7 days ago, a very old friend who I and many others have known for the past 20 years passed away. He went peacefully in his sleep just several weeks short of his 33rd birthday.

To all those who have shown your kindness whether in energy, time, monetary and even wishes, his entire family thanks you. I would like to quote a few verses by Ron Gaylord (poularised by Glen Cambell) :

“I will pass this way but once if there’s any good that I can do
Let me do it now for I’ll never pass this way again
I will see this day but once if there’s any kindness I can show
Let me show it now for I’ll never see this day again
Tomorrow may be too late my friend to do all the good that you planned
So reach out to those who need you and lend them a helping hand”

Al Fatihah

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More info here : http://www.wazzub.info/facts.htm

Its ALL FREE !!!

Many issues were discussed ranging from administration, project management, politics, planning and banking. Everyone had their fair share of the conversation, each one respecting the other when he talks or interjects with some facts and figures. Its interesting to see this process of ongoing learning.

Some people merely talk but always fail to deliver. Its now easy and what is worse, being 3 decades younger, WHY would they listed to what I had to say. But it was really fun AND knowledgable.

While I’m still contemplating on purchasing that latest gizmo from RIM due to some battery issues (review from close friends who are now on the 9900), here is an article from Lowyat.net that might interest some of you who are in the same boat with me.

Among the highlighted positive issues are namely Liquid Graphics, Speedy Browing, More Memory and of course Sexxxxy ! Read the full article here.

Eid al-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى‎ ‘Īd al-’Aḍḥá, IPA: [ʕiːd al ʔadˁˈħaː], “feast of sacrifice”) or “Festival of Sacrifice” or “Greater Eid” is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Isma’il) as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead.[1]
Eid al-Adha is the latter of two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, whose basis comes from Sura 2 (Al-Baqara) Ayah 196 in the Qur’an.[2]

Like Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Adha begins with a Wajib prayer of two Raka’ah (units) followed by a sermon (khuṭbah).The word “Eid” appears in Sura al-Mai’da (“The Table Spread,” Chapter 5) of the Qur’an, meaning ‘solemn festival’.[3]

Eid al-Adha is celebrated annually on the 10th day of the 12th and the last Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah (ذو الحجة) of the lunar Islamic calendar.[4]

Eid al-Adha celebrations start after the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. The date is approximately 70 days (2 Months & 10 days) after the end of the month of Ramadan, i.e. Eid-ul-Fitr. Ritual observance of the holiday lasts until sunset of the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.[5]

[read full article here]

Since this topic (Hiding Smoking from Life Insurance) gets more than 2 dozen hits every day, here is some more info that might help. It’s mainly a discussion based on this scenario :

“Our family is shopping for life insurance. My husband smokes 1-2 cigarettes a day and wants to quit, thus he thinks this “light” smoking should not be mentioned to the insurance company to keep premiums low. I am, however, concerned that in the future a claim may be denied if the company finds out, so it is better to pay up and be safe. Has anybody had issues like that? How can I convince him?”

Some of the answers :

1. Well, that’s kinda dumb to not mention it, as they’re going to TEST for it, and it’s going to come up positive. Denying tobacco use isn’t going to do anything except annoy your agent (after all, he’s trying to work for you, and you’re lying to him!) and get you declined.

If you’re buying a very small policy, like $10,000, where they won’t test, then yes, the company can deny a claim based on fraud – which is what he’s doing.

Next time he complains about insurance rates, remind him that the high fraud rates (and attempts) help contribute to high rates – and HE advocates fraud

2. Ask your husband if he ever heard of “insurance fraud”? Yes, your claim most likely would be denied when they cut your husband open and see his lungs are full of tar.

3. Absolutely be truthful with them. If you are not and a condition develops which may cause death they can say a pre-existing condition (the smoking) contributed to it and you would get NOTHING….probably wouldn’t get your premiums back either. Remember, smoking can contribute to almost every facet of the human body so do not be foolish and refuse to give the information. No insurance company…Life or Health…will cover a pre-existing condition that was not revealed when a policy was taken out. The truth always wins out. Good luck.

[Read the FULL DISCUSSION here]

Source : http://www.financialcrisis2009.org

So I got curious on the royal and noble ranks associated with Dukes and Duchesses and this is what I found in Wikipedia.

A duke (male) or duchess (female) is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy. The title comes from the Latin Dux, ‘leader’, a term used in republican Rome to refer to a military commander without an official rank (particularly one ofGermanic or Celtic origin), and later coming to mean the leading military commander of a province.

In the Middle Ages the title signified first among the Germanic monarchies. Dukes were the rulers of the provinces and the superiors of the counts in the cities and later, in the feudal monarchies, the highest-ranking peers of the king.

During the 19th century many of the smaller German and Italian states were ruled by Dukes or Grand Dukes. At present however, with the exception of theGrand Duchy of Luxembourg, there are no dukes who rule. Duke remains the highest titular peerage in France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The Pope, as a temporal sovereign, has also but rarely granted the title of Duke and Duchess to persons for services to the Holy See.

A woman who holds in her own right the title to such duchy or dukedom, or is the wife of a duke, is normally styled duchess. However, Queen Elizabeth IIis known as Duke of Normandy in the Channel Islands and Duke of Lancaster in Lancashire.

Royal and noble ranks

Emperor & Empress

King & Queen

Viceroy & Vicereine

Archduke & Archduchess

Infante & Infanta

Grand Duke & Grand Duchess Grand Prince & Grand Princess

Duke & Duchess

Prince & Princess

Marquess & Marchioness Marquis & Marquise

Margrave & Margravine

Count & CountessEarl & Countess

Viscount & Viscountess

Baron & BaronessFreiherr & Freifrau

Baronet & Baronetess

Hereditary Knight, Ritter

Knight & Dame

Nobile, Edler von

This box: view · talk · edit

[click to read the full article]

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke

1. Future Vision Montage

2. Manufacturing

3. Microsoft Home

4. Banking

5. Microsoft Surface

6. MS Vision 2019

7. Future in 2020

8. Future by Nokia

It looks a something cut out from Star Trek but I do believe that we are more than halfway there. Using the advancement of technology, the world as perceived in the future will encompass the full utilization of applications and internet connectivity will not only be ultra fast BUT all and around us.

The connection speeds that we enjoy now are more than 100 times faster of what we had 10 years ago. The size of hard disks, 20GB in the year 2000 has now jumped to 2TB for standard issue entry level PCs. The Web itself has evolved by allowing more than just browsing but multiple interactions across communities and societies thousands of miles apart.

This all translates into accelerating the human ability to learn online.

Although many are aware of this phenomenon, not everyone likes learning new things or trying different and simplified approaches to complete routine tasks. In return, we should have more time to do all the other more important things in life as depicted towards the end of this clip.

Looking forward to hear your comments.

Are you a coffee lover?  Regardless of it being brewed, steamed, boiled or just the normal coffee you have by the roadside mamak stall, coffee is known to be addictive. In Malaysia, teh tarik is ALSO addictive. But so is nasi lemak, roti canai and a whole lot more.

So here are some sites that describe the goodness of coffee & how to ensure you get a good cuppa.

1. GOOD COFFEE

For the better part of 16 years, I’ve been in almost daily pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee, and the methods for achieving it consistently. It’s a tricky business, but I’ve learned to hit far more often than I miss. And even when I miss, the result is now usually at least as good as what a typical coffee shop serves.

This may sound obsessive. It is — good art always is. And the making of good coffee is a complex art. There is no one simple secret. It takes time, care, and a little hard work.

But if you’re willing to do what it takes, the following tips should dramatically improve the flavor of your drip-brewed coffee at home. The principles should generally apply to other brewing methods, too. Here they are in order of importance, in my experience:

1. Clean the brewer
2. Buy fresh coffee
3. Keep it fresh
4. Use fresh, clean water
5. Use the best ratio of grounds to water
6. Buy whole beans
7. Shy away from the darkest roasts (French & Italian, for example)
8. Stir the pot
9. Drink it straight

[read more here]

2. MAKING GOOD COFFEE at HOME

3. COFFEE with INSPIRATION

4. BRAUN COFFEE GUIDE

5. THE COFFEE HERETIC

6.  Coffee GEEK

7. Modern MUGS

8. Coffee ACCESSORIES