Pearl Jam's Ten Reissue

lots of stuff from four different packages

 

Coinciding with the 20th Anniversary of their Ten album, PJ released a reissue of the album on 24.03.2009. In FOUR different packages. I had the cassette back in 92 I think. And was hooked with PJ since then. They'll reissue their Vs and Vitalogy albums this year, too, according to RTT's news on 22.01.2011.

 

Being me, I don't really have all their studio albums, but I do have loads of their singles. Rare collections which I treasure (sitting quietly in a Toyogo box under a desk in my room). Adlee gave me the Vs CD which he bought while studying in the States. I bought a Vitalogy cassette thereafter, and it was all blurry after that.

 

While in Manchester, I collected those singles. I'm not sure how many I have, and I'm not gonna list them here. However, I do have the Jeremy single which also features Yellow Ledbetter.

 

Ten Reissue is in my list of the CD to get. If you find one, do tell me. Deluxe or Legacy should be fine.

 

 

image taken from here

 

Plastic Bags

tesco's green bag

 

There's a recent move by the government for supermarkets to 'sell' plastic bags on Saturdays. Well, that's the way I see it. The objective is to 'teach' consumers to limit their usage of plastic bags, and be more environmentally conscious due to the fact that plastic bags are a burden to the environment. They degrade slowly, if they do at all. Thus, on Saturdays, supermarkets would charge their customers 20 sen for each bag that they issue out.

 

However, let's look at the alternatives that are being offered by the supermarkets. No bag at all, or at 20 sen per piece, or you can buy the store's own nicely designed reusable shopping bag.

 

That's great. I myself has been reducing the use of plastic bags at supermarkets. Whenever the cashier loads the items that I bought into many different bags, separated according to types of items (food and laundry detergent, for instance, are never put in the same bag), I would try to stuff as many items that I can into as minimum number of plastic bags. I'd say the usual is about 20% of the bags issued are reduced.

 

During my days in the UK (1996-1998), Kwik Save and Aldi sells the bags at 2 pence each. That minimal 'penalty' is enough to deter people from using bags. However, paper boards and cartons were available to be reused in-store. An example of this can be seen in the film Employee of The Month.

 

Personally, for dry items, I don't need plastic bags. However, I still need plastic bags for fish especially and other wet items. Albeit, plastic bags are a little bit porous and thus need at least two linings in order to be totally drip-free. At home, I'm using plastic garbage bag for the kitchen refuse as they are almost always wet. That being said, I use only bio-degradable garbage bags.

 

Tesco and Jusco use oxo-biodegradable bags with TDPA additives from EPI. I don't know, but perhaps it costs more than the normal bags (like in Giant). The oxo-biodegradable garbage bags are comparatively more expensive than the normal ones, definintely. Well, with the 'no plastic bags' on Saturdays, they would save at least some $ for sure. And, at the same time gain $ by selling the 'eco friendly reusable bags' to customers. Of course, for this reason alone supermarkets would be giving thumbs up for the government's push. What more with the 'green' image. However, with the introduction of reusable shopping bags, my house is now finding it a bit scarce of the 'singlet' plastic bags. For a week's dry groceries, I need at least 3 of those reusable bags. And, would have no clean plastic bags to be used for wrapping my clothes and packed meals I bring to the office whenever I ride the bicycle to work.

 

My thoughts:

1. Plastic bags should be at 5 sen a piece, and they shall be of the oxo-biodegradable type. I still need them for wet items. 5 sen is still quite expensive, but that's the smallest change that we can pay. Or, it can be priced cheaper, at 3 pieces for 10 sen for example.

2. The expensive 'reusable bags' need to be scrutinised in terms of their eco-friendliness (how they are manufactured, will they biodegrade, can they be recycled, durability, etc.).

3. Supermarkets need to have the paperboard cartons made available for customers to use, in store.

4. Why only on Saturdays? Make it every day. People would just avoid shopping on Saturdays and hurt supermarkets that way.

 

Other thoughts:

The Malaysian Insider

Wall Street Journal

Organic Lifestyle Magazine - Paper vs Plastic

 

True enough, people would generally think twice to bring their Tesco reusable bags to shop at Giant. At least I do.

 

 

image taken from the star

Bella Delivered

from left: A, B, C, D and E (tentatively)

 

Bella, the mother cat who invited herself to stay within our house compound some time ago, has delivered 5 healthy kittens 2 days ago. This is her second birth. Her first was a few months before this without any survivor among the 4 kittens.

 

Hopefully all A, B, C, D and E would survive and stay away from the warm car engine compartment, tires, and many other dangerous nooks and crannies loved by kittens all over the world.

 

Hmmm... I wonder what Marsya and Adam would eventually name them.

 

 

Boy Bawang

boy bawang!

 

My Filipino office mates (and boss, too) went back to their hometown for Christmas and New Year holidays. As always, their return to office is accompanied with tidbits from the Philippines.

 

My favourite: Boy Bawang, of course. Some may dislike it due to its garlic flavour ('bawang' means garlic in Tagalog), but I just love it.

 

Can't get enough of 'em.

 

Corn nut, on Wiki.

Main Air - 31.12.2010

anak cina mana ni?

:)

no girls allowed

guess on whose door?

Lebuh Raya Pasir Gudang dinaik taraf

Ok, so expect takde lori lah, kat lebuhraya Pasir Gudang ni tak lama lagi untuk 'sementara'. Dan jem lagi, selama 'sementara' itu...

All the more reason to RTW.

------------------------------

Lebuh Raya Pasir Gudang dinaik taraf

Oleh ZULHISHAM ISAHAK

utusanjohor@utusan.com.my

JOHOR BAHRU 14 Nov. - Kerajaan akan menaik taraf Lebuh Raya Pasir Gudang daripada empat menjadi enam lorong pada tahun depan dengan kos RM150 juta bagi menyelesaikan masalah kesesakan lalu lintas.

Ahli Parlimen Pasir Gudang, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin berkata, kerja-kerja menaik taraf itu akan dilakukan secara berperingkat dengan fasa pertama projeknya membabitkan kos RM40 juta.

"Lebuh Raya Pasir Gudang akan menjadi tiga lorong di setiap hala yang sebelum ini hanya mempunyai dua lorong di sebelah kiri dan kanan.

"Melalui projek naik taraf ini, kesibukan dan kesesakan di lebuh raya itu akan dapat diatasi," katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan Program Komuniti Polis Daerah Seri Alam, di Dataran Alhamra, Menara Aqabah di sini semalam.

Turut hadir Ketua Polis negeri, Datuk Mohd. Mokhtar Mohd. Shariff dan Timbalannnya, Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman.

Pada Mei lalu, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak semasa melawat Pasir Gudang berjanji yang kerajaan akan menyelesaikan masalah kesesakan di laluan tersebut.

Khaled berkata, apabila kerja-kerja menaik taraf bermula, semua kenderaan berat boleh menggunakan Lebuh Raya Senai-Desaru dan tidak dibenarkan menggunakan Lebuh Raya Pasir Gudang.

Beliau yang juga Menteri Pengajian Tinggi berkata, langkah tersebut adalah untuk sementara waktu bagi mengurangkan kesesakan sehingga projek menaik taraf siap sepenuhnya.

Terdahulu dalam ucapannya, beliau meminta penduduk di sini supaya memberikan kerjasama penuh terhadap program itu untuk memastikan kegiatan jenayah dapat dibanteras.

Katanya, ini kerana bilangan penduduk Pasir Gudang bertambah setiap tahun dan pihak polis tidak boleh berada di setiap tempat untuk menjaga kesejahteraan dan keamanan.

Sementara itu, Mokhtar berkata, indeks jenayah di negeri ini dari Januari hingga bulan lalu menurun sebanyak 24.25 peratus iaitu dengan mencatatkan 5,942 kes.

Bagi tempoh yang sama, katanya, indeks jenayah jalanan turut menurun sebanyak 38.62 peratus dengan bilangan 5,942 kes.

"Kadar jenayah bagi tempoh tersebut yang berjaya diselesaikan ialah sebanyak 42 peratus atau 7,678 kes," katanya dan yakin melalui program itu kadar jenayah di Johor dapat dikurangkan lagi.

SUMBER : UTUSAN MALAYSIA

Nubhan's Album is Out Now

Ada dalam email inbox aku pagi tadi:

Subject: DAPATKAN ALBUM ;LANGKAH NUBHAN' SEKARANG!!!!

 

Dearest Nubies,

Eksklusif untuk Nubies dan fans, anda boleh mendapatkan album sulung Nubhan iaitu 'Langkah Nubhan' sekarang dengan harga RM24 yang telah ditandatangani oleh Nubhan dan disertakan bersama poster sekiranya anda membeli melalui Nubhan FC.

 

Untuk mendapatkan album ini, anda boleh menghubungi AJK-AJK Nubhan FC di bawah dengan memberi nama, nombor telefon dan alamat (jika memerlukan penghantaran terus ke rumah). Bagi Nubies atau fans yang berada di sekitar Kuala Lumpur, Selangor atau Negeri Sembilan yang ingin mendapatkan terus album ini tanpa penghantaran ke rumah, anda juga boleh menghubungi nama-nama di bawah mengikut kawasan:

 

1) Harney (012-6341952) - Seremban

2) Kak Kikey (012-2444290) - KL

3) Angah Ruzi (012-3201819) - Puchong, Subang

 

*Bagi Nubies atau fans, yang memerlukan penghantaran ke rumah, anda boleh membuat pembayaran di akaun ini 164017119309 - Shamsida Mustafa (Maybank).

 

*Kos penghantaran RM 5 (Semenanjung Malaysia) & RM 10 (Sabah/Sarawak)

 

*Sebarang pembayaran yang telah dibuat, hendaklah diberitahu kepada salah seorang AJK di atas.

 

So Nubies & Fans, apa tunggu lagi, jom dapatkan album Nubhan sekarang, eksklusif untuk anda melalui Nubhan FC. Selain mendapatkan album ini melalui Nubhan FC, anda juga boleh mendapatkannya di pasaran mulai minggu depan dengan harga RM 25.90.

 

Sekian, terima kasih. Teruskan menyokong Nubhan! :)

Amacam? CD edisi bertandatangan dengan poster, RM29 termasuk penghantaran.

Aku dah order kat Mak Ngah Rozi tadi.

Nak rip? Takyah lah... beli aje. Sehari singgit, sebulan dah cukup $ dah.

 

See also http://mforum2.cari.com.my/viewthread.php?tid=508352

 

An hour with Hazami

I sent an SMS the other day:

Hazami,

Would like to purchase your albums Nyata and dbl album Yang Pertama/Running to complete my collection. Surfed your website, but no online purchase facility.

Akmal Hizam

That was replied by a call from him, and we ended up chatting for an hour (and a little bit). Such a pleasant surprise.

 

It has been more than 15 years since A-Level years, and that hour was filled with trying to locate the whereabouts of my 12H classmates, and talk about the things during those 2 fantastic, crazy years (being with a bunch of crazy people). Well, my memory still serves me good. Of course, if I have facebook access it would be much easier.

:)

 

He's not sure if Nyata is still available, and he doesn't have a copy for me to buy but he has copies of the double album. However, he would not accept $ from me if I were to get it from him.

 

Now there's my dilemma. The reason for me to buy from him is to get a signed copy, and to support local artiste*. If I get it from him, I would definitely get a signed copy, but surely I have to keep my $.

Hmmm...

 

Anyway, to grant a man's wish, I sent another sms to him with my home address.

:)

 

 

*artiste (in my dictionary): at least singer songwriter. usually able to play musical instruments. ability to dance or act merely a plus e.g: Reza Salleh, Mei Chern, Yuna.

Haji: Mari Mengumpul Duit

harga pakej haji THTS 1431H/2010M

sumber

 

Borak-borak dengan Mak pagi tadi, aku tanya dia berapa harga pakej untuk dia pergi kerjakan ibadah haji tahun ni.

Katanya, "dalam 10,000 camtu lah, hotel dalam 200 m (dari Masjidil Haram). Satu bilik 5-6 orang gitu lah".

 

Lepas tu Mak menambah, "itu tak termasuk (Bayaran Haji) yang Tabung Haji tu".

 

Bayaran Haji: Info kat laman web TH tahun lepas ialah RM9,980.Ada juga yang letak RM7,704. Apa pun, maknanya, tanpa guna kalkulator (mesin kira), lebih kurang RM20,000 jugak lah nak kena ada tu.

 

Ulp! Dah naik RM5,000 berbanding 5 tahun lepas...

 

Aku cuba juga tengok-tengok kat internet, betul ke macam tu. Betul lah tu, lebih kurang. Sebagai perbandingan, aku letak harga pakej yang Tabung Haji Travel & Tours letak untuk tahun ni (1431H/2010M). Ada kat atas tu (harga pakej dah termasuk Bayaran Haji). Link kat sini. Itu kalau nak kerjakan ibadah haji & umrah dengan selesa lah. Untuk pakej-pakej lain yang ditawarkan, rujuk sini.

 

Boleh saja kalau nak ikut muassasah, cuma lebih kurang RM10,000 dah boleh kerjakan haji & umrah dah, termasuk dalam kuota. Kira basic aje lah, dan keselesaan tak terjamin. Itu aje. Tapi kalau nak 'add-on' perkhidmatan khas di Arafah & Mina, ada disediakan. Rujuk muka 8. Apa pun, itu cuma minima. Kena juga standby duit untuk mereka yang ditinggalkan (termasuk lah rumah dan kereta - masih kena bayar tiap bulan juga tu), dan juga belanja runcit-runcit bila kat sana tu.

 

Pendek kata, mengerjakan haji & umrah itu memang kena ada duit puluh ribu punya. Tak murah. Dan, aku yakin kita mampu, kalau kita letak niat dan mula tabungan.

 

Dengan niat yang ikhlas dan bersungguh-sungguh tu, akan datang rezeki yang tak disangka-sangka. Tapi bila dah dapat tu, kena sendiri mau hingat le, jangan joli beli/hapgred beskal (atau kereta, renovate rumah) pulak.

 

Kewajiban haji

Rukun Islam yang kelima.

Wajib bagi mereka yang mampu.

Kupasan bagi 'mampu':

1. Berkuasa membayar segala perbelanjaan bagi mengerjakan ibadat Haji sehingga selesai dan kembali ke tanah air.
2. Ada kenderaan pergi dan balik.
3. Disyaratkan mempunyai bekalan yang cukup untuk saraan nafkah orang yang di bawah tanggungannya.
4. Tidak mengalami kesulitan teruk semasa berada di dalam kenderaan.
5. Aman perjalanan.
Manakala bagi perempuan pula ditambah: Terdapat kawan perempuan berserta wanita Islam yang boleh dipercayai.

sumber

 

Makin lama umur bertambah, kederat tak tentu lagi. Dan yang hampir pasti, kos makin meningkat.

 

Selamat beramal, serta mula pasang niat dan menabung.

Photography Contest II

Okay, nobody submitted anything for the first contest.

 

How about this one:

 

Title: karipap sardin

 

You are to submit a photo of karipap sardin from any Bazar Ramadhan.

Only those which shows distinctively the sardine, packed full without any room for air in the karipap pastry.

Oh, and the percentage of onion shall be less than 10%.

Preferably showing the price RM1 = 3

 

How about that?

I have yet to find one.

Darjeeling from Darjeeling

My office mate Kartini handed me the nicely packed Darjeeling tea yesterday morning. Her husband went to India for a short stint for a project he's attached to (yes, 3 months is considered short), so I asked if he could bring back some Darjeeling for me. Although it's not what I wanted (loose leaf), I treasure it because it's authentic India Tea from Darjeeling. The brand is Golden Tips Tea.

 

If not for Ramadhan, I would have made a cuppa yesterday, right then. Eventually I made some for Naza and I to sample last night. She boiled the water and I prepared the tea.

 

Perhaps I put too little of the tea leaves in the water, it's not quite as black as I wanted. However, the body is there, and I like the aroma. Darjeeling is touted as the 'champagne of tea' by aficionados, but I think I have yet to attest to that. Well, I favour tea nowadays compared to coffee for a beverage, but I have yet to sample the whole spectrum of teas available, except for Earl Grey which I love (only from Twinings, though) and our (Naza and I) current favourite - Boh Cameronian. Will make some more, and perhaps I'll try the tea recipes too.

 

Did I mention that Tini refused to take $ from me for the tea?

Thanks, you both.

 

More info on Darjeeling tea:

http://www.darjeelingtea.com/home.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_tea

 

See also:

http://akmalhizam.blogspot.com/2009/06/whats-your-cup-of-tea.html

Minum Air

Adam: Saya minum air sebab tadi saya dah korek hidung dalam sangat

 

Alhamdulillah, tahun ini Adam lebih banyak berpuasa penuh berbanding tahun lepas, terutamanya masa hari sekolah. Masa cuti hari minggu aje gagal siket lah, agaknya pasal mudah nampak makanan kat area dapur tu.

26.08.2010 - Umar is 1!

Alhamdulillah, Umar is one on Thursday. Time really flies. He was born early Ramadhan last year, and he turns one in the middle of Ramadhan this year.

 

Not much of a celebration on Thursday night, just a small gathering and we shared the small cake bought from Jusco.

 

I pray that all my children would grow healthy and bright.

Dan mendengar kata.

 

Happy Birthday, Umar.

We love you.

TI is closer to home

Not only the local club I'm joining is close by my house, the First Vice-President is also closer to home.

Congratulations to Sarawakian John Lau for the appointment.

 

***

Quoted from The Star, today:

 

S'wak politician does Malaysia proud

KUALA LUMPUR: A politician from Sarawak, John Lau, has done Malaysia proud by being the first Asian to be elected to the coveted post of First Vice-President of Toastmasters International. He is now in line to head the organisation in 2012.

Toastmasters International, established in 1924 with members in 113 countries, specialises in communications and leadership skills development and has so far groomed and helped four million people.

Lau, a supreme council member of the PPP and a businessman, has been a toastmaster for 20 years and has held many posts in the organisation before his election.

He said Friday that he was excited with his new role and would do his best to assist the organisation in further developing and grooming future leaders worldwide.

He added that he would also help project Malaysia's positive image abroad. - Bernama