The Alaskan sea monster sighted

Are you skeptical that sea monsters, such as Loch Ness of Scotland, still lurk in the oceans? They say cameras don't lie, video camcorders included, of course. One or rather a school of them sea monsters were spotted at Bristol Bay as posted by TIME.com last month.

TIME.com: It has a horse-like head at the end of a long neck, with big eyes and humps on its back. It undulates above the surface for just a moment before diving back underwater -- leaving even the most seasoned sailors scratching their heads.

It sounds like any of the thousands of sea serpent stories, from Scotland's Loch Ness Monster to Lake Champlain's Champ. But this time there's video.

Seeing is believing..



More at TIME.com

Summer Solstice Celebration at Stonehenge

For those of us living in the tropics, season changes and season solstices do not hold much or any significance because we get the same weather conditions all-year-round. Flowers bloom throughout the year, the sun shines almost everyday and rain comes and goes as and when.

Winter solstice, however, is celebrated by the Chinese community. This is not a religious celebration but one that is celebrated as part of the Chinese custom. It is celebrated either on 21 or 22 December every year.

Summer solstice has just passed us by. Do you remember what you did on June 21? Summer solstice that falls on this date is the longest day of the year and the sun is at its highest point in the sky in the northern hemisphere. I remember it was a cloudy day and I was trying to spot the other sun but no such luck.

Summer solstice is celebrated with much pomp and splendour at Stonehenge in Wiltshire county north of Salisbury, England. Usually roped off, the prehistoric monument site is opened to visitors for the summer-solstice celebrations where druids, revelers and tourists gather at the ancient stone circle.

Stonehenge and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986. The site is believed to be built between 3000 B.C. and 1600 B.C. Archaeological evidence indicates that Stonehenge served as a burial ground from its earliest beginnings according to Wikipedia.

For this year's Summer solstice 2011, more than 18,000 people gathered for the celebrations in southern England.

Have you been to Stonehenge? What's it like to be there?

Here's a map of Wiltshire showing the location of Stonehenge - Wikipedia.

More pictures of Summer Solstice at Stonehenge from TIME magazine..

Is it or Is it Not Anwar Ibrahim?

Showing pornographic material in public is an offence here in Malaysia. Yesterday, Datuk T(rio) were fined in court for playing a sex video clip of the man alleged to be Opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, to a gathering of reporters at a hotel in March.

According to The Star, Businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and former Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuaib Lazim were fined RM3,000 in default three months jail and RM1,500 in default two months jail respectively, for openly displaying an obscene film at Carcosa Seri Negara on March 21 this year.

Former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, who was charged with abetting them, was fined RM1,000 in default one month jail.
- Source: Sex video case: Datuk T trio fined for showing obscene film (Updated)

Some 100 people gathered outside the court complex in Jalan Duta from as early as 8am to show their support for the Datuk T trio. Earlier, the supporters collected donations from among themselves to help pay for the men’s fines totalling RM5,500.

The plot thickens..

Based on the statement of facts which were presented in a magistrate's court yesterday, US experts from Dartmouth College were quoted as saying that the video was authentic and that the man in the video was 99.99% likely to be Anwar.

In the statement of facts, it was also revealed that Shuaib (one-third of Datuk T), who had surrendered himself to the police on May 25, had given a statement to authorities, saying that the recording of the sex video was taken from an apartment in Ampang here.

It was also stated that the police had gotten CCTV recordings from the apartment showing Anwar with Shazryl Eskay at its lobby on Feb 21.

The sex video was also played in court.
- Source: ‘Man in sex video most likely Anwar’

At the same time, a PKR leader has produced a 40-minute video clip to debunk the claim that Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the man in the sex video.

Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul, who narrated the clip which featured scenes from the sex video, gave his views on the “faults” found in the video.

Johari’s video made a zoom-in comparison between Anwar’s physique and that of the man in the video.

Besides noting the bulging belly, chest and nose, Johari also pointed out a difference in their haircut.

“The perpetrators behind the sex clip claim that it was recorded on Feb 21 in which the man was seen as having extremely short hair.

“Anwar, who attended a court hearing on Feb 22 was photographed by the media with a full head of hair,” Johari said at the screening of his video to the press at PKR headquarters yesterday.

Johari was among the first PKR leaders known to have viewed the full-length sex video clip on March 21 at a hotel in Ampang following an invitation from Datuk Shuaib Lazim, the former Perkasa treasurer-general who is also a part of the trio known as Datuk T.

To further prove that “the person in the video could be anyone”, Johari also included scenes where he travelled to Thailand for a facial makeover service.

He demonstrated how a four-hour transformation could make him look like the late P. Ramlee.
- Source: Johari rebuts claims with video clip

The 40-minute video was shown to reporters during a press conference at the PKR headquarters Friday. It will be uploaded to YouTube according to Johari and the plan is to have copies of the video to be on sale to the public. I bet it will be a sellout..

Two suns in the sky

The skies hold much fascination and mystery beyond our comprehension. One morning last month, I was surprised to look up at the orangy morning sky to find what looked like a huge round moon very near to the rising sun. If you use your hands to measure the distance, it would be about two feet apart. Was that possible, I was wondering. Did the moon forget to retire for the night or did she stay back to enjoy a morning cuppa with the sun. Of course there is a logical explanation. Round about that time, I read that a star (forgot its name) was coming close to Earth and that it could be seen in our skies. There, that explains it. Then as the sun became brighter, the 'moon' was nowhere to be found. Interesting..

And now, we hear that we are in the midst of being able to see two suns! How bizarre! Here's a video of two suns being spotted in China..



There is an email circulating right now about two suns on June 21.

The email says,

21st June - the Whole World is waiting for.............

Star Aderoid will be the brightest in the sky, starting 10 June. It will look as large as the sun from naked eye. This will culminate on 21st June when the star comes within 34.65M miles of the earth. Be sure to watch the sky on June 21 at 12:30 pm. (S'pore: 3pm) It will look like the earth has 2 suns.!!

The next time Aderoid may come this close is in 2287.


This should be a sight to behold.

A Second Video Clip of the Sex Video of 'Anwar Ibrahim'

After the first video clip of the sex video, I thought that would be the end of it as the case is still under investigation by the authorities.

A second video clip turned up on You Tube. I didn't get to see it this time because it has been taken down due the pornograhic nature of the clip which is in violation of You Tube's regulations. A few blogs had it posted before it was removed. I read on a blog that the man's 'family jewels' were exposed.

Meanwhile, some scenes from the latest clip made it as a poster as stacks of them were left at a bus stop in Jalan Genting Klang and was found around 11:30am on Tuesday. The posters came with captions in Bahasa Malaysia.

Fake eggs is a myth

Since news of alleged fake eggs in Penang first surfaced, there has been a lot of attention and concern, and rightfully so as eggs make up a big part of our food source.

Many readers here are still following the saga of the fake eggs and I am happy to report that we are finally having a closure to the topic, and a favorable closure too, I might add.

Results of the final test carried out by the Veterinary Services Department confirm that the alleged fake eggs found in the Pulau Tikus wet market in Penang last week were merely deformed and “out of shape” - and were not meant for sale.

In a news article yesterday, Health Minister, Datuk Seri LiowTiong Lai, said the first tests found the protein content, yolk and shell’s calcium were no different from normal eggs concluding that they are the real thing.

The Minister urged the public not to panic, saying that Malaysia does not import eggs but export them.

It may soon be mandatory for egg farms to stamp the grade, the farm code and a best-by date on chicken eggs as a quality standard measure to ensure the safety of eggs for public consumption.

There you have it. Eggs in Malaysia are the real thing so egg away to your heart's content!


Sources: The Star..
Seized 'fake' eggs were deformed or rejected ones
Fake egg myth cracked

Fake eggs sold in China for the last 10 years!

More on fake eggs. Read on..

Would you believe it? Fake eggs have been sold in China for the last 10 years? What does that tell you? It just says that if you have been to China from as far back, you could have tasted fake eggs - in your soups, puddings, desserts, omelettes, etc. And you survived!! Alright, don't want to freak you out or anything.

Remember I wrote that there are instructions out there to teach one how to make fake eggs? Indeed there are.

A short insight into the making is as follows:

No great equipment is needed, just a small mould, just a few dollars to purchase.

Next add some sodium alginate which was been soaked in water, stir until it is clear and resembles an egg white. The next step is to add some pale yellow food colouring to resemble an egg yolk. Pour the liquid into the ball shaped container. Place the container into water containing calcium chloride. Wait one minute and a layer of yellow solidifies, forming the “yolk.”

The final step is to put the “yolk” into the previously made “white” then pour into a pre-made calcium carbonate egg shell and seal it.

A complete “egg” made of chemical raw ingredients has been produced in less than 5 minutes. This simple process can be quickly mastered and with 10 moulds, 300 eggs can be produced in one hour!

Making money is why anyone would want to mess with a chicken egg.

The cost of these “eggs” works out approximately 0.55 yuan per kilogram; while genuine eggs cost around 6.5 yuan per kilogram.

The fake eggs can be identified by a few means: the shell feels rougher, both end sof the shells have perforation marks, when shaken a strange noise can be heard and also when broken the yolk will mix with the white. This is because the yolk and white are made from the same raw materials. Also when frying the fake eggs, the yolk will automatically scatter without being stirred.

A supermarket in Huanggang at Shenzhen has resorted to setting up special equipment in order to help consumers test the quality of eggs.

The above is borrowed from kanzhongguo.com. Check out the link. There is more info on fake eggs in China where the above came from. It also has a link to an article on how fake eggs were first discovered at Xiamen.

On the local front, The Sun reported that tests conducted by CAP, i.e., the Consumers Association of Penang, found the fake egg shells to have been made of paraffin wax, gypsum powder and calcium carbonate, while the yolk and egg white, made using natrium alginate, alum, gelatine, benzoic acid, calcium chloride, water and food colouring.

Legal action will be taken against anyone found to have sold fake eggs, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. If convicted for the offence, the seller faces a jail term of up to five years or a fine, or both under the Act.

The Health Minister added that anyone with information on the matter should lodge a complaint with the ministry's Food Safety and Quality Division, State Health Department, District Health Office or the website http://fsq.moh.gov.my.

Who knows what kind of illness or even genetic problems may result from this type of product.


Image source: KanZhongGuo.com

'Anwar Ibrahim' video clip

Latest Update Jan 9, 2012 - High Court verdict: Anwar not guilty

Everyone must still be wondering whether the man in the video is indeed Opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim. A video clip of just a minute and 47 seconds from the 22-minute full video (black-and-white video has no audio) was seen on You Tube but has since been taken down due to ‘violation of rules’.

Well, what do you think?

For full article, check out NST..Sex clip seen on YouTube

Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference at her home in Segambut Dalam, PKR president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (wife of Anwar) said she had watched the short video clip posted on Youtube on Monday with her family. She insisted that the man in the sex video is not her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“It is not him. It is clear that the body and physique of the actor' in the video is extremely different from that of Anwar.

Full article..The Star..Wan Azizah: Man in video is not Anwar

Related articles:
A Second Video Clip of the Sex Video of 'Anwar Ibrahim'
Is it or Is it Not Anwar Ibrahim?

Slow Dance and The Mayan Calendars made simple

I was watching a documentary the other night about the Mayan calendar prediction most of us are familiar with. It says the world will come to an end on Dec 21, 2012.

There would be earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis of such proportions that together they would wipe out life on Earth. I believe there is always that possibility. A meteor could even hit Earth and break it into smithereens. In fact, one did hit Earth billions of years ago destroying 97% of life on Earth. What survived were just wriggly worms at the bottom of the ocean. Scientists have discovered that the universe is infinite and in this infinite universe, everything is possible, including the obliteration of the human race lest we think we are a superior being. We are mere travellers in time and a small speck in the spectrum of things.

Given our vulnerability and the impermanence of everything around us, including ourselves, it only makes sense to really live life as best as it could be lived. Take life a little easy perhaps and stop to smell the roses, so to speak.

Someone sent me a chain email of a poem purportedly written by a terminally-ill girl and recipients have been requested to forward it in the hope that enough email addresses could secure treatment funds from a certain cancer society. Like all chain emails or letters, this one has been busted as a hoax by Snopes, the hoax-buster. But if we look beyond the hoax bit, the poem (written by David L. Weatherford, an adult male child psychologist), is worth paying attention to though. The poem is one from his poem collection. It's titled

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast.
Time is shor, the music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask How are you?, do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores running through your head?

You'd better slow down, don't dance so fast.
Time is short, the music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time to call and say,'Hi'

You'd better slow down, don't dance so fast.
Time is short, the music won't last..

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift.... thrown away.

Life is not a race, do take it slower
Hear the music before the song is over.

Back to the Mayan calendar.. Here is a set of two videos about Mayan calendars. This is a collaborative work of two experts in this field who have spent decades researching the subject as well as visiting the Mayan lands seeking truths and clarifications. Each video is an hour and thirty minutes long but they both are worth watching. Not only will you learn about the different Mayan calendars, you will also get an insight into the Evolution of Consciousness, a mind state that results in the creation of events throughout time. Insightful.

Truth about Coca-Cola and Pork

Alright, moment of truth..

Remember the video on what happens when Coca-Cola is poured onto a raw piece of pork and worms come squirming out of the meat? Convincing little show, wasn't it? How many of you believed that?

I didn't believe that and didn't watch that video (sure don't want that scene to be imprinted in my permanent memory) and continue to enjoy pork.

I personally know people who saw that video and have stopped eating pork since. Here is the real deal..

According to Snopes, the unbiased urban legend debunking site, the claim that pouring Coca-Cola onto a raw piece of pork will cause worms to come crawling out of the meat is ... *drumroll*.....FALSE.

The less-than-fantastic reality is that pork products made from domestically-raised animals and sold on the consumer market are pretty reliably free of worms, and pouring Coca-Cola over a slab of raw pork won't get you much other than perhaps a nicely marinated piece of meat. More on Snopes.

There you go! The truth. Now, go spread the right word.. (Poor porky..)

Wishing Tree in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

There is a tree in Hong Kong that people go to to make a wish. Oranges and joss paper bundled together are hurled onto the branches. Sometimes several attempts are needed to accomplish the feat of having the bundle stay on a branch. Wishes must have come true because the wishing tree is still as popular today.

Don't we wish we have a tree like that here in Malaysia? But we do. Yes, we do have our very own Wishing Tree. It is located in Ipoh at a temple ground. It is at Kwan Yin Tong, Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah and it has attracted people from as far away as Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Taiwan as well as Western countries. So, the next time you are in Ipoh visit the tree and have a wish granted. It is believed that the spirit of a Tibetan deity dwells in the tree and is able to grant people their wishes. The temple is open daily throughout the year.

According to The Star, state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, who visited the temple, said Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Kadir would visit the temple tomorrow at 10.30pm.

“He will be making an important announcement, which will be good news for the temple,” he added.

Behold the Wishing Tree..

Source: The Star