Saturday 27 June 2009

Prentenders and Liars

A liar begins with making falsehood appear like truth, and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood.
William Shenstone

A liar is always lavish of oaths.
Pierre Corneille

A liar should have a good memory.
Quintilian

A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth.
Aesop

A man is never more truthful than when he acknowledges himself a liar.
Mark Twain

A man of such obvious and exemplary charm must be a liar.
Anita Brookner

Above all, I would teach him to tell the truth Truth-telling, I have found, is the key to responsible citizenship. The thousands of criminals I have seen in 40 years of law enforcement have had one thing in common: Every single one was a liar.
J. Edgar Hoover

Anybody who claims to read the entire paper every day is either the world's fastest reader or the world's biggest liar.
Arthur Ochs Sulzberger

Anybody who says they are a good liar obviously is not, because any legitimately savvy liar would always insist they're honest about everything.
Chuck Klosterman

Anyone who said he wasn't afraid during the civil rights movement was either a liar or without imagination. I was scared all the time. My hands didn't shake but inside I was shaking.
James L. Farmer, Jr.

Anyone who says they're not afraid at the time of a hurricane is either a fool or a liar, or a little bit of both.
Anderson Cooper

Do not consider it proof just because it is written in books, for a liar who will deceive with his tongue will not hesitate to do the same with his pen.
Maimonides

He never admitted anything, even on his deathbed. He was a deluded liar. If it weren't for my father, I don't think I would be so open. So that's a huge blessing.
Anne Heche

Hope is the only universal liar who never loses his reputation for veracity.
Robert Green Ingersoll

I am such a bad liar. I would like to lie, though.
Natalie Imbruglia

I am what I am and I'm a horrible liar. I can't do it. I'm just very candid.
Pamela Anderson

I believe I am a person with unusual talents. I think I'd be a liar or stupid if I were to deny that.
Joshua Lederberg

I knew when I grew up, I always wanted to be a liar, and if you're in television, you're lying because you're just pretending to be yourself much like I'm doing now.
John Ritter

I think Ralph Nader is the biggest liar in American politics when he said it didn't matter who was president.
James Carville

I was a good liar as a child.
Gillian Anderson

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I got a friend who marry an actress cum model.
Before even completing the 12th month of their matrimony, they were divorced and I jokingly asked him who got to keep my wedding present. After all, the whole situation was made known publicly in the newspaper.
But his telling me man or woman should never marry an actress or an actor, because they can really act really made me laugh and thinking about the future of all unmarried actresses and actors....hahahaha...

Hmmmm.....but what happened to those who aren't but can also act and pretend their best even their own husbands can be fooled by their pretensions?.....

Friday 26 June 2009

Michael Jackson, Pop Icon, Is Dead at 50


Ashes to ashes, dust to dust....
The only thing that people will leave behind is their fame and fortune.

The passing of Michael Jackson yesterday was a shocking news to the world, especially the music industry.
The pop legend will definitely be remembered like how people remember Elvis Presley, the Beatles and some other known international names.

His music in which i grow up with along with some other big 80's name will live on forever.

RIP Michael Jackson.

Thursday 25 June 2009

Toxic Air


EPA Says 600 Neighborhoods Have Toxic Air
Wednesday, June 24, 2009


Washington--Millions of people living in nearly 600 neighborhoods across the country are breathing concentrations of toxic air pollutants that put them at a much greater risk of contracting cancer, according to new data from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The levels of 80 cancer-causing substances released by automobiles, factories and other sources in these areas exceed a 100 in 1 million cancer risk. That means that if 1 million people breathed air with similar concentrations over their lifetime, about 100 additional people would be expected to develop cancer because of their exposure to the pollution.

The average cancer risk across the country is 36 in 1 million, according to the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment, which will be released by the EPA on Wednesday.

That's a decline from the 41.5 in 1 million cancer risk the EPA found when it released the last analysis in 2006. That data covered 1999 emissions.

"If we are in between 10 in 1 million and 100 in 1 million we want to look more deeply at that. If the risk is greater than 100 in 1 million, we don't like that at all ... we want to investigate that risk and do something about it," said Kelly Rimer, an environmental scientist with the EPA, in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Parts of Los Angeles, Calif., and Madison County, Ill., had the highest cancer risks in the nation — 1200 in 1 million and 1100 in 1 million, according to the EPA data. They were followed by two neighborhoods in Allegheny County, Pa., and one in Tuscaloosa County, Ala.

People living in parts of Coconino County, Ariz., and Lyon County, Nev., had the lowest cancer risk from air toxics. The counties with the least toxic air are Kalawao County, Hawaii, and Golden Valley County, Mont.

"Air toxic risks are local. They are a function of the sources nearest to you," said Dave Guinnup, who leads the groups that perform the risk assessments for toxic air pollutants at EPA. "If you are out in the Rocky Mountains, you are going to be closer to 2 in a million. If you are in an industrial area with a lot of traffic, you are going to be closer to 1100 in 1 million."

The analysis predicts the concentrations of 124 different hazardous air pollutants, which are known to cause cancer, respiratory problems and other health effects by coupling estimates of emissions from a variety of sources with models that attempt to simulate how the pollution will disperse in the air. Only 80 of the chemicals evaluated are known to cause cancer, EPA officials said.

The information is used by federal, state and local agencies to identify areas in need of more monitoring and attention.

The data to be released Wednesday covers pollution released in 2002.

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I do know that the air that i inhale here is a lot worst than those neighbourhood!....

Tuesday 23 June 2009

Sultan of Johor rejects third bridge proposal

By FARIK ZOLKEPLI

JOHOR BARU: The Sultan of Johor Sultan Iskandar Ismail has rejected the proposed third bridge linking Malaysia and Singapore.

He did not give a reason for rejecting the proposal and only said that he did not agree with the proposed plan during his state assembly opening speech Thursday.

Tunku Mahkota Tunku Ibrahim Ismail read his speech and delivered the Sultan’s decree (titah) during the first state assembly to held in Kota Iskandar here.

The Sultan’s impromptu decree caught everyone off-guard similar to when he vowed to reclaim Pulau Batu Puteh or Pedra Branca at the launch of the state assembly last year.

The Sultan, who had earlier arrived at the assembly in the morning at about 11am, was in the state assembly complex when his son delivered his speech.

Meanwhile, Tanjung Surat assemblyman Datuk Harun Abdullah said that he agreed with the Sultan’s statement.

“As a Johorean, I must follow the Sultan’s decision,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has been reported as saying that the construction cost of the third bridge linking Singapore and Malaysia will be borne by both countries if it takes off.

The decision on when construction could begin would depend on the outcome of a feasibility study. He said the bridge could help bring development to the eastern side of Johor up to Desaru and Mersing and even benefit Rompin and Kuantan in Pahang and parts of Terengganu.

Sultan Iskandar also reminded the people to be confident that the state has a strong economic foundation despite the current economic downturn.

“Every party must embrace the government’s moves to build a successful economy. “I am confident the state will continue to prosper at every field that will benefit the people.

“The prosperity in the state will continue if the rakyat stand strong and true to the constitution. The people’s unity must be maintained so that all can live happily,” he said. -- STAR

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I know this is a bit late to comment but thumbs up to the Sultan.
The third bridge will bring nothing good to Malaysia as much as it would to the small island.
The reason that the third bridge will help develop nearby area is mere excuses.




Monday 22 June 2009

Im not a man, NOT yet a woman....

A 30-year-old woman who suspected her businessman husband of having an affair was shocked to discover that her rival was actually a man.

Sin Chew Daily reported yesterday that the woman had hired a private investigator to tail her husband after noticing a change in his attitude towards her.
According to the daily, the husband and his lover who has long flowing hair had gone to a secluded spot by the dockyard in Singapore to make out.

Upon being notified by the investigator, identified as Leong, the wife rushed to the scene hoping to catch the two of them in the act.
At the dockyard, Leong said he and the wife saw the car seat being lowered and the couple started to hug and kiss each other.

The wife ran to the car searching for the woman but could not find her.
She then asked Leong about the “woman” he saw in her husband’s car.

Puzzled, the investigator went over to check and was shocked to discover that the only two persons in the vehicle were men.

It turned out that the man’s lover was actually a cross-dresser, who was wearing a wig.
According to Leong, the husband would pick up a woman with long hair after work every day.


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Hahahahahahaha........honestly, this story managed to make me laughed after few days of mourning reading 'typical' stories in the media.

Good God.
What more can i say to this.
I have had friends of all types of people.
From man wanting to be woman, woman wanting to be man and those who does not know what they really want.
Fortunately i had never known any 'multi plug'.....hahahahaha.

I have friends who had friends or they themselves getting involved with all these 'special' sexual preferences. I respects their needs and wants in life. Perhaps the typical relationships bores them.
Nevertheless, i understand some of the reasons behind these needs....(wink...wink..).
Who are we to deny sexual preferences that already in existence even before the Prophets Mohammad s.a.w.
It is written in the Book.

The only thing that disgust me is, some of this people, especially the MAN, they do not want to come out of their closet, but maintain that they are TRUE man and live a life as a perfect man with wife and kids because they are afraid of being scrutinised and ridiculed.
They don't just cheat their partners (both the wife & lover boy) but also themselves!

How on earth you, MAN, can sleep and produce kids, and in the same time humping another man or being humped by your lover boy?....GOD.

Unlike woman who behaves like man (we have special terms for them; Penkid/tomboy), they don't go around doing it with another man to hide their true self. They are more daring. More bolder than man. They are not afraid to be themselves. They don't go around marrying a man, and humping woman in the same time.

Hahahahahahaha.......seriously.
It would be better to catch your husband with another woman than a man.
Its unforgivable, and these sexual preferences.....IT'S DIE-HARD !

Hahahahahahahaha.......people do make me laugh.


Wednesday 17 June 2009

The Best Fast-Food Meals Under 500 Calories

How serious can you be when you're talking to a clown?
Millions of us face that problem as we approach the drive-thru squawk box—ornamented with those wacky fast-food characters—and go all Goofy with our orders. No wonder so many of us weigh more than we want to.

Dustin Robinson had exactly that problem. He was a busy guy, so he hit the drive-thru five times a week. The drive-thru hit back, to the tune of 50 extra pounds that Dustin didn't need to be carrying. But when he reached 250 pounds, he used Eat This, Not That! and, armed with the information he needed, started talking to the clown--but this time without speaking nonsense.

Concentrating on delicious entrees like the ones you'll learn about below, he shed more than 10 pounds a month! Now he's down to 215, and well on his way to his goal of 200 pounds. And he's still eating at the restaurants he loves—he's just eating smarter. To help you do the same, here are some of the recommended Eat This! fast-food meals under 500 calories.

Less Than 500 Calories at Dunkin' DonutsHam, Egg & Cheese English Muffin Sandwich with English Breakfast Tea
350 calories
15 g fat (6 g saturated fat)
1,045 mg sodium

English muffins have a fraction of the carbohydrates of a bagel, and none of the trans fats of the donuts and croissants. The antioxidant-rich tea is also a great way to begin your day.

Less Than 500 Calories at Hardee's
BBQ Chicken Sandwich with a small side of Cole Slaw
490 calories
16 g fat (3g saturated fat)
1,340 mg sodium

Barbecue sauce and a reasonably-sized side dish keep this meal in the safe zone. Just opt for a water, rather than a Hardee's shake or malt, and you're good to go. And if you want to steer clear of the liquid disasters that can blow up your waistline without your knowing it, be sure to check out some of these other worst beverages in America.

Less Than 500 Calories at KFC3 Crispy Strips with Green Beans and 3" Corn on the Cob, and a Medium Diet Pepsi
475 calories
22.5 g fat (6 g saturated fat)
1,200 mg sodium

Order a side of green beans for a good source of vitamins K, A, and C—key players in maintaining strong bones and reducing cancer-causing free radicals. The corn on the cob will also help fill you up with minimal added calories. Just beware the dipping sauces—choosing BBQ over Ranch can save you over 100 calories.

Less Than 500 Calories at McDonald's
Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich with a Side Salad with Newman's Own Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette, and a Medium Iced Tea
480 calories
13 g fat (2 g saturated fat)
1,945 mg sodium

Counting calories doesn't mean your meal is healthy. For example: The Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich matches the Quarter Pounder without cheese when it comes to caloric content—but the chicken has no trans fats, while the burger does. Choose the sandwich and side salad for a good combination of protein and veggies.

Less Than 500 Calories at Pizza Hut
Two Slices Thin ‘N Crispy Pizza (12") with Quartered Ham & Pineapple, and Medium Diet Coke
360 calories
12 g fat (5 g saturated fat)
1,110 mg sodium

Regardless of which pizza chain you favor, ham and pineapple is one of the most trusted combinations you can order. Ham adds extra protein to balance out the crust's carbohydrate load, while pineapple adds low-cal sweetness and a dose of antioxidants.

Less Than 500 Calories at Taco BellTwo Fresco Soft Beef Tacos with Mexican Rice, and a bottle of water
470 calories
17 g fat (6 g saturated fat)
1,760 mg sodium

Order almost any menu item "fresco" style and the Bell boys will replace cheese and sauces with a chunky tomato salsa, cutting calories and fat by at least 25 percent. Beyond being nutritious, salsa is also cheap—check out our list of the other healthiest cheap foods you can eat. Finally, the Mexican rice adds a tasty little side (just 110 extra calories) that'll help fill you up without filling you out.

Less Than 500 Calories at Wendy's
Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich with Mandarin Orange Cup and small Nestea Sweetened Iced Tea
500 calories
7 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat)
983 mg sodium

This is the healthiest sandwich on the menu. Don't order your chicken spicy, though: That's their cue to fry, rather than grill, your bird, tacking on an extra 9.5 fat grams. Adding a small citrus fruit cup side is also a great, low-calorie way to add sweetness—and cold-fighting vitamin C—to your meal.


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Put the good info aside, i mean pratically, do people really have time to count the calories that they swallowed every meal?
Not me! Never did and never will.

Tuesday 16 June 2009

THE MODERN MIDDLE KINGDOM - Che Det#more#more

There you go.......
Singapore, and whoever feeling the heat...better put on your ear muffle and umbrella.
The heat is on!

Monday 15 June 2009

The Wisdom of Disturbance

Natural disturbances like fire, wind, insects and disease occur in forests.
And they happen for a powerful reason: by showing up, these disruptions create
areas of dead trees - making room for a new forest to grow. Business and life
follows similar natural processes.

In business, disruption - and sometimes outright chaos - shows up.

We call it bad but actually it's good. Old ways of doing and being need to die before new and better ways can be installed. The very nature of innovation and advancement calls for this kind of a clearing out process. Yes, it's confusing and often painful. But progress can't happen without it. It just can't. We're seeing this phenomenon happening right now as outdated/sedated institutions crumble. Space is being made for better ones to grow.

And within our personal life, from time to time, various disturbances (sometimes small - once in a while really big) appear. Again, we fight them. We label them as bad. But may I suggest that they are ultimately good. Very good. Because they cause our evolution. They make us bigger. Stronger.

And they introduce us to dormant powers we didn't know we had. Like
the forest, the curveballs of life clear out the old to make way for the new.
And better.

Nature's a great teacher. And just as it runs under a series
of immutable laws, so does business. Along with life.

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I received this via email, sent by my SO who received it from a friend.

Of course, i would not agree more to the statement that various disturbances in our lives will eventually make us a better grown-ups. Although almost all of disturbances and problems created or initiated by us, ourselves, or by another party or just become the victims of circumstances, we have to admit that it will take a lot of energy and wisdom to brave the oceans.

Cannot be denied, during swimming thru the rough sea, we as human will feel so exasperated, exhausted, hatred, and resentment towards anything that causes the disruption of our normal happy lives. And, this is the moment when the practice of having time alone to ourselves an hour or two will benefit us in a longer period.

Undoubtedly, these disturbances will be the great 'teacher' for every one of us in paving thru the better or worst in our lives......


Sunday 14 June 2009

The Conscious and Unconscious Mind



I'm in the midst of reading one of Tony Buzan's mind mapping book and came across an interesting subject and decided to refer my reading to one Kendra Van Wagner's write-up which later made me refer to my favourite subject of Psychology Hypnosis, mind secrets and mind controls which i can relate to a book by Danile Goleman i read in 2004, tittled DESTRUCTIVE EMOTIONS and How We Can Overcome Them, the same author of the best selling early 2000 Emotional Intelligence.

The former is a book based on his dialogue with The Dalai Lama in 2000, which touches among all, how the human mind is shaped, how impulses can be transformed and how otherwise they will threaten our safety and future.

What made me divert afar from my reading was the current situation that i am entangled in right now. Because of my boldness (self-claimed....), or like most Asians specifically the Malays called it 'out-spoken' i came out with a write up on an incident, which to date has more than four versions of stories going around (of course -- the winds whispers to my ears).


Because i was rudely ambushed, and later profoundly announced my hatred and dislikes of the animal-like attitudes here in my blog (which i know they kept track in order to find some fault with me), i was bad-mouthed, being labelled as a snob, and all sort of things, which again 'would not even have any affect on me as an individual' because i know what is right and what is wrong and who say this and who say that.

Futhermore, this is an 'expected-aftermath' when i decided to float the story via my facebook and log it in je ne Balance.

This is my way of experimenting with individual character surrounding me.

The most compelling thing about this whole scenarios is; no-one dare or chose to come right up to my face and asked me ;

1. what made me do so?
2. what went wrong?
3. why do i labelled them such?
4. what right they have to ambushed me and what was their actual motives in doing so

Although they must tried their best to defend themselves against any accusations, there was an approach made by one effected person , unfortunately, it was not made directly to me, and i am wondering why until now....i felt rather regretful that the person would not be able to understand the real situation but base only on stories acquired elsewhere. Leaving the mind to wonder endlessly wont be fruitful.

Nevertheless, i must make a note here that this is rather an interesting character to study on.
This person has a character which would be one of my highlights in studying and researching on human and their behaviour.

What made this person (which i do not want to state the gender in order not to be specific for readers to dwell on characters and behaviour of people/ person who presumbably in rage) refuse to approach the writer is still a wonder and i left it to my wild imaginations.....(i have loads of it by the way).

I believe, unsatisfied person or group of people tend to spend their quality time (as they put and believe so) in sticking closer together during 'trying times'. This is normal in any situation. There is a saying encouraging people to stick together during bad times (or as they believe so), in order for them not to be left alone in the 'disparagement zone', or opted for self- isolation after any embarrassing moments, or perhaps having the inclinations towards 'self-inflictions' acts.

Through this little 'support group' persons or people in group will tell and exchange stories among one another over and over again, right up to being a total 'make-believers' by making up stories, which will have a very deep unhealthy affect because when believing in something that does not exist at all, they will indirectly subscribing themselves tickets to mental instability.

With that unhealthy emotional situation, they will be haunted by the feeling of being unsatisfied about everything and everyone.

The only solution to settle this emotional turmoil is to go right back to the root of the situation. In other word, one have to go deep in getting to know the actual cause of it, besides putting themselves in different shoes to evaluates perceptions and actions.

What initiates the anger.
And what initiates people to retaliates to their behaviour.

A trip to good mental health doctors is advisable in this conditions.
Otherwise, this unsettled feeling and resentment will have a mirror -effect in long term.

Support group is a normal practice especially in the western world.
There are all sort of support group, i.e. support group for alcoholics, ex-addicts, shopaholics, emotionally crushed divorcee and even the latest one that i came across -- the France airlines survivors (those who didn't board the tragic airplane that crashed between Brazil and France), which in my modest opinion they should be feeling lucky rather than emotionally affected.

Analysing human is a very interesting subject.
This is one of the subject learnt in Psychology. It is so very wide and so elaborated.
Similar to the human brains created interestingly by our creator.

I am currently analysing these people attitudes and attributes which i will compile as my little own thesis -- For the meantime, enjoy reading one of Freud's theories which can be of assistance in facing multi-talented and multi-faceted human roaming nearby us and on this earth.


Au revoir!

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The Structure of the Mind According to Freud
By Kendra Van Wagner


Many of us have experienced what is commonly referred to as a Freudian Slip. These misstatements are believed to reveal underlying, unconscious thoughts or feelings. Consider this example:

James has just started a new relationship with a woman he met at school. While talking to her one afternoon, he accidentally calls her by his ex-girlfriend's name.

If you were in this situation, how would you explain this mistake? Many of us might blame the slip on distraction or describe it as a simple accident. However, a psychoanalytic theorist might tell you that this is much more than a random accident. The psychoanalytic view holds that there are inner forces outside of your awareness that are directing your behavior. For example, a psychoanalyst might say that James misspoke due to unresolved feelings for his ex or perhaps because of misgivings about his new relationship.

The founder of psychoanalytic theory was Sigmund Freud. While his theories were considered shocking at the time and continue to create debate and controversy, his work had a profound influence on a number of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, literature, and art.

The term psychoanalysis is used to refer to many aspects of Freud’s work and research, including Freudian therapy and the research methodology he used to develop his theories. Freud relied heavily upon his observations and case studies of his patients when he formed his theory of personality development.

Before we can understand Freud's theory of personality, we must first understand his view of how the mind is organized.

According to Freud, the mind can be divided into two main parts:

1.The conscious mind includes everything that we are aware of. This is the aspect of our mental processing that we can think and talk about rationally. A part of this includes our memory, which is not always part of consciousness but can be retrieved easily at any time and brought into our awareness. Freud called this ordinary memory the preconscious.


2.The unconscious mind is a reservoir of feelings, thoughts, urges, and memories that outside of our conscious awareness. Most of the contents of the unconscious are unacceptable or unpleasant, such as feelings of pain, anxiety, or conflict. According to Freud, the unconscious continues to influence our behavior and experience, even though we are unaware of these underlying influences.

For further info please refer to www.freudfile.org.

Thursday 11 June 2009

WHO: Swine flu pandemic has begun, 1st in 41 years

GENEVA – The World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic Thursday — the first global flu epidemic in 41 years — as infections in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere climbed to nearly 30,000 cases.

The long-awaited pandemic announcement is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. WHO will now ask drugmakers to speed up production of a swine flu vaccine. The declaration will also prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.

WHO chief Dr. Margaret Chan made the announcement Thursday after the U.N. agency held an emergency meeting with flu experts. Chan said she was moving the world to phase 6 — the agency's highest alert level — which means a pandemic, or global epidemic, is under way.

"The world is moving into the early days of its first influenza pandemic in the 21st century," Chan told reporters. "The (swine flu) virus is now unstoppable."

On Wednesday, WHO said 74 countries had reported nearly 27,737 cases of swine flu, including 141 deaths. Chan described the virus as "moderate." According to WHO's pandemic criteria, a global outbreak has begun when a new flu virus begins spreading in two world regions.

The agency has stressed that most cases are mild and require no treatment, but the fear is that a rash of new infections could overwhelm hospitals and health authorities — especially in poorer countries.

Still, about half of the people who have died from swine flu were previously young and healthy — people who are not usually susceptible to flu. Swine flu is also crowding out regular flu viruses. Both features are typical of pandemic flu viruses.

The last pandemic — the Hong Kong flu of 1968 — killed about 1 million people. Ordinary flu kills about 250,000 to 500,000 people each year.

Swine flu is also continuing to spread during the start of summer in the northern hemisphere. Normally, flu viruses disappear with warm weather, but swine flu is proving to be resilient.

The decision might have been made much earlier if WHO had more accurate information about swine flu's rising sweep through Europe. Chan said she called the emergency meeting with flu experts after concerns were raised that some countries like Britain were not accurately reporting their cases.

After Thursday's meeting, Chan said the experts agreed there was wider spread of swine flu than what was being reported.

Chan would not say which country tipped the world into the pandemic, but said all countries and experts were agreed that it was time to declare a global outbreak.

WHO said it was now recommending that flu vaccine makers start making swine flu vaccine. Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline PLC said they could start large-scale production of pandemic vaccine in July but that it would take several months before large quantities would be available.

Many health experts say WHO's pandemic declaration could have come weeks earlier but the agency became bogged down by politics. In May, several countries urged WHO not to declare a pandemic, fearing it would cause social and economic turmoil.

"This is WHO finally catching up with the facts," said Michael Osterholm, a flu expert at the University of Minnesota who has advised the U.S. government on pandemic preparations.

Despite WHO's hopes, Thursday's announcement will almost certainly spark panic about spread of swine flu in some countries.

Fear has already gripped Argentina, where thousands of people worried about swine flu flooded into hospitals this week, bringing emergency health services in the capital of Buenos Aires to the brink of collapse. Last month, a bus arriving in Argentina from Chile was stoned by people who thought a passenger on it had swine flu. Chile has the most swine flu cases in South America, just as the southern hemisphere moves into its winter flu season.

In Hong Kong on Thursday, the government ordered all kindergartens and primary schools closed for two weeks after a dozen students tested positive for swine flu — a move that many flu experts would consider an overreaction. The decision affected over half a million students.

In the United States, where there have been more than 13,000 cases and at least 27 deaths from swine flu, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the move would not change how the U.S. tackled swine flu.

"Our actions in the past month have been as if there was a pandemic in this country," Glen Nowak, a CDC spokesman, said Thursday.

The U.S. government has already taken steps like increasing availability of flu-fighting medicines and authorizing $1 billion for the development of a new vaccine against the novel virus. In addition, new cases seem to be declining in many parts of the country, U.S. health officials say, as North America moves out of its traditional

In Mexico, where the epidemic was first detected, the outbreak peaked in April. Mexico now has less than 30 cases reported a day, down from an average of 300, Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova told The Associated Press. Mexico has confirmed 6,337 cases, including 108 deaths.

A resurgence is unlikely but Cordova said a second wave of the virus in November or December could not be ruled out.

Cordova said he is concerned that other countries are not taking drastic measures to stop its spread like Mexico, which closed schools, restaurants, theaters, and canceled public events after the government detected the epidemic in late April.

Many experts said the declaration of a pandemic did not mean the virus was getting deadlier.

"People might imagine a virus is now going to rush in and kill everyone," said John Oxford, a professor of virology at St. Bart's and Royal London Hospital. "That's not going to happen."

But Oxford said the swine flu virus might evolve into a more dangerous strain in the future. "That is always a possibility with influenza viruses," he said. "We have to watch very carefully to see what this virus does."

___

AP medical writer Maria Cheng reported from London. Associated Press Writers Jill Lawless in London, Michael E. Miller in Mexico City, Dikky Sinn in Hong Kong, Vincente L. Panetta in Buenos Aires and Bradley S. Klapper in Geneva contributed to this report.


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Just when we thought it has subsides....hopefully it wont last that long.

Cant imagine my feeling having to hear people sneezing or coughing in the same aeroplane, or lift, or while queing at the grocers......effrayant!

Singapore Keen On Third Bridge - Najib

PUTRAJAYA, June 11 (Bernama) -- Singapore is quite keen on the construction of a third bridge linking the republic to Malaysia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Thursday.

"The concept of the third bridge on the eastern side of Johor is something which we will pursue, and Singapore is quite keen on having the third bridge.

"When we have a third bridge, we can develop the whole of the eastern side (of Johor) up to Mersing and onwards to Desaru.

"Singapore did say that it (the area) has the potential to be another Nusa Jaya like in Bali (Indonesia)," he said in his opening address at the 2010 Budget consultation meeting at the Finance Ministry, here.

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Hhmmmmm.....looks like the bridge will come en route soon.
No doubt about it.


Exactly why can't they develop the eastern side of Johor, Mersing to Desaru without ever to build the bridge?

Do Malaysia need to have something linking to another country to have its town to be developed? Why can't the development takes place earlier?
Is this another Cyberjaya (redundant to date except being filled with training centres of multinationals and local company) or some Corridor?

What would the name be for these future development im wondering?

But one thing for sure, there surely be infested with Singaporeans....

Wednesday 10 June 2009

Mengumpat & Bergossip

Mengumpat & bergossip itu adalah dua benda yang berasingan.

Ada pendapat segolongan orang di sini (termasuk yang bukan wanita!) bergossip itu perkara biasa, dan mereka tidak mengumpat. Memang ada benarnya. Bergossip itu lumrah hidup, lebih-lebih lagi bagi golongan wanita.

Tetapi mungkin juga istilah bergossip bagi mereka adalah menukar cerita, mengada-ada kan cerita yang tak ada dan sebagainya.

Jadi untuk penerangan lanjut, sila lah baca petikan pendek dibawah; ambil-ambil iktibar rakan-rakan sekalian. Jangan lah menjadi hamba-hamba syaitan yang membisikan dan memberi kegembiraan tak terhingga bila mengetahui, bercerita dan membuka keaiban seseorang.

Insyallah, kalau dijauhkan sifat-sifat menokok tambah dan memutar belit cerita ini akan berkat lah umrah dan haji yang telah dan akan dikerjakan.

Walau bagaimanapun sedaya upaya menafikan tidak bersubahat mengumpat, Allah swt itu maha mengetahui hati naluri kita. Walau bagaimanapun kita cuba mengatakan diri tidak bersalah, Insyallah, bak pepatah Inggeris "The truth will prevail".

Bawak-bawak lah bersabar dan banyakkan beristigfar.

Banyakkan membaca. Bacalah bab-bab berkenaan Uzlah. Insyallah dapat pedoman.


Lima cara henti sifat mengumpat

SIKAP
suka mengumpat atau menceritakan keburukan dan kelemahan orang lain dilaknat
oleh Allah.

Mereka yang bersikap demikian, secara disedari atau tidak
mencela dan mengaibkan orang lain yang hukumnya berdosa besar.Ketika berbual, sama ada secara sengaja atau tidak, mereka menceritakan keburukan ketuanya, jiran, saudara mara dan orang yang lalu di hadapan mereka.


Firman Allah bermaksud:

"Hai orang yang beriman, kalau datang kepada kamu orang jahat
membawa berita, periksalah dengan saksama supaya kamu jangan sampai mencelakakan suatu kaum yang tidak diketahui, kemudian kamu menyesal di atas perbuatanmu
itu." (Surah al-Hujurat, ayat 6)

Sabda Rasulullah saw seperti yang diriwayatkan oleh Al-Thabrani daripada Abu Hurairah bermaksud:

"Yang paling dikasihi Allah antara kamu ialah mereka yang baik akhlaknya, merendah diri, suka pada orang dan disukai orang. Dan yang paling dimarahi Allah ialah mereka yang membawa fitnah,
mencerai beraikan di antara sesama saudara dan mencaci orang yang tidak bersalah."

Imam al-Ghazali ada menyebut enam perkara yang mendorong
seseorang itu mengumpat;

Ingin memuaskan hati disebabkan kemarahan yang memuncak hingga sanggup mendedahkan keaiban dan kesalahan orang lain. Jika
kemarahan tidak dapat dikawal, ia boleh menimbulkan hasad dan dendam;

Suka mendengar dan mengikuti perbualan orang yang menyerang peribadi dan kehormatan seseorang.


Mahu bersaing dan menonjolkan diri dengan menganggap orang lain bodoh dan rendah. Disebabkan dengki, dia iri hati dengan orang lain yang lebih beruntung dan berjaya, seperti dinaikkan gaji dan pangkat.

Bergurau dan suka melawak untuk mencela dan mengatakan kelemahan dan kecacatan hingga mengaibkan orang lain.

Sikap suka mengejek dan mencela disebabkan rasa bongkak dan sombong kerana memandang rendah orang lain. Sehubungan itu, Imam
al-Ghazali menyarankan lima perkara untuk menghentikan sikap suka mengumpat, antaranya ialah;

Harus sedar dan insaf mengumpat dan memburuk-burukkan
orang lain itu berdosa besar;

Sedar dan membetulkan kesalahan sendiri daripada menyalahkan orang;

Hendaklah berasa malu apabila memperli kecacatan orang lain. Ini kerana mencela kecacatan fizikal seolah-olah mencerca Tuhan yang menciptakan.



Tuesday 9 June 2009

Language....disappointment.

Hhmmmm......there goes my chance to buck-up on my second foreign language.
There goes my chance to achieve another 'wants' in my life.
Disappointing in fact....

I went for my weekly French class and this time i took the opportunity to ask the tutor whether would it be possible for him to coach me personally; like coming to my place or me going to his place for an hour twice a week -- he said no, it is not possible for him to do so .....duhhh.

I have been going the part time class organised by the school for beginners here. And because that is the only darn class available for interested people (not many though - me, a Venezuelan, one Scottish, and an Egyptian) i took this as a stepping stone to get in touch with the tutor.

And since the class will be coming to an end in two more lessons, that is why i took the advantage to ask him recently.
According to him, he is unable to do so because the teachers here (at the school) are not allowed to teach out of the school hours unless it is organized by the school.
Too bad for me!

French has been my next favourite language after English, of course, and i had attended a course at Alliance Française Kuala Lumpur in 2004. Although the course stretch up to 4 years, and the students will be given a certificate from the France Educational Board, i did not complete my course after two years because of works commitments and travelling and it disrupt my class and concentration.

Thinking that since i am having my time here as a full-time housewife (the word that i dread to even mention ) i want to continue learning French. And because i am situated some where like 80 kilometres drive to Doha, i am left with no option at all.
They do have French course organised in Doha but not by an Alliance Française. They don't have one here. Although i have all my learning kits and books from my previous course, learning alone won't do good. I need to converse in order for me to practice the language.

Even though one of the local radio station here, QBS (Qatar Broadcasting Services) do air French hours from 2pm right up to 4pm daily, which will do good for people like me, it is still not enough.
I know there is an online course too, but it is hopeless.

The advantages of learning French in this country although French is not widely spoken, they do have cable tv that air French language news, and movies and French tv channel. Unlike back in Malaysia, the only time you want to hear French speaking people is only at the France Embassy, Alliance Française, or buy French movies. Besides that you won't be able to even hear a single word of it anywhere at all.


Language is something beneficial for all and it need passion and interest to learn.
My course mate in Alliance Française last time who can speak and write English, Japanese fluently, told me that French is rather difficult compare to Japanese, and even the Japanese writing character is easier to understand than the masculinity and femininity of French objects and subjects.

According to my father (to whom i must say influenced me in language and arts since i was 6 or 7 yrs old) learning another language will be done easier if one lived in that country itself. According to him, who speaks fluent German, and understand Tamil, he was forced to learn the language because the locals in that particular country and other German-speaking countries do not entertain any other language except German.

So, what more can i say?
There goes my chance to converse and learn my longtemps favourite language.....duhhh.



Sunday 7 June 2009

IGP furious at Raja Petra over 'beating' video.

KUALA LUMPUR: The country's top cop yesterday rubbished a video posted on the website, Malaysia Today, allegedly showing police brutality during an interrogation.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan denied that the men featured in the five-minute grainy video, believed to be shot using a mobile phone camera, were policemen.

It showed a group of men, in white shirts and black pants, "interrogating" a suspect who was accused of raping a man's wife. They are seen punching and stomping on the man, who does not appear to fight back.

Website editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin posted a link to the YouTube video under the heading "Modern interrogation methods of the Malaysian police".

In a comment that accompanied the video Raja Petra wrote: "This is how the Malaysian police gets you to confess to crimes, even if you never committed them. But even after you do confess the 'interrogation' does not stop."

Enraged by the posting and the video, Musa called it "too much".

"He (Raja Petra) should be more responsible in his postings next time. He should take a good look at himself before accusing us.

"He's not the right person to denigrate us when he is on the run from the police."

Musa said the police were working with their counterparts in Australia to find Raja Petra who is said to be in Brisbane.

"We will also seek Interpol's help to locate him."

On April 23, a warrant of arrest was issued for 59-year-old Raja Petra after he had failed to turn up in court for his sedition trial.

He had claimed trial on May 6 last year to publishing a seditious article on April 25 on his web portal.

Raja Petra also claimed in his blog to be on self-imposed exile from Selangor because of a dispute with the sultan.

He said he would not be attending the hearings not only because of his brush with the palace but also because of his fear of another Internal Security Act detention and possible treason charges.

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RPK is in the lime light again.......
We shall see what will come out next from this well-informed, hero of the modern day "freedom of speech" chap.

You-tube is the best way of expanding our reach to the unreachable.
So does a photo of women smoking sishas in sand dune.....
Hahahahahhaa.....

Cowardice

Cowardice -- in general terms, is the perceived failure to demonstrate sufficient robustness in the face of a challenging situation. The term describes a personality trait which is typically viewed as a negative characteristic and has been generally frowned upon (see norms) within most, if not all global cultures, while courage, typically viewed as its direct opposite, is generally rewarded and encouraged.

Cowards are usually seen to have avoided or refused to engage in a confrontation or struggle which has been deemed good or righteous by the wider culture in which they live. On a more mundane level, the label may be applied to those who are regarded as too frightened or overwhelmed to defend their rights or those of others from aggressors in their lives.

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Nevertheless, some people choose to spread rumours rather than facing the situation and the maker of the whole situation.

And some rather sprut stories of how brave they are or they're going to be but still, fail to face the challenger.

Needless to say, when a person run away from a battle, he will be punished.

Thursday 4 June 2009

Watch-out for your life while in Malaysia!

Beware!

Be reminded all the time while you're in Malaysia.
While walking nearby crossing underneath monorail track.
While walking alongside or nearby constructions site because you just wouldn't know what will 'say hello' to your head.

Another building collapsed few days back.
It is a the roof of a stadium located in Terengganu, Malaysia.

But the lucky thing about this collapse was, if it were to happen a day later, then thousands of souls will be leaving their bodies because the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium was scheduled to host the Public Institutions of Higher Learning games which would have seated thousands of competitors and spectators packed in the year-old sports arena.

Well the juicy part of this story was it seems that they (must be the authorities concerned i guess) had been notified about 'something wrong' but nothing was done to rectify the matter.

According to a local newspaper reports, the State Public Works Department was told about the defects and the state Menteri Besar had called a meeting with the PWD three weeks ago and reminded them to look into the problem.
Somehow, it is typical.
The 'tidak apa' attitude rules better than anything else.

It seems that they are now blaming the design of that stadium.
They must blame it on something isn't it?
Why don't they blame it on the Baboons instead?(....hahahahahaha ...ooppsie!)
Or the rain? (like Milli Vanilli did)

Although no lives were lost, the collapsed roof will undoubtedly cook some quarters in a hot boiling pan right now (serves them right!).
While the Works Minister called it; 'an embarrassment that had tarnished the country's image' he also blame it at the contractors for not building a proper structure.

Well, let me get it straight here.
First of all, is it proper for him to blame it on the contractors for not building a proper structure? Yes in a way. But not really in a lot of other way in my own opinion.
With a budget as big as RM292 million (USD84 mil), i am sure there would be cuts here and there. The Korean construction company which was accorded the project must have lot of mouth to feed besides their own.

There will be mouths namely; the 'approver', the 'lobbyist', the 'ali babas', the 'monkey' and not forgotten all the 'baboons'.
Perhaps when it comes to the end-receiver, the budget had been too small, and of course with this kind of economic situations, anybody will squeeze hard to earn more.
At the end of the whole monkey business, the result is substandard materials, workmanship, and etc added with 'tidak apa' (lackadaisical) attitude.

According to the Works in Minister again, "People will say that in Malaysia, not only newly constructed buildings collapse, but even ones earmarked for demolition," he said, referring to the collapse of the Jaya Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor on Thursday, which killed seven Indonesian workers and injured two others.(Yup Mr! you're absolutely right....no doubt about it at all)

Nevertheless, on any such 'occasion' that calls for political 'hit- me ,hit- you' avenue, one opposition politician issued a statement that they would lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (ACA) on the matter and hoping something were to be dug out of the collapsed roof. (you can hope so.....)

But what the heck ain't it?

It is not their money anyway.
It is all the taxpayers money, right?
They will say "Apa susah" (what's the trouble?).
Surely the government will approve the budget to re-construct the whole place.
Surely they won't let it just crumbled like that.


f/note: Since we're concentrating to collapsing buildings recently, i wonder what happen to Samy Vellu's 'project' -- the 'jalan retak' and going to 'runtuh' after less than five years 'in service' and after many years of heartache and exasperation and curses from the road users (that includes me) along Kepong stretch....
With additional of lots of millions for repair works (remembered he asked for an absolutely ridiculous figure earlier), he is lucky to get away with it.

Tuesday 2 June 2009

My Blog

While i am very impressed with the visits to my modest blog, i can't help but find it very amusing that my blog 'je ne balance' had found itself a follower and 'ardent' readers; especially in the this country that i resides now.

Just as a note, late last month was je ne balance first anniversary.
Like i mentioned in my first log in this weblog, my earlier blog was in 2006, with a different tittle, and which wasn't visited much by me because of work commitments and too much concentration on other things. Furthermore i was then at a new phase in life and is expecting.

To my reader who enjoy my writings, all i can say is thank you for visiting and hopefully you'll enjoy reading my 'whatnots'. Why i call it 'whatnots'?
Hmmm...i guess it is because i simply write what came across my interest and what i feel like commenting...but of course it would be in the arena that i know bits and pieces.
Not forgetting to those people especially my comrade, whom had just learnt about the existence of a platform named 'Blog' and is currently enjoying reading my je suis balance, i guess this newly acquired 'hobby' would do you all good. Seriously.
At least it will help you people to broaden up your perspective in life, know one or two 'bombastic words' (to you perhaps it is bombastic, but not to the intelligent lots), learnt few vocabs which will do you good when you speak to another nationals here, so you won't be blabbering hoos-and haas.
Hahahahahahaha.......very funny indeed.
People are very funny and never failed to make me laugh.

As an ex-journalist and later a businesswoman, i met loads of character.
As i was trained and thought to make sure i get facts and figures right, besides getting the gist of the story, i must also avoid superfluous and repetition mistakes. So does life in general.

As someone who don't really talk much, although i seriously keep my eyes open and ears listen; unlike as  majority knows, women blabs a lot, i somehow find writing releases and bring down my BP.
I would consider myself an observer, someone who can sit alone in a cafe for hours having a fag or two, evaluating personalities and watching people and their character.
And i do have a rather excellent memory and remember what came out from what and who say what...and of course my forever 'whatnots'.

Life is indeed funny.
Women make it even funnier.

Perhaps, may i suggest that you people start to have your own blog too.?
Oh, well.....

Nevertheless, to those minuscule subjects who thought the colossal me of being absurdly pompous -- think again.

At least i did something right here.
At least i 'encouraged' and 'instill' a reading habits among you people. And i might inspire you in certain ways. No?
Perhaps what you shall be needing now is just a good dictionary to accompany you read.

Life is very funny indeed.

And please.
Please also be my guest, and have my pleasure to read more of my coming log as you minuscule just wouldn't know when will i pull the strings again.
Hahaha...
Indeed very funny bunch of peeps.

I mean life without some bunch of closed-minded, kataks (frogs in English; why frogs -- please open up Bahasa Malaysia idioms : Katak Bawah Tempurung) -- I mean ; God!.... life would be so mundane and monotonous aint't it?
That is why God created women.
Besides becoming labour machine and besides becoming the men's tooott....toooott, they'll shower this short worldly life with colours. Good and bad.
Life and women are very funny indeed.

Just so people need to know, when a person created a blog, it is for the public to read and judge. The blogger (as in ME) can chose to make it a close weblog and if anyone want to read, then they will have to log in via email and i will moderate it accordingly.
And how the reader want to interpret the writer per se, or the contents, again, it is all up to the individuals.
Some smart people will read between the lines, some rather very low in (i don't want to say) will just take it at the surface without getting right to the message which i tried to relay in my writings.

Just like facebook.
Blog is free.
Free to create.
Free to write how and what the writer wants.
It is a freedom of writing.
Of course i will not do what some of the idiots in Malaysia did, condemning the royal family and so on. But besides that, it is all up to you readers to take my writings to whatever levels you want.
Those who posses high degree of intelligence, perhaps they would mark down my writing as mediocre, to those who love life as i do, will enjoy reading another person's outlook and perceptions on all sort of things from light politics, to humour, to personal experiences and human interaction.

It is a free world isn't it?
But again, life without women in it would undoubtedly be very BORING.

Below is an excerpt from a folk song which i sang during choir in school when i was eight or nine years old in Petaling Jaya.

Katak oh Katak
Kenapa panggil hujan
Macam mana aku tak panggil
Perut aku lapar

Perut oh perut
Kenapa engkau lapar
Macama mana aku tak lapar
Katak asyik duduk bawah tempurung.....

Hahahahaha...it brings the fondess memories, schooltime,..... is it not?

Monday 1 June 2009

Sect. Fourteen (Sek 14) tragedy....albeit

While feeling sorry for the recent tragedy which took seven lives at the oldest shopping centre in Klang Valley, i can't help but imagine how that little golden triangle of Petaling Jaya (PJ)look like right now.

The Jaya shopping centre which was built and strategically located at the well-established commercial district of Section 14 in 1974 was 'the' favourite place for us, PJ school goers. I personally have many fond memories there and its surrounding area.

It is sad that due to vast development, some old buildings must make way, or in this case being given an 'uplift' inclined with modernisation. The last time i was there was three months ago when i was back for a short holiday.

This is the place during my secondary days, where the PJ schools pupils i.e. (the all girls) Sri Aman, Assunta and TP aka Jungle School; and (the all boys) SAS (Sek Anak Sultan; as my brother puts it), BB (Bukit Bintang) and La Salle gathers especially on Fridays after school to be seen, to hang out and just waste time with friends for and hour or so before heading back home.
(Hmmm...this make me wonder somehow; why does PJ has got more non-coed schools than any other town in Malaysia?)

Even so, the 'in' place during those time was will always be McD, which is located just opposite the ruined Jaya supermarket and still in existence to date.

This is the place where you can see people from the neighbourhood including expats shopping for their groceries on Fridays and Saturdays, familiar faces on tv and of course not forgetting young people and teenagers who'd mark this place as the meeting and dating point before heading somewhere else or window shopping there itself.

I can still remember the old build-up before the first renovation took place some twenty years back. There used to be a brick circle with huge plants in the middle in-front of the entrance and that was the place where we sometimes hide and want to be hidden from someone.
I had once go around the circle slowly but steadily ignoring the surrounding people because i saw someone whom i don't want to see, and not supposed to see me there.
It was humorous but very very innocently childish.

Around this surrounding area also located the place where i learnt my first bad words in Cantonese when i took my first tempt job as a Display Artist at Georgetown Chemist, the place where i had my first date, the place where i tried to test the 'authority' and happily drinking publicly during the fasting month a couple of time during my rebellious mid 20s (and didn't get busted), and the place where we would go for our ritual Ramadhan Bazaar buying spree or browsing for food every year (this year will not be missed certainly) and just name it.
It is all here, and the word is Jaya.

Gosh, it has been long ago yet i can still feel the fondness of it all.

Nevertheless, while we always hope for good things in life, mishaps can occured anywhere and everywhere, even in our own protected home.
Coming back to the collapse of the Jaya shopping centre, it was reported that initial investigation indicated overloading caused by eight heavy machines used in demolishing the building may have triggered the collapse and that currently some residents nearby the ruined building have been asked to evacuate their homes and were given temporary stay in nearby hotels including Armada and Crystal Crown until further notice.