Gawk, Gawp, Gawky

Gawk: stare stupidly

 Gawp: stare stupidly; gape

 Gawky: clumsy; awkward

Places of Worship: National Mosque

Located near the Old KL Railway Station, the National Mosque or Masjid Negara is probably the most outstanding modern mosque in Kuala Lumpur. Standing out from the rest, with its unique star-shaped dome, representing the 13 states of Malaysia and the five pillars of Islam. The mosque, with the capacity to hold 10,000 people, is seated proudly among 13 acres of beautifully landscaped ground, with gardens and fountains. Visitors are allowed into the mosque - but they must dressed in an appropriate manner as a matter of respect in this special place of worship. Robes and headscarves can be borrowed at the entrance; there is a separate entrance for women.

*Jalan Hishamuddin

*09:00 to 12:30, 14:00 to 15:30 and

  17:00 to 18:30 (for tourists)

*Take the KTM Komuter train to the Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station.

  The museum is 10 minutes walking distance from the station, overlooking

  the Islamic Arts Museum.

Gum Arabic Glue

 

This glue is used for sticking soft pieces of paste to other pieces of soft or firm paste. It will dry more quickly than egg white. This glue does not keep well so make you are advice to make in a small quantity.

Mix 1 part gum Arabic with 3 part of cold water. Leaves to dissolve.

The truth about MSG

First of all, a message to Ajinamoto: Please call off your lawyers. I am a man of straw. And neither am I well enough known to be made an example of. To set the record straight, MSG does not make mice's head explode. Nor is it in any way toxic, at least no more than, say, salt. The US Food and Drug Administration has indeed given it the all-clear, as have the UN and European Union. It turns out that the studies carried out in the sixties purporting to show MSG had adverse side effects had involved giving mice absurd quantities of the stuff, equivalent to an adult eating half a kilo. So, while even Ajinamoto concedes some people might have an adverse reaction to MSG, it is no more than are allergic to aubergines, say, or sofas. MSG is merely a man-made glutamic acid made by fermenting carbohydrates and sugars, nothing more, nothing less.

          Now, to umami. Umami and MSG are inextricably linked, but are by no means the same thing. Umami is usually referred to as the fifth taste, after salty, sweet, bitter and sour (although some neuroscientists claim there are fifty or more tastes, but let's not get into that. It has taken long enough for the Japanese to convince the world that umami exists). When Ikeda identified it in konbu he wrote: 'An attentive taster will find out something common in the complicated taste of asparagus, tomatoes, cheese, and meat, which is quite puculiar and cannot be classed under any of the well defined four taste qualities, sweet, sour, salty and bitter.' It is not confined to Japanese foodstuffs. Cheese - parmesan in particular - and tomatoes have a powerful umami flavour, as do air-dried ham, veal stock, consomme, and Worcestershire sauce. Baby milk is rich in umami (far more than cow's milk), as is the crust on grilled or fried meat. In fact, it is often easier to describe what umami is by listing the things that are full of umami flavour, as people do tend to tie themselves up in knots on this subject - 'savoury' and 'meaty' are the words most often employed, but often the Japanese resort to translating it as 'delicious', or 'tasty'.

~Michael Booth (Sushi & Beyond: What the Japanese know about Cooking)

Pictures taken with nikon p7000 (2)

presint 11, putrajaya

view at hudaibiyah, mekah

view outside manazel al-waleed hotel, mekah

*** i'm using my own p7000

Pictures taken with nikon p7000 (1)

*** i'm using my own p7000

Explanation of the effectiveness of the Islamic prayer

Here is an explanation of the effectiveness of the Islamic prayer:

1. It strengthens belief in the Existence and Goodness of God and transmits this belief into the innermost recesses of man's heart.
2. It enlivens this belief and makes it constructive in the practical course of life.
3. It helps a person to realize his/her natural and instinctive aspirations to greatness and high morality, to excellence and virtuous growth.
4. It purifies the heart and develops the mind, cultivates the conscience and comforts the soul.
5. It fosters the good and decent elements in man, and suppresses the evil and indecent inclinations.
6. It restrains from shameful and unjust deeds.

~Hammudah 'Abd al 'Ati

The Friday prayer (salat al jumu'ah)

So far we have dealt with the daily prayers. We come now to the weekly gathering of the Friday congregational prayer. Though not a requirement for women and travellers, this service is compulsary upon every Muslim who is required to observe the other prayers and has no reasonable excuse to be absent. 

It falls on Friday of every week and is especially important because:

1. It is the occasion earmarked by God for the Muslims to express their collective devotion.
2. It is an appointment to review our spiritual accounts of the week past by and get ready for the week ahead, just as people do in any other business.
3. It shows how the Muslims give preference to the call of God over and above any other concern.

~Hammudah 'Abd al 'Ati 

Expand your child's vocabulary

To encourage your child's language development, parents need to stay quiet and let their child initiate conversation, according to a recent study from the University of Sydney. Dr Susan Colmar conducted a four-month study with 15 children between the ages of three and five.

Using picture books as an aid, she found her reading programme resulted in an 11-fold improvement in the verbal language skills of her subjects. "It is evident that parents and preschool teachers talk far too much when talking with children," she said. Just like in a normal social situation, if you are talking to someone and they don't talk back, same with kids."

Follow her easy tips:

• Use picture books with interesting storylines and about two lines per page.
• When opening the page, don't rush into reading. Pause first, let your child look at the page and let them talk first.
• Encourage their chosen topic with open-ended questions like "why" and "how" that require more than just one-word answers.

Hard-wired for Sudoku

Sudoku champions be proud. The sophisticated thinking used to solve the mathematical puzzles is beyond even the most advanced computers.

Professor John Hopfield of Princeton University has been studying how we solve Sudoku puzzles to understand the process known as associative memory - our ability to spot similarities and discover patterns from limited information.

Every time we put the right number in a Sudoku square it provides a clue, bringing us one step closer to recognising an overall pattern and solution.

"The measure humans use for similarity is very difficult to capture in computer programs," says Professor Hopfield. "Computers make no use of 'learning' from previous experience."

Can an opera singer really break a wine glass by singing?

Jean Barrette, a physics professor at Canada's McGill University, says that you first need a high-quality wine glass. By that, he means a glass that will resonate strongly at a well-defined frequency and will maintain that resonance for some time.

To break the glass the singer would have to produce a very loud sound and maintain for several seconds the vocal pitch at the exact resonance frequency of the glass. By transferring energy to the glass this way, the singer would increase the vibration amplitude and that would eventually break the glass. It is likely easier for sopranos, or singers with a high pitch, to meet this challenge since when they sing, they produce a tone that is purer.

So if you're having an opera singer over for drinks, don't bring out the expensive stemware.

The concept of peace (islam)

To appreciate how Islam approaches the question of peace, one has only to consider a few elementary facts about Islam. The Arabic word for 'peace' and islam are derived from the same root and may be considered synonymous. One of God's names is Peace. The concluding words of the daily prayers of every Muslim are words of peace. The greeting of the Muslims when they return to God is peace. The daily salutations among the Muslims are expressions of peace. The adjective 'Muslim' means, in a sense, 'peaceful'. Heaven in Islam is the abode of peace.

This is how fundamental and dominant the theme of peace is in Islam. The individual who approaches God through Islam cannot fail to be at peace with God, with himself, and with his fellow men. Taking all these values together, putting man in his proper place in the cosmos, and viewing life in the Islamic perspective, men of good faith and principles cannot fail to make our world a better world, to regain human dignity, to achieve equality, to enjoy universal brotherhood, and to build a lasting peace.

~Hammudah 'Abd al 'Ati

Cheese

CREAM CHEESE

Cream cheese is a soft, spreadable, un-aged cheese that is cultured with bacteria to give it a slight tang. It is used in cheesecakes, cookies, pastry doughs, and pie crusts.

MASCARPONE CHEESE

Mascarpone cheese is known as the Italian cream cheese. It is rich like butter but it has a creamy consistency much like cream cheese. It has 70 to 75 percent milk fat. Mascarpone is made by treating heavy cream with an acid, producing very small, creamy, fine curds with a tangier taste than cream cheese. It is then set over cheese cloth to drain. It is commonly used in tiramisu and cheesecakes or served with fruit.

RICOTTA CHEESE

Ricotta cheese is made from the reheated liquid whey that is left over after whole cow's milk cheese is made. Curds are formed and then drained. The Italian variety is made from sheep's milk. It is used for such Italian pastries as cheesecake and cannoli.

Damn Right Quote

"I'm not addicted to twitter. I only tweet when 

I have time: lunch time,break time, this time,that time,any time,all the time"

"If a girl is silent, it's bad. They're either, about to blow up, 

need a hug, falling apart, crying inside or all the above"

"Once you start to dislike someone. Everything they do begins to annoy you"

"The past cannot be changed, forgotten, edited, or erased. It can only be accepted"

"If Facebook had a dislike button.. some serious drama would go down!"

"Listening to someone telling a story and thinking: Lie, lie, lie,yup lie,....lie, lie"

"MY BRAIN: 5% names, 3% phone numbers, 

2% stuff I should know for school, 90% song lyrics"

"I get annoyed when my phone rings 

and it's not from the person i actually want to speak to"

"Some people are like clouds. When they disappear, it's a brighter day"

"Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. 

Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try"

"I don't hate you, I'm just disappointed you turned into everything you said you'd never be"

"Tweeting" is so much more fun than "Updating my Facebook Status"

"It's ironic how we ignore those who want us, 

want those who ignore us, love those who hurt us and hurt those who love us"

"There's nothing worse than meeting the perfect person at the wrong time!"

"I wake up each morning and check Twitter/Facebook like its the morning newspaper."

Twitter ✔ Facebook ✔ Tumblr ✔ Youtube ✔ Skype ✔ 

"Dude do you have a life?"... " :D

"No, send me the link!"

"What's that! An earthquake?" "YES!! RUN!!!""OMG, WAIT" *Runs to the computer and writes on Twitter* "EARTHQUAAAAAAKE!!"

"8 year old kids today have Facebook, twitter, phones, iPod. 

When i was that age, I had a coloring book, crayons, chalk, and imagination"

"If women ruled the world there would be no wars. 

Just a bunch of jealous countries not talking to each other"

"Facebook is like a jail. You sit around & waste time, 

you write on walls & get poked by people you don't even know"

"Facebook is the only place where it's acceptable to talk to a wall"

"A real man doesn't love a million girls, he loves one girl in a million ways"

"I think Facebook needs a "Nobody Cares' button below the 

status update for some people"

"Sometimes, you forgive people simply because you still want them in your life"

"Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak, sometimes it just means your strong enough to let go"

"My cell phone is my watch, camera, flashlight, calculator and so much more!"

"I love Friday evenings and hate Monday mornings!"

"A broken heart can be healed, but It's the MEMORIES That KILL it"

"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. What happens on Twitter... damn, it gets around..."

"Some people are only alive because it's illegal to shoot them"

"I once had a life ... then some idiot came and told me to make a Twitter account"

"When I'm right, no one remembers. When I'm wrong, no one forgets"

"I don't care if you don't like me... I wasn't put on this earth to please you"

"Sometimes i'll ask someone a question 

I already know the answer to just to see if they'll lie to me"

Smart man + smart woman = romance. Smart man + dumb woman = affair. 

Dumb man + smart woman = marriage. Dumb man + dumb woman = pregnancy

"This is who I am, Take it or leave it"

"Honestly, I don't have time to hate people who hate me, cause 

I'm too busy loving people who love me"

"Loving someone and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it"

"3 things you can't recover in life : the WORD after its said, 

the MOMENT after its missed, and the TIME after its gone"

"If someone wants to be part of your life, they’ll be there, so don’t bother saving a spot 

for someone who won't make an effort to stay"

"Happiness starts with one word, one joke, one text, one phone call, 

one song, one hug, one kiss and can stop with, one mistake"

 "Don't cry over the past, it's gone. Don't stress about the future, it hasn't arrived. 

Live in the present and make it perfect!"

"There's a difference between giving up and knowing when you have had enough"

"The best thing in life is finding someone who knows all of your flaws, mistakes, and 

weaknesses and still thinks you're completely amazing"

"It's sad how quick people can just forget about you, until they want something from you..."

"You can't change what has already happened so don't waste your time thinking about it. 

Move on, let go and get over it"

"If someone does not see you in their future, maybe it's time to put them in your past"

"Sometimes in life, it's not about the ending, it's about the journey"

"That mini heart attack when you almost drop your phone!"

"Look I didnt say it was your fault, I'm just blaming you anyway"

Top 4 Lies - 1: I'm fine. 2: It wasn't me. 3: That was my last piece of gum.

4: I've read and agreed to the Terms and Conditions.

"I hate it when I do something amazing and NO ONE sees it!"

"Throwing your phone in anger then checking if its still okay"

"The best makeup is a Smile. The best jewelry is Modesty. The best clothing is Confidence"

"There's no past tense for love, either you always will or you never did"

"Trust is like an eraser. It gets smaller with every mistake that's made"

"Never leave something good to find something better, because once 

you realize you had the best, the best has found better"

Coffee and Cirrhosis

Drinking coffee may help protect against alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver, according to a study conducted by Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California. Researchers found that people who drank one cup of coffee a day were, on average, 20 per cent less likely to have alcoholic cirrhosis. Risk reduction rose with the number of cups drunk, to as high as 80 per cent for those who drank four or more cups of coffee a day.

 

"Consuming coffee seems to have some protective benefits, and the more coffee consumed, the less risk there appears to be of being hospitalised or dying of alcoholic cirrhosis," says Dr. Arthur Klatsky, lead author of the study. "This study may offer us some clues as to the biochemical processes taking place inside liver cells, which could help in finding new ways to protect the liver against injury."

Say it with Flowers

The State University of New Jersey, claim that simply having flowers around you can produce positive emotions - great reasons to send that special someone a bouquet. Here are five picks for any occasion:

Like the sun, sunflowers symbolise warmth, adoration and happiness.

Perfect for cheering up a friend who's ill or feeling down.

 

A great alternative to roses, tulips generally symbolise perfect love, making them

a fitting choice for wedding anniversaries. Tell someone they have beautiful eyes with variegated tulips.

One of the world's most popular flowers. Pink Carnations, a favourite on Mother's Day,

express gratitude while dark red carnations convey love and affection.

 

These are bold and exuberant flowers. Pink stargazer lilies, a symbol of wealth and

aspiration, are particularly appropriate to express congratulations to someone.

 

Lively and vibrant, gerbera daisies convey a message of cheer and are

thought to symbolise innocence and purity. A great choice for birthdays.

Yuna - Decorate lyrics

So you decided to see me out of the blue
Should I let you come over
I think you’re doing fine
That girl in your arms
Does she know where you come from

Almost made me move out of town
You don’t want me to be around
But I stayed anyway
Just in case

Finding reasons to hate you more than before
Like how you said you would call
But never at all
Got rid off your number that I know by heart

You left your things at my place
As if I have all the space
Cause you know I don’t mind
Just come back when you think it’s time

I’m all black and white inside
Monotonous from left to right
I decorate my house with things you love
Just in case you show up
In case you show up

Cococut Water

"Coconut water is sweet, increasing semen, promoting digestion, and clearing the urinary path," says Ayurvedic medicine of India.

Ariel was sentenced to 42 months' jail

Ariel, the vocalist of Indonesian pop band Peterpan, was sentenced to 42 months' jail and fined Rp250mil (about RM84,000) under the republic's anti-pornography law for making and distributing pornographic videos featuring him and artistes Luna Maya and Cut Tari. The video spread like wildfire on the internet and mobile phones last year, shocking the nation and earning him the tag "Peterporn".

Balik kampung

The balik kampung rush started as city folk set off on their homeward journey to celebrate Ramadhan, Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Chinese New Year. The rush caused a jam at toll plazas and traffic snarls along the highways.