Save yourself the trouble - Don't travel with pressure cooker!

If you plan to travel abroad, it's wise to skip the pressure cooker.

Sound weird huh? But you'll be in a lot of of trouble if you travel to the US with one packed in your luggage because pressure cooker is now considered a dangerous weapon. Two pressure cookers were used in last month's Boston Marathon bombing.

Seriously though, who would want to take all the trouble to bring that bulky cooker in his suitcase and trouble to the States? Don't they have one there. If you intend to bring one, that can only mean you are planning to stay there for sometime. Why not just buy one?

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The following is an extract from what AP reported on Monday, but you can read more at at Yahoo News:-


(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) - File photo shows jets outside Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Saudi man, Hussain Al Kwawahir was arrested Saturday at the airport after lying about why he was traveling with a pressure cooker.

Saudi man traveling with pressure cooker arrested

A Saudi man was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after federal agents said he lied about why he was traveling with a pressure cooker, but his nephew said Monday that it was all a misunderstanding about a device he simply wanted for cooking.

Two pressure cookers were used in last month's Boston Marathon bombings.

Hussain Al Khawahir was being held in Detroit on allegations of lying to Customs and Border Protection agents and of using a passport with a missing page. He was arrested Saturday.

His nephew, Nasser Almarzooq, told The Associated Press that he had asked his uncle to bring him the pressure cooker so he could make lamb. The college student said two pressure cookers he bought in the U.S. were "not good at all," and said the ones available in Saudi Arabia are higher quality.

Almarzooq said his uncle was coming to visit him for a couple weeks.

A criminal complaint alleges that Al Khawahir arrived at the airport Saturday on a flight from Saudi Arabia via Amsterdam, and that he told agents he was visiting his nephew.

He originally said he brought the pressure cooker with him because pressure cookers aren't sold in America, then later said his nephew had bought one but it "was cheap" and broke after one use, according to the complaint.

Agents said they also noticed a page was missing from Al Khawahir's passport from Saudi Arabia. He told them he didn't how it had been removed, and said the document had been locked in a box that only he, his wife and three children have access to in his home, according to the complaint.

Malaysia in Melbourne app for iPhone soon

To many Malaysians, Australia is close to heart. And especially to Sabah as there is this Australian-connection dating back to pre-WW2 or prior to that. The story of the POWs during WW2 and missionaries that followed were well documented and until today many Australians still come back to Malaysia to visit and pay respect to their relatives who died fighting alongside their Malaysian counterparts.

Today we have many Malaysians staying and making a living Down Under.

Screenshot of the iPhone app from the builder's website.

App for iPhone/iPad

So, I read this article about a iPhone/iPad app for Malaysians coming to Australia and specifically for those in Melbourne. Since many of you might consider studying in that country, I thought I would share this with you. At the time this was posted, the app is not yet launched but I suppose it would be pretty soon.


Via Bernama:
Melbourne: A young Malaysian broadcast journalist has created an iPhone and iPad app to help newly-arrived Malaysian students make a smooth transition to life here.

The "Malaysia in Melbourne" app created by Juliet John, among others highlighted the services and events held at the Malaysian Consulate and information on affordable restaurants and shops that sell Malaysian groceries, including halal eateries and outlets. It would be launched next March for free.

John, who holds a Masters degree in Global Media and Communications from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of South Australia, is the head of public relations at MELVIA, an app and game development studio here.

She said many Malaysian students felt lost after arriving here, and hoped her iPhone and iPad app could help them to get adjusted well in Australia.

"Many don't get to experience the Australian way of life because they are young, shy and timid to venture out with Australian friends. They can become depressed because they miss their family and friends at home and find it hard to make friends here and to fit in," she told Bernama here.

John said while Muslim students might not know where to buy halal food and others might find it difficult to find student services and accommodation.

She hoped the "Malaysia in Melbourne" app would change all this where students would be able to source information for a happy and meaningful stay in Australia.

She said the app would also provide information on job opportunities and internships, as well as social networking opportunities and on health and welfare matters. - Bernama

SpamSoldier: The new Android botnet discovered across major carriers

If you are fan of Angry Bird, then this may be of concern to you. A spam specifically targeting Android smartphones is said to be sending messages or adverts about popular paid games like Angry Bird Space, offering the free versions.

No indication yet if it has reach our shore, but already detected on all major US carriers. So, Samsung, HTC, Sony smartphone users, Be Warned.

Nyum, nyum, nyum!

Check out this security alert by Lookout: SpamSoldier

A new Android spam botnet has been discovered that uses infected phones to send thousands of SMS messages without the user’s permission. While the threat is not (yet) widespread, it has already been spotted on all major US carriers and has the potential to make a big impact at the network level if it isn’t dealt with soon.

On December 3, security firm Lookout detected the threat, which it dubbed SpamSoldier, in cooperation with one of its unnamed carrier partners. It spreads through SMS messages (it has not yet been detected on any major app stores) that advertise free versions of popular paid games like Angry Birds Space.


How it works

After the user taps on a link from one of these SMS messages, their phone downloads an app that claims to install the game. Instead, SpamSoldier opens and removes its icon from the launcher to cover its tracks. It then immediately starts sending spam messages.

SpamSoldier also attempts to keep the user in the dark by hiding evidence of its malicious activity. It also installs a free version of the game in question to keep users unaware of what is really happening. Furthermore, outgoing spam messages are removed from the list and the malware even attempts to intercept incoming SMS replies to the spam it sends.


Source

Blank Billboards in The City

Billboard advertising is one of the better choices in the urban area as they are the most visible structures that greet (or distract) you every time you pass through such advertisement.

I read sometime in March 2009 that certain opposition YB mentioned of no less than 20 empty billboards in the city and that they have become eyesores. Well I can testify to that; the number is increasing every day. All in the name of cutting costs due to the recession eh? Okay, lets have a look at the going cost to put up a typical adverts on outdoor billboards:

1) Size 10ft x 40ft, constructed 15ft above ground, rental per year: RM 30,000 onward

2) Unipole 20ft x 60ft/80ft, constructed 30ft above ground, rental per year: RM 300,000 onward.

Then there is the cost of replacing computer printed vinyl, labour charges, GST and lightings which add up to few more thousands of RM..

It is not that cheap to promote your products and services this way but with some synergy between advertising companies, the advertisers and the Government, Billboard Advertising should continue to beautify rather than mess our roads and city during difficult times. Some give-and-take steps that are worth looking into are:

1. Local authorities (councils) to put up advertisements pertaining to their activities;
2. Advertisement agencies/service providers to 'decorate' empty boards with nice designs as a means of promoting their services;
3. The Government to give some tax incentives to advertising companies to cover blank boards;
4. Under IRB (LHDN) taxation system there are rebates for individuals or companies who donate to the museums, book/painting galleries, etc. Explore this option for educative advertisement such as 'Keep Our City Clean', 'Drive Faster Proceed to Hell', 'Clean River Saves Water' and 'Say No To Smoking', "Kurangkan Pembaziran Berbelanja Dangan Bijak', etc.
5. Sorry, but if everything else fails, consider removing those blank billboards.
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City centre - empty unipole billboard. Why don't DBKK take up the huge space? This board is right in front of its nose.

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Putatan: Servey Hypermarket should really take this up at possibly reduced rent rate as this has been empty for sometime now. This board is located right at the junction leading to the big mart.

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KK-Papar road. If you are driving up from Papar to Kota Kinabalu, this sight will soon become a common experience.

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Grand Millennium: as if the nuisance created by the 'stray' concrete wastewater pipes is not enough, the empty billboard stands out as the bigger eyesore winner.

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Donggongon: "Excuse me, are you taking down all of those? That'll be nice.."

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QEH roundabout - Kenapa tidak digunakan ruang kosong ini untuk bercerita sedikit tentang bangunan QEHospital yang tidak selamat tu! Kalau RM245juta tiada masalah, apalah sangat RM24.5k sewa billboard tu untuk setahun...?

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Tuaran: There is another empty billboard facing this eyesore that is better off taken out.

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Tamparuli: Located in front of the popular Jambatan Tamparuli and the colonial pipe-and-conctete bridge, this billboard is a suitable one for welcoming visitors to Tamparuli. Some informative caricatures or plain text would plug the empty 'hole'

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Educative advertisement: Possible advertorial to fill up billboards

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Oh..and remember sometime ago someone proposed for marriage to his girlfriend through huge billboard advertisement? Yes those were in Luyang and Tg. Aru-Papar junction. Let's wish few more will spend big to repeat such feat.

No idea how much that gentleman spent then but the one in Damansara Puchong Highway last year was said to have 'invested' RM40,000 for it. Hehe..I like the word invest when it come to spending.

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For a change, check this out for a nice billboard adverts!

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Their Laughter is Our Cry

Kalau anda sudah menerima filem pendek ini melalui e-mail, anda sudah mengetahui ceritanya. Sekiranya belum, filem ini adalah untuk anda. Filem yang dihasilkan oleh Ferdinand Dimadura ini mengisahkan nasib segolongan insan dalam masyarakat yang hidup dalam kemiskinan dan bergantung kepada sisa makanan orang lain. Suatu yang tidak pernah luntur daripada mereka ialah semangat untuk terus hidup.
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Click Here To Watch

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This film is in English and according to the written narration, it claimed to have been adjudged the Most Popular Short Film, during the 56th Berlin International Film Festival.

Bear with me, I have done some homework and found this film NOT in the List of Award Recipients and I'm not at all impressed with what I found. Okay, you say it may be listed in the somewhat 3600 films submitted to the Berlinale but I could not find one that match the title of this short film, hence, my reservation its authenticity.
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Notwithstanding, whatever the source may be, it is a real good watch as it reminds us of the hunger that millions out there suffer from. So, be thankful for what we have, for what we possess (or rather manage) and let's be generous with what God blesses us with.
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Click here for more about Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) and here for Berlinale Homepage
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Offshore Job Openings

I received this from friend a while ago and tought I should share this with everyone. Good news for job hunters in times of rising unemployment rate, especially those keen on offshore jobs.

The forwarded e-mail looks like this:

Dear all,
We have some vacancies that you could advice your friends to apply. It is also for another deep water project. Please ask them not to scan their certificates but only send their latest updated resume. Please send it directly to me.
Thank you.
Cecily

Contact person:

Cecily Arokiam
Project / Liaison Manager
KASK GROUP OF COMPANIES
AGENSI PEKERJAAN KASK CAREERS SDN. BHD. (750826-X)
802, 8th Floor, PJ Tower, Amcorp Trade Centre
18, Jalan Persiaran Barat, 46050 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Mobile: 012 215381, Tel: 603-89413157/79578773, Fax: 603-89424521/79578573

Or you can google KASK Group and browse through from there.

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All the best!

Swine Flu - Update

Mengikut kenyataan CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) sehingga kini belum ada vaksin untuk penyakit demam selsema babi (virus H1N1). Anda disarankan mengamalkan langkah berjaga-jaga untuk menghalang penyebaran kuman penyebab penyakit-penyakit berkaitan sistem respirasi seperti influenza. Langkah-langkah berikut boleh dilakukan sebagai amalan harian:
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1) menutup mulut dan hidung dengan tisu ketika bersin atau batuk,
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2) kerap membasuh tangan dengan sabun dan air, terutamanya selepas bersin atau batuk,
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3) elakkan daripada bersentuh secara langsung dengan pesakit,
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4) seberapa boleh, elakkan daripada menyentuh mata, hidung dan mulut anda kerana kuman biasanya merebak dangan cara ini.
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Rajah di bawah (ehsan AFP) menunjukkan bagaimana kompleksnya virus influenza yang sekian lama menjadi ilusi kepada penyelidik perubatan kerana keupayaannya berubah struktur genetik yang seterusnya melepasi sistem imuniti perumah.
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Grafik dengan ehsan AFP

Sekiranya anda anda sakit sehingga 7 hari selepas anda mengalami tanda-tanda sakit, anda disarankan berehat di rumah. Juga, teruskan berehat sehingga sekurang-kurangnya 24 jam selepas tanda-tanda sakit anda hilang.

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Semoga anda, dengan berkat usaha anda dan rahmatNya mengikut kepercayaan masing-masing, akan terlindung daripada malapetaka.

Bacaan selanjutnya - Flu H1N1 (Swine Flu) dan Anda.
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Only in Malaysia? - Sued for loss of virginity!

You have heard of people suing for the weirdest of things in the USA, such as dump truck driver suing his employer over mistake of his own. Of people suing McDonald's for serving coffee that is too hot, of burglar who broke into a house and sue the owner because he got cut on the glass, of people asking for a ride and when an accidents happens, your passenger will sue you for medical expenses, and the list goes on.
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That's in the USA right? Well..welcome home to Malaysia. Here's one for a light breakfast treat for you - Loss of virginity: Woman files suit against hubby.

This happened in Kuching and it is about a school teacher who sued her husband, claiming for a few million ringgit damages over the loss of her virginity. The article by The Malaysian Bar stated that "..she made a claim (from the husband) for the loss of her virginity, ‘loss of damage for humiliation’ and mental torture including harm suffered. In addition, she was also asking for the Kancil car given to her as a gift (out of a promise) to be returned."

I do not mean to interfere with the proceeding but I would be very much interested at how this would be concluded. I'm sure it will have big impact on how people look at "strange" cases in the future. Hmm.... I better keep my mouth shut!

Further readings Here

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Swine Flu: Know Your Enemy!

For the benefit of all, I tried to simplify a long literature about swine flu in a hope that we get an idea of it at single glance. There's a saying: To defeat your enemies, you must know them well.

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What is it? A respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Here are some of the facts all of us need to know about the flu:-

Can humans catch swine flu? Yes, although not normally. Most cases involve people with direct exposure to pigs.

Symptoms of swine flu in humans - fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Signs of swine flu in pigs - fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork? No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. One can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe.

How does swine flu spread? When people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur.

Available edications - 4 types approved by the US so far: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir.

Spreading of swine flu among pigs - mostly through close contact among pigs and possibly from contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs.

So far, there is no reported case of swine flu in Malaysia and the Government is preparing itself to counter the spread of the decease from arriving at our shore. Be better equipped and stay away from swine flu.

Further readings (here) - *hyperlink removed due to bad link*

Park at Your Own Risk!

Have you experienced any of the followings while your car was parked at a paid parking bays?:

1) Missing items from car,

2) Car dented or hit by other vehicle,

3) Car was visibly broken into,

and you were unable to pursue your claim due to the disclaimer signage or hindered by the car park Operator's "terms and conditions"?

If the case in Georgetown Penang is to go by, you can now haul up the Operator to court and seek justice. Well, at the very least try to iron out terms and regulations that you think are unfair to you as customer. The Georgetown case involved a landmark decision of a RM1,688 award to a lawyer who challenged the "park at your own risk" validity when items were stolen from his car.

Lesson to learn here is that Operators can not run away from responsibility to care for vehicles parked in the area under their care.

Come on, you can not expect me to pass by your gate barrier, collect RM2.00 and assume nothing, can you?