Thursday 26 February 2009

Fish with transparent head.

This is interesting and very educational......
Since 1939, scientists have thought the "barreleye" fish Macropinna microstoma had "tunnel vision" due to eye that were fixed in place.
Now though, Monterey Bay Aquarium researchers show that the fish actually has a transparent head and the eyes rotate around inside of it.

From the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute: (Bruce) Robison and (Kim) Reisenbichler used video from MBARI's remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to study barreleyes in the deep waters just offshore of Central California. At depths of 600 to 800 meters (2,000 to 2,600 feet) below the surface, the ROV cameras typically showed these fish hanging motionless in the water, their eyes glowing a vivid green in the ROV's bright lights.

The ROV video also revealed a previously undescribed feature of these fish--its eyes are surrounded by a transparent, fluid-filled shield that covers the top of the fish's head. Most existing descriptions and illustrations of this fish do not show its fluid-filled shield, probably because this fragile structure was destroyed when the fish were brought up from the deep in nets.

However, Robison and Reisenbichler were extremely fortunate--they were able to bring a net-caught barreleye to the surface alive, where it survived for several hours in a ship-board aquarium. Within this controlled environment, the researchers were able to confirm what they had seen in the ROV video--the fish rotated its tubular eyes as it turned its body from a horizontal to a vertical position.

Wednesday 18 February 2009

Abdullah Led The Country Peacefully

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) has recorded its appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for his success in leading the country peacefully.BNBBC deputy chairman Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) said despite facing various challenges and obstacles, Abdullah was still able to tackle the various issues that cropped up from time to time.

"To me, we are losing a magnanimous leader who wants to see his country achieve greater heights," he said when debating the Royal address by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Dewan Rakyat, here on Wednesday.
Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, when opening the first meeting of the second term of the 12th Parliament on Monday, had recorded his appreciation to Abdullah for his contributions especially in issues on democratisation, accountability, integrity, fighting corruption, empowering the judiciary and the Islam Hadhari (Civilisational Islam) approach.

Abdullah will step down as Umno president in March and subsequently hand over the post of prime minister to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.Bung Moktar said the transition of power meant that the people were placing great hope on the new leader to take the country to a higher plane.

He said the future prime minister should not feel afraid or doubtful as he would get solid support from members of the BNBBC."I and my colleagues in the BNBBC will continue to give solid support to whatever measures taken to ensure that the people and country continued to enjoy stability, peace and prosperity," he said.Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS-Marang), who is the PAS president, proposed that the power transition from Abdullah to Najib be postponed as he said Abdullah had to implement all his agenda which had yet to be completed-- BERNAMA

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HUH?.....
UNBELIEVEABLE HOW PEOPLE CAN'T BE HONEST AT ALL.

Tuesday 17 February 2009

She must quit all posts, says Khir

SHAH ALAM: "She must resign from all her positions and also as an elected representative. There are no two ways about it."

That was former menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's take on the Elizabeth Wong issue.He said this was a moral issue and it was no different from the cases involving former minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and the Perak Tengah district councillor Zul Hassan.

He said when Dr Chua's video clip was made public, Pakatan Rakyat leaders urged him to quit while Zul Hassan was sacked after he admitted to having sex in a bribery report lodged with the Perak Religious Department.Dr Khir told the New Straits Times that there should not be any double standard and her resignation would help clear Parti Keadilan Rakyat's name.

"Otherwise, it will be seen as a party with no moral values." He said he disagreed with those who suggested that it was a private matter as Wong had allowed someone into her room. "She is a single person. How can she allow a man into her room when they are not married? What's the status of their relationship?"

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Let me tell you people who doesn't know who is the guy.
Well as stated he is the former menteri besar.
He, himself got loads of scandals involving lands and awarding businesses to family members during his tenure.

The land issues in Selangor was during his office and it caused major land clearing without authorisation. Rationally, would any company dare to clear government's land without getting any approval if the 'unstated approvals' was given by the biggest man in the municipal during that time.

Now he came with one stupid statement that this poor lady should resign.
In the first place, this woman is a Chinese. The syariah law in Malaysia only applicable to the Muslims.
For example; if one malay man found in close proximity with a woman of another religion, the man would be taken to syariah court and pay fine for his fault. But not the woman, she will be let off scot free.

Why on earth is he questioning the status of this lady. There are a lot of single man and woman that have intimate relationships with their partners. Even more among the married male.
It is her own prerogative.
And if i can ask this guy, i just want to know whether is it wrong to be single at that age, or is it just he is the typical Malay MCP (male chauvinist pig) that, woman, once reaching puberty should be married.

Does he really thinks that his sons or daughters would practice abstinence?
Gosh, in this current world right now; you are just lucky if your daughter doesn't come home with baby in her stomach!

This guy, and loads of other politicians of his likes might have done more wrong thing and one of them is like sleeping with their mistresses (well known facts) or high class Russians call girls, but they are lucky they're not caught unlike Chua Soi Lek. He is unlucky because of political rivals. Same goes to this woman.
And we women don't take photos of our butt naked boyfriends or husbands, would we?

I mean, this guy is just a nutcase.
I really think he just came out with this stupid statement just to get into the limelight again.
Too bad you MCP.....

Sour grapes.


Assemblywoman and boyfriend broke up recently and he has moved abroad.


KUALA LUMPUR: Was it the work of a spurned lover?
This is one of the leads in the investigation into the "kiss and tell" episode involving PKR Bukit Lanjan state assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong (right) which surfaced on Sunday.

Photographs of Wong, who is also Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment executive councillor, are being circulated and those with knowledge of the incident are pointing fingers at her former lover. The two allegedly broke up recently and he was said to have moved to another country.

Wong has refused to speculate, although several reports quoted her as saying that it was her in the photographs and that the pictures were taken in her bedroom.
Wong, who lodged a police report after being told of the photographs, apparently taken with a camera phone, called the entire episode an "intrusion of privacy".
Photographs made available to the New Straits Times showed Wong asleep with her glasses on and another of her in bed with her eyes closed. She was partially covered with a sarung.
The incident sparked an outcry from politicians from both sides of the political divide with most alleging that it was a clear-cut case of "intrusion of Wong's privacy".
Selangor opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, however, contended that Wong must resign from all her positions.
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the state executive council meeting on Wednesday would discuss the incident.
"I am waiting for the police report. We will be discussing this incident at the state exco meeting on Wednesday," he said at the Parliament lobby yesterday after attending the opening of the new Parliament session in his capacity as the Bandar Tun Razak MP.
"I think it would be unfair to make any decision at this time without proper information as it could be misconstrued as someone trying to frame the victim.
"The best we can do is to urge the police to investigate the matter properly," he said.
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Never wrong.
Malaysia political scenarios is really good. Now the people are offered with this yet another juicy story.
And after reading about sour grapes that emerged out of relationships-gone-wrong sectors, i wonder whether does she really know this guy well before 'inviting' him to her bedroom?
So, should we blame the poor woman for her carelessness?
Or blame the guy for being such a dork and sour grapes?
Or perhaps blame the only thing that cannot answer us back but can gives us pictorial details?
And perhaps, the only thing one can blame is the technology itself?
We just cannot trust no one anymore.

Hmmm.....

PM Wants MPs To Suggest Measures To Tackle Economic Woes.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has asked all members of parliament to come up with appropriate recommendations to tackle the economic slowdown when debating the motion of thanks on the address of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin starting tomorrow.

Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) information chief Ahmad Maslan said the prime minister told members of parliament that their recommendations could be included in the mini budget to be tabled by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on March 10.

"The prime minister stressed that we need to give emphasis on the economy as the world is facing a slowdown."He wants us to share our views and experience in our respective areas in tackling the economic problem," he told reporters after attending a briefing session with the prime minister Monday.The second session of the 12th parliament was opened by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today.-- BERNAMA

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I read this with so much amusement.

"He wants us to share our views and experience in our respective areas in tackling the economic problem"

I wonder does he really need that.
I mean like most of the people who are in the 'know' knew that he received direct instruction from the Level 4 chaps besides his son in law, but could this also be his gimmick in portraying that he does listens to his subordinates.

Then again, on the other hand, wasn't he paid to be the Prime Minister, the person that should be doing most of the thinking whatnot?
Or perhaps he couldn't care less because he just could not care less?

Saturday 14 February 2009

Sprituality

I have been 'away'.
I have been preoccupied with certain thought and feelings.
It has been enveloping me for this past weeks.

I tried to rectify the matters but i know it must have been the aftermath of reading one spirituality book.

I am trying to relate things in my life; my past to my current one.
And i must agree that something that happened and is happening to us in our life are related to something that we know the reasons why, or might not know, realised or will not even know about it at all.

I have been into this kind of thought off and on.
I must say that it is in me and perhaps most people too.
It is unlike telepathy. It is just much deeper and endless, but it gave you sort of fulfillment and the feeling of peacefulness.
This is what that was thought in Islam, in one of the deep study. It is mentioned that one must know himself first, than he would know his creator.
It is getting in touch with ourselves.

It is mentioned that even what we ate, what we do and what ever it is spinning and coming back to us does in fact have its own reasons.
Just like why we were born and alive on this earth now today. Things just didn't happen without a reason and finding the reasons is the way to find our inner self. This is what we deal with when come to crossroads one point of time in our life.

Hence to take notice of all these feeling and thought, we have to be connected to our spiritual instinct. The senses that God had gave us all. Either we use it, rely on it or ignore it completely.
My other word would be God's given advantages to us human being. The sixth sense some all it. The hunch and what ever term they have.
Nevertheless, animal do have their own instinct too, but not spiritual I'm sure.
We will be running mad with questions should we stumbled upon our pet cat saying prayers wouldn't we.....

But this instinct is the one that help us moves on to our life no matter what may happen to us. It will help us break free from any sort of disgruntled emotions, help us pick up the pieces and start walking back in the right path, and the one that will be the utmost assistance in helping us not to cracked and breakdown.

Come to think about it, those who cannot reached to this spiritual emotions in their own self are those that you will find in asylum, walking endlessly by the roadside talking and laughing to themselves and this includes murderers and rapists.



To be spiritual is to live a life and be in touch and connected to our inner self.
Our inner sense, thus we will become aware of our surrounding and of the life that we're in now no matter where we are right at that moment.

The other thing about touching your inner self is you will be more alert and fast and deeper in thinking. Mind you, it also help in combatting bad temper in my case!

Friday 6 February 2009

Just another joker.....(in Malaysia's political circus)

Nizar Not First To Refuse To Quit.
By Alan Ting

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is not the first menteri besar or chief minister who refused to step down after no longer able to command the confidence of the House under certain circumstances. (Tell who would want to let go of power and money?....unless he carry with him some self respect and dignity)

In Malaysia's political history, there was a menteri besar and a chief minister who had refused to do so previously.First was Stephen Kalong Ningkan who served as the first chief minister of Sarawak between July 1963 and September 1966.Ningkan is probably best known for triggering the first constitutional crisis in the country when he refused to vacate his office after being dismissed by the Yang Dipertua Negeri or Sarawak Governor at that time.

As leader of the state legislature, he was said to have ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the council and the governor proceeded to appoint a new chief minister.

Ningkan's refusal to vacate his office, resulted in a constitutional impasse that he was perceived to threaten the fragile unity of Malaysia, barely three years after its formation on Sept 16, 1963.On Sept 14, 1966, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong proclaimed a state of emergency in Sarawak on the basis that its security was threatened by the constitutional crisis.Ningkan appealed against his dismissal all the way to the Privy Council in London, Malaysia's then final appellate court, but lost his appeal for a declaration that he was still chief minister of Sarawak. (There you go...these sort of jokers will fight their might and even can bring the matter up to international court hoping to get some back-up form the mat sallehs....gosh...power and money surely can stripped a man off their everything)

Another case involved the then-Kelantan menteri besar, Mohamed Nasir, in 1977, who had ignored efforts to remove him from office for defying party instructions.He was removed from office after demonstrations that degenerated to violence and looting, prompting the Federal Government, at the behest of the King, to declare emergency rule in the state.(And because of their greediness; although they won't admit it, people have to go through hassle to kick them out of their office!)

Today, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah ordered Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his state executive councillors to step down with immediate effect, failing which the posts are considered vacant.
The Office of the Sultan of Perak issued a statement after His Majesty met all the 28 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen and the three independents that the Sultan was convinced that Mohammad Nizar had ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the state assembly members.-- BERNAMA

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To readers who are not well informed about current political scenario in Malaysia, or may i just say political scenario after Dr Mahathir, our beloved laser mouth, cynical former Prime Minister 'gave' office to Abdullah Badawi; the political arena in this country would put the Cirque du Soleil to shame.

There had been almost everything.
From scandals, to murders and whatever you might think of. They have it in Malaysia.
I assume the people of Malaysia would have gotten over the loathful feeling hearing all sort of stories told and untold (told by newspaper and blogs and untold by word of mouth and again, blogs) to being rather ticklish to the act and stories Malaysian politician will come out with.

It is so horribly amusing and fun and I am pretty sure the Malaysian people would take this as their comfort during this economic turmoil.

The Parliament has become a playing ground for all these jokers, and when they had enough of playing there, they would create some interesting " i know what you did" and "i will tell what you did" just to brighten up the scene.

Their current play right now is the "Lompat Katak" translated to English "Froggy Jump" or " Jump of the Frogs" whichever you deem suitable.

The actors are the ADUNs also known as KATAKs (Katak is frog in English)

Wednesday 4 February 2009

Leukemia

Two days ago I had been told of a bad news that one of the family here have had their daughter diagnosed having acute leukemia.

It was a shock even to receive news much ealier mentioning that she was hospitalised after going there for a check-up for having feeling lethargy and very pale palms, when the hospital decided to hold her back and the thorough check-up revealed that she is suspected having anemia.

I visited her in the hospital later on that day. She looked rather jovial, face and lips pinkish after having two pints of bloods in her body. And despite that they just 'drilled' her back bone earlier to get some liquid from her bone marrow, she still have time to smile and talk to visitors.
I guess the dear family must have been quite relieve when the doctor said that it was probably anemia.
Nevertheless the following day report was the devastating day for all of them.

It took me by surprise.
She is only 18 years old.
She had been the 'leader' of the kids here in this small community and was the energetic and vibrant type unlike some other girls. She is never the restless typical girlish type; the type of girl that I would prefer.

I was told a while ago that she refuses to accept that she is having an acute leukemia and I think no one in her shoes would want to accept it just as the matter of fact like that. Without having any symptom whatsoever except complaining of having feeling lethargic and weak, they thought it was just normal body changes.

I must admit that I would react the same if told of this kind of news when all I'm feeling is just normal lethargy.

I wish her well and hope she and the family would be given strenght by God to go through this difficult situations.
It is devastsating.
It is killing and it is a timed life already for her now.
But I would hope she will understand that we will pass on later. We will leave behind all our loved ones and price possessions.

I wish i could tell her that this is the start of her new beginning.
I hope she will brave through this ordeal and have all the mental and emotional strenght.

As always, when come to this kind of situation, it is another wake up call for us to be cautious in our lifestyle, which includes the diet that we have everyday, the supplements that helps fill in those invisible holes in our nutrition compartment, and never take things and people for granted.

You might not know when would be the last you going to spend time with them.

Some information on leukemia can be found here: http://www.medicinenet.com/leukemia/article.htm.

Sunday 1 February 2009

Save earth.

Stop plastic bag usage.

It was my spring cleaning day.
So i decided to start off with the laundry cum store room and the kitchen cabinet.

I cant believe how many pieces of paper and plastic bags accumulated from various shopping trips i had. All type of sizes; from small, to medium, to big and to extra extra big.

Like most people I have been reusing the hypermarket grocery plastic bags for my kitchen waste, bathroom and other trash can liners up to the extend to storing dirty cloth diapers when we were out of the house.

I still remember those time when i was still in my primary years, following my mother to the neighbourhood sundry shop. As far as i can remember she would usually carry home simple brown paper bag home instead of plastic bag. Unlike now, i could not recall when actually the era of the brown bag being taken over by plastic.

I love shopping and even love it more if given paper bag instead of the plastic one.

In fact while I was back in my home country I have had this discussion on trying to promote the usage of paper bags with the help of the local ministry. Nevertheless, due to lack of studies and not enough details together with being occupied with on-going businesses, the idea was just an idea.

It is my dream to want to see paper bag being use widely. I would also want to experience being treated like ordinary person when i bring my own cloth bag while shopping for grocery and not attract strange looks from the others.

Of course we have to be realistic. Totally eliminating the usage of plastic bags are ridiculous. Consumer products in this decade uses more plastic than other material. Name it and most of it will be wrapped in that substance.

We still need it to put away our daily rubbish. We can't be using paper bag to do so. The key word is moderation.

Plastic as we all know are made of oil. It is non-biodegradable and will take 1,000 years to break down in a landfill. Our favourite fizzy drink can of cola or juices in aluminium can would need more or less 100 years to biodegrade.While plastic milk cartons will break down in 5 years.

But paper will only require 2-5 months to biodegrade.

The effort in banning plastic bags have been quite evident in countries such as US and Australia while the United Kingdom is taking effort in cutting the usage of plastic bags by 25%. The time has come for us to start changing our way of life i.e.; the usage of plastic bags and being too dependable on them.

Besides saving the world in the long run, which many of us, including me who initially don't care much what will happen in 100 years from now, the reasons why we need to eliminate the plastic bag is purely because it come from oil. Oil is the main substance of plastic bag thus increasing CO2 emissions. Which will later have an affect to the greenhouse gases that are vital in helping determine the temperature of the Earth.


Without it the world that we are living now would likely be so cold to the extend unable to be lived on. Although many factors such as the sun and the water cycle are responsible for the Earth's weather and energy balance, if all else was held equal and stable the planet's average temperature should be considerably lower without greenhouse gases.
(The gases function in an atmosphere is to absorb and emit radiation within the
thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect.)

Many of us might not be aware that plastic bags also causes unnecessary costs that we have to pay. It is not safe for infant or children if they play with it, it kills wild life and even can kill sea living creatures if they got entangled with discarded plastic bags.

The most interesting effort in eliminating the usage of plastic bags was one moves by Whole Foods in the US when they announce plans to stop offering disposable, plastic grocery bags in all 270 stores in the USA, Canada and United Kingdom from April last year (to commemorate the Earth-day) until end of 2008.

According to the company's spokesperson during that stop-plastic-bag day; roughly 100 million plastic bags will be kept out of the environment.
They offered several options: free paper bags in four sizes made from 100% recycled paper, reusable bags 80% made from recycled plastic bottles for 99 cents and canvas bags selling for $6.99 to $35.
They also encourage consumers to bring their own bags by taking 5 cents to 10 cents off the bill for each.


I wonder when will we start here.....