tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16190690287190196642024-03-14T17:31:22.214+08:00My Space. My Thoughts.Where Ideas Flow and Thoughts ProvokeHimmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-38241630211507529872011-09-04T20:23:00.000+08:002011-09-04T20:25:37.968+08:00Join CIMB Youth on Facebook and Win Great Prizes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdV1Cj8qIp1a4p-LJRlLrPSogRGuUkmuOz6ovvEVaKSBBrBE8cCkg5MM0e9Cv6zqJ_PlXcCA8SS3ZemZhbPETqKOHSKn2NjlbPG88g_SgUfqQj9Si2zoOVYOhlfW_QYrVybDTH7xOQ2qk/s400/cimb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdV1Cj8qIp1a4p-LJRlLrPSogRGuUkmuOz6ovvEVaKSBBrBE8cCkg5MM0e9Cv6zqJ_PlXcCA8SS3ZemZhbPETqKOHSKn2NjlbPG88g_SgUfqQj9Si2zoOVYOhlfW_QYrVybDTH7xOQ2qk/s400/cimb.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fancy winning a Sony PS3, or an XBox + Kinect? Or even a Samsung Galaxy S2 or Monster iBeats headphones? Well, if yes, head over to the CIM Youth Facebook app as they're giving everyone a chance to win these coolsome prizes! </div>
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1) Log on to the <b style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://on.fb.me/ocUoHp"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">CIMB Youth Facebook application. </span></span></a></b></div>
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2) Allow the contest application to access your profile. </div>
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4) Invite your friends via Facebook or Twitter and earn FUND points when a friend of yours registers. </div>
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Once you have enough funds, you can use them to redeem great prizes. </i></div>
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Log on to the <b><a href="http://on.fb.me/ocUoHp" style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">CIMB Youth Facebook application</span></span></a></b> for further information.</div>
Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-38306277095158631792011-01-02T10:56:00.001+08:002011-01-02T11:01:58.077+08:00ILoveLabels.My<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbTqcf0sU0Y6N5Y6HE-HFOdk4Q9aZzOId__R_h1c99Gy6k0LTi_Fh9D5ZgXElmLXvoj3xTyu8RuhIDFr4dQySrzfsV2f5boRfnPvF9ukLd2Kf1K-IOC_nHNb6qRohssZfYvEF7QTtkE8/s1600/ilove.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbTqcf0sU0Y6N5Y6HE-HFOdk4Q9aZzOId__R_h1c99Gy6k0LTi_Fh9D5ZgXElmLXvoj3xTyu8RuhIDFr4dQySrzfsV2f5boRfnPvF9ukLd2Kf1K-IOC_nHNb6qRohssZfYvEF7QTtkE8/s320/ilove.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Love bidding and winning cool stuff at dirt-cheap prices? Well, guess what, ILoveLabels.My misht just be your thing then.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I recently stumbled across ILoveLables.My and my, I must say that its a really amazing concept. I mean, where else can you get a Sony Cybershot DSC-S2100 Camera at RM0.12? Or a Canon EOS 1000D Digital SLR at RM1.80?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sD9NDdIGCdtNqgoxvsyjqX2uoHgyc7IsO2ZMDM5zQ6G0uUpSsyy-O2wVVfXY9TjOpT4LZjB_MSMUGA4qDWXz01msNDldDXQDRpDn4bGvJOJDDH9Y0Y02VrVQUg-vcV8dr7Bdso5Vc8s/s1600/sony+cc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sD9NDdIGCdtNqgoxvsyjqX2uoHgyc7IsO2ZMDM5zQ6G0uUpSsyy-O2wVVfXY9TjOpT4LZjB_MSMUGA4qDWXz01msNDldDXQDRpDn4bGvJOJDDH9Y0Y02VrVQUg-vcV8dr7Bdso5Vc8s/s200/sony+cc.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Therefore, I reckon you make an account and join in the fun this very instant. Here's a simple 4 step process to be a winner on ILoveLabels.My:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1) Register an account. It's <b>FREE! </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>2) </b>Buy bids, it is secure and <b>EASY</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3) Place a bid on an item you <b>LIKE</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4) If nobody else bids for the item within the timer, you <b>WIN!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It really is that simple! I haven't tried it for myself yet but I'm going to do so soon. Cheers and Happy New Year as well to all you folks! :)</div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-54254234868087030722010-12-17T13:37:00.014+08:002010-12-17T14:57:17.252+08:00TRON: Legacy Movie Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6DJThyphenhyphenEgsLa3poeRA1QyGDZMP4fzcsM58Hy_y4gyTzTX9d77XpBlJ5nfMTb626LDxKet26Tk5ric6cISxUhNplNT-LI47x3TeLIhm6INX5uAHZxBSIKY-jdNUCoHGhP8DOxsIE3dCQM/s1600/tron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6DJThyphenhyphenEgsLa3poeRA1QyGDZMP4fzcsM58Hy_y4gyTzTX9d77XpBlJ5nfMTb626LDxKet26Tk5ric6cISxUhNplNT-LI47x3TeLIhm6INX5uAHZxBSIKY-jdNUCoHGhP8DOxsIE3dCQM/s320/tron.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been my most eagerly anticipated movie of the year and I’d have to say that TRON: Legacy has pretty much lived up to my expectations. The movie features somewhat the most breathtaking and immersive 3D action sequences and graphics that I’ve ever seen.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The movie begins with the disappearance of Kevin Flynn, an innovative software programmer who created the popular arcade game TRON, in the year 1989. Before he disappears, he tells the world that he’s working on "a digital frontier that will reshape the human condition.” </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2O4AEBoIP0czRoX202kze7O_i-io98Wvs5vVSimaSUAu2GLOH606iWtR0mCHRe14eYbwv3LFELPv12MnooEyAj42By8OgkmCNltr3b_Qvp93b0PYL5e5S11rutO2kQuEOcVPoLc7wXFY/s1600/kevin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2O4AEBoIP0czRoX202kze7O_i-io98Wvs5vVSimaSUAu2GLOH606iWtR0mCHRe14eYbwv3LFELPv12MnooEyAj42By8OgkmCNltr3b_Qvp93b0PYL5e5S11rutO2kQuEOcVPoLc7wXFY/s400/kevin.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e69138;"> Kevin Flynn</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Then, 20-odd years later in the present day, Kevin’s close friend, Alan Bradley, receives a message on his pager device from Kevin’s office. Alan gets hold of Sam Flynn, Kevin’s son, and tells him about the message.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Curious, Sam goes to his father’s office. And after a relatively slow start, the story takes off from there. Sam accidentally gets transported into the digital world of TRON, where he’s mistaken to be a computer program. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicnr7zTsZeabozNteQbTkJd6X-8JIfGJSvlN15IZN-5DZL-1wXZjuCuhHE6BK55TLjzCoyoggLV9kB9tWUYLFvRsi3VZs0Z-gxxpnjtQFZA6AlakWCsG-at7xovzFFFroENupN0Hg5AQ/s1600/lightdisc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicnr7zTsZeabozNteQbTkJd6X-8JIfGJSvlN15IZN-5DZL-1wXZjuCuhHE6BK55TLjzCoyoggLV9kB9tWUYLFvRsi3VZs0Z-gxxpnjtQFZA6AlakWCsG-at7xovzFFFroENupN0Hg5AQ/s400/lightdisc.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e69138;"> A 'light disc' duel</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The underlying theme of this movie is how a son (Sam) sets out to rescue his father (Kevin) who gets trapped in his own creation. This shapes the course of the movie. Together, they must evade Clu 2, a computer program created by Kevin who turns on him. To know how the story ends, I’m afraid you’ve got to watch the movie for yourself.</span></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For me, the best action in the movie takes place when Sam encounters spectacular one-on-one ‘light disc’ duels with numerous TRON programs. Apart from the ‘light disc’ duels, the ‘light cycle’ battles are also great.</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZBlRXo6QhC5oSxm7oRX0Ufw5gb7YQBkOiXVca5xTmPSsYVyEOFKePzvigJU7uSVpqhbYocWaUx8WoXF-UtappyWtnGLIhjrhyLbop5Cbl6zHqlhUGj0t1pfIqjJ7FXQAiDSEALHwmXY/s1600/lightcycle+battle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZBlRXo6QhC5oSxm7oRX0Ufw5gb7YQBkOiXVca5xTmPSsYVyEOFKePzvigJU7uSVpqhbYocWaUx8WoXF-UtappyWtnGLIhjrhyLbop5Cbl6zHqlhUGj0t1pfIqjJ7FXQAiDSEALHwmXY/s400/lightcycle+battle.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The 'light cycle' battle</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The one thing that I really loved about the movie was the blue and orange illuminated body suits. Everything else from the transport ships to the buildings were also illuminated in these two colours. Set against a dark backdrop, these colours really stood out.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I watched the movie in 3D, and I think to feel the full effect of the world of TRON one has to watch the movie in 3D. My friend watched it in the 2D format and he said that there was nothing particularly great about the movie.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_ewhNkmC8jYK3mtm4yvfMBGo7luXZBbtFdRJPiVQDXOqmOc5fXWerCeDyftTx_n4Rf-gxG-bjYk6_MYFX861RKBr6gCisdv3Hr_WJUZdqC6cvr-OZ2JZpvWpIUBjcSx_BTsTl10LGT8/s1600/transport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_ewhNkmC8jYK3mtm4yvfMBGo7luXZBbtFdRJPiVQDXOqmOc5fXWerCeDyftTx_n4Rf-gxG-bjYk6_MYFX861RKBr6gCisdv3Hr_WJUZdqC6cvr-OZ2JZpvWpIUBjcSx_BTsTl10LGT8/s400/transport.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e69138;">One of the transport ships in the movie</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The irony of it though is that during the first half-hour or so, before Sam gets transported into TRON, there’s not a single 3D effect. So, I removed my 3D glasses and just watched the movie like that, which was actually a good thing because it’s not all that comfortable to have to wear 3D glasses on top of regular glasses.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I’d say that the director, Joseph Kosinski, has done a relatively good job with the movie. Undoubtedly, the graphics and 3D effects are simply amazing, but I felt that the movie could do with a little more twist and turns as the net running time of the movie was a little less than two hours.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1bCc8bp3fS-N0OVqgNUAAuk-BszGNr8Vi-p3E38ioqfio1e471NnX-mC2EKbmWqqTUSNVEG42R_sXBN7b3IP3wWzZcoii4u9K0nJhYWwRGzBWec43T9AggX3mvyBuzOlBnevhjcP6eQ/s1600/quorra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1bCc8bp3fS-N0OVqgNUAAuk-BszGNr8Vi-p3E38ioqfio1e471NnX-mC2EKbmWqqTUSNVEG42R_sXBN7b3IP3wWzZcoii4u9K0nJhYWwRGzBWec43T9AggX3mvyBuzOlBnevhjcP6eQ/s400/quorra.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Quorra, the fearless TRON warrior</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The film also features a stellar cast. Jeff Bridges plays the aged Kevin Flynn as well as the program Clu 2. Garrett Hedlund portrays the bold Sam Flynn while Olivia Wilde plays the role of Quorra, the only computer program who’s on the same side with Sam and his father. She’s also an adept warrior in the movie.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">There were certain bits in the movie where I couldn’t put two and two together. Perhaps that’s because I hadn’t watched the original Tron movie which was released in 1982 prior to watching this one. However, I strongly do feel that there will be a sequel to TRON: Legacy because this movie didn’t seem quite finished. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #e69138; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Overall rating: 8.5/10 (Best movie of the year for me!)</span></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-74810559007663122952010-09-29T14:45:00.022+08:002010-11-19T20:58:51.502+08:00My Magical Journey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzluTJlTmPjlZ4aVjx24OoH6Qen7fcC6hWhKT0wBXgtwY79Sjckamc_iyxsQaMBOIqol5h2u2qJcJUTXAFxF3hdi_CQkD7Bznzf7jxKVxmiqM3QYjSzd0FvTJ_tT_ltU869xfL88HEHW4/s1600/narnia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzluTJlTmPjlZ4aVjx24OoH6Qen7fcC6hWhKT0wBXgtwY79Sjckamc_iyxsQaMBOIqol5h2u2qJcJUTXAFxF3hdi_CQkD7Bznzf7jxKVxmiqM3QYjSzd0FvTJ_tT_ltU869xfL88HEHW4/s400/narnia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The third installment of the seven-part Chronicles of Narnia will hit the theateres this coming December. Having watched the first two installments in this series, I think we're going to be in for a treat because my gut feeling tells me this is going to be a great movie.<br />
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What more, it's going to be screened in 3D-trim too! As such, just imagine seeing Aslan as if he were really there, right infront of you. I think that'll be super cool and awesome. Also, I am looking forward to seeing the return of Reepicheep, the tiny but brave warrior mouse of Narnia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Besides, the trailer of the movie looks fantastic, so theoretically, the movie should too. I see a whole lot more of mystery and adventure as the main characters in the film, Lucy and Edmund, have grown up considerably. Therefore, there should be no 'babyish' nonsense on the part of Lucy like what we saw in the first two movies.<br />
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Once again, let's hope this masterpiece of C.S.Lewis will leave us captivated beyond our imagination as he leads us into his magical, mystical and fantastical world of Narnia for the third time.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8vlyoACM3mP7bh-W1Vx5JMLaZwmsL2Hsc6-TYltrrpeWmK73Xy4N2zJMxxVZYFhW8gPOTLte0Jwn7eLi6HbulTPvzjdmP74-lt7_IIP08WtNCdpTDcVdZ-IQigASr1QxnZ3fnKPfdSg/s1600/narnia+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8vlyoACM3mP7bh-W1Vx5JMLaZwmsL2Hsc6-TYltrrpeWmK73Xy4N2zJMxxVZYFhW8gPOTLte0Jwn7eLi6HbulTPvzjdmP74-lt7_IIP08WtNCdpTDcVdZ-IQigASr1QxnZ3fnKPfdSg/s400/narnia+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;"> Reepicheep, a fearless Narnian warrior</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6xgMgx7asE3EITdtUyu4ceWhF6Ou0kPR3GpTry2x99UNzTPTWUfsON5TgHKyfMFB6QVRqfow96Ux3_8EksZbu1S0DNBXkjRXcq9MrrEEf1ddAntSNMNb2KWgn-rTe8pDacXqh1M7zgA/s1600/narnia+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6xgMgx7asE3EITdtUyu4ceWhF6Ou0kPR3GpTry2x99UNzTPTWUfsON5TgHKyfMFB6QVRqfow96Ux3_8EksZbu1S0DNBXkjRXcq9MrrEEf1ddAntSNMNb2KWgn-rTe8pDacXqh1M7zgA/s400/narnia+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #e69138; text-align: center;">Aslan, the guardian and saviour of Narnia<br />
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</div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Here's a brief synopsis of the movie:</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Return to the magic and wonder of C.S. Lewis' beloved world – via the fantastic Narnian ship, the Dawn Treader. In this new installment of the blockbuster "The Chronicles of Narnia" motion picture franchise, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their cousin Eustace and their royal friend King Caspian, find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to the Dawn Treader. As they embark on an incredible adventure of destiny and discovery, they confront obstacles beyond imagination.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xyBK_FEASGAtKI5oxOUUguGoUGmxS_Vb9SsF4vTwvHD4pXnJJhnFWsE8gCMTWjR4zlcyUMbnPgkwwB17jERsB9Qqc9akPaNUfdJQa_DF7rsolRuwJIhIdLnKxl56fi-IBYtkbMTjADE/s1600/gsc+cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xyBK_FEASGAtKI5oxOUUguGoUGmxS_Vb9SsF4vTwvHD4pXnJJhnFWsE8gCMTWjR4zlcyUMbnPgkwwB17jERsB9Qqc9akPaNUfdJQa_DF7rsolRuwJIhIdLnKxl56fi-IBYtkbMTjADE/s200/gsc+cc.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="color: #e69138;"><br />
Here's a good deal for you if you're a movie buff:</div><br />
Get a <a href="http://www.eonbank.com.my/consumer/creditcards/gsc_cc_fnb.shtml" style="color: white;">GSC-EON Bank Credit Card</a><span style="color: white;"> </span>to enjoy up to 10% discount on normal tickets purchase when you use your GSC-EON Bank Credit Card at all GSC Outlets. You will also enjoy the following benefits:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">- </span><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Priority Ticketing Lane</span><span style="color: #e69138;">,</span> allowing you to purchase your tickets faster</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #e69138;">-<span style="color: #e69138;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Great Refreshments Offers</span><span style="color: #e69138;">, </span>allowing you to receive exclusive discounts when you purchase refreshments from the concession</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #e69138;">- </b><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Exclusive Dining Privileges At GSC’s Food & Beverage Outlets</span><span style="color: #e69138;">, </span>allwoing you to receive discounts when you dine in GSC's Food and Beverages outlets</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #e69138;">- </b><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Incredible Bonus Value Privileges</span><span style="color: #e69138;">,</span> allowing you to buy tickets at discounted prices</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">- </span><span style="color: #e69138;">... and a host of other benefits</span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5S3D6OxwFUCx2Ir8s_x20gXgKeEdJ8C7bw_JT4qFE6gu8fu_DNQ0ep_gLbo7sj8NsA03cREzEXzcQdVfBVFVShUe4qVXocCyLsg0Y4RR_aujZwz2e7oR_VoxO6vA35dtsE0pGGivg5X8/s1600/The-Chronicles-of-Narnia-The-Voyage-of-the-Dawn-Treader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5S3D6OxwFUCx2Ir8s_x20gXgKeEdJ8C7bw_JT4qFE6gu8fu_DNQ0ep_gLbo7sj8NsA03cREzEXzcQdVfBVFVShUe4qVXocCyLsg0Y4RR_aujZwz2e7oR_VoxO6vA35dtsE0pGGivg5X8/s640/The-Chronicles-of-Narnia-The-Voyage-of-the-Dawn-Treader.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;"> The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Poster</span></b></div></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-82232930597752337612010-09-04T11:21:00.002+08:002010-09-04T11:24:17.707+08:00Are Cartoons Still Entertainment For Teenagers?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhM0zp7xbPL0w1kiHd2UL_OL9ofdwNnfc3Qv6V91MMyQ83ATc9qXizKAsyVMSxJDfqiLdIc6m7zDB5Lu3WyKnSWEL97GmQaBYl0Hb2kQsB0wHwLa5EGgYN1RBBRcSXk0FEU05HPeHbs4/s1600/spongebob_029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhM0zp7xbPL0w1kiHd2UL_OL9ofdwNnfc3Qv6V91MMyQ83ATc9qXizKAsyVMSxJDfqiLdIc6m7zDB5Lu3WyKnSWEL97GmQaBYl0Hb2kQsB0wHwLa5EGgYN1RBBRcSXk0FEU05HPeHbs4/s320/spongebob_029.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Who’s never watched, let alone heard, of SpongeBob SquarePants? I am sure most teenagers of today know that cartoon very well like the back of their hand, and some are maybe even addicted to it.<br />
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The cartoon’s main character, SpongeBob, is the face of the cartoon industry, distinct and wacky in ‘his’ own rights. Which teenager can genuinely claim that he or she has never laughed or gotten amused seeing SpongeBob’s antics? None, I suppose. <br />
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Therefore, I am of the opinion that cartoons are still entertainment for us teenagers these days despite the fact that the times have changed. The only major difference between cartoons of the yesteryears and those of today is the degree of sophistication of the graphics and animations involved. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoTTHe4DToWtjsoW7Bz0VqeIyAzy5UTGD9ZRPm3VH9JdeqKnqY_X8kdvTlINKKvpcE-biWukQH9hRS_OOlXkmMYY0iqmOv1V_fiNX0Tk7icWLgiDrxw7p1jh77Xx6NC1pqJwhSj9VlRg/s1600/madagascar+poenguins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoTTHe4DToWtjsoW7Bz0VqeIyAzy5UTGD9ZRPm3VH9JdeqKnqY_X8kdvTlINKKvpcE-biWukQH9hRS_OOlXkmMYY0iqmOv1V_fiNX0Tk7icWLgiDrxw7p1jh77Xx6NC1pqJwhSj9VlRg/s320/madagascar+poenguins.jpg" /></a></div><br />
No doubt, we’ve got so little spare time to spend these days with tuition and studies and everything else that watching cartoons has become some sort of a privilege. But when we do watch cartoons, good cartoons that is, it is entertainment nonetheless. <br />
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However, I feel that teenagers these days won’t want to waste their time watching cartoons that have no particular outstanding feature. The best types of cartoons are certainly those with intelligent and distinctive plotlines coupled with quirky conversations (think SpongeBob). <br />
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Action-genred cartoons are losing their popularity simply because teenagers can be more entertained by either playing action games or watching action movies. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyNHn9nQPoOROe2BzSzM0BrV8lzaxQfo43rgdF70_14sA28FMS61j-PslE638VOfs2Zd0csScuVVkn18OYZWWvGL_5skCSDZ8cehLl0wWGAejUPyVqYMNvlz8nOcaThSjCJ3XnYvzGBs/s1600/clone+wars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyNHn9nQPoOROe2BzSzM0BrV8lzaxQfo43rgdF70_14sA28FMS61j-PslE638VOfs2Zd0csScuVVkn18OYZWWvGL_5skCSDZ8cehLl0wWGAejUPyVqYMNvlz8nOcaThSjCJ3XnYvzGBs/s320/clone+wars.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Besides that, cartoons that are based on movies also turn out to be great cartoons. This is because the movies are already an established entity and the cartoons will further exploit on the success of the movie. For instance, Star Wars fanatics can watch the Clone War series while those who adore Mr. Bean can watch the cartoon version of it.<br />
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Another element that makes a good cartoon is the use of a wide array of colours. We have become accustomed to seeing a dull world filled with less greenery and more shades of black-and-white that a colourful cartoon offers us a respite and enriches our eyes with colour. But it’s important not to overuse the colours too, because then it will become too childlike.<br />
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As much as I feel that cartoons are still a form of entertainment for teenagers today, I doubt that’ll be the case for long. In time to come, teenagers will be very much in their own world that they will barely have enough time for themselves so cartoons will, at best, be a secondary form of entertainment for them.<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">If you're a teenager, or even not one, are cartoons still a form of entertainment for you? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.</span>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-76862309260284616112010-07-20T19:50:00.006+08:002010-07-21T15:08:10.378+08:00Where the Next BIG War Could Begin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnwkJJVwMBqClzXuXlASlquFTiN12nZPwgLFGGmUFIq77tYToARgFtbrsjK0qFA_3QMuZX3UG9IhkJ5EeV48puTaqh31MQj4wVtzgLm4Jjz6zAIWiH-GR2iRY5iYD0LQilKqxHfL8tDI/s1600/war.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnwkJJVwMBqClzXuXlASlquFTiN12nZPwgLFGGmUFIq77tYToARgFtbrsjK0qFA_3QMuZX3UG9IhkJ5EeV48puTaqh31MQj4wVtzgLm4Jjz6zAIWiH-GR2iRY5iYD0LQilKqxHfL8tDI/s320/war.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ever since the dawn of civilisation, mankind has been enveloped in one war after another. From the time of the Roman Empire when King Arthur summoned his knights to stand up against the Saxon invasion of Britain to the US-led invasion of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq in 2003, millions of precious and innocent lives have been lost.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Throughout those thousands of years, the function of a war has remained the same – either to conquer new territories or to maintain one’s stranglehold on power. The only thing that has changed, perhaps, is the types of weapons in use. Back then, we fought using swords and shields; now we have nuclear bombs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As technology has developed ever so rapidly over the years, a single bomb can now kill up to a million people. And now, we don’t even have to be physically present in a battlefield. Everything can be remote controlled – from fighter drones to missile attacks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, the repercussions of a war are extreme. That’s why we haven’t seen a full-scale, all-out war for quite some time. Governments now think twice before launching any attacks as a war would inadvertently lead to a weak and unstable economy for any given country, besides causing all sorts of social havoc and political turmoil.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then, there are all sorts of atrocities during wartime such as torture and abuse. As such, I believe none of us would want a full-scale war to break out anytime soon, would we? But for those who live in war ‘hotspots’, they never know when a war might break out. And when a war might claim their lives.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here, allow me to examine three such war ‘hotspots’ which are most susceptible to not just any war, but a big war from breaking out in the near future.</div><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">North Korea</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">This is the last communist dynasty in the world. It is also one of the poorest countries around, and thousands of its people die of famine each year. However, the government of North Korea doesn’t seem to care much about the plight of its people as it is busy chasing after its own dream – perfecting a nuclear weapon that.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-no2Jgrsz5CTl80P_l34_cQqMNcRAHBug3PFG0NMwlK1yLQLNEpkd09GfIp3kWLzHAGOriexe_vGtsiWRtqJpMQxKtEcv-nWl3LpcPJemgdft5wIw8fPeh-9w7T3LBZzxZtNGMfy8uU0/s1600/nkorea+nuclear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-no2Jgrsz5CTl80P_l34_cQqMNcRAHBug3PFG0NMwlK1yLQLNEpkd09GfIp3kWLzHAGOriexe_vGtsiWRtqJpMQxKtEcv-nWl3LpcPJemgdft5wIw8fPeh-9w7T3LBZzxZtNGMfy8uU0/s320/nkorea+nuclear.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Nuclear reactor in Pyongyang</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apart from neglecting the welfare of its people, the North has a volatile relationship with South Korea. Tensions are running high between the two nations especially after the recent sinking of a South Korean warship and a war looks like a glaring possibility. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One wrong foot put by either government could lead the people of both countries to endless amount of suffering. This is because a nuclear war would ensue and matters would only get more complicated when the U.S. steps in and joins the party. </div><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Iran</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">They have a similar agenda to North Korea. At least that’s what the U.S. claim. Iran has made no secret of its nuclear ambitions, but has always maintained that it is only for civilian purposes. The U.S., of course, think that there is a hidden agenda, an ulterior motive.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZqDeJndY32yp4mXIVnl0rG2iVTRpMAB4Mw3B_oqAfIMn2I_VsUZ0v7paJycc8AD5mvAsXGkZM6AcBHu-hT3sqiH8pPC95tHYtY7nmUOa_VyLZWm4gBUHbMGhMEnZ9KynIA1xvjsrmLw/s1600/iran+rg.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZqDeJndY32yp4mXIVnl0rG2iVTRpMAB4Mw3B_oqAfIMn2I_VsUZ0v7paJycc8AD5mvAsXGkZM6AcBHu-hT3sqiH8pPC95tHYtY7nmUOa_VyLZWm4gBUHbMGhMEnZ9KynIA1xvjsrmLw/s320/iran+rg.bmp" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The 'Revolutionary Guards' of Iran</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, the good thing is that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon as of yet. But analysts have not ruled out an attack by the U.S. on them if all diplomatic avenues to halt their nuclear program are exhausted and the United Nations-backed economic sanctions levelled at them bear no fruit. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When and if the U.S. does indeed launch an attack, Iran won’t just sit still and watch. They would strike back. Hard. The Revolutionary Guards (Iran’s army) are known to be a well-organised unit and sooner rather than later, the whole of the Arab world could be dragged into a regional conflict. </div><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Israel</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">They have been ruthlessly subjecting the people of Palestine to years of torment now, so it would hardly come as a surprise if the Muslim nations of the Arab world such as Syria, Lebanon and Iran stand up for their brethren and gain revenge by taking matters into their own hands.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKzQlekqyAnVMYLmc0k09OU9yukBxZhXFEYDZiXBHZ0iAQgSD75Ag4jfTJWlmuxiI8HK4Qp3vmv2vYt89WztOSiwqORp7mshtCppwljDc1VcbL2LWkLjDr-FTYsv0K9P17FRryVpeTMo/s1600/israel-war-on-hammas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKzQlekqyAnVMYLmc0k09OU9yukBxZhXFEYDZiXBHZ0iAQgSD75Ag4jfTJWlmuxiI8HK4Qp3vmv2vYt89WztOSiwqORp7mshtCppwljDc1VcbL2LWkLjDr-FTYsv0K9P17FRryVpeTMo/s320/israel-war-on-hammas1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Israeli tank in action</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Besides, Israel has been causing all sorts of other problems for the Muslim nations too. A few years ago, the President of Iran, Mahmood Ahmadinejad, had even famously said that “Israel would be wiped-off the world map”. Now, that’s a powerful statement from a powerful man.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The worst part is that if Iran and the others do really attack Israel on an all-out basis, the damage done would be enormous. Why so? Because Israel is a nuclear-state and its number one ally is – you guessed it right – the U.S. Oh gosh!</div><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">In a nutshell</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wars cause a whole lot of collateral damage, but none as bad as taking away the lives of innocent people. As we can see, errant governments who put their personal interests ahead of that of their people are the ones who would most likely cause a war to start.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-ZvD3Yb2uKhYJTySMtEPPxBDW_WVGk2CTeTKlIdjSa1FOOh4LLbfHxuG7_2hzBVWPHHEklSu2MzqsKYdT1rG_-eUPa-nDZBc0chnuzqM2Ixy5njDyfCYnE0_xlvUeGTitSYwtFn_6VY/s1600/no-war-480.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-ZvD3Yb2uKhYJTySMtEPPxBDW_WVGk2CTeTKlIdjSa1FOOh4LLbfHxuG7_2hzBVWPHHEklSu2MzqsKYdT1rG_-eUPa-nDZBc0chnuzqM2Ixy5njDyfCYnE0_xlvUeGTitSYwtFn_6VY/s200/no-war-480.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even if war becomes a necessity, I feel that the use of nuclear weapons in particular should be a no-no to minimise the effects of the war on the general populace. And probably it’s about time the U.S. stopped poking its noses into people’s businesses as usually when there is a war, the U.S. is somehow or another involved. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Where do you think the next 'big' war could break out? What is your take on war? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-85488058707188000622010-07-14T21:13:00.002+08:002010-07-15T14:36:34.616+08:002010 World Cup: The Cream of the Crop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZiJPKpplX3kfSWbvjosOC7t4_QCoE6a__BvqeYt826EQc6PJ2teXF9BmOocstyn4tUMrNE3PZZ0IgT9p79rKvtmuDZgsRh8aLYAlmxqWM4ULnjV86NY0WGeWhJTQUS3Frh7hOhGPdZk/s1600/wc+trophy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZiJPKpplX3kfSWbvjosOC7t4_QCoE6a__BvqeYt826EQc6PJ2teXF9BmOocstyn4tUMrNE3PZZ0IgT9p79rKvtmuDZgsRh8aLYAlmxqWM4ULnjV86NY0WGeWhJTQUS3Frh7hOhGPdZk/s320/wc+trophy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As with every competition, the best are always remembered, and usually honoured. Likewise, I wish to put forth my list of the 'creme de la creme' of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It is merely my humble take on things, so there's no reason for you to get uptight if your best team, player, coach etc is not featured. Enjoy reading!</div><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Player of the Tournament: Wesley Sneijder (NED)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlli8ALzwpLp1jYE-jaxD92M8tCOBRzv2WYGZ5IvHUq_MwShrHDuqJv0mWj17DEGJRDAMU9QF2pGJpVrSWmCu8YkbBk_7bCPuocTvyeqYM8tvcXHpUF-XTdI8KBAz0P0MsbvZEMmWHS1w/s1600/snejder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlli8ALzwpLp1jYE-jaxD92M8tCOBRzv2WYGZ5IvHUq_MwShrHDuqJv0mWj17DEGJRDAMU9QF2pGJpVrSWmCu8YkbBk_7bCPuocTvyeqYM8tvcXHpUF-XTdI8KBAz0P0MsbvZEMmWHS1w/s320/snejder.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">He played superb passes with inch-perfect precision and scored five well-taken goals that took him to the top of the goal scoring charts. His long ball to Robben in the game against Slovakia in the quarter-finals that led to their first goal was just unbelievable. Considering that he was the architect of Inter Milan’s treble winning squad too, it’s a pity he lost out to Forlan in the official ‘Player of the Tournament’ accolade.</div><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Team of the Tournament: Spain</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgA50WVln3Cy7rgU5hlWcl96usOdOzO5-_gEs-7hE2NmLcU0tTDw8to-P9cG7XBRJ53ItwY_9WoW0GKf822PrNSy8vrL9LdMxx3AtZrGMhJhwsx7-zFAsvc0xvyuEz89-EnlcAWFEX2I/s1600/spain+team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgA50WVln3Cy7rgU5hlWcl96usOdOzO5-_gEs-7hE2NmLcU0tTDw8to-P9cG7XBRJ53ItwY_9WoW0GKf822PrNSy8vrL9LdMxx3AtZrGMhJhwsx7-zFAsvc0xvyuEz89-EnlcAWFEX2I/s320/spain+team.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I had thought that Germany would be the team of the tournament, but being duly beaten by Spain, I guess Spain deserve this award. It’s not so much for playing beautiful football, but for the fact that they had the discipline to play as rigid as they did. With midfield maestros such as Xavi and Iniesta, they could keep long spells of possession that undoubtedly undid more fanciful teams such as Germany.</div><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Goal of the Tournament: Lukas Podolski (GER vs ENG)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7pFWL-F86hzgXly8fYAgP18oH5TroXd3dB27uaflu2FePEpTu4F2jFsG7vEm8H7i_ENpWX7bR-RQW-ISE0IBL6x6MRnNVC6lOEjI-TlezipV7KyQ__z0K_5j5BXy6WQsSPdBSw0f38E/s1600/podolski+james+goal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7pFWL-F86hzgXly8fYAgP18oH5TroXd3dB27uaflu2FePEpTu4F2jFsG7vEm8H7i_ENpWX7bR-RQW-ISE0IBL6x6MRnNVC6lOEjI-TlezipV7KyQ__z0K_5j5BXy6WQsSPdBSw0f38E/s320/podolski+james+goal.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The second goal in this quarter-final encounter ranks as one of the best teams goals I have seen. Mueller had possession of the ball on the right side of the midfield, passed it short to Oezil who then played it to Klose. Klose deftly flicked the ball on to a rampaging Mueller’s path who took a touch and then chipped the ball across the goal to Podolski. And Podolski rounded off the move by volleying the ball between James’s legs. Perfect!</div><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Coach of the Tournament: Joachim Leow (GER)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0AOSePvcuBSgRL7Gh5Uuzj0h6eTuSXzMOcM76ZisFY9CUopSi58r3kFpiUsVNQxfKTGqWc2O4_ZXS9qKmM_9BOTY8V8uxzD2rytfQOdv3sSVy8tVQJ9tfnXxNwcXpAcGazl5xJeL94c/s1600/loew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0AOSePvcuBSgRL7Gh5Uuzj0h6eTuSXzMOcM76ZisFY9CUopSi58r3kFpiUsVNQxfKTGqWc2O4_ZXS9qKmM_9BOTY8V8uxzD2rytfQOdv3sSVy8tVQJ9tfnXxNwcXpAcGazl5xJeL94c/s320/loew.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I mean, he thoroughly deserves this, doesn’t he? Almost all of Germany had written off their teams chances at the World Cup after their captain, Ballack, was ruled out due to an injury. But Leow assembled a rather inexperienced side that had an average age of only 25 and they swept to resounding tactical wins over Australia, England and Argentina before getting knocked out by Spain. </div><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Match of the Tournament: GER vs ENG (Round of 16)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QV6P3_z1bpN9wslw1qnPIWUWlA8sbZ_oRDpDY44V_9ruzswbNgnAVIr65V5wGsDTf9J8CuLIby6_zHbSLlaDaoZNp4dUikOQQdtf5dcD9pjdvQ0U9AvD-Ccf-itsXw79ZzwhSW-PhZg/s1600/neuer_1667656c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QV6P3_z1bpN9wslw1qnPIWUWlA8sbZ_oRDpDY44V_9ruzswbNgnAVIr65V5wGsDTf9J8CuLIby6_zHbSLlaDaoZNp4dUikOQQdtf5dcD9pjdvQ0U9AvD-Ccf-itsXw79ZzwhSW-PhZg/s320/neuer_1667656c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This match had all the ingredients of a classic. A ‘goal’ that never was, a triumph of youth over experience and a scoreline that no Englishman (or even a German for that matter) could fathom. The Premier League stars who earn truckloads of cash were undone by a German team that launched counter-attacks at lightning speed reminiscent of the Blitzkrieg. Had the ‘goal’ stood, the outcome of the match might have been different, but nevertheless a game to remember.</div><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">So what's your pick of the best of the best? Feel free to share by dropping a comment below.</span>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-12081971799395298182010-07-13T20:06:00.019+08:002010-07-15T15:59:25.554+08:00In Retrospect: 2010 FIFA World Cup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMF_UpMBbWs5ago1gv0eDZy3-ClJ42__fgvYOI7TQDegnddbH8moc9FAHmMLCd116YEOia5qf4zIJMw1STNHaIYN8aCyCLu9fGwGbF6tjnqEhtiA9UQDLhGTOjb-RjbYsgYL7_j0t94q0/s1600/spain+win.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMF_UpMBbWs5ago1gv0eDZy3-ClJ42__fgvYOI7TQDegnddbH8moc9FAHmMLCd116YEOia5qf4zIJMw1STNHaIYN8aCyCLu9fGwGbF6tjnqEhtiA9UQDLhGTOjb-RjbYsgYL7_j0t94q0/s320/spain+win.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The biggest sporting event in the world finally drew its curtains after a pitched month-long battle which saw 32 teams vying for the roll of honour of being crowned the ultimate kings of football – the World Champions – and earn bragging rights for four years at least. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, the 2010 FIFA World Cup threatens to be overshadowed and be long remembered for the exploits of one certain Paul the Octopus instead of the dramatic goal that Andres Iniesta scored deep into extra-time to win Spain their first ever World Cup after decades of underachievement. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That hardly comes as a surprise given that the action on the pitch was certainly not one that football die-hards would have anticipated and relished throughout the four weeks of football, and the competition got off to a bad start as goals came a trickle during the first week of action. What more, yellow and red cards were seemingly dished out by the referees as if they were distributing candies to children. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzpNugfJlnZ_sjykNWk3pxjlESoglEpKDiqxkaD5L3-8w-ZwO46jfZ6Vf5oj1cuiG4PBTdb76cu3SNhNuROSsnL_DUYEuTHcamfugD8DjgddzQsgh3wwZ47lFocpe98NCOsYrJyp7A1c/s1600/David-Villa-World-Cup-2010-Football-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzpNugfJlnZ_sjykNWk3pxjlESoglEpKDiqxkaD5L3-8w-ZwO46jfZ6Vf5oj1cuiG4PBTdb76cu3SNhNuROSsnL_DUYEuTHcamfugD8DjgddzQsgh3wwZ47lFocpe98NCOsYrJyp7A1c/s320/David-Villa-World-Cup-2010-Football-Poster.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Villa in action for Spain</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Sadly, the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Kaka and African stalwarts Drogba and Eto’o failed to live up to their pre-tournament billing as being amongst the elite in the world of football. Perhaps, the weight resting on their shoulders was too enormous a load I guess. But the likes of Villa, Sneijder and Golden Ball winner Forlan rose to the occasion and had great outings for their respective nations. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This World Cup might also prove to be a vital turning point for those who have been lobbying for the introduction of goal-line technology and video replays to assist referees in making their decisions. <br />
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We saw a good amount of high-profile gaffes, chief of which was the 'goal' that England didn't score. So, look out for some changes by the time we reach Brazil in 2014.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then we had all sorts of crazy results in the group stages. France and Italy were sent packing back home, and England, Germany and Spain came perilously close to emulating them. <br />
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The best part, who would’ve thought that of all the 32 teams in South Africa, New Zealand would end the tournament as being the only unbeaten team. How bizarre!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Vtjyllt9zwsDlahL5DvMUwL1gpr2OcPZkPePsL2sQ4-s1zkE_7S3q0QUCxtVKn1KVwEZZupmOUeW3ldcHaYsLxVSDsxbrwJxt_0_Vtk1ackzYGIBFe4ZAzZHY37p_TgPi8MOASlKRtI/s1600/suarez2_1671849c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Vtjyllt9zwsDlahL5DvMUwL1gpr2OcPZkPePsL2sQ4-s1zkE_7S3q0QUCxtVKn1KVwEZZupmOUeW3ldcHaYsLxVSDsxbrwJxt_0_Vtk1ackzYGIBFe4ZAzZHY37p_TgPi8MOASlKRtI/s320/suarez2_1671849c.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Suarez's handball</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the quarter-finals, we witnessed arguably the most blatant handball foul of all time. Luiz Suarez, who is known more for his goal scoring prowess as opposed to his goalkeeping exploits, did fairly well to keep out a Ghanaian header from going in. A calculated foul some claimed it to be but he dashed the hopes of a whole nation and of an entire continent. How unfair!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the highlights of the tournament though was the emergence of the young German talents. I would have to concede that although I am a German supporter, I was unfamiliar with names such as Khedira, Oezil, Boateng, Neuer and Mueller before the tournament, all of whom are around 21 years of age and who have very few international caps between them. But it is apparent now that they are future stars in the making.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Besides, to see Germany’s attacking impetus against the likes of England and Argentina was indeed refreshing from both a team supporter and a neutrals point of view.<br />
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The other team that I supported – Argentina – fared quite well in the group stages but were undone by German ruthlessness. I think Maradona has done a pretty good job as a coach, contrary to what some might believe. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbSSPhc958Xp2QqkYsulUYMhZNvLIWqcdhVB8cR6E5q4XFGwxM_18mCT8mmq0_-5gT27GU44jXrpwQPin9vATWefi0csw7wurLAzCW9tQ1fQAGOoDngVFVuUeNV-lEBGBFXcITTvcujI/s1600/vuvuzela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbSSPhc958Xp2QqkYsulUYMhZNvLIWqcdhVB8cR6E5q4XFGwxM_18mCT8mmq0_-5gT27GU44jXrpwQPin9vATWefi0csw7wurLAzCW9tQ1fQAGOoDngVFVuUeNV-lEBGBFXcITTvcujI/s320/vuvuzela.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The colourful 'Vuvuzelas'</span></div><br />
As to how successfully South Africa has hosted this World Cup, I think they deserve to be given the plaudits. Security was as tight as it could get, matches ran on schedule, and the much feared crime rate dropped dramatically in the days before the World Cup.<br />
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The only chink in the armour was that the 'Vuvuzela', dubbed the horn of Africa, spoiled the fun by muting the chants and what-not of the fans with its monotonous bee-like buzzing.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, with the World Cup over, there is a certain void, or rather emptiness that needs to be filled. You know, after all those late nights watching Argentina playing Mexico and Germany versus Spain. But I guess I can seek solace from the fact that the next World Cup is only, yes ONLY, four years away. In Brazil.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPVYPcrtMol4iDaqz4X9xVoS4o_tZSi5yC2F2sdwpEwEJhEmKttA7N-WgptSee3CdHOO27Bdmt1PG4ob9o5gNFxMfZPTTKx1vnORFyDL2Ln3ARqnnfQrUdpVWbS3LrQ5y01OqpAH004I/s1600/brazil+2014.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPVYPcrtMol4iDaqz4X9xVoS4o_tZSi5yC2F2sdwpEwEJhEmKttA7N-WgptSee3CdHOO27Bdmt1PG4ob9o5gNFxMfZPTTKx1vnORFyDL2Ln3ARqnnfQrUdpVWbS3LrQ5y01OqpAH004I/s200/brazil+2014.png" width="190" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fhstheblog.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fin-retrospect-2010-fifa-world-cup.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=dark&height=80" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 24px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe></div><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">What were your best bits of the World Cup? Feel free to share your thoughts by dropping a comment below.</span>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-36453761129098958932010-05-31T14:36:00.002+08:002010-05-31T16:40:55.637+08:00How to Disable Your Facebook E-mail Notifications<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KNe_60MPpMAbn795EHvVg-TrA2U3mXfsEexWPuIuPeiXhW6pecGDET4BAiK3XtnzK4bYG9HyNPmByp0jTw1wmW2HbLNuaVRm_2KXaeiXsF7SV-m2p6s4lSR7NcUGGbbMXFVvOJU5jRU/s1600/f+mail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KNe_60MPpMAbn795EHvVg-TrA2U3mXfsEexWPuIuPeiXhW6pecGDET4BAiK3XtnzK4bYG9HyNPmByp0jTw1wmW2HbLNuaVRm_2KXaeiXsF7SV-m2p6s4lSR7NcUGGbbMXFVvOJU5jRU/s200/f+mail.png" width="188" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">deactivate</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I was surprised to find out that many of my friends did not know how to disable their Facebook e-mail notifications. This inevitably led to their e-mail account being flooded with hundreds and thousands of unwanted mail. And the best part is, few of my friends went through every one of their e-mail and deleted it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Actually, there is no reason to have your Facebook e-mail notifications activated, but sadly, Facebook auto activates it and puts many people in the dark as to how to disable it. Maybe it’s a marketing ploy, so that you don’t forget about your Facebook account, don’t you think so?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, here, I would like to help those who have no clue whatsoever as to the possibility of disabling your Facebook e-mail notifications by guiding you through a step-by-step process that I have prepared using screen shots below (refer to the orange-highlighted lines for what you have to do). Hope it helps you.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Step 1</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL284Mbr-2iGD1atZG1vuXp8nQzJjWAd_SCJsR_q6yhgBY-EskBZRmm2zSwrp6okY7PBToeSkmzkjjmYWpyAB4kNixNXnu_Rs751hyphenhyphenF2pMHiDLGxlQbRHBchwDp5UEjtajxpwfBB7nxnM/s1600/fb1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL284Mbr-2iGD1atZG1vuXp8nQzJjWAd_SCJsR_q6yhgBY-EskBZRmm2zSwrp6okY7PBToeSkmzkjjmYWpyAB4kNixNXnu_Rs751hyphenhyphenF2pMHiDLGxlQbRHBchwDp5UEjtajxpwfBB7nxnM/s320/fb1.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On your Facebook homepage (or any page for that matter), click on the ‘Account’ tab on the top right hand corner beside the ‘Home’ and ‘Profile’ tab.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Step 2</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhfpovMkvOCDKp0aSClmHRB26ssFBiAki7zwkqO1Squ7ovZYamP06EL-Esj1eph5_GOud7XJWBxF_ag0Iw6Q0yXAGP8tlqqyMADg3bdSioy_tLzqVoCph2KVejvsJuIwFE3VfVH2dGrs/s1600/fb2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhfpovMkvOCDKp0aSClmHRB26ssFBiAki7zwkqO1Squ7ovZYamP06EL-Esj1eph5_GOud7XJWBxF_ag0Iw6Q0yXAGP8tlqqyMADg3bdSioy_tLzqVoCph2KVejvsJuIwFE3VfVH2dGrs/s320/fb2.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once you have clicked on the ‘Account’ tab, a scroll-down menu will appear. There, click on the ‘Account Settings’ tab which is the third tab from the top.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Step 3</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqL5Jx0LkP0j2YvYflblIhBbGgWK_MBi8rLGDGP5Nhyphenhypheno2zOYYzVO0fKs3KTQ0gL9-jL07fCm_he6U370v8SE_8KjKqbXLHXDjRZO9wNL3rONhJ5Qq7R5niUQz9uQeRUIpuN74HC8G33oM/s1600/fb3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqL5Jx0LkP0j2YvYflblIhBbGgWK_MBi8rLGDGP5Nhyphenhypheno2zOYYzVO0fKs3KTQ0gL9-jL07fCm_he6U370v8SE_8KjKqbXLHXDjRZO9wNL3rONhJ5Qq7R5niUQz9uQeRUIpuN74HC8G33oM/s320/fb3.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This will take you to a new page. Here, click on the ‘Notifications’ tab which is located third from left.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Step 4</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3cD0sbFzPSD2MYByLXvOC-2XP9jsYwZbJiVK_5fElbonEApma4CETtnQjV0jliaXGuUEBVI6YLApoq5P2CyPe2WmFCcAseHmmRrTQNRMAPs76wkvEmIcyuvGR1F9cc777tQ9LbgLkXE/s1600/fb4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3cD0sbFzPSD2MYByLXvOC-2XP9jsYwZbJiVK_5fElbonEApma4CETtnQjV0jliaXGuUEBVI6YLApoq5P2CyPe2WmFCcAseHmmRrTQNRMAPs76wkvEmIcyuvGR1F9cc777tQ9LbgLkXE/s320/fb4.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, you will see a long list of details, all or most of which have the boxes beside them checked. To disable your e-mail notifications fully, uncheck all the boxes. If you want to disable it partially, uncheck those notifications that you want to disable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Step 5</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoDiuJ1xErw4fycvA7edfkX5wtoIkMmWF9K3Pu3ZKwiCHcebel4mE6tsuuCn6hwKiiOXAEtnWr08Dc_Ie4JnJPqMrAjuJ6a3XKzB2bF1bUm0jvkQz_-ekis4vceJ3opxcFHQZraV0wHI/s1600/fb5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoDiuJ1xErw4fycvA7edfkX5wtoIkMmWF9K3Pu3ZKwiCHcebel4mE6tsuuCn6hwKiiOXAEtnWr08Dc_Ie4JnJPqMrAjuJ6a3XKzB2bF1bUm0jvkQz_-ekis4vceJ3opxcFHQZraV0wHI/s320/fb5.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s it! You’re done. Just head over to the bottom of the page and click on ‘Save Changes’. Now you can say good bye to e-mail inboxes laden with unnecessary e-mails from Facebook.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Did that help you? Or do you need more help? Either way, feel free to leave a comment below.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-53373028381156583042010-05-29T01:02:00.011+08:002010-05-30T10:37:21.055+08:00Malaysia Could Go Bankrupt By 2019<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTO1ZE0iqWe1XGIfRSGrD9bZuTJ6redg1CJnHnaKjGTIMB9xoU9eizF_p5tyfMBfedSu11g8gwkDiq5PAdEENTSq4-AjbyqmTBgNWQqpNQNvwLRKchJwo8rQ-1VJHcia6cqtu1VpkEtk/s1600/bankruptcy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTO1ZE0iqWe1XGIfRSGrD9bZuTJ6redg1CJnHnaKjGTIMB9xoU9eizF_p5tyfMBfedSu11g8gwkDiq5PAdEENTSq4-AjbyqmTBgNWQqpNQNvwLRKchJwo8rQ-1VJHcia6cqtu1VpkEtk/s320/bankruptcy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala dropped a bombshell when he said that if the government didn’t cut back on its heavy subsidies immediately, Malaysia could go bust by as soon as 2019. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Relating to what has happened to the Greek economy which accumulated well over RM 1 trillion worth of debt recently, he said that at the current rate of 12% a year, the government would accumulate RM 1158 billion worth of debt by the year 2019, enough to take us into bankruptcy, Greece-esque.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, that’s something to ponder on. We Malaysians are surely going to feel the pinch as a result of this. However, is this step necessary? Many of us have that question in our mind. I’m afraid the government thinks so.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Their point of argument is that Malaysia offers the lowest rate for the sale of many subsidised goods in the Asean region. Take, for example, sugar. For every one kg, the price is RM1.65 here as compared to RM2.41 in Thailand, RM2.62 in Indonesia, RM3.15 in Singapore and RM3.78 in the Philippines. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think the people are not really worried about the subsidies of goods such as flour, sugar and cooking oil among others. What they are really worried about is the fuel subsidy. Everybody is apprehensive over what the government is going to do about it, as a new subsidy structure for petrol, diesel and LPG is in the pipelines.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">How bad is the situation?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But really, is the situation so bad that with the current rate of subsidy our economy could go bankrupt by 2019? Or is the government try to play mind games? We can never be sure, but it is best to play it safe. The government could have very likely exaggerated the figures there, but maybe this is a sign that it’s about time to do something about the heavy rate of subsidies dished out by the government. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZbkJDL94VwNI0RN1cyKklfvX5NvGt_IQ_DgvMA3_qbwwRk16WfX2kXEdluc2RKlhVi-KwI659riTSFWpuRMNUAwihftB4YIFbpFKNbxCKTW-MJdN3G8wYW_FegB5pBIJBTcTl1I2sCM/s1600/bankrupt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZbkJDL94VwNI0RN1cyKklfvX5NvGt_IQ_DgvMA3_qbwwRk16WfX2kXEdluc2RKlhVi-KwI659riTSFWpuRMNUAwihftB4YIFbpFKNbxCKTW-MJdN3G8wYW_FegB5pBIJBTcTl1I2sCM/s320/bankrupt.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #e69138;">Who is affected the most?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If the government were to slash all sorts of subsidies across the board ranging from sugar to petrol, those from the hardcore poor category will suffer the most, followed by the poor and the middle-class earning people. The rich and more-than-rich folks by my reckoning will weather through this storm unharmed, which is unfair I feel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">What can be done?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Therefore, with different classes of people who earn differing incomes making up the population of this country, the government must come up with a subsidy plan that burdens the hardcore poor the least and burdens the more-than-rich the most. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What I am saying here is that different subsidy structures should be implemented. To put it to perspective, the present fuel subsidy rates should be continued for those earning below RM2k per month, decreased by 5% for those earning between RM2k-RM5k, decreased a further 10% for those who earn between RM5k-RM10k and for those earning more than RM10k, the cutback rate should be 15%.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That would be a fair solution as it would benefit those in need the most. Of course, to implement these sort of subsidy structures need a whole lot of planning to be done. Having different prices say, for sugar, would be a headache for those in the supermarkets as they will have to have different rates for different people. And then there will be cases of cheating.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But hey, whatever it is, it’s the responsibility of the government to crack their heads and find a solution that plays to the needs of all. After all, that’s why we voted them into the office, isn’t it?<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">How do you find the news that Malaysia could go bankrupt by 2019? And how do you reckon the government could try to cut back on its subsidies so that we don't go bust? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-68334381697900696302010-05-27T19:42:00.000+08:002010-05-30T15:02:52.977+08:00Severe Disciplinary Cases in a School in Rawang<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO92ff7YTtyDReNXJd8gKE37x_-GZOvfHdfUfgeeIKoeGijbFsxv3Lvog0r55Jr4aKiy_c-ll2b5D_Wt2GIrI_tcc3Ru8veGVobGTujRTWa4HFCc7EM9p0B2azEsFS5y7nEG9Vc3ZhKK0/s1600/r+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO92ff7YTtyDReNXJd8gKE37x_-GZOvfHdfUfgeeIKoeGijbFsxv3Lvog0r55Jr4aKiy_c-ll2b5D_Wt2GIrI_tcc3Ru8veGVobGTujRTWa4HFCc7EM9p0B2azEsFS5y7nEG9Vc3ZhKK0/s320/r+school.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">News reports over the past few days in the New Straits Times (NST) and The Star newspaper have been focusing on the social ills and disciplinary problems that have been plaguing a school in Rawang, with cases ranging from gangsterism and the usage of drugs to rape and vandalism. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It’s hard to imagine that this is going on in a rampant fashion in a school in Malaysia. Such cases have either been isolated cases or one-off cases before, but seeing the magnitude of the cases implicating this school in Rawang (SMK Seri Garing), there has to be cause for serious concern.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The authorities have to wake up from their slumber and face the hard reality that there may be other schools out there suffering from a similar fate, just that they have not got any media attention. This has to be rectified sooner rather than later so as to curtail the spread of these social ills from contaminating the mind and soul of more students all around the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">How did this school come under media scrutiny?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This particular school in Rawang came under the media spotlight after a 14 year-old female student was cruelly raped by her male classmates during recess. The story spread from there and when the police came to investigate the case, they also found information linking students to underworld gangs and drug dealers among others. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Who is to be blamed?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Is it the society, the parents or the school authorities? Or is it even the police force and the government that is to be blamed for this problem? I think all of the parties should be held accountable because each and every one of them have their own roles to be played. <br />
<br />
In addition to that, these students no doubt get influenced by their friends and even those from the 'underworld' too, so if there is no interference from their parents and the school authorities at the initial stage and proper enforcement of the law by the police, matters can get out of hand.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAluFGj1_T6B5mG7ZrSBpGHHqX2enXy2xKkQVegtAToylWzfGg7teKXBsg8EJAcn5IpZerFTigPLHSIYNONwfAuUXRCccb2Swjd80JyC-z55EhLgmpccCuw0MQ4w637sMeEld0JBQMiM/s1600/r+school+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAluFGj1_T6B5mG7ZrSBpGHHqX2enXy2xKkQVegtAToylWzfGg7teKXBsg8EJAcn5IpZerFTigPLHSIYNONwfAuUXRCccb2Swjd80JyC-z55EhLgmpccCuw0MQ4w637sMeEld0JBQMiM/s320/r+school+p.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">A police car heading to the school (NST Pics)</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Who is affected?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ones on the receiving end from the actions of this small portion of students are the teachers and their school mates. It would be no surprise that these students might go to the extent of threatening the teachers; while there have been reports that they exhort ‘protection’ money from their school mates. Worse still, seeing such behaviour, other students might get influenced and join the bandwagon. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">How can this problem be solved?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The solutions should not apply to this school only – it should apply to any school facing these problems. Even if there are one or two individuals from a school involved in cases such as those mentioned above, that school should be put on a watch-list overseen by the police. Police should then keep a more vigilant eye on the schools that are on the watch-list.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the same time, the Education Ministry should send teams conducting open talks on all these matters. Perhaps the students just act as they wish because they do not know the implications of their actions. Therefore, it is very improtant to create awareness among the students.<br />
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More importantly, the hard-core students who still persist with their ungodly actions despite numerous counselling sessions and other forms of rehabilitation should be sent to juvenile or reform schools as they are a threat to their peers, teachers, and the community at large. Hopefully, they will then change.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%253A%252F%252Fhstheblog.blogspot.com%252F2010%252F05%252Fcases-of-gangsterism-in-rawang-school.html&layout=standard&show_faces=false&width=450&action=like&font=lucida%2Bgrande&colorscheme=dark&height=35" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 35px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">What is your opinion on this matter? How can it be curbed so that there is no repeat in the future? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-10225470299189616642010-05-26T11:51:00.018+08:002010-05-26T16:03:06.834+08:00The Better Newspaper: NST or The Star?<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjnpcPggn_h9q2YDCyv7U27iX0mjoVefiQ1LUBX0vq0aVCUMHRc7IKLcBM6K4pZ_OIsL6DP517qve773CDGsK5nlKp_uML_GskwCL2la7cm52U3krKAvJvpKPB1p9qQnpt8I3mPfuiQ8/s1600/the+nst+ssss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjnpcPggn_h9q2YDCyv7U27iX0mjoVefiQ1LUBX0vq0aVCUMHRc7IKLcBM6K4pZ_OIsL6DP517qve773CDGsK5nlKp_uML_GskwCL2la7cm52U3krKAvJvpKPB1p9qQnpt8I3mPfuiQ8/s200/the+nst+ssss.png" width="131" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It would be hard for many to imagine living without newspapers as newspapers play a vital role in their life by educating them and also keeping them on track with all the current local as well as global news, ranging from politics to economy to sports.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Every country, as a result of that, tries to produce top-quality newspapers for the benefit of the public. Like in the UK, the popular newspapers are ‘The Daily Mirror’, ‘The Telegraph’ and ‘The Sun’, all of which face fierce competition to sell their papers from one another.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Malaysia, we have two English-medium newspapers of the so-called ‘highest quality’ which fuels the nation’s readers. The two papers are namely The Star and New Straits Times (NST). There are other newspapers such as ‘The Sun’ but they are not as full-fledged and prestigious as the two above.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span colour="white" id="advenueINTEXT" name="advenueINTEXT">Here, I would like to take the opportunity to compare our nation’s top two newspapers and see which tabloid is the better choice for reading. Ultimately, there has to be one, right? This is just my take on things, so it’s based wholly on my perspective and therefore, there's no reason to get angry if I demote your favourite newspaper to second spot.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Value for Content</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is one of the most important factors that readers take into account when picking up a newspaper from the newsstand. The more the content, say for RM1, the more readers that are going to buy the newspaper because it caters to a bigger audience. Looking from this aspect, The Star has a higher value for content as compared with NST due to its high volume of classifieds and inside pullouts, which NST has but only to a certain extent. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Score: The Star 1-0 NST</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Maturity of Writing</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having experienced journalists who can deliver a high level of maturity in their writing is also important. Readers would definitely want to read news that is supported by a whole lot of facts and figures and cemented by a good use of the English language. In that sense, NST is better than The Star. You would agree with me by comparing both their local sports sections – NST has more in-depth analysis.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Score: The Star 1-1 NST</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Layout and Presentation</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having a good, slightly colourful and neatly arranged layout means that the readers eyes would easily be able to capture what is written and also catch whatever advertisements that there are in the newspaper. Otherwise, readers would not feel inclined to read to the end of articles. Speaking of which I think The Star newspaper has a better and more interesting layout on the overall as compared with NST.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Score: The Star 2-1 NST</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Opinion Columns</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Opinion columns are usually what define a newspaper – the widely acclaimed New York Times has one of the best opinion columns in the world. Opinion columns are not news as in per se, instead opinions of intellectuals from various fields - writers and non-writers alike - on issues that make us think. It’s not often we find these sort of columns in The Star, but NST has two whole pages dedicated to this in their paper.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Score: The Star 2-2 NST</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Weight and Size</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In this age where many people travel to and fro their colleges and universities and working places using public transports, it is ever more important to have a light newspaper that isn’t bulky and is easy to carry from place to place. The Star newspaper, with a whole lot of pullouts and other inside sections, is very bulky and doesn’t suit this purpose well, much unlike the NST which is light.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Score: The Star 2-3 NST</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%253A%252F%252Fhstheblog.blogspot.com%252F2010%252F05%252Fit-would-be-hard-for-many-to-imagine.html&layout=standard&show_faces=false&width=450&action=like&font&colorscheme=dark&height=35" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 35px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Which is the better choice for you - NST or The Star? Feel free to share your thoughts by dropping a comment below.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-3222311373300972372010-05-24T22:15:00.020+08:002010-05-26T12:17:41.308+08:00How to Improve Your English Language Proficiency<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBxgGODVZsIWyxTUXtH-W4JTNfDd33rgdv2aZCLMb3rAv6iqY5cLm-evwhA8zok2qcAfJ8eYHsXz4KuUGrMEwX1VMZawXV8BnWYUKxl33FOylohB6PDxe5G_i0THlP8itYff2bV6FoyY/s1600/english1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBxgGODVZsIWyxTUXtH-W4JTNfDd33rgdv2aZCLMb3rAv6iqY5cLm-evwhA8zok2qcAfJ8eYHsXz4KuUGrMEwX1VMZawXV8BnWYUKxl33FOylohB6PDxe5G_i0THlP8itYff2bV6FoyY/s320/english1.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The English language is the universal language of the world. It allows many people from diverse backgrounds and different countries to communicate with one another using one common platform. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Therefore, it comes as no surprise that millions of people from all around the globe strive very hard and make it a point to learn English – or at least the basic of it – due to its importance. Jobs can be earned, relationships can be forged and barriers can be broken via the usage of the English language.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, after learning the basics, many come across numerous stumbling blocks in a bid to improve their English language proficiency and to take it to the next level. Some of them find it too difficult and complicated a process while others just don't seem to get the hang of it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span colour="white" id="advenueINTEXT" name="advenueINTEXT">Here, I would like to share a few ways that can be practised by anyone who wishes to improve his or her English. A bit of tweaking is needed to see what way(s) suit you best. All these methods are modern by means, so I hope it can help you in some way or another, if you need help that is.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Watch TV Programmes/Movies</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SqiJQg4-0SdberipyPFpsmjEkuh4EShHxNfXsvGj0vTzfvRt9ngjzqCOhrObHhn8me1rZbeSVssEeq9hKKtO2kpue2MQGr8tRvj7U5Ncx82qpE0d6PDOBQIkJTiZnZMcI9XHN_uF6TU/s1600/movie_popcorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SqiJQg4-0SdberipyPFpsmjEkuh4EShHxNfXsvGj0vTzfvRt9ngjzqCOhrObHhn8me1rZbeSVssEeq9hKKtO2kpue2MQGr8tRvj7U5Ncx82qpE0d6PDOBQIkJTiZnZMcI9XHN_uF6TU/s200/movie_popcorn.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let me start with the most enjoyable way to improve your English language proficiency – by watching television programmes and movies that is. You might have heard of this method before and not paid attention to it, but it seriously does work. It works for me at least. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Besides being entertained (of course), you would observe the language that the characters use to speak, and you will inevitably improve yours in turn. Additionally, by watching movies that promote good usage of the language such as those from the Pirates franchise, you could pick up some bombastic words and phrases to be incorporated in your daily usage of English.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Read Novels/Newspapers/Magazines</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKaNaZ2df3UKtiB0SgAk6wtHoetwjDq0nXnoZtFIeUDVgW3xK2_NQsYJiCy75reWtP8Vf7gdKaIb3o9ceNUwJCwm9DviiO-fhuNxhbIS6eYRrSxfMPAD6k3GDteDRPxHQehr5nNuu1uQ/s1600/newspaper-773966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKaNaZ2df3UKtiB0SgAk6wtHoetwjDq0nXnoZtFIeUDVgW3xK2_NQsYJiCy75reWtP8Vf7gdKaIb3o9ceNUwJCwm9DviiO-fhuNxhbIS6eYRrSxfMPAD6k3GDteDRPxHQehr5nNuu1uQ/s200/newspaper-773966.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is perhaps the most common way in which people increase their English language proficiency. With a wide array of reading materials available out there, you will never run short of supply. You have the benefit of choosing whether to read novels, newspapers, magazines or even professional blogs for that matter. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then you can choose which niche interests you and develop your reading habit from there. Say, if you are a sports fanatic, then you could read the sports section of the newspaper while if you are a fashion-holic, you could make do with fashion magazines.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Chat Online</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpO_O8TufKhyMizrGdEpj088SH9ghHmAmi6W6yMZM1z5IK46xOOElhCydWbPUh1IYKYrRX1oPbYFQxsns0pD9BwnJ7cc73RlP1E6lfxcaK_DR6EQwBh5IEZfnbDuxIdNQ6yePWe0Jt0g/s1600/chat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpO_O8TufKhyMizrGdEpj088SH9ghHmAmi6W6yMZM1z5IK46xOOElhCydWbPUh1IYKYrRX1oPbYFQxsns0pD9BwnJ7cc73RlP1E6lfxcaK_DR6EQwBh5IEZfnbDuxIdNQ6yePWe0Jt0g/s200/chat.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, you’d be thinking I must be joking, but no, I’m dead serious here. Although online chatting uses a whole lot of short forms and other types of non-formal English, but the thing here is that you would get more comfortable using the language if that’s not the case yet. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This method doesn’t apply if you want to take your English to a very high standard, but it works to bring it to a respectable level. I’d say that this method of chatting online with friends comes in handy especially for those who use English as their second language.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Play Video/Online Games</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgNmtKNMyyW6RGRg6WQ8HTmxZHOTjWnb7PUXJr6A5rzjKoSKDeb7rWzxOMPoadD9b5bOQ3bsdxHqgpBd8GLAAnNpahWln6QaPRDd4fYZRbqYtPOIBKRKv7kPQ_OyAvPR1xSD8kwwqf-I/s1600/pes-2010-764690364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgNmtKNMyyW6RGRg6WQ8HTmxZHOTjWnb7PUXJr6A5rzjKoSKDeb7rWzxOMPoadD9b5bOQ3bsdxHqgpBd8GLAAnNpahWln6QaPRDd4fYZRbqYtPOIBKRKv7kPQ_OyAvPR1xSD8kwwqf-I/s200/pes-2010-764690364.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another peculiar way to improve one's English you must be wondering. But it isn’t. I say this because if you are an avid gamer, you will familiarise yourself with gaming terms that would help you master the English language.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This however, on your part, requires a little attention towards the sort of language used in the game. For instance, if you play Star Wars, you will come across the word ‘rendezvous’ (that’s how I got to know it), a not so common word. Likewise, if you play football games, you would pick up the football lingo by listening to the game commentary.<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Have any ideas on how you improved your English language proficiency, or how others can improve their's? Feel free to leave a comment below.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-12779628112047014722010-05-23T00:09:00.010+08:002010-05-26T00:28:59.222+08:00Nokia 'The Rookie' Online Reality Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemF80GUeBDjA6KJgr6SEFCll8RkucKt1Sm_AmEhvpyGHm8uBryt5Jx5XPTR7Efg9z_eHZYTUcf1tubFwUCKkapfj4SBOWJhhXlDpF3owrusxF_jmiGdPSdJLPzPlEtVID_jrvGorhE_o/s1600/the+rookie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemF80GUeBDjA6KJgr6SEFCll8RkucKt1Sm_AmEhvpyGHm8uBryt5Jx5XPTR7Efg9z_eHZYTUcf1tubFwUCKkapfj4SBOWJhhXlDpF3owrusxF_jmiGdPSdJLPzPlEtVID_jrvGorhE_o/s400/the+rookie.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Malaysian edition of 'The Rookie'</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you happen to be one of those ‘reality television shows’ buff, then chances are you might like ‘The Rookie’, a reality show by Nokia. But wait, there is a catch. ‘The Rookie’ isn’t a reality television show; it is an online reality show as each episode is streamed online in the form of a webisode. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">What is ‘The Rookie’ all about?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">‘The Rookie’, as aforementioned, is an online reality show that pits 12 contestants between the ages 18-30 against one another for the elusive honour of being labelled as ‘The Rookie’. The contestants have to go through gruelling challenges and have to perform to their highest ability as the weakest contestant is kicked out after each round.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5j4xSeNurxMCwqSP-BFo8W9GXG22pC_hSC-Cqh4M5EKOmkmerYNgBSd75wRo8sbEhzZoskQ8uhOsvqqnqAbajf8Cfy-duexgctQtI-FXhNpMd1FtjKv4Ym1UIWtjM54ep4b49GyVh5Y/s1600/rookie+cons.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5j4xSeNurxMCwqSP-BFo8W9GXG22pC_hSC-Cqh4M5EKOmkmerYNgBSd75wRo8sbEhzZoskQ8uhOsvqqnqAbajf8Cfy-duexgctQtI-FXhNpMd1FtjKv4Ym1UIWtjM54ep4b49GyVh5Y/s400/rookie+cons.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The contestants of 'The Rookie'</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">What are the prizes?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Besides being crowned as ‘The Rookie’, the winner will win a cash prize amounting up to RM10, 000 while the top four contestants will win an internship with Nokia, Universal Music, Standard Chartered or 8TV, all of which are prestigious companies. Special prizes will be given to the winners of each round too.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Where can I watch ‘The Rookie’?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">You can watch ‘The Rookie’ on its <a href="http://www.nokia.com.my/campaigns/therookie"><span style="color: #e69138;">Official Website</span></a> for free. Each webisode is short (around 10 mins) and the quality is pretty good (no HD for the time being though). At the moment, I am not sure how frequently they upload each webisode but it must be something like twice every week. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInUs1RBqVZmQdsM0xpOpmiQhFIqVtnUB_y0qP_JY7JK-yhZstLohyphenhyphenviLFnqj660pqi_nZM2cxjWtGofi2d4GPAIz2rEoACkd_LotUoZ5BvkfQunMP28q556lEmLvCHyBR-PAWpUxqBTM/s1600/the+rookie+12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInUs1RBqVZmQdsM0xpOpmiQhFIqVtnUB_y0qP_JY7JK-yhZstLohyphenhyphenviLFnqj660pqi_nZM2cxjWtGofi2d4GPAIz2rEoACkd_LotUoZ5BvkfQunMP28q556lEmLvCHyBR-PAWpUxqBTM/s320/the+rookie+12.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">My take on ‘The Rookie’</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">To me, there are quite a few similarities between ‘The Rookie’ and ‘The Apprentice’. As such, I’d call it the poor man’s version of ‘The Apprentice’. What ‘The Rookie’ lacks is someone mega-influential like Donald Trump to make it a tad more interesting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, I like this show because of its originality. It's nice seeing the contestants trying out every trick from the book to win their challenges. Moreover, in an open and no-holds-barred manner, they would criticise a team-mate or even their leader for any shortcomings during their challenges.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It’s pretty obvious that ‘The Rookie’ is a vehicle to promote the Nokia brand and its E72 model which each contestant is given to utilise during the challenge. However, with some fine challenges lined up for the contestants and short and brisk webisodes, I’d have to say ‘The Rookie’ makes for a good viewing.<br />
</div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-55004177155605377492010-05-22T11:21:00.004+08:002010-05-22T17:31:40.161+08:00The Madness in Bangkok<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieSCRoeqFS1-CNMhI4VlRC8UuQQTEZKdW6HnXMzGjINqO4_nx-AFoQyMDPJaXRcLIglux31EQghsLfkdy3AGtXSLW4M7zDS27WM2r3M-bE3fSvygvQW85D4aAv3nZDLwOzd3VWI81MC0/s1600/red+shirt+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieSCRoeqFS1-CNMhI4VlRC8UuQQTEZKdW6HnXMzGjINqO4_nx-AFoQyMDPJaXRcLIglux31EQghsLfkdy3AGtXSLW4M7zDS27WM2r3M-bE3fSvygvQW85D4aAv3nZDLwOzd3VWI81MC0/s400/red+shirt+fire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You must be from some other planet if you have heard nothing about the political unrest and the subsequent turmoil on the streets of Bangkok in recent weeks. Scenes of oblivion have been depicted in all our local dailies as well as international news agencies such as CNN and Reuters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">What Happened?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ‘Red Shirt’ people, supporters of the opposition in the Thai political scene and purported supporters of ousted Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, had called for a fresh elections, citing that the previous election results should be nullified due to discrepancies arising from the voting process and that the present government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva is an illegitimate one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZGFPB95Q03xGrpt3eBg_7tpxqIff5-nYE2ueTFcDCNB7JcR_PKpC3ti47Bhuv94D9rvPNARy9Ndrg_g591QHBhyhOuFw4v03UDxXAHk5T28IzWPY5SAG4uD9DuR5J_0HQ4QdKBHN7hw/s1600/red+shirts+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZGFPB95Q03xGrpt3eBg_7tpxqIff5-nYE2ueTFcDCNB7JcR_PKpC3ti47Bhuv94D9rvPNARy9Ndrg_g591QHBhyhOuFw4v03UDxXAHk5T28IzWPY5SAG4uD9DuR5J_0HQ4QdKBHN7hw/s320/red+shirts+2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When the present Thai administration declined to have fresh elections, the ‘Red Shirt’ supporters decided to occupy strategic locations in downtown Bangkok. The main financial and shopping districts of Bangkok were the scenes of violence as-never-seen-before in which more than 50 people have died and 400 more injured.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Is It Over?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As violence raged on and on, the present Thai administration had the last straw. They gave the ‘Red Shirt’ supporters an ultimatum to vacate the areas that they had occupied for the past one month. However, defiant as ever, many did not leave. This resulted in a large scale military offensive that left many of the supporters and their leaders taken under arrest.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpcUNPXaW-yAdplN-j6XsD4FqAYz7VN8ou6d2JMtg5br_1VLUEe_yTcVl6F5oDeRrznFrHDL48SupjjNTe_G3Qruo16C2wSeTLMPpeBKMs4mU4C6qTk6aDxFOvEYAyIc7YdcOrRD8Ils/s1600/red+shirt+fight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpcUNPXaW-yAdplN-j6XsD4FqAYz7VN8ou6d2JMtg5br_1VLUEe_yTcVl6F5oDeRrznFrHDL48SupjjNTe_G3Qruo16C2wSeTLMPpeBKMs4mU4C6qTk6aDxFOvEYAyIc7YdcOrRD8Ils/s320/red+shirt+fight.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The aftermath of the military offensive left the ‘Red Shirt’ supporters deploying tactics such as burning an awful lot of tyres and torching numerous buildings, most notably the biggest shopping mall in the whole of Bangkok. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The good thing though was that the supporters were harried off the streets and order was restored to a certain extent after the month-long stand-off between the ‘Red Shirt’ supporters and the Thai government but at a very high cost as a lot of damage was caused amid all this fighting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">What Next?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It remains to be seen whether the government will hold on to its promise of dissolving the parliament and having fresh elections in November. This is because despite making the promises, the ‘Red Shirt’ supporters continued to defy orders to vacate the areas in central Bangkok that they occupied. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEexZf66xweFy5-ZqwoCyPrcqsBs3dm8A9-dkAVMQKgk2xuQweCMiQVq2esl6qJD7J7YaOTtPvKATS7MlIm253c_IArJpECGOoitgOKKNPFMvkYPuCXpH_M3r8LSBiGrjidV0YCnDs2s/s1600/red+shirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEexZf66xweFy5-ZqwoCyPrcqsBs3dm8A9-dkAVMQKgk2xuQweCMiQVq2esl6qJD7J7YaOTtPvKATS7MlIm253c_IArJpECGOoitgOKKNPFMvkYPuCXpH_M3r8LSBiGrjidV0YCnDs2s/s320/red+shirts.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for now, after the military offensive on the 19th of May, there have been no notable fresh cases of violence. But you may never know, the ‘Red Shirt’ supporters who have a very good support from the rural poor might just strike back and leave not only Bangkok engulfed in massive turmoil but drag the whole of Thailand into a full-blown civil war. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">What's your take on the situation in Bangkok? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-11655819531820537892010-05-21T17:10:00.014+08:002010-05-22T01:00:27.431+08:00The Mascots for the 2012 London Olympics<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpahcqfmUpdcdQsCs3gkI0JaDpoIZSZuiY0vfPSGKOCSxJKdVqpmnCu-N5mcTjn9hR-F8G9b2-8Sv1FQYDY1CKSZxJ_GJSXrk0TVXiuQhwpbBIp_4ZSXle7s6PGXd0jPJS3C3uPvhsemo/s1600/london+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpahcqfmUpdcdQsCs3gkI0JaDpoIZSZuiY0vfPSGKOCSxJKdVqpmnCu-N5mcTjn9hR-F8G9b2-8Sv1FQYDY1CKSZxJ_GJSXrk0TVXiuQhwpbBIp_4ZSXle7s6PGXd0jPJS3C3uPvhsemo/s400/london+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">The mascot(s) of any given international sporting event are important as a symbol of what the games stand for and as a mean to publicise the games in a creative and innovative manner. With a little over two years to go before the 2012 Summer Olympics gets underway in London, the official mascots of the games have been unveiled.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Meet one-eyed jacks Wenlock and Mandeville, the two mascots of the 2012 London Olympics. Wenlock is the official Olympics mascot whilst Mandeville is the official Paralympics mascot. At first glance, both mascots look good and have a distinctive artisitic value embedded in them. Here's a little more information on the mascots from the official 2012 Olympics webpage.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Wenlock</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGSpt0-FuAYr-_7kEokKWcPV8Dg8xb0SSBGZzbXT2_Xd_zkjyCP0srwsfIqXiSuJz7pSFrU2m5zHQoc0tBqOL6gWj5xm7Vw2KF3ZimgWb9xr5EChvVGx5oU8cheb4EBABV4Z7JYY563Y/s1600/wenlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGSpt0-FuAYr-_7kEokKWcPV8Dg8xb0SSBGZzbXT2_Xd_zkjyCP0srwsfIqXiSuJz7pSFrU2m5zHQoc0tBqOL6gWj5xm7Vw2KF3ZimgWb9xr5EChvVGx5oU8cheb4EBABV4Z7JYY563Y/s320/wenlock.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">How did I get my name?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My name is inspired by Much Wenlock in Shropshire, a town that is at the heart of Olympic history. In the 19th century, Baron Pierre de Coubertin was invited there to watch the ‘Much Wenlock Games’ inspired by the Olympic Games of ancient Greece. De Coubertin was inspired by the Wenlock Games too, and went on to found the modern Olympic movement. The Much Wenlock Games are still held annually to this day!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">My most distinctive features</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Do you like the light on my head? It’s inspired by the lights on London’s iconic black taxis. The shape of the front of my head is based on the shape of the Olympic Stadium roof. My eye is a camera lens, capturing everything I see as I go..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you’re wondering about the three points on my head – well, they represent the places on the podium where successful athletes stand to receive their medals. I can’t wait to meet some of Britain’s London 2012 hopefuls – and I really hope they will achieve their personal best at the Games and get to stand on the podium too.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Mandeville</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3Uxs0slBG4_1OenA4-D4w_N6Djttf93vCvDNcPujBJ-G3dfYoecAQun6in0krmNqPU9lkwhTYbNRor3dpoG3flSZAqW6wciu46tbAM9kl62Qr89GoPNi2-t5n-gXsk9fs57pwqqooIw/s1600/about_mandeville_bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3Uxs0slBG4_1OenA4-D4w_N6Djttf93vCvDNcPujBJ-G3dfYoecAQun6in0krmNqPU9lkwhTYbNRor3dpoG3flSZAqW6wciu46tbAM9kl62Qr89GoPNi2-t5n-gXsk9fs57pwqqooIw/s320/about_mandeville_bg.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">How did I get my name?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My name is inspired by Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, the birthplace of the Paralympic Games. On the same day as the Opening Ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games, Sir Ludwig Guttmann held his own sport competition in Stoke Mandeville for World War II soldiers with spinal injuries. It was no coincidence – Sir Ludwig dreamed of a ‘parallel Olympics’ for athletes with disabilities. The Stoke Mandeville Games grew and grew until they became the Paralympic Games.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">My most distinctive features</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My eye is a camera lens, capturing everything I see as I go. On my head are three prongs – they represent the three parts of the Paralympic emblem. Like my tail and my hands they’re aerodynamic, which is really important as I’m a ‘spirit in motion’, always rushing around. I’m constantly trying to beat my personal best – the personal best timer on my wrist helps me keep track, as well as making sure I’m focused on London 2012. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also love the light on my head – inspired by the lights found on London’s iconic black taxis! And it helps me see where I’m going, which is always useful. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Pictures</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGloYtWU3D3Y3YFKROsO-DRBQeOb6Nz9t2kMbq0J-glOckxAENwyUY1hvLesZxcakAYZ5BXj9O4BwamcasFPM6DLUCOYO-pX3z6hUJrME0rxymSOHhnJf8cKFPFQxO9WVY-p1KAkZ1bg/s1600/mascot+bolt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGloYtWU3D3Y3YFKROsO-DRBQeOb6Nz9t2kMbq0J-glOckxAENwyUY1hvLesZxcakAYZ5BXj9O4BwamcasFPM6DLUCOYO-pX3z6hUJrME0rxymSOHhnJf8cKFPFQxO9WVY-p1KAkZ1bg/s400/mascot+bolt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Wenlock impersonating Usain Bolt</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFZelM8Z4sccGefWc0NvoiXxDgI98uZOxsx_MwUezwDlY6q29ronD0PqcnHx2RG9rv4T5DrRinwj47qbOctEsNC434kLnsDx8yMXTqA0mkf7YF8ZM7VIlYu9D6GLrhR6Q0dCFZksXGog/s1600/mandeville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFZelM8Z4sccGefWc0NvoiXxDgI98uZOxsx_MwUezwDlY6q29ronD0PqcnHx2RG9rv4T5DrRinwj47qbOctEsNC434kLnsDx8yMXTqA0mkf7YF8ZM7VIlYu9D6GLrhR6Q0dCFZksXGog/s400/mandeville.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Mandeville as a blade runner</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtlNaUMqIHlODyEtCENPyr13hqnIXP5PO9z9TOhQoFih63u2uzlY1ZLoja12JHBjwl0slMjEYkDwPKbZWk-N1J0Ij9j9wCvtEpcvez20-NvaCFFY4NDxe8UPAB94-vFOPTIHjIqNKcjM/s1600/wenlock+and+video+presentation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtlNaUMqIHlODyEtCENPyr13hqnIXP5PO9z9TOhQoFih63u2uzlY1ZLoja12JHBjwl0slMjEYkDwPKbZWk-N1J0Ij9j9wCvtEpcvez20-NvaCFFY4NDxe8UPAB94-vFOPTIHjIqNKcjM/s400/wenlock+and+video+presentation.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Introducing the short animation film <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KatN365jaBg"><span style="color: #e69138;">'Out of a Rainbow'</span></a><span style="color: #e69138;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-55806244986621684372010-05-20T14:54:00.010+08:002010-05-25T22:35:01.143+08:00Malaysia's Thomas Cup Campaign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEKQRyNkcTO1y2YqSK9tDqo4BK8jCGG3qwX_MsK4VLBbjOVaQXFF6hzFZjeuYoUHqpbCHySNBmiF47IfYZ4nCxUvx9eIWxi2y7g8J61opTzZhDRIHejHwIoltT9tg1S3E_AS6OMCO4Sk/s1600/chong+wei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEKQRyNkcTO1y2YqSK9tDqo4BK8jCGG3qwX_MsK4VLBbjOVaQXFF6hzFZjeuYoUHqpbCHySNBmiF47IfYZ4nCxUvx9eIWxi2y7g8J61opTzZhDRIHejHwIoltT9tg1S3E_AS6OMCO4Sk/s320/chong+wei.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Local badminton enthusiasts must surely have been terribly heartbroken to see Malaysia fall easily to China in the semi-finals of the recent Thomas Cup, and that too at our own home. After so much hope, to see our team fall pitifully without giving even a decent fight does not augur well for the future of the national badminton side.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The results</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvErZX7veDbHC-6Lo9qvcK1jzpKUwz00RE75ol8re1-2hXSTtgf8bHthR2SDHawHxiHql5tFj6MN_upCF6aPanwmsWdZ6LFC8kvEPiBm7Kb_VrExDXig8jWNpEM8H4iPyw-nkKtececEU/s1600/thomas+results.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvErZX7veDbHC-6Lo9qvcK1jzpKUwz00RE75ol8re1-2hXSTtgf8bHthR2SDHawHxiHql5tFj6MN_upCF6aPanwmsWdZ6LFC8kvEPiBm7Kb_VrExDXig8jWNpEM8H4iPyw-nkKtececEU/s320/thomas+results.png" width="320" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Malaysia's results</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Malaysia were handicapped in a sense that they did not play Nigeria, their first opponents in the group stage who did not even arrive in Kuala Lumpur to take part without any reasons given. That was very unsporting of Nigeria as it did not allow Malaysia to have a warm up. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, next up were Japan who Malaysia had never lost before in the history of the Thomas Cup. Too bad for us though as the history books had to be rewritten. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the quarter-finals, Malaysia faced Denmark. Some journalists had earmarked Denmark as plausible champions of this edition of the Thomas Cup, but it was not to be. The match seemed to be lost after the tie came down to the third singles, but somehow, Hafiz Hashim conjured some magic to down Joachim Persson.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Things were never looking good as Malaysia faced China in the semi-finals. Lin Dan always had the upper hand over Lee Chong Wei in important international meets, while Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong always succumbed under pressure. And that was exactly what happened. Malaysia were whitewashed ruthlessly by China.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">What went wrong?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nTAUaP2eRz0ew4chHPZAeR0cyHal4rHdIfuUQ3gH1ba1dfsejZdR1pVnc3rs1LWiT4SXG9TL4_dmEaOTSCrD4nTVKWDlN5TuJQtZ6U_qlhq69JbaoK9GD4JYc61O1gOUYvJWvK6Grjg/s1600/Choong_Hann_Black_L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nTAUaP2eRz0ew4chHPZAeR0cyHal4rHdIfuUQ3gH1ba1dfsejZdR1pVnc3rs1LWiT4SXG9TL4_dmEaOTSCrD4nTVKWDlN5TuJQtZ6U_qlhq69JbaoK9GD4JYc61O1gOUYvJWvK6Grjg/s320/Choong_Hann_Black_L.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Wong Choon Han</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Everyone could see that Malaysia’s Achilles heel was their second and third singles players. Wong Choon Han is way past his prime, whilst Hafiz Hashim is just about as unpredictable as he can be. If only we had someone as capable as Lee Chong Wei in second singles, things could have been different. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This caused an over-dependency on Chong Wei and Koo-Tan, which resulted in them having to bear a tremendous load of pressure. Inevitably, this was what undid them, for they had to win or else Malaysia’s hopes were as good as lost.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Where do we stand?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Officially, Malaysia were ranked in third place behind China and Indonesia and ahead of Denmark, South Korea and Japan for the Thomas Cup. However, that seems to be marginally misplaced, especially after having lost shockingly to Japan and barely scraping past Denmark. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If nothing is done, and if the players don’t pull up their socks and buck up, then we could very well be behind all the other five countries by the time we line up for the next Thomas Cup in two years time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">What is to be done?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErhg4CfcGrcSgeij37JvigvxF5vUFC02gUXEINl4bFuyEwW59swetke4-dHDCf8FfLMOQoK3nf1HnM1l84eibmbZELzFcMCLZHI2aUD3nLqcMye75BX0qeYxenzPrujnxOoHWikBMV0g/s1600/iskandar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErhg4CfcGrcSgeij37JvigvxF5vUFC02gUXEINl4bFuyEwW59swetke4-dHDCf8FfLMOQoK3nf1HnM1l84eibmbZELzFcMCLZHI2aUD3nLqcMye75BX0qeYxenzPrujnxOoHWikBMV0g/s320/iskandar.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Iskandar Zulkarnian</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is obvious that Malaysia need to invest in younger singles players such as Iskandar Zulkarnian who have done well in the junior stage and should forget about those who have lost their touch such as Choon Han and Hafiz. <br />
<br />
The doubles department, on the other hand, actually have enough raw talent to fly Malaysia’s flag high but what is lacking is a strong mental belief and some much needed consistency. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When we have those things settled, then it would be safe to say that Malaysia can have a realistic shot at wresting back the Thomas Cup.<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">What's your opinion on Malaysia's performance during the recent Thomas Cup? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-2151240898950023802010-05-18T18:54:00.008+08:002010-05-22T14:01:47.971+08:00NST Spell It Right Experience: Final Round<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEwEI8jpF1cZbr3hEf1oWOH3N1cwLjZWPvaLD1ute3kggE5X-JXPZ4uwM4rUkVgMAyOEya-sMHW4y-zdkKhz9YTD_V26jQE8GYQ5q9HGHV2fpCSjsSS_4sMYIXgRud7nwFjpB_t4CL_8/s1600/SIR.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEwEI8jpF1cZbr3hEf1oWOH3N1cwLjZWPvaLD1ute3kggE5X-JXPZ4uwM4rUkVgMAyOEya-sMHW4y-zdkKhz9YTD_V26jQE8GYQ5q9HGHV2fpCSjsSS_4sMYIXgRud7nwFjpB_t4CL_8/s200/SIR.png" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The final round of this state-level competition was a very heated affair. The eleven preliminary round winners, me included, took our place on the stage. This time, there was money, newspaper coverage, TV coverage and a ticket to the National Grandfinals up for grabs, so no surprise that all the finalists were fired up to do their best.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I felt that I was at the wrong place, a mismatch in other words, as before the finals, the other contestants were frantically looking up words in the dictionary, much unlike me. I took things way too lightly, but that’s how I like it to be.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The format for the finals was a little different from the preliminaries. We would all be given three words, irrelevant of whether we get it correct or wrong. The contestant who gets the most points would be crowned the state winner. But you could guess that one wrong and there goes your first-prize dreams since the level of competition was very high.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-X41A8zGQPbN56bphHL0l6VKLz5bOOWcdhIEi7pFoijhT-70uZqeXipglMbQZ0-lE1SbTAWu4w2vFKyDxvk_KNWm38LAS1eS12u1oX_yMGbNH80YDfLg-mztefbvbcW7uJymsWoR8Qo/s1600/sir+finals.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-X41A8zGQPbN56bphHL0l6VKLz5bOOWcdhIEi7pFoijhT-70uZqeXipglMbQZ0-lE1SbTAWu4w2vFKyDxvk_KNWm38LAS1eS12u1oX_yMGbNH80YDfLg-mztefbvbcW7uJymsWoR8Qo/s320/sir+finals.png" width="320" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The finalists... ready for the finals to roll on</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This time round, the words were freaking tough. Yeah, I say freaking tough! I was hoping for a word that I knew. And God bless my luck, I got a word that I knew: ‘<span style="color: #e69138;">Scintilla</span>’. All sorts of things started coming into my mind. A winning start would be great. As the correct spelling played in my head, for all the reasons unknown to me, I spelt out ‘<span style="color: #e69138;">Scintella</span>’. Holy cow! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was very angry at myself. The stage had got the better of me. I screwed up something I knew as I had spelt it correctly many times before. First place was out of reach. Probably second and third too. As I was called up on stage for the second time, I tried to keep my composure in check. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The presenter said it was a mathematical term. Finally, after giving the meaning and stuff like that, he asked me to spell ‘<span style="color: #e69138;">Parallelogram</span>’. I had gone through this word numerous times during my practice sessions. For a moment, I thought I was going to screw this one up too but goodness gracious me, I got it correct.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At least there was a chance for me to nick fourth or fifth place now. I was confident going into the final round of the finals. But then, disaster struck. I got a word I had never heard of before: ‘<span style="color: #e69138;">Pernicious</span>’. I tried to get what the presenter was saying, and instinctively I spelt ‘<span style="color: #e69138;">Pernicious</span>’, which was actually correct. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But guess what happened next? As I finished spelling the word, I paused for a second or two. The presenter was silent. I thought he was going to say that was the end of the road for me. Thinking I was wrong, I quickly changed my spelling to ‘<span style="color: #e69138;">Penicious</span>’. Upon hearing this, the presenter straight away said that I was wrong, and my first spelling was correct! Imagine what was running through my mind at that time.<br />
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</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImeDPFoHOzrt8AaMWPCzz0wj1NJAsDCyA8mGr1k9KWD39xMyzedpXoT3LiFAGIKvh9HyRu_TjUcabcCOQHFvN7l_4-x65VlS4bqlFecc9_1KVh_UXEtGWI5YJXMqrH-FP8ZKwXcRbjnQ/s1600/sir+winners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImeDPFoHOzrt8AaMWPCzz0wj1NJAsDCyA8mGr1k9KWD39xMyzedpXoT3LiFAGIKvh9HyRu_TjUcabcCOQHFvN7l_4-x65VlS4bqlFecc9_1KVh_UXEtGWI5YJXMqrH-FP8ZKwXcRbjnQ/s320/sir+winners.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The creme de la creme</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My story at the Spell It Right competition ended there. I got joint-sixth or join-seventh if I am not mistaken. The prizes were for the top five finalists only. That moment was probably one of my most frustrating, upsetting and exasperating moment in my life. It was a case of so close yet so far. I made an error at one word which I knew how to spell, and changed the spelling of another. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If I had gotten one of those correct, I would have got fifth place at the very least. If both of those correct, then third place at the very least, and a shot at the top honours. Such was the margin between winning and losing, between the correct and wrong spelling, so fine that it punished the slightest mistake I made. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, I am still happy that I made it to the final round, and I have my aunty, teacher and parents to thank for preparing me by shooting me with all sorts of peculiar words. It could have been better, no doubt, but I guess it could have been worse too. On the bright side, at least I can now spell everyday words such as ‘Embarrass’ and ‘Privilege’.<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;"><em>To read my experience during the preliminary rounds, <a href="http://hstheblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/spell-it-right-experience-preliminary.html"><span style="color: #e69138;">click here.</span></a></em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div align="right" style="text-align: justify;"><object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iqkEAxOrjoM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iqkEAxOrjoM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;">A video on the Selangor Spell It Right</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-71524983217185838832010-05-17T09:57:00.010+08:002010-05-25T22:21:56.663+08:00NST Spell It Right Experience: Preliminary Rounds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpfmFs6jSAaf6yyOVW7g5k9_FgCHSz-nJ6RM5MBZ0ZE6zwnF-uGm6zbqMYtPPVUwp0yUaNKopRA9fePIvUDmwx-5VJ6Mfb2hAvfa1aDuK8DrcXpulAnIVMNVAYj3pwixjUSBd7ed5hJA/s1600/SIR.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpfmFs6jSAaf6yyOVW7g5k9_FgCHSz-nJ6RM5MBZ0ZE6zwnF-uGm6zbqMYtPPVUwp0yUaNKopRA9fePIvUDmwx-5VJ6Mfb2hAvfa1aDuK8DrcXpulAnIVMNVAYj3pwixjUSBd7ed5hJA/s200/SIR.png" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">NST Spell It Right(SIR) 2010 logo</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Imagine standing before a crowd and being asked to spell words that you had mostly never heard of before. Imagine getting an unsympathetic gaze from the presenter as you spell. And imagine having to spell the word out in less than 20 seconds. Well, if your imagination is spot-on, then you would know that I refer to the Spell It Right competition co-hosted by the New Straits Times and RHB Bank.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I had always wanted to enter this competition, but after two missed chances, I finally had the opportunity to pit my wits against pretty much all the best spellers from the whole of Selangor. As I prepared for the competition, I really didn’t know what to expect as I had never taken part before, but I had some clues after having watched several episodes of the competition on TV the years before.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I took part in the Selangor leg of the competition that was held at Subang Parade on the 16th of May. Officially, there were around 45 schools and over a 170 students that took part in the competition. I wanted to reach the final round at the very least, and who knows prop up with something more than that. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, as I witnessed the first few preliminary rounds, I started getting butterflies in my stomach. Those guys and girls were superb. It was as if they had memorized the dictionary from cover to cover, something that I had not done. I still had a chance though I thought, if the words that I got were those that I knew how to spell. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlWnDPkf8QZLXZTz7pcXnGPdRW0LuMNQw00YFzQTkJHg0zzok5e50x8Ru9T6szJiTCu1OeH1Dt0pb1QwNpZEDSRM5DP1RHQm6Xt0CC2ZVHpSarCjUtUCYGto0x6m_LNdUJRlK-5EO5bE/s1600/rehman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlWnDPkf8QZLXZTz7pcXnGPdRW0LuMNQw00YFzQTkJHg0zzok5e50x8Ru9T6szJiTCu1OeH1Dt0pb1QwNpZEDSRM5DP1RHQm6Xt0CC2ZVHpSarCjUtUCYGto0x6m_LNdUJRlK-5EO5bE/s200/rehman.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><em>Rehman Rashid, the presenter</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After waiting in earnest for more than two hours, the time had come for my turn. I was third up to spell. I heard the presenter, Rehman Rashid, a senior NST man, say ‘<span style="color: #e69138;">Rustic</span>’. Not too tough and a good warm up I thought as I spelt this first one correctly. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the second round, the stakes were higher and the degree of difficulty was increased. Me palms were getting sweaty now. And oh yeah, did I forget to mention that one wrong alphabet at the wrong place would mean that you are on your way home. And that only one participant from each preliminary round will make it to the finals.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I went up to the microphone for the second time, I was asked to spell ‘<span style="color: #e69138;">Hydrofoil</span>’. I had never come across this word before but after hearing the definition which amounted to something like an aerofoil, I let out a sigh of relief as I got it right. This was followed by being asked to spell '<span style="color: #e69138;">Vanguard</span>'. Knew that one from the Star Wars games I play.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, for the fourth round of the preliminaries, there were only three of us left. The first, a Malay girl, got her spelling wrong, so it left two of us on stage. I was given the word ‘<span style="color: #e69138;">Extrapolate</span>’. At first, I didn’t know what it was but after hearing the definition, I realised it was something I had learnt in Physics and I got it right. And I was on my way to the finals after the last contestant bungled her spelling. <br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;"><em><a href="http://hstheblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/to-read-my-experience-during.html"><span style="color: #e69138;">Click here</span></a> to read the second part of my experience, the final round that is.</em></span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-56688082625253642762010-05-07T14:39:00.007+08:002010-05-25T22:35:31.058+08:00South Africa 2010 World Cup Fever<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQh7l1I_xmetjEEfJMcsfVXc78yPuDviZxdoWejAUvg58fs5h9edAAYcNS24t05KjcHuT8_upVkGbl448DILHezkaf0AsVQ8aULfBjL03RyGDjyPL7O7Va60JGhrx8GVVfa_E-VcolcQ/s1600/stadium+sa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQh7l1I_xmetjEEfJMcsfVXc78yPuDviZxdoWejAUvg58fs5h9edAAYcNS24t05KjcHuT8_upVkGbl448DILHezkaf0AsVQ8aULfBjL03RyGDjyPL7O7Va60JGhrx8GVVfa_E-VcolcQ/s320/stadium+sa.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Next month, 32 of the greatest footballing nations will descend on South Africa for a month-long football extravaganza that millions of fans wait for in earnest every four years. Household names such as Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney will feature for their respective nations, who will all be giving their best in a bid to take home the coveted Jules Rimet trophy. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Currently in its 19th edition, the World Cup will produce mouth-watering clashes all along the way, from a match featuring minnows North Korea against the highly-fancied Brazilians in the group stages to a final match which could pit Spain against Argentina.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After an arduous qualifying campaign stretching way back to 2007, the 32 teams will come fully prepared to South Africa. The tournament begins with the group stages, and only the top two teams from each group will make it to the last-16 stage. From then on, it’s based on the knockout format, so it will be all or nothing for the teams. Of course, the last team standing would be crowned World Champions.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZys9BS-jRJV41-SkzZb8UTvz7bX-64fLAAMKaIQjGQq6XpeRb2Uktx_2o8_n0NbA8R6dS0XLfy1CGPzQL5bWbiwByMb7EUKv4UOwKYORaQDwc-WpoCOowKJpEBOfr0VFvWu0ymqVlJw/s1600/world-cup-2010-groups.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZys9BS-jRJV41-SkzZb8UTvz7bX-64fLAAMKaIQjGQq6XpeRb2Uktx_2o8_n0NbA8R6dS0XLfy1CGPzQL5bWbiwByMb7EUKv4UOwKYORaQDwc-WpoCOowKJpEBOfr0VFvWu0ymqVlJw/s320/world-cup-2010-groups.png" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hstheblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/2010-south-africa-draw-review.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Click Here to Read the Draw Review</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Looking ahead to the tournament, there seem to be quite a number of teams who can threaten to mount a serious challenge for the top prize. Based on the present formbook, Spain, England and Brazil look to be the best bets, but don’t discount traditional powerhouses such as Germany, Italy, Argentina and France who can turn on the power when needed.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The stage is set for a magnificent tournament, no thanks to this being the first ever World Cup to be held on African soil. African soccer fans can be very fanatic at times, and this will only serve to kick up the atmosphere over there. Moreover, will such passionate fans, an African team might just end up lifting the cup, though the chances of such an outcome is remote.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGL0xpNr3fSrCZeMIJ9StshosmaP3x_jr3Xu_O0iblPKMk37KJSZZiczg6V4hXSL2Df9nNovbLLaLAKpK7lOyHfiRYeEJmUGMmPkpO75ILE0JdgeDosTmqRLkyTK3dNwQ2orl3t0Kf3yE/s1600/messi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGL0xpNr3fSrCZeMIJ9StshosmaP3x_jr3Xu_O0iblPKMk37KJSZZiczg6V4hXSL2Df9nNovbLLaLAKpK7lOyHfiRYeEJmUGMmPkpO75ILE0JdgeDosTmqRLkyTK3dNwQ2orl3t0Kf3yE/s320/messi.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There are other reasons to think this World Cup will be a success. Certain individuals will be out to silence their critics with some fine displays, most notable Messi who must conjure the same magic he weaves at club level with Barcelona for his country, Argentina, to be considered as the greatest footballer ever to grace the world.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">However, amid all the positivity, there have been some drawbacks. Firstly, it was a grave concern that the stadiums could not be completed in time for the tournament due to massive inflations in the cost. Then, for fans that travel from afar, there is the constant threat of robbery on the streets of South Africa as the crime rate in South Africa is amongst the highest in the world. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqTSIoSj5YNTBOEzjWzmGKJfTztGyWDWUYQMDPhnchRtjo59g3p48lVeyNb7M7vm_CMfV9FBUNo5l2pSN-GszrWB3n1FktJkgtckecYLewZ8u1NRn0K27L9XIRSjTtCtnGLIoZHopI0Q/s1600/celebration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqTSIoSj5YNTBOEzjWzmGKJfTztGyWDWUYQMDPhnchRtjo59g3p48lVeyNb7M7vm_CMfV9FBUNo5l2pSN-GszrWB3n1FktJkgtckecYLewZ8u1NRn0K27L9XIRSjTtCtnGLIoZHopI0Q/s320/celebration.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">For me, I just can’t wait for June. This would be my third World Cup, and I am looking forward to a great performance by all the participating nations. Personally, I would be cheering on Germany and Argentina, and I hope to see them play at a high level. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But hold on, there is something that threatens to spoil my fun, and maybe yours. The games would mostly be held in the early mornings, so there needs to be a sacrifice on sleeping and studying hours. And that doesn’t bode well for someone like me sitting for SPM this year.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%253A%252F%252Fhstheblog.blogspot.com%252F2010%252F05%252Fsouth-africa-2010-world-cup-fever.html&layout=standard&show_faces=false&width=450&action=like&font&colorscheme=dark&height=35" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 35px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Who would you be cheering on during the World Cup? Or who do you think will lift the coveted trophy on July 11? Feel free to share your thoughts by dropping a comment below.</span></div></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-64205990358320146682010-05-02T10:09:00.000+08:002010-07-10T21:53:46.076+08:00Having a Prayer Answered<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9TU6t7dVWXeckjmqxgw29ZhbRyFxLwSYb3lucQADCd79X8Q395I-V26EDj9SBR65CQsKr67kvcwX7arT6CtKy08I5mf5X8O8PgVEslLfwWpiH0LBhrgwQYih34i-LWWb8hTf02aZ7jw/s1600/prayer+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9TU6t7dVWXeckjmqxgw29ZhbRyFxLwSYb3lucQADCd79X8Q395I-V26EDj9SBR65CQsKr67kvcwX7arT6CtKy08I5mf5X8O8PgVEslLfwWpiH0LBhrgwQYih34i-LWWb8hTf02aZ7jw/s320/prayer+hands.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We all have something that we want so badly in life – whether it is a car, a handphone, a job or someone special – and some of us pray very hard for that desire of ours to be fulfilled.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, despite praying, that ‘want’ and desire of ours has yet to be fulfilled. And we know what happens next most of the time. We stop our prayer, thinking that our efforts will go down in vain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Why does it boil down to this?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Simple, because we did not pray hard enough. More importantly, we lost our hope in prayer. This reflects the fickle mental makeup of the human race. For our prayer to be answered, we must have unflinching believe in it, and never doubt our prayer, no matter how long it takes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">But just how hard should we pray?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seriously, I doubt there’s one definite answer to this question. I suppose that we should pray as hard as we can and that for different people and for different causes of prayer, our prayer will take varying time spans to be answered. Since no one can exactly tell us as to how hard to pray, the best would be to listen to our 'inner voice' and we would then know whether it is hard enough or otherwise.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Who are we offering our prayer to, and who will answer it?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is another abstract question that warrants another abstract answer. Well, one of the greatest mysteries in life is that we would never see the ‘being’ whom we offer our prayer to – how does He look like, what does His voice sound like and is He a he in the first place or a she or neither.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The one thing for certain though is that we can feel Him – and we can feel His warmth. Whatever said and done, we all know that there is a superior being who watches over us at all times. Some call Him God, some call Him Ram, while others call Him Allah. To be exact, His names are infinite.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is to Him that footballers embroiled in a tense penalty shoot-out close their eyes and clasp their hands and offer their prayer to. It is also to Him that a mother whose only son is fighting for his life in the ICU ward offers her prayer to. And when He feels our prayer is sufficient, He fulfills our desires.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Prayer without boundaries</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For all the aforementioned instances, the type of prayer involved is materialistic prayer because what the humans in general want is always from the material world. There is nothing wrong with this but it is important to note that in actuality, prayer is geared more towards the spiritual side of our life.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is only through divine prayer to the Almighty Lord that we attain salvation because prayer, in the spiritual context, is literally the food for our soul while our soul is actually our connection with God.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">In a nutshell</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Therefore, the next time you want something real bad and in spite of praying real hard you get nothing, don’t lose hope because it is a matter of having an unflinching belief in your prayer and to whom you are offering it to. And perhaps you might want to consider offering a prayer to Him for the benefit of your spiritual life too every so often.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%253A%252F%252Fhstheblog.blogspot.com%252F2010%252F06%252Fhaving-prayer-fulfilled.html&layout=standard&show_faces=false&width=450&action=like&font&colorscheme=dark&height=35" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 35px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">What do you have to say about prayers, both in terms of a materialistic context and spiritual context? Feel free to drop a comment below to share your thoughts.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-56235075742677641182010-04-29T19:12:00.006+08:002010-05-30T15:05:10.554+08:00Innity Ad Network<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETf_Cy8vLLWRR9ynZ98kGA2agoOYVlFMITNacfgy-UfA-xaNpGE_nIMoPlW8Ga15oc4tN-E5_Lz0RbcxIJG4uK0JxKTrwWQUbJDbnxdNRRFWQb5U0es0Eh5wmjqxJR39vz5WxstTMVDs/s1600/innity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETf_Cy8vLLWRR9ynZ98kGA2agoOYVlFMITNacfgy-UfA-xaNpGE_nIMoPlW8Ga15oc4tN-E5_Lz0RbcxIJG4uK0JxKTrwWQUbJDbnxdNRRFWQb5U0es0Eh5wmjqxJR39vz5WxstTMVDs/s200/innity.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">If you are an avid blogger or a website owner from the Asean region (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam) who is looking for an additional income stream, then I’d reckon you consider placing Innity ads on your site.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Innity was started in 1999 and has now become one of the most recognisable online advertising agencies in this region. According to its website, Innity is “an online premium performance advertising network reaching over 2.1 billion impressions to more than 29 million unique visitors.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, that’s something. Besides having a high reputation, Innity also pays rather handsomely. At least that’s how it is for me because having displayed ads ranging from Adsense, Nuffnang, Clicksor and Advertlets, Innity brings back returns far higher than the aforementioned ad agencies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">How can I be an Innity publisher?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, to be chosen as a publisher for Innity ads, you must first live up to its high expectations. Sites must have 30, 000 page views per month, 6000 unique visitors per month, have quality and frequently updated content, genuine (not fraudulent) traffic and cannot link or display adult and profane content among others. If you think your site fits the bill, you can apply @ <a href="http://www.innity.com/publisher/application.php"><span style="color: #e69138;">Here</span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The Ad Formats</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One thing that sets Innity apart from its competitors is that it offers many ad formats. In addition to the basic formats such as rectangle, leaderboard and skyscraper ads, Innity has full page, balloon, in-text and bottoms-up ad formats among others. This means that depending on how much space you can spare on your site, there will always be certain ad formats that can be displayed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAO1jUWNfzCFnepxeVBFquPdS6kQ9TKk1CeqiZLvytGSozlbt_Qxe9nUpWa2Em7DwfI7avNmTxhNCSSdYs_G6GPuKCdcutgFzyv32Fb24QzhhMXbNpbCHlvrICYHa9CDFXYy-Lo9rWl8/s1600/innity+bott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAO1jUWNfzCFnepxeVBFquPdS6kQ9TKk1CeqiZLvytGSozlbt_Qxe9nUpWa2Em7DwfI7avNmTxhNCSSdYs_G6GPuKCdcutgFzyv32Fb24QzhhMXbNpbCHlvrICYHa9CDFXYy-Lo9rWl8/s320/innity+bott.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Earning from the Ads</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are three ways in which you can earn, namely via Cost per Click (CPC), Cost per Thousand Impressions (CPM) and also Cost per Engagement (CPE). The CPC and CPM earning model is used extensively throughout all ad networks, where you get paid for every unique click for the former and for every thousand impressions for the latter. The CPE model is distinct as it pays for every ad that is engaged by your site visitors.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">The Benefit of Signing Up With Innity</span><br />
<br />
Innity associates its ads with top-class advertisers and this is something that you must capitalise on. Say, for instance, someone visits your site and sees advertisements that are displayed featuring renown brands such as Nokia, Samsung and Dell, that person will have a good first impression of your site.<br />
<br />
Over the long run, with more people visiting your site, the credibility of your site will also increase and people will return to your site. The best part is that if you feel that there are certain ads that will depreciate the value of your site, you can instantly reject the ads from being displayed. <br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Are you already displaying Innity ads on your site? Or have you heard of Innity ads from your friends? Feel free to share your thoughts regarding the Innity ad network by leaving a comment below.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-82117400669406693142010-04-29T14:41:00.002+08:002010-05-25T22:36:50.486+08:00The State of Racial Integration in Schools<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfv-4bMNShlg-FCaymMJxQ9bNrhVfq1cxvWQKS6HJQWm_tMQtSSVi6N9KJ_nsw5JV6jnWex9kquVg2yaoaKsUign83YZTJcqux2Ya1hhfg1_7nTTp9TfxMERXeCfVSN_BHltJgzdji_S0/s1600/unity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfv-4bMNShlg-FCaymMJxQ9bNrhVfq1cxvWQKS6HJQWm_tMQtSSVi6N9KJ_nsw5JV6jnWex9kquVg2yaoaKsUign83YZTJcqux2Ya1hhfg1_7nTTp9TfxMERXeCfVSN_BHltJgzdji_S0/s320/unity.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ever come across these situations in your schooling life whereby all the Malay students would be huddled in one corner, the Chinese ones mixing amongst themselves and the Indians chilling out with those from their own race?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I’d be hunching my bet on a yes. These situations are prevalent in most schools to varying degrees in our country, with a student from a particular race feeling rather ‘secure’ by mixing with those from his or her own race, and therefore a minimal amount of communication is made with the ‘non-s’.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, is this the way to go? Is this how we Malaysians who hail from a racially diverse country should behave? Where on Earth has racial integration gone to?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before I go on, let me clarify though that not all Malaysian students, or even adults for that matter, fall into this bracket. But a good percentage of folks do indeed tend to stick to their ‘own’ kind. This, sad to say, paints a bad image of what a Malaysian should stand for.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSUWU6fAZPtX9rzjpSrWdq_8h3owCi6_6sLUZ8g1D8h3ZsTCgDIT-S6j_edBGe5f6oG4W0d-YtgrYOzvUfTpYmaxtt7IJ2ZoU7GVtHOvAGtYgiMKt2ziMa9Zl760s9vmWha6LHeBsyPY/s1600/1%2520Malaysia-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSUWU6fAZPtX9rzjpSrWdq_8h3owCi6_6sLUZ8g1D8h3ZsTCgDIT-S6j_edBGe5f6oG4W0d-YtgrYOzvUfTpYmaxtt7IJ2ZoU7GVtHOvAGtYgiMKt2ziMa9Zl760s9vmWha6LHeBsyPY/s320/1%2520Malaysia-2.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speaking from my personal point of view, I have come across the situations mentioned above. I mean, its ‘normal’ isn’t it, or so it seems. But the good thing for me is that I don’t even get the chance to hang out with those who share the same race as me in school. Well, that is particularly because I am a Sikh, and how often do you come across a Sikh, if at all, in your school?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In that sense, I have been brought up to mingle around with others. You could say I have had no other choice, but even then, I still feel that if there are to be a good many Sikhs in my school, I won’t be clinging on to them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">From what I have observed, generally, the Chinese students who hail from Chinese medium schools during their primary days are less susceptible to mingling around with Malays or Indians as compared to the Chinese students originating from government schools. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, that aside, I feel that as responsible Malaysians, we who know that it is important to interact with everyone notwithstanding their racial tag should take the first step to mix around. When we start, hopefully others will follow suit. Hopefully, they would then get enlightened.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Vbdawk_56mqHVdgQFwJAUHRMIPnqXMOT2rRhjFC_iy9RvkqXccGrevPA-7ckRQRME3X72ZJgNwv7EW0xV31-XKoxKZ6IUMoxZktO9CRQEqlhWXeNBLKorld6dBbPuYkrn6RzPu6EmI/s1600/unity+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Vbdawk_56mqHVdgQFwJAUHRMIPnqXMOT2rRhjFC_iy9RvkqXccGrevPA-7ckRQRME3X72ZJgNwv7EW0xV31-XKoxKZ6IUMoxZktO9CRQEqlhWXeNBLKorld6dBbPuYkrn6RzPu6EmI/s320/unity+22.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In my class, there are 20-odd Chinese students, some 10 Malays and the rest Indians. Every day, I make it a point to have a chat with as many of them, and the racial factor doesn’t come in. Interestingly, something that I have observed in any given class since day one is that an Indian would tend to sit next to an Indian, a Malay next to a Malay and so on. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One common excuse that I hear for the lack of racial interaction from some students is the language barrier. Some Chinese students cannot speak fluent English or Malay, while some Malays cannot speak good English. But hey, this is a lame reason because the language barrier shouldn’t be there. It is a self-created mess.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The glaring benefit of racial interaction is that we get to know other cultures, their beliefs and their way of life. It would be quite shameful for a Malaysian to not know the festivals celebrated by say, an Indian Hindu. Not only that, but we would learn to adapt to different environments too, and this would especially come in handy during our working life.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My parents have also placed ample of emphasis on racial integration. Two years back, I was studying in a private school which did not have a good racial representation, and part of the reason for me switching to a government school was to get an even exposure to students of different races.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn1JHBP3IVMj13pxnmu4Ac7XP_Bagq4DVwM6CZyiCaGwUPvUd2kPJ6FdYlPdsUjXKKvWQrx7pOch3RA92xncf8UptMJBCyrlARnmdrCVfxMRnEomxF8dnOSOFne7dKS1ifgwtlbY2Md4/s1600/malaysia+unity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn1JHBP3IVMj13pxnmu4Ac7XP_Bagq4DVwM6CZyiCaGwUPvUd2kPJ6FdYlPdsUjXKKvWQrx7pOch3RA92xncf8UptMJBCyrlARnmdrCVfxMRnEomxF8dnOSOFne7dKS1ifgwtlbY2Md4/s320/malaysia+unity.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Actually, it is not that there isn’t any racial unity in Malaysia at present amongst students. There is abundant of it actually. Just that there isn’t much racial interaction and integration amongst one another I would say. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hopefully, after reading this piece, you would communicate with those from the other races if you haven’t been doing that all this while. I am trying to sound optimistic here OK. And make sure you make that a promise!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%253A%252F%252Fhstheblog.blogspot.com%252F2010%252F04%252Fstate-of-racial-integration-in-schools.html&layout=standard&show_faces=false&width=450&action=like&font&colorscheme=dark&height=35" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 35px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">What's your take on racial integration in schools in Malaysia? Is it at a deplorable condition currently, or otherwise? Feel free to air your thoughts by dropping a comment.</span><br />
</div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-75262748729359180622010-04-24T15:40:00.007+08:002010-04-24T16:12:06.274+08:00Government or Private Universities?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJGcvb_XPgZ6hkW7mLW41i1P2uRpbMkWbz8vek4Q49m52R1nGcL9iksU2Z0Q6nw2tFBjgDWnd4BedwzS9_T2CvTLuA7PGogXOJyk7pMNe0ql2KnIBGbyyZG5_szBIrQkSYApE2mHBDf0/s1600/university.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJGcvb_XPgZ6hkW7mLW41i1P2uRpbMkWbz8vek4Q49m52R1nGcL9iksU2Z0Q6nw2tFBjgDWnd4BedwzS9_T2CvTLuA7PGogXOJyk7pMNe0ql2KnIBGbyyZG5_szBIrQkSYApE2mHBDf0/s320/university.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Government or private? Many SPM leavers find themselves in this uncompromising situation. Actually, this is not a problem in Malaysia only. It happens all round the world. School graduates don’t know whether to go to a government university, or a private one, to further their education. <br />
<br />
Well, I don’t understand what the fuss’s all about. Depending on the situation you are in, where many factors come into play such as admission costs among others, either one would make a good choice. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Firstly, it matters not the amount you pay to get enrolled into a university – what matters is your desire and willpower to go home with that much more knowledge. Therefore, what’s the point paying hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of Ringgit, to get into a private university when at the end of the day, all you do is monkey around and come graduation day, you are missing in action.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In that case, it would be better to become an accomplished engineer by going to a government university since you don’t have to burn so much money off your parent’s income. The environment, which is usually stifled by hardship, will make you want to work that extra bit harder to achieve your dreams. <br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Moreover, degrees obtained from government universities mean every much and value every bit as those obtained from private universities. In terms of professors and teaching staff though, government universities used to have a better share of these experienced heads, but the tables have been turning no thanks to the allure of money.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prominent government universities in this country, such as Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia have produced a generation of Malaysians that are not only intellectual, but also a source of pride of the nation. They are the movers of our country now. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Likewise, numerous private universities such as HELP University College, SEGI University College, Monash University and University of Nottingham have had a good track record and have produced great thinkers of our times too.<br />
<br />
However, private universities become the only option in certain circumstances such as when a certain course isn't available in a government university. Take my case as an example. I am very interested in Motorsport Technology, but this course is only offered in The Otomotif College, so no chance of me going to a government university there. <br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, the debate as to which university is better goes on and on, with no definitive answer to the question. All that I have to say is that though there are some striking differences between government and private universities, the end-products are pretty much the same - we all want to get those degrees!<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Since I cannot come up with one definite answer, do you have any idea as to which is better: government or private? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619069028719019664.post-33756171304938290152010-04-15T15:22:00.003+08:002010-04-29T15:29:31.187+08:00The Tackle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1dgao_zG0426z-Nhz4NnuZ48VL1VPPT2myGh49xhyphenhyphenfjocTZr10IEyUa-2k1nMhYY_ChTxjGkMyg0YPNtnw87YbPqLfjvJWcepwVXUjtZFrdiGrgz8_-JpPslF8poPe7QyTK4M_6Ap78/s1600/610x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1dgao_zG0426z-Nhz4NnuZ48VL1VPPT2myGh49xhyphenhyphenfjocTZr10IEyUa-2k1nMhYY_ChTxjGkMyg0YPNtnw87YbPqLfjvJWcepwVXUjtZFrdiGrgz8_-JpPslF8poPe7QyTK4M_6Ap78/s320/610x.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Azman waved his arms in enthusiasm, signalling for the ball to be passed to him since he had ample of free space to have a decent go at goal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At that time, I was in possesion of the ball so I sent a through-ball to him that split the opposition’s defence and paved the way for him to score a goal from a well-taken shot five yards away from the goalmouth. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We celebrated the goal with utter jubilation. The scoreboard read: Malaysia 1-0 Brazil. How’s that for a start?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thereafter, there was a frenzy of action at either side of the field. The Brazilian team squandered numerous gilt-edged chances, while we Malaysians were riding our luck.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the first half-hour or so, our most outstanding player was surely our goalkeeper, Alfred Tan. The lanky six-footed bloke was the saviour of the national team as he saved quite a few magnificent shots taken by the Brazilian strikers from point-blank ranges. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As the match headed towards half-time, I began to feel tired. Fatigue crept in and I wasn’t able to perform at my best. This was not the case for me only as it was the same for most of the other players too. Therefore, it was no surprise that I drew a sigh of relief upon hearing the half-time whistle being blown by the referee.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Both teams drew first-blood as soon as the second-half got underway. I for one missed an open goal, and with that a chance to put the Malaysian team two-up against one of the most glamorous footballing nations in the world. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I took that miss very hard on myself. I struggled to keep my emotions in check, and my focus on the match was wavering after that. Worse still, Malaysia were by now on the back foot as Brazil kept on plundering on our goalmouth time and again in search for the inevitable equaliser.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In addition to that, the tension was unbearable at the stadium. The fans of both teams were jeering the opposition players whenever they got hold of the ball. And amid this tense period of time –some sixty-five minutes into the game – I lost my head and made the most reckless of tackles. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A Brazilian player was controlling the possession of the ball when all of a sudden, due to the frustration that was creeping into me, I tackled him. It was a heavy lunge that floored the player, and he was agonising in deep pain. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Inside my heart, I cried “Noooo!” But it was too late. I hoped the clock could be turned a minute. I hoped that this was all an illusion. However, the reality was that this was no illusion. I walked off towards the stands solemnly, my head looking down to the ground, as I was anticipating a direct red-card to be shown by the referee.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Incredibly though, to my, as well as to almost everyone’s disbelief, the referee blew his whistle, signalling me to make my way back to the field. And as I walked back, he flashed a yellow card at me. Only a yellow card, can you believe that!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I accepted that as a chance to redeem myself, as well as some lost pride. But the player whom I had tackled earlier was evidently imbued in pain, and this had an adverse impact on me. I just couldn’t get that scene out of my head. Luckily though, the player got back onto the field after some extensive treatment on the sidelines.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As the clock ticked away, and as Malaysia headed for a historic win against the six-time world champions, disaster round two struck for me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Instead of clearing away a dangerous in-swinging cross for a corner, I rammed the ball into the roof of my own net. I sensed my world falling apart. I collapsed to the ground, with my head in my hands.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, due to my misgivings, the match was dragged into extra-time. But since I felt that I was not in the right frame of mind to continue playing, I made a plea to the gaffer to substitute me. His reply though was a harsh one. “No way! Get your arse up on the pitch now and do your country proud, you idiot!”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unable to muster the strength to go against the gaffer, I headed back onto the pitch for extra-time. As I made my way there, I caught a stare from the player whom I had tackled earlier. He had a sinister smile on his face. This sent a cold chill down my spine. I sensed vengeance; a personal vendetta against me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I brushed my fear aside and recollected myself. I looked up on the heavens on the starry night, but I had a strange feeling that luck was not to be with me that night. Before I knew it, the referee blew the whistle for the start of the first-half of extra-time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first few minutes were tentative, with no team willing to expose themselves to a counter-attack from the opposition. Just then, out of the blue, I got the inspiration to do something great. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I collected a pass from my teammate at around the middle of the park and dribbled past an onrushing Brazilian defender, turned round another and was about to take on a third when my feet crumbled to the ground.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I crashed down just like how the Twin Towers collapsed on September 11 2001. I held my feet, my pain terribly unbearable. I saw the face of the player who tackled me – it was the same guy whom I had tackled earlier. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My vision was blurring. And when I did get up again, I realised that I was at the hospital. “Mr. Singh, you have a broken right leg. Well, I am afraid to say this, but there will be no more football for you,” said the doctor.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138;">*This is a fictional essay.</span></div>Himmat Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10602604523901485230noreply@blogger.com0