Mega Memory Cards are what deemed by the industry memory Cards exceeding 512 Megabytes in space capacity, and with prices of memory becoming ever so cheap as how prices of cameras too. 10 years ago, a 32 Megabytes card is deem the biggest about costing over $700 with proprietary usage with Sony or Fuji XD cards.
Let's start with the CON first.
Memory cards have many formats. Knowns commonly as Compact Format CF, eXtended Definition XD by Fuji, Memory Stick by Sony and Secure Data or SD . Most common in cameras nowadays are CF or SD cards as they are very cheap, too good to be true. Some are offered at $200 for a 8 Gigabyte Card but as you might think, it may be too good to be true.
Memory cards have speeds too, just as how RAM are. Remember the days that ram are clocked at 100,90,80,70,60 milliseconds? It's the same aspect to how one would rate a CD ROM Drive at how many X's it has for the read / write capacity. Memory cards basically run at a lowest speed of about 1X of the CDROM Format, which is 150kilobits per second compared to the professional end of 8 Gigabyte Memory card for about $1100 which is called Extreme 4 format, as it clocks about 15-30 Megabytes a second compared to the 8-10 Megabits per second for a Extreme 3 costing about $900 instead. In contrast, a cheapo memory card used for the mobile phone / cellphone or PDA can take these cheap memory cards as their data bus are about 100megahertz (100Mhz) a second, which means it's fine for low end usage, just as how you compare speed of USB1.1 and USB2.0 which limits to 1.3Mbps and 480Mbps respectively.
When you have a good and quick memory card, with loads of space, you tend to overdo yourself, snapping as much pictures as possible,but forgetting that after you upload then, you have to do some sort of editing like modifications to the contrast, hue, pitch or what we call them photoshopping or Picasa-ing for the novice entry level.
My wife is a guilty of that, and after a day of photo shoots, she will be cussing and swearing about her load of photos to modify, and on the standard MEDIUM SIZED 1500 x 2500 pixels image, a 4 GB card can take about 3200 photos, and with a DSLR camera, you get to empty your battery pack first before you run out of memory. Trust me on that one.
Now for the PRO.
As I said, space and Speed is the essence. I use a Canon EOS 400D with shutter shoot of 3 frames a second and a trigger hold of 30 seconds, meaning I can snap at a go about 90 photos without the need to stop and look. Just as an automatic rifle would do. This is a 10.1 Megapixel camera with 17-200mm telephoto lens with Wide Angle added to it. So the base unit cost me et. al about $5000! The lens cost me more than the camera itself!
So, with 90 photos to load from the buffer to the card, it means the cache memory in the camera (64MB I think) has to be able to access the memory card quickly, and only Extreme 3 versions are capable to do so. And SD cards don't have this speeds yet, so thus why professionals and paparazzi all uses quick memory cards.
Another issue is when you already loaded up, you can just offload them to your computer just as quick, compared to a slower card. With a 4GB Card like I am using, it's as if unloading the whole DVD to the PC in 3 minutes or less compared to the Cheapo Brands taking as long as 15 minutes. It's the databus that is capable of loading quickly, but also, that your hard drive in the PC must be equally quick.
One great advantage when you have mega memory cards is that you tend not to run out of space. It's like you have a good photo opportunity like some celebrity in town and you so happen to be there, of course you want to be THE GUY to be able to take that shot.
There are many Pro than con in the usage of mega memory cards for photography, but I too use a huge memory card , the Micro SD for my Motorola Cellphone, which is used for my MP3 player. Cool huh? Oh yeah, if you use good ones, you don't need them DVDRAM discs for your Camcorder, just the memory stick will do just fine. It's either that or the Hard Disc Drive format.
But I will surely invest in an Extreme 4 (or Extreme 3 at the very least) for my usage.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Banks - Are they a good buy right now?
During these days, bank stocks are coming at a cheap deal, especially with the economic crunch that have engulfed the regions and the American market. All these sentiments cause a knock on effect across the board be it on the NYSE Main Board or Dow Jones Index or London Stock Exchange par to the Financial Times Index or you are a trader in Singapore or Malaysia or even Hong Kong, stocks are plummeting as far as 34% over the last 30 days.
I am a small time buyer, not willing to risk everything on the expensive stocks pegged to the index as each stock cost at least in the double digits, tens of dollars or some costing over the hundred dollar mark each. Any changes in the sentiments will cause me to loose a chunk of money. However, it is the best time to pick out the ripe stocks for keep sake, as the dollar slide against the other currencies and the index are dipping as gradual as possible.
Take for example Malayan Banking Berhad, aka May Bank in Malaysia, one of the oldest and biggest bank in the South East Asia market, as old as Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation HSBC and at par even with London Based Standard Chartered Bank aka StanChart. They announced yesterday that they are acquiring Bank International Indonesia BII for US$2.1 Billion from Singapore Government's Investment Arm Temasek Holdings making them the biggest bank in the South East Asia. Does that mean it is going up? Supposingly. However, due to poor market sentiments today and the fact that the bank will be using up all their financial backing to purchase the other entity sent the trigger signals today creating a landslide of more than 10.6% dive in it's value. The bank has to hold at least $2.3 Billion in cash for their Singapore Based license as they are the Foreign Local Bank, just like Oversea Chinese Banking Corporation OCBC and the United Overseas Bank UOB Group in Malaysia.
So, is it a good buy? Yes, as the banks are stable here, they will call for dividends and with projections issued out this year, it calls on profits over $1.17 Billion before tax and even when the prices dip a little bit, you should buy more to cover your positions and wait for your bonus issues. As for American Banks, they are over priced too much and they should dip another 12 - 22% before I call it a worthy price, as they are suffering as what the Dot Com are facing 10 years back, with over inflated prices. Returns of the IRA and CD are not working out well, so it's time to dip into those funds and liquidate them, going for gold and overseas financial stocks like Halifax Bank of Scotland HBOS or HSBC or even Malaysian and Singapore stocks. They kept on merging and going into alliances so it's the best time to buy as US Dollar is losing their par value.
Good Hunting
I am a small time buyer, not willing to risk everything on the expensive stocks pegged to the index as each stock cost at least in the double digits, tens of dollars or some costing over the hundred dollar mark each. Any changes in the sentiments will cause me to loose a chunk of money. However, it is the best time to pick out the ripe stocks for keep sake, as the dollar slide against the other currencies and the index are dipping as gradual as possible.
Take for example Malayan Banking Berhad, aka May Bank in Malaysia, one of the oldest and biggest bank in the South East Asia market, as old as Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation HSBC and at par even with London Based Standard Chartered Bank aka StanChart. They announced yesterday that they are acquiring Bank International Indonesia BII for US$2.1 Billion from Singapore Government's Investment Arm Temasek Holdings making them the biggest bank in the South East Asia. Does that mean it is going up? Supposingly. However, due to poor market sentiments today and the fact that the bank will be using up all their financial backing to purchase the other entity sent the trigger signals today creating a landslide of more than 10.6% dive in it's value. The bank has to hold at least $2.3 Billion in cash for their Singapore Based license as they are the Foreign Local Bank, just like Oversea Chinese Banking Corporation OCBC and the United Overseas Bank UOB Group in Malaysia.
So, is it a good buy? Yes, as the banks are stable here, they will call for dividends and with projections issued out this year, it calls on profits over $1.17 Billion before tax and even when the prices dip a little bit, you should buy more to cover your positions and wait for your bonus issues. As for American Banks, they are over priced too much and they should dip another 12 - 22% before I call it a worthy price, as they are suffering as what the Dot Com are facing 10 years back, with over inflated prices. Returns of the IRA and CD are not working out well, so it's time to dip into those funds and liquidate them, going for gold and overseas financial stocks like Halifax Bank of Scotland HBOS or HSBC or even Malaysian and Singapore stocks. They kept on merging and going into alliances so it's the best time to buy as US Dollar is losing their par value.
Good Hunting
Useless Money
It seems that Singapore is up to their old tricks again with the money printed with the words KF on the top right hand corner and that have seem to hurt the confidence in the currency as local banks have not been careful enough to pass through these mutilated notes. To many mutilated notes carry no value, but to some, these are a gem to many philatelist and currency collectors as mutilated notes fetch high value.
Take a good example are replacement series notes, like the Z series in Singapore and Malaysia or the CB issue in the US where these are not yet in circulation, unless by virtue of a gazette or a batch of currency was defaced while in print, which was detected and exchanged with a replacement note.
I am an avid collector of currency and among those 'useless' currencies include the recalled RM1000 and RM10,000 (seribu ringgit and the sepuluh ribu ringgit) notes along with the RM500 note which have been declared no-value after the currency crisis to defray any currency being smuggled out in huge quantities.
Likewise, in Singapore, the ancient S$20 and the S$25 have disappeared from circulation other than an out of the blue commemorative issue, like the recent golden issue of the $25 and the $50. Likewise, Malaysia have wiped off the RM20 note from circulation totally.
One thing though, a RM1000 note in good condition fetch as much as US$4500 as the rarity of the currency is now as rare as a penny black stamp.Just like the S$25 Orchid series fetch as much as 10 times as much as the face value.
So, next time you think you have useless currency, it may be worth far off.
Take a good example are replacement series notes, like the Z series in Singapore and Malaysia or the CB issue in the US where these are not yet in circulation, unless by virtue of a gazette or a batch of currency was defaced while in print, which was detected and exchanged with a replacement note.
I am an avid collector of currency and among those 'useless' currencies include the recalled RM1000 and RM10,000 (seribu ringgit and the sepuluh ribu ringgit) notes along with the RM500 note which have been declared no-value after the currency crisis to defray any currency being smuggled out in huge quantities.
Likewise, in Singapore, the ancient S$20 and the S$25 have disappeared from circulation other than an out of the blue commemorative issue, like the recent golden issue of the $25 and the $50. Likewise, Malaysia have wiped off the RM20 note from circulation totally.
One thing though, a RM1000 note in good condition fetch as much as US$4500 as the rarity of the currency is now as rare as a penny black stamp.Just like the S$25 Orchid series fetch as much as 10 times as much as the face value.
So, next time you think you have useless currency, it may be worth far off.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Banned again?
Well,this time, it seems that this blog is banned on Nuffnang Innit System that I cannot place up any of my post there .
Which does not matter much as I am getting a nice trickle of traffic from those readers of Helium which loved our network of sites. And I am getting my own little scandal up, which is compliments of Ali Baba whom are driving myself and the network about 30,000 hits an hour, which is not that heavy.
Anyway, like I said, anyone can do anything and to members of Digital Point , I welcome you.
Which does not matter much as I am getting a nice trickle of traffic from those readers of Helium which loved our network of sites. And I am getting my own little scandal up, which is compliments of Ali Baba whom are driving myself and the network about 30,000 hits an hour, which is not that heavy.
Anyway, like I said, anyone can do anything and to members of Digital Point , I welcome you.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
No Punishment for Mukhriz
This just came in as I was talking about the new Parliamentary Line-Up of the Barisan National Cabinet in Malaysia.
Mukhriz Mahathir, Son of Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Muhammed got a little reprieve from UMNO for his letter to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (PAK LAH) calling for his resignation. This may be a tasteful resolution to the action he made but sources indicate that the remarks made and his defiant stand of his own thoughts made the council more jittery of the coming days, with BN holding a 28 seat majority of the 222 Parliamentary Seats in Government.
What is more, 'Big Mouth' Shahrizat, former Women Affairs Minister is back in politics, with the special appointment as an adviser to Pak Lah. All the more that Bloggers will get more cynical and lewd and fiery speeches of hers without any bearing or though of the repercussions to the communities at all. She already lost, with Samy Vellu along side, and what like others, should just be honourable enough to sit it out and accept the fate of the hatred she caused with the constituents and citizens alike.
MITI honcho Rafidah Aziz also came short as she is being anybody in the Cabinet after her fiasco of the vehicular problems on the AP or Approved Permits many years back which is still a recurring issue.
Information Minister is now headed by Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek which got his whole rap sheet full after the Police Lock-up Video Telanjang Scandal after his harsh words on the opposition MP Theresa Kok for mentioning this issue in Parliament. We just hope he is not stupid enough to be another victim of the New Media Political Tsunami tremors which resulted in many casualties including Sabahan Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman refused her Deputy Minister's post. Sources do indicate that the PKR is trying to woo over the Sabahan and Sarawakian political parties to switch sides in exchange for some favourable treatment and concessions to ease the problems and plights of the Pra-Bumi Aboriginal Communities in the Rural Areas.
And here are the full line up by Pak Lah:
Prime Minister: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Deputy Prime Minister: Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak
1. Prime Minister's Department
Ministers
i. Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok (UPKO Sabah Penampang)
ii. Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi: (Umno Perak Bagan Datuk)
iii. (Sen) Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim: Justice & Judiciary Reforms (Umno Kelantan Ex-Kota Baru)
iv. (Sen) Datuk Amirsham Aziz: Economic Planning Unit (Maybank CEO)
v. Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz: Parliament (Umno Perak Padang Rengas)
Deputy Ministers
i. Datuk Johari Baharum (Umno Kedah Kubang Pasu)
ii. (Sen) Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim (Umno Kedah Ex-Baling)
iii. S. K. Devamany (MIC Pahang Cameron Highlands)
iv. Datuk Hasan Malek (Umno Negri Sembilan Kuala Pilah)
2. Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry
Minister: Datuk Mustapa Mohamed (Umno Kelantan Jeli)
Deputy: Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim (PBB Sarawak Batang Lupar)
3. Ministry of Unity, Arts & Culture
Minister: Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal (Umno Sabah Semporna)
Deputy: Teng Boon Soon (MCA Johor Tebrau)
4. Ministry of Defence
Minister: Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak (Umno Pahang Pekan)
Deputy: Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop (Umno Malacca Masjid Tanah)
5. Ministry of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs
Minister: Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (Umno Johor Johor Baru)
Deputy: Jelaing Mersat (SPDP Sarawak Saratok)
6. Ministry of Education
Minister: Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein (Umno Johor Sembrong)
Deputy: Datuk Wee Ka Siong (MCA Johor Air Hitam)
Deputy: Datuk Razali Ismail (Umno Terengganu Kuala Terengganu)
7. Ministry of Energy, Water & Communications
Minister: Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor (Umno Negri Sembilan Tampin)
Deputy: Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum (PRS Sarawak Julau)
8. Ministry of Entrepreneur & Co-operative Development
Minister: Datuk Noh Omar (Selangor Umno Tanjung Karang)
Deputy: Saifuddin Abdullah (Umno Pahang Temerloh)
9. Ministry of Federal Territories
Minister: Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique (Umno FT Setiawangsa )
Deputy: Datuk M. Saravanan (MIC Perak Tapah)
10. Ministry of Finance
Minister: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Umno Penang Kepala Batas)
2nd Minister: Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop (Umno Penang Tasek Gelugor)
Deputy: Datuk Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah (Umno Perak Tambun)
Deputy: Datuk Kong Cho Ha (MCA Perak Lumut)
11. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister: Datuk Seri Rais Yatim (Umno Negri Sembilan Jelebu)
Deputy: Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar (Umno Pahang Jerantut)
12. Ministry of Health
Minister: Datuk Liow Tiong Lai (MCA Pahang Bentong)
Deputy: Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Umno Johor Mersing)
13. Ministry of Higher Education
Minister: Datuk Khaled Nordin (Umno Johor Pasir Gudang)
Deputy: Hou Kok Chung (MCA Johor Kluang)
Deputy: Datuk Idris Harun (Umno Malacca Tanjung Batu)
14. Ministry of Housing & Local Government
Minister: Datuk Ong Ka Chuan (MCA Perak Tanjung Malim)
Deputy: Datuk Robert Lau (SUPP Sarawak Sibu)
Deputy: Datuk Hamzah Zainudin (Umno Perak Larut)
15. Ministry of Human Resources
Minister: Datuk S. Subramaniam (MIC Johor Segamat)
Deputy: Datuk Noraini Ahmad (Umno Johor Parit Sulong)
16. Ministry of Information
Minister: Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek (Umno Terengganu Kemaman)
Deputy: Datuk Tan Lian Hoe (Gerakan Perak Grik)
17. Ministry of Internal Security & Home Affairs
Minister: Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar (Umno Johor Kota Tinggi)
Deputy: Datuk Chor Chee Heung (MCA Kedah Alor Star)
Deputy: (Sen) Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh (Umno Terengganu)
18. Ministry of International Trade & Industry
Minister: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Umno Johor Pagoh)
Deputy: Datuk Liew Vui Keong (LDP Sabah Sandakan)
Deputy: Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan (PRS Sabah Baram)
19. Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment
Minister: Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas (PBB Sarawak Betong)
Deputy: Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh (Umno Sabah Kalabakan)
20. Ministry of Plantation Industries & Commodities
Minister: Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui (SUPP Sarawak Miri)
Deputy: (Sen) A. Kohilan Pillay (Gerakan Selangor)
21. Ministry of Rural & Regional Development
Minister: (Sen) Tan Sri Muhammad Mohd Taib (Umno Selangor)
Deputy: Tan Sri Joseph Kurup (PRS Sabah Pensiangan)
Deputy: Joseph Entulu (SPDP Sarawak Selangau)
22. Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovations
Minister: Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili (PBS Sabah Kota Marudu)
Deputy: Datuk Fadillah Yusof (PBB Sarawak Petra Jaya)
23. Ministry of Tourism
Minister: Datuk Azalina Othman Said (Umno Johor Senggarang)
Deputy: Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib (PBB Sarawak Kota Samarahan)
24. Ministry of Transport
Minister: Datuk Ong Tee Keat (MCA Selangor Pandan)
Deputy: Datuk Anifah Aman (Umno Sabah Kimanis)
25. Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development
Minister: Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen (MCA Pahang Raub)
Deputy: Senator Noriah Kasnon (Umno Selangor)
26. Ministry of Works
Minister: Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed (Umno Selangor Sepang)
Deputy: Datuk Yong Khoon Seng (SUPP Sarawak Stampin)
27. Ministry of Youth & Sports
Minister: Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Umno Pahang Bera)
Deputy: Wee Jeck Seng (MCA Johor Tanjung Piai)
So, what does it mean for the investor and corporate standing? I don't want to comment yet. It's too hectic with the American Scandals and the Societe Generale $1.7Billion fraud case.But it's a good time to buy stocks!
Mukhriz Mahathir, Son of Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Muhammed got a little reprieve from UMNO for his letter to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (PAK LAH) calling for his resignation. This may be a tasteful resolution to the action he made but sources indicate that the remarks made and his defiant stand of his own thoughts made the council more jittery of the coming days, with BN holding a 28 seat majority of the 222 Parliamentary Seats in Government.
What is more, 'Big Mouth' Shahrizat, former Women Affairs Minister is back in politics, with the special appointment as an adviser to Pak Lah. All the more that Bloggers will get more cynical and lewd and fiery speeches of hers without any bearing or though of the repercussions to the communities at all. She already lost, with Samy Vellu along side, and what like others, should just be honourable enough to sit it out and accept the fate of the hatred she caused with the constituents and citizens alike.
MITI honcho Rafidah Aziz also came short as she is being anybody in the Cabinet after her fiasco of the vehicular problems on the AP or Approved Permits many years back which is still a recurring issue.
Information Minister is now headed by Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek which got his whole rap sheet full after the Police Lock-up Video Telanjang Scandal after his harsh words on the opposition MP Theresa Kok for mentioning this issue in Parliament. We just hope he is not stupid enough to be another victim of the New Media Political Tsunami tremors which resulted in many casualties including Sabahan Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman refused her Deputy Minister's post. Sources do indicate that the PKR is trying to woo over the Sabahan and Sarawakian political parties to switch sides in exchange for some favourable treatment and concessions to ease the problems and plights of the Pra-Bumi Aboriginal Communities in the Rural Areas.
And here are the full line up by Pak Lah:
Prime Minister: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Deputy Prime Minister: Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak
1. Prime Minister's Department
Ministers
i. Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok (UPKO Sabah Penampang)
ii. Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi: (Umno Perak Bagan Datuk)
iii. (Sen) Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim: Justice & Judiciary Reforms (Umno Kelantan Ex-Kota Baru)
iv. (Sen) Datuk Amirsham Aziz: Economic Planning Unit (Maybank CEO)
v. Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz: Parliament (Umno Perak Padang Rengas)
Deputy Ministers
i. Datuk Johari Baharum (Umno Kedah Kubang Pasu)
ii. (Sen) Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim (Umno Kedah Ex-Baling)
iii. S. K. Devamany (MIC Pahang Cameron Highlands)
iv. Datuk Hasan Malek (Umno Negri Sembilan Kuala Pilah)
2. Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry
Minister: Datuk Mustapa Mohamed (Umno Kelantan Jeli)
Deputy: Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim (PBB Sarawak Batang Lupar)
3. Ministry of Unity, Arts & Culture
Minister: Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal (Umno Sabah Semporna)
Deputy: Teng Boon Soon (MCA Johor Tebrau)
4. Ministry of Defence
Minister: Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak (Umno Pahang Pekan)
Deputy: Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop (Umno Malacca Masjid Tanah)
5. Ministry of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs
Minister: Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (Umno Johor Johor Baru)
Deputy: Jelaing Mersat (SPDP Sarawak Saratok)
6. Ministry of Education
Minister: Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein (Umno Johor Sembrong)
Deputy: Datuk Wee Ka Siong (MCA Johor Air Hitam)
Deputy: Datuk Razali Ismail (Umno Terengganu Kuala Terengganu)
7. Ministry of Energy, Water & Communications
Minister: Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor (Umno Negri Sembilan Tampin)
Deputy: Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum (PRS Sarawak Julau)
8. Ministry of Entrepreneur & Co-operative Development
Minister: Datuk Noh Omar (Selangor Umno Tanjung Karang)
Deputy: Saifuddin Abdullah (Umno Pahang Temerloh)
9. Ministry of Federal Territories
Minister: Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique (Umno FT Setiawangsa )
Deputy: Datuk M. Saravanan (MIC Perak Tapah)
10. Ministry of Finance
Minister: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Umno Penang Kepala Batas)
2nd Minister: Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop (Umno Penang Tasek Gelugor)
Deputy: Datuk Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah (Umno Perak Tambun)
Deputy: Datuk Kong Cho Ha (MCA Perak Lumut)
11. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister: Datuk Seri Rais Yatim (Umno Negri Sembilan Jelebu)
Deputy: Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar (Umno Pahang Jerantut)
12. Ministry of Health
Minister: Datuk Liow Tiong Lai (MCA Pahang Bentong)
Deputy: Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Umno Johor Mersing)
13. Ministry of Higher Education
Minister: Datuk Khaled Nordin (Umno Johor Pasir Gudang)
Deputy: Hou Kok Chung (MCA Johor Kluang)
Deputy: Datuk Idris Harun (Umno Malacca Tanjung Batu)
14. Ministry of Housing & Local Government
Minister: Datuk Ong Ka Chuan (MCA Perak Tanjung Malim)
Deputy: Datuk Robert Lau (SUPP Sarawak Sibu)
Deputy: Datuk Hamzah Zainudin (Umno Perak Larut)
15. Ministry of Human Resources
Minister: Datuk S. Subramaniam (MIC Johor Segamat)
Deputy: Datuk Noraini Ahmad (Umno Johor Parit Sulong)
16. Ministry of Information
Minister: Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek (Umno Terengganu Kemaman)
Deputy: Datuk Tan Lian Hoe (Gerakan Perak Grik)
17. Ministry of Internal Security & Home Affairs
Minister: Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar (Umno Johor Kota Tinggi)
Deputy: Datuk Chor Chee Heung (MCA Kedah Alor Star)
Deputy: (Sen) Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh (Umno Terengganu)
18. Ministry of International Trade & Industry
Minister: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Umno Johor Pagoh)
Deputy: Datuk Liew Vui Keong (LDP Sabah Sandakan)
Deputy: Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan (PRS Sabah Baram)
19. Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment
Minister: Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas (PBB Sarawak Betong)
Deputy: Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh (Umno Sabah Kalabakan)
20. Ministry of Plantation Industries & Commodities
Minister: Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui (SUPP Sarawak Miri)
Deputy: (Sen) A. Kohilan Pillay (Gerakan Selangor)
21. Ministry of Rural & Regional Development
Minister: (Sen) Tan Sri Muhammad Mohd Taib (Umno Selangor)
Deputy: Tan Sri Joseph Kurup (PRS Sabah Pensiangan)
Deputy: Joseph Entulu (SPDP Sarawak Selangau)
22. Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovations
Minister: Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili (PBS Sabah Kota Marudu)
Deputy: Datuk Fadillah Yusof (PBB Sarawak Petra Jaya)
23. Ministry of Tourism
Minister: Datuk Azalina Othman Said (Umno Johor Senggarang)
Deputy: Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib (PBB Sarawak Kota Samarahan)
24. Ministry of Transport
Minister: Datuk Ong Tee Keat (MCA Selangor Pandan)
Deputy: Datuk Anifah Aman (Umno Sabah Kimanis)
25. Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development
Minister: Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen (MCA Pahang Raub)
Deputy: Senator Noriah Kasnon (Umno Selangor)
26. Ministry of Works
Minister: Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed (Umno Selangor Sepang)
Deputy: Datuk Yong Khoon Seng (SUPP Sarawak Stampin)
27. Ministry of Youth & Sports
Minister: Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Umno Pahang Bera)
Deputy: Wee Jeck Seng (MCA Johor Tanjung Piai)
So, what does it mean for the investor and corporate standing? I don't want to comment yet. It's too hectic with the American Scandals and the Societe Generale $1.7Billion fraud case.But it's a good time to buy stocks!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Happiest day of my life.
One of those things that make you happy is when things turn out not as what you have intended it to be, especially for me when I was expecting this little bunch of glory 
that have popped into my world and derailed many of my plans for the year. Basically what happened was she thought she wanted to have a little look see, and as cheeky as a monkey she is to me, she stretched herself way too wide, (like always and as always here,extending her realm) and caused mass hysteria to her mom on the 19th November in the mid afternoon, which her mom thought she was having miscarriage as there was quite a substantial amount of fluid and blood.
So, her mom had to be kept in the Delivery Suite, but hey..this little gal decided otherwise, felt it was NOT COLD ENOUGH to come out and wreck more havoc,
and played more nasty jokes on her mom, till it was told that on the 22nd November, she would be discharged and FORCIBLY INDUCED LABOUR if she does not want to come out and play after 3 days or so. So mom was happy, at least she got time to go buy some preparations for this little girl's arrival into the chilly world. It was chilly and like always as how she is now, without the need or use of brute over steering thundering commanding voice, she would not heed it, just as nasty and hard headed as her dad while in the army. So, mom, took a cab home, and went to High Street Gillingham which was having a day market, tried to get some stuff, like cot , clothes and the like and seems this little cunning girl had her own plans. Gave her mom more pain and bleed her mom off. So off to the A & E again! I just think, after all these while, she is kind of picky in what she wants in life, which means no plain colored clothing, only bright colorful ones or pink and she had no worries of having a Hi-Vis Jacket as a fashion statement.
Mom got into more pain. Mom could not be stung by the Vampires. IV Lines could not be fixed because of running veins and even 6 surgeons failed to do so, till we decided my hard headed way, it's either the feet or the neck, and poor her, screaming all way,without much help from the laughing gas (Nitrous Oxide aka NOX) as an anesthesia. It's when you see that you can't help much makes you snap. I did snap and I thought my giving her shock technique , ie diverting her attention of her misery to another of lower threshold would work, just as you do to a person in hysteria but it back fired on me. Even till now I am regretting it.
The labor was fast and swift as she played no more. Tired I suppose, but somehow or rather I swore that she popped her head out about 10 minutes to midnight as I had to clean up her little mess which she love to do, ie coiling herself in something, and in this case her neck with her umbrical cord which caused many deaths in new born or childbirth.
Honey, I am truly sorry from all these, and that I regret for what it is now. I love this little bundle of joy as much as I love you. My love for this little girl is none that can surpass itself, but being a parent and a husband it is not as easy as I could just say it out.
How I love her much and that I just hope I could do more, to the extent of putting down my own life for her, as all I wanted was a family. She gave me more than I could imagine, though the negative is far outweighed by her good charms and that she knew that she can always manipulate her dad, knowing he was the one whom asked for her.
It is so far well worth it. Her stinky mess, and other things she can think of, is something or somewhat a small cost for the joy and happy moments in my life.
Proud to welcome Princess Athira 'Le Tun King Tia' Azrin, who is born on 23 Nov 2004 at 00.03 Hours. Yeah..nice timing Right?
Due to the nature of the video, please contact me directly for the feed.
that have popped into my world and derailed many of my plans for the year. Basically what happened was she thought she wanted to have a little look see, and as cheeky as a monkey she is to me, she stretched herself way too wide, (like always and as always here,extending her realm) and caused mass hysteria to her mom on the 19th November in the mid afternoon, which her mom thought she was having miscarriage as there was quite a substantial amount of fluid and blood.So, her mom had to be kept in the Delivery Suite, but hey..this little gal decided otherwise, felt it was NOT COLD ENOUGH to come out and wreck more havoc,
and played more nasty jokes on her mom, till it was told that on the 22nd November, she would be discharged and FORCIBLY INDUCED LABOUR if she does not want to come out and play after 3 days or so. So mom was happy, at least she got time to go buy some preparations for this little girl's arrival into the chilly world. It was chilly and like always as how she is now, without the need or use of brute over steering thundering commanding voice, she would not heed it, just as nasty and hard headed as her dad while in the army. So, mom, took a cab home, and went to High Street Gillingham which was having a day market, tried to get some stuff, like cot , clothes and the like and seems this little cunning girl had her own plans. Gave her mom more pain and bleed her mom off. So off to the A & E again! I just think, after all these while, she is kind of picky in what she wants in life, which means no plain colored clothing, only bright colorful ones or pink and she had no worries of having a Hi-Vis Jacket as a fashion statement.Mom got into more pain. Mom could not be stung by the Vampires. IV Lines could not be fixed because of running veins and even 6 surgeons failed to do so, till we decided my hard headed way, it's either the feet or the neck, and poor her, screaming all way,without much help from the laughing gas (Nitrous Oxide aka NOX) as an anesthesia. It's when you see that you can't help much makes you snap. I did snap and I thought my giving her shock technique , ie diverting her attention of her misery to another of lower threshold would work, just as you do to a person in hysteria but it back fired on me. Even till now I am regretting it.
The labor was fast and swift as she played no more. Tired I suppose, but somehow or rather I swore that she popped her head out about 10 minutes to midnight as I had to clean up her little mess which she love to do, ie coiling herself in something, and in this case her neck with her umbrical cord which caused many deaths in new born or childbirth.
Honey, I am truly sorry from all these, and that I regret for what it is now. I love this little bundle of joy as much as I love you. My love for this little girl is none that can surpass itself, but being a parent and a husband it is not as easy as I could just say it out.How I love her much and that I just hope I could do more, to the extent of putting down my own life for her, as all I wanted was a family. She gave me more than I could imagine, though the negative is far outweighed by her good charms and that she knew that she can always manipulate her dad, knowing he was the one whom asked for her.
It is so far well worth it. Her stinky mess, and other things she can think of, is something or somewhat a small cost for the joy and happy moments in my life.
Proud to welcome Princess Athira 'Le Tun King Tia' Azrin, who is born on 23 Nov 2004 at 00.03 Hours. Yeah..nice timing Right?
Due to the nature of the video, please contact me directly for the feed.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Express Food: Mussels in Tom Yum Soup
Thai Mussels are far different than that of farmed ones off the Scottish Coast or the French Waterways. Contrary to which, in England, many of these mussels are farmed near fresh waterways which are a reason of the white flesh compared to the crimson orange flesh found in the Thai Mussels.
Contrary to many, the seed mussels are normally smuggled from Malaysia due to the genetic strain that make them grow very big in a short period of time, and it's more fleshy and chewy compared to their smaller European cousin. Wild ones are also found in the market by means of their size being smaller and a whole lot dirtier as they tend to live near muddy delta or mouth of the river leading to the sea as they get plenty of nutrients from the mud and sludge discharged up river.
One recipe that people don't try in London is Tom Yam based soup with purely mussels to it. It's quite straight forward , which I found them very popular near Songkha and Pattani regions and eaten / drank with either rice noodles or a bowl of rice. Pretty simple to cook but do keep in mind that the preparation is a bit messy.
Tools Needed:
Chopper
Pair of Scissors
Short Knife
Large Wok / POT (Stock Pot preferred)
Large Strainer
Ingredients
Lemon Grass (2 stalks)
Kafir Lime Leaves (3 - 4 leaves)
Salt
Small Lime ( a few )
Onions (3 Large ones, Sliced/chopped)
Shallots ( a handful, chopped)
Garlic (half a clove)
Ginger
Some cooking oil
TOM YAM PASTE (I'll give you the recipe if you want to make it on your own)
Rice, cook to your preference .Easiest is to rinse TWICE and cook in a Rice cooker with 1:1 ratio (well a tiny bit more water is OK) till it raised up. A cup of rice feeds 2 persons.
Fresh Live Mussels (a KG or 2, which becomes about a pint of flesh for every 2 KG)
Preparation Step:
RINSE THE MUSSELS THOROUGHLY!Dunk them in your sink and rinse a few time to get any river sediments trapped in between out. Soak them in your basin with SALT WATER. This allows you to know if there are any dead ones about. Discard the dead ones.
Pull , Yank and Snip off any green string (kelp etc) attached to the mussels.
Slice and dice the onions,shallots,garlic. Use a cleaver. It's simpler.
Smack the base of the Lemon Grass a few times.
Slice some Ginger.
Cooking it:
Drain and Pour the mussels to the stock pot. Place some salt (5 grams) with some onions and garlic with the Ginger in the BASE to get rid of any Organic Odor it might bring back.
Cook over high heat for about 5 minutes, till you see the bulk of them open up. That means THEY ARE SEMI COOKED.
SHUT the flame and pour out the Mussels into a drainer. It will make them easier to cook later on. Remove the shells and keep the little bit of the stock base (about a cup) for your tom yam soup.
Souping it:
Saute the chopped garlic,ginger,shallots on about 3 tablespoon of oil over medium heat till slightly brown. Pour in the stock base from the mussels and add more water if necessary.Dunk the Tom Yam Paste (I think it's 3-4 tablespoons for every 500ML, or more to your taste) with the sliced onions and lemon grass and mix them well, with some salt.
Adjust according to your liking.
If you like your mussels shrunk and fully cooked (for Hepatitis B sufferers) please add your mussels to the boiling soup and cover for a minute,then serve. Otherwise, add soup to the bowl of mussels you prepared earlier on.
Then wait for a minute and eat with the rice.
Enjoy!
It's making me very hungry right now.
Adapted from Kak Mar's Kitchen at http://www.MarlindaRadzi.com
Time to cook: 5 Minutes!
Time to Prepare: 15-30 minutes
Depending on the condition of the mussels and how fast you do stuff, or if you are a person who don't care much of the cleanliness (like me) will just rinse the mussels twice, Steam the mussels and while it's cooking, make the other tom yam soup by dunking everything in, and pouring the soup (use water) and then pour the whole soup to the mussels, with shells in them. It is actually tastier.It's how I did it in my University Days *(Even while as a Post Grad)
Best regards and good luck.
Contrary to many, the seed mussels are normally smuggled from Malaysia due to the genetic strain that make them grow very big in a short period of time, and it's more fleshy and chewy compared to their smaller European cousin. Wild ones are also found in the market by means of their size being smaller and a whole lot dirtier as they tend to live near muddy delta or mouth of the river leading to the sea as they get plenty of nutrients from the mud and sludge discharged up river.
One recipe that people don't try in London is Tom Yam based soup with purely mussels to it. It's quite straight forward , which I found them very popular near Songkha and Pattani regions and eaten / drank with either rice noodles or a bowl of rice. Pretty simple to cook but do keep in mind that the preparation is a bit messy.
Tools Needed:
Chopper
Pair of Scissors
Short Knife
Large Wok / POT (Stock Pot preferred)
Large Strainer
Ingredients
Lemon Grass (2 stalks)
Kafir Lime Leaves (3 - 4 leaves)
Salt
Small Lime ( a few )
Onions (3 Large ones, Sliced/chopped)
Shallots ( a handful, chopped)
Garlic (half a clove)
Ginger
Some cooking oil
TOM YAM PASTE (I'll give you the recipe if you want to make it on your own)
Rice, cook to your preference .Easiest is to rinse TWICE and cook in a Rice cooker with 1:1 ratio (well a tiny bit more water is OK) till it raised up. A cup of rice feeds 2 persons.
Fresh Live Mussels (a KG or 2, which becomes about a pint of flesh for every 2 KG)
Preparation Step:
RINSE THE MUSSELS THOROUGHLY!Dunk them in your sink and rinse a few time to get any river sediments trapped in between out. Soak them in your basin with SALT WATER. This allows you to know if there are any dead ones about. Discard the dead ones.
Pull , Yank and Snip off any green string (kelp etc) attached to the mussels.
Slice and dice the onions,shallots,garlic. Use a cleaver. It's simpler.
Smack the base of the Lemon Grass a few times.
Slice some Ginger.
Cooking it:
Drain and Pour the mussels to the stock pot. Place some salt (5 grams) with some onions and garlic with the Ginger in the BASE to get rid of any Organic Odor it might bring back.
Cook over high heat for about 5 minutes, till you see the bulk of them open up. That means THEY ARE SEMI COOKED.
SHUT the flame and pour out the Mussels into a drainer. It will make them easier to cook later on. Remove the shells and keep the little bit of the stock base (about a cup) for your tom yam soup.
Souping it:
Saute the chopped garlic,ginger,shallots on about 3 tablespoon of oil over medium heat till slightly brown. Pour in the stock base from the mussels and add more water if necessary.Dunk the Tom Yam Paste (I think it's 3-4 tablespoons for every 500ML, or more to your taste) with the sliced onions and lemon grass and mix them well, with some salt.
Adjust according to your liking.
If you like your mussels shrunk and fully cooked (for Hepatitis B sufferers) please add your mussels to the boiling soup and cover for a minute,then serve. Otherwise, add soup to the bowl of mussels you prepared earlier on.
Then wait for a minute and eat with the rice.
Enjoy!
It's making me very hungry right now.
Adapted from Kak Mar's Kitchen at http://www.MarlindaRadzi.com
Time to cook: 5 Minutes!
Time to Prepare: 15-30 minutes
Depending on the condition of the mussels and how fast you do stuff, or if you are a person who don't care much of the cleanliness (like me) will just rinse the mussels twice, Steam the mussels and while it's cooking, make the other tom yam soup by dunking everything in, and pouring the soup (use water) and then pour the whole soup to the mussels, with shells in them. It is actually tastier.It's how I did it in my University Days *(Even while as a Post Grad)
Best regards and good luck.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Allah laughs at you!
I have been asking Google for the functionality to disallow negative keywords or phrases to show on my ads and they have been very much dragging their feet.
First off, the porn ads that are showing in them, showing words like Bogel and such for their Video Sharing site, which is an adult site.
Now...I am getting fed up when they try to get us pissed off!
See this?! Please.. help me by supporting my petition against vulgar keywords in Google Adsense.
What you can do? You can write up anything about this, email to google by sending a mail to adsense-support at Google.com and protest against these kind of sedicious posts.
You can also print this off and send it to Prime Minister (Yes..Mr Abdullah Badawi) to censor or ban these people and their servers along with their Service Providers.
Please, if this was YOUR RELIGION they talk about, you will be pissed. You can also hit them at their pockets by try to get their adsense account depleted.
Please...do your part.
First off, the porn ads that are showing in them, showing words like Bogel and such for their Video Sharing site, which is an adult site.
Now...I am getting fed up when they try to get us pissed off!
See this?! Please.. help me by supporting my petition against vulgar keywords in Google Adsense.
What you can do? You can write up anything about this, email to google by sending a mail to adsense-support at Google.com and protest against these kind of sedicious posts.
You can also print this off and send it to Prime Minister (Yes..Mr Abdullah Badawi) to censor or ban these people and their servers along with their Service Providers.
Please, if this was YOUR RELIGION they talk about, you will be pissed. You can also hit them at their pockets by try to get their adsense account depleted.
Please...do your part.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
2008 Economic Outlook?
Economics is about how much the world is willing to spend and how money is recycled, the basis of the Ecology of Money.Being 2008 an Election Year, market sentiments are not that favorable as before.As we speak today Monday 10th March 2008, the world economies are going into a recession, started off by the poor mortgage payments in the US in mid 2007, followed by the Northern Rock financial fiasco in United Kingdom which caused the worst run on the banking industry in the history of Great Britain, and after that, more banks signaled more troubles ahead with Societe Generale in France had massive losses which looked like another Barings Bank in the making.
Sentiments like these with the poor support of the current political situations like the poor support of the US President George W Bush and the legacy made things worse. The rising fears of Terrorism also caused more wide spread panics and with more recent bombings in the Hamas Controlled Palestinian Territory and the never ending retaliation by the Israeli forces and American Troops makes things worse off. Support for the War on Terror and Invasion of Iraq by the coalition forces caused more headaches for the supporters. British Prime Minister Tony Blair was kicked off from his chair because of this fiasco. Protests against the current ruling parties amidst all these chaos makes investors more jittery.
However, let's look back to the recent events that caused the panic attacks in the stock markets.
1) Assasination of Former Pakistan's Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto
2) Escape of Jemaah Islamiah Terrorist leader, MAS SELAMAT KASTAWI from Singapore Prison.
3) Federal Rate Cuts
4) Poor performance of the Sub-Prime Mortgage in the US
5) Return of Former Thai Prime Minister / Billionaire Thaksin to the country
6) Disastrous political landslide in the Malaysian General Election last weekend.
Factor all these and we have trouble. Yesterday alone, the stock markets in the Asia Pacific Region suffered as much as 11% loss on the stock markets, driving prices of commodity higher on panic selling with respect to the unstable / poor majority stake in the Malaysian Government since Malaysia accounts for a big chunk of the Petroleum and Biological Oils in the world economy. Gold prices and Oil soared against the US Dollar which is depreciating against major currencies like the Pound Sterling and the Euro.
US Dollar too slide to the $1.50 threshold against the Euro and these caused more headaches for fund managers alike. How bad is the economy? It's like Soccer, the ball is round, anything can happen. My bet is, down and out.
Sentiments like these with the poor support of the current political situations like the poor support of the US President George W Bush and the legacy made things worse. The rising fears of Terrorism also caused more wide spread panics and with more recent bombings in the Hamas Controlled Palestinian Territory and the never ending retaliation by the Israeli forces and American Troops makes things worse off. Support for the War on Terror and Invasion of Iraq by the coalition forces caused more headaches for the supporters. British Prime Minister Tony Blair was kicked off from his chair because of this fiasco. Protests against the current ruling parties amidst all these chaos makes investors more jittery.
However, let's look back to the recent events that caused the panic attacks in the stock markets.
1) Assasination of Former Pakistan's Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto
2) Escape of Jemaah Islamiah Terrorist leader, MAS SELAMAT KASTAWI from Singapore Prison.
3) Federal Rate Cuts
4) Poor performance of the Sub-Prime Mortgage in the US
5) Return of Former Thai Prime Minister / Billionaire Thaksin to the country
6) Disastrous political landslide in the Malaysian General Election last weekend.
Factor all these and we have trouble. Yesterday alone, the stock markets in the Asia Pacific Region suffered as much as 11% loss on the stock markets, driving prices of commodity higher on panic selling with respect to the unstable / poor majority stake in the Malaysian Government since Malaysia accounts for a big chunk of the Petroleum and Biological Oils in the world economy. Gold prices and Oil soared against the US Dollar which is depreciating against major currencies like the Pound Sterling and the Euro.
US Dollar too slide to the $1.50 threshold against the Euro and these caused more headaches for fund managers alike. How bad is the economy? It's like Soccer, the ball is round, anything can happen. My bet is, down and out.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Penang Tolls to Go!
Well, I am not sure if it's plain rumours but sources inside the Penang Bridge Management have hinted that they may be out of a job since the Penang State had a landslide victory over Barisan National, leaving Pak Lah struggling for his Parliamentary seat.
I am not sure if this is true, but didn't the Opposition Manifesto said something about getting rid of the tolls? Anyway, Penang Bridge must go, as the daily traffic snarls are all caused because of the bottleneck at the Toll Booths. Apart from that, it's really hitting our pockets hard with $7 toll, on a daily basis.
What else, Oooh..did I mention Samy Vellu is staying in MIC? Darn it. I thought he could have some pride left and just leave with some sort of dignity. Bugger.
So bloggers... can we campaign for NO MORE TOLLS?? Please!
I am not sure if this is true, but didn't the Opposition Manifesto said something about getting rid of the tolls? Anyway, Penang Bridge must go, as the daily traffic snarls are all caused because of the bottleneck at the Toll Booths. Apart from that, it's really hitting our pockets hard with $7 toll, on a daily basis.
What else, Oooh..did I mention Samy Vellu is staying in MIC? Darn it. I thought he could have some pride left and just leave with some sort of dignity. Bugger.
So bloggers... can we campaign for NO MORE TOLLS?? Please!
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