4D Lucky Fish

Picture from asiaone

Magnum 4D, Sports Toto, and Da Ma Cai punters' latest strategy in attracting luck is not in rearing the blood parrot fish (locally called feng shui fish), or the flowerhorn, but in the "4D fish".

Malaysian and Singaporean 4D lottery punters have been rearing 4D fish to forecast the winning 4D numbers. These molly fish, imported from Thailand and introduced early last year, have a single-digit number (from 0 to 9) tattooed their bodies.

Customers apparently buy 4 fish which were tattooed with his own lucky numbers. Some just buy 4 fish with random numbers. These punters are hoping that by watching the fish swim, the winning combination at the weekly Magnum 4D, Toto, and Da Ma Cai draw would emerge . Each 4D fish costs RM7 and the tattoo can last up to 4 months.

I can imagine Malaysians sitting at home patiently watching the 4D fish swim round and round the acquirium while writing down what they think would be the winning 4D numbers.

An ornamental fish retailer said that mollys are easy and cheap to look after. They are not fussy eaters or sensitive to the water quality and temprature. All you need is a small aquarium with basic apparatus.

I believe that as most customers who bought the 4D fish were hoping that the fish would bring them luck and had no genuine interest in rearing fish, they would neglact the fish should they not win anything in the lottery. In Asia, people will even rear cockroaches if they can be persuaded that cockroaches can bring luck.

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RIP Michael Jackson, The King Of Pop

Michael Jackson as he was

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, 50, has died on 25th June. It was reported that Michael Jackson collapsed and died at his rented mansion at Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles due to a heart attack.

He dominated of pop culture in the 80s and early 90s with his unique brand of music and dance. Michael Jackson's 1982 Thriller album is still the world's best-selling album of all time and his other works remain among the world's top selling albums and singles.

HIStory world tour in Malaysia

27th and 29th of October 1996 at the Merdeka Stadium

Few people are born not just to celebrity but to stardom, Michael Jackson is one of those people. Despite his fame and fortune, he was born never to know what it was like to live a normal life, or even behave like everyone else. He started his singing career when he was 9 years old as part of his family's musical act, the Jackson 5, and was already celebrity when he was 14. This somewhat explains the mixture of his charisma, mystery, indulgence, isolation, eccentricities and loneliness throughout his life.

Despite the recent official news report about the heart attack that caused his death, rumours persist about possible suicide.

As far back as 2005, there were news reports that Michael Jackson may commit suicide. He was then facing charges for sexual molestation in court in addition to having to deal with pressures of personal financial dificulties.

Recently, his close friends have revealed that Michael Jackson had confided that he intends to die like Elvis Presley (who died by drug overdose in August 16, 1977). Even after all these years, there is still the infamous claim that Elvis faked his death to enter into the government's Witness Protection program. They believe that Elvis Presley is still alive and is in hiding. Not surprisingly, some people are already saying the same about Michael Jackson.

This is life. People can say anything they want, and they will, for many years to come. As I see it, whatever Michael was or whatever he was not in his personal life, isn't important. Michael Jackson was an extrodinary talent who has captured the imagination of billions of people around the world with his music and dance. He remains one of the greatest musical genius the world has ever seen.

To this, I say goodbye Michael. We sang your songs, we danced to your music, and now, we mourn your passing. Rest in peace. You will not be forgotten.

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The Oldest Profession In The World, In Malaysia

According to a news report, the sex industry in Malaysia was more than RM3 billion last year. Apparently, there are about 150,000 prostitutes in the country with about 10,000 in the Klang Valley.
The oldest profession in the world, prostitution, is extremely lucrative. A prostitute who works 7 days a week charging RM150 per hour servicing 8 client per day earns RM1,200 per day which amounts to RM36,000 per month, says woman's NGO, Tenaganita.

The NGO revealed that syndicates running brothels usually have up to 100 girls each and Malaysia has hundreds of such syndicates, with each operating several brothels in their designated areas.

Many brothels in Malaysia operate as "health centres" or "massage centres"offering massage services. Clients are willing to pay from RM60 to RM100 for an hour of massage and an additional RM150 for sex.

So, in addition to the RM36,000 monthly from sex alone, a prostitute working in a health centre can earn another RM9,000 for offering "partial services" - foreplay.

Depending to the arrangement with the health centres, freelance prostitutes have to pay RM3,000 per month to the health centre as "rent" for using the centres to do business and for protection them from aggressive customers. Others are full time employees and are paid, on average, RM200 a day for massaging up to 10 customers. These full timers have some kind of profit sharing arrangement with the centres pertaining to the sex services offered to the clients.

The Internet has definitely increased the opportunities for the industry to advertise its services through websites by enticing clients with a menu of sexual services, girls available and the prices.

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Samundari Khazana - The World's Most Expensive Curry

On Monday, exclusive Indian restaurant Bombay Brasserie in South Kensington, London unveiled the "world's most expensive curry", costing £2,000 (approximately RM11,500) a portion.

The curry, called the Samundari Khazana (which means treasure from the seas), is made from lots of expensive ingredients including abalone, white truffle, quails eggs, saffron, caviar and edible gold.

I would imagine that someone like Slumdog Millionaire will love the Samundari Khazana.

Well, I don't know if anyone in Malaysia will spend RM11,500 for a portion Indian curry. If you bring a client or a date, you'd have to order 2 portions - ouch ! RM23,000.

As for me, Im heading stright to my local mamak restaurant tomorrow for the normal RM12 nasi biryani that comes with a plate of mutton curry and a tall glass of teh O ice limau. The most expensive Indian curry I paid for was slighly less than RM50 a portion - mutton bone curry; delicious.

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Foreign Workers in Petaling Street

Kuala Lumpur's Petaling Street (Chinatown), a tourist attraction well known for its local Chinese hawker fare and infamous for selling pirated clothes and accessories including bootleg DVDs and CDs, has in recent years seen an influx of foreign workers tending the stalls and shops in place of locals.

A local tabloid reported that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) together with various other enforcement agencies like the police and immigration department detained 38 foreigners working illegally among the 773 petty traders in Petaling Street, on Monday.

I'm sure there are more than 38 foreigners working illegally in Petaling Street as one can hardly see locals working at the stalls and shops these days. As prior warning was given last month to the petty traders about employing illegal workers, I suppose most foreigners without work permits have temporarily gone into hiding to evade being arrested.

One can't blame the local traders for employing foreigners instead of locals. Apart from the relatively cheap labour, these people work harder and are more enterprising. What's amazing about these foreigners, many of whom are Bangladeshis and Burmese, is that they can speak reasonably fluent Malay and Cantonese. Most have picked up the local languages within a few months in this country. Shame of us Malaysians who still can't speak these languages well despite having lived in this country for so long.

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Buying A Vietnamese Wife

We all know that people purchase pets, but we forget that it has been a long practice for men to also "purchase" brides. These days, the growing trend among Malaysian and Singaporean men are Vietnamese brides.

Some apparently believe in the myth that Vietnamese women possess a mysterious tribal lust that makes them bedroom dynamos. Most of the men who seek to purchase Vietnamese wives expect their wives to behave like geishas.

In Singapore, a teenage virgin Vietnamese bride can be purchased on-the-spot for RM25,000. There are reports of 18 year old Vietnamese girls sold to late 30 year old Singaporean men. Some of these men went to the matchmaking agency to choose a bride together with their moms.

What’s worse, the girls were made to visit a clinic to get a "certificate of fitness" verifying their virginity before the transaction is completed.

Well, some reports claim that it is possible to purchase a virgin Vietnamese bride for as little as RM10,000. I suspect the quality of the "merchandise" is a major factor in the price disparity.

Last month there was a news report that a 47 year old Malaysian man "returned" his 22 year old Vietnamese wife to the matchmaking agency 17 days after their wedding.

The man, who purchased his Vietnamese wife for RM13,800 demanded a refund because he complained, among other things, that he could not communicate with her as she could only speak Vietnamese. It was not reported, however, why didn't he know this prior to purchasing her and only found out that she was not multilingual 17 days after their wedding. I read that some matchmaking agencies offer a "trial period" where if the customer is not satisfied with his wife, a replacement cant be arranged, minus a small "administrative fee".

Anyway, coming back to the original story, the matchmaking agency was not pleased with the man's antics as they do not operate like a departmental store which has a money back guarantee policy. On hindsight, he should have bought his wife with his credit card, then he'd be able to claim a charge back for "faulty goods".

It is not known if, in future, "hire purchase" terms or "installment plans" can be arranged with matchmaking agencies to purchase brides, thus making them more affordable to the masses.

However, to some men, despite the price and social stigma attached to investing in a Vietnamese wife, they believe that in the long run this will prove to be more cost effective compared to marrying a local woman.

Caveat: If you want to buy a wife, pay by credit card or arrange for an installment plan to protect yourself.

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Fireflies In Kuala Selangor To See Its End ?

News reports say that there would be no longer any fireflies in Kuala Selangor in a few months because of land clearing which has ruined its habitat.

The fireflies, locally called kelip kelip, have been under constant treat from the construction of the Sungai Selangor Dam to waste pollution and now, the complete destruction of its breeding habitat.

The entire firefly population in Kampung Kuantan and Kampung Bukit Belimbing in Kuala Selangor has already seen significant reduction in recent years.

A boatman who grew up in the area observed that there has been a huge decline in the beetle population in the past 2 years. He recalls when almost all the trees would be lit with fireflies - just like the lights on Christmas trees. But now, he says, one can hardly see a tree with as many fireflies. The tourists visiting Kuala Selangor helps him earn RM500 a month for a 3 hour job every night ferrying them to watch the flashing beetles.

There are 31 boatmen at Kuala Selangor firefly sanctuary earning a living in one of the Selangor’s unique tourist attractions.

Once this tourist attraction is gone, so will the spin-offs from firefly watching tours. This include seafood restaurants and homestay programmes that commercially support the local community.

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