Christmas 2010

This year Christmas was pretty great. I joined along with Charles and his 2 ladies (well, his ex-course mates) for Christmas eve celebration or indeed countdown for Christmas. Although the initial plan was to be celebrating at a lounge, count down there as well, but turn out that we countdown in the car instead.

We went to Delicious for dinner, and that was pretty good experience compare to the few past experience I have at Mid Valley. I think the outlet in Jalan Tun Razak is keeping it's quality of service. Perhaps due to the location, just next to Duo Residency.

After driving all the way to Quattro, Avenue K, we found that it wasn't what we initial plan it to be. It wasn't really nice for us and it's damn expensive. Cover charge that night is RM68 for guys. OMG. So we decided to change our location, ended up at The Library, Mid Valley.

Shifting of location causing us to count down in our car at the end. However, we did have our great time at The Library after that. It was a great Christmas, despite two single ladies and two bachelors kept on checking out people around without making any move at all. LOL.

So, Christmas is over. But the spirit didn't die off just like that. Today, my ballroom dance mates just organise a potluck in the studio. After the class, we have a great feast. We have taken a lots of photos and I have posted most of it on Facebook.

To view on the photos taken on Christmas eve, please click here, and

To view on the photos taken for Christmas Potluck a.k.a. Boxing Day, please click here.

US Trip (Part 2)

Let's continue with my Chicago trip. Well, after the Indianapolis trip, which I was required to visit the factory of one of my material supplier with my manager, we have set ourselves to commit to our market research session for the weekday remains.

We woke up on the early Thursday morning (which is not so early) and had our first brunch at UNO Chicago Grill at Ohio Street and Wabash Avenue. It's famous for its Chicago deep dish pizza. So we were so into it and I ordered a salad and a soup to come along with it. Guess what, we ordered a small pizza which turns out look like a regular pizza in Malaysia in term of the dimension, but then its just thicker. How much thicker? The answer is about 1 inch thick. That's crazy. However, the best of all is the soup and the salad. I miss it already.

Later, we had our dinner at Smith & Wollensky, somewhere near to the bridge around Walker Street. That is where we had the largest piece of meat for dinner for the entire trip so far. The service there was great and when we asked him about the size of the meat, he scares us with the information. It's 26 oz piece of meat with bone, which is about 2.2 times larger piece of meat you can get from Tony Roma's in Malaysia. Anyway, in places like Chicago which is cold, restaurant have such service to check your coat for you with some tipping expected from you.

On the next day, we had our breakfast at Corner Bakery Café, somewhere near Elm Street (near to our hotel, which is The Ambassador East Hotel). The cookies there are superb and the pesto is one of the best that I had it again on the day before I left Chicago.

Since we had walked the whole journey back from Walmart at West North Avenue, which approximately 7 miles (11.2km) back to our hotel before heading to the town for lunch, we have to eat at bakery café called Oak Tree Restaurant & Bakery at North Michigan Avenue, somewhere near to the Sear's Tower. The service there is excellent because my manager spilled his smoothies accidentally and the waiter replace a new one for us for free without whining about us messing the place. The salad there was good and the bread there are excellent.

We took our dinner on the way back to hotel at Morton's The Steakhouse, North State Street. Well, nothing much special to talk about steak because I believe you will already expect the same thing - big portion, we have to share the steak, etc.

On Saturday, it's the Halloween Eve. We woke up late so we when straight for our lunch at Frontera Grill, which is a Mexican style restaurant at North Clark Street. I'm not describing it much because it's not really much to talk about as it's almost the same expect that we ate tacos, a bowl of soup and salad.

Our dinner that night was at a Japanese-Western fusion style restaurant at North Halsted Street. Ironically, the street happens to be a Boystown in Chicago. So kinda open your mind that night since it's Halloween Party. You can really see them dressing all sort of character, e.g. Tarzan, Robin, etc. at the temperate merely 4°C. Anyway, the chocolate martini there is really good.

On the Halloween Day itself, breakfast as usual at Corner Bakery Café and we skipped our lunch for both days. Dinner for that night was with our agents at Chicago Chop House, East Ontario Street near North Clark Street. That dinner cost us an arm and a leg.

On Monday, same routine except for our dinner and David Burke's Primehouse and we had a tremendous good service from the waiter, whose his name is Brian. Wonderful experience there. Everything almost the same except I love the steak here the most. That was the last experience in Chicago before we were landed in San Francisco for transit to Hong Kong.

I will soon blog about the event after this and upload photo when I have the time to do so. So mean while, please bear with me with pure dry description. Once upload, you can view it. ^^

US Trip (Part 1)

Well, as everyone should know already that I'm going to the States for business trip. The whole journey was not that great to be told. Lots of hassle we been through before we even lay my feet on the "Land of Opportunity".

The journey begin with my flight being delay for about 7 hours. The flight shall be departing at Narita, Tokyo before heading to Chicago, Illinois. Due to the delay, we are unable to catch up with our connecting flight. We shall be sitting both All Nippon Airways (ANA) planes to Chicago. However, due to the delay, we have to board the United Airlines (UA) which turns out to be disaster for me.

Despite the hyper mode I was having during the 1 hour transit in Narita, the other half journey was not that interesting. At Narita airport, after the long 7 hours of flight in MAS (which is much better than in the UA), we finally landed on the land I always dream of. The only regret I have is that I have only 1 hour to walk around the airport and I can't really lay my foot out of the airport. LOL.

The other 13 hours flight in UA, as I mentioned is a nightmare. The air attendance are not smiling and not that friendly as you see in the movie. Other than that, the sitting is like cramp up. Imagine you have to cramp up in the plane for 13 hours with limited space. I almost can't breath. To make it worst, due to the weather condition, the plane landed hard and lots of breaking when we arrived to Chicago O'Hare airport.

That's not the worst I had so far. To make it even worst for me is that the Transportation Security & Administration (TSA) officer make my life difficult. Coming into the States is hard enough as I had the trouble to get their visa, and now they want me to register my departure when I'm exiting their country. Maybe that's only applies to first timer to the States as my manager didn't have that trouble to get in.

Well, that's the first day experience. Despite all the bad thing, I do enjoy the good things which is the food. We have a nice steak in Chicago on that night. I seriously think that even their so-called normal restaurant are comparable with the standard we can get in Tony Roma's, TGIF, etc. in Malaysia.

Since we are seriously exhausted with that jet lag, we ended up sleeping early. We have to catch another flight to Indianapolis to meet with our material supplier. Travelling to Indianapolis was good. The flight is on time and the weather is brilliant. We have a great tour around the factory and had a great lunch at some local restaurant.

Talk about local food and stuff, their local beers are excellent to try. I had a Goose Island in Chicago which taste better than Heineken beer. In Indianapolis, I have tasted the Upland (Wheat Ale) beer and the Bud Light. It seems that each beer has it's own identity. Upland taste not too bad. Bud Light is good if you want something light. It almost taste like water as in the taste is not strong at all. Maybe that's why their called it Bud Light.

Of course other than all those stuff that you can't get it in Malaysia that I have tried here in the States, I also do go for stuff that you can get it in Malaysia here too. Guess what. It's Starbucks. You can literally find it almost everywhere you go. They look the same as in Malaysia. The only different is the price. You can get a hot chocolate, grande size for $3.50, which equivalent to RM10.94 (inclusive of tax).

One thing about the States is that they usually don't charge service tax or perhaps don't charge at all. Their culture is tipping or they call it gratuity. It's a norm for them the receive tips from you when you pay our bill. Usually if their service is average, tipping of 15% will be the the norm and it's advisable to tip them generously if the service is excellent (approximate 20% of your bill). If their service is bad, tip them less but not less that one buck.

I will be posting those pictures I took during this trip when I get back to Malaysia as I don't have a broadband service here. More updates about the trip will be posted once I have the chance to do so. So see you guys.. ^^

Mum's Birthday

Yesterday my family and I went to Mid Valley to celebrate my mum's birthday in advance. I snapped some nice picture of her having her dinner with us together as a family. Although I come up with most of the sum for the dinner, but seeing my mum putting a big smile on her face already worth it back.

I'm didn't get her anything this year. Just manage to treat her a nice dinner together with our family that's all. However she got herself a nice bag and my sister got her something cheap as well. Well, it's not about the price of the gift but the value of remember and cherish each other. I just hope my mum enjoy her day. I love you, mum!!

Preparing for USA and Hong Kong

After working in this new company for 2 months plus, it seems like I have the chance to go to United States of America and Hong Kong this coming October for business trip. I thought I should be thrill, and of course I am thrilled and excited. However somehow, it's still working trip, not a vacation.

Maybe lately I'm adapting to the new environment and things happened around me wasn't that significant enough to motivate me to write except for this business trip. Bryan (my ex-intern in the company) has just left the company last week, replace by a new guy called Cheston. Well, He is really smart and I feel he is right for the job. I mean in this field at least since he is taking Marketing as his course.

I think when I have much more things to share about it, I'll write up here again. I'm lazy to write anything here today.

Side Mirror is Gone

May my side mirror of my car rest in peace. I just got a new replacement for it and it cost me RM200+ for one. I'm broke this month already. I will need to prepare some cash to change my tyres as the tyre is getting old already.

Next month I need to pay off my car insurance and road tax. I think all this cost me a bomb. I'm dying already. I don't have much mood to write about here at this moment. Headache hit back again. I need someone to take care of me totally. LOL.

Klang Trip

Today, I just went to Klang with Charles and friends for Bak kut Teh. It's pretty spontaneous decision since I don't think I have much thing to do at home. Why not go out and relax myself? I drove to Charles' place and get into Theresa's car.

Reach there also kinda late already. I didn't manage to take much photos as I was too busy helping myself with the food. LOL. However, I did manage to take some photos of us visiting the Kuan Yin Temple in Klang.

I Miss My Team - AIASS

I have leave my previous company, AIA Shared Services for more than a week. I really miss the time I am physically there. Despite all the unsatisfying pay and others, I do actually feel that it's great that I was once work there and getting to know all of my colleagues, whether it's from my own team or the other. I do have a great time being there.

Somehow or rather not that stressful compare to my current company. Although we used to work from 8.30am till 5.30pm non-stop because we know what we need to do, but then I feel less stress compare to working in sales and marketing. Even though same amount of time, but I know nothing and I rather loss in this field. Worst, I'm required to be on standby on weekends if they required me to work but without paying my overtime. It's only leave replacement.

Lots of changes to cope with. I'm considering should I keep on trying to cope with the situation that I'm not familiar yet undesire of or I should be leaving the company and get back my feet back on the ground (back to insurance field or biomedical related fields). I really have to think about it because I don't want to regret later for not choosing the best career for myself. I'm seriously think that you need to find a job that you are passionate on it rather just the pay.

Well, back to square one, I'm thrilled and looking forward to Bon Odori outing with my ex-colleagues this coming Saturday at Shah Alam. I've been planning this for ages (maybe not that long). I will going to have lots of fun and eat all I can. LOL. I do hope that there will be some other activities that will be organise by them, because I would like to join in. I miss them a lot. They are really a fun team to be with.

I will share my memories that I have put it into this video. I can't squeeze in too many photos because that will need more than an hour to project it. Hope this bring back lots of great memories. Sorry for posting it here so late whereas I have been posting this on Facebook long before.

Ulu Yam Trip

I'm still pretty exhausted after the trip yesterday. My working team mates and me went to Ulu Yam for our so-called team building trip. Should we say it as team building trip? I have no idea also. I think it can be consider as four events, the team building, welcoming the three newbies into our team, birthday celebration of the second quarter (April to June) and farewell for Nesa, Benjamin and me, myself.

It's pretty tiring because I have to wake up early in the morning and pick up Nesa from Sri Sentosa, then drive to Bandar Tun Razak to pick up Leanne and Siew Yin before meeting up the rest of them team mates at McDonald's, Taman Melati Utama.

When everyone were there, we drive up in ranch together to the location. After parking our cars, we tried to locate a spot to settle down and get prepare for the 'feast'. LOL. Fizah, Alina and Dalila were taking care of preparing the chicken. They were the one to grill the chicken but maybe I'm not really use to the cooking method they used, I didn't eat much the chicken. It's outer part is overcooked a little, somehow charcoal like. LOL.

I was thinking to get my feet wet only at first just like Siew Yin, Ruth and Calvin. However, we weren't lucky. I'm the worst one, gotten Aline to pull me into the water. I was splashed all over and completely wet like the cat under the rain. Everyone get all wet except for Mun Wah.

After all the water war we had, we get off the river and ate again. Not to forget the cheese cake we brought for the birthday boys and girls. The cheese cake was not that solid anymore. Well, it's not put in the refrigerator and keep cold enough to enjoy but it's still not too bad. Maybe because I love cheese cake, so I didn't nag much about it. LOL.

After the whole trip, we went back home and get bath. I mean my house, Leanne and Siew Yin were there in my house to get bath and change before we head to Mid Valley to walk around and enjoy our dinner. It's pretty fun to hang out with colleagues. Soon, this will be harder to be done as I'm leaving the company soon.

I drove them back to the LRT station before heading to meet up with Charles and Theresa to catch up 'Prince of Persia'. Finally I watched it after so long of wanting to watch it. I just can't get anyone to watch with me. There are more movies that I wanted to watch as well. I wanted to watch Karate Kid and The Socceror's Apprentice.

Team Leader is Leaving

Another shocking news from my management today that my team leader, Benjamin is leaving the team. He just tendered his resignation this Monday and HR department still calculating when will be his last day with the company. Ironically, he will most probably leaving a week earlier than me despite that I have tendered my resignation way earlier than him.

Although it's pretty shocking piece of news, but I'm still dealing with it quite well as I'm leaving too soon. There will be not much impact to me. Of course, everyone will be missing him including me. This scenario same goes to Sook Fuang. Both of the most influent person for me in my team are leaving. I think I should rephrase, one already left and one is going to be.

Anyway, everyone of us seems to be leaving due to better opportunity awaits us somewhere. We have to move on with our life and try to excel ourselves. For me and Benjamin case, we are trying something way different from where we are, starting from zero, probably and hopefully become hero at the end of the tunnel.

Hopefully the team will still stay on firm and good and I do hope to keep in touch with most of them as best as we could be. Now, I can only be looking forward for the Ulu Yam trip next Saturday as to celebrate 4 different occasion. Firstly, as part of team building, followed by welcoming the 3 new recruits to our team, second quarter of birthday celebration and last but not least, the farewell of Nesa, Benjamin and me, myself.

Newbies

This week, 3 new recruits have join us and currently undergoing training by my team leader with some assistance from my colleague, Mei Teng and me. Well, I think I did nothing much than talking non-stop. LOL.

This time, 2 new guys and a girl. It turns out that all of them are from biomedical science background just like me and 2 of them (a guy called Jun Jie and a girl call Jing Jing) are my junior from my university. Such a coincident.

Training newbies is pretty cool. You gotta share lots of thing with them and it somehow make them interact with you. I feel somehow it's not that boring compare to facing that motionless and expressionless monitor processing claims after claims. Probably I am bored with my job right now and I'm starting to get lazy since this is my last month at my current company.

I'm still considering what small gift I will be giving my team mates before I leave the company end of this month. I have something in my mind but I think I don't want to share it here first. Don't want to spoilt the surprise. Anyway, it's such something small that many it's not even significant after I left.

I'm looking forward to my new employment at my new company and I'm thrill with what is awaiting me there. However, at the same time, I am worrying about the new environment that I will be facing next month and the new challenges that awaits me there too. Lord, please grant me strength to face the road aheads me. Amen.

Michaelangelo's Restaurant-Deli-Bar

I went with my colleagues to Michaelangelo's Restaurant-Deli-Bar at Pavilion, KL on Saturday and an outing with our senior, Ruth before she is leaving us next week. Since Ruth was thinking to have Western food, we thought to let our taste buds experience the so "artistic restaurant". However, the experience we had were not that up to what we expected from a so-called fine restaurant which located at Pavilion, which should be way better than those cheapskate restaurants.

The food there is pretty normal, some are not bad, some are quite good, and some are just not so up to my expectation. Since my most of my colleagues think that is okay, then I should not make much complaints about it. For me, I wouldn't promote to you as it's not that really appealing but it's no harm trying. The food there is still edible and some are not bad.

However, the service there was horribly poor and I did comment on that. The supervisor came to us and appologised yet giving us some complimentary cash voucher for the next visit as they are so keen for us to revisit them again. For me, I might reconsider of revisiting it again. As for my senior, she might most likely to revisit as we gave her all the vouchers. LOL.

Changes in My Company

Lately, too many stuff happening around me. Many involve with emotional issues. I doubt if there are more to come and will I able to cope with all that. As I can see, I'm a very well emotional guy and I'm the people kind of guy (just like what my senior said when she gave us a piece of advise during the meeting), I know I will get affected definitely.

Yesterday, my colleague, Li Teng just left our company. After the lunch, we had a meeting and we were announced that my senior, who is the one that I am tag to since I join this company is leaving for a better offer in another company. I do get the shock of her leaving so soon and yet so short notice. Well, that company is willing to pay to get her to work with them as soon as possible. I'm happy for her having a better opportunity and I do think that we all will definitely miss her. I just didn't expect she will be leaving before me even thought I do felt that she is leaving too.

Soon, after my senior, Ruth is gone, Nesa will be going off 2 days before I'm leaving my company. There will be new blood coming into our company soon. I heard from my manager, there will be 3 new recruits. However, thinking of the freshies, they will have no authority to approve any amount of claims in the early 2 months or so. It will be really hectic to the rest of us (of probably a month for me since I'm leaving for good too soon).

I can't imagine our company, or perhaps just my team right now can have so much changes in just a week time. Of course if you take a look in this past few months, there are many changes. However, the changes for now is much more emotional, more intense for me. All I can think of right now is to stay focus for this one month and one week before I start to settle myself into new company effectively on July. Lord, please give me strength to keep on moving forward.

Changing of New Environment Soon

Finally, I have tendered my resignation from my current employment at AIA Shared Services Sdn Bhd this week. I think I will definitely miss all the good time I have from this company depsite the pay and some other issues. It does took me quite some time to think over the matter of resigning and jump onto some other unfamiliar work field.

The day I tender my resignation letter, my team leader was like so blurred and not having the mood to talk more about it. He refers my letter to my manager and she was shocked that I plan to leave the company. She never thought that I would (maybe I have the look "I'm not leaving soon") and she gets a little bit emotional since many of us in my team are planning to leave. Not to mention my senior specialist who always being helpful to me was surprise over my decision to leave too.

Well, since I have better offer and yet the work nature of my current job is kind of stagnant compare to the new job I am offered now, which is far more challenging I would say. I am starting to worry that I might now able to work my best and thrive in the new company. That will be my concern right now.

Thinking of it now, I really will miss most of my colleague and seniors that helps me a lot throughout my term in the company. Well, I felt like I talking as if I am leaving tomorrow. In fact, I still need to serve two months notice before I can leave. I am waiting that stupid HR to sent me my exit interview schedule and my last day of term in the company.

I am thinking how will I be getting along with new colleagues there soon. In my current company, we are like friends and we tag along kind of like a family. We chit chat, gossips, play and eat together at times. I wonder how is the new environment will lead me. Will I feel more lonely at new company, new environment? Till then only I will know.

Waltz Friendly Match At Fitness First, IOI Mall

My gym had organised a small ballroom competition yesterday. It was really fun. It't not those official kind of ballroom competition or else, I will be definitely out of the game in the first round. LOL. However, I think by organising such event really helps us to enjoy ourselves and know where we are standing. The most important is I think it will help us to improve ourself.

We started with 9 pairs of us if I'm not mistaken. Every round we dance, the bottom two pairs will have to leave us. Anyway, since it's not an official dance competition, it's just a small friendly match kind of thing, there is not winner or loser. We just ended up competing for the best three pairs. So there are 3 rounds of Waltz to dance. Below is the photo we took together after the competion. Too bad not all the girls there, but all the guys are there. LOL.
Personally, I think everyone putting quite a lot of effort to this friendly match and everyone is a winner since we all have the guts to compete with each other. The match began with the ladies draw the name of the male partner from the male pool list. It's a random selection so that we can dance around with different people yet improving ourselves together.

Maggie, Kelvin's wife picked me up. So I will be her partner for the competition. Well, she is really a good in Waltz. I think she dances better than me a lot and thanks to her helping me up at the dance floor. LOL. I think your both the male and female play a very important role togehter to make the dance a success. It's mutual understanding, respect, and toleration that need to be taken place in order to make it look good.

So I guess I'm lucky to be in the final 3. Well, I guess I do remember my steps kind of well. I think I did very minimal mistake on the steps, maybe the pose and the expression is kind of hard to control since I don't practise often. Imagine it I only dance once a week, two at most at the gym. It's not that I dance quite often at those dance school or stuff. It's really something for me, I mean the experience. Anyway, below is the photo of the best three pairs, of course including me myself. LOL.

Friendly Match of Ballroom Dancing - Waltz

My gym organised a ballroom dancing competition, friendly match kinda dance. It's Waltz this time. Probably they will organised it again but other dance probably. Maybe Tango or Quickstep or even Paso Doble. I will never know till then.

However, today we have a friendly match. It's a rehearsal kinda competition among our dance mates. It's fun. But I ended up in the top four with my partner today, Amy in Waltz. We didn't manage to get into the top three. A little bit disappointing because I get nervous and dance out of tempo. Not to mention that my glaze drop to the dance floor which does not seems nice.

Well, I'm still happy and proud that I can dance the whole thing and not feeling being stupid about forgetting my steps. If you would like to have a sneak view of the whole thing, my dance mate actually do uploaded a shirt clip of the competition in Facebook. You can click on this link to watch the 56 seconds clips.

Great Dinner

I just back home from The Gardens. I had a great dinner with some of my old course mates (Tansra, Jun Hou, Ursula, Voon Yuke and her boyfriend, Kok Yew, and some of her cousins which are still kids). It is a belated birthday celebration for both Voon Yuke and me.

We dined at Tony Roma's and thanks to them, I got free meal. LOL. I love you guys for everything. Although it's a simple kind of gathering, but then I think it's really good as we didn't gather around very long since we graduated. I did recall the gathering with Pek Yen and Melissa back then at Ikano Power Centre. That is the previous gathering I remember.

We chatted a lot. I miss the old days we had where most of us chatting about studies or related issues, chatted about the latest gossips and movies in town, stuff etc. Now, we all chat about our working life, their research or their new campus life in university as Master student.

What seems much different is when I see Voon Yuke bringing her cousins along. It's like as if she is bringing her own kids. I was like "OMG, look at her". LOL. I am thinking in the next 10 years, probably that scene will become reality. Most of them will be married and have their children to tag along with them if we organise another gathering.

My 24th Birthday

Well, I just back home from dinner and movie with friend since it's my birthday. I did take some time to brush up myself and clean up some of my stuff before started blogging here. It's a simple yet not that simple birthday celebration. Well, at times not to have a huge celebration is not a bad thing.

Anyway, I do prefer small kind of celebration. At least you can enjoy it more than you can think of. Birthday nowadays seem to be telling us that we are older, however another year older means another year wiser. LOL. I just hate people say that you are older now, which makes you feel like you are outdated or 'expired'. Well, I don't keep those in mind anyway. So it's still okay.

On Wednesday itself, Choon Hing has already gotten to my place to treat me at Secret Recipes. We have the so-called brotherly chat. I do enjoy that kinda hang out. It's great and it feel comfortable compare to hang out merely at Mamak stalls. Do I sounds like I am so good in enjoying myself at those so-called high class places? Well, it just a preferences, does not mean that I always have the budget to hang out like that.

At office, my colleague, Siew Yin and a colleague from HK team, which is Siew Yin's friend got me Ferrero Rocher chocolate as present. Although I am not that fancy that chocolate, but since it's still chocolate, I still like it. LOL. Thanks Siew Yin and Ya Yin.

Mun Choon did called me just now. I think he mentioned that wanna hang out to celebrate my birthday later. Probably tomorrow. LOL. Douglas get me some chocolate from HK since he just back from HK this week from his business trip. Now, I think I need not to restock my chocolate for the moment. My sister also got me a bar of Meiji dark chocolate.

In Facebook, I received so many friends wishes. I'm so happy about it. I think I would drop tears looking at the amount of people that actually do take the initiative to write on my wall. Well, I know that Facebook have the application that reminds us on someone's birthday, it still need ones to write it. So I need to thank all of you that have written something on my wall, text me through phone, call me to wish me and even those that come to me directly to wish me birthday. I appreciate all of that.

Finally, this is my little birthday cake for my birthday celebration. I think I love it better than the whole damn cake from Secret Recipes since not many of us are eating it. It just a small little celebration. I love that cake so much because of 2 things. First, it's chocolate cake. LOL. Secondly, it have ice cream on top of it. Hahaha.

Bumping Into An Old Friend

I think there are lots of people encounter this scenario, where most of our friends that we got to know them fade through time. Some might be getting closer as time goes and some in the opposite way. Those that you are not close in the first place tends to get even further apart as you are no longer seeing each other that often.

For instance, today I met with one of my high school mate, Tan Choon Keat in LRT. It is just coincident that we bumped into each other. It's funny, I can still recall his full name. LOL. We work almost the same area which I have no idea till today. He has been working for almost 4 months here and I never see him boarding the same LRT as me. Today, it's just out of luck, we bumped into each other.

Seeing an old friend should be cool. It's cool but the feeling as well is pretty cold too. I mean as we did not manage to pick up some topic to talk about. Maybe I am not close to him for start even back in high school. So we just asked each other where we work and that's it. LOL. We did mentioned about the past of our high school friend as well. That's all I can recall what we spoke about the whole journey back to Bukit Jalil.

Well, not much high school mates that I am still keeping a very good contact with. Only a handful of them I am able to keep contacting them like Boon Hein, Choon Hing, Chee Yuen and Mun Choon. Anyhow, I guess we still need to maintain our friendship as much as we can.

Anyway, thinking back the time, time passes so fast. Like a blink of eye it's already a year and my birthday is around the corner already. I guess I have to wish all my friends that born on the month of April happy birthday - Ching Fui, Sheng Szan, Weng Foong, Voon Yuke, Mee Ken, Kim Fah, Jaeger, Sze Mun, Julie and Kah Teck. I hope I did not miss out any of my friends here.

Earth Axis Tilted Shorten Time by 1.26 Microseconds

Lately I heard a very interesting new. It was about the massive earthquake that struck Chile this year may have shifted Earth's axis and created shorter days according to the scientists at NASA. The change is negligible, but permanent.

We should be having 1.26 microseconds (a microsecond is one-millionth of a second) shorter each day, according to preliminary calculations. The large quake shifts massive amounts of rock and alters the distribution of mass on the planet, which changes the rate at which the planet rotates, where the rotation rate determines the length of a day.



The Earth spins on an axis that is tilted some 23.5° from the vertical. But this position is far from constant – the planet's axis is constantly shifting in response to changes in the distribution of mass around the Earth.

The changing climate has long been known to move Earth's axis. The planet's north pole, for example, is migrating along 79 °W – a line of longitude that runs through Toronto and Panama City – at a rate of about 10cm each year as the Earth rebounds from ice sheets that once weighed down large swaths of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Scientists estimate that the melting of Greenland's ice is already causing Earth's axis to tilt at an annual rate of about 2.6cm and that may increase significantly in the coming years. Now, they calculate that oceans warmed by the rise in greenhouse gases can also cause the Earth to tilt.

Researchers found that as the oceans warm and expand, more water will be pushed up and onto the Earth's shallower ocean shelves. Over the next century, the subtle effect is expected to cause the northern pole of Earth's spin axis to shift by roughly 1.5 cm per year in the direction of Alaska and Hawaii. The effect is relatively small but the motion is strong enough that it needs to be taken into account when interpreting shifts in Earth's axis.

The German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, says the new work overturns previous ideas. "Up to now, people had believed that height variations [from ocean temperature changes] gave no contribution to polar motion," he told New Scientist. "This is an effect that now has to be considered."

Climate change can also affect the Earth's spin. Previously, the researchers showed that global warming would cause Earth's mass to be redistributed towards higher latitudes. Since that pulls mass closer to the planet's spin axis, it causes the planet to rotate faster. This is similar the the earthquake in Chile.

In summary, by thinking about all the information we gathered, Chile is one of the best example that redistribution of Earth's mass can cause the Earth to rotate faster, which causes shortening of Earth time. Global warming may cause the ice to melt and changes the Earth's mass, and thinking it back, this might lead to another time shift.

Would you want to create a world that we all live right now to change to a degree that beyond recognisable? Lets do our part to preserve Earth as out time has just shorten by 1.26 microseconds from the Chile incident.

All information were cited from various sources such as:
1. CNN website
2. NewScientist.com

The Story of Stuff & Bottled Water

I came across this 2 video clips on YouTube and thanks to it, I got this urge to blog it here, which I think it's good to share with all of you. It's really the time for us to consider some alternatives to salvage our planet Earth before it's beyond our limit to preserve it anymore.

Although thinking about it, I might have the feeling that it's slightly too late to do much to reverse the global warming reality, but we can still do our part to salvage it, prevent it to get worsen. I am worry if the hypothesis is right about the methane hydrate, which I blog about it in the previous blog, then we are facing the end of the world pretty soon if we do not do anything to repent our mistakes.

Hope you guys get a little bit more inspiration and motivation after watching this clips.

Methane Hydrate May Lead To Extinction of Mankind

I guess not many of us actually know what is methane hydrate. I do not want my blog to be too lengthy, so I will briefly explain about it. Methane hydrate or also known as methane clathrate is a frozen lattice-like substance, which can be found underlying our oceans and polar permafrost in huge amount. This crystalline combination of a natural gas and water looks remarkably like ice but burns if it meets a lit match. For more details about this substance, do read it from Wikipedia or Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory websites.

The reason this substance capture my attention to share it with you is not of its special features such can it can be burn in ice form but the potential of this substance to wipe out mankind. Yes, I am not kidding if we keep on contributing to global warming. It's not a joke.

Methane is a powerful green house gas which has a global warming potentil (GWP) of 62 over 20 years and 21 over 100 years (IPCC, 1996; Berner and Berner, 1996; vanLoon and Duffy, 2000). The sudden release of large amounts of natural gas from methane hydrate deposits has been hypothesized as a cause of past and possibly future climate changes. Events possibly linked in this way are the Permian-Triassic extinction event. Recent research carried out in 2008 in the Siberian Arctic has shown millions of tons of methane being released with concentrations in some regions reaching up to 100 times above normal.

Why is this a concern to us? Methane gas is not very stable in the atmosphere, which they literally converted to carbon dioxide which have a longer shelf life. If we did not play our part in order to reduce global warming, it might lead to the ocean's temperature increase, which later causing the methane hydrate to melt. The consequences, it triggers a positive feedback mechanism where it increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and lead to severe green house effect. You may read this in Discovery News on "Gas Releases Helped End Ice Ages" to know more how this may cause catastrophic effect to us.

Below is a video from YouTube about methane hydrate. Do watch it as it is a very informative.


Hope this blog does aware us about the importance of reducing global warming. I'm blogging about this in conjunction with the Earth Hour. It's part of my contribution to make an awareness to all of us. Lets save our Mother Earth in order to save ourselves. Salvation is in our hand. You may want to visit some of the websites that I have link it. Do visit some of this relevant site below too:
1) Jasa Eco official website or Jasa Eco blog
2) Earth Hour

Earth Hour 2010

I guess I will be blogging the same thing again as per last year blog about Earth Hour day. This year, the Earth Hour day falls on this Saturday, 27th of March. So, do play your role as part of the society that cares for our Mother nature and our Earth. Switch off the light for 60 minutes (1 hour) at 8.30pm. Approximately 88 countries are participating this event to save our Earth from global warming. Be a part of the society who cares for our future generations yet to ourselves.

You can always use the candles if you are afraid of dark like I do. Prepare some as precaution measures and don't forget the matches. Share this with your friends and family either by telling them directly, blog it or any other forms to convey it.

Stress Indication

Recently I got this email with the photo as above attached, which claim to be able to indicate whether you are stressful or not. The illustration is static, however if you found that it's moving, it indicates that you are stressful. The faster the movement, the more stressful you are.

It is claimed that the young and old people will find the illustration to be as static as still water. I have no idea how true it is. So lets try and check out your stress level. ^^

Telephone by Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce Knowles

This is one of my favorite song yet I love her Gaga power. LOL. It's a great MV. Enjoy

Hello, hello, baby, you called, I can't hear a thing
I have got no service in the club, you see, see
Wha-Wha-What did you say? Oh, you're breaking up on me
Sorry, I cannot hear you, I'm kinda busy, k-kinda busy, k-kinda busy
Sorry, I cannot hear you, I'm kinda busy

Just a second, it's my favorite song they're gonna play
And I cannot text you with a drink in my hand, eh…
You shoulda made some plans with me, you knew that I was free
And now you won't stop calling me, I'm kinda busy

CHORUS
Stop callin', stop callin', I don't wanna think anymore!
I left my hand and my heart on the dance floor
Stop callin', stop callin', I don't wanna talk anymore!
I left my hand and my heart on the dance floor

Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh… Stop telephonin' me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh… I'm busy!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh… Stop telephonin' me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh…

Can call all you want, but there's no one home,and you're not gonna reach my telephone!
Out in the club, and I'm sippin' that bub,and you're not gonna reach my telephone!
(X2)

Beyonce:
Boy, the way you blowin' up my phone, won't make me leave no faster.
Put my coat on faster, leave my girls no faster.
I shoulda left my phone at home, 'cause this is a disaster!
Callin' like a collector - sorry, I cannot answer!

Not that I don't like you, I'm just at a party
And I am sick and tired of my phone r-ringing
Sometimes I feel like I live in Grand Central Station.
Tonight I'm not takin' no calls, 'cause I'll be dancin'
'Cause I'll be dancin', 'cause I'll be dancin'
Tonight I'm not takin' no calls, 'cause I'll be dancin'!

Stop callin', stop callin', I don't wanna think anymore!
I left my hand and my heart on the dance floor
Stop callin', stop callin', I don't wanna talk anymore!
I left my hand and my heart on the dance floor

*Chorus*

My telephone! M-m-my telephone!
'Cause I'm out in the club, and I'm sippin' that bub,
and you're not gonna reach my telephone!
(X2)