Like That Also Can Ah?!!

Diabetics Take Note

2011-11-15T15:56:00.002+08:00

Another one of my friends is struggling with cancer recently. He was diagnosed with colon cancer but later discovered it had spread to his lymph nodes, liver and spleen.

It seems like one of the side effects of modern living is cancer is becoming more and more common recently. Sometimes cancer comes by itself, or it could be a genetic thing. And sometimes it a side effect of a drug. Like Actos, for example. Its a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. But there have been cases that Actos users contracting bladder cancer.

If you are one such case (and a non-smoker) you should seek advice from the leading actos law firm Watts Guerra Craft LLP today.

MaybeBank Scores an Own Goal

2011-11-05T00:42:00.000+08:00

Way to go MaybeBank. You guys sure know how to alienate your customers with your half-baked discriminatory practices. After half a century of independence, you still want to impose this kind of practice based on race? You're not a small two-branch local bank, my friend. You're arguably the biggest bank in the country, and ALL Malaysians do business with you, whether they be small businesses or the man on the street.

Even the PM and the Cabinet has warned you to drop the directive. You know what? The people that you are trying to marginalize, well, they may be small in number and may not make much difference to the millions you guys make everyday, but they have a long memory.

Do the right thing, guys. Don't be narrow-minded.

Kid and Careers

2011-09-19T15:33:00.002+08:00

This just occured to me recently. My eldest daughter is 11. in less than 12 years, she'll probably be completing her studies and be out looking for a job. I know it far too far away for most people to think about the future, but a good job is key to achieving what you want in life. And even before that, deciding what college to go to and what course to take will decide what you work as.

She's probably too young to know any better, but she's not really into fashion or cosmetics.

But having said that, Cosmetology schools provide an excellent training for those who want to expand their careers in different fields such as showbiz, theater, salons, etc.

The leading school is of course, Regency Beauty Institute, with more than 80 schools and expanding further.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com or contact Regency Beauty Institute – 7100 Northland Circle, Suite 312 – Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Fast Food Nation

2011-08-27T18:14:00.000+08:00

Just watched this movie, after a long time. Actually i heard a lot about it, and i was eager to see it for myself, especially after watching another similar show, Super Size Me and reading about this movie in the papers.

The premisr is simple - it's based on the book by the same name, where fictionalized events take place based on some research of real events.

It was disappointing, the movie was slow and whatever it was trying to build up didn't really lead to much in the end. There were a few inter-related storylines, but in the end, all weren't resolved, and the main point that the movie wanted to make, well, about the processed beef and all, it didn't really offer anything new, other than trying to portray it in a shocking way.

Super Size Me was definitely better.

Drive Angry

2011-08-27T18:08:00.002+08:00

The other day, i was watching this movie called 'Drive Angry' seen it before? It's an action-packed movie, very enjoyable. there were some spectacular car chase scenes in the movie, reminiscient of the Fast and Furious movies i watched some years back.

In these movies, cars crash and bump into each other without much worry and care. Unlike in real life. In real life, a small fender bender or scratch will result in stalled traffic and confrontation.

Whenever accidents happen in real life, make sure you are very well advised on what your rights are. That's why you need a good Austin car accident lawyer on your side. Contact these guys to know what you are entitled to.

O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949

Accidents Happen

2011-08-27T18:02:00.002+08:00

In my (rather short) lifetime, I've had a few minor accidents, but (thankfully) no major accidents before. But i know a few people who have had major accidents, involving more than 2 cars and with severe damage to their automobiles. One even had to be admitted to a hospital for a few days.

Accidents are very unfortunate, but in the event it happens, we should always be know exactly what to do in order to stay calm. Do not panic, make sure you have a good lawyer to advise you on the next step. If you are in the doubt about whether or not you can claim damages from other parties, call O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath, the Austin truck accident lawyers specializing in this field.

O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949

Two Week Report on Streamyx

2011-08-01T02:00:00.000+08:00

I've had Streamyx for just over two weeks now.

If i were to give it a report card, it'd be bad.

Somedays i don't get any connection, some days are okay. But it's the down time that annoys the heck out of me. The last down time was from Thursday night right up to this afternoon. And I'm paying good money for this 'broadband' (and so are lots and lots and lots of people).

Before i subscribed to them, i used to read and hear lots of people including my pals rant and bitch about streamyx, now i can understand why. But it's not that i have an option, it's either this or dial-up. Or no internet.

On the good days, surfing speed varies. Sometimes it's slow, but it's usually adequate. I haven't tested the speed to see whether it's anywhere near 70-80% of the max, does anyone know of any good internet speed websites?

**-**

On another note, i bought a computer table for my daughter (not IKEA).

When we brought it back (it was one of those DIY sets pre-pack in flat boxes), we found there was a piece missing - a crucial piece. If fact, the packet of screws and nails was not properly sealed, and they were all rolling around inside box, leaving fine scratches everywhere.

Anyway to cut the short story short, we gave the store a tongue lashing, and it took them more than a week to replace the missing piece. They even had the cheek to say they lost our contact number.

**-**

Furniture business seems to be booming. Two more huge furniture malls just opened up down the street. Everyday, i can see loads of people buying new furniture. Not just Chinese folks - Malays and Indians and others.

Economic slowdown? What economic slowdown?

Cleft Lip in kids

2011-06-08T10:50:00.003+08:00

Lawsuits are a necessary invention of our legal system. Sometimes when all other avenues are exhausted, it is necessary to sue to get justice and compensation to right a wrong. In the case of medical lawsuits, they are very commonplace these days. Some of you may have heard of Topamax lawsuit, there have been numerous cases where parents have sued the drug company. This drug is prescribed for epileptic seizures in kids and also adults, and is also sometimes prescribed to prevent migraine headaches (God knows i suffer from that).

But one possible side effect is that it might cause cleft lip or cleft palate in children. THis happens when the lip does not fully form during birth. If you are a victim of such circumstance, call the expert lawyers to get advice.

O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949

Arrogant People

2011-06-08T10:49:00.000+08:00

I just met up with this really arrogant person yesterday. I was unfortunate enough to be in the receiving end of this guys holier-than-thou attitude and not being able to defend myself, because of the nature of the situation - it had something to do with my company. I dunno, just because these guys are rich, and have political clout, they can act arrogant and gangster-ish with others.

That guy didn't even have the guts to look me in the eye. He twisted my words by quoting something i didn't say and making a big deal about it. Fine, do what you want, at the end of the day, my company is still in the right, we will get what we want as the law dictates, and there is little you can do about it. You can show off your influence with your small group of cronies, do all that you want, at the end of the day, life goes on.

That is what this place has become these days. Leaders with no political will unable to control what goes on.

Picture Perfect Babies

2011-06-08T10:33:00.002+08:00

When you watch TV ads, especially those featuring baby products and services, you always see angelic, adorable babies, usually with that perfect smile. These ads are, after all, meant for you to buy whatever they're selling. Seldom do you see less than perfectly beautiful babies.

No one wants to have a child that is born to them deformed. But in real life, as opposed to TV ad land, babies are sometimes born with deformities, like cleft lip and cleft palate. If you have heard of Topamax, there are ongoing Topamax lawsuit about this drug that cause kids to be born with those birth defects. Contact the expert lawyers to help you seek advice.

O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949

Wesak Day

2011-06-06T23:17:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow's Wesak Day. If you don't know what that is, it's a huge public holiday commemorating Lord Buddha's enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Wikipedia gives a short run down on it:

On Vesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions: The birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world.

Actually the name 'Wesak' or Vesak is only in use in Sri Lanka and in Malaysia, it's known by lots of other local names across Asia. I'm not a Buddhist, but as you know, Malaysia is a multi-cultural country that embraces different traditions.

Most Buddhists i know go vegetarian for the day, and spend the morning in the temple.

Incidentally, this year, Wesak falls on Labour Day, too.

Drugs and Side Effects

2011-05-18T10:11:00.002+08:00

Drugs are supposed to heal you. Say if you have a headache, you pop an aspirin and bam! after like 10 minutes you should feel a little better. Some drugs are for more serious problems, but by and large they are meant to do what they are meant to do.

But of course, most drugs have side effects. Sometimes it just a matter of jittery hands or a little sweat, sometimes its more serious.

Topamax is supposed to treat epileptic seizures in both kids and adults and headaches, but it can also result in birth defects in babies. You may have heard of Topamax lawsuits, if you are a victim of this condition call the expert lawyers to know what you can do.

Eureka

2011-05-12T20:24:00.000+08:00

Just watched this new show on TV called Eureka. I don't think it's the first episode but i think it just started on the telly, it's kind of cool. I remember it being advertised some weeks back about it being a hit TV series on the sci-fi channel in the US.

The effects were a little dodgy, but still can pass for a 2006 production, and the tech of it isn't all that great, but it still is quite interesting. The lead actor is kind of cool, and the supporting cast are quite good-looking. Maybe next week if i remember, i might catch the next episode.

Happy, Beautiful Babies

2011-05-11T09:44:00.002+08:00

A close pal of mine just had a baby - a beautiful girl at 2.66kg. After a few weeks now the kid is doing fine, so is the mother. That is what all parents wish for, a healthy, fully formed baby that is a blessing to the family. But sometimes some babies are born with some deformities, cleft lip or palate is one of them. What causes it? Some drugs do, like Topamax which is an anti-convulsant commonly prescribed to prevent headaches and epileptic seizures in children and adults.

If you think that you are a victim of this scenario, call O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath, who may be able to advice you on legal recourse for the side effects of Topamax. Speak to the experts and know your legal rights about Topamax birthdefect lawsuits.

Another Boss Rant

2011-05-01T11:22:00.000+08:00

Bleck. My boss joined us for the meeting today, first time he did after like 4 months. After half an hour of (barely) keeping quiet, he started his antics again. Bossing everyone around, showing that he knows more than anyone, exaggerating small little stuff as if they were life threatening issues (or in some cases, job-threatening issues), on and on. Once he goes on a roll, the productive part of the meeting pretty much ended, and there’s little to stop him going on and on.

Here’s the thing – I used to get really pissed off with him, but today, I find that after almost 3 years, I’m used to it. Yeah, I know, one year ago, the thought of me getting anything but annoyed at his put-on shows is mildly disturbing, but I find myself slightly amused at him. In fact I spent most of the time scribbling humourous notes to Vanessa sitting next to me.

Some of the guys in the meeting who have not seen my boss’ antics (or have not seen it in awhile) where in stunned silence, as if this was the divine wisdom revealed from a prophetic source. Yeah sure, sick around longer and you’ll hear the rerun of it. And then again, again, like a broken record.

Sometimes I feel sad for him. If by putting down other people and going all out to show how much (he thinks) he knows about the project and industry is the ONLY way he can make himself feel better or justify his undeserved seniority, fine by me. Whatever helps him sleep well at night. I just do my job, like a professional that I am. You do your job, I do mine.

Babies and Birth Defects

2011-03-30T22:52:00.002+08:00

The past weekend saw two of my friends welcome baby girls into their families. These births are accompanied by the usual fanfare, it is of course a blessing to friends and family to welcome a loving gift. Thankfully both deliveries went smoothly (although unexpected) and mummies and babies are doing well.

Sometimes birth defects happen, and parents can only accept it as part of life. But not if it is caused by medication like Topamax. There have been cases of this drug for epileptic seizures to cause cleft palate or lip in babies. If you are one such case, you can pursue a Topamax lawsuit to get justice. Just call the legal experts.

O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949

Blackout

2011-03-30T01:02:00.000+08:00

I came home from work today and, whoa, BLACKOUT! No electricity! This hasn't happened for awhile, but it took me by surprise. It's a good thing my wife had dinner ready earlier in the evening when it was still bright. Still, we had only 2 candles left, and we actually bought the box 8 years ago!

During the dark dinner i told my wife that we should go out grocery shopping. My wife had planned to do it tomorrow, but since i didn't want to sit around in the dark, feeling hot and feeding the mosquitoes, going out didn't seem like a bad idea.

After 2 hours of shopping, when we returned, there was still no power!

When You are Injured

2011-02-10T15:06:00.002+08:00

In my line of work, I visit a lot of constructions sites, sometimes to those that have heavy or highrise going on. Although I have my personal protection equipment on at all times (hard hat, safety boots, goggles, safety vest) there are times when danger is beyond your control. I have seen far too many accidents happen at the construction site due to negligience of other parties or unforseen circumstances.

If you are involved in any such incidents, there are avenues for recourse, contact Austin Personal Injury Attorney who are the experts in the area. They specialize in personal injury and auto accidents claims. You can contact them at O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949

Jordan aka Katie Price

2011-02-02T14:26:00.000+08:00

British tabloids go crazy over everyone famous, or claim to be famous. Not least Jordan aka Katie Price. I'm not particularly sure WHY she's famous, but I can see why she's always splashed on the cover of the papers.

This is the part where I am supposed to ramble a little bit upon the level of journalism and how it has desensitized the public's taste .... nevermind.

She is very photogenic, that much i must admit, haha.

Golden Opportunity

2010-11-06T10:42:00.004+08:00

With people everywhere feeling the pinch of the economy, there has never been a better time to invest your money for a more secure future. Invest in gold coins, they are the easiest and most accessible form of gold and silver investment there is.

The good people at US Gold Bureau are the experts with the experience to help you make a solid investment choice about your money. There are many types of coins to buy, get one that is right for your budget and liking.

Prices are always going up, now is the golden opportunity to invest to secure a brighter future for you and your family.

Holidays Blues

2010-11-06T10:42:00.000+08:00

Not that i am complaining, but it's a holiday, and i am bumming out. It's past twelve and i still haven't showered and changed, but at least i have got past the coffee and morning papers.

There's nothing good on TV as usual, but i have been busying myself on the Net. What am i going to do for the rest of the day? I probably am going to get my hair cropped later today, then the usual jogging. Maybe tonight there's something good to watch but i doubt it. American Idol comes on tomorrow, not tonight.

I like holiday blues. Over work, anytime.

Fondue Tuesday

2010-11-06T10:41:00.000+08:00

There's this new fondue place that opened up near my office. Not sure what kind of fondue they are serving, none of us has dared to try it out, waiting for someone to be the guinea pig to try it first.

Fondue places are really starting to take off here in the city, although it's nearly impossible for us to tell which is authentic and with is not. The only other time i've heard of fondue before this is in the Asterix comic, where it didn't sound all together wholesome (you have to read it to understand).

Maybe this afternoon we might try it. Maybe.

The Time is Now

2010-11-06T10:35:00.002+08:00

For some people, procrastination is a bigger sin than not ever doing something. Whether its a small task like washing your car or a bigger one like going for a medical check up, some people often place importance on doing something immediately.

This also applies to investing. Lots of people know the benefits of investing. Yet they never get round to actually doing it. Excuses that you always hear is no money yet, no time, etc.

But there may never be a better time for buying gold and silver bullion than right now. Demand is high, stocks are running low, the ore in natural form in the earth are even scarcer. And as a result of all this, bullion prices are skyrocketing.

Dems Lose Congress

2010-11-04T20:12:00.003+08:00

Obama and the Dems just got trounced in the mid-terms. Not good at all for the President elect, looks like its gonna be a tough 2 years for him and the big boys in the White House. The key issue that the GOP took to task was that the Dems were bankrupting the country and not doing enough to revive the economy.

As for the everyday man, life still goes on, and its a fact that the economy has seen better days. People who are investing need to more savvy and picky in where they store their money, to see out these lean years. Property isn't doing as well anymore, and the stock and bond markets are sluggish. But what about gold coins? This solid investment is still steady, backed by good fundamentals. Gold is short in supply, that's what keeps it demand high, and therefore pricier.

Why Buy Gold?

2010-10-18T13:14:00.002+08:00

If I were to ask you to buy gold as an investment, you'd probably ask me why. Many people aren't aware of buying gold or silver as a form of investment for the future, it is not as widely known as compared to real estate or buying shares. But think about it for a moment - gold has been held in the highest regard since the dawn of civilization by the ancients like the Chinese, Egyptians and Greeks.

It has been used as jewelry, ornaments, for idols, and everything that is held in high regard.

Now you can buy gold bullion as in investment to its rising price with the help of the experts at United States Gold Bureau. They have the experience and expertise to help you make wise investment choices.

I H8 Roaches

2010-10-17T23:40:00.000+08:00

Man, I hate roaches. My wife hates them even more, but i'm the one that has to kill them each time one of them strolls onto the toilet or kitchen floor.

Some crawl, some fly, some are tiny ones that run like mice. Either way, the best thing to do is to slap them down with a rolled up newspaper. Then starts the second process of cleaning up the icky brown innards and juice from the critters.

I read somewhere that these insects can survive a nuclear holocaust. How do these people know? Did they re-create a mini mushroom cloud in a lab with a few cockroaches? I dunno.

Maybe they should spend more time developing a device to rid my house of them critters more efficiently, once and for all.

Gold Coins

2010-10-17T20:24:00.003+08:00

I'm this rather new Facebook game called Frontierville, which is a bit like the more established Farmville but set in a Wild West frontier setting. Although the gold doesn't feature gold prospecting as an element in the game, gold features quite prominently as a form of currency, just like it did in real life.

When you need to buy something in the game, gold coins are used. One gold coin doesn't get you much, but in real life, a gold coin can REALLY get you a lot of stuff. Gold is the highest standard by which we compare everything else in terms of beauty, value and quality. Take the phrase 'gold standard', for instance.

You can buy gold coins as a form of solid investment because the price is increasing all the time.

I Love Mahjong

2010-10-17T20:23:00.000+08:00

Man, i love mahjong. My family used to play a lot of it when i was younger, and my in-laws still play it on a weekly basis. I don't get to play all that often, seeing that it's not easy to find three other likeminded people with time on their schedule, so i usually play the computer version.

It's not the same, but it helps that i can still play. The version i have on my pc is the hong kong style, which is different in the method of counting and scoring. But no matter, the basics are the same. Game on.

Goldfinger

2010-10-17T20:16:00.002+08:00

Remember that old James Bond movie starring the efferverscent Roger Moore? I definitely remember it. It was a little camp by today's action movie standards, but it was still enjoyable fun all around.

The scene that struck me the most (other than the girl covered in gold paint) was the scene in Goldfinger's vault, it was filled with gold bars and coins, portraying how rich he was. But that's how it is, isn't it? The ultimate sign of affluency is gold, whether it is in bullion or it is just a little bit on your ring finger.

But make no mistake, gold remains a solid investment in good and bad times. United States Gold Bureau are the right people to help you seek out a suitable investment in gold and silver.

Accutane and the Side Effects

2010-10-02T23:50:00.002+08:00

One of the more popular dermatological drugs out there today is Isotretinoin, or as it is more popularly known by its trade name Accutane. Maybe its a result of a growing consciousness on personal beauty or whatever, there are plenty of drugs out there that contain Accutane.

But just any or other drug, Accutane has its good and side effects. Good effects - thats pretty obvious, you get your acne cured. But there are a host of adverse side effects encountered before, in some cases inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis. So if you have encountered these health problems and you suspect it is because of Accutane, please seek legal help for a possibility of a Accutane lawsuit to protect your own interests.

Falling Down

2010-10-01T11:15:00.000+08:00

Took me more than 90 minutes to get to work today. The trip usually takes less than an hour, but with the early morning rain and the mini-floods, the city has ground to a standstill. City Hall always asserts that ‘every city has this problem’ but I think it isn’t a good excuse. If there is no room for improvement and everything is running efficiently, I can understand that. But sometimes these floods are due to poor maintenance and rubbish choking the rivers - stuff that can be mitigated easily.

So don’t sit back and do nothing while giving us excuses.

I think the residents our good city along with those that stay in the surrounding suburbs have more or less become numb to these problems, and simply putting up with it and where possible working around the problems.

But every so often, when push comes to shove, things will come to a head. Reminds me of Michael Douglas in 'Falling Down'.

Prospecting for Gold

2010-09-24T00:33:00.003+08:00

Was watching this old black and white movie about a prospector who goes to the wild west in search gold and treasures. After months of toiling alone breaking rocks and panhandling in the river, he finally strikes a rich vein in the rocks, and to which he shouts 'There's Gold EVERYWHERE!'

That is Hollywood for you. Maybe it did happen to some lucky prospector out there back in the day, but its not likely to happen today. Why? Because gold in its natural form as a mineral is very rare, and stocks is fast dwindling due to the ever increasing demand for gold. That is what makes it a logical investment choice. United States Gold Bureau can assist you to invest in gold bullion where your investment can return good value over time.

Gold is always in high demand as the symbol of purity, beauty and rarity.

Gold Everywhere

2010-09-18T09:47:00.002+08:00

If you watch those pirate movies like Pirates of the Carribean or the older ones, you would think there are chests of hidden gold coins buried in every beach on the tropics. Such hidden or sunken treasure may be abundant back in the days of the swashbuckling pirates and high seas, but these days gold coins and
gold bullions are a lot more scarce than that.

Why? Because as a mined natural resources, there are limited supply of it in natural source. And the stockpile of it is dwindling, due to demand far outstripping its supply. That's why the price of gold and silver is increasing. And simply put, that is what makes it valuable and a sound investment choice. United States Gold Bureau are the leading company to help you invest in gold and silver.

Studying While Serving

2010-09-15T11:07:00.002+08:00

For some young men and women, serving your country in the military is perhaps one of the highest calling and honor in life. Thousands of Americans voluntarily risk their life and limb to preserve the freedom and democracy of not only the country, but the rest of the free world. But joining the army doesn't mean giving up on your academic future. You can also opt to earn your college degree while in the service. In fact, armed with research degrees, many servicemen and officers have a bright future to advance your military career, and also to help you in later in life when you are no longer a soldier.

Check out MilitaryDegree.com and find out more about the options and courses available to you.

Falling Currencies

2010-09-11T09:07:00.002+08:00

There's an age old saying my parents used to have - money makes the world go round. While the saying is still heard these days, it isn't exactly applicable as it was back then. Currencies are losing value like the share market, every year we hear of national currencies being devalued and economies facing crises. What was worth a long a few years ago is not as valuable now.

But gold and silver still stand the test of time. It has always commandment the highest value of all precious metal since the dawn of civilization, and you can still buy and invest in gold bullion as a guarantee for good returns in the long run.

United States Gold Bureau will help make wise purchases of gold and silver to get the best returns for your money in these uncertain times.

Why Safety?

2010-08-31T09:46:00.002+08:00

People who work in industries such as building, manufacturing or heavy machineries are often seen wearing equipment that look strange to laymen, such as safety glasses, hard hats and safety vests. There's good reason for them, safety is very important when you are exposed to the dangerous elements in your workplace.

But getting good and reliable safety equipment is not cheap. That's why you should check out Discount Safety Gear, where you can get such products like starlite safety glasses and jackson safety glasses at competitive prices for your workplace. They have a wide range of products, check out their homepage and you can see every kind of personal protection equipment available.

Kim Kardashian Looks Good!

2010-08-15T11:15:00.000+08:00

You know Kim Kardashian, right? That reality TV star that is famous for being famous. Wel,, say what you want about her, but she's good looking. VERY good looking. She's not skinny and gaunt like most models or TV stars, she's got that full figure most women dream about. But what sets her apart is her grooming and make up, that transforms her from a beautiful person to an exceptional beauty.

If you have seen her show on E! or any of the specials that come on featuring her, you will see that she has a full team of stylist, beauticians and assistants that help her look good for the cameras. So its pretty much a testament to these backroom people that she looks perfectly coiffed on telly.

This underlines the important of good beauty training today. If you are inclined to this as a career, check out the premier beauty school in Wichita, Regency. Its the fastest growing school in the US today, and they are backed by years and years of experience and track record.

Visit their website www.regencybeauty.com to find out more.

Weeds

2010-08-12T23:36:00.002+08:00

Recently I've begun watching this new series on TV called Weeds. Actually it isn't new, they're showing the third or fourth season, but I'm watching the rerun of the first season.

If you are familiar with the show, you will know the storyline - a woman suddenly loses her husband to heartattack, has to singlehandedly raise up 2 (or was it 3?) kids. She's desperate for money, so resorts to selling marijuana ('weed') to her neighbors and friends, some of them high profile folks in the community.

Its a funny series, if rather unconventional. But the point here is that, left in a lurch, they have no money to fall back on. That is why the importance of sound investment cannot be undermined.

If you are looking for something solid and guarantees a good future price, check out gold bullion - something that has been revered for its beauty and precious value since the time of the ancients.

Getting By

2010-08-11T11:22:00.003+08:00

A lot of people like to say they are 'getting by' in terms of their finances and day to day living. This may mean a lot of things, it could a sense of false humility, or it could be a cover up of something far worse. But whatever the case, I don't think i know of many people who can freely admit that they are doing 'really well' these past few years.

For the talk from our government, the economy is not recovering and could be well be deteriorating by the week. My good friend just got laid off last week.

So what can we do in these tough times? Working harder is a given, but what about making your money work harder for you? Buying gold and silver like gold coins is a perfect way in this sense. Gold prices are climbing up due to dwindling stock piles, and and depleting sources in its natural form. United States Gold Bureau is the place to be to help you find a suitable investment to insure yourself in these hard times.

Pawning Your Family Heirlooms

2010-08-11T11:03:00.002+08:00

Lately I've taken to watching this new series called Pawn Stars on the History Channel. It's not really new but its new for me. Its about the daily happenings of a family owned pawn shop in Las Vegas, Nevada. Everyday, lots of people walk in with interesting items to pawn or sell. What makes the show interesting is the research they do to ascertain the value of the items.

But one constant thing that keeps people coming to sell off item, besides getting money for old junk, is that the economy is not getting better and many people are feeling the pinch. Many are getting laid off, hence they need money buy pawning family heirlooms.

One good thing in this gloomy economy is that there has never been a better time to buy gold or silver than now. The price is going up, and above ground stockpiles of silver bullion are low almost depleting. If you are looking to secure your financial future, buy gold coins through the United States Gold Bureau, as they are the premier professional establishment to invest in gold and silver

Good Company

2010-08-08T20:10:00.000+08:00

Call me cynical, but wedding dinners are getting to be a real drag for me these days. i was at one the other day, and it really felt longer than the three hours i was there.

It helps, though, if you have great food to begin with. And good company is another important factor. Actually, if the company is good, i don't mind mediocre or bad food. Good company makes a lot of difference.

Speaking of which i had lunch with 2 of my pals the other day. A lot of stuff to catch up on, it's been a long time since we chatted.

My Visit to the British Museum

2010-07-17T09:36:00.002+08:00

As you all know, i have the great pleasure of visiting Paris and London last month in the early summer, and I really had a good time. One of the highlights of the week long trip was my visit to the famous British Museum in London, I got to see all the famous displays that I had only read about in books and TV.

But there was one artifact that really caught my eye, it was a gold layer idol from the Inca civilization. Not only was it beautiful, it had a very interesting story to it as described in the plaque. Another interesting display in the classical Greek section was the gold coins engraved with the pictures of Alexander the Great.

Its obvious that even from back then gold was the standard that people held as being precious and beautiful. Things haven't changed much, today you can buy gold coins for their immense value as an investment. More so now, gold and silver are fetching good prices due to their dwindling supply in natural form.

Charlie Harper

2010-07-15T02:00:00.000+08:00

Is anyone watching Two and a Half Men, the new season? It's really funny. My wife and i are following it, and after 2 earlier seasons of good laughs, i think this time round it's even better.

They've made Charlie Sheen's Charlie Harper much more open in terms of his life, away from the two dimensional character with one-liners that we've come to expect earlier.

We're halfway through the season and i hope it stays funny. Less grandma this season, but more Bernice. I really wish they have more Rose too, she's really sweet.

Buffet Lunch

2010-07-14T11:05:00.000+08:00

Yesterday the contractors bought us buffet lunch at DePalma Inn in Ampang for celebration. It was okay, i was told they had initially planned to go to the Country Club nearby, but since DePalma was much nearer, that made the decision easier.

The food was just okay, but the selection was pretty small. I bet a lot of them noticed that, just these people mostly like plenty of variety in their food. But then again, as i always say, it's not so much the food, it's more of the company. 37 or more people turned up to honor me, so i shouldn't be complaining.

Nothing To Do At Work

2010-06-08T10:55:00.000+08:00

Some years back, I worked in this stuffy, serious office right in the middle of the city. It wasn’t any of those offices where the bosses were liberal and every day is Casual Day, this was one of those stuffy, dreary offices where the lighting is dim and everyone was dead boring. Except me la.

There the bosses worked from 9am to 7pm everyday, and if you told them a joke, they’d probably take 24 seconds to get it, then think you just insulted his mother.

The secretaries are all dry, old ladies who still wear fashion from the 70’s.

Anyway, one day this young executive joined the firm. He was all excited about the new job, came in the first day wearing his best new long-sleeved shirt (with classy fake ivory cufflinks) and a dark blue tie.

Except that no one told him nobody dresses like that there. Short sleeve shirts (but no polo tees) were standard issue uniform. Why? By 11am he found out why. Damn air-conditioning is so old it makes the office stuffy.

By 3pm, he was chugging down water every 5 minutes and trying to hide the underarms sweat patches. The next day, voila! He’s dressed in short sleeves like the rest of us! No tie.

Anyway, being the old fashioned office this was, they hardly gave him much work for the first 1 month, just "let him familiarize himself with the files first". So day one, he read all the files. Same for day two. By day three he starts reading the files again.

Day four, I see him studying the phone directory. By the end of the day I think he can memorize all our telephone extensions already.

Over the next few days, he does all of the following – study his table calendar, looks out of the window, drinks his cup of coffee r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w-l-y, read files again, tries to stay awake, checks his watch… you get the drift.

Anyway, I left the company soon after. I heard his left after month three. I wonder why.

Family Financial Concerns and Gold

2010-06-04T21:51:00.002+08:00

My friends, this couple with a 2 year old son, just had another bouncing baby girl. Well, the baby wasn't entirely planned, but they are really happy for the kid. Naturally they are also a little concerned with the financial situation, because they had just bought a new home and a new car prior to the birth.

The husband was asking me about investments to get some return on their money recently, and I introduced them to investing in gold. Why gold, they asked. Well, its simple. Its one of the most important commodities out there, and it has been the most treasured and precious metal since the time of the ancients.

A tiny investment is all you need to get started, and you can increase your returns by adding to your investment. One way to get started is simply to buy gold coins and you can rest assure your money will be working hard for you.

Investment Then And Now

2010-06-03T12:05:00.003+08:00

You know how your grandparents always tell you "a penny earned is a penny saved" right? Well, my grandparents used to keep their money under their mattress when they were young, and things have changed quite a bit.

Now we have many different investment instruments to keep our money busy while we are not looking. But what is the best option to invest your money in? Most people keep it in CDs or fixed deposits, if you have more money you can go for stocks or real estate and property.

But there's one solid investment that doesn't need a lot to start one - buy gold bullion. Gold is the cherished mineral that people have treasured since the time of the ancients. Gold, or even silver, now can be easily bought, and even the US government is also a huge investor.

Silver and Gold

2010-04-30T22:12:00.002+08:00

While talk of the healthcare Bill has subsided, and while Europe was temporarily distracted by the news of the Icelandic volcano and the UK general elections, Americans by and large are dealing with the still recovering economy. The country as a whole has not fully recovered to the days before 2009, and basically returns on the current investment vehicles like CDs and property remain modest to say the least.

But there is still one way to have a solid investment - buy gold bullion. Gold and silver remain good financial investments, with returns better than ever due to dwindling reserves. While other investment avenues are still subjected to fluctuating market conditions, gold and silver are still solid as ever.

Beauty and You

2010-04-21T10:43:00.002+08:00

Beauty may only be skin deep, but that does not stop women from constantly striving to achieve that perfection in beauty. That's why the beauty industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, covering fashion, cosmetics, surgery and the everything else in between.

But even for those with a minimalist approach to make-up, the basic lipstick and eyeshadow is a must. Maybe that's a factor that more and more people are looking towards a career in beauty, specifically cosmetology.

Regency is the premier cosmetology school in Minnesota with more than 50 years of experience. they have almost 30 campuses across America.

For more information, visit www.regencybeauty.com.

When?

2010-04-01T19:48:00.000+08:00

Call me impatient or what, but my internet connection is getting to be really slow these days! It’s not just one or two days, this has been going on for almost a week, and from what I’ve been hearing from the other bloggers, this seems to be affecting people in other areas of the city too.

What to do, we have to hope and wait for it to return to normal speeds. When? i've no idea. We have been waiting and waiting, now it comes on for a few minutes and poof! it's gone.

Most of my pals have sent in complaints to their customer service e-mail, but i doubt anyone reads them, let alone answers it.

Gold For Healthy Profits

2010-03-04T09:11:00.002+08:00

Recently I have been thinking about my money a lot (or lack thereof). I have one or two small investments, but its always never enough. Then a newspaper article caught my attention the other day. Gold price is moving up to a high in almost 2 weeks. Gold, as precious a metal as it is, has always been a strong investment not just in recent years but throughout history.

Recently the falling US dollar is affecting the price of commodities. This, coupled by some recent events in Europe and China will have a positive outcome on the price of gold. So if you consider it carefully, now is a great time to invest and buy gold bullion for some healthy profits.

Time for a Holiday

2010-02-04T15:25:00.002+08:00

With the booming popularity (and i saw 'booming' without exaggeration) of low cost carriers, everyone is travelling again. And travelling a lot. Maybe things haven't recovered to that level of the pre-9/11 days yet, but the recovering economy is seeing happy days for the tourism industry again.

That said, now's a good as any other to go on a holiday, especially if you are stuck in a 60 hour work week every week working your butt off for the man. Take some time off, de-stress with a relaxing family vacation, and be a better man / woman from the experience. Where would be great place to spend such a holiday? Well, Karisma hotels own five boutique hotels along the beautiful sun kissed Mexican Maya Riviera, and it is a place that has to be seen to be believed.

Come here for a stress-free holiday, where you can relax in a spa, go diving, enjoy world-class gourmet meals, or simply relax on the beach.

9 Goldfish

2010-02-01T23:13:00.000+08:00

There is a Chinese custom of having 9 goldfish in a tank. The tank is usually put in your home or place of business. You usually need 8 regular goldfish and one black one. I've no idea how this arrangement came about. But a lot of people do it.

Instead of having the hassle of maintaining a big fishtank, some people keep a picture of the nine goldfish, i suppose it represents the same thing. Drawing these pics take a lot of skill - calligraphy is definitely something that is well revered in ancient times.

My dentist has one of these pictures in his office. It was given to him as a gift when he first opened his business.

On Rare Coins

2009-10-16T19:26:00.002+08:00

One of the best ways to make money is to sell something that some one is willing to pay a much much higher price for some time in the near future. This forms the lowest denominator of any business venture, the simplest and fastest way to earn money.

This applies not only to business that sell stuff directly, it also applies to investment, although when it comes to the latter, a longer period of return usually means a higher rate of return. Monaco Rare Coin applies this very well, and they deal in certified coins that are rare and are highly sought.

Get their professional help and you are on your way to owning valuable coins that will appreciate in value over time. With their wide experience and market savvy that is top notch, they are the best people to advice you on all things concerning rare coins.

Not Too Early for Christmas Shopping!

2009-09-28T16:28:00.002+08:00

Sign, school has just started and not too long it will be winter and Christmas already. And along with Christmas comes with the most important (and stressful) thing to parents with kids - buying the presents. I have two schoolgoing kids, and although they're not really the demanding type, the presents mean the world to them and i really love the look in their eyes when they get a present that they like.

So this time round I'm gonna try and do something different - shop online for gifts. Well, at least that's my plan. This website, though, might make my job all the more easier - they have all sorts of cool stuff for young kids in one place. You can check their laundry bags, personalized kids backpacks and other cool stuff. What I really like is this stephen joseph quilted backpack.

Get A New Nap Mat for Your Kid

2009-08-26T14:10:00.002+08:00

Thank God for daycares! I'm a working parent, so there's no one at home to mind the kids while both parents are out at work or running errands. So its the convenient and safe option to place my kids at the care of the daycare, where they can learn and play, and also get some precious afternoon nap time. You just know how cranky kids can be when they don't enough of zzzzs in the afternoon...

For your kids to get a comfortable snooze, get a good daycare nap mat. That way you can ensure its clean and comfortable for your child. The new range of stephen joseph quilted backpack come in many shapes and colors to suit your kids fancy, they all are designed for easy use and portability. Very useful and attractive.

Vacation Time is Coming

2009-08-12T10:34:00.002+08:00

Guess what? Holidays are coming again at the end of this month. This time round my family aren't going anywhere, or at least there are no plans as yet. But if you are planning a family vacation, how does the Riviera Maya sound?

If you have not been to any one of the five Karisma hotels like El Dorado Seaside Suites or the Azul Beach Hotel, you will be astounded by their blend of gourmet meals, beautiful exclusive beaches and not to mention their excellent spa facilities. While the parents can enjoy a romantic and intimate candle light dinner, the children can have a whale of a time on the beach or their swimming pools.

Nothing gets better as family moment as enjoying the sunset from the balcony of your hotel room.

Investing in Rare Coins

2009-07-08T11:16:00.001+08:00

Ever considering buying something rare as an investment? We're not talking about Renaissance paintings or a Ming Dynasty vase, we know those can set you back a few million bucks. Something smaller, more affordable but still will guarantee an appreciation in value over the years.

Monaco Rare Coin which is part the well known Monex group of companies, specializes in a unique but ingenious investment plan that works well for investors and collectors. With their help you can find the rarest coins available in the market. Or you can get them to find a suitable coin investment that meets your budget.

Contact Monex to speak to their team of experience and knowledgeable staff. A solid investment in rare coins maybe your ticket to financial freedom.

Specially Designed Wedding Bands

2009-05-09T15:25:00.002+08:00

Just attended another wedding last weekend, this one was pretty different. They couple who were pretty well off, had designed their own gold bands and had they custom made. The bands incorporated both their initials and was something very different from the usual wedding rings.

They understood the significance of gold in the wedding ceremony - gold being the most precious of all metals. Since the time of ancient civilizations, gold has been the standard to which everything else is measured. To this day gold price still reflects their value and there has never been a better time to invest in it than now.

Monex is the leading authority in gold, they now have the American eagle gold coins in units of 10 one-ounce coins for personal delivery only, in 0.9167 fine gold. You can contact their large staff to help you find the most suitable form of gold investment to suit your needs.

Education for A Cause

2009-04-09T11:22:00.002+08:00

Most people get college degrees and PhDs for the sole purpose of getting a better paying job and making more money. There's nothing wrong with that, everyone needs a job and more money isn't a harmful thing. But some of us put our qualification and education for a more different cause.

Jeannie McGuire, armed with her master’s degree in human services from the online university, founded the Project Unity and was the and former chair of the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners (TSBSWE). In addition to that, she received the prestigious 2008 Sunny Andrews Award for outstanding commitment to social work from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).

Jeannie obtained her master’s degree in human services with a specialization in nonprofit management from Capella University, one of the most recognized online colleges. If you are looking for an online university offering degrees and PhDs in business, information technology, education, human services, psychology, public health, and public safety, look no further than Capella.

They have been around since 1993, and you can find out more at their website (http://www.capella.edu) or call their hotline 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Stock Options is the Way

2009-04-08T22:39:00.002+08:00

Worried about your money not getting enough returns for you? Well, you are not alone. I worry about it all the time. Let's face it, CDs don't bring much interest. So what else can you invest in to get the best returns? Investing in stock options using an options screener should warrant your careful study. You won't be doing it alone, you are equipped with PowerOptions and their patented SmartSearchXL® technology to find and analyze the best stocks for making money.

It's the only internet based data provider available out there, they can automatically find and sort for than 3000 optionable stocks and 195000 options online.

If you need help, they have a friendly user guide and tech support.

Maya Riviera

2009-04-08T19:56:00.002+08:00

I'll tell you a dream of mine. Its a combination of two loves of my life - travel, and food. It's have a sumptuous fine dining meal, in an exotic location.

Talk about exotic tourist locations - it doesn't get any better than down south in Mexico. And specifically, the Maya Riviera. And as for good food? Well, Karisma Hotels are having an excellent Adults Only All Inclusive Hotel deal where you can choose any one of their fine hotels and resorts along the fabled Maya Riviera to stay while enjoying the opportunity to dine of fabulous gourmet food by their reknowned chefs.

The concept is great - you get an intimate hotel room with beachside bar to rekindle that romance with your loved one, and even enjoy the services of their dedicated Beach Butlers to make your holiday experience wonderful.

And if your are a closet nudist, check out their Hidden Beach Resort Au Natural Club for some surprises... :)

Start Your Beauty Education Here

2009-04-08T19:40:00.003+08:00

If you are looking for part time or full time courses to become a beauty professional, but never knew where to even begin looking, now here is something that would interest you. Cosmetology needs good training and professional teachers to be taught well, and Regency is one of the market leaders in the industry.

They started with only 2 schools back in 2002, now they have grown to over 30 schools across nine states. If you are in Texas, you may want to check out their beauty school houston, to be near your area. Not only do they have classes on campus, their placement relationships bring students the opportunity to train in salons, cruise ships and runways. Start right, start with Regency.

Medical Supplies For the Bedridden

2009-03-11T16:07:00.002+08:00

My maternal granddad live to 92 years old, the last couple of years were pretty rough on him. Besides being ill and sickly all the time, he was pretty much bedridden 24/7 and needed constant care from my mom. We could not afford to send him to a nursing home or hospital, but we managed the best we could.

This was like 20 years ago, when we lived in a small town and didn't have easy access to medication all the time. If we had AllegroMedical.com back then, things would have been much more convenient. They started in 1996 and they now are one of the biggest and most technologically advanced site selling a variety of medical supplies and home healthcare products, like ostomy supplies. They even have fitness equipment and outdoor gear.

Gold and Other Metals

2009-03-05T14:50:00.002+08:00

What's the most expensive and valuable metal you can think of? Gold. Its the most prized metal throughout history, from the time of the Greeks and Egyptians right down until now. When you get married, you would probably exchange gold rings to signify to purity and sanctity of your love.

Gold is also one of the most stable and best investment available there is for money. Because gold is a limited mined resource, the price can only keep going up and up over the long term.

Monex offers you the opportunity to invest in gold, in the form of one ounce gold, made from 0.9167 fine gold. The legal tender coin in the USA with a $50 face value. If you are interested in silver as an investment, Monex also can provide this avenue and also many other precious metals.

Captain Jack

2009-03-04T22:00:00.000+08:00

Summer is coming and so are the blockbusters. As with almost every year for the last 20 years or so, it's the big action movies and their many sequels that promise to make the biggest impact. Nowadays it seems to be the norm to spend an excess of US$120 million for a 100-minute movie. Gone are the days of US$7 million sleeper hits, made by an indie directed with money financed by friends.

I'm not being pessimistic, i love all kind of movies. I'm looking forward to Pirates of the Caribbean, that promises to be a good one. I do hope it's the last one, maybe 3 movies is the furthest it can go before starting to look old.

Chow Yuen Fatt is acting in this one. He goes by the name Yun-Fat Chow these days, he use to act in lots of Hong Kong TV serials. Most of them are classics now. He then moved to movies in the 80's and 90's, before hitting it big in the US with The Replacement Killers, i think.

And then there is ... Captain Jack Sparrow!!

Free Wordpress Themes

2009-02-26T09:54:00.002+08:00

What's the one coolest feature of having a wordpress blog? Any blogger will tell you its the changeable themes. Do a google search on 'wordpress themes' and you will immediately see literally thousands and thousands of free themes available for download. These are all designed by normal folks and freely distributed.

But with so many sites and directories out there, its a bit overwhelming to sift through all of them just to find that right one for you to show on your blog. Let me make it very much easier for you - go to recommended wordpress themes and immediately you can see only the best and most beautiful ones available out there.

Quality Eyewear, Best Prices

2009-02-09T11:17:00.002+08:00

I definitely need to get new glasses, this old pair is getting blurry after a year plus of use. I think its a sign of aging when your eyesights goes worse by the year.

This time round i don't plan on going to my usual optician to get my glasses done. Zenni Optical in the New York Times?! features Zenni Optical as the place to get really cheap glasses. How cheap? Prescription eyeglasses for only $8! Unbeatable prices.

They have many types of frames available - I'm partial to their aluminum half-rim frame, the same type i have now. Zenni Optical is definitely the cheapest in quality frames where they live up to the hype - Seeing Straight Without Breaking Bank

Is An MBA Really Worth It?

2009-01-06T23:00:00.000+08:00

Last Sunday i found out another friend of mine has actually been doing an MBA all this while. Actually he did it some time back, but left the last module unfinished for some time, and now he is in the midst of finishing it, with classes in the weekend and some week nights.

I had some plans to it some years back, but everytime i enquired about it, the difficult thing is always the cost. it's about $26k. It's ironic how time isn't the factor for me, seeing that I'm always short of time. It's the money.

I dunno, maybe when i have saved up enough i might go for it, hopefully by then i would not be too old to make it worth it.

Furthering Your Studies in the Recession

2009-01-06T21:42:00.002+08:00

Last night at a dinner party, i heard someone say this that got me thinking - with the economy expected to be on the slide for this year, its as good as any time to further your studies if you've been putting it off all time.

Well, there's a lot of truth there. I myself have been putting off doing my MBA for years now, and with the convenience of doing your degree online these days, there no better time than now. Cappella University offers quality education targeted at working adults like me.

More than 24,000 students have joined Capella University to get their prestigious degree online in such varied fields such as business, information technology, education, human services, psychology, public health, and public safety. These include both master's degrees and doctorates.

They are fully accredited and have all the enrollment info at their website. They have released their latest podcast with info on how to apply for study loans with them.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Getting Hitched

2009-01-06T21:32:00.002+08:00

When my wife and i finally got hitched 9 years ago, we pretty much did all the planning and coordination ourselves. We shopped for all the essentials on a shoe string budget - gown, wedding photo package, flowers, even right down to the guest book and program leaflet for guests.

Of course the wedding turned out to be a small but wonderful affair, we were grateful for all the friends and family that helped out in the end. We got great gifts too, no bullion, but practical and lovely gifts.

That was then. These days, Wedding Planning is a cinch when you have a website like weddingchannel.com. The site has pretty much everything you need when it comes to matrimony - flowers, dresses, songs, and tips to make you most important day a success. They even have a wedding gift registry so you don't have to fret about coordinating it yourself. Check it out and you will definitely be impressed.

Beauty Jobs

2008-12-30T10:15:00.003+08:00

My sister had always harbored a dream of being a famous beautician when she was a little kid growing up. She would always play dressing up with her dolls and pretend to apply makeup to them, or do their hair, as the way i guess most small girls do.

I think one summer during college she spent her holidays working as a part time apprentice at the local beauty parlor. But as she grew older i think the dream faded fast, now she's a marketing executive at a large multinational firm.

Getting jobs in the beauty industry in the beauty industry is not an easy thing, even if you are highly qualified or have loads of experience. My sister got her apprenticeship because she knew the owner, but anyway that was just a 2 month part time gig anyway.

But if you are looking for employment or employees, you can go to beautyjobs.com, its all there. Just key in your zip code or select your preferences, you can see all the openings, whether you're a cosmetologist or a sales consultant.

Beautiful Jewelry

2008-12-30T10:03:00.003+08:00

As any woman about jewelry and their eyes will usually sparkle at the mention of the topic. Because beautiful jewelry, enhances the beauty of a woman, and with the right accessories, can make really make a difference and turn heads. But buying and wearing jewelry is not unlike any other clothing accessory. The are so many types of jewelry available, if you do not know what you want sometimes it is pretty intimidating to browse and buy for it.

A good website like holsted jewelry can be an excellent place to start. They have a wide range of exclusively made jewelry designed with the latest cutting edge technology to bring the sparkling beauty of diamonds to you. They have other precious stones, too, and whether you are looking for earrings, necklaces, pendants or any type of specialized ornament, for any kind of budget, they have it. Recommended.

Protect Your Data

2008-12-17T10:59:00.002+08:00

If you run a business that relies heavily on data stored on servers, whether small or large, you would appreciate the importance of its safety and security. At our office here we have 2 servers, a small one here and a larger one at our HQ, which handles mostly the web-based applications.

Whether you need data protection solutions, data integration, data protection or data sort facilities, for mainframe, UNIX, Linux or Windows environments, Syncsort is the all in one package that offer superior product specs and experienced technical support.

According to their website, Syncsort supports more than 90 percent of Fortune 100 companies, which is a endorsement on their reliability to handle large and sensitive data systems. They are used in more than 50 countries and are continually expanding worldwide.

Birthdays And All That Jazz

2008-12-17T08:30:00.000+08:00

Seems like a lot of my friends' birthdays fall in September. Well, okay, either September or October. i wonder why. it's probably some strange coincidence, since there are 6 billion people on earth at the moment, so i think generally the distribution of birthdays over every single day of the year is pretty uniform, save for February 29th.

Today's my friend's birthday, it falls on the same day as the installation of our new king. Now that's a coincidence, since the date of the installation is a chosen date, but on the other hand, my friend pretty much didn't have any say as to when his birthday was.

Birthdays tend to get overrated as you grow older. I'm not saying that out of cynicism, it's just that (unless you're a old billionaire where lots of people are sucking up to you) birthdays are only a reminder that you are a year older, but not necessarily wiser. I am extremely blessed to be able to celebrate my birthdays with my family, and usually with good food.

Anyways, life isn't all about birthdays, probably that's why they come but once a year. The other 364 days matter as much, which is probably far more important to your own well being.

Go Mexico

2008-12-16T12:29:00.003+08:00

Mention Mexico and most people have in their mind a picture of sunny beaches and beautiful resorts, a tropical paradise that serves as an idyllic getaway from the dusty city life and hectic schedules. More and more people are making Mexico their number one destination, not only for holidays, but for wedding and parties, and even large family gatherings (the movie 'Hearbreak Kid' starring Ben Stiller comes to mind).

If you are dreaming of spending this christmas holidays on the beach or by the pool, sipping margaritas, watching the silver reflection of the sun on the water, check out Karisma Hotels, a chain of hotels and resorts along the Mayan Riviera, which is one of the coolest places you can be.

What is special is the gourmet experience of all inclusive mexico that they offer, where you can enjoy the sun and beaches, while indulging in gourmet fine dining like no where else.

So imagine this Christmas when most of your friends are freezing in the winter, you can be relaxing in Mexico!

President Obama's Healthcare Plan

2008-12-05T09:34:00.002+08:00

November would probably go down in history as the month America elected their first black president, and also the day America voted for change. President Obama basically ran on the campaign promising change from 8 years of Republican/Bush, and these changes are in many areas, like the war in Iraq and healthcare.

While not as prominently highlighted in the media as the Iraq issue, healthcare affects American just as much as other major issues. The big question here is, since President Elect Obama seeks to provide health insurance for millions of uninsured citizens, what's the best way to make coverage available to everyone without raising costs for those that can afford to pay?

Due to the financial meltdown in the US and worldwide, the next two to three years will be difficult financially for the US government, thereby making this healthcare issue more complicated. Read some of the comments on the issue here.

They Say the Elections Are Coming…

2008-12-03T15:18:00.000+08:00

They’ve started to re-pave the road leading into the kampong near my house, so I’m thinking the elections are coming soon. The last time they paved the pothole-ridden asphalt road was like, 5 years ago (go figure).

As any responsible Malaysian, you should go and register and vote. Here’s a few good reasons why.

Four Good Reasons To Register And Vote During the Election

Legit bragging rights with your under-age friends that, "I've voted in the elections because I KNOW my vote COUNTS in making this great COUNTRY a better place, man."

Free political party buttons.

You get to knock off early from work ‘to go and vote’. Usually, people take enough time to sneak back home for a snooze, have a kopi tarik at the mamak, THEN go and vote about 4.50pm.

It’s just one BIG Malaysian Idol / AFUNDI contest, but with contestants that sing less and talk more.

I haven’t really voted that often, seeing that I just took my SPM a few years ago (ahem), but I remember the last one very well. I had to hitch a ride from my neighbours motorcycle since my car was blocked by too many cars jamming up the roads.

In the 5 minutes I rode pillion with the nice Indian uncle that lived on the next street, I had to listen to him talk about ‘this politician who has a Swiss bank account’ and ‘how corrupted that guy running in my wife’s constituency is’.

Next time I’m walking to the polling station. All 500 meters from my house to there.

Personal Injury

2008-12-02T16:41:00.003+08:00

Everyone needs a good lawyer. Its a fact you don't really appreciate until you desperately need one, especially when you are hit with an accident or injury. At that point in time, a good lawyer can really make a difference. A really good lawyer who knows the ins and outs of the law.

In the meantime, now is as good as any time to learn as much as possible personal injury and other issues on the matter. Or you can also look for a legal firm that can advise you. Personal Injury Lawyer Austin has a great blog that frequently posts up questions that we often face, relationg to personal injury law. Their objective is to maximize recovery for their client, and you can find lots of info and links to useful websites.

One posting that I found very interesting was about Defective Products and Products Liability, something that i actually deal with in my line of work.

And Another Thing About My Wonderful Neighbours

2008-11-25T19:23:00.000+08:00

I’ve mentioned my neighbours before, and after a quite few months, they’ve acted up again. As I’m typing now, one of the couples staying there are having a massive shouting matches (I’ve no idea what’s it about, I can’t make out the screaming words at the top of their voices). It’s a bit like those Hong Kong serials really, except they not as good-looking or have designer apartments, and also here they use a lot more vulgarities than on TV. A LOT more.

These shouting matches tend to follow a certain pattern, but I notice it not because I’m so the very paat, but with these thin walls of my low cost house, privacy doesn’t mean much around here.

First girl’s mother comes and visit. Then after a weekend or a week, the old lady goes home. I know this because the old lady will wash everything there is to wash in the house – bedding, tablecloth, mats, etc. that never gets washed unless when she’s around. I also know whenever she’s around because the girl and mother will be trading gossip loudly through the night.

Then after the nice old lady goes home, after a day or two, the guy and girl disagree on something. I can’t say for sure if it really has anything the nice visiting mother, their profanity-laced shoutings are too complicated for me.

After a few minutes of screaming, I can hear things being thrown, doors slammed, and tables (or cupboards) thumped. Not necessarily in that order. Ah, the many splendours of marital bliss...

Then the screaming goes outside, one party (I’m not interested to stick my head outside to see which party) slams car door (heavily modded racerboy Honda Civic), drives off.

The next day things are back to normal, whatever passes for normal around here.

At least until nice old lady visits again.

Viva Las Vegas

2008-11-24T22:00:00.001+08:00

Las Vegas. Ah, the very name of the city conjures up images of high risk gambling, fabulous shows with luminaries like Tom Jones and Celine Dion, poolside parties, and exciting nightlife.

Yes, it’s the city that never sleeps. And the one element that makes people come back year after year is the incomparable Las Vegas Shows. There is simply nothing else on earth like it. Whether it’s the big stars performing, Cirque de Soleil performing to the music of the evergreen Beatles hits, or the beautiful performing showgirls, there is always something for everyone in Las Vegas.

But of course, like any crowd-pulling main event, getting a ticket can present some problems if you don’t know how to go about acquiring them. But now there’s an easy way, book them online. ShowsLasVegas.com is the biggest ticketing company for all the shows in the city, and they have the best rates, too. All you have to do is check their website and you’ll see the entire listing there. Book with them and you won’t be disappointed to miss any of the shows.

Come Play Online

2008-10-26T09:13:00.003+08:00

There are plenty of casino websites and online gaming sites out there today, probably as a testament of how popular playing online games is today. Most of my friends are into it. The attractions are pretty obvious to see - any time of the day you can play the games you like. You don't need to leave your home or wait for three or more of your buddies to come over and start a game.

But too many sites out there can pose a big problem – which one do you choose? Admittedly there are quite a few excellent gaming sites available, but there are also many that aren’t as great as you would expect. Some have very few participants, some actually have many requirements for you to join that literally sap the fun out of the gaming experience.

This website - www.casino.de, available in both German and English is one of the better ones we have seen. Their selection of games is pretty impressive, they have our favorite roulette game and also the many types of poker available to suit your tastes. If you are new to online gaming they also have a visual section that teaches you the basics so that you can be off playing in no time.

They have many ongoing promotions for specific games, so do check in on their website to get the scoop.

Living With Credit

2008-09-19T21:01:00.002+08:00

On the last count, I have two active credit cards at the moment, and my wife carries a supplementary card from me. I used to have another two (that will make four in total) but after a few years I had come to the realization I hardly use more than one at any time.

But that's just me and my family. I have friends that carry many more, maybe their lifestyle require that they need all that credit, and I can easily understand why. Everything cost a lot of money these days, like food and gas prices, so carrying all that cash is no longer an option.

So with banks and companies offering new credit card schemes every month, which card suits you best? Some people stick with the big corporations like Amex and Diners Club, but with the competitive discounts and rewards that some of these cards offer, the choice is really astounding. Sometimes its difficult to track these changes, so the best place is to find a suitable website that tells you all about the Credit Card Rates Changes.

They also offer cards for those with bad credit, and cards are also sorted by the deals and promotions on offer, so its all very easy to browse and immediately find the card that suits your lifestyle and spending habits.

Looking For A Credit Card?

2008-09-18T10:04:00.004+08:00

Everybody needs credit, whether they realize it or not. Almost everyone carries at least one credit card with them (unless you are one of those very few who have the privilege to pay with cash), while loans like home loans and personal loans are getting more popular than ever.

But back to credit cards. Where would you start looking for one if you have bad credit history? Well, a very good place to start would be MegaCredit, an excellent site that on first glance, puts their best feature forward. On the front page they list the best cards for each category of usage, like Best Overall Card and Best for Bad Credit (which is the most useful for folks like me).

The site is intuitive and has a step by step process to help you choose the best card for you. You can also find a listing of all the available cards on the site, and you can easily compare the benefits and discounts that they are offering at the moment. Most of the major cards are represented here, like Citibank, Discover and Capital One.

Any cool feature which I found interesting is the Credit Card education section. Here they have a collection of useful articles related to different types of credit cards and tips on how to get the maximum mileage and benefits from using them.
All in all, it is a comprehensive website that has it all in an easy-to-use site.

Hypokalemia

2008-09-12T14:12:00.001+08:00

My mom was a nurse before she retired some years back, first with the government hospitals then later with the private practice. She used to bring back these medical catalogues and directories, listing hundreds of different new drugs in the market, all with their strange sounding names that remind me more of Japanese robots than medicine.

With Epocrates, you can now handily look up medicine information without all those directories like i used to have. The website is free and is used by more than 500,000 healthcare professionals, and uses a new web-based application to provide drug reference guide, new disease database, and knowledge bank. For example if you are looking for info on Hypokalemia, Epocrates has all the lowdown on it.

This announcement was paid for by Epocrates.

SMART Tunnel Opening Next Week

2008-09-10T17:00:00.000+08:00

I don't know... the Smart Tunnel will be opened next Monday, that's what the news said today. After 4 long years of traffic james and messy construction, it's finally completed. They won't be charging toll yet for the time being, seeing that the government has yet to confirm the toll rates.

I'm skeptical it will alleviate the horrendous jam at the strip of road leading into the city, and i am also skeptical about the effectiveness of it's other intended use, as a flood mitigation measure. the other day were we caught in a terrible jam by a small flooding right above the tunnel during it's testing stage. So much for a SMART tunnel.

The toll, well, i'm thinking it ain't gonna be cheap, that's for sure. Think about all the money that went into the years of construction, land acquisition, etc. I'm thinking it's definitely more than 2 bucks for that short stretch.

Medical Supplies Delivered to You

2008-09-01T10:13:00.000+08:00

When you are in need of medical supplies on a regular basis especially if you have a long term illness or a condition that needs constant treatment, you will be looking for a convenient place that can provide you with a handy supply of equipment and medicine. A physical shop might be able to do that if it is near to your residence, but a better solution is Allegro Medical. They have been around since 1996 and are one of the leading independently owned e-commerce websites specializing in specialized medical equipment and mainstream consumer retail products.

They have a wide range of products, evident if you take a look at their website. Some of the products on offer are FreeStyle Diabetes Test Strips, Breast Feeding Pillow, Shower Chair and handicapped toilet. Make sure to check out their free Allegro eCatalog that can get you good deals at great prices.

Reliance on Cards

2008-08-11T14:32:00.001+08:00

What if I told you that you had to live without credit for a short period of time, say one month? Maybe some of you would answer immediately that it would not be a problem, but if it this experiment were to be carried out for real, I think many of us will realize that it is not as easy as you think.

Why is that so? Because credit has been such a huge part in our lives without most of us noticing it, and our reliance on it has become part and parcel of our spending and lifestyle habits. For example, we will not even think twice about paying for gas with our credit card at the pump, whereas if you were to live without credit, you would have to make sure that you had enough cash or you wouldn’t have any gas.

But what card is the best out there? That’s not an easy question either. There are literally hundreds of cards available out there, each with their own benefits and perks and tie-ins to draw the customers. Get the low-down on which card offers what at the excellent Credit-Cards-Guide.net where all the work is done for you already. You can breezily see the listings and comparisons to see which card suits your needs the best.

Anyone Remember Vanilla Ice?

2008-07-27T22:31:00.000+08:00

Oooh, who can forget him? The white boy with the solidly gelled-up hairdo and the raised eyebrow, making strange signs with his fingers (doesn’t it look strangely like the Vulcan welcome gesture?) and making everyone suddenly start thinking rap is cool and clean fun?

(Sidenote: This is the second in the start-stop series of Anyone Remember... series, where I reminiscent about some forgotten star of the 80’s and 70’s. The first one was Milli Vanilli. Boy, was that a good one...! End of sidenote.)

In 1990-91, ‘Ice Ice Baby’ was everywhere, man. My neighbour was so into it, he went out and bought the tape, and played it at full volume on his boombox (to the annoyance of his grandmother), while he tried to keep up with the lyrics in the liner notes.

Speaking of lyrics, Ice Ice Baby has got to be a poetic masterpiece. Who else can come up rhymes like (my comments in red):

"Something grabs a hold of me tightly , Flow like a harpoon daily and nightly" (WHO uses a harpoon 24 hours a daily? Captain Ahab?!)

"To the extreme I rock a mic like a vandal , Light up a stage and wax a chump like a candle" (what's a chump? And what's it doing waxing a candle?)

"I'm cooking MC's like a pound of bacon, Burning them if you ain't quick and nimble" (other rappers obvious didn't take his threats of cannibalism very seriously...)

"Reading for the chumps on the wall, The chumps acting ill because they're so full of eight balls" (eight balls?! no comment...)

Yes, yes, its one of those things from the 80’s that is unbelievably corny like shoulder pads and Teen Wolf.

Below: shoulder pads.

Below: Teen Wolf!

My friend Ray told me he tried to record a cover version with a few other friends once. To get the sound effects in the opening bars, they put some rice grains in a glass bottle, and used the cymbals on the church drums. Then you can imagine a Malaysian Chinese ah beng trying to rap like Vanilla Ice (yeah, I know it sounds funny) going, "Rolling, in 5.0, with the rag top up so my hair can blow..."

If that copy of the cover version survived to this day, I bet Ray could make some good money for it on eBay. Or at least on YouTube.

Anyways, Vanilla Ice made it big for being the first white guy to hit it (as opposed to the black rappers of the day like Run DMC and er, MC Hammer...), and with hooks sampled from Queen and Bowie, rose dramatically, and sank equally fast after that.

Vanilla Ice and his 'Ice Ice Baby' lives on in those flashback shows on VH1 every week, not to mention on the receiving end of jokes by late night show comedians.

Some years ago, I heard that he grew dreadlocks and ran a motorbike shop. On the cold winter nights, when the bike shop is closed and everyone has left, I wonder if he clears the workspace, and trace back that kicking dance move as the cranked up PA system goes:

"Dum-dum-Dum-dum-duh dum-dum, Alright, stop, collaborate and listen..."

Card With Free Miles

2008-07-27T19:52:00.000+08:00

Everyone carries a credit card these days, some of my friends even carry two or three of them with them all the time. Why, I don’t even know. Maybe for some retail emergency I suppose. But sometimes as consumers we rely on credit too much, without us even realizing it. We pay for almost every purchase we make with that plastic card, even for small purchases.
It is no wonder banks and financial institutions are rushing to grab customers to use their cards, enticing us with loads of benefits and freebies. Sometimes they offer better rates for partner merchants, sometimes they have special one-off deals for certain purchases.
It is all pretty confusing if you are looking for a new credit card and are not really sure which one to get. We admit, sometimes it is difficult to make a comparison with all the different factors that are played into the card. If you in the market for a card, check out this site where they list down all the major cards available out there and they give you the complete rundown of the benefits available. Perhaps you are looking for credit card deals with free miles, you can then easily look for it here.

PayPal Problem Solved

2008-07-26T20:12:00.000+08:00

I heard PayPal has solved the earlier problem of users not able to accept funds without adding a bank account. Understandably, the problem has been causing a lot of headaches for some users, especially those with a lot of money stuck at the accept/deny query.

Anyway I am glad they've resolved this issue, and everyone can use paypal easily now. For those who are not familiar with Paypal, it's sort of an Internet currently for buying and selling stuff online, you can check out their website at Paypal.com for more info.

Silver Bars

2008-07-24T10:30:00.001+08:00

Silver is regarded as one of the most precious metals in the world, alongside its counterpart, gold. Both gold and silver have been long treasured since the dawn of civilization, ever since man learnt how to mine the earth for precious metals and minerals.

As a precious metal that has limited and depleting natural resources, it is therefore something that will appreciate in value as time goes by. Silver by itself is a beautiful metal, and can be fashioned into many different types of uses, most popular being jewelry and ornaments.

Monex Deposit Company (MDC) offers a way for those of us who are inexperienced in buying precious metals for investment such as gold silver, platinum and palladium and they will personally deliver it to you. Besides that they also offer the convenience of safe storage to ensure its safety either in an independent bank or depository. The company is backd by 30 years of experience and they are America’s gold and precious metals investment leader.

So with the volatility of the housing market and currency markets, silver is the better investment option in the long term. Get your silver bars and make sure your future is secure.

The Old Honda Accord

2008-06-26T11:06:00.002+08:00

My uncle still drives his old Honda Accord, even after all these years. We keep asking him to change to a newer, more reliable car, but he keeps it running in good condition, and besides he's got this special sentimental attachment to the car. I think he got married when he first bought that white Accord.

But these days he admits its harder and harder to maintain the vehicle, as with any old model that aren't as efficient as they used to be. The other big problem for him is how difficult it is for him to find spare parts. Not only can they be hard to find especially for discontinued models, plus it is also usually very expensive. But i've managed to find a radiator for him the other day. The site radiators.com carry all the major Honda Radiator models, and most importantly the one he was looking for.

They're very professional folks, they can assist with their professional advice and they stock lots and lots of models for most new and old cars. Recommended.

Great Scenes From That Great Show … #1

2008-06-18T18:35:00.000+08:00

Rachel: Oh my God... What.. What are you guys doing here?

Phoebe: Okay, you're on.

Rachel: What? What? Ross, you're scaring me. What's going on?

Ross: Okay, the thing is..

Rachel: Yeah?

Ross: Don't go.

Rachel: What?

Ross: Please, please stay with me. I am so in love with you. Please, don't go.

Rachel: Oh my God.

Ross: I know, I know. I shouldn't have waited 'till now to say it, but I'm.. That was stupid, okay? I'm sorry, but I'm telling you now. I love you. Do not get on this plane.

Gate attendant #2: Miss? Are you boarding the plane?

Ross: Hey, hey. I know you love me. I know you do.

Gate attendant #2: Miss?

Rachel: I - I have to get on the plane.

Ross: No, you don't.

Rachel: Yes, I do.

Ross: No, you don't.

Rachel: They're waiting for me, Ross. I can't do this right now, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Ross: Rachel?

Rachel: I'm so sorry.

(She boards the plane.)

Ross: I really thought she'd stay.

Phoebe: I'm sorry.

(Phoebe hugs Ross.)

(okay i know this pic isn't the exact scene, but it's from the same season, this is from the "Never off the table" scene...)

I'm a huge fan of the show... i was watching 'Derailed' starring Jennifer Aniston, i was reminded of this great scene. For those who can't remember, (or are unfortunate enough not to have watched it), it's from the second last episode, of the closing season.

Like i said, i love the show. Where's my DVD box set now?

For Doctors On The Go

2008-06-18T15:46:00.002+08:00

Doctors are always busy people, trust me i know i've spent a lot of time waiting for them in their waiting rooms and hospitals. And now with the every increasing demand of treatment for critical cases and emergencies, doctors are finding themselves on the move and making housecalls.

That's all and good, but that means that the doctors and medical personnel are without their medical information when away from the desk, unless you have prepared to take it with beforehand. But now you can. Epocrates has a great system to offer on the go doctors to be able to view important medical information via a PDA (personal digital assistant) or a smartphone. The system, a kind of PDA medical software is now used by over half a million healthcare professionals.

Think about what a difference such speed of info can make. The package comes with free medical PDA software for most platforms, and more are in the pipleline for iPhone, iPod and Blackberry devices.

This can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

This announcement was paid for by Epocrates.

No Credit Credit Cards

2008-06-16T19:55:00.000+08:00

Everyone has credit cards. I have 2 myself, but I only use one frequently, the other is only for emergency use, but in my 12 years of using the first one, it has not failed me yet. But everyone else I know have at least has 2 or three, and most of them actively use them all the time, in part due to our active lifestyle in this day and age.

But credit in our lives today, permeates our lifestyles more than in the form of credit card, we take credit in the form of home loans, personal loans and car loans. I am currently servicing one huge car loan and an even bigger home loan.
If you have problems getting a card, due to any particular reason like having a bad credit history, you can imagine the problems you have with cashflow. You can’t get a credit card, you have problems getting your loans approved (if they even get considered at all) and you probably have to rely a lot of cash, which you don’t have a lot of, and is the precise reason why you need credit in the first place. Check out no credit credit card they have the listings of all the best cards for people with no credit. Very nifty website, they are heaven sent for some of us.

Protecting Women

2008-06-10T13:58:00.002+08:00

Ladies out there, its always difficult to find good people that are likeminded with you, whether they are guys or girls. If you are looking for a relationship or just wanting to meet men, then you can understand the difficulties that come along with it. There are lots of unsavory characters out there, and sometimes you won't be able to tell if a guy is one or not by just looking at them.

But meeting new friends on the Internet is getting more and more popular these days. But with the anonymity that the Internet offers poses a whole new level of dangers, although it also opens up your opportunity to a wider number of friends.

So what can you do about it to protect yourselves from these pitfalls and dangers?

Stephany Alexander is a dating expert that runs an excellent website that targets to help women in this area. As a relationship expert aims to help modern women deal with men by networking together to share their stories to bring the good guys. The website works on the maxim of "research and rate BEFORE they date" to be able to make better choices, and save women all over the world a lot of heartache.

Going Back to Wisma Atria

2008-06-08T09:50:00.000+08:00

Some time ago when I was on school holiday, I came up to KL by express bus to visit my sister for a few days. She was living in SS2 at that time, and the one thing I remembered was she brought me to Swensen’s near Wisma Atria in Damansara Jaya.

That was the very first time I came to Wisma Atria. Yes, long before The Curve or 1 Utama or Mid Valley, PJ had Wisma Atria, the modest shopping mall surrounded by shop offices servicing the middle class residents of Damansara Jaya, SS2 and Damansara Utama. It was never as happening as those huge malls in KL at that time, but it thrived as a community mall, with its family based shops and eateries. There was also a little Parkson, where housewives came to do their shopping during the weekdays, and families hung out together during the weekends at Esquire Kitchen or KFC.

Then later when I first came to work in KL and stayed in SS2 as well, I came to Wisma Atria almost every weekend, during the times when I wasn’t in Imbi Plaza (that’s another place I should blog about someday…!). I remember back then there were these huge PC shops outside Atria, CompAsia being one of them, the other the names seem to escape me. There were also other frequent haunts – the old magazine shop where I could get PSOne mags cheap, the Playstation shops on the 2nd floor, and the PC games shops at the top floor. And also Victoria Music Station, where I fed my dose of underground metal in those days (Campbell Complex was too far).

The other day, I was in Shah Alam for a party, and I got an SMS that my pal HM’s grandmother had passed on, and that a wake service would be held somewhere in DU that same day. So to kill time, I decided to drop by at Wisma Atria for an hour or so, I didn’t want to go to madness that is called 1-Utama.

I had known that Wisma Atria had been in decline for many years now, but it had been a long time since I stepped in there. It was still early on the Sunday evening, and the place was almost deserted. Parkson was gone, replaced by the depressing new Giant. All the cool Playstation lots facing Parkson were all gone. All my usual haunts upstairs were also gone, replaced by other tenants that don’t seem to last very long. Only a few familiar places were still around, one of them was the PC store at the top, but inside, I didn’t see anyone I knew.

Dave’s Deli was gone, the bookshop replaced with some faux couture place, at least Victoria Music Centre was still there. I didn’t go in.

Wisma Atria is now a shadow of its former self, with the kids in the area all grown up and moving away. The newer generation of kids and students are obviously more attracted to 1-Utama and the newer malls, it isn’t hard to see why.

I don’t know how long the place can last, even though the management is still desperately trying ways to revitalize it. I think it pretty much depend on the lunch crowd from the surrounding offices. I dunno, maybe it’s better to redevelop it as a kind of rebirth, but it may not still work.

At least Jaya Supermarket is still doing well, although only just.

Desperate for Credit

2008-06-02T22:21:00.000+08:00

Everyone needs credit. Like it or not, credit has become a huge part of our lives these days. We take a loan whenever we want to buy a house or a car or when we are seriously short of money. But by far the most common form of credit that pervades our every day life is the humble credit card. Everyone I know has a few, at least two that they carry around on a daily basis.

I use the card to pay for a lot of things, like when I pay for groceries or when I pump petrol at the station. And I use it a lot to pay for monthly auto debit payments. That adds up to quite a lot every month, I know that, but these things are necessary for me like membership payments and monthly scheduled deductions.

I can’t imagine life without credit cards, not because of dependence on it, but because it has become integral to our society. So if you can’t have a credit card for any particular reason, that it’s going to be a problem. If you need to check out Credit card offers for no credit, the best place is here, because you can see all the best offers in one nifty page.

Hi-O Silver

2008-05-29T09:57:00.001+08:00

When people mention silver, I immediately think of the Olympic Games and the silver medals they give out. I also think of Lone Ranger's horse, the one that he refers to as "Hi-O Silver!".

But seriously, silver is one of the most precious metals in the world. It’s usually associated with beauty and high value, seeing that it is so sought after through the ages right from the time of the Greeks and Egyptians up until now.

That is why silver remains a solid investment even now, and it will still be so because as a mined natural resource, the quantity is limited. Buying silver bullion or any of its popular form like ingots or coins will be the safest way to protect your investment funds for the long term.