Wanted – a fraternity of assassins

A fraternity of assassins would normally mean a brutal gangster with one thick-skull, fierce-looking leader who is usually surrounded by beautiful women but not in this movie. Throughout the almost two hours time watching the movie, I became excited, waiting for the next scene though wishing that Angelina Jolie would be in all of the scenes.

I saw a trailer of ‘Wanted‘ at the cinema showing sexy Angelina Jolie driving a Ferrari and bending her body at one stage when the car was inches from an incoming bus. The story is not about her actually but on one Chicago Accounting Manager who keep on wishing, in the early part of the movie, as some one who is more successful in life and away from his fat, nagging boss, cheating girlfriend who has an affair with his only friend; and to top these up, is broke.

What’s amazing in the movie for me was how you could bend a bullet? Easy, said the Director, Timur Bekmambetov – ‘just like a football where you could bend your ball if you fly and rotate and turn. So, the same technique with the bullet: If you can move your hand fast enough to catch a moment; your barrel will spin the bullet, yeah? And it’ll curve and fly around.’

WANTED : Rated 4 1/2 out of 5

>R: strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality.

>Starring: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie.

>Director: Timur Bekmambetov.

>Running time: 1 hr. 50 min.

>In a nutshell: Red-Bull-fueled adolescent male fantasy cribs from the past, while offering a few brain-splatting diversions of its own.

e-Savings is the word

and E-E & C are the letters – Energy Efficiency & Conservation.

The Energy Division at the Prime Minister’s Office is aware that changing in mindset and energy consuming behaviour would be a challenge. So who should start first? You and me. Right now!

Baiduri Bank claimed to be the first bank in Brunei to participate in the e-Savings initiative where it would soon be engaging the assistance of an expert in energy conservation in assessing areas where energy savings can be incorporated in the future design of its office premises.

So as a start, the Bank is organising a four-day expo with the theme ‘Saving for a brighter future’. I couldn’t agree more with the theme.

UFO in Brunei

Yes, the UFO has landed in Brunei but not exactly the real one, if there is ever. This is one of the not-so-many displays at the current Dazzling Lights Festival being held at the JP Garden in Jerudong.

I don’t like to complain, let alone whine, but $7 for adult and $5 for a child is just too much to pay when there is not much to see. We completed ‘touring’ the site in under an hour and that’s because we were taking pictures and having fun at the same time. The $7 and $5 are just for weekday tickets; for weekend, its $9 and $6 respectively. The festival runs until 2 August, I wonder if business is good, judging from the number of people going in.

Anyway, its been awhile since I have gone to JP; must be donkey years. Last night the Musical Fountain was fantastic as ever, pity the songs stop before mid-way, so the fountain stopped as well. So a bit of an anti-climax and so much for a $7 ticket. Well, at least they played ‘Apologize’ by Timbaland.

By the way, a report in today’s Borneo Bulletin said that Brunei is targeting 200,000 tourists this year as the country saw an increase of 42 percent of tourist’s arrival in the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year.

Brunei’s Tourism Chief, Sheikh Jimmy said that the popular Asian Tour will be back this August for the fourth year and that a $3-million make-over of the fire-ravaged site in Kampong Lurong Sikuna in Kampong Ayer would turn the site to a Cultural Village. Good, something to look forward to, even for a Bruneian like me.

Barbecue buffet this July

Birthday celebration mood

This is one of the arches being erected in the capital in time for the 62nd birthday celebration of His Majesty The Sultan of Brunei. The Sultan’s birthday is by the way on the 15 of July. More recently, the construction of the decorations for the celebrations has started earlier. Gone were the days when one could see contractors putting up the final touches just on the eve of the celebrations. Good!

Now a close up on the sign in the arch’s centre said that Masyarakat Tiong Hua Daerah Brunei Muara or the Chinese Association in the Brunei Muara District, who presented the arch. What interests me is the design at the side, the ayer muleh and the Chinese own pattern in the brown background. Any similarity? I don’t know if you notice the relationships in design between the Malay and the Chinese.

Prayer before entering a market

I was listening to the radio this morning when I heard a familiar voice – that of the Brunei’s State Mufti. I have always thought that the YDM Pehin Mufti is the best when it comes to giving religious talks.

This morning on the way to work, he talked about the market. Yes, the market or pasar in Malay. According to the State Mufti, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that the Syaitan would be the first to enter a pasar and also the last to leave the place.

Muslims are also encouraged to perform the ablution before entering the pasar and not to ‘rujuh-rujuh’ or enter it without any preparation. He also gave a prayer to be read before entering a market. Translation in Malay:

Dengan nama Allah, Ya Allah, sesungguhnya aku memohon kepada-Mu kebaikan pasar ini dan kebaikan apa yang terdapat padanya. Aku berlindung kepada-Mu dari kejahatannya dan kejahatan yang terdapat padanya.Ya Allah, sesungguhnya aku berlindung kepada-Mu dari melakukan sumpah palsu atau jual beli yang rugi (dunia akhirat).

Rough translation in English (pardon my English):
With the name of God, I pray for the goodness of this market and whatever goodness it brings and I pray for protection in the wickedness of this market and the bad things it has. Oh God, I pray for your protection in doing false vows or useless transactions (in this world and thereafter).

Islam is truly beautiful, even entering a market has a prayer.

Jamadil Akhir

We are in the eighth day of the Islamic month of Jamadil Akhir today. Jamadil Akhir is the sixth month in the Islamic calendar.

The Battle of Zi Qarad in the 6^th Hijrah was one of the most important events that occurred in the month of Jamadil Akhir. It was also said that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) performed the Al khauf prayer or praying when one is petrified during this battle.

The Prophet was facing the Qiblat whilst a group of his friends stood in line behind him. Another group provided protection against the enemies. Prophet Muhammad performed the first rakaat with two sujud and the second group joined in (or masbuk as what the Bruneians would say in such situation).

The Muslims army who was only at 30,000 in that war defeated the Romans army with strength of 100,000 personnel. The Muslims were led by Khalid bin Al Walid and Abu ‘Ubaidah. Some also said that the battle might have occurred in the month of Rejab in 15^th Hijrah.

The might of the Islamic army during Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)’s time was also mentioned in the Yarmuk War in the 13^th Hijrah between the Romans and Muslims

Now I don’t know if you have seen the epic movie ‘300′ which showed how 300 Romans soldiers defeated the thousands Persian soldiers. Ironic?

A tribute to women

Beauty of a Woman ~~
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
The passion that she shows.
The beauty of a woman
With time, only grows.

Facts On Figures:

There are 3 billion women who don’t look like super models and only eight who do.
Did you know Marilyn Monroe wore a size 14? (She also did not have good hygiene?) Can you believe that?
If Barbie was a real woman, she’d have to walk on all FOURS due to her proportions! 
The average woman weighs 144 pounds, and wears between a size 12-14. 
The Models in the magazines are air-brushed! A psychological study found that 3 minutes spent looking at a fashion magazine caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty and shameful. 
Models 20 years ago weighed 8% less than the average woman. Today they weigh 23% less. 

An English professor wrote the words: ‘WOMAN WITHOUT HER MAN IS NOTHING’ on the blackboard, and directed the students to punctuate it correctly.

The men wrote: ‘Woman, WITHOUT HER MAN, is nothing.’
The women wrote: ‘WOMAN!! WITHOUT HER, man is nothing!’

The Images of a Mother  

 

4 YEARS OF AGE  My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE  My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE My Mother doesn’t really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE Naturally, Mother doesn’t know that, either!
16 YEARS OF AGE Mother? She’s hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE That old woman? She’s way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE Well, she might know a little bit about it.
35 YEARS OF AGE Before we decide, let’s get Mom’s opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE  Wish I could talk it over with Mom. . .

Smoke gets in your eyes

I have been looking around on the after-math of the new Tobacco Order and nope, the authority didn’t pay me for this. Just my curiosity and hope no cat got killed.

Our own ‘Seven Eleven’ shops that I went to have put up the posters and are selling less cigarette packs on their shelves. I asked if the new order affect their sales and most answered yes. They also said that they make sure the buyers are really above 18. Yes I wouldn’t want to get into trouble myself.

A dinner at one of the popular hang-outs among smokers in Gadong was a pleasant experience as no one smoke even on the outside part of the restaurant. I asked the waiter on where their loyal patrons are (who smoke of course) and he said he hasn’t seen any for the past week or so. So my instant conclusion is that business owners are really the one affected.  

I have put up a post previously on how we can completely stop people from smoking – triple the price! Debating Brunei has other suggestions. I think the next step in improving the environment and controlling pollution is to set a limit on the level of smoke being emitted from vehicles, cafes and restaurants. I don’t like smoke, it gets into my eyes.  

World Environment Day today

It’s World Environment Day today, commemorated each year on 5 June. It is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. Recognising that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, UNEP is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. The World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption. The main international celebrations of World Environment Day 2008 will be held in New Zealand.

For Brunei, both the Government and private organisations have done their bits for example ISB’s 100 million trees planting project; the recently-concluded Energy Week; UBD’s campus beautifying project and many more. The greatest project of all is the priceless Heart of Borneo.

What’s left now is for each and every one of us to think or start reducing our own carbon foot-prints. Below is a list of the 80 A – Zs way to celebrate the day as taken from the UNEP’s website. Here’s to a greener world!

A
Adopt a ‘green’ way of life – more plants, less plastic, go to basic
Art made of recycled materials – go creative
Auctions to benefit an environmental project- any takers?
Award presentations for environmental competitions – HSBC please take note
Awareness campaigns – need more of these especially for the next Energy Week

 

B
Bicycle parades/races – at national level?
Broadcast of public service announcements (TV and Radio) – RTB?
Buy a fuel-efficient car – do we have any in Brunei market already?

C
Calculate your carbon footprint – here’s how.
Carpools – in Brunei? Why not?
Celebrity support – Wu Chun?
Clean-up campaigns – we Bruneians have been doing this for years.
Competitions (banner, drawing, essay, painting, poster, poetry) – Dewan Bahasa?
Conferences on the environment – BEDB?

D
Debates on environment issues – UBD?
Dedicate your blog to World Environment Day on 5 June – I just did! Won’t you?
Distribute leaflets, brochures and posters – Again, HSBC, Shell?
Donate to an environmental cause – Nice and thoughtful idea

E
Environmental education programmes in schools – MoE
Excursions to nature sites – MoE and Environment Department at MoDev
Exhibitions (drawings, posters, photos, paintings) – again Dewan Bahasa

F
Fairs – Yes, we all love fairs and it seem we can expect these, like twice a year
Festivals – ditto -
Film festivals on the environment – films in Brunei?

G
Give a gift membership of an environmental organisation – who want to start one?
Guidelines to community-based environmental activities – Envrionment Department

H
Hoist banners at major road intersections – need Government approval for this
Help local environmental groups organise WED events – ???

I
Inform all your friends about WED – I just did!
Involve various partners (NGOs, ministries, youth groups, celebrities, private sector)
Issue First Day Covers (stamps) – Postal Services and Mr Daily Brunei Resources?

J
Join an environmental group – Let’s start one for Brunei
Join UNEP’s carbon neutral network – check the website on how to join in
Join the Billion Tree Campaign – or locally, go to International School Brunei, ISB

K
Keep your neighbourhood clean – Ask your neighbours too, politely please.
Kick-start an environmental campaign – Let’s start one NOW!
Kick the CO2 habit! – How?
Know your rights – We all should!

L
Launch of government environment policies, books, reports
Lobby local authorities to adopt sound environmental policies

M
March for the environment
Media coverage and activities

N
Never litter

O
Offset your emissions
Organic farming/cooking
Organize a WED themed event in your neighbourhood

P
Parades
Performances (plays, songs, poetry)
Plant a tree
Plastic bags: avoid them!
Promotional material (t-shirts, stickers, bookmarks)
Puppet shows for children with an environmental message

Q
Quizzes related to the theme for schools, youth groups, company staff, etc…

R
Rainwater harvesting
Rallies
Ratify international environmental conventions
Reduce, re-use, recycle
Rehabilitate natural habitats
Replace your light-bulbs with energy saving ones

S
Save paper
Seminars
Sort rubbish
Speeches
Sponsorship from private sector
Sports activities
Switch off stand-by TV and computer

T
Take action
T-shirts for WED

U
Use sustainable modes of transportation (walking, jogging, cycling, skating, carpool)

V
Vehicle emission monitoring
Vermicomposting (no idea what this is)
Visits to botanical gardens and national parks
Volunteer for organizations such as Clean Up the World

W
Waste less!
Workshops
Write plays, poems, songs
Write letters to civic leaders, members of parliament, government and newspapers

X
Xchange ideas
Xpect environmental responsibility

Y
Youth-led activities

Z
Zero emissions

Fighting piracy

“100 Per Cent Of DVD/VCD Here Are Pirated” said the Borneo Bulletin today. The headline really hit me that I read the story first.

Down the line, the headline was actually picking up a quote from a comment made by one Jennie Ness, a Regional Intellectual Property expert who made her own random survey around Brunei. She said: ‘…almost 100 percent of VCDs and DVDs sold in Brunei are pirated.’

To quote some more from the news:

“ In May 2008, the Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM) with the International Federation of Phonographic Industries (IFPI) made the latest survey in Brunei Darussalam where they found out that seven outlets where they have previously investigated in 2005 are found to be still selling 100 per cent pirated products.

Counterfeiting and piracy cost the US economy between $200 and $250 billion a year and the world economy nearly $650 billion a year.

Of the pirated products (both Malaysian and international content), it is estimated that 65 per cent comprise movies, 30 per cent is made up of music recordings and 10 per cent is of games and computer software. It is evident that not only piracy is of epidemic proportions in Brunei, but also that the products are more than likely produced locally in Brunei, RIM stated. ”

So, how rampant piracy is in Brunei? Very I would say. Bruneians know where to look for when it comes to buying the latest movie or song, sometimes even when a movie is not being launched world-wide yet. You can buy a CD or DVD for as low as Br$0.50 or up to Br$8.00. And the quality, I guess you can judge from the price.

I have asked the local authority on why they didn’t just ambush those shops selling fake or pirated copies of CDs and DVDs. Their answer: they cant because only when the rightful owner, for example the producer, made a complaint or report to them and then only they can act.

I can understand why artists would stand up and voice their anger and disappointment when it comes to piracy. Who would benefit if not these pirates? For Brunei, I have seen many aspiring and young Brunei artists through live performance and some even put up in the websites.

The sad thing is that their own songs which they put up in such sites would not be protected and may be even copied and produced without them knowing. So, my advice – whatever inventions or creations or even ideas that you have, please have them registered as your own before someone else claim that they are theirs.

Smoking and more smokes

The Ministry of Health really meant business. With the enforcement of the Tobacco Order 2005, the ministry is in full swing to ensure that Brunei would become a-100 percent smoke-free environment. Pretty tough huh!

The ministry has opened up the Stop smoking Clinic Service in June 2006 at Anggerek Desa in Berakas and the Seria Health Clinic. It provides counselling by experts, so smokers who could not kick the habit can get help – for free.  The ministry has distributed posters and flyers in all four districts to inform the public on the new order. In the national effort, Ministry of Health has been actively promoting the No Smoking campaign since 1988 and declared that all buildings under the ministry including offices, hospitals and clinics are No-Smoking Zones since August 15, 1990.

I agree that the new order would deter offenders. I like the part where those below 18 who are caught smoking in public would be fined. It is also illegal to sell, supply and give cigarettes to those below 18. I have seen teenagers as young as 14 who smoked openly at The Mall. I know at that tender age, you want to be part of the crowd and to look cool and whatever reasons that the young come up with.

I think the next step should be increasing the price for a pack of cigarette; I remember it used to be $2.70 for a Virginia Slim and after just a few years it was increased to $3 per pack. My chain-smoking friend said that only if a pack cost $6, she would think hard to stop and if $10; then she would definitely quit. So law-makers, please take note.

I admit that I was a smoker too. My first cigarette I think must be when I was 14 or 15 because of peer pressure and that stupid feeling of ‘wanting to know’. But it ended there at that time because I simply hate the smell. Then later in life, ehem, I started to smoke again, not sure why I smoke, maybe I was in a h*#! of trouble and a mess with my life. After so many soul-searching moments, I decided that I must take care of myself and involved myself with the thing I love most – exercising. Without me realizing it myself, I have forgotten when my last cigarrete was. Of course it didn’t come easy and quickly but I remember I was smoking less and less each month as I focus myself on my new healthier lifestyle.

I hope those who try to stop smoking – yes you can do it and yes, I know its not easy but believe that you can and you will – in anything. Good luck.

No smoking please – the signs

 

 

100 best products of the year

As picked by PC World editors and readers and reported by MSN, here are the top 10 of the 100 best products of the year:

 

• 1) Hulu, a video site, free/ ad-based
• 2) Apple iPhone
• 3) Facebook
• 4) Microsoft Windows XP
• 5) Lenovo ThinkPad X300 (ultraportable laptop – my wishlist)
• 6) Flock (browser, free)
• 7) Eye-Fi (wireless camera memory card)
• Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 (digital camera)
• 9) Harmonix Rock Band (a ‘Guitar Hero’ times three, weheee)
• 10) Wikipedia

Read more on the next 90…  How many of these top products do you see in Brunei market?