you), affordable, easy to maintain and in a good location. Make sure you satisfy these basic requirements and you will know what I mean as only you will know what works best for you.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Wall Street in Chaos

Last week, Wall Street whipped up a hurricane of uncertainties, with some of America's wee-established financial institutions falling like like a pack of cards. The struggling economy is already on the minds of many and plaguing the world community. The result will be long lasting and disturbing.

I wonder is if this will be enough for the person on the street to look at their own spending seriously enough to cut down on spending, reduce their debts, and attempt to live within the budget of what they can afford and within their means.

How will we make it through this global turmoil that is affecting our daily lives?

In such situations, the best financial advice includes,

Being smart and avoid panicking. Have long range financial planning. Don't overreact with your emotions.

Make sure your deposits in a bank are insured. If not, change banks to one that is.

Protect the foundation of your financial life by spending wisely and reducing your credit in the market. Take a good, hard look at how you manage your money. Your personal financial plan with goals and objectives must be able to sustain you and your dependents in the event of financial mishaps.

If you invest your money, make sure that your investments are varied and not all in the same stock or share. Get a reliable financial consultant who is able to help you grow your money and reduce your risks.

You are in control so don't panic and never allow the situation to control you. Your money is within your control. When you take charge you are not only going to manage your financial issues better, but you are also being responsible for your future.

Life is great

What is it that I feel the most passionate about? Is it the environment, a person or a cause? I guess at one point or another everyone will have to ask themselves the same question.

For me the sheer determination I have will make every time an excellent time to go all-out in pursuit of my goals. Nothing can stop me now. I have this powerful energy to take you wherever you want to go. Life is great!

Life and relationships

Every relationship has it rough spots as well as all of the beautiful connections that make relationships so intoxicating. Life -- and relationships -- would be boring if there weren't something to keep things interesting!

Take time to reflect

In such busy times it is good to take some time alone to stop and reflect on your life and progress now; think about what you've accomplished recently and for making plans for what you'd like to accomplish in the future.

Staying Employable

The secret to staying employable is to be responsible for keeping yourself skilled and in the know of the latest in your chosen field. If you don't keep focused on your abilities and am not willing to adapt and grow with the changing workplace, it will become tough to find a "good job."

So how do you manage to be employed and on track for continued success?

1. Keep your definition of a "good job" reasonable.
As we progress professionally, we acquire skills and experiences that often afford us greater opportunities in terms of salary and benefits. The problem lies in making the assumption that once we are offered a larger compensation package, it becomes the starting benchmark for any job we take in the future. The result is the "golden handcuff effect" - a sense that we are held hostage by our current job because there's no place else to go. Smart workers know each job opportunity provides criteria that must be weighed differently against our wants and needs. Staying employable means simplifying our list and planning for the day when we won't have the same level or type of perks. This keeps job options more plentiful and movement to new positions easier.
2. Use the "3x3x3 rule" to create and implement your own professional development strategy.
Forget about waiting for your annual review; smart workers take the review process into their own hands. Assess your professional strengths and weaknesses. By building a game plan to leverage the first and minimize the second, you can identify how you plan to stay employable. I encourage individuals to follow the "3x3x3 rule" for skill development:
A. Choose three skills you want to enhance.
B. Identify three ways in which you could learn and grow each skill.
C. Articulate three examples of how you can demonstrate your enhanced skills in this area to your employer. By taking professional development into your own hands, you remain focused and in control of your employability.
3. Be the "go-to" person for something employers need.
Like depositing into a retirement fund, employees use the early part of their careers to develop skills to accumulate professional wealth. Sadly, after a decade or so, some employees believe they've earned the right to live off of the interest accrued from their efforts. Midlife often brings about changes in how an employee wants to allocate his or her time (ie. wants more time with a spouse, family, home, hobby, etc.). Smart employees know this doesn't have to diminish the quality of the time they put into their careers. To stay employable, focus on being the "go-to" person for a particular problem, task or technique. Building subject-matter expertise in a specific area that's in demand within the workplace will create a personal insurance policy that ensures you'll always be the "go-to" employee who's in demand.
4. Create a board of advisers for your company of one.
Smart individuals don't do surgery on themselves, pull their own teeth or represent themselves in legal matters. They defer to professionals who have the training and expertise that gets the best results. Smart employees do the same with their careers. In an age where employees are in essence a company of one -- responsible for keeping the services they deliver in demand -- doesn't it make sense to seek the counsel of those who can help you make the best career decisions? Smart employees solicit the advice of individuals they think approach career success in a manner they admire. Whether it's a relative, co-worker, former manager or even a professional career coach, seeking advice from those who know more than you will give you the perspective needed to be proactive and successful at staying employable. Career paths are full of twists and turns; they're rarely straightforward.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

People in Traffic (PIT)

It takes all kinds of PIT (People in Traffic). Think of it. Early morning rush-hour---the mad dash to avoid the lash of getting to work late. After work evening crawl---the ritual every PIT joins in at the end of every workday, making getting home early unattainable.

PIT are so unpredictable and therefore traffic jams are unpredictable. PIT get into line at different times of the day, some early, some late, and some as and when they like. It is very fortunate that PIT are different from each other and are not driven to a common goal of being PIT at the same time. If everyone moved and acts the same way, we will experience the mother and father of all jams during the same times on the same day.

We are so lucky to be different.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Love is Serious

Romance in the right way can be so intense. Passions can be fiery and run deep for some people so never play with someone's feelings. The reality of love is not a game and is much too serious to be treated lightly. Flirt if you must but be wary of hurting others. They don't deserve it.

Go after what you desire with all of your heart and soul. Any one less is unlikely to deserve such attention.

Be Creative

Try something new -- especially if it's something you make up yourself. Dip deeply into your well of creativity and share with your friends. You'll love your life more.

The Pink Dress

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak. She never said a word. Many people passed by her, but no one would stop.

The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress. It was grotesquely shaped.

I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her. Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different. As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk.

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, 'Hello.' The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a 'Hi ' after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty.

I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, 'Because, I'm different.' I immediately said, 'That you are,' and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder and said, 'I know.' 'Little girl,' I said, 'you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent.'

She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said, 'Really?'

'Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all the people walking by.' She nodded her head yes, and smiled. With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her Wings to spread, then she said 'I am.'

'I'm your Guardian Angel,' with a twinkle in her eye.

I was speechless -- sure I was seeing things. She said, 'For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job here is done'. I got to my feet and said, 'Wait, why did no one stop to help an Angel?'

She looked at me, smiled, and said, 'You're the only one that could see me,' and then she was gone. And with that, my life was changed dramatically.

So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.

Tell everyone that means anything at all to you. Like the story says, we all need someone. And, every one of your friends is an Angel in their own way. The value of a friend is measured in the heart.

I hope your Guardian Angel watches over you always.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Prayers, God, Money, and the Government

A little boy wanted $100 badly and prayed for two weeks but nothing happened.

Then he decided to write GOD a letter requesting the $100. When the Post Office received the letter addressed to GOD, they decided to send it to the Prime Minister.

The PM was so impressed, touched, and amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a $5.00 bill. The PM thought this would appear to be a lot of money to a little boy. The little boy was delighted with the $5.00 and sat down to write a thank you note to GOD, which read:

'Dear GOD, thank you very much for sending the money, however, I noticed that for some reason you had to send it through Washington and, as usual, those bureaucrats took away
$95.00.'

Broaden your horizons

Your discipline and sense of responsibility is a virtue that you should cultivate and guarantees the success of your endeavors, however ambitious. Don't be afraid to think big. Broaden your horizons, set the bar high, demand a share of the profits. Stride forward with confidence.

Australia Land Down Under

The Commonwealth of Australia is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the mainland of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania and a number of other islands in the Southern, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The neighbouring countries are Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east, and New Zealand to the south-east.

The Australian mainland has been inhabited for more than 42,000 years by Indigenous Australians. After sporadic visits by fishermen from the north and by European explorers and merchants starting in the 17th century, the eastern half of Australia was claimed by the British in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation as part of the colony of New South Wales on 26 January 1788. As the population grew and new areas were explored, another five largely self-governing Crown Colonies were established during the 19th century.

On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a federation, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and remains a Commonwealth Realm. The capital city is Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory. The population is 21 million, and is concentrated in the mainland state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

Sydney is its crowning glory. A city of breathtaking beauty this sprawling metropolis offers everything to everyone. Don't say it to a native of Melbourne but Sydney for most people counts as Australia's capital in everything.

Thailand Bangkok the City of Angels

A few of Thailand's archaeological sites contain relics of a civilization indicating the earliest rice cultivation and bronze casting in all of Asia happened here.

Records also indicate that the origins of the Thai Kingdom were first developed, and then established as an all-powerful monarchy in the mid-14th century.

Over time is had some significant problems, but even after the Burmese invaded and destroyed the capital in 1776, the unwanted marauders were expelled and the country reunified.

Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country to successfully prevent colonization by a European power.

At the beginning of the 20th century Thailand's political system, armed forces, schools, and economy underwent drastic changes. A bloodless revolution in 1932 ended the absolute monarchy and led to a constitutional monarchy.

After a military attack at the hands of Japan in 1941, Thailand aligned with Japan and passively declared war on Britain and the United States. At the end of World War II, and Japan's defeat, Thailand subsequently became a US ally.

Thailand is currently facing armed violence in its three Muslim-majority southernmost provinces, but the country works hard with Malaysia to control the situation and the proliferation of terrorism.

The incredible natural beauty of the country; the ruins and relics of its ancient history, and countless attractions, including Phuket Island and the miles and miles of perfect beaches, have transformed exotic Thailand into one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Asia.
To the Thais, Bangkok is "Krung Thep" - City of Angels. While there is little angelic about this frenetic, vibrant city, there is certainly a heavenly combination of flavours, sights and experiences that seduces everyone who visits here. The capital of Thailand since 1782, Bangkok balances its exuberant modern development with a reverent celebration of traditional Thai culture - most evident in the glorious wats and the extraordinary food. The nightlife is legendary, ranging from an evening of kickboxing to a peaceful walk on a warm evening taking in the fascinating street life. The city is justly famous for its traffic jams and its noisy, uncompromising style. And for European visitors the summer heat can be quite difficult to adjust to. In the end, though, such inconveniences are a small price to pay for the experience of this endlessly intriguing and exciting city. Bangkok has long been a hub for travellers, offering a winning combination of cheap prices and excellent tourist amenities. Westerners flock here, eager to soak up the essence of the East and visitors are surprised at how cosmopolitan Bangkok can be. Some admittedly fail to see the beauty that endures under the façade of modernity in Bangkok, for this is a city that requires an open mind to reveal its angels. It's baking hot, undeniably crazy, chock-full of surprises and utterly unforgettable.

Singapore the Island Country

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island nation located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It lies 137 kilometers (85 miles) north of the Equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands. At 704.0 km² (272 square miles), it is one of the few city-states in the world and the smallest country in Southeast Asia.

The main island contained a fishing village sparsely populated by indigenous Malays and Orang Lauts at the mouth of the Singapore River when it was colonized by the British East India Company in 1819. The British used the position as a tactical trading outpost along the spice route. Occupied by the Japanese Empire during World War II, it reverted to British rule in 1945 and was later part of the merger which established Malaysia in 1963. Two years later, it left the federation and became an independent republic on August 9, 1965. The new republic was admitted to the United Nations on September 21 of the same year.

Since gaining independence, Singapore has seen its standard of living rise dramatically.[citation needed] Foreign investment and government-led island-wide industrialization have created a modern economy based on electronics and manufacturing, featuring entrepôt and financial trade centering around the country's strategic location.[citation needed] In terms of GDP per capita, Singapore is the 18th wealthiest country in the world. The geographically small nation has a foreign reserve of S$212 billion (US$139 billion).

Singapore is an authoritarian state. More people are executed per capita in Singapore than any other independent nation-state in the world.

The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore established the city-state's political system as a representative democracy while the country has official United Nations' recognition as a parliamentary republic. The People's Action Party has won control of Parliament in every election since self-government in 1959.

Dynamic Singapore is an island, a city and a country all at the same time. Its blend of Asian cultures and Western attitudes has made it the most stable economy in the region and the logical gateway to Southeast Asia. Singapore has traded in its rough-and-ready opium dens and pearl luggers for towers of concrete and glass, and its steamy rickshaw image for cool efficiency and spotless streets, but you can still recapture the colonial era with a Singapore Sling under the languorous ceiling fans at Raffles Hotel.

At first glance, Singapore appears shockingly modern and anonymous, but this is an undeniably Asian city where Chinese, Malay and Indian traditions from feng shui to ancestor worship create part of the everyday landscape - colourful contrasts that bring the city to life.

China Guilin

China is a cultural region, ancient civilization, and nation in East Asia. It is one of the world's oldest civilizations, consisting of states and cultures dating back more than six millennia. The stalemate of the last Chinese Civil War has resulted in two political entities using the name China: the People's Republic of China (PRC), administering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau; and the Republic of China (ROC), administering Taiwan and its surrounding islands.

China is one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations. It has the world's longest continuously used written language system, and the source of some of the world's great inventions, including the Four Great Inventions of ancient China: paper, the compass, gunpowder, and printing.

Guilin is an ancient city on the shore of the mesmerizing Lijiang River in northeastern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The serene mountains, sparkling waters, and exotic rocks typical of karst landmasses in the Lijiang River basin have inspired the saying, "The landscape of Guilin is unmatched under Heaven." Guilin was originally a vast expanse of sea until about one hundred and ninety million years ago, when, owing to the movement of the earth crust, the whole area rose and became land. The limestone bedrock, weathered and eroded by water, became today's fantastic stone forests, peaks, underground streams and caves, thus adding truly unique features to Guilin's already beautiful scenery.

Malaysia My Home

To know Malaysia is to love Malaysia

Malaysia is a federation of thirteen states in Southeast Asia. The country consists of two geographical regions divided by the South China Sea: Peninsular Malaysia (or West Malaysia) on the Malay Peninsula shares a land border on the north with Thailand and is connected by the Johor-Singapore Causeway and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link to the south with Singapore. It consists of nine sultanates (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu), two states headed by governors (Malacca and Penang), and two federal territories (Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur). Malaysian Borneo (or East Malaysia) occupies the northern part of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and surrounding the Sultanate of Brunei. It consists of the states of Sabah and Sarawak and the federal territory of Labuan. The name "Malaysia" was adopted in 1963 when the Federation of Malaya (Malay: Persekutuan Tanah Melayu), Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak formed a 14-state federation.[4] Singapore was expelled from the federation in 1965 and subsequently became an independent country.

Although politically dominated by the Malays, modern Malaysian society is heterogeneous, with substantial Chinese and Indian minorities. Malaysian politics have been noted for their allegedly communal nature; the three major component parties of the Barisan Nasional each restrict membership to those of one ethnic group. However, the only major intercommunal violence the country has seen since independence was the May 13 racial riots of 1969 that occurred in the wake of an election campaign that was dominated by racial issues.

Multiculturalism has not only made Malaysia a gastronomical paradise, it has also made Malaysia home to hundreds of colourful festivals. It's no wonder that we love celebrating and socialising. As a people, Malaysians are very laid back, warm and friendly.

Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia, is one of the polished diamonds of new millennium Southeast Asia. A frenetic kaleidoscopic city in seeming perpetual motion, the sheer energy of the place will captivate you before you even venture out onto the streets.

Help others

Take someone under your wing. Give that someone extra help or guidance. Step in and rescue them from a potential disaster. Act as their mentor, guiding them. You'll feel good if you give of your talents and wisdom.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Bugatti Veyron Hermes edition


If the regular Bugatti Veyron isn't striking enough for you, how about forking another $1 million over for the Hermes edition?

Focus Pocus~goal-setting is important

What are your goals in life? Perhaps you should spend some time to write them down this week. After all it's the weekend.

People can have the dreamiest expectations in the world. Why dreamiest? Because they do not have the faintest notion of the first step to take that's in the right direction towards attaining those expectations!

Cultivate an easygoing attitude. This will allow us a clear mind to think of the things we want in better perspective and make it pretty easy for us to dance around the edges of any difficulties. Zenwise avoid all matters that raises our fears and provokes conflict. Choose your battles carefully and remember that being right doesn't necessarily mean we will emerge as the winner.

Most important focus on building your wealth, "Most people recognize that poverty is a problem, but when they learn about what a real person actually experiences, it runs deeper". Wealth is in so many forms and need not be dollars and cents only. Wealth in knowledge is a good example.

iPod nanos

By now you've heard the news that Apple has released their new iPod nanos for 2008 and they've added some fairly impressive and fun features.

The new nanos now have a "shake" feature (first seen in the Sandisk Sansa Shaker) which randomly chooses a new song each time you shake your nano. The displays are improved sporting a 2 inch widescreen with 320x240 resolution at 204 pixels, and there are two models to choose from: 8GB or 16GB. Spoken menus allow you to hear the name of the menu, song title, and artists without viewing the screen which means you can operate your nano without ever having to look at the screen. In ear headphones with microphone (sold seperately) will enable voice recording, and the new nano has a rounded case which (we assume) will make it easier to hold in the hand.

Bends and Turns

My life is an endless series of bends and turns, some positive by far and a few not to my liking. Here I am this time this year looking around for a nice location to move, discussing with my significant other on our future vacation plans, massaging my smart-alecky lackadaisical peers and part-time employer to move along and get out of the rut--all which requires me to spend a lot of time. Luckily, its the weekend...Yahoo!

Zune 80GB


With Wal-mart dropping the Zune 80GB from their inventory and rumors of a 120GB Zune being just around the corner, some opportunistic sellers on Amazon have decided to jack up their prices for their remaining 80GB Zune players.

Take it easy

Take it easy -- slow down a bit and make sure that you're not just rushing into new activities without checking them out first. Make hay while the sun shines but always be -- cautious.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Save Money

This is probably the biggest worry for the average person living here on Earth. Recession is more likely, and bringing with it a heightened job insecurity. So, start saving. If you can't cover at least three months of expenses should you become ill or lose your job, go on an austerity plan. A hoard of cash is the best assurance in this financial storm.

Credit cards at this time of a global finacial turmoil?

Note: Banks will be looking to increase profits by issuing more credit to people with good records, but it won't be cheap and penalties and fees may increase. Be extra careful now NOT to run up costly credit card debt. It is harder to pay down in a weaker economy.

Housing Value

As long as you can still afford to pay your loans and don't plan to move in the next two years, you don't have to worry about a thing. Yup that's the most time we should give the current global financial crisis to ride out.

The current crisis may mean pricey neighborhoods populated by finance types slip in value. And the weakening economy will keep pressure on housing prices across the country. But rates will fall and that should stabilize housing values.

Richest People in America

This year (2008) the 20 richest tycoons on The Forbes 400 could buy the bottom 239. That's the last 239 rich people featured on The Forbes 400.

Between their software, stores, casinos and fuel, chances are you are spending your hard earned money and lining their pockets every day.

The rich haven't gotten richer--or poorer--this year. The price of admission to this, the 27th edition of The Forbes 400, is $1.3 billion for the second year in a row. The assembled net worth of America's wealthiest rose by $30 billion--only 2%--to $1.57 trillion.

Christina Applegate


Birth Place: Hollywood, California, USA
Birth Date: November 25, 1971

Christina Applegate was born on November 25, 1971 in Hollywood, California. Christina quit school at age 17 to pursue her acting career.

60th Emmy Awards

Celebrating 60 years of outstanding Television production, this year's Emmy Awards is set to air September 21st.

Housekeeping your life

Experiment a little bit with the new stuff and people in your life. There's got to be at least one or more things out of place and that doesn't feel right. Once that's settled, you should find life to be much more pleasant.

Land of potholes Malaysia

Malaysia may be among the Top 3 in Asia with the best laid roads but even then it still has an extreme case of potty problems. It can be said that you can travel anywhere here and still come across roads with uneven surfaces, speed bumps of varying heights, and of course the topic of this blog - the Pothole. A pothole is a type of disruption in the surface of a roadway where a portion of the road material has broken away, leaving a hole.

Once a pothole forms, it grows through continued removal of broken chunks of pavement. If a pothole fills with water the growth may be accelerated, as the water 'washes away' loose particles of road surface as vehicles pass. In Malaysia, potholes tend to form any time of the year when the subgrade (base layer of the tarred road) is poor due to the soil condition and worksmanship.

Potholes can grow to feet in width, though they usually only become a few inches deep, at most. If they become large enough, damage to tires and vehicle suspensions can occur. That is also why repair & service workshops here can expect a healthy flow of income.

Take for example Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur city in Malaysia, you can expect an uneventful ride that is hammered with potholes, service access manholes, and uneven levels, giving you an endless however you drive bumpy ride. Imagine this...and right in the heart of the nation's pride and joy and with the Kuala Lumpur City Centre district as a landmark as well.

It seems that nowadays, we don't just have to avoid road-fiends on motorcycles but have to swerve to avoid such "potty"-ness.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Destination Hong Kong

A decade after England ceded Hong Kong to China the former British colony remains a center of world commerce even with its new identity as a SAR (Special Administrative Region).

Day and night the city is a beehive of activity. The action here is energetic and ceaseless. Cranes haul their loads above sprouting skyscrapers encased in rickety webs of bamboo scaffolding. Dense but orderly crowds shuffle on and off the sleek metro trains. The Star Ferry service shuttles back and forth across Victoria Harbour, the pungent stretch of water that separates Hong Kong Island from Kowloon. Narrow alleys lined with shops and food stalls are a round-the clock melee of exotic noise, color and smells.

I love Hong Kong Kowloon Wanchai Temple Street

Malaysians on the road IDIOT

The ugly side of Malaysians shows itself daily. When? On the road of course. Nowadays, there are so much (not the word "many" because I have lost count) inconsiderate people on the road. As we commute to & from place to place, we will at many times come across the Inconsiderate Desperado Imbecile Of Traffic (IDIOT).

These are the ones who weave in and out of traffic, jump queue, jump queue and cause a jam on the other lane before they cut in, brake abruptly, hog the lane, double-park just to avoid parking and walking, beat the traffic lights, cog up the junctions, scrape across your car, speed and flash their lights, show hand-signs and use expletives, park in 2 parking bays instead of 1, park at road bends, and et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Sometimes, I do thank them for their efforts - it does take all kinds of people. Why? Well just today I noticed that if the IDIOTS did not jump queue by driving to the right on the opposite direction lane to speed to the T-junction in front, I may have had to wait a while longer in queue for the cars in front of me to move into the junction in front. How? Well, their actions actually caused the traffic coming from the right to slow down and stop thus allowing us that were in the correct lane to move in. Kudos, but still wrong no matter how we see it.

Malaysian culture

What's up with it anyway? Its fair enough that we are moving with times and assimilating a lot of foreign elements to our culture but to the extent of being a Malaysian-ized version, o' puh...leeeze.

My latest encounter was a Malaysian youth decked out in baggy pants, baseball cap and Tee. He was also wearing some costume jewelry around his neck which looked something like a cross and arrow and in the middle of the kampung area near Tmn Sinar.

I think that as we putt along our lives towards to the future we should pick up good values and maintain and safeguard our culture at the same time. It would be a real shame to see us totally 'foreign' in the future with no inkling of who we are and where we are from. Please dont' let this be a case of monkey see monkey do.

Full Moon

Full moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. More precisely, a full moon occurs when the geocentric apparent longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180 degrees; the Moon is then in opposition with the Sun.

Only during a full moon is the opposite hemisphere of the Moon, which is not visible from Earth far side, completely un-illuminated. As a lunar month is about 29.531 days long, the full moon falls on either the 14th or 15th of the lunar month in those calendars that start the month on the new moon. In any event, the period between full moons can be either 29 or 30 days.

I'm a Pieces

Pisces, Born February 20 - March 20

My sign's element is Water. Heck, that means I should be swimming in "water" (the aka for wealth for the Chinese). Pisces is ruled by the planet Neptune.

According to my sign, I'm emotional, ultra-sensitive, easy going, self sacrificing, sympathetic, understanding, and sociable (available). A Piscean can also be an excellent host or hostess. We find it hard to make decisions because we see all sides to the question. Worry plagues us and defeats us. We are also merciful, obliging, charitable, artistic, with a good sense of color. We will see only the good in others.

I can be so lazy, self centered, pulled in two directions, a procrastinator, and a day dreamer. A Piscean has "weird" experiences, and is often confused. What more can I say?

Be Determined

Determination pushes us to complete what we start. Although we may at times be tempted to procrastinate and dream, we must drill ourselves to keep our feet on the ground. Nothing is permanent except Change.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Trengganu ~ east coast sandy beaches...

I remember when I used to work in a major departmental store. It was my first full-time job. The money was good (at that time), work was interesting, and the ladies overwhelming. My immediate superior and my newly acquainted godbrother (the Chinese always seem to have this passion for adoption, I myself have had countless god-brothers, sisters, and even daughters, although the female variety outnumber the males 5 to 1), were both gay and living together as partners.

During a trip to the hometown of my immediate superior in Trengganu, we stayed the night at his mom's. The night went past peacefully enough although I was pestered by the endless wave of mosquitoes and restless due to sleeping with my back to the wall (I thought it safer at that time).

In the morning after that fitful night, I woke to the sounds of the cockerel screeching his morning how-do-you-do. We had come in a group of 6. All 6 of us got about our morning rituals of you-know-whats and dressed for the beach. Breakfast was topmost on our minds as we walked our way to the market which had the most incredible low priced all-fish variety of breakfast goodies that one can find in the then Malaysia. Fair to say, I ate to my heart'c content as everything was fresh and tasty (and cheap).

At the beach, we got down to what we boys must do. We splashed around the sea front like girls and took potshots at each other with the beautiful pristine sand that was the beach. The more colorful of our group were wearing G-Strings and this was the first time I had ever seen one. We all started to sand rub each other. Exfoliation of the dead skin cells was the call of the day.

Oh, did I fail to mention this? We also had a weird encounter with a group of local Malay babes who while looking religious with their tudungs and all, showed us lewd hand-signs while passing us playing on the beach. Really weird and quite refreshing I say.

Well we played to our heart's content and watched the sun set over the sea horizon. Beautiful. Priceless.

At night it was time to go, and we all packed and took the long-haul bus (non) express back to good old Kuala Lumpur. Bodies aching from the intense sunburns, muscles aching from beachplay, and happiness glowing inside out from the experience.

To confuse or to inform

When you aim not to inform, you are aiming to confuse.

Hey your keyboard needs some TLC

Do you know that your computer keyboard and you both share an important relationship? Yes that's true. Your computer keyboard is your input tool to your computer and its programs. It on the other hand cannot function at all without you.

So to those who bang away mercilessly at their computer keyboards, I would advise you to treat it with more tender loving care. Its not a typewriter after all and doesn't require much brute strength to use. Tap gently and you will see it performing well beyond its manufacturer's stated lifespan. Happy typing...

Greater peace at work

You might sometimes need to patch things up with your fellow co-workers. Believe me, I should know after so many years in the corporate scene.

This person may be that someone at work who tends to get under your skin. You may have also been at loggerheads with them for a long time and the both of you have been too stubborn to give in.

Try a different approach and tackle the matter in a more enlightened way. Your goal is to create greater peace in your work setting. This way, both of you can feel more comfortable and work better.

iPod Touch


Boy 'o boy the new, ultrathin iPod touch was born to play. Tilt, tap, shake, and swipe your way through stunning 3D games and applications designed for iPod touch. Enjoy videos on the crisp 3.5-inch widescreen display. Use the Genius feature to create a playlist of songs that go great together. Surf the web and send email from any Wi-Fi hotspot. I wish I can get my hands on one of these babies and it just retails at around US$229 only.

Keeping your hard earned money safe

In the wake of global financial uncertainty:

1. Open and keep your bank accounts in a Bank that has deposit insurance

2. Open and keep your shares accounts with a broker that is insured

3. Don't spend money unnecessarily. Be prudent.

4. Have an option to mortgage your assets like your home or any other ready cash venues so that you can withdraw the credit whenever in dire need.

5. Change your existing loans to ones that benefit you more in terms of lower interest rates.

6. Cut your losses while you still can before incurring further losses.

7. Keep calm. All is not lost. Be level-headed and weigh your options.

8. Look ahead. Do not take high risk options. Prefer and prepare to invest long term.

9. For long term investment consider shares in reputable listed companies.

10. Don't pay more tax than necessary. Have an experienced accountant go through your accounts to minimize your liabilities.

Maria Ozawa


Birthday: 1986-01-08
Blood Type: A
Height: 162cm
Body Measurements: Bust: 88cm Waist: 58cm Hips 86cm
Hometown: Hokkaido
Hobbies: Guitar
Personality:
Debut: 2005
Comments: Father is French Canadian, Mother is Japanese. Starred in 2006 AVOpen Awards winning video.

All I want to do is to make love to you

Thank you for being a part of my life:

Wherever you go I shall find you: Kuantan, Pudu, PJ,... My sweet beautiful innocence. Our first and last - night on the beach, pop concert together,... You taught me to say thank you to the toll operators along our highway of love and I shall always always cherish you.

Give it to me baby: We met at a work event. Our first "date" was at at Italian restaurant served by Bosnians in Damansara. You rocked my world and gave in so much to me. I only wished that I could have given you back what you needed most. You taught me to enjoy life as it is and....Pool. Our homeaway excursions were memorable if not exciting.

Froggie: You are the better half of me that I lost. Your attentiveness, thoughtfulness, and care seconds none. We had Tequila, Wine, good food, great travel, and when you left a part of me left with you.

Bao-bei: The past is over and we have today and tomorrow to last us a lifetime. With you I wake and with you I lay down. We shall always remain together forever and ever in mind, soul, and body.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Monday, September 15, 2008

What's your purpose in life?

And, the answer is...

Living your Life with a Purpose

Spread the love

Give someone and yourself a gift everyday -- it does not need to be something extremely valuable. Perhaps the gift of a smile or a kind word or even an act of appreciation. Doing things for others in the truest sense will make your life really sparkle!

Make sure you spread the love around a bit, and don't worry, as love is infinite in power and by the way you've got more than enough of it to spare.

Dare to imagine

The imagination allows us to dream in order to offset the realities of the world. The diffusive process of surrendering into our fantasies can awaken our creative spirit, which we can use to keep our common sense in check and seek answers to our problems in the real world. Why else would you hear people say, "I'll sleep over it" or something to that effect.

Fan Bing-Bing


Fan Bingbing (Chinese: 范冰冰; Pinyin: Fàn Bīngbīng; born 16 September 1981) is a popular Chinese actress. She was born in Qingdao, Shandong, China and graduated from Xie Jin's Star School and Shanghai Theater Academy. Her films include Twins Effect II.

Fan rose to stardom when she played Jin Suo, a fragile maid character, in the popular TV sitcom Huan Zhu Ge Ge and its sequel Huan Zhu Ge Ge 2 in 1998.