Madelyne Nandu: Sabah State Kaamatan Unduk Ngadau 2005

It’s amazing what make-up and/or perhaps just the right camera angle/lighting can do.

She looks positively world class in the following pic (she’s the one on the left) courtesy of mysabah.com. BTW, there’s more pictures of her there. She’s pictured next to Penampang districts’s 2006 winner, Trinna Joyce Dison, and IMHO, from purely physical beauty’s POV, there is no contest as to who’s better looking. Madelyne hails from the same district as Trinna, meaning Madelyne was also the Penampang district Unduk Ngadau for 2005.

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Well, she looks very ordinary in the following pic (sourced from havuk’s blog):

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A funny review of the movie Da Vinci Code

Of all the reviews on the movie, only the review by Anthony Lane at newyorker.com made me actually stop and read in its entirety. The review begins with:

The story of “The Da Vinci Code” goes like this. A dead Frenchman is found laid out on the floor of the Louvre. His final act was to carve a number of bloody markings into his own flesh, indicating, to the expert eye, that he was preparing to roll in fresh herbs and sear himself in olive oil for three minutes on each side. This, however, is not the conclusion reached by Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), a professor of symbology at Harvard, who happens to be in Paris.
Questioned by Bezu Fache (Jean Reno), the investigating policeman at the scene, Langdon starts rabbiting about pentacles and pagans and God knows what. But what does God know, exactly? And can He keep His mouth shut?

From that paragraph, I knew I had to read the review till the end.

[Langdon] and Sophie visit a cheery old duffer in the countryside and spill every possible bean. In this case, the duffer is Sir Leigh Teabing (Ian McKellen), who lectures them on the Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicaea, in 325 A.D. We get a flashback to the council in question, and I must say that, though I have recited the Nicene Creed throughout my adult life, I never realized that it was originally formulated in the middle of a Beastie Boys concert.

hahaha

Silas answers to Bishop Aringarosa (Alfred Molina), who in turn answers to his cell phone, his Creator, and not much else.

hehehe

The task of the Bishop and his hit man is to thwart the unveiling of what Teabing modestly calls “the greatest secret in modern history,” so powerful that, “if revealed, it would devastate the very foundations of Christianity.” Later, realizing that this sounds a little meek and mild, he stretches it to “the greatest coverup in human history.” As a rule, you should beware of any movie in which characters utter lines of dialogue whose proper place is on the advertising poster. (Just imagine Sigourney Weaver, halfway through “Alien,” turning to John Hurt and explaining, “In space, no one can hear you scream.”)

Ouch! LMAO.

Read the full review, it’s worth it.

[link] - i dunno how long this link’s gonna last, grab it while you can.

Sujit Kumar: the man raised by chickens

We’ve heard of legendary persons raised by apes, wolves and possibly other animals too, but chickens???

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Meet Sujit Kumar, 34, the real life “Chicken Man” or “Toddler Boy” , as his foster mom calls him.  (more…)

zorpia.com: fastest growing social network

Zorpia.com is a social networking website that provides a community setting for users to share unlimited photos, post journals or forum entries, and customize personal profiles and skins. It is similar to myspace, flickr, friendster, facebook, hi5, xanga, and tribe.net.

It was created by a 20-year old student from Hong Kong, Jeffrey Ng in Dec 2003. (more…)

Pageflakes: the best personalized startpage to the web yet

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I have been experimenting with pageflakes for a few days, and find it much better a startpage than any of the offerings by the other players in this field.

The AJAXified environment means Windows-like interactivity level and feel is very high. I hardly felt like I was using a browser. Drag and drop, point and click, every customisation can be done very quickly.
And you can have multiple pages - I havent checked how many is the limit, I’ve only tried up to 3 pages.

The only thing missing seems to be a calendar feature - the to-do list seems to limited.

And yes, pageflakes has an affiliate program!

Check out pageflakes.

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101 fabulous software freebies

Excellent list from pcworld.com. Scope is downloads, sites and services: offline and online tools, even blogging tools.

As the article author write: “the best things in life aren’t just free, they’re indispensable.”

I’m already using some of them, and probably some of you are already using a lot of them, especially well-known ones like delicious, flickr and bloglines.

Some are not so well known, like that Adobe Acrobat Reader killer.

Staple-free stapler

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The above stapler is not a new invention, it was made by the Lihit Industrial Company of Japan in the mid-1980s.
Instead of using staples, it cuts a little flap in the paper while also cuts a slot, and it then tucks the flap through the slot. You use it as you might use a normal stapler - just push the stapler down as if it was a normal stapler - it will do the rest. Apparently can staple up to 5 pieces of paper.
A video of it (WMV) in action available at grand-illusions.com

I am not sure if it’s still available, but a modern equivalent could be this:

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Available for USD8 (arnd RM30) online at cyberguys.com. They have an affiliate programs, but there seems to be too much paperwork involved to join them, so I defer for the time being.

World War I colour photos

Apparently, colour photography has been around since the beginning of the 20th century, and used extensively by the French during World War I.

The following site has many photos of the last 2 years of the Great War.

It’s an eerie experience watching these photos because you don’t expect colour photography during those times - in my own head, I was imagining grainy black and white photos and fast moving silent movies.

It definitely made WWI (ended in 1919 if I’m not mistaken) seemto have happened only several years ago.

Link:

http://www.worldwaronecolorphotos.com/index.html

US Study: smoking marijuana does not lead to lung cancer

Does this mean we should legalise marijuana instead, and make cigarettes illegal?

A newsreport from Reuters, sourced from MSNBC said, the new study was done by the University of California Los Angeles. And the results “surprised even the researchers,” because logically, they would’ve expected to find that a history of heavy marijuana use, like cigarette smoking, would increase the risk of cancer. Instead, the study found no elevated cancer risk for even the heaviest pot smokers.

However, it’s the same bad news for cigarette smokers: It did find a 20-fold increased risk of lung cancer in people who smoked two or more packs of cigarettes a day.

First notebooks to use flash memory as main storage device

Samsung Electronics has claimed this first, which it says will be released next month.

In this case, stick to the usual rule: don’t go for first generation tech, unless you have money to burn.

Points for it:

  • the wow factor
  • claims to runs in complete silence
  • claims to boot 25-50% faster than hard disk based notebooks

Points against it: (more…)

How to write good email

An author’s guide by Matt May.

Hang Tuah was a Chinese named Hang Too Ah

This is an interesting article apparently several years old, albeit in the Malay language, that basically says that Hang Tuah, the legendary 15th century Malay hero, is actually Hang Too Ah, a Chinese. Not only that, another other 3 (with the exception of Hang Kasturi) in his gang were also Chinese.
I could not locate the original source of this document, so I am reproducing the whole deal here. (more…)

Coolest job titles

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Digital Air’s innovative visual effects techniques

In two words, world class!

http://www.digitalair.com/techniques/index.html

How will you look like when you’re 65?

University of St Andrew’s, Scotland, lets you take a peek at what could be. Just upload a pic of yourself and wait for the results.

Mind Game (Denmark - Kangaroo - Orange) explained

You could’ve come across this “mind game“; y’know, the one that supposedly reads your mind or something like that and ends up with that Denmark - Kangaroo - Orange combination.
Pretty neat, yes, but it’s actually a trick. I say that, because whatever number you think of (between 1 and 10), after doing all the arthmetic (assuming you did it correctly), you’ll always end up with the number 4, which corresponds to the letter “D”.

According to wikipedia’s list of countries in the world, there are only 5 countries in the world whose spelling starts with the letter “D”: Denmark, Dhekelia, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic. How many people would guess that Denmark is not the most well-known of them all? (more…)

Sipadan Island’s dropoff destroyed by barge

I was prompted to write about this when I got this email with subject: “malu kita… orang putih pula yang mula2 nampak tragedy in sipadan.. the barge that destroyed our legendary coral reef… haiya..!!” [Shame on us, it was them foreigners (caucasians) who first saw the Sipadan [dropoff point] tragedy, the barge that destroyed our legendary coral reef..[expresion of disgust]]

Yes, we malu (ashamed) but it’s hardly surprising that orang putih (caucasian foreigners) got to know the facts first.

Wasn’it it an “orang putih” who:
- first climbed mount kinabalu in 1851?
- first descended successfully down low’s gully?
- first hang-glided down from the top of mount kinabalu in 1984? (more…)

Guy Goma mistaken as IT expert Guy Kewney

This has got to be one of the funniest ever live TV bloopers. It was shown live on the BBC’s News24, a British 24-hour news channel on Monday 8th May: Guy Goma mistaken to be Guy Kewney.

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Guy Goma is black, clean shaven and speaks English with a French accent

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Guy Kewney is white and bearded

According to Mr Kewney’s blog, Guy Goma is not a cabbie as initially reported, but rather a Business Studies graduate from the Congo, and he was there in reception because he was applying for a high level IT job with the BBC. And apparently Mr Goma assumed the whole thing was some kind of initiation prank.

ShaolinTiger described the essence of the story very well.

Click here to see the video

Prof Jane Plant: to avoid breast cancer, avoid all dairy products

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Prof Jane Plant, PhD published her controversial article “Why I believe that giving up milk is the key to beating breast cancer” in UK Daily Mail in May 2000.

Basically, what she’s saying is: “do not consume any dairy products in order to avoid breast cancer” (and possibly other types of cancer as well?).

That means, you cannot eat ice cream, cheese, butter, milk and yoghurt and anything else that contained dairy produce — including commercial soups, biscuits and cakes, that contain ANY form of dairy produce, even many proprietary brands of margarine marketed as soya, sunflower or olive oil spreads. Needless to say, her theory remains a controversial one. For sure people involved commercially in dairy companies (producers, marketers, promoters) don’t like her too much.

Is this a hoax? (more…)

2 million babies die on the day they are born in developing countries every year

The sad thing is, they could’ve been prevented with relatively simple methods such as providing tetanus immunisation and skilled midwives, the Save the Children Charity said in its report entitled “The State of the World’s Mothers 2006.

The report also said: (more…)

David Lucas: gallow maker and salesman

You’ve heard about enterprising entrepreneurs thriving on death-related businesses like coffin makers, cemetery management (a la Nirwarna) and full-blown all-in-one package funeral management companies (eg, Penampang Lighthouse, Foo Look Siew, 3M Popular).

But how about someone specialising in making gallows (you know, the instrument from which you hang people). (more…)

How to hold your breath for nine minutes

The current world record is 8:58 using “normal air,” although freedivers breathing on pure oxygen can last up to 15 minutes.
David Blaine recently “only” managed 7 minutes, but that is while attempting to free himself of chains.
How long can you hold your breath? 1 minute? 30 seconds?

If you want to break the world record, or at least improve your own record, bbc provides some tips.

I am having flashbacks of the movie “Big Blue” now, it’s a highly recommended movie on diving. Click the image below for more info on the movie:

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Guideline on dealing with Malaysian police released

On 20th April, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Bin Abdul Aziz, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Law officially launched a publication titled “Red Book - Police and Your Basic Rights”. Sounds suspiciously similar to the Mao Zedong’s Red Book, but it’s a totally different kind of fish altogether.

Publication of the 31-page booklet (in 4 languages including English and Malay) was initiated by the Malaysian Bar Council following the recent nude squat incident. The association’s president said that the purpose of the Red Book is aimed at disseminating valuable information so that the public would know their basic rights when dealing with the Police, whether in plain clothes or uniformed. (more…)

How to freeze water at room temperature

Is it possible? You bet it is! Researchers at Leiden University used the concept of atomic-scale friction to achieve it.

The tool used is called a “friction force microscope.”

How does it work: it creates nano-friction in water by dragging a tungsten wire over a graphite surface. Water vapour in the air would condense and become ice. (more…)

Inside the Ferrari Factory

If there’s one car factory I’d like to visit, it would be the Ferrari Factory at Maranello, Italy.

Laurance Yap of Canadiandriver.com was lucky enough to be able to see for himself how these legendary machines are made.
Ref:

canadiandriver.com 

British UFO study says there are no aliens

After I wrote this post about David McKinnon, I came across bbc’s newsreport that a confidential Ministry of Defence report on UFOs has concluded that there is no proof of alien life forms.

It’s a 400-page report which has been kept secret for 6 years, and whose writers’ identity is still secret.

Well, I am sure conspiracy theorists have many things to say anbout that.
Ref:

bbc 

Mother gives son, 13 marijuana as reward for completing homework

That’s one cool mama, or one stupid mama, depending on your point of view. And she smokes it with him every day after he finishes his homework.

Apparently she’s been doing it with him for 2 years.

Ref:

eveningsun.com 

Datuk Jaafar Jamaludin: meteorite businessman

He’s possibly the only businessman in Malaysia, or even the world, who’s seriously dealing with meteorites. So serious in fact that he has amassed RM40 million worth of meteorites and set up a related showroom and factory worth more than RM10 million. (more…)

Best picture of Mount Kinabalu for 2006

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Eminent Sabahan photographer Louis pang said this is his best shot of Mount Kinabalu for 2006. I know I havent seen as many Mount K photos as him, but to me this is not even the best for 2006, it’s probably the best shot of the mountain ever taken. (more…)

Gary McKinnon, Nasa and US military computers hacker, says there’s definitely a UFO cover-up

Do you believe him? He even said he had seen an alien-made image of a construction, but doesnt have a copy of it to back-up his claims.

Check out his description of it: (more…)

Webhosting plans compared

Of course wehosting plans do not stay static for long for most people, competition makes companies shift around their plans, but after shopping around last year, I settled for Exabytes, mainly due to good word-of-mouth references. A friend have been using it for all his domains for some time and gave the thumbs up. I must say that after a year, my experience has been good. Support is friendly, quick and efficient. (more…)

Flashback: Thomas Cup 2002

The miracle of 2002, Malaysia beat China 3-1 at their own backyard in the semis. Unfortunately we lost 2-3 to Indonesia in final.

  • Xia Xuanze bt Choong Hann 6-8, 8-6, 7-5, 7-5 (0-1)
  • Chew Choon Eng/Chan Choong Ming bt Zhang Jun/Wang Wei 7-4, 7-5, 7-2 (1-1)
  • Hafiz bt Bao Chunlai 1-7, 7-4, 7-8, 7-5 (2-1) : stunning upset!
  • Tan Fook/Wan Wah bt China pair 5-7, 6-8, 7-1, 7-3 (3-1)

Flashback: Thomas Cup 2004

Final

CHINA 3-1 DENMARK

FIRST SINGLES

LIN DAN bt PETER-GADE CHRISTENSEN 15-8, 15-13

BOTH players started cautiously. However, Lin Dan looked the stronger player at the front and pulled away at 6-6.

After regaining service with a jumping crosscourt smash at 10-6, Lin Dan only allowed Christensen two more points before wrapping up the game.

Christensen put up a better effort in the (more…)

Identity theft from discarded airline boarding pass

Boarding passes can give way too much info about yourself, and allows other people (or worse, terrorists) to pose as yourself and get on a plane to do bad things.  (more…)

Title contender for the world’s strangest marriage custom

The Tidong people in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia has surely one of the strangest marriage customs in the world. (more…)

World’s greatest age difference for a married couple?

Recently, in Terengganu, ex-military personnel Muhamad Noor Che Musa, 33 married religious teacher Cik Wook Kundor, 104. That means an age difference of 71 years. It’s his first marriage and her 21st.

I couldn’t verify this in Guiness Book of World Records, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, or any other reference. This could be a new category!

(more…)

Possessed housewife had sex with medium more than 50 times in 6 months

I would call that medium one smart aleck. He’s only a coffeeshop waiter, but not many can pull similar stunts up to THIS level.

(more…)

Badminton: Thomas Cup 2006

Update 7th May

Final: I am proven right. China beat Denmark 3-0. Where Chong Wei and Hafiz failed, Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai succeeded. Time to learn again: how to win under pressure.

  • Lin Dan bt Peter Gade 17 & 19 in 48
  • Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng bt Jens Erikssen/Martin Lundgaard-Hansen -19,11,18 in 55
  • Bao Chunlai bt Kenneth Jonassen 12,-12,12 in 46

———————————-

Update 5th May

Final: my prediction: China will rip Denmark apart. A repeat of the 2004 final, which China won.

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The happiest day of Joachim Persson’s life…

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…and the worst in Beng Hong’s… (more…)

Malaysia’s soccer heydays

Now that South Korea have done a mighty leapfrog and much more past us, I could only reminisce that it seemed only yesterday that we were at least equal to them. Heck, Park Ji-Sung’s achievement is mere wet dream for our national players. It’s like Khalid Jamlus on the left flank of the 1st XI of Barcelona! Get real indeed…..

Some postings by veteran football fans follow.

60s and 70s & early 80s

Pestabola Merdeka

Best memories

1980 olympics qualification: beat korea 2-1, that goal by James Wong, after pass by Hassan Sani.

Profiles of 2 Malaysian soccer legends who’ve left us:

R. ARUMUGAM a.k.a SPIDERMAN

Represented Malaysia :

1972 Olympics Finals in Munich
1972 - 1987 Pestabola Merdeka
Champions 1973, 1974, 1976, 1979
SEA Games 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985
1974 Asia Games in Tehran
1977 Pre-World Cup Championship
1986 Asia Club Championship in Kuala Lumpur
Saigon Indonesia Cup Championship
Vietnam Cup
Merlion Cup in Singapore
Asia Cup
Jakarta Raya Cup
Park Cup

Malaysia’s Unsung Hero: reputed to be the best goalkeeper not only in the country but also in Asia, R. Arumugam is well-known for his astonishing feats on the football field. His exceptionally long arms and brilliant saves earned him the nickname “Spiderman”. It was a measure of his stature and style that even in the company of the best Malaysian player