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I am Back!

Sorry for not showing up and I did not post anything in the past few days. I was tired and I barely touch my computer. So, i was not up to the mod to post anything. But, I am back today!

Bermuda Triangle [Devil's Triangle]

Grouping: Paranormal places

AKA: Devil's Triangle

Country: International Waters

Status: Urban Legend

The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is a region of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean in which a number of aircraft and surface vessels have disappeared in what are said to be circumstances that fall beyond the boundaries of human error or acts of nature. Some of these disappearances have been attributed to the paranormal, a suspension of the laws of physics, or activity by extraterrestrial beings by popular culture. Although substantial documentation exists showing numerous incidents to have been inaccurately reported or embellished by later authors, there is no doubt that many ships and airplanes have been lost in the area.

The Triangle Area

The boundaries of the Triangle vary with the author; some stating its shape is akin to a trapezoid covering the Straits of Florida, the Bahamas, and the entire Caribbean island area east to the Azores; others add to it the Gulf of Mexico. The more familiar, triangular boundary in most written works has as its points somewhere on the Atlantic coast of Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the mid-Atlantic island of Bermuda, with most of the accidents concentrated along the southern boundary around the Bahamas and the Florida Straits.

The area is one of the most heavily-sailed shipping lanes in the world, with ships crossing through it daily for ports in the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. Cruise ships are also plentiful, and pleasure craft regularly go back and forth between Florida and the islands. It is also a heavily flown route for commercial and private aircraft heading towards Florida, the Caribbean, and South America from points north.

The Gulf Stream ocean current flows through the Triangle after leaving the Gulf of Mexico; its current of five to six knots may have played a part in a number of disappearances. Sudden storms can and do appear, and in the summer to late fall hurricanes strike the area. The combination of heavy maritime traffic and tempestuous weather makes it inevitable that vessels could founder in storms and be lost without a trace – especially before improved telecommunications, radar, and satellite technology arrived late in the 20th century.

Brief History

Acording to the Triangle authors, Christopher Columbus was the first person to document something strange in the Triangle, reporting that he and his crew observed "strange dancing lights on the horizon", flames in the sky, and at another point he wrote in his log about bizarre compass bearings in the area. From his log book, dated October 11, 1492 he wrote:

The land was first seen by a sailor (Rodrigo de Triana), although the Admiral at ten o'clock that evening standing on the quarter-deck saw a light, but so small a body that he could not affirm it to be land; calling to Pero Gutiérrez, groom of the King's wardrobe, he told him he saw a light, and bid him look that way, which he did and saw it; he did the same to Rodrigo Sánchez of Segovia, whom the King and Queen had sent with the squadron as comptroller, but he was unable to see it from his situation. The Admiral again perceived it once or twice, appearing like the light of a wax candle moving up and down, which some thought an indication of land. But the Admiral held it for certain that land was near...

Modern scholars checking the original log books have surmised that the lights he saw were the cooking fires of Taino natives in their canoes or on the beach; the compass problems were the result of a false reading based on the movement of a star.

The first article of any kind in which the legend of the Triangle began appeared in newspapers by E.V.W. Jones on September 16, 1950, through the Associated Press. Two years later, Fate magazine published "Sea Mystery At Our Back Door", a short article by George X. Sand in the October 1952 issue covering the loss of several planes and ships, including the loss of Flight 19, a group of five U.S. Navy TBM Avenger bombers on a training mission. Sand's article was the first to lay out the now-familiar triangular area where the losses took place. Flight 19 alone would be covered in the April 1962 issue of American Legion Magazine. The article was titled "The Lost Patrol", by Allen W. Eckert, and in his story it was claimed that the flight leader had been heard saying "We are entering white water, nothing seems right. We don't know where we are, the water is green, no white." It was also claimed that officials at the Navy board of inquiry stated that the planes "flew off to Mars." "The Lost Patrol" was the first to connect the supernatural to Flight 19, but it would take another author, Vincent Gaddis, writing in the February 1964 Argosy Magazine to take Flight 19 together with other mysterious disappearances and place it under the umbrella of a new catchy name: "The Deadly Bermuda Triangle";[6] he would build on that article with a more detailed book, Invisible Horizons, the next year. Others would follow with their own works: John Wallace Spencer (Limbo of the Lost, 1969); Charles Berlitz (The Bermuda Triangle, 1974); Richard Winer (The Devil's Triangle, 1974), and many others, all keeping to some of the same supernatural elements outlined by Eckert.

There are some others explaination to this Bermuda Triangle, which is the Kusche's Explanation and other responses.

Natural Explanations:

1. Methane Hydrates

2. Compass Variations

3. Hurricanes

4. Gulf Stream

5. Freak Waves

There are Acts of Man for this History explanation too, which are:

1. Human Error

2. Deliberate Acts of Destruction

Famous Incidents:

FLIGHT 19

US Navy TBF Grumman Avenger flight, similar to Flight 19. This photo had been used by various Triangle authors to illustrate Flight 19 itself.

Flight 19 was a training flight of TBM Avenger bombers that went missing on December 5, 1945 while over the Atlantic. The impression is given that the flight encountered unusual phenomena and anomalous compass readings, and that the flight took place on a calm day under the supervision of an experienced pilot, Lt. Charles Carroll Taylor. Adding to the intrigue is that the Navy's report of the accident was ascribed to "causes or reasons unknown." It is believed that Taylor's mother wanted to save her son's reputation, so she made them write "reasons unknown" when actually Taylor was 50 km NW from where he thought he was.

While the basic facts of this version of the story are essentially accurate, some important details are missing. The weather was becoming stormy by the end of the incident; only Taylor had any significant flying time, but he was not familiar with the south Florida area and had a history of getting lost in flight, having done so three times during World War II, and being forced to ditch his planes twice into the water; and naval reports and written recordings of the conversations between Taylor and the other pilots of Flight 19 do not indicate magnetic problems.

CARROLL A. DEERING

Schooner Carroll A. Deering, as seen from the Cape Lookout lightship on January 29, 1921, two days before she was found deserted in North Carolina. (US Coast Guard)

A five-masted schooner built in 1919, the Carroll A. Deering was found hard aground and abandoned at Diamond Shoals, near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on January 31, 1921. Rumors and more at the time indicated the Deering was a victim of piracy, possibly connected with the illegal rum-running trade during Prohibition, and possibly involving another ship, S.S. Hewitt, which disappeared at roughly the same time. Just hours later, an unknown steamer sailed near the lightship along the track of the Deering, and ignored all signals from the lightship. It is speculated that the Hewitt may have been this mystery ship, and possibly involved in the Deering crew's disappearance.

There are other famous incidents which are:

1. Mary Celeste

2. Ellen Austin
3. USS Cyclops
4. Theodosia Burr Alston
5. Spray
6. Douglas DC-3
7. Star Tiger and Star Ariel
8. KC-135 Stratotankers
9. SS Marine Sulphur Queen
10. Raifuku Maru
11. Connemara IV

~~{ Coffee Art }~~

Feel like tasting one? Yum...

Why English is important?

If you are currently learning English in a school, college or institute of further education, you join approximately one billion other people around the world who are engaged in the same pursuit. However, as you try to memorise proper grammar, and try to avoid the mistakes common to most students of English, you may wonder why you are learning the language in the first place.

So, why is English important?

After Mandarin, English is spoken by more people than any other language, and is the native language of more than 350 million people. More people speak English than those who speak the Arabic and French languages combined.

Moreover, English is the international language of diplomacy, business, science, technology, banking, computing, medicine, aviation, UN & NATO armed forces, engineering, tourism, Hollywood films and arguably the best pop and rock music in the world.

English has plenty of words to choose from. In fact, an English speaker is offered the biggest vocabulary of any language with a choice of 500 000 to 1 000 000 words (including technical and scientific terms).

But don’t panic, most English speakers do very well with a vocabulary of around 20 000 words.

English can be fun too. For instance, the music of such stars as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson and Madonna has encouraged fans to speak the language of their idols, whilst others have enrolled in English classes to improve their understanding of the dialogue in films and TV shows.

Or perhaps they have embraced English to enjoy the writing of Stephen King, George Orwell or J.K. Rowling. They may even have an interest in speaking English just to converse with travelers from other countries, who communicate by using the English global Interlingua while traveling abroad.

Finally, if you are studying English at school, college or university, remember that getting an “A” grade in English is almost worthless, in terms of communication, if you cannot speak the language.

Spoken English is used in the best careers, the best universities, and is increasingly being used at job interviews. So like it or not, English is very important language to learn how to speak.

Being able to read and write in English is not enough!

There Will Be Blood

Malaysian riot police stand guard as protesters hold banners during a demonstration in Shah Alam, Malaysia, Friday, March 14, 2008. Hundreds of ruling party members protested outside the administrative headquarters of the opposition-ruled state of Penang on Friday in the first sign of partisan tensions after the weekend elections, police said.

Hundreds of ruling party members protest outside the administrative headquarters of the opposition-ruled state of Penang, Friday, March 14, 2008. Some 300 United Malays National Organization members took part in the demonstration, chanting slogans and waving banners, the spokesman said by telephone.

A protester shouts slogans in front of Malaysian riot police during a demonstration in Shah Alam, Malaysia, Friday, March 14, 2008. Hundreds of ruling party members protested outside the administrative headquarters of the opposition-ruled state of Penang on Friday in the first sign of partisan tensions after the weekend elections, police said.

Protesters listen to United Malays National Organization State Secretary Azhar Ibrahim , center left, during a protest in Penang Island, Friday, March 14, 2008. Hundreds of ruling party members protested outside the administrative headquarters of the opposition-ruled state of Penang on Friday in the first sign of partisan tensions after the weekend elections, police said.

United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) supporters carry a banner reading, "Lim Guan Eng did not respects the Malays in Penang" during a protest outside the state government building in Malaysia's northern state of Penang March 14, 2008. Hundreds of protesters, shouting "Long live the Malays" and "Don't push the Malays out of Penang" demonstrated for a half-hour until police asked them to leave.

United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) supporters carry a banner reading, "Anwar Ibrahim is a traitor to the Malays", during a protest outside the state government building in Malaysia's northern state of Penang March 14, 2008. Hundreds of protesters, shouting "Long live the Malays" and "Don't push the Malays out of Penang" demonstrated for a half-hour until police asked them to leave.

Blog for Money, Smorty

I got the news of Smorty from my friend months ago. I found out about Smorty, in which it is a service for bloggers to earn money.

How? Bloggers have to had a 3-month old blog, blogger, wordpress or etc blog program on the net. You can get started with just a click at http://smorty.com. Register yourself for an account and there are rules and regulations to be agreed. And you are off to blog to get paid! It is as easy as abc. It is nothing difficult in the process, you just have to wait for the Smorty approval for your blog. Once it is approved, you can start to write reviews on companies, programmes, games, software, products and etc and, start earning money from your reviews. You just have to take the guts out of you and start to Blog and start to Earn.

Smorty is all about blog for money, blog advertising and get you paid for blogging. It is nothing hard yet complicated. You just have to start typing your blog!

Brownies Bits

Serve these sprinkle-coated brownie bits alongside Peanut Butter Cups as Halloween petits fours.

Ingredients
" Makes about 9 dozen "
Vegetable-oil cooking spray
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 3/4 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
2 cups orange nonpareils

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat the bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan or dish with cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment paper, and set aside.

2. Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.

3. Put 2 cups sugar and eggs in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-low speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add chocolate mixture. Beat on low speed until combined. Beat in vanilla, then flour and salt.

4. Pour butter into prepared pan. Bake until a cake tester inserted into center comes out mostly clean, 30 to 35 minutes (do not over-bake). Let cool in pan on a wire rack until cool enough to unmold, 20 to 25 minutes. Turn out onto a sheet of parchment paper, inverting the pan so brownies cool top side down. Peel off parchment paper; let cool completely.

5. Heat 3/4 cup water and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.

6. Trim off hard edges of brownie square. Scoop out 1 tablespoon brownie, and roll into a ball with your hands, pushing crunchy surface pieces into center. Transfer to a clean work surface. Repeat to make more brownie bits. Generously brush brownie bits with sugar syrup. Roll in nonpareils to coat well. Brownie bits can be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated, tightly covered.

Women as Explained by Engineer

This is hilarious.

Penang's new Chief Minister waives summonses

NEW Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has introduced a series of populist decisions from giving a one-time waiver of summonses issued by local councils to the abandoning of New Economic Policy measures by the state administration.

He said the state government also wanted to foster harmonious relations with the Federal Government in all respects and he would seek an appointment with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss moves to address the needs of the people of Penang.

He said this during a press conference after being sworn in as Chief Minister at his new office in Komtar here on Tuesday.

Mr Lim said the key areas of the new agenda for Penang included the economy, governance and social needs of the people.

He said the agenda for change would 're-establish rule by the rakyat.'

He also said that the Chief Minister, state exco members, speaker and deputy speaker, as well as the heads of the Penang and Seberang Prai municipal councils would be required to publicly declare their personal assets.

On the move to waive summonses issued by the Penang and Seberang Prai Municipal Councils before March 11, Mr Lim said the move was to help reduce the burden faced by the people, especially the poor.

However, further offences of such nature would not be excused, he said.

Mr Lim said he hoped to discuss with Mr Abdullah the possibility of using Petronas' proceeds to fully fund the construction cost of the Federal Government's second Penang Bridge project.

He also hoped federal funding to Penang would not be affected by the change of government, adding that the funding was provided for under the Federal Constitution.

'I don't think Abdullah wants to see Penangites suffer just because they exercised their right to vote in the March 8 elections,' he said.

On how he felt being the Chief Minister, Mr Lim replied: 'Being a former prisoner, I did not expect to sit on the chief minister's chair. It is really a transformation and quite an experience for me.' -- The Star/ANN.

Do you think Lim Guan Eng ROCKZ??

Here you go... Its Kuey Teow Th'ng

Guess this... Eh?!

He is OUT!

Outgoing Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon and four Cabinet ministers had lost in Malaysia's general election as at 11pm. Dr Koh, who is also Gerakan acting president, was defeated by Dr P. Ramasamy of the DAP in the Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency in Penang. Works Minister and MIC president S. Samy Vellu lost the Sungai Siput seat in Perak he has held since 1974 to Dr D. Jeyakumar of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin lost to Johari Abdul of PKR in the contest for the Sungai Petani parliamentary seat in Kedah. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Jalil lost the Lembah Pantai seat in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur to new face Nurul Izzah Anwar of PKR. Nurul Izzah is the daughter of PKR adviser and former DPM Anwar Ibrahim.

You Like this? Hmm...

Today in Penang History

Who WINS? Who LOSES? You know it.

An ethnic Chinese man cycles past election campaign posters put up by the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) in Georgetown on the northern Malaysian island state of Penang March 6, 2008. Malaysia will go to the polls on Saturday.


An ethnic Malay man waits as he tries to cross a street in front of an election campaign banner from the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) in Georgetown on the northern Malaysian island state of Penang. Malaysia will go to the polls on Saturday.



Malaysian walk next to Malaysia opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) and ruling National Front coalition election campaign banners in downtown Penang Island, Malaysia Thursday, March 6, 2008. Malaysians will vote in the general elections on Saturday.

Malaysia opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) election campaign banners flap in the wind in downtown Penang Island, Malaysia Thursday, March 6, 2008. Malaysians will vote in the general elections on Saturday.

Rocket logos of the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) in northern Penang state. Polls opened in Malaysia on Saturday as voters cast ballots for 222 parliamentary seats and 12 state legislatures, with the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition expected to extend its half-century rule.

Lim Guan Eng, Secretary-General of the opposition party, Malaysian Democratic Action Party or DAP, reacts during a press conference in Penang Island, Malaysia, Saturday, March 8, 2008. Malaysia's opposition party threatened on Saturday to hand the ruling coalition its biggest upset in 40 years by winning the northern island state of Penang, sources on both political sides said.