SHARING ZONE

Secret Mental Codes

2010-07-29T13:41:00.002+08:00

Secret Mental Codes

Secret to Becoming a Money Magnet

2010-07-29T13:38:00.002+08:00

Secret to Becoming a Money Magnet

Manchester United starts training for tour

2010-07-16T12:10:00.000+08:00

Manchester United, minus many of its stars, has begun training for its North American tour with a 59-minute session at the Chicago Fire's home ground before about 1,500 fans in 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) heat.

The Red Devils open their four-match trip in Toronto on Friday against Scottish Premier League side Celtic. After two matches against Major League Soccer sides, it concludes in Houston on July 28 with a match against the MLS All-Stars.

"That will probably be our toughest game," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "It's probably a bigger game for MLS than it is for us. I think you'll find they'll be well motivated because of that. We're used to the fact teams always want to play well against us."
It's Manchester United's third preseason trip to North America since Ferguson became manager in 1986.

"Each time I see an improvement in American soccer," Ferguson said. "The MLS has proven itself now. The performance of the (U.S.) national team helps. They were very credible in their performance in the World Cup, and I think that helped the younger people in the States.

"We know there are millions of kids playing. The MLS has to structure itself so these kids can eventually get to MLS. It'll take time to build a pyramid of soccer so they get to the MLS."

Manchester United was without World Cup participants Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Nemanja Vidic and Park Ji-sung at training Wednesday. They get 30 days rest before they're required to begin their next season.

Manchester United's English Premier League season begins August 16, when it hosts Newcastle.
The training session, the first on-field event of United's trip, was held in the southwest suburbs of Chicago because the team's new corporate sponsor, AON, is headquartered downtown.

Inception - The Movie (Released 2010)

2010-07-15T11:01:00.005+08:00

What is Inception means?

According to Cambridge Online Dictionary, Inception is the beginning of an organization or official activity.

Is it sound like another movie's concept like "Matrix" Series?

Christopher Nolan, who famous on his work, Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008), had directed this film. According to him, the idea was based on the notion of "exploring the idea of people sharing a dream space - entering a dream space and sharing a dream. That gives you the ability to access somebody’s unconscious mind. What would that be used and abused for?" Furthermore, he thought "being able to extract information from somebody’s brain would be the obvious use of that because obviously any other system where it’s computers or physical media, whatever – things that exist outside the mind – they can all be stolen ... up until this point, or up until this movie I should say, the idea that you could actually steal something from somebody’s head was impossible. So that, to me, seemed a fascinating abuse or misuse of that kind of technology". He had thought about these ideas on and off since he was 16 years old, intrigued by how he would wake up and then, while falling back into a lighter sleep, hold on to the awareness that he was dreaming, a lucid dream. He also became aware of the feeling that he could study the place and alter the events of the dream. He said, "I tried to work that idea of manipulation and management of a conscious dream being a skill that these people have. Really the script is based on those common, very basic experiences and concepts, and where can those take you? And the only outlandish idea that the film presents, really, is the existence of a technology that allows you to enter and share the same dream as someone else".

Originally, he had envisioned Inception as a horror film but eventually wrote it as a heist film even though he found that "traditionally [they] are very deliberately superficial in emotional terms". Initially, Nolan wrote an 80-page treatment about dream-stealers. Upon revisiting his script, he decided that basing it in that genre did not work because the story "relies so heavily on the idea of the interior state, the idea of dream and memory. I realized I needed to raise the emotional stakes". Nolan worked on the script for nine to ten years. When he first started thinking about making the film, the director was influenced by "that era of movies where you had The Matrix, you had Dark City, you had The Thirteenth Floor and, to a certain extent, you had Memento, too. They were based in the principles that the world around you might not be real". He first pitched the film to Warner Bros. in 2001 but in retrospect felt that he needed more experience making large scale films like Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. He soon realized that a film like Inception needed a large budget because "as soon as you’re talking about dreams, the potential of the human mind is infinite. And so the scale of the film has to feel infinite. It has to feel like you could go absolutely anywhere by the end of the film. And it has to work on a massive scale". After making The Dark Knight, Nolan decided to make Inception and spent six months completing the script. For the director, the key to completing the script was wondering what would happen if several people shared the same dream. He said, "Once you remove the privacy, you’ve created an infinite number of alternative universes in which people can meaningfully interact, with validity, with weight, with dramatic consequences".

Leonardo DiCaprio was the first actor to be cast in the film. Nolan had been trying to work with the actor for years and met him several times but was unable to convince him to appear in any of his films until Inception. DiCaprio finally agreed because he was "intrigued by this concept - this dream-heist notion and how this character's gonna unlock his dreamworld and ultimately affect his real life". He read the script and found it to be "very well written, comprehensive but you really had to have Chris in person, to try to articulate some of the things that have been swirling around his head for the last eight years". He and Nolan spent months talking about the screenplay. Nolan took a long time re-writing the script in order "to make sure that the emotional journey of his character was the driving force of the movie".

Law of Attraction

2010-06-04T16:32:00.000+08:00

You can manifest your destiny when you understand the law of attraction and how it works. If you want to manifest your destiny, you must know the things that you want in your life and you must also take control in your life. We have many things in life that we want to manifest such as wealth, love, health and others. With the law of attraction, you can manifest your destiny and your desires. You can actually use it to open up new opportunities in your life.

There are people who actually just go about their everyday life on a routine basis. Although they do not really like the way things are going, they still go on about it because they have been used to it and this is how they expect the things to happen. What some of us actually fail to see is that we can do something about it. Try stopping for a while and look at the opportunities that you could obtain. Take opportunity as it comes knocking on your door.

The trick here is to remain constantly open to things that can make you happy. Why settle for something lackluster when you can in fact make yourself happy? You can truly live your life the way you want it to be. If there are people who have been successful in their life, you can be too! You just have to learn how to manifest your destiny.

Re-claim your life and walk the path that you really want to. Otherwise, you can be one of those who feel incomplete with their lives. Remember, when you want something, the universe creates it for you. But you have to do your share in manifesting your desires so that it can become reality. You can essentially attract the kind of life that you want to live! Wouldn't that be great?

Are you frustrated with getting your manifestations to create the results you want in your life. Then click here to get Free Instant Access to a one hour audio seminar and transcript for Manifest Your Dreams, Hopes and Purposes Through Metaphysical Practices.

Earth Day friendly dating ideas

2010-04-20T17:14:00.005+08:00

April 22nd 2010 is Earth Day so do something different and plan an eco friendly date. Being ‘green’ or environmentally friendly is becoming more important to people as we are more aware of how our simple actions affect the environment.

You might think that an eco friendly date means a cheap one that you won't enjoy, but that isn't the case at all? Yes, some of our tips require less or no money involved but who says it won't be a fun date in the end? With a little bit of know how and effort you can go green on a date while having the time of your life.

Plan your own Earth hour
If you prefer staying in then get those candles out and turn everything off like you've done during Earth Hour. If it gets hot, especially without air conditioning, use some ice cubes to cool each other down, or brave that cold shower together. There's more than one way to keep cool at home and exploring some of these options are half the fun. Plus, you'll get the ultimate intimate session with nothing much around to distract you.

Getting ready
Instead of wasting energy by using the water heater, step into the shower and have a cold one instead. Make that shower and extra fun one by sharing it with your partner. Not only will you be getting wet and wild time, you'll be saving a lot of water at the same time. But if the moment gets too heated up, remember to turn off the shower before you proceed to the bedroom.
Another thing you can do is to resist that urge of blow drying your hair. Let it dry off naturally if you have a lot of time before heading out or, you can unwind the windows of your car on your way to that date. Nothing beats a natural and cost efficient way of hair styling.

Eco friendly undies
Yup, you read that right! Organic cotton, hemp silk, bamboo, and other renewable fibres make ultra-sexy lingerie and underwear. We suggest shelling out the extra bucks for something classy, sexy, and sustainable that can be donned when the mood is right for years to come rather than one off novelty panties that tatters in less than a year.

Ditch the car
Pack a couple of backpacks with an organic gourmet lunch for two, take those rusty bicycles out of the store room and head to the nearest park. When you reach your destination, find the best spot to sit on and whip out the picnic. Feed each other grapes, organic cheese and organic wine. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature and each other's company.

Green gifts
If you’re planning on giving that special someone a gift then try organic massage oils, fair trade chocolate or a bottle of biodynamic red wine. These items are available at organic shops which aren't a rarity in Malaysia.

Be crafty at home
Get crafty and use recycled paper and natural plant dyes to make one of a kind, green works of art. Use a scrapbook to put your first date pictures in or re-write those romantic emails on recycled paper. You can also find your inner child and play board games rather than watching TV. Don't stop there, dig out that old Twister board and make it a little more interesting. You never know what position you may find yourselves in!

Put on a green summer party!
Introduce your special someone to your friends and family, and show them what you stand for by being green. BBQ with 100% natural, additive-free charcoal or use gas or electric for a more environmentally friendly option. Choose organic, free range meats or go vegetarian. Portobello mushrooms are a great burger substitute. Use regular dishes, glass cups and cloth napkins. Go to a thrift store and buy an extra set of cheap dishes and napkins just for BBQ's and casual parties. Promote being responsible and eco-friendly, while having fun in your new relationship.

Eco friendly holidays
Eco resorts are a great way to minimize your carbon footprint. If you don't mind spending a bit more money, go on a holiday to these destinations.
Borneo Highlands Resort is a unique eco-friendly resort in Kuching and is also known as the home of The Hornbill Golf and Jungle Club, which has a world class championship golf course. If you are both golf fans, beginner or want to learn this resort offers the perfect eco-friendly date and after a day out on the fairway you can both take advantage of the jungle Spa.
If golf isn’t your thing then what about Bukit Merah? It is three hours outside of KL and boasts the only conservational orang-utan island in Peninsular Malaysia, a unique eco-park with educational walk-in enclosures and a lakeside camping ground for the more adventurous.

Why go for one-night stand?

2009-07-06T22:48:00.001+08:00

What is the purpose of the one-night stand? Does it accomplish anything? I don't condone one-night stands; for me they've led to awkwardness, and self-loathing (of course I'm filled with self loathing without sex in my life, so what's the difference?).
I'm reluctant to accept "I was drunk" as the sole reason for a one night stand. Alcohol contributes to risky behavior or clouds judgment. As a depressant, it also enhances negative emotions. In light of this, there are temporary mindsets we should not mix with alcohol--mindsets that make us more vulnerable and prone to a one night stand.
Here they are:
Lonely Mentality
Sex can seem like a quick fix for loneliness. It's not that we feel validated when we have sex, but it is nice to know that we are attractive. That physical and mental intimacy, while fleeting, is nice in the moment. Unfortunately, though, when that person leaves your life, your loneliness intensifies.
Vengeful Mentality
It's pretty twisted, but sex can be used for revenge. Sleeping with that jerky ex's best friend, or some other "strategic" person to hurt someone else is the M.O. However, using people to hurt other people will only lead to a bad outcome.
Risk-taking Mentality
You know those periods in your life you're more inclined to take risks? Sex is sometimes risky behavior, along with drugs, alcohol, etc. It's unhealthy to take risks that impact the body and mind, but it's also thrilling.
Desiring Mentality
It's not always mental. Sometimes you just want to get laid. Unfortunately, for me, when I want to get laid, I don't. When I don't feel like getting laid, suddenly opportunities abound.
Liberated Mentality
You think you're over your ex, so you run out and exercise your rights to freedom. But if you're going to an extreme, such as having a one night stand, to prove you're over someone, then you are probably not really over them.
Closing the Loop Mentality
There are some people in your life with sexual tension. Things should have happened, but circumstances didn't permit at the time. All of a sudden, you've got an opportunity and you both know you have to do it. It's all about getting it out of your system.
I've had three one night stands in my life. They can all be traced back to a mentality above:
College - Freedom Mentality/Revenge Mentality - I had just broken up with my first serious girlfriend and I met a random girl at a party and slept with her, partially because I was free to do so, and partially because I wanted to (pun intended) stick it to my ex.
Italy - Risk-taking Mentality - Living abroad in Italy for two months, "what happened in Italy stayed in Italy". This was the most random encounter I ever had with a girl from Xavier University. That's the only thing I knew about her, that she attended Xavier.
High School Friend - Closing the Loop - I ended up having a one night stand with a girl I had dated in high school years later. We flirted for years and finally got the whole thing out of our systems.
The mindsets outlined above are about vulnerability. When we go away from home, feeling lonely, or just got dumped, the vulnerability feeds the one-night stand mentalities. The alarming thing is that there are guys out there who know how to sense this mindset in a woman. They intentionally look for vulnerable women with sex in mind, but no intention of dating or communicating afterward.
The other ingredient, of course, is animal attraction. But this attraction lives in us every day. We only act upon it when our mentality dictates it. So, I contend that a one night stand is 90% mental, even though it's a physical act.
I have outgrown one night stands. Sex without connection, laughter, love, compatibility, and mutual experience is empty. This explains why it's awkward the next day when everyone comes back down to earth.
Do you agree that one night stands are mostly mental? What mentalities would you add to the list, and what kinds of experiences have you or your friends had with one night stands? Did you ever have any that turned out well, or didn't lead to negative self-perception?

10 Simple Things Women Want In A Relationship

2009-07-05T22:42:00.000+08:00

Besides the meaning of life and the ingredients of hot dogs, many a man has questioned "what exactly do women want?" We're not playing coy here, we know we're complex creatures. And, true, we operate on a different wavelength than men. The best example of our gender difference comes from an article we read last year about why men cheat. The most compelling testimony was from a transgender man who'd undergone hormone therapy during his transition. Thanks to testosterone, the man noticed less of an emotional attachment to sex and more of a physical urge to engage, regardless of consequences. Fascinating.
So, we're different. But, women aren't exactly the great mystery that men often make us out to be. The proof? We polled the YourTango staff and compiled a list of 10 simple things women want. Note: you won't find diamond rings or other fancy things anywhere on this list. While many women really do want luxury goods from men, when you break it down they are just physical representations of some of the points on this list. We promise.
Respect. Show us through your actions that you respect our opinions, careers, interests, friends, bodies and minds. You don't have to agree with all that we say or do, but try to honor our opinions as valuable contributions. Follow the golden rule and treat us as you would like to be treated: Be honest, fair, kind, and considerate.
Sex. Yes, we love sex. But, remember that there are four bases to cover in the bedroom, not just one. Try stopping at each base instead of being so focused on the home run—believe us, we'll thank you for it! Likewise, remember small physical touches like massages. One can never, ever, have too many shoulder rubs. And scratching our heads is pretty great, too.Romance. It's another night on the couch with take-out and TiVo? Just because we're staying in doesn't mean the evening can't be romantic. Light a few candles and see where the night leads. Treat us like your girlfriend, even after we become your wife. Date nights, making out in the car, kissing like when we first started dating—all of the things that made us fall in love with you don't have to stop just because now there are bills to pay, a house to be cleaned, and kids that need to get bathed. Bring home flowers for no reason. We're not talking $100 bouquets of roses here. Even the $10 bouquets from the supermarket are enough to make us smile.
Time. We understand relationships can't be all wine and roses; simply making the time to be with us and treating us like your top priority says "love" more than all the fancy gifts and lovely letters ever could. This includes helping around the house. The realities of a 21st-century relationship are that both partners probably work. If you happen to get home before we do, why not take vacuum the living room or throw in a load of laundry? If you take the garbage out without being asked, chances are you'll be getting a big ole smooch when you come back. Read: 5 "Man Chores" That Will Get Him To Do Housework
Dinner. Of the homemade variety. You may not be good at cooking and you may not know how to boil water. But greeting us at the door after a long day with fish sticks (or whatever you can wrastle up) makes us swoon, because it shows that you've been thinking about us and our hectic day. Read: Cooking For TwoCommunication. Women are vocal creatures. We know you love us, but it's nice to hear you say it, too. We can also be insecure. We wish we weren't, but the reality is that we often notice our wobbly thighs and forget about our gorgeous eyes. So let us know when you think we're hot. Tell us we're beautiful. It helps us feel good. Plus, when we feel sexy we're more likely to act sexy. Words of appreciation aren't half-bad either. Tell us you love the lasagna we made. Thank us for driving the kids to school. Notice that we cleaned the bathtub. It doesn't have to be over the top, just let us know that you see the effort we put in, and you're grateful. Read: Which Love Language Do You Speak?
Consistency. This doesn't mean be boring and predictable. It means that we know you will (usually, no one is perfect!) give us the love and support we need. Knowing that you're coming at this with the same desires and energy as we are goes a long way to making us feel secure.
Engagement. Of the mental kind, not the "I'm getting married in the morning" kind. You don't have to like everything we like (we might be a little concerned if you do), but showing interest in our passions, be it career-related, a sport or a hobby, goes a long way. Listen when we talk to you. We're not speaking just so we can hear our own voice; we want to connect with you and this is one valuable way we do this. This also means paying attention to the little things. Whether it's the name of your best friend's husband or the fact that you hate Nicolas Cage movies, it's the little things you remember about us that's so endearing.Humor and Humility. These two tend to go hand in hand. This doesn't mean that you have to crack jokes or entertain us, but just being able to laugh at yourself is enough. Guys who take themselves too seriously bring everyone down. Read: Self-Deprecating Humor WorksChallenge. Not the kind that makes a relationship constant work, but the good kind that surprises and motivates us to do, be or achieve what we desire. Studies show that partners who prod each other to meet goals—in other words, don't support lazy or bad habits—are ultimately happier than those who don't hold each other accountable.
What have we left off the list? Let us know in the comments below.
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Andy Roddick vs Roger Federer - Wimbledon 2009

2009-07-05T21:13:00.004+08:00

Federer holds an 18-2 career advantage over Roddick and comfortably beat the 26-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska in the 2004 and 2005 finals, with Swiss artistry generally trumping American grit each time they have met.
The 2009 edition of Roddick, though, is no longer a big-serving, one-trick pony.

A year ago, the affable American was stuck in an airport lounge and caught on television the scintillating denouement of the final between Federer and Rafael Nadal. That demoralising sight and a soul-searching conversation with wife Brooklyn Decker convinced him things had to change.
Frustrated at the sight of Federer and Nadal hogging the majors, Roddick set to work on his fitness and linked up with new coach Larry Stefanki. That and the weight of years of experience have brought him a new, formidable armoury.
He brutally stifled the menace of Andy Murray in the semi-final, using his massive serve, punching accuracy with his groundstrokes and shrewd advances to the net to dismantle the Scot's game before a devastated nation.
"Brook and I had a lot of talks on if I still thought I could play and at least be towards the top of the game. I definitely openly questioned it at that point," Roddick said. "So this off season, we said, you know what, if you're not gonna be up there, let's at least not wonder. Let's prepare yourself and give yourself every opportunity.
"I did work real hard and was committed, and have been committed from everything to diet to sleep to everything. So I certainly gave myself every opportunity to succeed."
Unfortunately for Roddick, success is second nature to Federer.
These days he claims more records with each passing match, and stands on the cusp of arguably his finest achievement.
Victory on Sunday will see him rewrite the history books by taking his15th grand slam title - passing Pete Sampras on 14 - to provide the most significant piece of evidence yet in the perennial debate about the game's greatest player.
Advocates of Rod Laver, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Sampras will have little answer once that particular statistic can be waved in their face.
Federer, 27, has enormous respect for his opponent and a review of the Murray semi-final will show him that getting the mighty Roddick serve back is no longer the only concern.
"I've played him 20 times, so I've had plenty of time to study his game, to understand his game," the Swiss said. "He's always played me also quite differently every single time I've played him. I've had many different looks against Roddick.
"I enjoy how he leaves everything out on the court. I can only marvel at how incredible his serve is. I like playing against him, not only just because of the record."

2009-07-04T22:37:00.000+08:00

Women are flocking to the labor force in record numbers. Nearly 60% sought or occupied employment in 2008, the latest year for which statistics are available, representing 46.5% of the total U.S. labor force. More than one-third of these women worked in management, professional and related occupations, accounting for 51% of all workers in this top-paying sector.
Though a pay gap persists -- women's earnings remain stalled at around 80% of men's -- women are finding the jobs that pay them the most, and some may surprise you. Based on a U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau 2008 analysis, we ranked women's median weekly earnings as full-time wage and salary workers to uncover the highest-paying jobs for women.

An unlikely No. 1 emerged. Much to our surprise, pharmacy topped the list, where women pharmacists earn a median wage of $1,647 per week or about $86,000 a year. Women currently account for slightly less than half of all pharmacists in the U.S. and earn about 85% as much as their male colleagues. It's a much smaller pay gap than that of medical doctors, however, where women make 59% as much as men. And pharmacy requires less education.
Women physicians and surgeons came in far behind pharmacists at No. 6 on the list, earning a median of $1,230 per week. Dr. Drucilla Barker, economist and director of women's and gender studies at the University of South Carolina, explains this by the wide distribution of salaries in the medical profession. Women often go into family practice or other lower-paying specialties, she says, rather than work the 80-hour-plus weeks of surgeons. In jobs like pharmacy and speech pathology there is a clear and narrow salary range, and women are more likely to have manageable schedules, Barker says.
Women computer scientists and systems analysts came in at No. 10, earning a median wage of $1,082 per week or about $56,000 a year. In recent years, telecommuting has become increasingly common in the industry, making computer science even more appealing to women seeking high-paying work and flexibility.

And just above, at No. 9, were speech-language pathologists, the only occupation on our list in which women earn exactly equal to men and represent 50% of the field's total workers.
While women are inching higher and higher in status positions and earnings -- the pay gap has narrowed by 10 percentage points since 1990 -- there remains a large divide. About 3.5 million women earn within the highest pay bracket, making a minimum of $1,500 per week, compared with almost 10 million men. This may be explained by the most common female-held positions: administrative assistants, nurses and grade school teachers. (As a comparison, there are 36 times as many women administrative assistants as there are women pharmacists.)
Yet women outnumber men in some unexpected high-earning jobs like financial managers, accountants and auditors, and budget analysts. Women human resource managers, the No. 8 position on our list with a median of $1,137 per week, outnumber men in the field 2 to 1.
Top-Paying Jobs for Women
Though a pay gap persists--women's earnings remain stalled at around 80% of men's--women are finding the jobs that pay them the most, and some may surprise you. Based on a U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau 2008 analysis, we ranked women's median weekly earnings as full-time wage and salary workers to uncover the highest paying jobs for women.
No. 1: Pharmacists
Women's median weekly earnings: $1,647 Women's median yearly earnings: $85,644 Percentage of men's earnings: 84.9% Education required: PCAT; Pharm.D. degree; six to seven years of collegiate study What they do: Distribute pharmaceutical drugs
No. 2: Chief Executives Women's median weekly earnings: $1,603 Women's median yearly earnings: $83,356 Percentage of men's earnings: 80.1% Education required: Varies; many hold a bachelor's or graduate degree in business administration or more specialized discipline What they do: Hold overall responsibility for the operation of an organization, including corporate and small businesses
No. 3: Lawyers Women's median weekly earnings: $1,509 Women's median yearly earnings: $78,468 Percentage of men's earnings: 77.5% Education required: LSAT; J.D. degree; about seven years of collegiate study What they do: Advocate in criminal and civil courts and provide legal counsel to clients on business and personal matters
No. 4: Computer Software Engineers Women's median weekly earnings: $1,351 Women's median yearly earnings: $70,252 Percentage of men's earnings: 87.3% Education required: Bachelor of computer science or software engineering What they do: Design, develop, test and evaluate computer systems and software
No. 5: Computer and Information Systems Managers Women's median weekly earnings: $1,260 Women's median yearly earnings: $65,520 Percentage of men's earnings: 85.4% Education required: Bachelor's degree; often a technology-specific MBA What they do: Implement technology into an organization, often overseeing network security and IT operations

2009-07-03T22:32:00.000+08:00

Would you play LEGO Star Wars with Megan Fox? Her "Transformers" co-star Shia LaBeouf apparently won't -- at least, not on the Nintendo Wii. Even though the pair have been romantically linked in recent press reports, LaBeouf told gaming blog Big Download in an interview that he'd rather "eat glass" than play the Wii version of this two-player blockbuster.

That's not all Shia had to say: although he's keen to talk up Activision's game based on "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", he saves his praise for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. Asked about the Wii version, he sidesteps: "I haven't been able to play the Wii game because my hand is broken...I would imagine that the Wii experience will be like...I don't mess with the Wii, to be honest with you. It's kind of an amateur console. I'm not into the Wii thing."
So how about the LEGO Indiana Jones game? (Shia fans will note, of course, that LeBeouf played Indy's son in the most recent Indy movie.) "The LEGO Indiana Jones I'm not going to speak on, but my feelings aren't very different."
Wonder if Activision has picked a spokesperson for the next Transformers game? If not, we'd suggest someone who's a little less likely to slam your own products in public.

'Transformers' does $200.1M in 5 days

2009-07-02T22:27:00.000+08:00

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" finished its first weekend with a whopping $108 million domestic haul and did $200.1 million for its first five days.
Final numbers Monday were down slightly from estimates reported a day earlier by distributor Paramount. But the sequel remained the second-best five-day gross ever, coming in $3.7 million behind the total for "The Dark Knight" last summer.
The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Hollywood.com:
1. "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," Paramount, $108,966,307, 4,234 locations, $25,736 average, $200,077,255, one week.
2. "The Proposal," Disney, $18,578,541, 3,058 locations, $6,075 average, $69,162,471, two weeks.
3. "The Hangover," Warner Bros., $17,022,166, 3,525 locations, $4,829 average, $183,054,267, four weeks.
4. "Up," Disney, $13,061,737, 3,487 locations, $3,746 average, $250,234,554, five weeks.
5. "My Sister's Keeper," Warner Bros., $12,442,212, 2,606 locations, $4,774 average, $12,442,212, one week.
6. "Year One," Sony, $6,022,444, 3,024 locations, $1,992 average, $32,529,560, two weeks.
7. "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3," Sony, $5,451,107, 2,995 locations, $1,820 average, $53,456,827, three weeks.
8. "Star Trek," Paramount, $3,711,968, 1,823 locations, $2,036 average, $246,331,182, eight weeks.
9. "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," Fox, $3,643,522, 2,250 locations, $1,619 average, $163,391,192, six weeks.
10. "Away We Go," Focus, $1,709,313, 495 locations, $3,453 average, $4,088,390, four weeks.
11. "Land of the Lost," Universal, $1,143,040, 1,504 locations, $760 average, $46,763,020, four weeks.
12. "Angels & Demons," Sony, $1,091,953, 906 locations, $1,205 average, $130,277,166, seven weeks.
13. "Terminator Salvation," Warner Bros., $1,088,392, 1,102 locations, $988 average, $121,925,747, six weeks.
14. "Imagine That," Paramount, $942,273, 1,135 locations, $830 average, $14,067,015, three weeks.
15. "New York," Yash Raj Films, $467,693, 60 locations, $7,795 average, $467,693, one week.
16. "Cheri," Miramax, $405,701, 76 locations, $5,338 average, $405,701, one week.
17. "Monsters vs. Aliens," Paramount, $365,080, 311 locations, $1,174 average, $195,984,055, 14 weeks.
18. "Whatever Works," Sony Pictures Classics, $359,805, 35 locations, $10,280 average, $738,969, two weeks.
19. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," Fox, $310,167, 360 locations, $862 average, $177,836,819, nine weeks.
20. "Food, Inc.," Magnolia, $291,444, 75 locations, $3,886 average, $834,848, three weeks.

America's Most Endangered Malls

2009-07-01T22:23:00.000+08:00

Birmingham's Century Plaza mall was a consumer mecca when it opened in 1971, drawing shoppers from outlying suburbs and even from other states. Over the years, however, people moved outward from central Birmingham, and new shopping centers sprouted around them. Sales at Century Plaza declined. Three of the mall's four big "anchor" tenants eventually left, and smaller retailers followed. By 2008, Century Plaza was a shadowy hulk with more shuttered stores than open ones. Then the last anchor tenant, Sears, announced it was leaving. The mall finally closed for good in early June.
Malls have a natural lifespan, as population centers shift, architecture evolves, and shopping habits change. But a sharp recession is clearly accelerating the demise of vulnerable retailers--and some of the shopping centers they inhabit. Plunging sales are one obvious reason. Many retailers are also saddled with heavy debt taken on in recent years to fund aggressive growth. And the credit crunch has made cash scarce for firms that need it most.
Those tough conditions have already driven retailers like Circuit City, Linens 'N Things, and Steve & Barry's out of business. Other chains are closing stores and slashing costs as they fight to survive. General Growth Properties, a Chicago firm that operates more than 200 malls--and owns the remnants of Century Plaza--declared bankruptcy in April and is working on a restructuring plan.
[See America's most profitable malls.]
The churn is transforming America's retail landscape. "During times like this, good malls tend to get better and bad malls tend to get worse," says Steve Sterrett, chief financial officer of Simon Property Group, the nation's largest mall operator. The first sign of trouble is often the departure of department stores and other anchor tenants, especially if those spaces stay vacant. High-quality, name-brand merchants often follow, with discounters--or nobody--replacing them. Shoppers sense the ennui, and gravitate toward malls that feel more vibrant, which only deepens the distress at troubled properties. By some estimates, about 10 percent of the America's malls could close within the next few years.
To gauge which malls are in trouble, U.S. News analyzed data from Green Street Advisors, an investment research firm in Newport Beach, Calif., that specializes in publicly owned real estate companies. Their data includes occupancy rates, sales per square foot, and quality grades for about 650 of America's biggest shopping centers. The average property in the data set has sales of about $420 per square foot and an occupancy rate of 92 percent, good for an A- grade.
[See how to tell if a mall is in trouble.]
The malls at the bottom of the list earn grades of C- or D, with falling sales at many stores and a high proportion of discount retailers that tend to draw the least lucrative consumers. As a rule of thumb, malls with sales of $250 per square foot or lower are struggling. "It's hard for many retailers to be profitable at $250," says Jim Sullivan of Green Street. And nine out of 10 malls at the bottom of Green Street's list have sales at or below that threshold.
The data we used doesn't cover strip malls and other shopping centers owned by private firms, which tend to be smaller, less profitable, and more vulnerable to a bad economy than regional malls. But the following 10 malls still represent bleak snapshots of some of the weakest spots in the nation's retail economy.
Century III Mall, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Occupancy rate: 70 percent; sales per square foot: $200*). About 30 of the 120 stores at this suburban Pittsburgh mall have closed recently, including anchor tenant Steve & Barry's and KB Toys (both of which have declared bankruptcy), Old Navy, Ruby Tuesday's, and Macy's Furniture Outlet. The 30-year-old complex targets value shoppers but competes with nearby discounters like Wal-Mart and Kohl's. Other area malls with more upscale stores are doing better. Century's owner, Simon Property Group, may be looking to sell Century III.
Chambersburg Mall, Chambersburg, Pa. (62 percent; $234). Sales have held steady over the past year, but a bucolic location 60 miles southwest of Harrisburg makes this sleepy mall a perennial underperformer. K.B. Toys, Value City, and B. Moss closed their stores after declaring bankruptcy. Newcomers include discounters like Bolton's and Burlington Coat Factory, which are likely to generate little excitement.
Crossroads Mall, Omaha, Neb. (68 percent; $200*). Shoppers are fleeing this 50-year-old mall in central Omaha for suburban shopping centers that feel safer and more vibrant. The departure of Dillard's in 2008 left one of three anchor slots vacant. The Zales and Gordon's jewelry chains are also gone, along with Gap and most of the mall's food-court restaurants. According to press reports, owner Simon Property Group recently put the property up for sale. A buyer could try to resuscitate the mall or convert it to a different kind of retail or commercial complex.
Hickory Hollow Mall, Nashville, Tenn. (82 percent; $187). Dillard's has left, and other departed tenants include Linens 'N Things and Steve & Barry's, two of the biggest casualties of the recession. Two of four anchor slots are vacant, and the theater recently switched from first-run movies to late-run discount flicks. With a lack of retailers, the mall may convert some of its space to office use. One new tenant: the local police, who recently opened a recruiting station at the mall.
Highland Mall, Austin, Tex. (61 percent; $150*). While gleaming new stores have been springing up in some parts of Austin, this 38-year-old mall along I-35 has struggled to keep stores open--and avoid embarrassing controversies. Anchor JCPenney left in 2006, and this year Dillard's sued the mall's owners, claiming they let the mall become a "ghost town." The owners countersued, claiming that the suit is part of a scheme to help Dillard's get out of its lease early.
Palm Beach Mall, West Palm Beach, Fla. (82 percent; $250*). A year ago, the plan was to renovate this fading 42-year-old property. But that changed with the recession. Anchor tenants Dillard's and Macy's bolted within the last year, and in April, the mall's owners defaulted on a big bank payment, triggering a foreclosure lawsuit that could force the sale of the property. The power company even threatened to shut off the mall's electricity, but the bill was paid at the last minute. While remaining tenants like Sears and JC Penney await the outcome of litigation, other nearby malls are adding space and gaining customers.
[See why more companies are likely to fail this year.]
SouthPark Mall, Moline, Ill. (84 percent; $225). The owners spent a couple of years trying to sell this Quad Cities landmark, built in 1974, but they finally gave up late last year. Local officials would like to see the aging property converted to a more modern "lifestyle mall" with boutiques, lounging areas, and an upscale ambience. But modest local incomes probably can't support the major investment that would require. For now, the only upgrades at SouthPark are the construction of a few strip centers on "outlots" surrounding the mall, to be occupied by cheap restaurants and local service businesses.
Southridge Mall, Des Moines, Iowa. (84 percent; $168). The 2007 arrival of Steve & Barry's was supposed to mark a revival for this 34-year-old complex on Des Moines's South Side, which has been losing shoppers to more gentrified suburban malls. Then the discounter went bankrupt and closed its stores. The mall's owners have been trying to sell the property, and city officials have been working on ways to revitalize the entire area. They better hurry: At $168 per square foot, Southridge's sales are among the lowest for big malls.
Towne Mall, Franklin, Ohio. (49 percent; $207). This aging structure between Cincinnati and Dayton has been troubled for years, as the owner, CBL & Associates, and local officials have deliberated over whether to tear it down and build something more modern. Towne Mall has one of the highest vacancy rates of any operating mall, with more closed stores than open ones. A decision on the mall's fate is supposed to come soon.
Washington Crown Center, Washington, Pa. (70 percent; $265). Three of its biggest retailers--Macy's, Bon-Ton, and Gander Mountain--have suffered deep losses as consumers have cut spending. The mall's owner, Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, is revamping some of its properties--but not Washington Crown Centre, one of the weakest malls in its portfolio. PREIT could end up selling some of its subpar properties, which leaves this mall vulnerable.

Who gets Michael Jackson's riches?

2009-06-30T22:19:00.001+08:00

His mother took the first step Monday when she petitioned the Superior Court of California to be named the administrator of the late singer's estate. Katherine Jackson said in the filing she was acting to ensure Michael Jackson's three children are the beneficiaries.

It's the opening salvo in a complicated battle for a fortune that includes a lucrative music catalog of the King of Pop's own hits, the rights to songs by the Beatles, and the Neverland ranch that could one day be a tourist attraction.

There's even an elaborate video production, dubbed the "Dome Project," that was overseen by Jackson and finished two weeks before he died.

The high stakes and array of people involved will likely make the fight far more convoluted than recent high-profile squabbles over the estates of singer James Brown and ex-Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith.

"There's no doubt that there's going to be a big battle," said Alexis Martin Neely, a Los Angeles-based estate attorney. "It's going to be very messy and I don't see anything comparing to this."
Complicating matters is that few, if any, people know all the details of the reclusive entertainer's financial affairs.

His mother's filing, for example, declares that Jackson died "intestate," or without a will. But that is in dispute.

Another person with knowledge of Jackson's business matters told The Associated Press last Friday that there is a will, which would take precedent in court. That person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the material.

Becoming an estate administrator "puts a vast amount of power in one person's hands," said Roy Kozupsky, a lawyer with Smith, Gambrell & Russell. The person would have the power to sell assets, make deals and determine how to pay off creditors, he said.

At stake is Jackson's 50 percent ownership in Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a company itself estimated to be worth $2 billion; Jackson's own recordings and songwriting rights, which could be worth more than $150 million; and his joint ownership of the Neverland ranch.
Katherine Jackson said in her filing she intends to use the estate's assets for "the exclusive use of the decedent's (Jackson's) three children." But the filing could also be the first move in contesting the validity of a will, if there is one, Kozupsky said.

Jackson, who died Thursday at age 50, left behind three children: son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11; and son Prince Michael II, 7. The youngest was born to a surrogate mother, while the first two were born to ex-wife Deborah Rowe.

The list of potential parties seeking a piece of Jackson's estate is long, ranging from financial firms to the companies involved in his planned comeback. Among them is AEG Live, the concert promoter that booked Jackson for 50 sold-out performances at London's O2 arena starting next month.

AEG Live reportedly gave Jackson a $20 million advance, which it may seek to recover from the estate. AEG Live declined to comment.

How much AEG can recover will likely depend on the wording of insurance policies it took out and whether they included protection against "medical conditions or another event," said Mary Craig Calkins, a partner at Howrey LLP who handles insurance recovery cases for TV and film productions.

The promoter took out about $18 million in insurance through Lloyd's of London, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment.

A big part of determining what the estate is worth - and how much it owes in taxes - will depend on how much Jackson owed to creditors. Estimates put the tally around $400 million.
The federal government will be able to collect around 45 percent in tax on the value of the estate's assets, minus its debts and administration costs including attorney fees.

It appears that the most valuable assets will likely remain in the estate's control.
The Sony/ATV stake and 100 percent of Mijac, the company that controls Michael Jackson's own music, were held in a trust whose beneficiaries are Jackson's children.

That trust is safe from creditors, said Al Malnik, its former trustee and Jackson's business adviser from 2002 to 2005.

"The assets were protected through the trust against creditors," Malnik said Monday.

Jackson used those assets as collateral to secure $200 million in loans from Bank of America in 2001. He then refinanced several times. Malnik said the loan total reached $275 million by the time he quit as trustee in 2005. Fortress Investment Group LLC, which took control in 2005, sold the loans off entirely "over a year ago," said company spokeswoman Lilly Donohue.

It is unclear who holds the loans now, but one candidate is Colony Capital LLC, a Los Angeles real estate firm owned by billionaire Thomas Barrack, which also set up a joint venture with Jackson to own Neverland, the 2,500-acre (1,000-hectare) property in Santa Barbara County that once included amusement park rides and zoo animals.

Barrack had lunch with Jackson brothers Jackie, Jermaine and Tito on Saturday at Neverland.
Jackson's estate is still growing through record sales and songwriting rights.

So far this year, some 297,000 of his albums have sold in the U.S., and that's not including last week, when sales spiked in the wake of the singer's death.

Jackson's existing works will continue to sell well, said Keith Caulfield, senior charts manager for Billboard magazine.

"He's good for at least a half a million albums a year," Caulfield said.

Songwriting rights also keep earning revenue. Jackson wrote many of the songs he recorded including "Beat It," "Bad," and "Black or White."

For the past three years, Jackson has ranked among the top-earning 100 U.S. songwriters for royalty payments collected by Broadcast Music Inc.

"Michael Jackson is the number one international songwriter in the world for BMI. He is it," BMI chief executive Del Bryant said, adding that use of the singer's songs outside of the U.S. earn more than $1 million dollars annually just for Jackson's share of the royalties.

Warner-Chappell Music, a division of Warner Music Group Corp., is Jackson's music publisher, meaning it promotes use of his songs and lyrics in commercials and TV shows. Jackson's own works, plus scores of song rights he purchased, gross several million dollars per year.

Jackson also owns the master recordings of his own albums such as "Thriller" and "Bad" and had a distribution deal with Sony, according to a person familiar with his finances, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the material.

The surge in interest in his music could inflate the value of assets held by his estate, and the tax bill owed to the U.S. government.

"Unfortunately due to his demise, the value of these entities has increased substantially," Malnik said.

Oil spikes above US$70 for first time this year

2009-06-06T17:39:00.000+08:00

Oil prices broke through the $70 per-barrel barrier Friday and more forecasters are broadening expectations for an upward swing in crude.
Benchmark crude for July delivery lost 37 cents to settle at $68.44 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, finishing the week with a gain of nearly $2 a barrel.
Earlier in the day oil jumped as high as $70.32 per barrel, the highest since October.
Oil prices have been soaring for months despite a massive surplus of petroleum and natural gas. A large amount of speculative money has flowed into the markets, according to government reports, potentially taking advantage of a weak U.S. currency.
Surging energy prices appear to be outpacing an economic recovery for now, and there are concerns that consumers may pull back spending further, especially with retail gasoline nearing the $3 mark.
"That everyday, in-your-face experience of seeing higher gas prices at the pump; that has quite an impact on people's psyche," said Tom Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service.
"There's this feeling of 'here we go again' with what happened last year," Kloza said.
"It hurts discretional spending.
"It leaves people to think about not taking those summer vacations."
This week, Goldman Sachs revised its forecast and predicted that oil would rally to $85 a barrel by the end of the year as the economy stabilizes and OPEC production cuts take hold.
The forecast assumes, however, that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will stick to its cuts - and that has never been a sure bet.
Yet even news that could be perceived as negative on the surface has brought more money into oil markets.
The Labor Department said Friday that employers cut 345,000 jobs in May, the fewest since September.
On Thursday, it said the nation's unemployment rolls fell for the first time in 20 weeks.
Still, the unemployment rate was 9.4 percent in May, the highest level in more than 25 years.
One of the reasons that gasoline costs nearly $1.40 per gallon less than last year are the massive layoffs the have millions fewer people commuting to work.
Signs that major employers such as manufacturers, and consumers are suffering badly continues to arrive in government energy reports.
Industrial and residential natural gas consumption plunged in March, according to an Energy Department report this week.
Storage facilities continue to swell with huge stocks of unused crude and natural gas. Analyst Stephen Schork noted that 14 GM factories will be idled because of the automaker's bankruptcy.
"That is another 450 football fields worth of power and Btu demand that is about to go missing from the market," he said.
In other Nymex trading, gasoline for July delivery fell less than a penny to settle at $1.9546 and heating oil dropped 1.39 cents to settle at $1.7701 a gallon.
Natural gas for July delivery rose 5.8 cents to settle at $3.868 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Rihanna's naked photo scandal costs her Vogue covershoot

2009-06-06T17:34:00.002+08:00

Naked photo scandal involving Rihanna has cost her a covershoot with Vogue magazine, it has emerged. According to reports, the R&B star was being lined up for the prestigious photoshoot, however, editor Anna Wintour changed her plans after shots of the singer posing naked leaked online, reports The Daily Express. A source tells Star magazine, "Anna told her Vogue absolutely loves her and really Wanted to work with her. “Rihanna was ecstatic. (But) Anna hasn't returned any of her calls. Rihanna's so upset... “She hopes the people at Vogue change their minds." The news comes the same day further shots of Rihanna and ex-boyfriend Chris Brown appeared on the net, which show the former couple kissing in bed.

Russia says economic crisis is past peak, but not yet over

2009-06-06T17:30:00.000+08:00

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday that the world has escaped the worst of the global economic crisis but warned that Russia could face a second crisis if it fails to break free of its dependence on oil exports.
Speaking at a packed investment forum in St. Petersburg, Medvedev sought to reassure investors worried about the country's sharp slide into recession.
He said it was too early "to crack open the champagne" but that "nonetheless, I believe we have avoided the worst-case scenario." Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin gave a bleaker assessment, warning of further deterioration in the economic situation.
He said the rising number of unpaid loans would trigger a second wave of the crisis in Russia.
But he shrugged off more systemic problems, saying the crisis would be contained through further recapitalization of banks.
Meanwhile, Medvedev said there would be an inevitable increase in state involvement in some sectors of the economy that have been particularly hurt by the global economy, but promised it would be short-lived.
In recent years, the Russian government has moved to reassert control over areas of the economy deemed most strategic, most notably the energy sector.
Since the crisis began last year, however, the government has bailed out some major conglomerates that were highly leveraged, accepting shares as collateral in exchange for loans. Several mid-sized banks were also rescued by the government last year.
Those moves have worried investors who fear the government ownership will lead to inefficiency and corruption.
"State ownership in most of the sectors of the economy should be viewed as an inevitable but a short-term solution," Medvedev said.
Russia's worst economic downturn in a decade has been driven by tumbling oil prices, a weakening ruble and a flight of capital to safer havens.
Gross domestic product contracted by 9.5 percent in the first quarter after nearly a decade of robust economic growth.
Medvedev conceded the government failed to do enough to diversify the economy away from oil when times were good, and said it was necessary to ramp up efforts to reduce Russia's reliance on energy exports if it is to avoid a more serious crisis in the future.
But investors warned that Russia will find that harder to do when crude prices remain high.
"The more we will suffer from low oil and gas prices, the better we will move toward diversification of the economy," said Andrei Sharonov, managing director of Troika Dialog investment bank.
This "pain" is vital if Russia is "to switch to another kind of wealth," he said.
Oil executives said Friday that if there is not an increase in investment in the oil sector, prices could soar again.
Igor Sechin, Russian deputy prime minister, said oil prices could rise to $150 a barrel within two years in the absence of significant investment in the energy sector.
Nearly 30 percent of the audience polled at the forum said a fair price for oil was between $70 and $80 a barrel.
Medvedev's comments were a departure from previous government statements that the United States, where the sub-prime mortgage collapse sent shock waves through the global financial sector, is primarily at fault for bringing the Russian economy to its knees.
The tone appeared softer toward Washington than at the same forum last year, when Russia still appeared relatively untouched by the global crisis.
The president reiterated Russia's interest in seeing the ruble emerge as a reserve currency regionally and the emergence of Moscow as an international financial center - topics on which the president has touched repeatedly.
Chris Gibson-Smith, chairman of the London Stock Exchange, said Medvedev's speech demonstrated "a gentle assertion of Russia's potentially new position in the new world order."
But those ambitions seemed less attainable after a gradual but deep devaluation of the ruble early this year - the currency is strongly linked to oil prices - and the collapse of Russia's financial markets last autumn.
Ahead of the speech, analysts said they were looking for more concrete commitments by the government to wide-ranging reform even as a rising oil price gives the Kremlin a bit of breathing space.
Russia's stock markets experienced an impressive recovery this year after slumping by some 70 percent in 2008.
But volumes still remain thin compared to last year. The ruble has also recovered much of its losses, prompting some analysts to suggest that the currency is becoming too strong at a time the economy is still under considerable pressure.
"In Russia, we can see tremendous progress ... but that's just half of the truth," said Troika's Sharonov.

Kelantan - Place in Malaysia You Shouldn't Miss

2009-04-10T22:03:00.002+08:00

If you are looking for local gastronomical delights with a difference, then Kelantan is the place that you should head to.

Located in the east coast, Kelantan boasts for a cultural potpourri when comes to food. The combination of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Thai influence has given rise to unique Malaysian cuisine.
Malaysians will recall the tempting Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Berlauk, Nasi Tumpang, Laksam or Solok Lada that is synonymous with Kelantan and can satisfy even the most difficult to please palate.
Then there are the Malay cakes and sweetmeats, some with unsavoury or strange names like the Tahi Itik, Kuih Kartun, Badak Berendam, Abang Balik Gelisah, Che Abang Guling, Lompat Tikam, Lidah Buaya and many more. Despite their unappetizing names, they taste great.
RICH IN TRADITIONAL FARE
According to the Kelantan State Tourism Director Muhammad Zaki Talib, Kelantan is rich in cuisines that cannot be found elsewhere.
The traditional Kelantan fare serves as a major crowd puller to Kelantan, especially the tourists.
Added with a rich cultural heritage and unparalleled hospitality of the locals, Kelantan is ever ready to receive visitors from within and outside the country, he said.
To showcase Kelantan's culinary offerings the 2009 Kelantan Food Fair, a four day event that began on March 12, was held.
The event organised by the Kelantan State Tourism Action Council was held at the grounds of the Sultan Muhammed IV Stadium and saw the participation of 24 agencies and culinary masters from Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak and Thailand.
UNENDING MENU
The food festival served as an important avenue to highlight Kelantan's unique gastronomy with more than 200 type of food to be sampled by visitors. Among others are the Kelantan traditional cakes and sweetmeats, Sarawak layered cake, rendang tok, lemang periuk kera, ayam percik, lauk-pauk and numerous types of rice dishes and pengat.
One of the specialties dished out at the event is the nasi uduk ayam solor, a typical Kelantanese delight with the chicken grilled with sugar cane and this makes the chicken to taste sweet. Initially ducks were used, but later changed to chicken which is much preferred by the locals.
The list seems to be never ending added with appetizers like cek mek molek, jala mas, akok, puteri mandi, pulut bakar, buah tanjung and ketupat sotong.
Not only the visitors were awed by the vast spread but also the colour, shapes and their alluring presentation that are bound to make anyone drool.
One thing for sure, the food fest was well received by visitors who were all too eager to witness and savour Kelantan's fare.
GREAT TASTE TO SAVOUR
The tourism authority in Kelantan also took the opportunity to invite members of the media to join the fest.
The media members were taken for a three day visit to Kelantan and given the opportunity to savour numerous delights like kerabu jantung pisang, sambal pauh, serunding, kelapa jeli and all the appetizers.
In Kota Baharu alone, there are many locations where one can enjoy the local delights at cheap prices.
Head to the Buluh Kubu food court here and the old market of Majlis Perbandaran Kota Baharu (MPKB) to sample some of the best offerings.
Visitors can also try 'the special steamboat' at Food Village, that provides a different gastronomy experience as they not only get to dip the seafood and tofu in the boiling sup but also grille the meat.
A PLACE TO SHOP
A visit to Kelantan is incomplete without a stopover at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah, a famous shopping area in Kelantan. For those who love to bargain, it is the place that you should not miss.
The three-storey complex is the clear testament of Kelantan women's dominance in entrepreneurship and here visitors can find a myriad of keropok (fish crackers), handicraft and batik, cloth and clothing, and key chains apart from the traditional delicacies.
This market operates daily from 6am to 7 pm and all business activities will cease for 15 minutes during prayer times.
Another place of interest in Kota Baharu is Wakaf Che Yeh. This market is open after Maghrib and offers merchandise, food, clothing and others at cheap prices.
In a nutshell, Kelantan is a well recognised gastronomical destination that offers its own unique spread and is a value for money shopping destination.

Big Blue Whale is Coming to Town

2009-04-10T21:51:00.002+08:00

THE blue whale may be the largest animal on our planet, but it enjoys feasting on one of the smallest animals – shrimp-like crustaceans called krill.
However, it needs about 3,500kg of krill a day, which is equivalent to 64,000 hamburgers.
This interesting fact was disclosed at the Big Blue Multimedia Exhibition at Mid Valley Megamall, which runs until April 13.
A life-size sculpture of a two-month-old, 9m-long, female blue whale calf graces the East Atrium, while a low-frequency sound reverberates in the background.
“It’s to give you a feel of the sound made by a whale, but in reality, the frequency is so low that we can’t hear it,” whale expert and Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute director Dr Bruce Mate said.

The exhibition is presented by the National Geographic Channel and supported by Astro and Mid Valley Megamall to encourage Malaysians to care for this beautiful creature and to raise awareness of marine conservation in Malaysia.
Aside from the accurate replica of the calf crafted by a team of model makers in Australia, the exhibition also features expert sharing session, conservation and education activities and multimedia exhibits on Samsung LCD TV sets.
It also features footage from National Geographic’s documentary Big Blue, which will be aired on the National Geographic Channel 553 on Astro at 8pm on April 12.
From the footage, one will learn many fascinating facts about the blue whale, such as it having no teeth and being able to travel 160km in one day.
Mate, who has been conducting marine life research since 1973, is keen on up-close encounters with the marine mammal because it is mysterious.
“It spends 95% of its life in the sea and surfaces only to take a breath.
“The mystery makes a great detective story. I always say that if children love detective story, they will love science, too. It’s like trying to find out what’s real and getting closer to the truth,” the 63-year-old said.
His most amazing encounter with the blue whale happened in 2001, near San Miguel Island in Santa Barbara County in California.
“It was after a big storm and the waves were about 6m tall. A blue whale was going with the waves, body surfing.
“I sensed that this animal was doing that for fun. Maybe the blue whales have a sense of humour, too,” Mate said cheekily.
Mate pointed out that the blue whale was an endangered species, no thanks to whaling, global warming and ship strike.
“The depletion of the blue whales is because of us. The blue whale needs our help and so we need to find out more about its mysteries.
“We can’t change them, but we can change ourselves,” he said.
Conserving energy and reducing the use of plastic bags and fossil fuel are some of the small steps every one should take.

Beware! Oil Price is Rising Sharply

2009-04-10T21:32:00.000+08:00

Oil prices rose sharply Thursday despite more hints that energy use is way down, with traders focusing instead on a rising stock market and surprising news from retailers that suggests Americans are spending money.
If registers at the mall are ringing, that likely means people are driving.
Benchmark crude for May delivery rose nearly 6 percent, or $2.86 to settle at $52.24 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Trading was very light on a shortened trading week.
Nymex is closed for Good Friday.
In London, Brent prices jumped $2.47 to settle at $54.06 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.
"A lot of little things are giving investors hope that maybe the economy has seen the worst," said Andrew Lebow, senior vice president and broker at MF Global.
So far this week, home decor chain Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and restaurant Ruby Tuesday Inc. have reported better-than-expected first quarter results.
Teen retailer Hot Topic Inc. said sales at stores open at least a year rose more than analysts' forecasts.
On Thursday, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said sales at stores open at least a year, excluding fuel, rose 1.4 percent, short of the 3.2 percent rise analysts were predicting.
However, the world's largest retailer said a later Easter was to blame and that April sales are likely to be boosted by the holiday.
The government on Thursday said new jobless claims fell more than expected.
The Labor Department's tally of initial jobless claims fell to a seasonally adjusted 654,000, down from a revised 674,000 the previous week.
Analysts expected claims to drop only to 660,000.
"People are buying oil when they see signs of economic hope," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Alaron Trading Corp.
Flynn said he'll know that global demand has returned - and higher crude prices justified - when he sees both a significant drop in petroleum supplies and a decision by refineries to crank up their operations.
"Right now, we're not seeing that," Flynn said.
The government reported Thursday that natural gas storage levels in the U.S. rose more than expected last week.
Natural gas is a key energy source for many power plants and factories.
Rising storage levels suggest that people are using less energy, and companies are making fewer products.
Workers in energy intense industries like metals or manufacturing have been hit especially hard in recent rounds of job cuts.
That is reflected in the growing stocks of oil and natural gas in U.S. storage facilities.
It is potential energy that is not being used, one side effect of a very bad recession.
The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report that natural gas inventories held in underground storage in the lower 48 states rose by 20 billion cubic feet to about 1.67 trillion cubic feet for the week ended April 3.
Analysts had expected a boost of between 11 billion to 16 billion cubic feet, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.
On Wednesday, the government reported crude supplies increased by 1.7 million barrels and gasoline inventories rose by 600,000 barrels,
OPEC countries continue to trim crude production in hopes of siphoning off a global surplus.
Tanker tracker Oil Movements reported Thursday that shipments from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries are expected to drop another 280,000 barrels for the four-week period to April 25.
Meanwhile, with U.S. gas supplies well above average for this time of year, refiners have cut back on gasoline production, which has in turn helped boost prices.
The Energy Information Administration said 767,400 barrels of refining capacity will be offline this month, up 14.5 percent from the historical average of 670,000 barrels of offline capacity.
That could mean tighter supply and higher prices in some regions, particularly on the East Coast in the next couple of weeks.
This is the season when refineries shut down for repairs and switch over to summer blends.
That, along with more people hitting the road, usually means higher gasoline prices.
In other Nymex trading, gasoline for May delivery rose 4.14 cents to settle at $1.4810 a gallon and heating oil gained just over 3 cents to settle at $1.4288 a gallon.

Lee Young-ae giving serious thoughts about "Dae Jang Geum 2"

2009-02-12T17:45:00.000+08:00

Second series of popular Korean TV drama "Dae Jang Geum" may indeed be coming true. Recently, manager of Lee Young-ae, female lead of the drama, was involved in a case of swindle which cheated production companies of 200million Korean won (about S$220,000) in the name of "Dae Jang Geum 2". The manager subsequently showed up and denied his involvement; instead he claimed to be victim of the scam too. It was said then that there were plans for a sequel to drama. However, according to latest Korea reports, the production team is indeed discussing a sequel to "Dae Jang Geum".

According to Korea's Money Today Star news, Lee who has not acted for some time is seriously considering her return to the screen via the drama "Dae Jang Geum 2". Production company A TOP Media said they are currently in discussion with Lee to decide if they should do part two of the successful drama, or start on something fresh. Lee's manager also admitted to be currently discussing this production and a decision will be made soon.
The success of "Dae Jang Geum" six years ago brought special attention to its sequel, causing rumors to sprout and even bringing about the scam. Should Lee return to the screen with "Dae Jang Geum 2", it will definitely become the hottest topic in town again.

Rihanna delays Malaysia show after alleged attack

2009-02-12T17:40:00.000+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Pop superstar Rihanna has postponed a concert in Malaysia this week, organizers said Tuesday, following reports that she accused her longtime boyfriend Chris Brown of assault.

Rihanna's Los Angeles-based representatives informed Malaysia's Pineapple Concerts that the Feb. 13 show would have to be rescheduled to an unspecified date "in light of recent events involving Rihanna," Pineapple Concerts said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Rihanna had been slated to visit Indonesia and Malaysia on her "Good Girl Gone Bad" tour.
Her planned stop in Kuala Lumpur drew publicity after organizers said she would shun skimpy outfits to conform with Muslim-majority Malaysia's strict rules on performers' dress.
The Los Angeles Times, citing law enforcement officials familiar with the case and other sources it did not name, reported that Rihanna told police that Brown had hurt her the night before the Grammy Awards.
A police statement released Sunday said Brown and an unidentified woman began arguing while riding in a car following a pre-Grammy party where they were spotted together Saturday night. The fight escalated when they got out of the car, the report said.
The report indicated the woman was injured, but Brown was booked only on suspicion of making a criminal threat after walking into a police station Sunday night. Authorities said the district attorney could choose to expand the charges.

Sandra Bullock InStyle

2009-02-11T17:18:00.004+08:00

For the down-to-earth actress with friend-you'd-love-to-have appeal, honesty is the only policy. Bullock eagerly answered questions from InStyle readers about family, career, style, and what's next. [ Check Out Pics From Sandra's InStyle Photo Shoot ]

Which role did you really want and not get?

Mary M., Brooklyn

"There haven't been any roles that I wanted that I didn't get, but there was a movie I wish I had done: 'The Matrix.' At the time [I was approached about it], it wasn't cast with Keanu [Reeves], and I didn't see myself with the person they wanted [in it]. Later I saw the movie and loved it. It was sexy and great because of Carrie-Anne [Moss] and Keanu."

What made you want to do your new movie "All About Steve"?

Annisa J., Chula Vista, CA

"I read the script and laughed so much. It encapsulated everything that has gone awry in our society for girls and women, who are pushed to be homogenized. What happened to all the Carol Burnetts in the world? All these great women were allowed to be this unique blend of things. I'm not the blond bombshell; I'll never be that. There's a piece of Mary in everybody -- to be accepted for who you are and not have to change to be seen as normal. To be true to yourself is something I admire. I wish I was like that all the time." [ See Sandra's Look Change Over The Years ]

What do you tell a girl who feels ugly because she's not blond or doesn't have a thin nose?

Elizabeth D., N.Y.C.

"Welcome to my broken nose! [Her sister accidentally broke it while lifting a garage door when they were younger.] ...I was rejected in school because I didn't look like the big-breasted, beautiful girls. I was awkward and sad. My mother always said, 'Be original!' but I didn't understand until I changed to be like everyone else. Once I fit in, I was like, 'What have I done?' I realized that my friends before were much cooler, with a great sense of humor and a way of looking at the world that was more fun. But if I hadn't gone through that, I wouldn't have been driven to make my oddities cool. It's what made me have a sense of humor and thick skin. It's like in 'All About Steve' -- I'm making fun of everything people have judged me for and put it into one character."

Which actresses do you admire most?

John S., Greenburgh, NY

"There are amazing women in our business, and they continue to break ground. I make a joke about Meryl Streep: They just need to give her her own category at the Academy Awards, and when she makes a film that year, give her a statue. I just saw Penelope Cruz in 'Elegy.' No one who looks like that should also be an extraordinary actress. I was so blown away by her in that film, I wanted to write a note to applaud her. We have to support each other. I admire actresses who are good to women. I don't like the ones who just don't like women. You can feel it, and I'm like, 'You're degrading yourself.'"

How do you stay in shape?

Aus J., Brooklyn

"People ask, 'How do actresses do it?' Um, they pay us to do this in order to look good on film. I do Pilates, kickboxing, weight training. When I'm in Austin, I run or ride a bike. If I can work out every day, I will. But there are times when I won't do anything for two weeks, and I'm like, 'You know what? I talk enough to burn calories.'" [ Find Out How To Get Sandra's Flawless Skin ]

What's your most memorable fashion moment?

David M., Los Angeles

"My wedding dress. It was beautifully handcrafted, with elegant French lace. Angel Sanchez designed it, and every time I'd try it on, he'd say, 'Sandra, please [lose] five pounds!' I apologize, Angel. I didn't give him those five pounds, but guess what? That round, shiny, happy person was me."

What is your shopping indulgence?

Christina S., Hicksville, NY

"At the end of every film I buy myself something. I'm frugal and I have to have saved for it. I once bought a big orange Hermes bag, but the guilt that followed from buying it lasted a year. I used it in another movie I just shot, 'The Proposal,' so I feel better about it."

Is there a child in your future?

Megeen C., South Orange, NJ

"I have family in spades. I walk into our house, and it is chaos. Everything we do is about the kids. I haven't had children biologically. I had shut that off; then I met Jesse, and it turned on again. I was like, 'Oh, that's that feeling.' But we realized we had to take care of some other things on this planet first. I hope to God when we get to a place where all is safe, calm, happy and healthy, it's not too late. Not until recently was it that time to say OK. It's now OK. If I waited too long, it's because we were supposed to do other things. If it is just too late? There are millions of children on this planet that I would be honored to call my own."

Meet Bar Refaeli

2009-02-11T17:01:00.004+08:00

Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue recently hit newsstands and this year's cover model, Bar Refaeli, is lighting up the Buzz. The drop-dead stunner is absolutely huge in Search. Ready or not, Refaeli-mania is upon us. Here's a primer on what you need to know...

Is she single?

Doubtlessly, this will be the first question asked by males, aged 13 to 99. Alas, Ms. Refaeli is off the market, and frankly, you have no shot. She's currently dating Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio. Interestingly, rumor has it that the Titanic star campaigned to get his special lady on the cover. The men of the world thank you for your dedication, Mr. DiCaprio.

Where is she from?

Is she an alien from the planet Ogle? Was she genetically created by an elite crew of Maxim scientists? Neither, actually. Ms. Refaeli is the first Israeli model to grace SI's cover. In an interview with Time magazine, the model revealed that while she can't participate in the upcoming Israeli elections, she'd probably vote for Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

How long has she been a model?

Proud of yourself because you were bagging groceries at 15? Big whoop. Ms. Refaeli had her first modeling gig when she was 8 months old. The ad was for a baby bib, and in the Time interview, Ms. Refaeli says that it still airs on TV in her native land.

Does she "act"?

It seems like a near certainty: Pose on Sports Illustrated's cover in a bikini (or less) and you're guaranteed an acting career. Kathy Ireland, Elle Macpherson, Paulina Porizkova, Gisele Bündchen, Tyra Banks... The list goes on, but is Bar going to be on it? Yep. According to IMDb, she's set to star in a "psychological suspense drama-thriller" in which a doctor becomes obsessed with a beautiful patient. You'll never guess who Bar plays.

Public Bank to cut BLR by 55 basis pts

2009-01-30T00:06:00.001+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Public Bank Bhd and Public Islamic Bank Bhd will reduce their Base Lending Rate (BLR) and Base Financing Rate (BFR) by 55 basis points from 6.5% to 5.95% with effect from Feb 3.
Public Bank group chairman Tan Sri Dr Teh Hong Piow said on Thursday the reduction of BLR/BFR was part of the banking group’s on-going commitment towards the creation of a more supportive monetary environment to sustain the country’s economic growth.
“Customers will enjoy immediate benefits as the interest/financing rates of all their loans and financing pegged to BLR/BFR will be reduced by 0.55%,” he said.
Teh said Public Bank Group would assist customers manage their financial obligations by providing them with the flexibility to reduce their monthly loan instalments.