The Ultimate 08 Olympic!

The biggest sporting events finally come to an end in Beijing, with the next station, London, lining up anxiously to welcome the event to their soil in 4 years time.

This edition of Olympics means a lot not just to the Chinese, but also all the ethnic Chinese all around the world. I just can't helped but feel touched when I watch the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Especially so after overcoming obstacles like natural disaster. Witnessing all the countries walking out one by one, I can feel humanity is at the peak, and peace is near, with countries like Palestine, North Korea and Taiwan participating. Unfortunately, that is just an impression, as arms attack exchanged between Georgia and Russia.

But nonetheless, Olympic is one event that still can hold the world together, as the leaders of Russia and Georgia proved. The opening ceremony was a great spectacle! Although there are some events that actually reduce the feel good factor of the opening ceremony, for example the child singer for opening ceremony which turn out to just mouthed along while another child sing, and the used of pre-recorded fire works show, these events should not overshadow the good work done by Beijing. The Opening Ceremony was indeed a great show, direct by a great Director Zhang Yimou.

Besides Beijing's great show as host, the athletes and sportsman shown great sportsmanship. For example the Georgian boxer Revazi Mindorashvili who beat the Russian gold medal favourite Georgy Ketoev in a sporting event, not in the war field. There are also many inspiring performance like world record breakers, to name a few Michael Phelps and and the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt.

Some of these sportsman who actually inspired me include Phelps, Bolt, Zhang Ning, Guo Jingjing, Rafael Nadal, and not to forget is our own Lee Chong Wei who won't the country's 1st medal in 12 years.

All in all, this edition of Olympic is another great success, and the world is proud of you all in China! China, and Beijing particularly showed the world that they can be a great host to such a huge event, and also their mettle in terms of sports by topping the medal tally! We will now have to wait another 4 years to witness again the World greatest sporting event! May the spirit of Olympic be instill in all the leaders in the world!

Agenda Daily Debate: 1-1

After watching, at one go both the Agenda Daily debates, the scoreline for both side is: 1-1. I believe many would have guess right which debater I go for: yes, it's DSAI and TSKTK.

For the 1st debate, DSAI provided concrete solutions to reduce fuel price. As for his opponent, at times I'm really mad! He just don't seem to understand DSAI idea, or maybe refused to understand. And when he keep on attacking DSAI personal track record, make comparison with country in crisis, and thought that DSAI is going to ask for more money from Petronas, everyone looking at the programme should know that he lost the plot.

DSAI idea is simple. Yes, the market price is increasing, but because Malaysia is a nett exporter of oil, Petronas profit from the high market price, as proven by the sterling profit announced by Petronas not so long ago. Petronas immediately distribute a large sum of money to the federal government. DSAI's idea is to use part of this sum on subsidy, therefore the petrol price do not have to rise as much as 78 sen so suddenly. But he is not saying all the money should be spent on subsidy, or the government should ask for more money from Petronas.

The effect of the 78 sen increase is for all Malaysian to see. Inflation rise to 8.5% in July. Even if now the petrol price decrease, other items that already increase their price will not come down.

As for the 2nd debate, TSKTK had take this chance to clear his name, his image and I'm impressed with his performance. Although at times he is confrontational, and use some personal attack, he made his point clear, and I see it as a victory to him. As for LGE, i'm slightly disappointed with his debate, and keep on asking the same questions that TSKTK had replied.

In this debate, TSKTK clears his name by explaining the whole process of the RM40 million land scam. And the measures he took to overcome this mistakes which happened 40 years ago. He explained that he referred the case to the ACA twice and the ACA did not find any wrong doing in the officials involved. So he issued a warning to the officials. At this point, LGE keep on asking why officials who committed this RM40 millions mistakes are let off with just a warning.

And I want to explain to LGE is that: anyone who is not proven guilty is considered innocent. So the most TSKTK can do is to issue a warning, and also transfer the officials involve out of the department (which LGE did after taking over the government). TSKTK has the prerogative to keep any officials in any department when he is the Chief Minister, as the officials are not proven guilty.

Another point made by LGE, which I consider funny and pointless is to ask TSKTK to exposed all the land scam cases. TSKTK reply proved his mettle as a senior politician. He said if he knew of such cases, he would have acted on it.

I believe that the replies made by TSKTK during this debate is enough to silence LGE. LGE lacked points, or rather, TSKTK replied systematically, and clear the issues brought up by LGE. One point made by TSKTK at the beginning of the show which said that LGE still acts like a opposition, I totally agree at the end of debate. Perhaps, the government of the day can no longer just brought out problems and expect others to solved for them. LGE and the government have to solved it themselves.

TSKTK still has the touch and elegance of a leader, not surprising so, being the CM for 18 years. And with LGE, there is no surprise also, with his years as opposition, and only 5-month tenure as CM in his beg, still acts like an opposition.

Costa Rica: The country of Pure Ecotourism

Costa Rica is the most visited nation in the Central American region, with 1.9 million foreign visitors in 2007. Ecotourism is extremely popular with the many tourists visiting the extensive national parks and protected areas around the country. Costa Rica is the pioneer of ecotourism, and the country is recognized as one of the few with real ecotourism.

Costa Rica is home to a rich variety of plants and animals. While the country has only about 0.1% of the world's landmass, it contains 5% of the world's biodiversity. Around 25% of the country's land area is in protected national parks and protected areas, the largest percentual of protected areas in the world.

One national park that is internationally-renowned among ecologists for its biodiversity (including big cats and tapirs) and where visitors can expect to see an abundance of wildlife is the Corcovado National Park.

In order to know more about Costa Rica, one of the best way is to get to know the people. By visiting the Costa Rica forum and Costa Rica blog, we can actually get to know the people in Costa Rica, communicate with them and get to know their cultures and traditions. Besides, if you ever need more information on the country, Costa Rica directories can help you get any information from hotels to anything needed to travel to the country. Now that is what we call All-In-One!

Help teach the public to fill petrol tank?

I was amused when I read about a newspaper article with this same title. My first impression was, "wow, not bad! The government is teaching us method to fill petrol tank that can help us maximize our value of money". But after I read into the details, I found that is not the case at all! Maybe the recent petrol price increase has been over my mind all these while, that any news coming out from that industry, I will hope is to lessen the petrol burden of the people.

The news turn out to be that the petrol kiosk operators in Batu Pahat are asking the government to educate vehicle owner on the self service petrol filling system. Huh? Self service system not implemented 10 years ago meh? How come until today, the kiosk operator are still facing this problem? Have they forget all about the "Angkat, Tolak, Masuk and Picit"?

I'm aware that some of the petrol kiosk are not implementing the self service system because it eats up a lot of time. For one to walks over to counter, and then walks back to the car to pump petrol is a troublesome thing. And for those waiting in the line, they will feel "can't they just move faster?". So for this reason, some petrol kiosk still prefer to have an attendant, so that more customers can be attended more swiftly.

But now, these petrol kiosk are asking for education of the people from the government? I thought the government did their part. I've been pumping petrols with the self service system for the past 10 years, so how come it's again up to the government to do the education this time around?

And by the way, pumping petrol does not really require great skill. Just "Angkat, Tolak, Masuk and Picit", and done!

Recycle a phone, adopt a tree?

Nokia is doing his its bit to save mother nature! Recently, they come out with this meaningful program titled "Recycle a phone, adopt a tree", where Nokia users are urged to recycle their old phone in order to shield the environment from harmful substances! This offer a solutions to users where they don't really know what to do with their old phone besides keeping it, just as people do not know what to do with their old furniture. While this old phone problem is solved, I still can't figure out how to handle old furniture ;)


To recycle a phone, first you will have to find a Nokia Kiosk. According to the site, they are only available at The Curve, The Gardens and KTS Cellular. I certainly hope there will be more of these Kiosk around Malaysia! Then there are 5 simple steps to follow:
Step 1: Select "Recycling" on the screen.
Step 2: Slot in your MyKad or input your personal details.
Step 3: Collect the printed Barcode sticker and apply it onto your phone or accessory.
Step 4: Place your item with barcode sticker into the Recycling slot.
Step 5: Collect the receipt and have a great day!

Besides, Nokia also involve in a joint-venture with WWF and Equinox Publishing to replant trees in the Sebangau National Forest in Central Kalimantan, and you can adopt one as well! This innovative replanting project provides a novel way for anyone to participate by tagging selected trees with their names and monitoring its growth through geotags, that are trees labelled with precise map co-ordinates, by Google Earth. Check out Nokia's site at

http://www.nokia.com.my/nokiakiosk

So let us do our part! Save mother nature!