3 jan 2010

About Japan

pple made the world stop on January 27 when Steve Jobs announced the newest gadget in its already long line of toys: the iPad. This tablet computer is being touted as the next gadget that will change the way we perceive things. Much like when the iPhone was launched, the unveiling of theiPad has got the whole world a-buzzing.

Japan’s Fujitsu, however, is quick to speak up. Apparently, they have been using the term iPad to call a gadget that they launched as early as 2002. If this is true, then Apple might have to deal with a trademark issue in the coming months.

The official word is that the Fujitsu subsidiary in the United States launched their own iPad in 2002. The Fujitsu iPad is a small handheld gadget that is targeted at stores. Its purpose is to keep track of inventory, to scan barcodes, and other similar activities that store clerks may have to do. Inside the FujitsuiPad , there is an Intel processor. It runs on Microsoft (big difference!). The gadget’s screen is 3.5 inches and has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

egg and sumac, 2 feb 2010

The Lebanese are bacillophobic, but their fear of bacteria is somewhat selective and irrational. Growing up, most chicken I had was cooked until all trace of moisture had evaporated. Runny eggs? Forget it. Sashimi? Unheard of. Yet, from the age of five, I have been enjoying delicacies such as kibbeh nayyeh (raw minced beef/lamb), liyyeh (raw tallow fat) and even raw liver (which is great by the way, with nothing but finely ground black pepper and a sprinkle of salt). It seemed that lamb and beef were exempt from germs, if your uncle knew the butcher, but a nice fresh piece of raw kingfish was out of the question. Things are changing, and sushi is now all the rage (I have a good story about that, but I’ll save it till later), but it seems there is no convincing my fellow compatriots of the virtues of a buttery, creamy egg yolk that is barely starting to set. For instance, my good friend Ludwig, upon a recent visit to Lebanon tried to make his brother scrambled eggs. The eggs were organic and fresh, and Ludwig cooked them to perfection, but his brother still would not touch them because they were still “raw”! Instead, the normal way of eating eggs would be frying them until the whites were golden crisp and the yolks were completely dry. Then and only then would they be safe! It was only when I came to Australia in 2001 when I saw the lunacy of this approach.

Eggs with sumac recipe

There is really nothing to this recipe. Put a ceramic fry pan on a low flame and add a tablespoon of olive oil. When the oil is hot, crack the eggs on top. After a minute or two, add your salt, pepper and sumac. How much you add depends on your taste, but I’d say half a teaspoon of sumac for each egg. Keep frying until the egg whites have set. Serve with fresh Lebanese bread and Greek-style yoghurt

1 feb 2010

Zaatar ice cream

While in France last year, Lainy and I made our way down from Paris, through Orleans and to Provence and then ended up in the enchanting Cote d'Azur, better known in English as the French Riviera. We settled for a week in the seaside city of Nice, taking indulgent day trips to Italy to have a bowl of pasta, and then heading back for a stroll and a glass of wine in the city. It was here where I met my childhood friend Grandizer, strolling on the pebble beach, and it was also where I saw the different flavours of ice cream on display. The French seemed adventurous with the flavours on offer and they seemed to look at local flavours for inspiration. Lavender ice cream was an obvious one, but coquelicots (corn poppy) ice cream, though relevant, was a bit more abstract.This got me thinking, and I decided that a zaatar (thyme) ice cream is in order. At first this might not seem like a match made in heaven, right? Zaatar for the Lebanese is a savoury herb, and we eat it every day mixed with sumac, toasted sesame seeds and olive oil, and it forms our very basic breakfast. We also use it to marinate meats and sprinkle it in salads. Zaatar is not exactly a herb that you would say, put in a cake. You would probably not find Coca Cola rushing to make a special edition Zaatar Coke for that ultimate manakish experience. Zaatar chewing gum? Refreshing...

31 jan 2010

The dandelion could be mistaken for other weeds with similar but hairy/thorny leaves (ones whose name I do not know, so avoid hairy leaves please). The smooth dandelion leaf is best harvested in early spring if intended to be eaten raw in salads, as its bitter flavour has not fully developed. As the leaf matures, it grows larger, thicker and more bitter. This bitterness can be minimised by blanching or by washing thoroughly and then squeezing out the liquid. However, bitterness is not a bad thing, as most naturopaths will tell you. It is usually an indicator of a plant’s ability to detoxify the body and the liver (or that the plant is poisonous!). Dandelions are high in protein, naturally diuretic and anti-inflammatory and are rich in potassium and beta-carotene and many other highly beneficial minerals, which is why this humble plant has been very popular in herbal medicine.This time of year sees a proliferation of dandelions in New South Wales, and since I am a lover of wild/foraged food, I did not want to miss the opportunity to feast on dandelions this year. A brief half hour walk down the road in Earlwood resulted in 400 grams of fresh dandelion leaf. Sure, the neighbours looked on suspiciously, the dogs barked madly and the joggers gazed in distrust. But don’t let that stop you. The sunshine and the buzz you get out of collecting your own food is alone worth it. But to make things even better, this is a recipe for hindbeh, our favourite way of cooking dandelion. The idea is to fry the leaf with garlic and onions in olive oil until it is almost dry, and then it would be ready to absorb the lemon juice you add. It is then topped with caramelized onions and eaten cold. To make mine a bit more of a proper meal, I added chickpeas, toasted pine nuts and a nice dollop of yoghurt on top. Such classic Lebanese flavours. It's too cheap to be true

30 jan 2010

New generation computer

In just a couple of years of existence, Google Chrome has come a quite a way. From a niche and geeky apps, Chrome is positioning itself as a rival to Firefox and Internet Explorer. Recently, it passed Apple’s Safari to become the number three browser on the Web.
When I talk to Firefox users, they say that they want to switch to Chrome; but the only thing that’s holding them back is Chrome’s lack of add-ons and extensions. That used to be the case. But over the last year or so, Chrome has gained a sizable number of extensions. While not as numerous as those for Firefox, Chrome’s extensions are nothing to sneeze at.
Just a head up for all you MAC fans out there, Google Chrome Extensions are not supported on Mac just yet. I expect they will available very soon.
This TechTip looks at five extensions for Google Chrome that any geeky Web surfer will find indispensable.

The beginning of a new year presents us with the ideal opportunity to imagine where we might be going by examining where we’ve been.
A year is a long time in the tech world, and a lot of things happened in 2009. Our own little corner of it (Tech Tips) is no exception. In this issue of Tech Tips, we’ll take a look back at some of the great articles we brought you in 2009.

29 jan 2010

Looking forward to creative furniture

It's that time of year again--Awards Season! I don't know about you, but last night's Golden Globes usually marks my countdown to the Oscars and a lot of last minute movie-viewing. That's a lie. I usually watch for the dresses.
But let's not overlook (or forget that we're at work) another exciting awards program. The Brit Insurance Design Awards announced their 2010 shortlist today across seven industry sectors: architecture, fashion, furniture, graphics, interactive, product and transport. Antony Gormley will be chairing the jury, which will select the seven finalists announced on March 4, and an overall winner on March 16.

Check out the latest, greatest and even the unfathomable from surface brands you know and new ones you need to know. This year's Surface Design Show, is coming up February 16-18, and it's the UK's only show exclusively focused on interior and exterior surfaces.

In February, Manchester's Whitworth Art Gallery opens its exhibition of wallpaper, featuring more than 30 international artists. At first thought that may not sound like a wild time, but the designs are. The show wants viewers to re-evaluate the role of wallpaper in contemporary art. In brief, these aren't the florals of your nan's bathroom

28 jan 2010

Dog Bonding

Among the best bonds a person can make in life is between them and a happy dependable pet dog. In actual fact, many people elevate their four-legged friend above members of the family in terms of importance. This kind of bond is established through the way in which dog owners bond to their dogs in the first few months when they are getting to know one another. Dog Bonding is closely associated with obedience training but right here lets have a look at some basics of dog care that can encourage and also create the bond that’ll last a lifetime.
Folks choose to get a dog for several reasons. Many get a dog as a result of loneliness and want a loyal friend. Other people want a dog that will protect the home. A dog that is taken good care of and is given lots of attention will typically give his life to protect his house and his master. Listed here are a few elementary ways to look after your new pet that’ll build up and strengthen the attachment between you.
The very first thing you’ll want to recognize is that dogs need loads of exercise. This applies equally to big and small dogs although the amount of exercise will differ according to the size of your pet. All dogs should be let out at the least once every 8-10 hrs and ought to be given no less than a 30 minute walk for you to give the dog some exercise, a change of environment as well as the chance to ‘go to the toilet’. The daily walk is a excellent time to develop dog bonding. This is a chance for the new master to carry out a number of basic obedience training strategies which will all result in rewards for the dog. Furthermore, once your dog has been taught and is properly behaved, the walking schedule will deepen the shared bonds on each outing.
It is also vital that you play with the dog regularly. This may be in a park or on a beach front during a walk when a dog could be allowed off the lead and also in the garden or home. Teaching a dog to fetch a ball or stick is really a wonderful bonding activity as is play wrestling – something a lot like what the dog would have done with its siblings when it was a small puppy. Playing together with the dog for half hour each day can help keep the dog in good health as well as alert and studies have demonstrated that this may also calm an master and reduce blood pressure as well as stress. A dog that has too little direct positive attention can turn out to be depressed or even nervous.
Finally, a good rounded diet plan not only guarantees a dogs continuing health but also can have an effect on a dogs energy levels and in turn affect its behavior. Feeding time is also a dog bonding occasion. Whenever you give food you’re the provider, the alpha dog inside the ‘pack’. This really is another excellent opportunity to train your dog in a few basic obedience techniques. A dog should always be told (and expected) to sit down prior to being given its meal. This simple command reinforces the authority of the master whilst additionally developing the dogs attachment within it’s ‘pack’.
The bottom line is that when you keep your dog completely happy and in good shape and also make sure that you invest some time with your dog, you will have no problems with bonding. In cases where a prospective owner is not prepared to carry out even the very basics outlined here, then perhaps dog ownership seriously isn’t meant for them. It is well-known that whatever you put into a dog in terms of time, love, attention and schooling you’re going to get back many times over through the loyalty, companionship and devotion returned to you from your ‘best friend’. Dog Bonding is one of the many things covered in the superb dog training courses overed by Poochdogs.com. Visit the site by clicking the links within this article.
For important information about the topic of house train a dog – make sure to go through the site. The time has come when proper information is truly only one click of your mouse, use this possibility.

27 jan 2010

Hi Pups,

It's Greg Here - C$'s Dad.

What a week it has been. I have written dozens of drafts for this post. These drafts contained so much venom about how the world has wronged me, by taking my special boy away. I have sworn at God, and cursed all aspects of life and love and faith.

But today I realised this situation I find myself in is not about me. I don't have to be angry, I don't have to be scared.

Charlie does not want me to be scared or angry.

I feel him around me everywhere. In everything I say and everything I do. He inspired me to heights and achievements I never thought possible. I was so caught up in what I could do for myself, that i missed the big picture. Charlie showed me what I could do for others. I truly have an amazing incredible ability

.............................

there is a very special reason why I havent finished that sentence.

I am sure this will sound like I am going mad

At the time I was writing that, I got a very strong message from Charlie that he is ok. It has left me with tears in my eyes and goosebumps on my skin.

I am sure that I will come across as a nut if I tell you all what happened, so i will keep it to myself. But I know now he is ok, he is with me, and he doesn't want us to cry for him anymore.

Thanks to everydoggy who has been a friend of Charlie's. Thanks to everydoggy who left a comment here for him this week. Charlie was not just a dog, he was an extreme inspiration who showed me how to love, and live life to the fullest. Its ALL an adventure, and it was that adventure that Charlie loved most about life.

He was my best friend.

Charlie, I love you so much buddy!

I dont think anybody will ever understand how much you mean to me, or the incredible bond we shared.

You were my best friend and I will always love you!


I love you Charlie

snooker, 26 jan

The Welsh Open – through no real fault of its own – has become the poor relation of the world ranking circuit, so much so that it’s now worth less in points and money than all the other tournaments.

This is a shame because when it was held at the Cardiff International Arena it was one of the best events on the pro tour.

It had moved from Newport in 1999 in what proved to be a successful attempt to upgrade its image but returned there in 2005 – via the Welsh Institute of Sport – to cut costs.

The irony is that some of the snooker we’ve seen there over the last few seasons has been excellent. The O’Sullivan v Hendry final of 2005 was superb, we had Andrew Higginson’s great run in 2007 and Selby v O’Sullivan in 2008.

Last year, Ali Carter produced a terrific final session display to beat Joe Swail 9-5 in a match played before a packed Newport crowd.

Wales is a snooker country. It has produced many a fine player, from Ray Reardon to Doug Mountjoy, Terry Griffiths to Darren Morgan, Mark Williams to Matthew Stevens and several others too, including current Welsh no.1 Ryan Day.

The announcement that totesport.com will sponsor the tournament – the first it has had in seven years – is a boost to an event that currently loses money and is in danger of being axed.

The draw this year seems lopsided to say the least. Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui are all in the bottom half.

Neil Robertson, Ali Carter and Stephen Maguire are among those in the top half which, on paper, looks easier.

Of course, snooker isn’t played on paper and predicting a likely winner come January 31 remains as fraught as ever.

It’s good to see Tony Drago qualifying right from the first round, a tremendous effort by the veteran Maltese cueman.

Judd Trump was among those who came through from Prestatyn and he tackles Selby, who will be hoping history can repeat itself and he can win the Welsh title fresh from capturing the Masters, as he did two years ago.

For all the innovations and talk of different events, snooker’s bedrock remains the ranking tournament circuit.

With only six events this season, any player regarding the Welsh Open as unimportant should think again.

The tournament will be shown on BBC Wales, the BBC website and Eurosport.

25 jan 2010

Make it: Dries Van Noten oversized bangles necklace.

There are these days where I do my research and I do some window shopping along the way and I manage to find something which cost say $1000 but I will shake my head, have a little rant over it and make sure I keep that money in my wallet because it absolutely isn’t worth it. Well, it’s not, not worth it but it’s just not worth it…today. Because I have my tired tight-ass days just as we all do. This has inspired me to do a little “Make it” component because I find that sometimes it is easier to be crafty than it is to splash out the cash. Here is how you can channel the runway accessory look thanks to Dries Van Noten neckpieces.

PS; I am actually yet to make this but I am pretty sure that I’m not too far off from the actual designer concept so don’t mind me if there is tweaking to be done. I will post up pictures of my own Dries Van Noten inspired piece when I do have the time to do it.

What do you need?

- Black velvet ribbon (Approx 30cm)

- Various bangles and rings of all shapes, colours and sizes. (It looks best when you stick to one theme)

- Vintage rings

- Big beads and buttons

What to do?

- Knot the top of one end of the ribbon leaving about an 8cm gap from the edge of the ribbon to the centre area.

- Tie the first ring to the knot so that the rings don’t fall off the string.

- Thread through some vintage rings of all shapes, colours and sizes to the end of the knot.

- Finish that section by tying another ring in a knot so that you can start the other section.

- Put your bangles through the string in a fancy order to best achieve the desired result.

- Knot the edge to finish off leaving extra string space at the end of the neckpiece to tie on.

- Tie back edges together to complete.

And there you have rags to runway almost instantly! If you do decide to make one, please, please email me some pictures of your fabulous piece so I can check out how it went!

Written by Lisa Chau. Images courtesy of Dries Van Noten.

Detective branch 24 jan 2010

Detectives form an integral function in Victoria Police for the detection and investigation of serious crime. Crimes ranging from Burglaries and major thefts, serious assaults and now, as a result of the reorganisation of the Crime Department, Murder/Suicides are just some of the crimes investigated by Suburban (Divisional) Detectives.

Many major police stations, in places such as Prahran, Fawkner, Broadmeadows, Dandenong and Melbourne West have a Crime Investigation Unit attached to the station, which looks after crime within those and other neighbouring sub-districts falling within their area.

The State Crime Squads, situated in St Kilda Road, have been recently realigned and contain a number of squads and mini taskforces responsible for the investigation of major drug trafficking activities, major frauds, Homicides, Armed Robbery and Firearms Trafficking and sex offences to name but a few.

Ensign of the Victoria Police, dedicated on 7 February 1997, held at the Chapel of the Victoria Police Academy.

To become a Detective within Victoria Police members must be confirmed Senior Constables, with at least 3 years service, have completed the Field Investigation Course and obtained sufficient experience to sustain the application and interviewing process. Upon obtaining a position at a CIU/Squad, members must then complete the training package (preliminary portfolio of work and course attendance) at the School of Investigation (Detective Training School) to confirm their position as a qualified Detective. Detective positions within Victoria Police are highly sought after and awarded, generally, to only the best police applying.

Traditionally, more experienced detectives cut their teeth at divisions and then moved into the crime squads. However the last 10 years has seen a switch in that progression, in that many junior detectives first obtain positions at the sometimes easier to fill Crime Department positions and then later moving onto divisional work. One major reason for this is the travel and often heavy hours involved in working within Metropolitan Melbourne.

The more major crime squads, such as Homicide, still attract only the most experienced detectives from divisions. The newly implemented Major Crime Management Model has changed the face of some squads, including the traditional hardmen of the Crime Department, the Armed Offenders Squad, which has lost some of its lustre by being forced to choose members who may not have obtained positions were it not for the need to fill these from within the Crime Department.

23 jan 2010

Everybody likes saving money whenever possible, but it seems when people get something for free they can start to get quite picky. I had a patient come in this week that was adamant that since her Protium (PI pack) was manufactured in Europe it was of an inferior quality and that she was not going to be 'conned’ into having it. She also informed me that she would not take any drugs that were not made in England and did not want any of "the cheaper drugs from the EU."

I tried to explain that this was not like comparing a Hugo Boss suit with an Asda George one because in fact the manufacturer was the same, just in another country, hence cheaper to buy due to exchange rate fluctuations and some other factors. She stuck to her guns and told me that it was cheaper because it was of a lesser quality. I explained that due to the Euro's recent strength that in fact interestingly some of the European drugs may well have become more expensive and according to her theory became better in quality whilst still sitting on dispensary shelves.

It did make me smile as it would have been easier, and if it were up to me I would have just offered to order in UK brands for her. However, since I was a mere employee and having previously been informed that the pharmacy was only buying and supplying the PI version, I thought I’d try to settle her misconception and keep everyone happy. Getting absolutely nowhere, the manager thankfully stepped in and informed the patient that he would be able to accommodate in this instance but reiterated that both the drugs would still be identical in their quality as they were actually both made by Nycomed.

I bet if she had to pay for it then she would have chosen the more cost-effective one! Anyway, we agreed that she would leave the prescription and return in a few days; enough time for us to order in all UK manufactured medication for all her other branded medication too, including Half-Inderal.

I totally understand when patients tolerate a certain brand over another, but this particular patient did not fall under this blanket and just before leaving she said something along the lines of "I refuse to take anything that wasn't 100% made in the UK and won't be fobbed off with any European alternatives"...

I saw her that same week in the cafe eating a croissant - I was tempted to walk over to her table and swap it for a piece of toast!...

22,jan, 2010

The BSP on Monday announced the names of 12 candidates out of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, including that of former Punjab Governor B K N Chibber, who will be fielded from the Amritsar parliamentary constituency.The BSP said its candidates from 12 seats include a Brahmin (Chibber, who joined BSP last year), Sikhs, Gujjars, backward classes and Scheduled castes."The BSP is trying to fit in a Rajput from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency and will announce the candidature at a later stage," party general secretary Narender Kashyap said addressing a press conference here.Mr. Kashyap ruled out any post poll understanding with the BJP and Congress and said the BSP will keep its options open to join hands with those, who oppose the two major parties.Besides Chibber, the other candidates announced here are Surjit Singh (Jalandhar), Surinder Kumar Sukhi (Hoshiarpur), Kewal Krishan Chauhan (Anandpur Sahib), Madanjit Singh (Sangrur), Deepak Joshi (Patiala), Nemchand Chaudhry (Bathinda), Resham Singh (Faridkot), Gurdev Singh Mansaiya (Ferozepur), Kehar Singh (Ludhiana), Surender Singh Sahi (Khadoor Sahib) and Gurnam Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib).The BSP, which had faced a complete rout in the previous parliamentary and assembly polls in Punjab, is hoping to put up a better performance in the state this time "as people are eager to reject both Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine and the Congress", Mr. Kashyap said.

Bye Bye Harbhajan

Here is an article by a Malayalee author as to why Sreesanth is not the most popular Keralite. The article also mentions previous interactions between Harbhajan and Sreesanth. The article's premise is now justified.Sreesanth just does not know when to stop assing around. He has got some enormous loose screws in his head and his actions have caused an end to Harbhajan's international cricket career. Harbhajan is a loose screw himself, but like any hotheaded Punjabi, he goes mad when he is right, unlike Sreesanth, who goes nuts whenever he thinks he has an advantage, which is pretty much all the time.He got the eight wicket in the 20-20 match against Mumbai, walked over to the other side of the crease and gave the close walk/talk to the player that got out. He did that a couple of times to Robin Uthappa too before that. After the end of the game, Harbhajan slapped him in the field. Even though it is Harbhajan whose career will be over now, it is Sreesanth who has had the last laugh(or cry) by making sure that everybody knew what Harbhajan did. His revenge against Harbhajan is now complete.By crying and not retaliating, Sreesanth has preserved his own career for now.I am sure Sreesanth was scared and emotionally hurt and it was not an act. Whatever it was, Harbhajan's career is done, given what happened in Australia. So we have a case of 20-20 causing damage to the Indian team. There is no better off spinner around in India at this point in time.I also think that the owners will stop showing up to support their team with the same fervour going forward. Anybody who has support galli cricket and other local forms of cricket knows that supporting your team at close quarters is not a fun experience when you get the see the ugly and unsportsman conduct that usually happens.

20,jan 2010

About Hong-Kong

If you’re a foreigner visiting Hong Kong and spend a day at home without cable TV, you might want to check out the local channels. In most cases you’ll end up turning it off. First, you may have watched at the wrong times of the day when shows are only meant for kids, businessmen or those able to understand Chinese-language news. In short, there is little to expect for foreigners like me on local channels. But we could be in for a new age in free-to-air television channels in Hong Kong. Recently, interest in setting up local channels is gaining momentum as two firms filed an application while another expressed enthusiasm in doing the same.For years, it has been Television Broadcasts (TVB) and Asia Television (ATV) that has been operating in the city. Apart from feeds from China and Taiwan television channels, Hong Kong’s local TV scene lacks interesting programs. Local TV programs appeared headed to a freefall. ATV’s highly-touted leaders couldn’t agree to work harmoniously to revive its sagging status. Programs like Tonight with David Letterman were unceremoniously taken off their time slots in favor of less interesting travel and lifestyle shows. In 2009, job cuts were often mentioned in the same sentence with ATV or TVB as income suffered in the middle of an economic slowdown.However, a revival seems to be in the works. City Telecom (CTI) and iCable Communications recently submitted applications to operate for a free-to-air TV license. Now, PCCW, the city’s telecom giant is ready to join the game. And I am not surprised, with its ubiquitous presence in the telecoms business (landline, broadband and pay TV), adding the local terrestrial channel operation seems a logical move. The government has been supporting digital broadcasting in the past year, too.Whether the move will benefit non-Chinese speakers like me (read: offering English channels) remains to be seen. But as long as it benefits the majority of the population (more choices, jobs created, etc.), submitting application to operate local channels should be treated just as a formality

19 jan 2010

Australia best in world, insists Yousuf

Vanquished skipper Mohammad Yousuf says Australia are the best Test cricket team in the world.
Maybe that's not surprising coming from the captain of the fourth consecutive Pakistan side to be at the dirty end of a three-Test series clean sweep against the Aussies.
International Cricket Council ratings put India and South Africa ahead of Australia with Pakistan sixth and West Indies eighth.
But Yousuf, who says he's happy overall with his young inexperienced side, claims Australia are the tops.
"Yes, the best team because they're a good side with all good players," he said in response to a reporter's question.
"If you see the statistics they have good batting averages, good bowling averages, the wicketkeeper average nearly 40 (runs), they have a good side."
Pakistan's fielding, with 14 dropped catches, the same number grassed in New Zealand, was Yousuf's greatest disappointment.
"A lot of catches were dropped, that's why we lost the series, otherwise maybe a different result," said the patient skipper who sometimes baked but never abandoned his players.
He said they did the best they could with what talent they had.
And although the Pakistanis continue to let themselves down with dropped catches, Yousuf rejected the need for a fielding coach, saying they had one for a series in England in 2006 and dropped 20 catches.
The problem is not the coaching, it's the players who need to focus on their fielding, he said.
Australia skipper Ricky Ponting said there should be no general concern about the quality of both opponents this summer.
"Everyone thought Pakistan were going to beat us," he said.
Ponting said Pakistan were a better side than the West Indies and Australia played better against Pakistan, although they didn't play at their best.
"Both of those teams when they play their best cricket will push any team.
"But it's a matter of them being able to do it for long enough spells and that's what you have to learn in this game.
"What we are starting to see now from some of our younger guys is the ability to do that.
"We've seen moments of brilliance from some of them for short periods of time, as we saw through the Ashes.
"But when you can do it for long periods of time that makes teams win games."Pakistan pushed us and had their moments in Sydney and the West Indies pushed us in Adelaide but they couldn't do it for long enough to get themselves a win and that's what they have got to keep striving to do."

18,jan 2010

Buick has a long history of turbocharged Regals starting back in 1978 when the first example appeared. That "personal luxury" coupe was one of the first mainstream American products to adopt exhaust-driven turbocharging to recover some of the power lost to downsized engines. Unfortunately, in the era before electronic engine management and fuel injection, those Regals weren't very good. Over the next decade, however, Buick refined these technologies, which led to the formidable GNX, supposedly the quickest production car in the world when it was introduced in 1986.Fast forward to today and the Regal badge is back. Aside from four wheels and Buick's signature water fall grille, the new Regal has no relationship to the Regals of yore. Unlike the Eighties, when making an American car more "European" meant painting the chrome trim black and stiffening the springs, this sedan was originally developed by General Motors' European operation as the Opel Insignia. As such, it might actually appeal to those considering a BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. But to really seal the deal, Buick is using the Detroit Auto Show to revive another one of its historic badges: the GS. Learn about the Regal GS after the jump.At a sneak preview of the Regal GS, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told us in no uncertain terms, "We are officially not announcing this today." What he meant was that the Regal GS in not yet confirmed for production. However, given that most of its components are already in production and the level of detailed information revealed, all indications say that a Regal GS will debut a few months after its lesser siblings hit the streets.The Regal GS is based directly on the high-performance OPC version of the Opel Insignia, but instead of using the foreigner's 325-horsepower turbocharged V6, Buick is sticking with its four-cylinder-only strategy for the Regal. The GS is powered by a higher output version of the 2.0-liter direct-injected EcoTec four-cylinder that we've come to know and love in numerous GM products over the few years, with the tell-tale dual portholes on either side of its hood indicating its intentions. In this application, powertrain engineers have re-tuned the engine from its original 260 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque to 255 hp and 295 pound-feet. The GS is also equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox... in a Buick! While we tend to favor three-pedal configurations, we're confident that the GS will also be available with a self-shifting option when it arrives in showrooms.

17 ,jan 2010

About Kids

I don’t know if it happens in your house, but each time I ask my kids to clean up their room, desk, or put away their toys, I hear whinging, pure “awww….do we have to?” or “but that’s so boring!”. And then, I’ll hit them back with “imagine how I feel cleaning up YOUR things?” But, amazingly, they seem to do other chores with glee! Chores like doing the dishes, unloading the dishwasher, putting their folded/ironed clothes into their wardrobe, chores that I also abhor, ok, let’s face it, I just don’t enjoy doing any chores for that matter, especially when it doesn’t get appreciated. Not to say I want the family to say thank you, although that would be nice, BUT, to at least NOT mess it up within seconds of having them cleaned or put away. To not just roll up their clothes and dump it into their wardrobe after you have ironed and put them away nicely.
So, with this in mind, I thought, why not take advantage of the fact that they LOVE doing the chores I don’t really enjoy? Now, I manage to convince them to put their own clothes away, whenever I finish folding or ironing them. Especially since I recently re-organised their wardrobe. My 4 year old now helps me with unloading the dishwasher by passing me the dishes and cutlery and at times putting them away in the appropriate drawers! Not only do I get my job done quicker, but the kids also feel a sense of importance being given jobs that they think are those that only adults can do. It also teaches a sense of responsibility, these are things we just HAVE to do anyway, so why not learn it earlier. Will it last? I don’t think so, but for now, I’ll take advantage of that thanks! Next on my list of things to delegate: dusting and the laundry. Well, at least sorting the laundry first.

16, jan 2010

Stylish Women Footwear

Living in italy teaches me to slow down and smell the spaghetti (vegan of course)...especially in August of every year. The country shuts down, i mean SHUT DOWN. ..factories, stores, restaurants, bakeries, municipal services have a skeleton crew for emergencies; the city becomes a ghost town. In some cases even post offices have reduced days. They flock to the sea to crowd elbows with the rest of the population (and a few northern sunlovers) to spend hours on the roadways, and eventually to work on their famous dark brown italian tan. This is all fine and good when i'm one of them that are going away; but i'm one of those who stayed in the empty town. Planning production when factories/vendors close is not an enjoyable task. The mad rush to get everything done for the August Rush is...shall we say...hair raising? i have 3 grey hairs to prove it.For Fall i'm offering some beautiful biodegradable suede maryjanes, and thigh high boots (stay tuned to the website, am working on it!) and booties in brocade...i was so pleased with myself until i had to order materials. Thanks to the economic downturn, vendors don't stock materials that i was looking for. i was crestfallen!!!The clock was ticking-3 more weeks til the August closure. what to do? it put my visualization skills to the test. Extreme test! I had to select the material, make the protos and order production yardage before even having even touched the material. Because the factory is closing in August and i have to go into production as soon as they come back from holidays (it takes another 2 weeks to put their head back on). No time to waste. Needless to say, i prayed a lot during this period.Now the task is done- miraculously the samples turned out better than it had anticipated. i cried when the box came in because i was afraid of what i would find. Now we'll just have to get the factory to fire up the the equipment and get them made. Here is a little sneak preview...unsure what my fave is yet.. cant' wait for weather to turn cool so i can take them for a spin.
ps: I am of the school that does not like to scour the fashion magazines as a full time occupation; i don't want to be brainwashed by the mass media. Opting instead for a dose of real inspiration, having the collection represent how i see the modern woman. Well whadya know! the Cuissard (aka thigh high boots) are all the rage this season. Kailia proudly offers our version. Have you seen Prada's fishing boots up practically to the waist? but that's made from some poor ol' cow's back. You can have all the style without wearing someone's mother on your feet. Compassion is the sign of REAL style!

15, jan 2010

Fasion

For awhile I was thinking to myself "does Olivia Palermo ever look bad??" Every time she is photographed she looks flawless (though unsurprisingly I"ve seen her in person and she is completely caked in makeup when you see her up-close). I"ve noticed now though that every single photo I"ve seen/written about where she looks fierce, was taken on a day she was filming The City....not to take away from the fact that there"s no denying the girl knows how to dress, just think it"s funny now to watch the show and recognize pretty much everything she"s wearing! On the left she"s pictured in Sergio Rossi"s Python Satchel another spot-on choice that really livens us her outfit. I love going with a monochromatic dark outfit and then adding a splash of color with my accessories; it"s a great winter look (especially when you can coordinate your bag with your shoes!).

The big trend is statement jewelry. Don"t even be concerned if you can"t drip with diamonds, it is all about bold costume jewelry so have fun and save some bucks. This runway necklace from Oscar de la Renta is the perfect piece to jazz up everything in your closet, one piece of jewelry will renew last year"s LBD like a miracle. Especially with something this spectacular and showy, you want to keep your colors and silhouettes simple. Looking chic has never been this easy and good!!

14, jan 2010

​Lunch Special: Sushi Raku

The newly opened Sushi Raku (3201 Louisiana Street) is a swanky, modern-looking place. It is huge - you could have a large corporate function here - and well built, with interesting depth in the windows and private booths galore. We can see why the build-out of this location took some time.
The food we had there recently was a somewhat different story. The lunch specials are really great and provide a lot of bang for your buck. But the miso soup wasn't hot, and the quality of the sushi was poor. The fish was luke-cold, and the salmon was cut poorly (chewy and tough).
But there was a light at the end of the tunnel. The tempura veggies were outstanding - the fried mushroom, potato, and pepper tempura was the highlight of our meal, and easily surpassed the ribeye skewers. We got the shrimp tempura after our veggie experience, and it did not disappoint. Excellent sauce, fresh shrimp and crispy batter made this choice a winner as well.
If you are looking for great sushi without all the hubbub, head over to Teppay on Westheimer and Voss.

Music of India , 13 jan

The music of India includes multiple varieties of folk, popular, pop, classical music and R&B. India's classical music tradition, including Carnatic and Hindustani music, has a history spanning millennia and, developed over several eras, it remains fundamental to the lives of Indians today as sources of spiritual inspiration, cultural expression and pure entertainment. India is made up of several dozen ethnic groups, speaking their own languages and dialects, having very distinct cultural traditions.
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Main article: Indian classical music
The two main traditions of classical music which have been Carnatic music, found predominantly in the peninsular regions and Hindustani music, found in the northern and central parts. While both traditions claim Vedic origin, history indicates that the two traditions diverged from a common musical root since c. 13th century.
Further information: Indian classical music, Hindustani music, and Carnatic music

Main article: Hindustani classical music
Hindustani music is an Indian classical music tradition that goes back to Vedic times (around 1000 BC), and further developed circa the 13th and 14th centuries AD with Persian influences and from existing religious and folk music. The practice of singing based on notes was popular even from the Vedic times where the hymns in Sama Veda, a sacred text, was sung as Samagana and not chanted. Developing a strong and diverse tradition over several centuries, it has contemporary traditions established primarily in India but also in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In contrast to Carnatic music, the other main Indian classical music tradition (originating from the South), Hindustani music was not only influenced by ancient Hindu musical traditions, Vedic philosophy and native Indian sounds but also enriched by the Persian performance practices of the Mughals. Besides pure classical, there are also several semi-classical forms such as thumri and tappa.

Arranged marriage in India , 12 jan

Arranged matches were made after taking into account factors such as age, height, personal values and tastes, the backgrounds of their families (wealth, social standing) and their castes and the astrological compatibility of the couples' horoscopes.
The institution of marriage in India is considered a very important one. In general both the parents and the young people feel that since they were older and wiser than their progeny, they would be able to find a suitable match for their children with more prudence than the latter. Although most marriages are arranged, some couples in India opt for selecting their partners by themselves, based on their direct interaction with those partners. This is often termed as "love marriage" in India. Love marriages tend to be more common in the urban areas. Among the overseas Indians, many marriages are still arranged with the assistance of the parents. Even the so called love marriages in India generally happen with the approval of the parents, although their blessing may sometimes be reluctant.

The following factors are generally considered in Indian marriages to search for compatibility:

Values and personal expectations: should match
Age and height: girl should generally be younger and shorter
Looks: should be acceptable to the other
Religion: should be same, preferably same sect
Mother tongue, caste: should be preferably same
Diet (veg/non-veg/alcohol/smoking): may differ only if acceptable to the other
Education: comparable educational levels or the boy should be more educated than the girl
Profession: the profession should be acceptable to the other
Financial: The boy's current and future financial situation should be acceptable to the girl.
Astrological signs/attributes: should be compatible, if the two families believe in it.

11, jan 2010

Traditional Dresses Of Punjab

A generation ago, the turban was the “crowning glory” of all Punjabis whether Muslim, Hindu or Sikh. Muslims and Hindus have given up their turbans, but it remains, literally, an article of faith for Sikh men whose religion forbids them to cut their hair. The kurta, a long straight-cut, loose shirt teamed with pyjamas, the loose baggy salwar or a kind of sarong called a loongi or tehmat makes up the traditional dress for men. Winter sees the rustic Punjabi in colourful sweaters that wives and mothers are so skilled in making. A blanket finishes his ensemble. When the urban, educated Punjabi steps out to work he will be in shirt and pant or a suit—sartorially indistinguishable from his counterparts in Tokyo or Toronto. Back home in the evening, he is likely to be found in more traditional dress. The traditional Punjabi shoes, called juttis retain their popularity with both rural and urban men; they are both elegant and comfortable. Patiala and Muktsar are famous for juttis.
It is impossible to tell by dress whether a Punjabi woman is a Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian – they all dress in salwar topped by a kameez (a garment that can be fitted like a dress loose like the kurta) and accented by a rectangular scarf about 2.5 metres long called the chunni or duppatta.She’s fond of her sweaters, but she is passionately proud of her collection of woollen shawls. These can be breathtaking. The women of Punjab are responsible for the state’s most famous item of handicraft – the phulkari.
This is a shawl completely covered in dense silk embroidery, folk motifs in jewel-tones on an ochre background. Gold is her weakness – brides are loaded with it. The jewellers of Punjab stock an enormous range of designs in bangles, necklaces, rings and earrings, nose-pins, ornaments to pin in the hair, anklets and toe-rings. A particular kind of bangle is the tip-off in recognising Sikh men and women. It’s called a kada and is made of steel

Chapatis Recipe ,10,jan

Punjabi Chapati / Chapatis Recipe

Ingredients
2 tbsps butter, softened (or margarine) .
2 c flour, chapati .
1 c boiling water Directions
Step #1 Put flour into bowl & rub butter/margarine into it.
Step #2 Add half of the water & stir this to mix.
Step #3 Add the remaining water slowly, stirring until all of the flour is hydrated.
Step #4 Knead for approximately 3 mins (be careful, the dough may be hot from the water).
Step #5 The dough will spring back slightly when pressed & may be slightly sticky.
Step #6 Leave covered for 30 mins (approx).
Step #7 Divide into small balls (about half the size of a tennis ball) & dip into extra flour.
Step #8 Press carefully in your hand until slightly flattened into a disc.
Step #9 Roll with a rolling pin into thin round pancakes.
Step #10 Heat a heavy based frying pan (I used a cast iron one).
Step #11 Put the chapati onto the pan & cook this until small blisters appear.
Step #12 Turn & cook on the other side (they may puff up, don't worry).
Step #13 Remove from the heat & wrap in a clean tea towel until ready to serve.
Enjoy the Punjabi Chapati / Chapatis recipe

Friday, 8

Beer Review

I’ve noticed on other beer blogs and with talking with other beer lovers a lot of us in this community also like to partake in scotch. I don’t really know why, probably because it falls into the connoisseur line of alcoholic drinks, you know, something you can totally be a lush with and yet not feel like one. There was a time when I tried to get into the scotch game but it ended disastrously. I would do what most people would do, throw like three cubes of ice into a tumbler and cover it with scotch. Then I would sit back with a book by the fire a enjoy. Except I didn’t enjoy it, I tried but it just wasn’t doing it for me. But I thought, I’ll just stick to it and I will acquire the taste. Well, after about 4 months I wasn’t getting use to this. So I slowly started to stay away from that final, evil bottle. Then, one fall day, my friend Luke came over to watch the Vikings game. We had a few beers and made some burgers and the wives went out. Also on this day the Twins were finishing up their season against the White Sox and for us to win the division we had to either beat them in the three games or have the Detroit Tigers loose theirs, or something like that. Well, that Sunday it was the final games for both teams. The Twins if I remember correctly won so all that needed to happen was Detroit to loose. And they did. And in my loose frame of mind I said, let’s celebrate. So I dug out the bottle and we had a couple drinks. Well, I must have been a bit more loose than I thought because things got really blurry from there, so blurry that I don’t recall the wives coming back and my friend leaving. The next thing I do remember is me in my underwear with my head in the toilet at 11 at night vomiting till I was crying and vowing never to touch that shit again. And I haven’t. I was sick for three days after that, it wasn’t a hangover but it triggered some illness in me. I took a break from all alcohol for about a month, it disturbed me that much. I came to conclusion that hard liquor is not for me, especially scotch/bourbon/whiskey.

Foundation of Qutub-Minar

Foundation of Qutub-Minar

Foundation of Qutub-Minar

Qutub-Minar in red and buff standstone is the highest tower in India. It has a diameter of 14.32m at the base and about 2.75m on the top with a height of 72.5m.

Qutb-u'd-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Qutab Minar in AD 1199. The minar was said to have been built to celebrate the victory of Mohammed Ghori, the invader from Afghanistan, over the Rajputs in 1192. He raised the first storey, to which were added three more storeys by his successor and son-in-law, Shamsu'd-Din IItutmish (AD 1211-36). All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the Minar and supported by stone brackets, which are decorated with honeycomb design, more conspicuously in the first storey.

Numerous inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari characters in different places of the Minar reveal the history of Qutb. According to the inscriptions on its surface it was repaired by Firoz Shah Tughlaq (AD 1351-88) and Sikandar Lodi (AD 1489-1517).

Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, to the northeast of Minar was built by Qutbu'd-Din Aibak in AD 1198. It is the earliest mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. It consists of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters, erected with the carved columns and architectural members of 27 Hindu and Jain temples, which were demolished by Qutbu'd-Din Aibak as recorded in his inscription on the main eastern entrance.