Cartoon character tag

Got this tag from Sting's web site...:)

"Everyone has a personality of a cartoon character. Have you ever asked yourself what cartoon character do you most resemble? A group of investigators got together and analyzed the personalities of well known and modern cartoon characters. The information that was gathered was made into this test."

Here's the tag:Answer all the questions (only 10) with what describes you best, add up all your Points (which are next to the answer that you choose) at the end and look for your results. Do not cheat by looking at the end of the e-mail before you are done.Then ask your Friends to answer it. (Make sure to Highlight your answers)

1. Which one of the following describes the perfect date?

a) Candlelight dinner (4 pts.)
b) Fun/Theme Park (2 pts.)
c) Painting in the park (5 pts)
d) Rock concert (1 pt.)
e) Going to the movies (3 pts.)

2. What is your favorite type of music?

a) Rock and Roll (2 pts.)
b) Alternative (1 pt.)
c) Soft Rock (4 pts.)
d) Country (5 pts.)
e) Pop (3 pts.)

3. What type of movies do you prefer?

a) Comedy (2 pts.)
b) Horror (1 pt.)
c) Musical (3 pts.)
d) Romance (4 pts.)
e) Documentary (5 pts.)

4.. Which one of these occupations would you choose if you only could choose one of these?

a) Waiter (4 pts.)
b) Professional Sports Player (5 pts.)
c) Teacher (3 pts.)
d) Police (2 pts.)
e) Cashier (1 pt)

5 . What do you do with your spare time?

a) Exercise (5 pts.)
b) Read (4 pts.)
c) Watch television (2 pts.)
d) Listen to music (1 pt.)
e) Sleep (3 pts.)

6. Which one of the following colors do you like best?

a) Yellow (1 pt.)
b) White (5 pts.)
c) Sky Blue (3 pts.)
d) Dark Blue (2 pts.)
e) Red (4 pts.)

7. What do you prefer to eat?

a) Snow (3 pts.)
b) Pizza (2 pts.)
c) Sushi (1 pt.)
d) Pasta (4 pts.)
e) Salad (5 pts.)

8. What is your favorite holiday?

a) Halloween (1 pt.)
b) Christmas (3 pts.)
c) New Year (2 pts.)
d) Valentine's Day (4 pts.)
e) Thanksgiving (5 pts.)

9. If you could go to one of these places which one would it be?

a) Paris (4 pts)
b) Spain (5 pts)
c) Las Vegas (1 pt)
d) Hawaii (4 pts)
e) Hollywood (3 pts)

10. With which of the following would you prefer to spend time with?

a) Someone Smart (5 pts.)
b) Someone attractive (2 pts.)
c) Someone who likes to Party (1 pt.)
d) Someone who always has fun (3 pts.)
e) Someone very sentimental (4 pts.)

*Now add up your points and find out the answer you have been waiting for!Put your character in the subject line and forward to your friends and back to the person that sent this to you. Very interesting to see 'who' your friends are!

* (10-16 points) You are Garfield :You are very comfortable, easy going, and you definitely know how tohave fun but sometimes you take it to an extreme. You always know whatyou are doing and you are always in control of your life. Others maynot see things as you do, but that doesn't mean that you always have to do what is right. Try to remember, your happy spirit may hurt you or others.

* (17-23 points) You are Snoopy:You are fun, you are very cool and popular. You always know what's i nand you are never are out of style You are good at knowing how tosatisfy everyone else. You have probably disappeared for a few daysmore than once but you always come home with the family values that you learned Being married and having children are important to you, butonly after you have had your share of fun times

* (24-28 points) You are Elmo:You have lots of friends and you are also popular, always willing togive advice and help out a person in need. You are very optimistic andyou always see the bright side of things. Some good advice: try not tobe too much of a dreamer. Dreaming too big could cause many conflicts inyour life.

* (29-35 points) You are Sponge Bob Square Pants: You are the classic person that everyone loves. You are the best friendthat anyone could ever have and never wants to lose. You never causeharm to anyone and they would never not understand your feelings. Lifeis a journey, it's funny and calm for the most part. Stay away from traitors and jealous people, and you will be stress free.

* (36-43 points) You are Charlie Brown: You are tender, you fall in love quickly but you are also very serious about all relationships. You are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday. You have many friends and may occasionally forget a fewBirthdays. Don't let your passion confuse you with reality.

* (44-50 points) You are Dexter:You are smart and definitely a thinker... Every situation is frontedwith a plan. You have a brilliant mind. You demonstrate very strong family principles. You maintain a stable routine but never ignore a badsituation when it comes. * Try to do less over thinking every once in a while to spice things up a bit with spontaneity.Now don't spoil it! Have some Fun!!

hehe..i got 37 points..:) Charlie Brown character.

New Year Message...

Helo Friends, hope you all will like this message..would like to share with all of you.

Dearest Friends,

Today is the last day of the year.
Its always sad to say goodbye to a year but thrilling to see in a new one.

An optimist stays up till midnight to see in a new year.
A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

Hope you will have a wonderful celebration this evening in cheers to a brand
new year fill with another 365 days to live life to the fullest as we choose!

Have a gorgeous Monday.

Wishing you happy last day of 2007 with fond memories and may you stay up to usher in
another promising year of good things in your life, career, good fortune and excellent health.

With best wishes always...

Nightwing.

Something to share...

Received an email from Mr Khoo Kheng Hor. He wrote an article and requested me to share with friends and people, and here is the article. Please share with your friends too. Happy reading.

HOW JUDY AND I ENJOY GOD’S BLESSINGS

To my late wife’s wonder, I have long been known to be a most blessed man from enjoying God’s endless blessings (undeserving as I am, I hasten to say) so much so that I seem to feature somehow in His plan:

EARLIEST BLESSINGS

I wasn’t even a Christian when I witnessed His first miracle (and blessing for me). Like the way, He parted the Red Sea for Moses and the Jewish people to escape Pharaoh’s army, the Lord removed all opposition against me from the administration and so opened the door of the University of Stirling for me to read for my Master’s despite my not holding any first degree. In doing so, He gave my wife and I, a most beautiful and memorable year in Scotland…something I would give thanks for in later years.

In 1991 after bagging my MBA (God permitted me nothing less than one with distinction), He led me, a Malaysian, to Singapore (as I later discovered to fit His plan for me) where he first taught me humility by letting me wander in the employment wilderness for some four months before permitting me, to my wife’s immense relief and joy, to secure a job as director of operations with KFC in Singapore.

Towards the end of 1993, notice of my imminent retrenchment hung over my head like the fabled sword over Damocles’ head. It was a trying time for both my wife and I until I told her about a wonderful dream I had.

One night in early 1994, I cried piteously in my sleep as I dreamt myself begging my boss not to retrench me since I had delivered sales targets and profit objective. After he had told me there was nothing he could do, pushing the responsibility to the Asia Pacific office, as I saw the futility in approaching men, I turned to God. Though I didn’t see the Lord, I heard His voice, “Why are you crying? Why are you so afraid? The Lord shall provide.”

After sharing this dream with my wife, we formed Stirling Training & Management Consultants Pte Ltd on February 24, 1994. Since then, we haven’t looked back because the Lord truly provided. By October 1999, we were comfortable enough to move to the Cameron Highlands where we live happily without excesses albeit comfortably in semi-retirement.

RECENT TIMES

Towards the end of September 2007, my wife suffered body aches which we thought to be arthritis, and so she was treated by the local GP with painkillers. After the initial painkillers lost effect, she was treated with stronger drugs like Arcoxia, etc.

After I read in the Internet that Arcoxia shouldn’t be given for more than eight days, I decided to talk to one of my “pupils”, a pharmacist at Pantai Mutiara Hospital. He had, together with some of his colleagues, attended one of my seminars previously. I took his advice to bring my wife to see an orthopedic surgeon, who was dissatisfied with the lump in her neck, had the lymph node removed for a biopsy. My wife was hence diagnosed with cancer which was found to originate in her rectum.

Both she and I fought a good “battle” from end October till December 19, 2007 when she was called home by the Lord to rest. I thus lost Judy, my personal “guardian angel” of 26 years, 1 month and 18 days. Did I blame God for my loss? No, instead I chose to count my blessings:

(1) Quality life.

The two cycles of chemotherapy (on November 1, 2007 and November 22, 2007) caused Judy to be very weak but fortunately, thanks to my sister (a former nursing sister who, at time of incident, works as a hospice nurse) gave my wife palliative care and so relieved most of her pain, and hence she was still able to eat (indeed had good appetite) and moved her bowel.

As the opening story has told you, the Lord has provided so well that we were able to buy two lots of land, on which we built two houses – one for my sister and brother-in-law (who looked after our mother) with the other house for us – and so Judy was able to receive palliative care on hand at any hour and also live comfortably. I must point out here that my sister is also a great cook and thus Judy had enjoyed delicious chicken rendang, Hainanese chicken rice, and her favorites, fried vegetarian beehoon and sar hor fun in the weeks prior to her demise.

Thanks to our mate from University of Stirling, I carried home a SG-2000 Home SPA unit from Singapore to install and set up the first SPA bath for her on November 24, 2007 which she enjoyed tremendously. Making her baths gave me much pleasure as it was one more opportunity for me to show her how much I love her and she also enjoyed the bubbling water in the bath.

On December 18 at around 5:15 p.m., she sat in the bath tub, smiling so sweetly at me, saying, “Thank you…it’s so nice.”

(2) A wonderful life together.

In retrospect, ever since marrying me, Judy had never been in want for anything.

Though I hadn’t started off wealthy (Judy helped paid for our first car’s down-payment) and my career had its fair share of bumps and hiccups, it was still great sailing throughout, and Judy was together with me in “riding out the occasional storms” and most times, either “sunbathing on deck” or “sightseeing at the ports of call”.

Indeed, we had been to most places in the world, stayed in lovely five-star hotels (even the six-star ones, e.g. the world’s tallest – Grand Hyatt in Shanghai), and she was given carte blanc to buy anything she fancied. She had even been to university with me as I’d spent a year reading for my MBA at the University of Stirling in Scotland in 1990/1991. How we love the memories of skiing at the Cairngorms, worshiping at Iona Abbey, and monster-watching in Loch Ness, apart from our lovely campus ground. And from October 1999, I’d taken her to live for slightly more than eight lovely years in the Cameron Highlands where she enjoyed our lovely little home and took pleasure in the 5 km or so morning walks through green, twisting, country roads.

The albums with photographs of her smiling face and at times, mischievous poses, could testify to all that I have written here.

On her part, her devotion towards me has been total as she would give me the sweetest part of any fruit she personally cut out, and at times, even spoon-feeding me when she found me busy at work on my PC. I too would never forget those times when I was hospitalized for nose (sinusitis) surgery and she nursed me faithfully back to health. Only God knows why He has caused to lose my personal “guardian angel” He had given me on November 2, 1981.

(3) She went in peace and with beauty and dignity

Although she woke up in her favorite home in Cameron Highlands at around 6:45 a.m. on December 19, complaining of severe pain in her right eye and rubbing it furiously, it was only for less than a minute because the Lord mercifully sent her into a coma after I called to Lord Jesus to “please save my sheep”. By 7:31 a.m., she was pronounced dead by the doctor.

But dead, she isn’t because in Luke 21:36, our Lord Jesus Christ said, “And they never die again; in these respects, they are like angels, and are children of God, for they are raised up in new life from the dead.”

Those who came to bid farewell to her were surprised. They couldn’t believe she had been called home by the Lord because they said words like, “She looks so peaceful…”, “She looks like she’s deep asleep…”, and “She’s so beautiful…”

Yes, at the time when I brought Judy’s body to our Jawi home, she looked very peaceful, without any grimace of pain etched into her beautiful face, and she certainly looked like she was sleeping. This is how she would like to be remembered.

As my sister had warned me, the 3.5 cm tumor that had crept unnoticed into her brain (until a MRI scan on December 4, a host of complications ranging from coma (as in her case), paralysis, to distortions of facial features or limbs, blindness, or memory loss. It would be so sad (and worrisome) if she had lost her memory prior to going. But God had mercifully spared us such exacerbated grief.

And what if she had gone into coma while having any of her SPA baths, and so drowned. Had that occurred and I happened to be away attending to something instead of minding her (even though I would poke my head into the bathroom now and then), I would nonetheless go insane from guiltily believing myself to be the cause of her demise. But again, God had seen to it that no such a tragedy had taken place.

Instead, Judy was given the merciful departure via coma to stop the severe pain in her right eye, and from then onwards to the Lord. .

(4) The Lord has answered most of my questions

God had been most merciful to me, and so far, still is merciful.

For one, He answered my doubt as to whether Judy is safely in Heaven by His side. Though in the early hours prior to Judy’s cremation on December 21, I had pleaded in vain to be allowed the grace of Judy coming to my dream to assure me herself, God still gave me an answer.

That came after I had gone to the lawn to sing a song, praising the Lord’s great mercy, and then again got my son and daughter-in-law to dance for Him as I sang yet another song of praise. Not long after honoring God in this way, He sent a VIP and his wife to come along to pay respect to Judy (though I had earlier told him that the funeral is a close family affair) and unknown to me, even arranged for police outriders and escorts to lead the convoy to the crematorium.

I believe that was God’s answer to me: The Lord loves Judy and James and so shall gives honor to them.

Even the service by Pastor Ng Kok Aun told me as much. Pastor Ng selected Amazing Grace as the opening hymn – it was Judy’s favorite – and Psalm 23 – The Lord is my shepherd – was most appropriate since Judy and I had a long-standing joke that she is my sheep while I am her shepherd dog, with Jesus Christ as our Shepherd. Needless to say, Pastor Ng succeeded in comforting me of my loss with his sermon.

When I regretfully lamented that I should have spent some time going over the photo albums for a stroll down memory lane with Judy prior to her departure from this world, God’s words came to me via Apostle Paul’s writing in Philippians 4:13-14: “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to Heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.”

Ever since her diagnosis of cancer, both of us had returned to the fold as I read Bible to her almost every night and sometimes in the day as well. Reading Bible to her had prepared her for the journey back to God, and also me to cope with this unexpected separation and thus could be considered even more meaningful than taking her on a journey back down memory lane. Are we not blessed?

Then early on December 24 as I was still grieving from missing my sheep, I took out my Bible and promptly came across the following passage in Philippians 1:15-26 whereby Apostle Paul declares:

"I am going to keep on being glad, for I know that as you pray for me, and as the Holy Spirit helps me, this is all going to turn out for my good. For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that will cause me to be ashamed of myself but that I will always be ready to speak out boldly for Christ while I am going through all these trials here, just as I have been in the past; and that I will always be an honor to Christ, whether I live or I must die. For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying - well, that's better yet! But if living will give me more opportunities to win people to Christ, then I really don't know which is better, to live or die! SOMETIMES I WANT TO LIVE AND AT OTHER TIMES, I DON'T, for I long to go and be with Christ (and Judy). How much happier for me than being here! But the fact is that I can be of more help to you by staying! Yes, I am still needed down here and so I feel certain I will be staying on earth A LITTLE LONGER, to help you grow and become happy in your faith; my staying will make you glad and give you reason to glorify Christ Jesus for keeping me safe, when I return to visit you again."

His words had more or less summed up my feelings and position. I feel so much cheered by "A LITTLE LONGER" which is definitely NOT same as A LOT LONGER. This, I think, is God's promise to me...and the Lord always keeps his promises. How I yearn to be with God, to see Him (provided I keep myself pure), my Master, the Shepherd, and of course, my sheep!!!

So for now, I won’t allow myself to despair but shall endure because there is the promise of everlasting life for Judy and also the promise of reunion for Judy and I later on. How I look forward to joining Judy and Bandit to worship God, and Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven. Besides, I still have unfinished work to do, e.g. see to Bandit, and whatever else that God wants me to do. Maybe this shepherd dog has got to round up some other stray sheep?

And so come what may, with such a loving, merciful God by my side, I need not fear or despair as I can do no less but endure. Apostle James writes: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:2-3).

Ultimately, I also thank God for allowing me – the stronger and more resourceful – to be the one left behind because for any loving couple, the one left behind usually suffer the most. If Christ Jesus can endure suffering on the cross for mankind, surely I can bear my share of suffering for my sheep who I love so much. As it was her who inspired me to become a Christian, Judy’s demise mustn’t be in vain – it must draw me closer to God rather than chase me away! And I must carry on doing God’s bidding.

I am really grateful to our one and only God for His mercy, wisdom, peace, courage and strength.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

khoo kheng-hor
author
http://www.khookhenghor.com

Sad day for Pakistan..

I am sure most of you will have heard the sad news of what happended in Pakistan.

Please visit Tembam's blog.

I was driving to work this morning when i heard the news. Only a few weeks ago, i told my GF about how the ding dongs were using babies to get to her (1st attempt), they strap bombs to the babies and they know she loves to go near children.

HOW SICK CAN THOSE BUGGERS BE?

What do they hope to gain for killing her? I hope the people there will wake up and shout ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! And vote accordingly. If that is the result of her death, then her death is not in vain. If not...she died for nothing.

She was living abroad for so many years...only to return to her own country, whom she love so much and died for it. I mean she could have continue living abroad.

Condolences to her family and the people of Pakistan. During voting time, i hope they make sure their vote count for something.

How i met KL aunty....

As most of you know, sms and lovely words post in my blog are from an aunty in KL. This post is about how me and my family came to know her...hmm..will do my best..cause i am not a good story teller like Uncle Lee or Pak Zawi...:)

Every year my golf club organised a golf tournament in the month of September. My dad was one of the committee and his public relations is one of the best (something i am still learning)...so during his time...many golfers will love to come over to play...golfers from all over Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei...even KL.

The committee members and volunteers will go to airport to pick up out of town golfers, from air port to hotel and from hotel to golf course during competition time. Dad will always be at the airport to welcome them (even though he was not on driver duties).

So, a few ladies from KL had play in this tournament and invited this KL aunty along for that year (4 or 5 years ago, when air asia just started). It was her first trip to my city (at that time not yet city status, only became a city 2 years ago).

The competition was held from Friday to Sunday...practise round on Thursday. I only met the aunty on Sat...she carry her self very well, like a datin or something..but very humble and sincere.

Then during welcoming dinner (Friday nite), she sang a song and during the dinner...she heard a chinese song called 'Siaw Wei' and asked my dad about it. My dad told me to get one for her.

So on Sat, me and my gf went around the whole town to buy the karaoke cd of the song...it was an 'old' song so was kind of tough. But we manage to get it, so went to the club to pass the vcd to her. She was surprise and happy about it.

And we started to talk and it turns out she got a great sense of humour. I think if you all ever meet up...all of you will like her.

Coincidencely, i booked my air ticket to KL on November. She said to let her know when i was going.

So that was how i met her...bought her the vcd and had a few chit chats, dinner and drove her and some of the players around...she left for KL on sunday..and on Monday...start of her lovely messages.

In November that year, she picked me and my gf at the airport. And brought us to her house and met the husband...funny man. Great sense of humour too. Really a lovely couple. They are very well off but do not act like one. Unlike some people who acts as if they the richest ppl on earth.

I mean i am just a 'kid', with no connections and they take me as their friend. Brought us for lunch, drop us at the hotel. Picked us up for dinner and at the end of my trip, took us to the airport.

I mean in KL to travel from one place to another is not like my city...where to go, anywhere is only 10 mins.

After her 'initial' trip...she has been here 2 to 3 times (that is when my mom got to know her too)..even her friends wonder 'what do u do there?'...she always say..to play golf and visit friends there..:)

Last year she did not come cause dad no longer involve with club activities... Last year December, during my MBA graduation...i invited her and her husband to my convo (was held in KL). Am glad they agree to go.

This year did not meet them ...but sms ada lah..:) Maybe next year might make a trip to KL ....cause now got fellow bloggers to meet up too...:)

And so, that is how i met and became friends with KL aunty..:)

Funny Sms

How do you know Santa Claus is a man?

1) He turns up late

2) Drinks ur booze

3) Empties his sack

4) Only comes once

5) And leaves off before u wake up.

Sad Wednesday ..

On Wednesday this week, i received an SMS from Mr Khoo. He is the Malaysian author who beside writting management books, he is also into novels.. Taikor, Mamasan and Nanyang (pls check my book reviews).

His wife passed on that morning. After a few months of fighting off cancer. I was surprise of the news because last info i had from Mr Khoo was on Friday last (14.12.)....she was recovering well.

But sometimes the good Lord has his plans which we may never understand. I was worry and concern, so i sent him an email (not sure if he would reply) on Wednesday afternoon. He did replied and ....never easy no matter how strong we have faith in the good Lord, we are still humans.

I reply his email by stating that she is no longer in pain and is in a better place and he now has an angel looking over him. Mourn for her now but i am sure she will not want her to feel that way for ever.

He has to continue to write and teach people abt Sun Tzu Art of War..

I am really not good in this kind of thing, what would you say to a person who just suffered a lost?

This morning received his email....and i am happy to note that he is doing fine and has full trust in the good Lord...it is not going to be easy but i am sure he will be fine.

Here is an excerpt of the email.

To conclude, please don't worry about me. Though I still have mood swings, and may at times, burst into tears since all kinds of everything reminds me of her, I believe God has and will continue to give me the strength to pull through this trying period so that I can go on to do what He has in mind for me to do until He summons me home to His side. The same goes for Bandit too (pet dog).


NOTE: May all of you have a Merry Happy Christmas and Holidays with you love ones..and do tell them how much you love them.

For those of you ...who "balik kampung" please drive safely and carefully.

Take care and God bless always.

Fight back.....

Finally some buggers got what was coming to them. And seriously hope this ding dongs do not get off the hook on technicalities...meaning...hope the police and prosecution lawyers do not muck up this case. Lock this idiots away and while they are at it...whip them deep deep.

Star

Victims turn on robbers at cybercafe
TANGKAK: Two robbers armed with parangs had the tables turned on them when their victims attacked them instead with plastic chairs at a cybercafe near here.

The robbers, who had struck at the same place last month, thought they had easy pickings when they entered the cybercafe in Kampung Serom Empat, at about 11.45pm on Wednesday.

They surprised about 10 youths, aged between 18 and 20, and robbed them of more than RM880 and at least seven cellular handsets.

Cybercafe operator Kong Hong Chuan said some of the victims recognised the robbers from the previous incident, and when the duo turned towards the door, the youths attacked them with the chairs.

One robber was injured on the face and head while the other was bleeding from wounds all over his body.

A team of policemen and an ambulance arrived shortly after the incident.

The robbers were sent to the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital where they were warded.

Two of the youths also suffered injuries and received outpatient treatment at the hospital.

Oh come on...what were they thinking?

How come they be so cold hearted to make a documentary about this tragedy...and further more, the case is still on going. Now the defence lawyer may use this as an excuse..

Star.

Penangites say no to DVD on Ying Ying’s murder

By BERNARD SEE

PENANG: A Hong Kong documentary about the murder of Shearwel Ooi Ying Ying has made its way here in DVD form but many retailers are refusing to sell it out of respect for the family.

A retailer at a shopping complex in Burmah Road said the 46-minute DVD was on sale for about a week before he decided to stop selling it.

“Sales were brisk but the more I thought of it, I felt very guilty. I understand what the father must be going through as I also have a daughter of that age.”

Attempts by The Star to purchase a DVD copy of the programme entitled Kwai Tan (Strange Talk) from outlets at 1-Stop Midlands and Prangin Mall yesterday proved unsuccessful.

But after much persuasion, a shop in Prangin Mall sold the DVD for RM5.

The production crew had filmed a séance between Ying Ying and her father, Eng Chew, 29, at the Leng Hong Keung temple near Perak Road on Oct 11.

During the filming, one of the crew members suddenly collapsed and started to murmur “very cold” and “very scared” in Hokkien.

On July 8, some of Ying Ying’s charred remains and bone fragments were found by police near a tombstone at a Chinese cemetery in Paya Terubong.

On July 20, her mother Jess Teh, 28, was charged with lodging a false missing person report while her boyfriend Ong Chee Leong was charged with murdering Ying Ying on July 5. Both cases are pending trial.

SMS..

From KL Aunty...:)

GOOD FRIENDS :(

are not how u forget but how u forgive :)

but not how u listen but how u understand :)

not what u see but how u feel :)

not how u let go but how u hold on...:)

CHEERS :)

Postnatal depression.

Please visit Daphne's blog to read this write up. Its a great posting.

A while back i visited Daphne's blog and read this posting on postnatal depression. It is really an eye opener for me. I have heard of it and have seen it in movies but do not really comprehand the seriousness of it until i read her post.


This one is from wikipedia.

Postnatal Depression (also called Postpartum Depression and referred throughout this article by the acronym PPD) is a form of clinical depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, after childbirth. Studies report prevalence rates among women from 5% to 25%, but methodological differences among the studies make the actual prevalence rate unclear.[1]

Baby or maternity blues are a mild and transitory moodiness suffered by up to 80% of postnatal women (and in some cases fathers who also suffer from the baby blues and/or postpartum depression). Symptoms typically last from a few hours to several days, and include tearfulness, irritability, hypochondriasis, sleeplessness, impairment of concentration, isolation and headache. The maternity blues are not the same thing as postpartum depression, nor are they a precursor to postpartum depression or postnatal psychosis.

Symptoms of PPD can occur anytime in the first year postpartum[2] and include, but are not limited to, the following:

Sadness[2]
Hopelessness[2]
Low Self-Esteem[2]
Guilt[2]
Sleep Disturbances[2]
Eating Disturbances[2]
Inability to be Comforted[2]
Exhaustion[2]
Emptiness[2]
Inability to Enjoy Things One Previously Enjoyed[2]
Social Withdrawal[2]
Low Energy[2]
Easily Frustrated[2]
Feeling Inadequate in Taking Care of the Baby (or Feeling Like One Cannot Take Care of the Baby) [2]

Celine Dion takes her final bow at Caesars Palace

I am a fan of Celine Dion, she got a beautiful voice and can sing effortlessly..:) I think when she rest enough, will probably have an album out in future. Any one in the States ever catch her shows?

CNN.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AP) -- Caesar will have to find a new queen.


Celine Dion throws rose petals after her final performance of "A New Day" at Caesars Palace on Saturday.

Celine Dion called it a wrap at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas last night after a five-year engagement.

During the farewell show, she disclosed that poor reviews and a pregnancy early on nearly sank the project. But she said it's been worth it.

Adoring fans cheered, stood and clapped throughout the show, as Dion interspersed her usual numbers with emotion-filled monologues.

She said of the early going, "At one point, it was like feeling like the Titanic was about to sink again."

While the Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, show was still in development in 2000, Dion became pregnant and wanted to bow out. She says she felt she had a life "for the first time" and wanted more to be a successful mother than a singer.

But her husband, who's also her manager, told her that too much money and too many people were involved. So she pushed on, filling the 4,100-seat arena at Caesars nearly nightly for five years.

Between March 2003 and last night, Celine Dion's show was seen by nearly 3 million fans and took in more than $400 million.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Boy records gang rape on cellphone

This is stupid. I really hope they throw away the keys when they locked these buggers up.

Star.

PORT KLANG: A 16-year-old school dropout lured a 14-year-old girl to a vacant house in Taman Suria here where he and three other boys took turns to rape her.

It is believed that one of the boys recorded the rape on his handphone.

OCPD Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Mat Yusop said: ”Our officers have taken a statement from the girl and a medical check-up has been carried out.

“Based on the initial report lodged at Pandamaran station, we have arrested three of the boys, who are also 16.

“One more is still at large,” he said.

The boys have been remanded for five days.

Woods caps triumph with record showing in host tourney

ESPN.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The final putt of the year safely in the hole for par and another victory, Tiger Woods was quickly reminded what kind of year 2007 turned out to be.

First, he walked over to his six-month-old daughter, dressed in a red fleece top, for a kiss on the cheek and a pat on the head. Then came the presentation on the 18th green at Sherwood Country Club, where Woods collected his eighth trophy of the year.

Tiger Woods increased his margin to seven strokes Sunday over his nearest competitor, Zach Johnson, in capturing for the fourth time his Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, California.
He became a father for the first time in June. He won his 13th career major in August at the PGA Championship. He swept all the major awards to further separate himself from the rest of golf.

The final piece came Sunday at the Target World Challenge, a seven-shot victory and a $1.35 million check that goes to his Tiger Woods Learning Center.

"This year on the golf course, it's been a great year,'' Woods said. "Off the golf course, it's been the greatest year I've ever had.''

Woods first understood what he called the "power of family'' when Padraig Harrington made double bogey on the 18th hole at Carnoustie and was all smiles when he saw his son, Patrick, while waiting to see if there would be a playoff at the British Open.

There was no such suspense at Sherwood, at least not for long.

Jim Furyk cut a six-shot lead down to two at the turn and was poised to get even closer on the 10th hole. Woods holed a 12-foot birdie putt up the slope, and Furyk three-putted for bogey from 4 feet above the hole. It was a stunning two-shot swing, and Woods soon restored his margin and coasted to victory.

He closed with a 4-under 68 to tie the tournament record at 22-under 266, making him the first player to win consecutive titles at this year-end tournament for an elite, 16-man field.

Masters champion Zach Johnson won the B-flight and a load of Christmas cash. Johnson birdied the last hole for a 68 to finish second, worth $840,000. Furyk, who hit another tee shot in the water for double bogey on the 15th, shot a 71 to finish third and won $570,000.

The margin of victory was the largest at this tournament in its nine-year history, and it was the third time this year that Woods won a tournament by seven shots or more. And this after taking a 10-week break.

"Doesn't help us, does it?'' Colin Montgomerie said. "If he took a bloody year off, it would help. Never mind 10 weeks.''



Woods had to sweat, but it was only a drop.

He was six shots clear until a two-shot swing on the seventh hole, when Furyk made birdie and Woods three-putted for his first bogey. Furyk birdied the next hole, and Woods dropped a shot on the ninth when he failed to save par from a bunker.

Suddenly, the lead was two shots going to the back nine, and Furyk immediately applied pressure with a wedge that he hit with no spin to about 4 feet above the flag. Woods hit wedge that spun back 12 feet below the cup, and that made all the difference.

Woods calmly made the birdie putt, while Furyk's putt slid by the cup and rolled 4 feet by. He slapped at the face of his putter, then missed the par putt for a two-shot swing.

"Jimmy put a ton of heat on me the front nine,'' Woods said. "The whole tournament switched on the 10th. That was a big two-shot swing there.''

Woods' lead was back to four, and he kept that margin until the par-3 15th.

Furyk was three shots behind Saturday until hitting 6-iron into the water. The final round was no different. Furyk found the water again for double bogey, and he was back to where he started, six shots behind.

"You don't start six down to Tiger very often and cut it to two, so I had a really good opportunity,'' Furyk said. "And I wasn't able to take advantage of it.''

The only question after that was the margin of victory, and whether Rory Sabbatini made it safely to Hawaii.

Sabbatini, who was in last place going into the final round, withdrew from the 16-man field Sunday morning. He told the PGA Tour he was pulling out for "personal reasons,'' but his agent later said it was due to shin splints.

A locker-room attendant said Sabbatini told him Saturday night he was leaving for Maui, and tournament officials were still looking for his courtesy car late Sunday afternoon.

The South African still received $170,000 for last place, but perhaps lost some respect along the way.

"I think I could have toughed it out one more round,'' Mark Calcavecchia said. "I don't think the fans missed him.''

Told that Sabbatini's agent said the reason was shin splints, Fred Couples wasn't buying.

"Of course, he did,'' Couples said. "And Roger Clemens' agent said he didn't do steroids.''

Asked if he minded that Sabbatini took off, a cold stare from Woods said otherwise.

"I'd like to try and get to the bottom of it when I'm done here, and we'll see what happens,'' he said.

It certainly had no bearing on the tournament. Woods hasn't been seen at a golf tournament in 10 weeks, and it was as though he never left. His swing wasn't as polished as it was the first two rounds, but it was no different from his summer surge when it counted.

"I took four weeks off and struggled,'' Paul Casey said after finishing 21 shots behind. "We have a saying in England that he was Rolls Roycing it. You fire up the car and it purrs perfectly. I'm very envious.''

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

WHO I AM MAKES A DIFFERENCE

This story although it is from an email, the core subject of it really touch my heart. Hope you will like this story and pass it along your friends. One will never know whose lives we will touch.


A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in High School by
telling them the difference each of them had made. She called each student
to the front of the class, one at a time.

First, she told each of them how they had made a difference to her, and the
class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon, imprinted with
gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference." Afterwards,
the teacher decided to do a class project, to see what kind of impact
recognition would have on a Community. She gave each of the students
three more blue ribbons, and instructed them to go out and spread this
acknowledgment ceremony.

Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom, and report
to the class in about a week.

One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby Company,
and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a
blue ribbon, and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons
and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like for
you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give
them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person, to keep
this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell
me what happened."

Later that day, the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been
noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down,
and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The
boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would
accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and would he give him permission to put
it on him. His surprised boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took
the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket, above his heart.
As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, "Would you take this extra
ribbon, and pass it on by honoring somebody else. The young boy who first
gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school, and we want to keep this
recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people."

That night, the boss came home to his 14-year-old son, and sat him down.
He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my
office, and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me,
and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine! He thinks
I am a creative genius! Then he put a blue ribbon that says, "Who I Am Makes
a Difference", on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and
asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I
started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon, and I thought
about you. I want to honor you. My days are hectic and when I come home, I do
not pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting
good enough grades in school, and for your bedroom being a mess. Somehow,
tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do
make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important
person in my life. You're a great kid, and I love you!"

The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he could not stop crying. His
whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears,
"Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom,
explaining why I had took my life, and I asked you to forgive me. I was
going to commit suicide tonight after you were asleep. I just did not
think that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I need
it after all." His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter
full of anguish and pain.

The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch, but
made sure to let all of his employees know that they made a difference.

The junior executive helped several other young people with career planning,
and never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his
life...one being the boss' son. In addition, the young boy and his
classmates learned a valuable lesson, "Who you are DOES make a difference".

You are under no obligation to pass this on to anyone.... not to two people,
or to two hundred. As far as I am concerned, you can forget it and move on.
On the other hand, if you want, you could send it to all of the people who
mean something to you, or send it to the one, two, or three people who
mean the most. On the other hand, just smile and know that I think that
you are important, or you would not have received this in the first place.
Who you are does make a difference, and I wanted you to know that. Isn't
this a wonderful story? I'm passing the blue ribbon to you, for who YOU
are does make a difference, too. May GOD BLESS YOU. Have an awesome day,
and know that someone has thought about you today!

A prayer for today: Lord, Thank you for my friends and family who really
do make a difference to me. AMEN!

To all who read this, you have just received a blue ribbon and I thank GOD
for you! You make a BIG difference to me .

Joke..

Hehe, Got this from an email.

It can be construe as a joke or it can be warning to people...:) Happy reading.

DON'T FORGET WHEN YOU ARE IN CHINA!
A man went on a business to China and wanted to buy some gifts for his
kids. He went to a shop and found a nice looking CD player. Wary of
buying inferior goods, he asked the shopkeeper, 'What would happened
if this does not work?'

The shopkeeper quietly points to the only sign in English that reads:
'GUARANTEE NO SPOILT'

Feeling assured, he paid for the CD player and returns to his hotel.
He tried to use the CD player after returning to the hotel but it
would not even switch on.

He quickly return to the shop and asked for a refund or an exchange
for another unit. When the shopkeeper refused to give either, theman
points to the sign assuring him of a guarantee.

The shopkeeper then said, 'Brother, you are in China. We read from the
right to the left.

Positive Thinking..

Got this from Email...hope you all like it.

I AM THANKFUL FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED ..


FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME .

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your Heart.

Blood Test Results...

Excerpt from July's blood test:

"Just got my results. Eveything ok except my cholesterol. Total cholesterol went up from 227 to 256 (accepted level is <200), Triglycerides went up from 330 to 805 (accepted level is <150), my good cholesterol (HDL) went down from 42 - 37 (accepted level is >40), due to the high level of my triglycerides, they can;t calculate my bad cholesterol level".


And now here is my latest result:

Total cholesterol went down from 256 to 238 (accepted level is <200), Triglycerides went down from 805 to 447 (accepted level is <150), my good cholesterol (HDL) went up from 37-42 (accepted level is >40).

Even though triglycerides has drop significantly but still can't calculate my bad cholesterol level (LDL) because it is more then 400.

I am happy it has went down. Dad was worried with my triglycerides level so high. Called him went i got my results..he was happy and i guess relive too...cause he had asked abt my cholesterol (every month sure got asked abt it).

Would like to Thank God, my family and friends and fellow friends in the blogging world....Thank you very much.

Although it has drop...but can still do better. So i have to continue looking after my diet, continue wearing Nefful products (my aunty (dad's sister) brought them for me) and drink products from Reliv

Dad always say "If u don;t take care of your health, health will take care of you".

Will check my results in 6 months time again.

Tags...:)

Hehe...Have been tagged by Kak Ruby

Here goes nothing....


1. Name one person who made you laugh last night. Characters of friends...:)

2. What were you doing at 0800? Reading second time, Lord of the Ring by Tolkien.

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Prepare letter in office.

4. What happened to you in 2006? Got my MBA.

5. What was the last thing you said out loud? Talk to my colleague..Mr So and So called...

6. How many beverages did you have today? Almond drink and RO water...:)

7. What color is your hairbrush? Don;t own one.

8. What was the last thing you paid for? My lunch...kekeke

9. Where were you last night? At home...jaga rumah.

10. What color is your front door? White.

11. Where do you keep your change? Wallet or jeans pocket.

12. What’s the weather like today? Hot

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor? Strawberry...Baskin Robbins...(so only eat it when i am in KL)

14. What excites you? Many unmentionables...hmm..shhh..ha ha

15. Do you want to cut your hair? Ya, its getting long.

16. Are you over the age of 25? Yesssss of course!

17. Do you talk a lot? Not really...more of a listener..:)

18. Do you watch the O.C.? Use to.

19. Do you know anyone named Steven? Yes, Steven Spielberg.

20. Do you make up your own words? hmm...question does not compute.

21. Are you a jealous person? I have not met anyone who is not.

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’. Adeline

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’. No friend's name starts with K.

24. Who’s the first person on your received call list? A person with initial A

25. What does the last text message you received say? Forgot already, deleted it...:)

26. Do you chew on your straw? No, I don't

27. Do you have curly hair? I sometimes have straight hair and sometimes curly hair (when it starts to get long).

28. Where’s the next place you’re going to? Home.

29. Who’s the rudest person in your life? forgot already.

30. What was the last thing you ate? Chicken rice and french fries.

31. Will you get married in the future? ya.

32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? A dvd, a hilarious, rib 'Kung Pow'.

33. Is there anyone you like right now? Yes

34. When was the last time you did the dishes? Last night.

35. Are you currently depressed? Kinda....though try not to...:)

36. Did you cry today? Nope.

37. Why did you answer and post this? Cause Kak Ruby mentioned my name..so must listen and do lo...:)

38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey. Anyone who is interested. hehe...most people may have done this tag...and if not have already tag by kak Ruby...hehe.

A world without America..

Got this from here.

Here is an interesting article. I am a firm believer that a world without America is not good for the world. Sure they got problems but when it comes to helping other countries in time of disasters, they are the top givers. Be it the government or private individual. Here is an example of individual contribution for a better world.

From Wikipedia.

The foundation was initially funded by Bill Gates with US$126 million in 2000. During the foundation's first two years, funding grew to US$2 billion. The B&MGF was endowed by Bill Gates, chairman and founder of Microsoft and his wife, Melinda Gates in January 2000, through the merger of the Gates Learning Foundation and the William H. Gates Foundation. The Gates Learning Foundation was formed out of the Gates Library Foundation, which was founded in 1996, as an outgrowth of the Microsoft Libraries Online initiative.[4] On June 15, 2006, Gates announced his plans to transition out of a day-to-day role with Microsoft, effective July 31, 2008,[5] to allow him to devote more time to working with the foundation.

Bill and Melinda Gates, along with the musician Bono, were named by TIME as Persons of the Year 2005 for their charitable work. In the case of Bill and Melinda Gates, the work referenced was that of the B&MGF. On May 4, 2006, the foundation received the Prince of Asturias award for International Cooperation.[6]


The Warren Buffett donation
On June 25, 2006, Warren Buffett (then the world's third richest person, after Gates) pledged to give the foundation approximately 10 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares (worth US$30.7 billion on June 23, 2006) spread over multiple years through annual contributions.[7] Buffett set conditions so that these contributions do not simply increase the foundation's endowment, but effectively work as a matching contribution, doubling the Foundation's annual giving: "Buffett's gift came with three conditions for the Gates foundation: Bill or Melinda Gates must be alive and active in its administration; it must continue to qualify as a charity; and each year it must give away an amount equal to the previous year's Berkshire gift, plus another 5 percent of net assets. Buffett gave the foundation two years to abide by the third requirement."[8] The Gates Foundation received 5% (500,000) of the shares in July 2006 and will receive 5% of the remaining earmarked shares in the July of each following year (475,000 in 2007, 451,250 in 2008, and so on).[9][10]


Activities
As of 2006, the foundation has an endowment of approximately US$34.6 billion. To maintain its status as a charitable foundation, it must donate at least 5% of its assets each year.[11] Thus the donations from the foundation each year would amount to over US$1.5 billion at a minimum.

The Foundation has been organized, as of April 2006, into four divisions, including core operations (public relations, finance and administration, human resources, etc.), under Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Scott, and three grant-making programs:

Global Health Program
Global Development Program
United States Program

Imagine, the money was only use for United States Program.

But the world was without America prior to World War 2. Most of the citizens then were not bother with the on going German invasions in Europe. Even when Britain came calling, the US government could not do a thing because the mood of the people and they were just recovering from the Great depression (1929-1939).

If Pearl Harbour was not attacked, and there were no provocation from Germany towards America, our present and future would have been a different world.

For me every year June the 6th, i remember the sacrifices of Americans solders, it was the day, year 1944, Invasion of Normandy took place, to take back Europe from Germany. Many young Americans (after training for 3 years), died on the beaches of Normandy...some without even opening a shot from their guns, some died on the boats, and some watch their best friends get hit or blown off. But young Americans and their allies prevailed and saved Europe. What we have today, comes from the outcome of that invasion.

No government is perfect, but it is the people that makes the country. Its the people that pay taxes so that government can use the money either domestic or for foreign aids.

So please becareful about America bashing...don;t let it be one day when the American citizens decided 'enough is enough, no more'.

July 04, 2006
A World Without America
By Peter Brookes

For all the worldwide whining and bellyaching about the United States, today - America's 230th birthday - provides an opportune time for them to consider for just a moment what the world might be like without good ol' Uncle Sam.

The picture isn't pretty. Absent U.S. leadership, diplomatic influence, military might, economic power and unprecedented generosity, life aboard planet earth would likely be pretty grim, indeed. Set aside the differences America made last century - just imagine a world where this country had vanished on Jan. 1, 2001.

On security, the United States is the global balance of power. While it's not our preference, we are the world's "cop on the beat," providing critical stability in some of the planet's toughest neighborhoods.

Without the U.S. "Globo-cop," rivals India and Pakistan might well find cause to unleash the dogs of war in South Asia - undoubtedly leading to history's first nuclear (weapons) exchange. Talk about Fourth of July fireworks . . .

In Afghanistan, al Qaeda would still be an honored guest, scheming over a global caliphate stretching from Spain to Indonesia. It wouldn't be sending fighters to Iraq; instead, Osama's gang would be fighting them tooth and nail from Saudi Arabia to "Eurabia."

In Asia, China would be the "Middle Kingdom," gobbling up democratic Taiwan and compelling pacifist Japan (reluctantly) to join the nuclear weapons club. The Koreas might fight another horrific war, resulting in millions of deaths.

A resurgent Russia, meanwhile, would be breathing down the neck of its "near abroad" neighbors. Forget the democratic revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia, Comrade! In Europe, they'd be taking orders from Paris or Berlin - if those rivals weren't at each other's throats again.

In Africa, Liberia would still be under Charles Taylor's sway, and Sudan would have no peace agreement.

And what other nation could or would provide freedom of the seas for commerce, including the shipment of oil and gas - all free of charge?

Weapons of mass destruction would be everywhere. North Korea would be brandishing a solid nuclear arsenal. Libya would not have given up its weapons, and Pakistan's prodigious proliferator, A.Q. Khan, would still be going door to door, hawking his nuclear wares.

Also missing would be other gifts from "Uncle Sugar" - starting with 22 percent of the U.N. budget. That includes half the operations of the World Food Program, which feeds over 100 million in 81 countries.

Gone would be 17 percent of UNICEF's costs to feed, vaccinate, educate and protect children in 157 countries - and 31 percent of the budget of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, which assists more than 19 million refugees across the globe.

In 2005, Washington dispensed $28 billion in foreign aid, more than double the amount of the next highest donor (Japan), contributing nearly 26 percent of all official development assistance from the large industrialized countries.

Moreover, President Bush's five-year $15 billion commitment under the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is the largest commitment by a single nation toward an international health initiative - ever - working in over 100 (mostly African) countries.

The United States is the world's economic engine. We not only have the largest economy, we spend 40 percent of the world's budget on R&D, driving mind-boggling innovation in areas like information technology, defense and medicine.

We're the world's ATM, too, providing 17 percent of the International Monetary Fund's resources for nations in fiscal crisis, and funding 13 percent of World Bank programs that dole out billions in development assistance to needy countries.

And what does Uncle Sam get in return? Mostly grief, especially from all the ungrateful freeloaders who benefit tremendously from the global "public goods" we so selflessly provide with our time, effort, blood and treasure. How easily - and conveniently - they forget . . . unless they need help, of course.

But let us never forget, especially today, that despite the name-calling, the jeers, the petty jealousies, we're the envy of the world - and rightfully so.

The fact is that no matter what anyone says: No country has given so much to so many so often - while asking for so little in return - for so little gratitude than this great country of ours. So Happy birthday, America! Stand tall and proud - you've earned it.

Peter Brookes is a columnist for The New York Post , a Heritage Foundation senior fellow and author of "A Devil's Triangle: Terrorism, WMD and Rogue States."

Player of the Year....

Tiger Woods, what can i say...:) He is the man...:)

ESPN.

Highs and lows for Woods as leading money-winner, best scoring average

Tiger Woods was named the PGA Tour's Player of the Year for the third straight time, and ninth in 11 years, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem announced Tuesday.

"To earn the respect of your peers is the highest honor you can receive," Finchem said. "These players all demonstrated remarkable skill and dedication to their craft this past season and we congratulate them on their selections."




Tiger Woods won seven events in 2007, including a two-stroke victory at the PGA Championship in Tulsa, Okla., his 13th career major title.

Woods, 31, won seven times in 2007, including the PGA Championship, his 13th major championship title, and captured the inaugural FedExCup. In addition, his season was highlighted by wins in two World Golf Championships events, and he closed by winning two of the four events in the first-ever PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and four of his final five starts overall.

"I had a great chance to win three of the four majors this year," Woods said. "I finished second in two of them. I was just a few shots away from basically doing what I did in 2000. What did I finish, second to Phil? And then the two major championships. If I get those done, get those squared away, people would probably be comparing it to 2000, if not better."



Off the course, he welcomed the birth of his first child, a daughter named Sam Alexis, now almost six months old. He left the clubs in the bag for seven weeks, and only recently returned to the range, to get ready to host the ninth annual Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., this week. Sam Woods has been accompanying him to the driving range in recent days, according to a report by Bloomberg News. "She kind of shakes every time I hit a shot," Woods said. "Like, she gets excited. This could be good."



Woods also collected the Arnold Palmer Award for the eighth time as the leading money-winner, earning $10,867,052 -- the second-highest total in Tour history. Woods took home his eighth Byron Nelson Trophy for leading the PGA Tour in scoring average; his 67.79 average equaled the lowest average in Tour history.

Phil Mickelson was the only other nominee for Player of the Year honors on the PGA Tour after he completed his season with three victories, including The Players Championship title.



Among other awards announced:


Brandt Snedeker, who won the Wyndham Championship and finished 20th on the FedExCup points list, was selected as the PGA TOUR's Rookie of the Year. He had six top-10 finishes and collected $2,836,643 -- the third-highest rookie total ever.

The PGA TOUR's Comeback Player of the Year Award went to Steve Stricker for the second consecutive season. Stricker finished second in the FedExCup race and had nine top-10 finishes, the second-highest total of his career. His victory at The Barclays, the first PGA TOUR Playoff event, ended a victory drought that dated back to the 2001 season.

Jay Haas was voted as the Player of the Year on the Champions Tour for the second consecutive season, with four victories among 18 top-10 finishes in 27 starts.

Nick Flanagan, a native of Australia, became the first international player in the 18-year history of the Nationwide Tour to earn top honors. He won three times in only 17 starts to earn an automatic promotion to the PGA TOUR. Despite playing the last several months of the season on the PGA TOUR, Flanagan still finished third on the Nationwide Tour money list with $369,951.

Warning to Ladies....

Watch out for this possibility, ladies, when going to the ladies toilet in
any shopping mall in Malaysia or any where.

Just received this latest theft technique used by robbers. It seems
feasible so take heed.
Warning for all the ladies out there; and men please inform your
significant other. (And, hey, it could happen to the guys!)

The Latest Scam: Robbing Females using the restroom/"ladies"/bathroom at
a Shopping Mall... ...

The way the scam works is, a man slips into a women's rest room and sneaks
into a unit. He waits until there is only one woman in the restroom in a
neighboring unit/stall. The criminal then stands on the toilet seat and
points a hand gun into the next unit/stall, demanding the woman's
valuables.

After getting her cash and jewellery, he demands that she > remove all
of her clothing and kick them out of the unit/stall. The thief tosses
the clothing into a shopping bag, hangs an "out of order sign" on the
restroom door outside, and slips back into the mall. The "out of order
sign" ensures no one will soon come to the woman's rescue. It usually
takes an hour or two for the woman to work up the nerve to leave the
rest room in the nude, giving the criminal ample time to make his get
away.
The woman is left naked humiliated in a mall full of strangers.

The best defense, say police, is to never go into a shopping mall
restroom alone, as only women who are by themselves are targeted. PLEASE
FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. This has so far been a nearly perfect
crime, as none of the perpetrators have been caught. Don't let this
happen to another woman.

Heavy Rain..

Heavy rain for the past two days. Everytime rain, there bound to be car accidents. I hope non of the people i know will face this problem.

In the mean time, please drive safely during the wet seasons.

Apples and Wine

Received this one from email.

Women are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the tree. Most men don;t want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they sometimes take the apples from the ground that aren;t as good, but easy. The apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they're amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who is brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

Now men... men are like a fine wine. They begin as grapes, and it's up to women to stomp the shit out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.

Share this with all the good apples you know....:)

De Beer...

Not sure if you have read this before. Just received it today.

Subject: de beer


Beer contains female hormones
Last month, National University of Lesotho scientists released the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer. Men should take a concerned look at their beer consumption. The theory is that beer contains female hormones (hops contain phytoestrogens) and that by drinking enough beer, men turn into women.

To test the theory, 100 men drank 8 pints of beer each within a 1 hour period. It was then observed that 100% of the test subjects:


1) Argued over nothing.
2) Refused to apologize when obviously wrong.
3) Gained weight.
4) Talked excessively without making sense.
5) Became overly emotional.
6) Couldn't drive.
7) Failed to think rationally.
8) Had to sit down while urinating.


No further testing was considered necessary.


Send this to the men you know to warn them about drinking too much beer!
And send it to your women friends to give them a good laugh! If you think they can handle it.

SMS..:)

Here is another gem...:)

HELLO!

Today, be sure to:

SMILE- It makes u look better.

PRAY- it keeps u stronger.

GIVE- It makes u richer and ....:)

LOVE- it makes u happier..:)

Blood test...

So hungry, have not eaten since yesterday evening. Time now is 10am. Supposed to take blood test around 9am, but my Dr was busy...so have to wait.

Last test was taken in July...

Its due time. Hopefully this time around will have some good results.

Jokes...

Received this from KL aunty...:)

3 nuns watching hockey game.

3 men seated directly behind were
unhappy bcoz their habits were blocking the men's view.

They started to badger the nuns.

1st man: 'I want 2 move to Penang where there are only 50 nuns'.

2nd man: 'I'll go to Ipoh, only 25 nuns.'

3rd man: 'I go Kuantan only 10.'

One nun turned around n said, "Why don;t u all go to HELL, there are no nuns there."

SMS...

Received this sms from an aunty in KL. Would like to share it with you all..:)

TIME alone can prove the worth
of true friends....

As time goes by....we meet
many people but we keep
the best...:)

Just a sweet Hello to One
of the Best...Good morning..

Good day ahead!

So young....

It seems the dreaded C attacks people of all ages. Really hope this young girl will pull through and when she does, i am sure she will be an inspiration to many. May the good Lord look after her.

From CNNSI.

Artest's daughter has kidney cancer

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- The youngest daughter of Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest is undergoing treatment for kidney cancer, the player told The Sacramento Bee.

Artest, a former Indiana Pacer, says doctors have told him they have a 90 percent chance of curing his 4-year-old daughter, Diamond.

Doctors normally would remove the cancerous kidney. But Diamond was born with just one kidney, so she will have to undergo chemotherapy to shrink the tumor before doctors decide whether to remove it surgically.

The girl lives with Artest's wife, Kimsha, in Indiana, and is receiving treatment there. Doctors discovered the cancer after Diamond complained of stomach pains.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

A sad lost of life....

There is always two side of a story. Never listen/judge to just one side, take time to listen to the other side of the story too. I bet this girl's mom learn it the hard way. For those of you who have children...be a friend to them so that they will share their problems with you and teach them the pros and cons about the internet and chattings.

From CNN..

Prosecutor won't bring charges in MySpace suicide

(CNN) -- A Missouri prosecutor said Monday no charges would be sought in the case of a teen who hanged herself last year after chatting on MySpace, although he said adults should have prevented the tragedy.

Megan Meier, 13, killed herself after receiving a critical message on the MySpace social networking site from someone she thought was a boy named "Josh."

St. Charles County, Missouri, Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas said an 18-year-old woman posed as "Josh" on MySpace to find out what Megan was saying about a neighbor's daughter.

The message said Megan was "mean" to her friends, Banas said.
"There is no way that anybody could know that talking to someone or saying that you're mean to your friends on the Internet would create a substantial risk," Banas said. "It certainly created a potential risk and, unfortunately for the Meiers, that potential became reality. But under the law we just couldn't show that."

But Banas said that conclusion doesn't mean no one is to blame. "Regardless of what we can charge or what we can't charge, there is no question the adults should have said something to stop this," he said.
Asked whether he is satisfied with laws pertaining to the case, Banas said, "The bottom line is there are some -- I think -- loopholes that I think need to be cleaned up."

The prosecutor said his inability to file charges does not mean those involved in the suicide will go unpunished.

"The loss of a life of a person that they once talked to as a friend, I'm sure, is just twisting them all up inside," Banas said.

Over several weeks, many of the exchanges on MySpace concerned innocuous topics such as what sports they liked, Banas said.

But on October 15, 2006, "another teenage young lady" was given the password to the "Josh" account, Banas said. She reportedly sent Megan a message saying she had heard the girl was "mean to your friends" and adding, "I don't know if I want to be your friend anymore."

Banas said that Megan responded, "Who's saying this? Who's saying I'm mean?"

The next day, the 18-year-old woman -- who was working for a neighbor of Megan's -- used the account to send messages to Megan. Megan asked "Josh" why the messages were nice a day after they were unkind, Banas said.

The 18-year-old woman then reviewed the history of the earlier messages, including Megan's request about who had accused her of not being nice to her friends, he said.

The woman then "fired a statement back to Megan saying, 'I'm not going to tell you who told me that, I don't do that, I don't tell on my friends,' " Banas said.

Megan responded with a message expressing anger and calling "Josh" "a few names," according to Banas.

"Josh" then sent a statement that included something to the effect of "this world would be a better place without you," Banas said. Accounts differ as to who was with the 18-year-old during the typing of the messages, he said.

When Megan's mother returned home, she found her daughter crying at the computer. After reading the messages, she criticized her daughter for using inappropriate language, Banas said.

Telling her mom that "I can't believe you're not on my side," Megan ran upstairs and hanged herself, Banas said.

Missouri's harassment statute says nothing about the Internet, and the stalking statute requires repeated conversations, so neither would apply in this case, Banas said.

The purpose of the neighbor who arranged for the "Josh" character "was never to cause her emotional harassment that we can prove," Banas said. Any case would be based on "what we can prove and what a jury would believe."

My sincere apologies.....

As most of you know, i like to read and blog hop around...:)

But lately do not know why, there is some blogs i can;t leave comments on....so i hope you all do not think i stop visiting ur blogs.

Blogs that have comment box 'pop' up...are the ones lately i can;t comment on.
Everything is there except the 'publish' section. I think there is some bug with my lap top. Will try to ask around for advice on fixing the bug.

Blogs i can;t comment on are; Asiana, Bee, Cat Cat, Florence, JT, Ms Envy and Sting.

Hopefully this problem will be fix soon. In the mean time, please do not think i have stop visiting ur blogs. Keep well now.

Stupid buggers....

Today i heard the sad news that my fellow friend and blogger Ladybird's house got robbed last week. Thank God she was not at home when it happened.

She was so geared up in going out with her friends over the weekend. But some buggers spoiled it for her by robbing her house on Thursday. Came through the roof.

Please read her experience on her blog.

This buggers if they are ever caught, may they rot in jail. And if they are lucky enough to live to a good old age, i hope the big guy up there will exact vengence on them...cause its written in the bible ..."Vengence is mine"

Barclay Newman and Eugene Nida, in their excellent Translator's Handbook on Paul's Letter to the Romans (New York: United Bible Societies, 1973, page 242), write regarding Rom 12:19:
Got this from here.

The scripture quotation in this passage comes from Deuteronomy 32:35... In translating "I will take revenge" [KJV: "vengeance is mine"] it is important to indicate that God takes revenge for what others have done, but not necessarily to himself. In other words, God is not being vengeful in the sense that he retaliates for what people do to him. Rather, he exercises judgment upon those who harm others. Therefore, one may translate "I will take revenge on the evil that has been done" or "I will take revenge on those who have done evil." In some languages the closest equivalent may be "to pay back" -- for example, "I will pay them back for how they have caused others to suffer." In other languages one may translate as "I will cause them to suffer in return."

This buggers do things...they do not think of the hurt that people experience. Imagine if it is their own family who suffer the same fate...how do they feel? Unless they are cold blooded SOB's then i have nothing to say.

In the mean time, to all of you, please becareful and on the look out for any suspected characters in your housing area....even if they are smartly dress...one will never know.

Ladybird, i hope you will pull through from these experience and become stronger....don;t let those buggers win.

Congrats to Penny....

From Star.

She also got a web site. http://www.pennywong.com.au/.

Malaysian-born Penny now Aussie minister
By MUGUNTAN VANAR

KOTA KINABALU: The father of Malaysian-born Penny Wong Ying Yen who has been appointed as a Cabinet minister in Australia is thrilled with his daughter’s political success.
“I am very happy. I hope her appointment will be a blessing for Australia,” said Francis Wong Yit Shing, 66, an architect here.

The 39-year-old Penny, who was born in Sabah but grew up in Australia from the age of eight with her mother, was yesterday named Climate Change and Water Minister by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd whose Labor party won the recent elections.

Penny Wong Yin YengFrancis, who described his daughter as a go-getter, said that the portfolio given to his daughter was very “current and important” not only for Australians but for everyone concerned about global warming and climate change.
“I know she is a very responsible person and she will work hard to achieve her objectives,” said Francis, who keeps in touch with his daughter through SMS.
He said he never expected her to become a politician.

“I wanted her to be a doctor and she enrolled for it. A year later she switched to law after going on a student exchange programme to Brazil where she saw the need to help people,” said Francis.

Proud as punch: Francis and Penny keep in touch via SMS and mostly talk about family matters.On completing her studies, she became involved in unions and industrial court cases in Australia.

Penny became the first Asian-born woman Senator when she won a seat in South Australia in 2002.

Last week’s Australian elections saw her winning a second term with her party toppling John Howard’s government.

Asked if he had ever given his daughter any political advice, Francis said the politics that he knew about was only that of South-East Asia.
“We mostly talk family matters.”
Francis said Penny and her mother left Sabah for Australia in 1977 for Penny’s education while he remained in the state.

Over time, he and his wife separated and Penny took up Australian citizenship.

Junior Golfers...

For the past few days i was busy helping out at my golf club's 3rd Junior Golf competition. For the past 2 years, the competition was only open to local players. This year the organizers decided to open for players from outside my city. Competition was divided into 3 groups. Group D - Age 7-9. Group C - age 10-12, Group B-age 12-14. Group A - age 15-18. The group D one is so cute, small sizes but playing with semangat.

Main aim for the competition is to foster good friendship among the junior players, good networking for the future and the discipline in playing the 'gentlement's game'. How i wish i was young to be like them...:)

Initially, they thought the cut off point will be 80 players. But after registeration was stop, calls kept on coming in. Register for the competition was 91. During the competition, 89 turn up. 45 players is from my club, and the rest was made up of junior golfers from Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Labuan, Brunei, KK, Sandakan and Kudat.

The best thing is, no need to pay entrance/competition fees. First day of competition was on Wednesday, after their games, each player had a goodie bag. Which made up off, 1 x shoe bag, 1x towel, 1x tube of golf balls, 1 competition t-shirt and 1 cap. Value of all the things was about RM160.

During the welcoming dinner, also got lucky draws. (Will post up the photos once i loaded it up ). One lucky kid who did not play well during the first day, won the big prize for the nite, a golf bag...junior size bag.

Final day of competition was on Thursday, during the prize giving, there were 75 prizes for the lucky draw (89 players). Major prize was a mountain bike (which was supposed to meant for hole - in - one). 50 of the lucky draw gifts is a golf marker plus pitch thingy with the US Open 2008, San Diego Torrey Pines logo.

The patron of the competition was in US this year for the junior world competition in San Diego, he bought 50 of the 'souvenirs' to be given away as lucky draw for this competition. With the aim of hoping one junior golfer will make it there in the US.

During the prize giving, every body got something to bring back. Some won two lucky draws (welcoming dinner and prize giving time). Those whose name was not called, also got umbrellas to bring back. No junior golfer went back empty handed.

And to top it off, the big guy up there has been very kind, on Monday and Tuesday...heavy rain. But on Wednesday...no rain at all ...on Thursday...only a bit of rain and cloudy. Before the competition, the weather was the main worry for the organizers.

A lot of parents and players commented that it was the best competition they
ever attended. Even got video shooting, at the golf course, welcoming dinner and prize presentation time. No entrance fee and yet good goodie bag and lucky draw gifts.
How did all these came about?

A lot of members in my club fully supports the patron's and club vision for the junior golf programe. Any time the club ask for sponsors, they gladly give. Either their own children are playing, grand children are playing or friend's children who play the game. They gladly give back to the junior programe. Some even pick the players and parents from the airport to hotel, from hotel to club.

Any way, it was great seeing the kids playing the game. Oh ya, my brother won group B's nett competition. His handicap was 20, final day he played 82, so 82-20 = 62. He play under for his handicap. Will see a new handicap for him by next monday. Hopefully with this win, will spur his motivation to improve himself. Who knows may be next year he will get to go to World Junior Competition in the US.

Congratulations to Wong Mew Choo

Congratulations for being the first Malaysian Women player to win the China Open. She has done Malaysia and her self proud by doing so. Keep it up...stay fit and focus. 2008 is an important year. By beating the Chinese players, she will have the confidence to do it again.

From the Star.

Mew Choo claims historic win for Malaysia in China Open

By RAJES PAUL

PETALING JAYA: Wong Mew Choo pulled off the greatest achievement for Malaysian women's badminton by claiming one of the most difficult titles on the international circuit, the China Open, in Guangzhou yesterday.

And the 24-year-old Mew Choo chalked up the historic win in superb style – beating world number one and two-time world champion Xie Xingfang of China 21-16, 8-21, 21-17 in a 62-minute final that saw the Malaysian staging a spectacular comback to win the rubber game.

It was Mew Choo's first-ever Open title since she made her debut on the international senior stage five years ago.

She now holds the honour of being the first Malaysian women and only the second non-China player to win a women's singles title on Chinese territory since the country first staged their Open tournament in 1986.


Wong Mew Choo made it into the Malaysian badminton annals by winning her first major international title in grand style at the China Open in Guangzhou yesterday. En route to the singles title she packed off the top Chinese women shuttlers.
The only other player who has beaten the seemingly invincible Chinese at their home ground was South Korean Bang Soo-hyun, who pulled off the feat in 1994 before going on to claim the Olympic gold medal in Atlanta two years later.

In fact, Mew Choo is now the first Malaysian woman in three decades to nail a major title for the country. And for the world number eight, it all seemed like a dream.

“I just cannot believe it. I have never ever won an Open title before and I have ended the drought in China. This is incredible ... I am so happy right now,” said Mew Choo in a telephone interview from Guangzhou yesterday.

“The hopes are usually on the men to win titles for the country but I am glad that I have done it for the women.”

En route to the title, Mew Choo eliminated four China players and China-born Pi Hongyan, who now plays for France.

Mew Choo knocked out reigning world champion Zhu Lin in the quarter-finals and upstaged 2004 Athens Olympic champion Zhang Ning in the semi-finals.

“I came here with a target to reach the quarter-finals. I knew I had a fighting chance against Hongyan (the world number five). But beating Zhu Lin for the first time gave me confidence,” she said.

“Then, I defeated Zhang Ning for the first time after losing seven times to her. I kept asking myself, is it all really happening?

“After reaching the final, I was bent on winning the title. I have beaten Xingfang once (at the World Championships) but many thought that I was lucky to win it. Today, I proved that the win was no fluke. She had the crowd behind her but I never gave up even though I lost terribly in the second game.”

Mew Choo put up a solid show to win the first game but a fired up Xingfang rebounded with a 21-8 win in the next game.

Xingfang appear to be cruising to victory when she surged ahead to 8-3 in the decider but Mew Choo clawed back to claim the crown.

With the win, Mew Choo is now assured of a place in the eight-player Super Series Finals. She was lying in ninth spot in the rankings going into the China Open.

Mew Choo said that the win had also boosted her challenge in the Beijing Olympics next August.

“I do not have to worry about making the cut for the Olympics if I continue playing like this. In fact, this win has given me a lot of confidence. Now, I know that I can challenge for an Olympic medal.

“However, I do not want to be overly excited. I will be competing in the Hong Kong Open next week and I hope to reach the last eight.”

Said national coach Wong Tat Meng of Mew Choo's success: “What more I can say? Mew Choo has made us all very proud today. She has given a new image to Malaysian women's badminton.”