The magic of midnight

There's something magical about watching fireworks with friends at midnight - the hope and the joy of a New Year displayed in sparkling twinkles against the night sky.

God and Voltaire

If God didn't exist; it would be necessary to invent him - Voltaire

Hobo

Hobo is short for homeward bound

What feels better, what feels worse

It isn't necessary to know exactly how your ideal life will look like; you only have to know what feels better and what feels worse - Martha Beck

Karen Blixen

Out of Africa was written by Karen Blixen whose pen name is Isak Dinesen.

Timothy Hutton.

Timothy Hutton won an Oscar for his first film - Ordinary People.

Wasting time

Faffing means wasting time.

Spendthrift Malaysians

53% of Malaysians, in response to an international survey, revealed that they were worried about the state of the economy but just could not stop spending.

John Adams

John Adams is a Pulitzer Prize winning book by David McCullough.

The youngest king in the world

The youngest king in the world is the King of Bhutan who is a 28-year-old Oxford graduate.

Terengganu

Terengganu, a state on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, has a 150-mile coastline.

The Bigotry at The Lake Club

In Colonial times, a Malay Sultan was turned down membership at the Lake Club and a white man who was a clerk was admitted instead.

Visiting hours

Selayang Hospital in Malaysia is very strict about visiting hours. They don't even allow family members to visit patients unless they have a special pass.

Thinking Small

In 1960, admist an atmosphere of sucess=size, the little Volkswagen beetle revolutionised thinking with its one-page ad - "Think Small."

The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Australian author Marcus Zusak about a girl in Nazi Germany who is abandoned by her parents.

Hospitals and deposit money

There are some general hospitals in Malaysia who turn away those who do not produce enough "deposit" money to get a procedure done.

Souled Out

"Souled Out" cafe has more than one outlet

Buddha

Buddha means 'the awakened one'.

Number of words

The average number of words on a double-spaced typewritten page is 250

A new book

Anne Jones, a healer, has a new book out. It's called Soul Connection.

A hard-to-find Commodity

It's not easy to procure good Garam Masala in Malaysian supermarkets.

Antevasin

Antevasin in Sanskrit means one who lives at the border.

The Gurugita

The Gurugita is an ancient sacred Hindu hymn/mantra

A famous smoker

Barrack Obama is a smoker

Terraforming of Mars

Terraforming Mars is a hypothetical process of changing conditions on the planet so as to make it habitable of humans and other life forms from Earth.

Fortune cookies

Fortune cookies were invented in California

Dying for fashion

A long time ago, it was fashionable for married Japanese women to paint their teeth black. As they often used lead paint, many of them literally died for fashion.

Appaling freelance rates

Apparently, freelance writers in Malaysia get paid less than 50 sen per word. Yikes!

Crocs designs

Crocs (the shoe manufacturer not the reptile!) have come up with some new shoe designs and they really look good. Seems ugly n crocs may not be going hand in hand anymore.

Dalai Lama and Bush

The Dalai Lama like George W. Bush! Although he disagrees with some of Bush's decisions, the Dalai Lama feels that Bush is nice in person.

Galangal

Galangal is also known as lengkuas

Female dentists

58% of dentists in Malaysia are female

How to save on fuel

Inflating the tyres on your vehicle to the correct pressure can save up to 5% of your fuel cost.

Jason ...... Bateman

Actor, Jason Bateman's middle name is Kent

Ron Howard's babysitter

Liza Minelli was supposedly Ron Howard's babysitter when he was a kid.

The Trifecta

In the United States, New York, La and Washington DC are known as the trifecta

Nabob

Nabob - a very wealthy or prominent person; mogul.

Mod

Mod is a term used to refer to a British teenager or young adult in the 1960s who opposed rockers and were very conscious of what they wore.

Wrong turns

One wrong turn down a highway and your journey can be extended by hours and hours.

Bruce Willis sues

Bruce Willis is suing Petra Group and its Malaysian chairman Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar to recoup US900,000 of the US2mil invested in what is being called a "green rubber venture."

False good deals

A 'good deal' may not be what it appears to be. Hidden costs (staggered payments with high interest rates) can push up the price to more than twice the original amount.

A Job Offer

I was offered a job today (too boring, didn't take it) after not having appeared desperate at the interview (ref to post date 18/11)

Vanity Fair slang

Vanity Fair is sometimes referred to as the in-flight magazine of the Gulf Stream jet-set - Toby Young, "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People"

Interview skills

It not only matters what you say at an interview but how you say it. The key is not to appear too desperate.

Pampering

A day of personal indulgence (haircut, nails, eyebrows) can do wonders for your outlook.

The best customer service

The Metrojaya store in Mid Valley Malaysia has the best customer service compared to any other store here.

The proliferation of Starbucks

There can be more than one Starbucks outlet in a mall.

Busy restaurants

Certain restaurants are so busy that they need to put up a sign that tell customers they might have to share their table with strangers because there just aren't enough tables to accommodate everyone.

Cinco

Cinco means five in Spanish

Tint removal

It takes hours to remove the tint out of windows (that were not originally tinted). This is because the glue that is used to stick the layer of tint on windows is hard to remove.

Gluttony and Me

It is possible for me to eat a double cheeseburger and two pieces of fried chicken in one sitting.

Puccini's birthplace

Florence is Puccini's birthplace.

Itadakimasu

Itadakimasu means Bon Appetit in Japanese.

Stomach flu

One of the symptoms of stomach flu is a stomach ache that feels like food poisoning.

Gimlet

A Gimlet consists of vodka and lime juice.

Quantum of Solace

Despite massive positive hype surrounding its release, the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, is absolutely awful.

Curtain hooks

There are two types of hooks from which to hang curtains - one type is designed for curtain railings that are fixed on the ceiling while the other type is for railings that are fixed on the wall.

Quick interview process

It's possible to apply for a job and get called for an interview on the same day.

New photo vs scanned photo

It's cheaper to get a new passport-sized photograph taken then it is to scan an old one.

Yoga

Yoga has been practiced since 3300BC

The source of mental illnesses

There is a theory that suggests that many serious psychological illness such as schizophrenia is brought on by the mind's resistance to cope with life situations.

Being in the moment

If you are completely present in the moment, very little can faze you.

Farid Ali

Farid Ali is a Malaysian artist whose music is a fusion of traditional Malay guitar (ghazal) and jazz sounds.

Lucrative freelance gig

In the world of freelance writing for large corporations is the most lucrative option.

Automated fitness regime

There are gyms in Malaysia where members can have their entire fitness regime programmed into a 'micro key' that is inserted into a particular machine. This key automatically starts the program on every individual machine without any effort from the user.

Long queues at mall carparks

It is a terrible idea to go to a mall in Malaysia on a public holiday. The queue leading into the carpark literally stretches for a couple of kms!

Carpets at Ikea

Carpets are cheap at Ikea.

Pelmets

A pelmet is framework that outlines the top of a window.

The Divine Comedy

Dante published the Divine Comedy in 1321. He wrote about the progression through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven.

A quote by M.Scott Peck

Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.

A quote by Bill Lemley

When nobody around you seems to measure up, it's time to check your yardstick - Bill Lemley

Surrender and Liberation

Surrender does not always signify defeat, sometimes it means liberation.

Gigantic malls

It is getting to the point when one needs to use a skateboard or some other device with wheels to get around mega shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur. They're all absolutely gigantic.

Angels and Demons

Tom Hanks will reprise his the lead role in the follow up to the Da Vinci Code - Angels and Demons.

Cheaper curtains

It is cheaper to buy curtains from impersonal chain stores than from privately-owned stores.

Wendy's Burgers

Wendy's chicken burgers aren't as tasty as I remember!

2008 Booker Prize Winner

Aravind Adija won the 2008 Booker Prize for White Tiger

Ewoks

Apparently Ewoks (from Star Wars) speak Tibetan

Malaysian cooking habits

According to sources, 40% of Malaysians cook everyday.

The meaning of semi-furnished

Semi-furnished apartments for rent in Malaysia are sometimes just fitted with a kitchen cabinet and no other furnishing!

How cats purr

Cats can purr because they have special wiring that allows vibration of the muscles in a kitty's voice box. Domestic cats purr when they are happy and sometimes when they are upset or startled. Big cats (like pumas or mountain lions) that cannot roar are able to purr. Even raccoons can purr!

Independant Living

There are all sorts of equipment designed to help the infirm in Australian in a store called Independant Living.

Port

Port (the drink) is from Portugal.

The capitol of Sudan

The capitol of Sudan is Khartoum.

Eckhart on YouTube

Talks by Eckhart Tolle (author of The Power of Now) can be found on YouTube.

Peppercorns

Peppercorns are the berries of a tree

Kopitiam at the Curve

The Kopitiam at the Curve Shopping Centre is really great.

What-Ever Loser!

Whatever Loser is the latest in teenspeak. It's supposed to be said with emphasis and separation between the syllables in the word whatever i.e. What- Ever Loser! The phrase is accompanied with a fascinating hand gesture ...hold up the index, middle and ring fingers of your left hand against your forehead (to form a W for what), turn the same fingers 45 degrees to the right (to form an E for ever) and hold up your index finger and thumb at right angles (an L for Loser).

Kitchen organization

It takes a long time to organize an effective, efficient kitchen.

Computers not waiters

Some Japanese restaurants in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia have successfully replaced waiters with a competent computer system installed at every table.

Scrap metal millionaires

There are Malaysian millionaires who amassed their wealth by buying and selling scrap metal.

The 2009 Prediction for the US economy

An economic downturn that is worse than the Great Depression has been predicted for the US in 2009.

George Elliot's Quote

Is is never too late to be what you might have been - George Elliot

Juvenal's Quote

Revenge is the weak pleasure of the narrow mind - Juvenal

Druids

Unlike what some people may think, Druids are not robots but members of an ancient priestly and learned class in the Celtic societies of Western Europe, Britain and Ireland.

Kalos Kai Agathos

The Greeks have a term for the singular balance of the good and the beautiful - Kalos Kai Agathos.

Om Nama Shivaya

Om Nama Shivaya is a sanskrit phrase that means - I honor the divinity that resides within me.

Ciao

Ciao is an abbreviation of a phrase used by medieval Venetian as an intimate salutation: Sono il suo schiavo! meaning - I am your slave.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can be severe even in people in their 30s - resulting in immobility.

Margaret Thatcher's illness

Former British PM, Margaret Thatcher, has been suffering from dementia for the past 7 years.

Babies being born at night

Most babies are born at night. This is a phenomenon that developed in ancient times when it was safest to for a human child to be delivered under the cloak of darkness.

The world's oldest man

Tomoji Tanabe is the world's oldest man. He turned 113 yesterday. He was born on Sept 18 1895.

Nurses at home

Nurses at Home is a nursing service found in Malaysia. Nurses at home help those who need to take care of the sick family members who need medical care and are recuperating at home. They can be contacted at www.nursesathome.com.my

Chevon

Goat meat is not mutton. It is referred to as chevon.

W

George W. Bush's middle name stands for Walker

Low pollution in LA

In a recent study, LA was named the second least polluted city in the US. This is partly because Pacific breezes reduces the need for air-conditioning and heating.

Friendship

You never realize how much you really love your friends until you have to say goodbye

Good Looking Miami

According to a poll residents of Miami are the most attractive in the United States

Untouched Paris

Paris was not damaged in World War II

Kids' minds

Apparently small children look at books upside down and it makes sense to them - their minds work that way.

Bone marrow

Bone marrow makes both red and white blood cells.

A nation in Africa

Eritrea is a country in Africa.

The Red Panda

There is a cute, furry red Chinese animal called the Red Panda.

Food and Feelings

According to Dr. Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz craving for certain types of food is a reflection of your feelings:

1. Meat/hard, crunchy food - anger
2. Sugar - depression
3. Soft, sweet food (like ice-cream) - anxiety
4. Salty food - stress
5. High carb like rice, pasta - loneliness

Strength Training after 35

After the age of 35, your muscles begin to deteriorate. If you don't incorporate strength training into your exercise routine, you will gain weight even if you don't increase your food intake.

Too much of a good thing

Doing too much exercise (more than 13 hours a week or two hours of cardiovascular) can decrease longevity.

Internet in Tanzania

Internet connection costs about USD70 for 3 months in Tanzania, East Africa. This sounds cheap until you discover that the connection in question is woefully slow and highly unreliable.

Obelisks

An obelisk is a monument with a pyramidal top.

Geisha

A rough translation of the word Geisha in Japanese is artist

Sunny side ups

Eating sunny-side up eggs for breakfast are a bad idea if you're not absolutely sure that the eggs are good because you may come down with an awful tummy-ache!

Jack the Ripper and black magic.

One explanation for the Jack the Ripper crimes is that whoever Jack was, he was involved in black magic. The theory goes that his killings were linked to the dark arts and that is why the crimes began and ended so suddenly.

The Dalai Lama's health

The Dalai Lama was hospitalised after complaining of stomach pains.

Minnie Driver

Actress Minnie Driver is pregnant but has not revealed who the father is.

Playing host

Hosting a guest in your home is not a hard thing to do - as long you get along with your guest!

Mauritania

Mauritania is a matriarchal society and fat women are considered attractive.

Mojito

Bacardi (white rum) is the main ingredient in a Mojito

Red Colobus Monkeys

Red colobus monkeys, found only in Zanzibar, are also known as poison monkeys on the island.

1st Railway in East Africa

According to locals, the 1st railway ever built in East Africa was located in Zanzibar.

Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro directed both Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy II

504 Gateway Timeout

At times the message "504 Gateway Timeout" appears when downloading a webpage. This means that one server did not receive a timely response from another server while attempting to download a webpage or fill another request.

Capitol city of Slovakia

Bratislava is the capitol of Slovakia

The man after Mozart

Mozart's widow, Constanze, married a Danish diplomat whose tombstone reads, "Here Lies Mozart's Widow's Second Spouse."

Pakistani President Resigns

Pakistani President Prevez Musharraf has announced his resignation after 9 years in power.

image from www.welt.de

Michael Phelps

American, Michael Phelps, made Olympic history by winning 8 gold medals in swimming.

image from thinkpop.wordpress.com

Ruins in Libya

There are Roman ruins in Libya

Errant Judges

Some people believe that the gymnastics judges for the 2008 Olympics were partial to Chinese athletes.

Turkey Bird

A fascinating point concerning the naming convention of the Turkey bird is that it is named after a country in, every country.


In France, it's called Dinde which roughly translates to "bird of India". In Malaysia it is called Ayam Belanda which means "Dutch Chicken". In Portuguese, the turkey bird is known as Persia. In German, it is called kalekuttisch hun or "Calcutta hen"

Seafood platter at the Fishmonger

A family size seafood platter at the Fishmonger restaurant in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania consist of 10 King prawns, crab claws fish and lobster. It costs about USD55,000.

Hibiscus Wine

Hibiscus wine can be found in Egypt.

The varying flavour of Pina Coladas

The flavour of Pina Coladas differ greatly at every drinking establishment

Bernie Mac Dies

Comedian Bernie Mac died, at 50, of complications caused by pneumonia

image from photobucket.com

Two Face

One of Batman's many enemies is Two Face

image from sketchplease.com

Anne and Mary Boleyn

Sixteenth century monarch, Anne Boleyn was King Henry VIII's 2nd wife (he had 6 wives throughout his life, two of whom were executed). Anne was beheaded for allegedly committing incestuous adultery with her brother George.

Anne had a sister, Mary, who was one of Henry VIII's mistresses.

Mary Boleyn is said to be the ancestor of a number of world-renowned British citizens such as Diana, Princess of Wales, Sir Winston Churchill and P G Wodehouse.

Undiscovered treasure

Apparently, there's about USD6 billion worth of undiscovered treasure on the world's ocean floor.

Never Let Me Go,

Never Let Me Go, a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro was the runner-up for the 2005 Booker Prize award. He won the award in 1996 for The Remains of the Day.

Never Let Me Go was named the best fiction novel for 2005 by Time magazine and was included in the Time list: 100 Best English Novels from 1923 to 2005

Upper crust

Apple pie used to symbolize wealth because only those who had the money for flour and lard could make the "upper crust" which is where the common term comes from.

McAvoy vs Damon

According to published reports not-so-recognizable actors such as James McAvoy are being favoured over big stars like Matt Damon. This is largely due to the fact that better known stars charge a much higher fee (sometimes 100% more) than talented but lesser known actors.

Stalin

Joseph Stalin's name was not originally Stalin - he chose that name probably because Stalin means man of steel in Russian.

Rachel Allen's Divine Rich Chocolate Cake

At the time of writing, I have not tried out this recipe. I watched an episode of Rachel's cooking show on BBC Food and saw her make this. The cake certainly looked divine and rich so I tried looking for the recipe on the net but (shockingly enough!) could not find it.

So, I waited patiently for the repeat of Rachel's show, pencil and notebook in hand, took down the entire thing from TV

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

150g dark chocolate chips (60-70 %cocoa)

150 caster sugar

125 g butter chopped into pieces

3 eggs

55 g plain flour

Method

Note: Preheat oven to 180C and grease a round baking tin. Line bottom of tin with greased greaseproof paper

1. Place chocolate chips, sugar and butter into a double boiler/bain marie to melt. When water comes to a boil, turn off flame and stir until everything is smoothly mixed.
2. While chocolate mixture is melting, break 3 eggs and whisk.
3. Add whisked eggs to melted chocolate mixture (after it has slightly cooled).
4. Fold in the plain flour.
5. Empty into prepared baking tin.
6. Place in oven and bake for 40 to 50 minutes

Chocolate glaze

Ingredients

110g chocolate

45 g butter

2 Tbsp milk

Melt all 3 ingredients in bain marie. Let cool but not cold. While still warm, pour glaze onto completely cooled cake.

Bread, baking and bicarbonate soda

Bread soda, baking soda and bicarbonate soda are all the same thing

A Hidden Portrait

New x-ray technology has been used to reveal a portrait of a woman under Vincent Van Gogh's Patch of Grass.

Van Gogh was known to paint over his work about one third of the time.

Miss World 1973

Majorie Wallace was the first American to win the Miss World title in 1973

image from geocities.com

Rx

Rx is an acronym for prescription, remedy or cure for an ailment or any kind of problem.

Homosexuality in India

The act of homosexuality in India is illegal and punishable by law.

Blackbeard

Blackbeard, the notorious English pirate of the 18th century supposedly lit matches and stuck in his beard so it would give him a smoky halo. He hoped that this would make him appear more evil and intimidate his enemies.


image from www.isd12.org

Isosceles triangles

An isosceles triangle has two equal sides.

Villalobos

Villalobos means "House of Wolves" in Spanish.

Bistro

Bistro means hurry or quick in Russian. It supposedly became part of French culture (bistros are little, moderately priced restaurants serving good French food in Paris) when the Russians occupied France in 1815 and impatient soldiers yelled "bistro" at restaurants

Snow levels in Wisconsin and Arkansas

It snows more in Wisconsin than it does in Arkansas

Yellow House

While he was in Arles, France, Vincent Van Gogh lived in the Yellow House. It was so-called because it had bright yellow walls.

The Human Intestine

Our small intestines are 20-feet long!

Mayans and Chocolate

Mayans were the first true chocolate lovers. They used it as a mood-enhancing cure-all, in ceremonies and as gifts.

The Mayans ground cocoa beans, mixed it with spices, water and chillies to create a bitter drink. They also mixed cocoa beans with grain and flavourings to make a healthy meal (which would be considered inedible today!)

image from fiery-foods.com

Survivor Micronesia

Reality show Survivor Micronesia has a new twist - the two opposing teams are divided as Favourites (players from previous Survivor seasons) and Fans (new players).

Venus and Aphrodite

The Greek Goddess Aphrodite is the Roman Goddess Venus.

8 new natural world heritage sites

The World Heritage Site List has 878 sites (679 cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed). There have been eight new natural sites added this year:

• Joggins Fossil Cliffs (Canada)
• Mount Sanqingshan National Park (China)
• Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems (France)
• Surtsey (Iceland)
• Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan)
• Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Mexico)
• Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona (Switzerland)
• Socotra Archipelago (Yemen)

Crystal Skulls

Crystal skulls that were previously thought to be ancient Aztec masterpieces have turned out to be fakes.

Scientists have discovered that the crystal skulls in the Smithsonian Institute, British Museum and the Quai Branly Museum in Paris have tiny marks on their surfaces that point to them being made with industrial tools and not Aztec expertise.

Zanzibar Secrets

Zanzibar Secrets, a store along Haile Sellassie road in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania looks fascinating when you walk in but in a photograph - it looks like a beautiful burst of colour!

Chillies

Chillies are a rich source of iron and vitamins A and C

image thaikingdom.co.uk

Henry Kissinger

Richard Nixon's national security adviser was Henry Kissinger

Haile Sellasie

Haile Sellasie was once the Emperor of Eithiopia.

The Secret of the Stradivarius

Stradivarius violins have long been known to produce exceptionally melodious music. This was credited to the genius of the violins' Italian craftsmen Antonio Stradivari.

However, scientists have recently discovered that there could be another reason. Stradivari lived during the Little Ice Age when trees grew little more in summer than in winter. This produced uniformly dense wood that produced better sounding violins.

How to make buttermilk

If you need one cup of buttermilk but can't find any just add 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar to one cup of milk. Wait a few minutes and ta-da.... you have buttermilk!

AWOL

AWOL is an acronym for Absent Without Leave

The Light of Death

In the 1960s, lasers were known more as weapons and less as impressive light displays. In China lasers were called si-guang or "The Light of Death"

Blinis and Latkes

Blinis (above) are Russian pancakes. A Yiddish pancake (usually made out of potatoes) is known as latke.

image from markys.com

Ghrelin

Ghrelin is a hunger-boosting hormone.

Barbeque

The word barbeque comes from Spanish barbacoa or French barbracot both from Taino and Arawat languages of Haiti and Guiana. These Indian words meant a framework of sticks set upon posts either for sleeping or to support meat above fire.

The Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the human body. It sends/receives messages from/to the brain from/to every other part of the body.

The Abomination

The Hulk's archenemy is The Abomination

image from hypeful.com

Bahati

Bahati means luck in Swahili

The iPhone and fingernails

The iPhone's touch screen only responds to electrical charges emitted by bare fingertips. This is impressive except for the fact that people with long fingernails are unable to use it.

Fresh in a Glass!

This is the recipe for really refreshing and very, very healthy drink recipe as demonstrated by Dr. Mehmet Oz on Oprah:

1 cup of spinach leaves
1 large, sweet apple
1 lemon
1/2 inch ginger
4 stalks celery

Oprah called it "fresh in a glass". I tried it and it really is!

Cheers to good health!

Quark

Quark is not just a known particle in Physics. It is also a type of fresh cheese that originates from Central Europe.

image from germanfoods.org

The Grizzly

The largest bear living in central North America is the mighty Grizzly Bear. A Grizzly can grow up to 2.1 metres (7 feet in length) and weigh up to a whopping360kg (800 pounds)! The Grizzly's scientific name is Ursus Arctos Horribilis !

image www.blogs.smarter.com

Heart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness which first appeared as a 3-part series in a magazine before it was published in 1909. It is considered to be one of the most significant pieces of English literature.

The story centres on Marlow, an English sailor, who journeys up the Congo river. Conrad himself was a captain of a Congo steamer.

image from botar.us

Souffle

The word souffle means "puff of air"

Another version of sausages

If you remove the casings from sausages - you get minced meat!

The Queen's Dowry

The Queen's Dowry is an immense treasure that currently lies at the bottom of the ocean.

In 1715, 12 ships laden with an enormous amount of gold, silver, jewels and rare Chinese porcelain, were headed for Spain but sank off the coast of Florida. Part of their cargo was destined to be the Spanish Queen, Isabella Farnese's, dowry.

The treasure, considered by some to be the largest ever seen, is supposedly worth USD3billion today.

The US 5 dollar bill

The US 5 dollar bill features President Abraham Lincoln.

The easier method of being vegetarian

It's easier to be a vegetarian for a day when you don't really think about it. If you're focused on not eating meat, all you want to eat is meat!

White Man's Burden

"White Man's Burden" was a pre-colonial term used to describe the coloniser's self-perceived destiny to rule subordinate peoples (as in Africa)

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Truman Capote wrote Breakfast at Tiffany's

Siberian Tigers

The largest cat in the world is the Siberian tiger. These beautiful, magnificent creatures can grow up to 3 metres long (9 feet) and weigh up to 135kg (300 pounds)!

image from hoothollow.com

The hottest part of a chilly

The hottest part of a chilly is the top - it contains more seeds.

European hotels vs African hotels

According to a hotel management trainee from Belgium, a 5-star hotel in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania would be considered a 3-star hotel in Europe.

Twins for Brangelina

Angelina Jolie is expecting twins

Gromit

Gromit is one of two main characters in Wallace and Gromit, a cartoon series where all characters are made from moulded plasticine modelling clay and filmed in stop motion clay animation. Wallace is an absent-minded inventor and Gromit is his rather more intelligent dog.

Barry Hilton

Barry Hilton is a famous South African comedian.

The price of champagne

A bottle of Veuve Cliquot champagne costs RM 215 (USD66) in Malaysia

Sunburn of the eyes

Overexposure to the sun can cause eye problems for people with light-coloured eyes - a type of eye sunburn. Sunburn of the corneas is called photokeratitis and sunburn of the inside of the eyelid and eye socket is called photoconjunctivitis.

The existence of black icing

It's possible to make black icing for a cake

Lindsay Lohan's middle name

Lindsay Lohan's middle name is Dee

The Death of YSL

Yves Saint Laurent, the French Fashion Great died at the age of 71

Wild pigs run fast

Wild pigs can run about 50 meters per second. Slightly faster than an Olympic sprinter.

Driving from Arusha to Dar

If you adhere to the speed limit, it takes about 8 hours to drive from Arusha, at the foot of the Kilimanjaro to Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania

Suicide rates

Since the feminist movement became stronger in the 60s, women's suicide rate has dropped by 34% while men's has increased by 16%.

Sharon Stone's controversial comment

Sharon Stone made a comment at the Cannes Film Festival that has caused a stir. She suggested that the recent earthquake in China was a karmic consequence of China's attack on Tibet. She has since been dropped by her Christian Dior advertisement campaign and been slammed by the Chinese.

image from www.exposay.com

The Wiz

In 1978, Michael Jackson played the scarecrow in an all black version of The Wizard of Oz called The Wiz.

The Nepalese Monarchy

The monarchy in Nepal is 240 years old.

My husband's pork curry

My husband's pork curry is so delish I have to have at least 3 helpings.

Labrador retrievers

Labrador retrievers aren't from Labrador. In the 1600s labrador retrievers appeared a few hundred miles south of Labrador in Newfoundland.

www.portlandlabrador.com

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is also known as angel weed.

Taking kitty to the vet

If you're going to capture a cat to take to the vet in a pet carrier, make sure that the carrier door is securely shut. Otherwise you may have an escaped kitty on your hands!

American Idol 2008

David Cook won American Idol 2008.

image from www.dallasnews.com

Club Maisha

Club Maisha in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania is a bit sleazy!

What it means to 'hawk'

To "hawk" is to sell food on the street or at the doors of houses especially while moving from place to place.

Tun Dr. Mahathir's resignation

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad resigned from the United Malays National Organisation or UMNO after 22 years.

Young Malaysia

More than 54% of Malaysians are below the age of 24.

Retinoid cream

Retinoid cream helps the body replace damaged tissue by increasing collagen production

Teilhard de Chardin's take on spirituality

French Geologist, Priest and Philosopher Teilhard de Chardin said that we are not human beings having a spiritual experience but spiritual beings having a human experience.

Me and Friends

I own WAY too many Friends DVDs!!!!

Saccharum Officinarum L

Saccharum Officinarum L, also called sugar cane, is a perennial belonging to the grass family

Plastickos

Plastic surgery takes its name from the Greek word plastickos which means to mould or give form

Van Gogh's nationality

Vincent Van Gogh was Dutch

Grapeseed oil

Grapeseed oil is a natural antioxidant

What sentient means..

Sentient means conscious.

Seaweed and face masks

Seaweed in face masks can smell like egg yolk. Phewww!

Greensleeves

According to legend, Greensleeves, the popular English ballad, was written by King Henry VIII for his unfortunate wife Anne Boleyn. Like Henry VIII's other wives, she was eventually executed by her husband.

Five nails in a car tyre

It is possible for five nails to be embedded in a single car tyre and not cause a flat.

The US dollar to Malaysian ringgit exchange rate

The exchange rate from USD to Malaysian Ringgit is down from 3.6 to 3.0 RM to 1 US dollar.

Conscious Death

Conscious death is described in the Tibetan Book of the Dead as the "luminous splendor of the colourless light of Emptiness". This, according to the Book of the Dead, is "your own true self."

www.tibet-trilogy.com

Goddess of Cats

Bastet was the Egyptian Goddess of Cats.

www.webzoom.freewebs.com

The inventor of the remote

American Robert Adler was the inventor of the TV remote control. Adler worked for electronic company, Zenith, from 1941 to 1999. Zenith produced the first TV remote control in 1950 and it was attached to the TV by a chord.

Robert Adler died in 2007 at the age of 93. Throughout his long career, Adler earned more than 180 US patents.

image from smh.com.au

The oldest sand dunes in the world

The sand dunes in the Namib Sand Sea in Namibia are the oldest in the world. They are 30 million years old.

www.imageafrica.co.za

The Antichrist

The Antichrist is said to be the human emissary of Satan on earth.

Tornadoes

Due to the earth's rotation and something called the Coriolis force, tornadoes swirl clockwise north of the equator and counter clockwise south of the equator.

How to stay full longer

According to a study conducted on the BBC programme "The Truth About Food", people stay full longer when they consume food that is high in protein compared to food high in fat or carbohydrate.

Anesthesia Awareness

Anesthesia awareness is a condition where people undergoing surgery are aware and able to feel pain or pressure but unable to communicate to make known their situation.

This occurs when patients under general anesthesia, which is administered for surgeries, do not receive enough dosage. They are then caught in a frightening prison of awareness without the ability to speak or move.

Anesthesia awareness is also known as "unintended intra-operative awareness"

The Kitchen Debate

In 1959, then USSR president Nikita Khrushchev and US president Richard Nixon exchanged heated words during a trade exhibition in Moscow.

Khrushchev remained unimpressed with American household products such as the colour TV and denounced capitalism.

An impromptu debate on the pros of communism vs capitalism followed. It was later dubbed The Kitchen Debate as it took place in kitchen section of the exhibition.

image from portlandart.net

Creating a homey ambiance

When you bake something the lovely aroma that perfumes the air around the house never, ever fails to create a homey atmosphere.

The Good Prince and the Bad Prince

Prince Harry is no longer seen as the 'bad prince'. That notorious title belongs to Prince William now.

Prince Harry was initially considered to be the less responsible of the two royal brothers, when he was caught smoking pot and overdoing the party circuit. There was also a scandal involving his choice of costume for a costume party. The outfit? A Nazi uniform.

These days, Harry is seen as having turned over a new leaf after he served in the army in Afghanistan. Meanwhile older brother William seems to be turning into a royal pain.

William has recently been using a USD20million military helicopter like a private taxi. After completing his RAF training, William has flown the pricey Chinook chopper to visit his girlfriend and attend a stag party.

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner, is the debut novel of Afghan physician, Khaled Hosseini. It is a tale of loss and remorse, love and redemption, family and friends.

Khaled Hosseini, now lives and works in the US, although some of his childhood was spent in Afghanistan.

The novel came out of nowhere to rise to the top of bestseller lists worldwide. To date, 8 million copies in more than 34 countries have been sold.

Killer Star Fruits

Star fruits contain a neurotoxin not present in other fruits. This poison can affect the brain and nervous system.

The star fruit, while harmless for most people, can turn deadly for those suffering from kidney problems. This is because people with diseased and weakened kidneys are unable to filter out this toxin.

image from volunteer.blogs.com

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day but it is only one of two Earth Days that are observed.

The first Earth Day was founded by peace activist John McConell in 1969 and is celebrated (and aknowledged by the UN) during the March Equinox.

The other Earth Day that is celebrated today, was founded by US politician Gaylord Nelson (Gaylord?!) to bring awareness to the state of the environment.

CO2 Emission

A 2-year-old child in a developed country contributes more CO2 emissions (through the use of disposable diapers and the like) than a person in Tanzania does in a lifetime.

Cellular Memory

Cellular memory is attributed to cells and parts of the human body aside from the brain.

In other words an organ such as a hand or a leg, will somehow retain the thoughts and /or tastes of the person.

At this point in time there is no scientific evidence that supports this theory.

Bokator

The martial art of Cambodia is called Bokator

The 2005 Kashmir Earthquake

The 2005 Kashmir earthquake killed nearly 80,000 people.

The Taos Hum

For years, a number of people who live in Taos, New Mexico have been puzzled by a strange hum that can be heard in the small town.

This low-frequency hum can only be heard by about 2% of the people of Taos. Some suspect that it could be caused by strange acoustics carried through the desert air while others think it might be caused by some far more sinister phenomena.

No one has ever been able to pinpoint the origin of this sound.

image of Taos from jackiecraven.com

130-day tour

The 2008 Olympic torch is going to take 130 days to complete it's world tour.

The Waggle Dance

A waggle dance is a dance performed by bees. The bee who is doing the 'waggle' is giving directions to his fellow bees on where flowers laden with pollen or nectar are and to where water sources are. Clever bees!

Salting Soup

When you make soup, always be extremely cautious about the salt that goes into it. It's better to under salt and then add as necessary than to over salt. Even if you add tons of water, an over-salted soup can never really be corrected.

Potatoes and the cold

Don't refrigerate raw potatoes - the starch turns to sugar

Greying

It is a myth that stress causes hair to go grey. Apparently, the speed with which your hair greys depends on genetics more than any other factor. The reason more grey hairs seem to appear after a stressful period in life is because more hair is shed under during this time. This causes grey hair to be more noticeable.

Curly hair turning straight

Hair that takes one hour to be curled in a salon straightens out in just 10 minutes when the weather outside the salon is humid.

Schadenfreude

Scahdenfreude is a German word that roughly translates to "deriving pleasure from another's misfortune"

Parboiling

To parboil is to cook something partially in boiling water before cooking it via some other method.

An Absolut world....

Swedish Absolut Vodka got into trouble in the US with some consumers promising to boycott Absolut. The latest Absolut Vodka ad campaign depicted California as part of Mexico - a reality prior to 1848. To add salt to the wound, the headline screamed "In an Absolut world"

image from thelocal.se

Goldeneye

The theme song for Bond movie Goldeneye, Pierce Brosnan's debut as 007, was performed by Tina Turner and written by Bono and The Edge of U2.

8-minute Oscar

Dame Judy Dench won an Oscar in 1999 for a fleeting appearance on screen as Queen Elizabeth 1 in Shakespeare in Love. The Academy found her 8-minute performance worthy of a statuette.

Cats and their 9 lives

It seems that cats really do have 9 lives. A friend's cat, Emilio, fell from the roof of a 5-storey building and lived to meow again. He was shaken for a couple of days after that but after a trip to the vet, he's as good as new!

Gandhi Walk

For the past 23 years, South African Indians have been taking part in the annual Gandhi Walk. The walk was originally organised to raise funds for a community hall in Lenasia, an area demarcated for Indians during the apartheid era. In it's third year, the walk was renamed the Gandhi Walk and the organising committee have since donated proceeds to various charitable causes.

The Rwandan Genocide

In just 3 months more than 800,000 people were massacred in the Rwandan Genocide of 1994

Randy, Paula and Simon

On American Idol, when it comes to the judges:

1. Randy is neither here nor there
2. Paula is mostly rubbish and
3. Simon is hurtful but sensible.

People should really listen to what Simon says!

image from static.flickr.com

Medical expenses in East Africa

It costs USD77 to get a doctor's opinion and a little bottle of nose drops at a private clinic in Dar Es Salaam , Tanzania

Beatrix Potter

The original Potter linked to children's books was not Harry but Beatrix.


Beatrix Potter was an English writer and talented artist who wrote and illustrated 23 delightful children's books in the early part of the 20th century. Her most famous work is undoubtedly The Tale of Peter Rabbit.



Beatrix lived in an era when women's rights were unheard of. She was strongly discouraged, by her own parents, to pursue 'intellectual development' although this did nothing to deter her.

Despite numerous obstacles she found a publisher for her writings and eventually became independently wealthy. Her books were small - specifically designed to fit into a child's hands.

Little known fact: Beatrix was also a well-respected, expert mycologist (person who studies fungi).

image from www.art.com

Atman

The German word for breathing - atmen- is derived from the ancient Indian (Sanskrit) word Atman meaning the indwelling divine spirit or God within.

- from The New Earth, Eckhart Tolle

Gray's Anatomy

In the 21st century, Grey's Anatomy is widely known as a popular medical drama series. However, Gray's Anatomy is also a well-known medical reference book that has been around even before TV was invented. In 1872, Gray's Anatomy was already in it's 6th edition.

Fish surviving a pepper storm

Fish are far more resilient than we think. A friend's tiny little fish (named Speedy) survived when her little boy decided to sprinkle some pepper in the fish bowl. Everyone thought that would be the end of little Speedy (he's only about 5 cm long) but he's still hanging out merrily . Well done, Speedy!

Mesclun

A mixed green salad is also known as mesclun (which apparently means 'mixed' in French)

Fierce People

"We are the sum of all the people we have ever met" - character from the movie, Fierce People

image from joblo.com

Malaysian thunderstorms

The thunderstorms are so aggressive in Malaysia these days that even people who have lived there all their lives (and who are routinely capable of ignoring massive tropical storms) are a little afraid.

Xenophobia

Xenophobia means having a fear of and contempt for foreigners.

Lake Natron

Lake Natron is located in northern Tanzania in East Africa. It is unique in the sense that it has a reddish hue.

This is caused by high evaporation levels and an increase in salinity which allows microorganisms to thrive. Some of these tiny organisms produce the deep red hue.

image from szavannablog.wordpress.com

Joseph Merrick

In 19th century London, Joseph Merrick was employed as an 'attraction' at a freakshow because of his tragically disfigured skull and part of his body. This anomaly caused him to vaguely resemble an elephant which was why he was known as The Elephant Man.

image from answers.com

Butterflies

Butterflies taste with their feet (their taste sensors are located there)

Gibson

Gibson is a Guinness World Record holder.... he's the world's tallest dog! Here he is with Zoe the little chihuahua:



When he's on his hind legs, he's 7 feet 2 inches (more than 2 meters) tall !

image from 11alive.com

The Ashera

There is a new mixed-breed cat that costs USD22,000 and resembles a small leopard. It's called an Ashera and is a hybrid of an African serval, an Asian leopard cat and a domestic cat.

image from dailymail.co.uk

Tallest Three

Everyone knows that the highest mountain in the world is Mt. Everest (Himalaya range, Nepal/Tibet).

But what about the second and third highest? The second highest peak is appropriately named K2 (Karakoram Range, Kashmir) while the third highest is called Kanchengjunga (also the Himalaya range, Nepal/India)

St.Patrick

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland

Meditation

In Lama Surya Das' book, "Letting Go Of The Person You Used To Be", he mentions a joke among Buddhist circles. It's a quirky, funny but accurate description about meditation - Don't just do something, sit there!

One

We are one. Every being on this is linked to every other.

Wise words

"Dream like you'll live forever. Live like you'll die today" - James Dean

Interconnection

Without exception....every single living being on this planet wants the same thing....happiness.

Sticks and stones may break my bones....

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me."

If you do not receive harsh words, it will remain with the person who said it. Words will only affect you if you breathe life into them.

The 7 Deadly Sins

Pope Gregory the Great who lived in the 6th century invented the 7 Deadly Sins:

envy
pride
gluttony
lust
anger
greed and
sloth

Prana

In Sanskrit, the word 'prana' means energy

Avos and dogs

The avocado, while delicious and harmless for humans, can poison dogs!

image from topgoldenretrieversites.net

Hummingbirds

A hummingbird beats its wing 50 times per second.


image from physorg.com

An Ancient Greek Tomb

An ancient Greek tomb with artifacts dating back to 3000BC has been found during road construction on the Greek island of Lefkada.

Human skeletons, pottery and beads made of semiprecious stones were among the items discovered in the tomb.

The find could spark a dispute on the true homeland of Homer's Greek hero, Odysseus. The tomb, believed to be of the Mycenaean era, is one of a kind on Lefkada although dozens have been found in Crete.

Homer's Odysseus is believed to have been loosely based on events that took place during the Mycenaean period.

Training

It is much harder to train/coach someone to do something than to be trained/coached.

Jumping the Broom

Traditional African American weddings feature the bride and groom "jumping the broom". In this part of the wedding ceremony, a broom is laid in front of the couple and they jump across it. This is supposed to signify the couple's 'jump' into a new life.

Happiness

Happiness is not a state of being...it's a decision. If you wait for "happiness" to descend upon you, it never really will because not everything in your life is going to go exactly the way you want it to all the time.

So just decide to be happy and you will be. Today, I ,made the decision and it worked!

Trust

It takes months or even years to earn somebody's trust but only a second to lose it.

The IFAW

The IFAW or International Fund for Animal Welfare is an excellent organisation that seriously pledges to improve the life of wild and domestic animals.

Animals lovers worldwide can join to help this cause in whatever small/big way they can. If you're reading this and you love animals, you can go to www.ifaw.org

Mr.Big

Carrie's man, Mr. Big, from Sex and the City has a real name - it's John James Preston.

Leap Years

Leap years occur every four years and have 366 days instead of 365 days. The extra day is added in February (February 29th) to keep the calendar year in line with the astronomical year. This is because seasonal and astronomical occurrences do not repeat in an exact cycle. If there were no leap years, the calendar year and the

Creme Fraiche

Creme fraiche is a heavy, cultured cream. It has a thick consistency and a vaguely tangy flavour. Sour cream is a good substitute.

Retirement Plans

Nobody wants to think about getting old and retiring but it is absolutely IMPERATIVE to have a retirement plan.

This is mainly because you will most likely not have a regular source of income when you're 80 and with inflation rates even USD1mil in savings is likely to be valued at only 70% or even less than it is today.

Michael Caine and the Korean War

Award-winning British actor Michael Caine was drafted into the Korean War in the 50s.
He admits to being sympathetic to the Communists in the beginning (Caine comes from humble beginnngs) but was quickly repelled when he observed the Chinese government's total disregard for the lives of their soldiers.

Caine is quoted as saying: "If they don't care about the lives of their own people how can I expect them to care about me?"

The Academy Awards 2008

Every single acting category in the Academy Awards was won by a non-American.


Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem (Spanish)
Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton (British)
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard (French)
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis (British)

Good scrambled eggs

One of the ways to get lovely, moist scrambled eggs is to make sure that your frying pan is not hot before you break the eggs into it. Break the eggs and add butter before turning on the heat.

Maternity Leave in Norway

Women are entitled to 18 months maternity leave - per child - in Norway.

Cheap flight tickets

Travel agents might end up going the way of the Dodo. It is inevitably cheaper to book flight tickets online compared to going through an agent.

The World's Smallest Country

The world's smallest country is Vatican City. It is just 0.2 square miles in size and has 770 non-permanent residents.

The Vatican City, also known as the Holy See, is surrounded by Rome.

Dubai's Super Bridge

An arch bridge, which will be the world's largest, is set to be constructed in Dubai and completed in 2012.

The 1.6 km long, 200-metre high bridge will be able to support 2000 vehicles on its 12 lanes every hour in each direction.

The end of the Castro era

Fidel Castro has stepped down as the President of Cuba after 49 years in power.

image from upload.wikimedia.org

Steak Diane

Steak Diane is a popular culinary dish usually made from filet mignon. It is said to have been around for 40 years although its origins are sketchy. This used to be a restaurant dish that was all the rage because it was often cooked at the table.

It is made by pounding the steak and then seasoning it with garlic and black pepper before frying quickly in butter. A gravy, often made out of sour cream and Worcestershire sauce, was poured on top just before serving

It is believed that Steak Diane is named after Diane - the Roman Goddess of hunting.

image from myrecipes.com

Baroque

The Baroque period, encompassing art, architecture and music, is believed to have approximately lasted from 1600 to 1750.

Baroque architecture is one of flamboyance and drama, often characterized by large, elaborate swirls and twirls. The word Baroque originates from a Portuguese word meaning "misshapen pearl".

image from instructional1.calstatela.edu

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A PET scan is a type of brain scan. Nuclear-imaging experts read this scan and can tell the amount of metabolic activity present in any area of the brain

Italy

The Engineer just informed me that when you look at a map, Italy is in the shape of a thigh-high boot! Check it out - the area called Bari, Leece and Gallipoli is the heel:




It's so fitting that the land that is known for shoes is in the shape of one! How cool is that?!

image from italianbusinessguide.com

Biedermeier

Biedermeier (bee de MY er) refers to a type of furniture design that became popular after Napoleon was finally defeated in Waterloo in 1815.

During the Napoleonic era, the style of furniture that was favored (at least by the rich) was ostentatious, grand and usually made out of expensive mahogany wood.

After Napoleon's defeat, the middle classes, who were increasingly financially comfortable, wanted furniture that was both beautiful and functional - Biedermeier was born.
image from faccents.com

Writing for Sex and the City

The writers of Sex and the City often used their own life experiences as storylines. If there was anything unusual or eccentric about someone they met, it usually ended up in the show.

In the episode "Plus One is the Loneliest Number" Carrie Bradshaw meets Jack Berger for the first time. The Berger character is a writer who likes to collect playing cards off the street to see if he can make a complete deck. One of the writers of SATC actually met a man who did just that in real life.

image from britfilms.tv

Tina Turner

Tina Turner was born in 1939 which means she'll turn 69 this year.

"Old age" must be a figment of the imagination in Tina Turner's world because when she rocked the stage at the 50th Grammy awards she left 26-year-old Beyonce in the dust.

Keep rolling, Tina!

image from canada.com

8 Grammys in 1

The highest number of Grammy awards won in a single night was eight. It was an unequaled accomplishment of Michael Jackson's in 1984 until Carlos Santana repeated the feat in 2000.

PS: I can't believe how good MJ looked back then....how the mighty have fallen...

image from chanchow.blogspot.com

Michelangelo

Michelangelo, the genius artist and sculptor who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, was apparently a homosexual.



This might well be true as Michelangelo seemed to revere the male form through his art. His female paintings (above) retained a certain masculinity in their muscular detail.

image from wetcanvas.com

Maltesers in Tanzania

A 100g bag of Maltesers in Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania costs TSH 4900 (USD 4.25/RM13.80)

image from orange.co.uk