Why I Won't Buy An iPad

This is a podcast by Cory Doctorow published in Boing Boing on why he wouldn't buy a iPad and why he think we shouldn't either.

What do you think ? Please post your comments.

Malaysian Men Buying Lingerie Online

The pic is for illustration only

The above picture shows a man trying on a bra he bought online. According to a report in the Star, more Malaysian men are purchasing exotic and sexy ladies undergarments online.

Apparently men prefer to purchase such items online because they are embarrassed to buy such clothing for their wives or girlfriends in normal shops.

The report says that some of the purchasers are even from places like Felda settlements, because they have no easy access to regular shops selling such clothing.

An online lingerie shop owner says another reason people buy online is because of the variety of merchandise - there are many designs to choose from, such as satin slips, corsets, two-piece sets and even those that come with whips. Some of these designs are not readily available in Malaysian shops, especially the more exotic ones.

Lingerie corsets are apparently one of the hottest-selling lingerie and customers are demanding for more corset designs, such as those with lace and leather.

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Should You Get An iPad Now ?

Flowchart from Dutchcowboys

According to an article in the Seattle Times, Apple iPad is not really worth its hype. The iPad is basically just an extra-large iPod Touch.

Apparently software and media companies are especially excited about the iPad's debut as they are hoping to sell millions of apps and subscriptions at higher prices than they could for the iPhone.

The newspaper advises against impulse purchase of the iPad because it expects the price to eventually fall. As the price of the iPad settles so will its apps market.

If you wait a little, Apple's competitors will release similar devices that may have better features at competitive prices. Also, wait and see if the iPad will be a really useful device that will replace current PCs and laptops.

Anyway, Apple says its delaying the international release of the iPad by a month because of high demand. Yes, the iPad was supposed to be available in Malaysia sometime late March, but now, Malaysians will have to wait until the end of May. I think its just a marketing gimmick by Apple to get people all hyped up about the iPad.

So, don't be impatient. Getting an iPad is not the most important thing in the world. The iPad can wait because tablet computers it will eventually get better and cheaper...

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What The Hell Is Syabu ?

Top: pic from The Sun on customs discovering syabu in luggage in KLIA Left: a retail packet of syabu

While many of us know that shabu-shabu is Japanese steamboat, not many know about the drug called shabu or syabu.

We read a lot in the newspapers about police making syabu raids, drug addicts getting jailed and rotan for syabu possession. We also read about Iranian syndicates smuggling syabu into the country.

Having possession and trafficking of syabu is illegal in Malaysia under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. If you're an addict, possessing just about 61.8g (3 tablespoons) of syabu can get you sentenced to 15 years jail and 10 strokes of the rotan. If you're a trafficker, you could be sentenced to death by hanging.

So what the hell is this syabu thing ?

Syabu (also called "ice", "speed", "crystal", "glass", "meth" or "blue diamond" on the streets) is the colloquial name for the psycho-stimulant drug called Amphetamine. Amphetamine is known to increase energy and attention while decreasing appetite and fatigue. Apparently during World War II and the Viet Nam War, amphetamines were widely used as stimulants to keep the soldiers fighting, increasing their alertness and energy while going on without sleep and much food. It gave them false confidence making them bold, daring and feeling invincible.

Amphetamine is related to drugs such as methamphetamine and dextroamphetamine.

Long term use of of syabu causes brain damage, depression and other psychosomatic illnesses.

Today, it is generally taken as a recreational drug as it enables one to party all night. It is also believed to be widely used by those working in the fringes of society: prostitutes, GROs, robbers and gangsters, as it makes them hyperactive all night long, bold and daring to commit acts which they would normally be socially restrained to do. It is also apparently common for taxi drivers, bus drivers, night club bouncers and mat rempits to be on syabu. Women addicts take syabu to keep slim as it prevents them from getting hungry.

Syabu is not only addictive, it eventually impairs your performance. Experts say, after taking syabu for a year, you become dependent on syabu and cannot perform normally without it.

If you want to know more, read these stories about Types of Party Drugs and Party Drugs That Kill.

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Bukit Gasing Forest Park

Bukit Gasing forest park is one of the Klang Valley's best nature walks. It is located in Secion 5 Petaling Jaya. Visitors can get to Bukit Gasing through Jalan Tanjung (Jalan Section 5/4).

Although there is no entry fee and no parking fee there are also no toilet facilities available.

There are a few covered shelters along trails while drink and snack sellers station themselves alongside the entrance road during weekends.

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The History Of Money In Malaysia

This is an informative article about the history of money in Malaysia written by 14 year old Devan Tisdale, of Heidelberg, Germany which was published in the NST:

Throughout history, money has been the pulse of civilisations. The earliest form of money was not the paper bills and coins that we know today. They were possessions and objects such as cows or pottery. These were traded for anything the owner might have been in need of.

Unfortunately, unless you were a shrewd negotiator, this method wouldn’t favour you. Also, changes in the value of certain objects, too, could not work in your favour. Soon, as a result, coin-based currency began to take hold.

Among the earliest civilisations to use coins were the Greeks and the Chinese.

The Romans caught on later, and soon the practice spread around the globe, although it did not completely replace the bargaining method or barter trade.

Early coins were usually made of a mix of metals, and, later, the coins were made of gold or silver.

Forgery became a problem but this was solved when mints made coins with ridged edges which were hard to duplicate.
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But then, changes in the weight and purity of coins caused inflation and it became harder to control.

The ancient banking systems in Europe collapsed after the fall of Rome and did not resume until the Crusades.

The Chinese became the first to develop paper money due to a severe shortage of copper (circa A.D. 815). The idea behind paper money is that each bill would be backed by its value in gold or silver by the government.

China was forced to abandon paper money around A.D. 1455 due to severe inflation but started again a while later.

Other governments had similar problems when they adopted paper money, but eventually the system settled down to become what we are familiar with today.

Malaysian Money

The history of Malaysia’s money is even more interesting. Originally, tin cubes of varying size were the currency of Malaysia. Over time they were made in many different styles.

Did you know that Malaysia once had coins shaped like animals such as crocodiles and elephants?

Another distinct style of the period is the “coin tree”. This was a metal rod with “branches” of coins. When needed, these coins could be broken off and used. The spare metal was then turned into more coins.


The first actual money to arrive in Malaysia was in the form of bronze coins brought by Chinese merchants. Eventually the Malacca Sultanate began to issue their own currency of gold, silver, and bronze coins.

This in turn was replaced, as the colonial powers came to Malaysia, with each one introducing its own currency.

Portuguese, Dutch, and English money have been the currency of Malaysia at one time or another.

However, the first paper money was once again from the Chinese banks that had opened branches in Malaysia.

During the rule of the Government of the Straits Settlements, the main forms of money were the Spanish Dollar, the Dutch Doit, and the Singapore merchant tokens.

Eventually, after the departure of the British, Malaysia began circulating what we know now as the Malaysian Ringgit (it was originally called the Malaysian dollar and represented with the sign M$). Malaysia has even issued its own gold bullion called the Kijang Emas after the barking deer.

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Having read the above article, you might be interested to watch some videos on how money is created today and how it affects your life.

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Good Food, Fat Malaysians.

According to a recent article in the Star, Malaysians are getting obese because we eat round the clock.

Four years ago the National Health and Morbidity Survey revealed that 2 out of every 5 adults or 43%, were either overweight or obese.


Malaysian food has also loads of calories.

Please post your comments.