Wondrous Satellite Shots

Well, it is not often that we get such magnificent shots of some of the wonders of the world or happenings.

Here we have some great shots. The ones to watch for will be the tsunami onslaught on a beachfront in Sri Lanka and Ground Zero of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre.

The others are the Grand Canyon, Ayer's Rock in Australia, the Niagara Falls and the Pyramids at Giza.
Enjoy!

Reviewing the Brutal 'Pool System'

The abuse of the 'pool system'in the Public Services Department(PSD) was highlighted today by PM Najib.

It is true and it was brutally used at least for the last 30 years.

Once used as a transfer station before posts become available for returning officers from courses,it has been systematically abused for umpteen years by superior officers of the PSD for their own purposes.

For those in favour,they stayed at the pool for 'choice' positions to be become vacant before taking over these strategically powerful positions. For the others, it was an administrative Bastille. They forget about you until you retire or quit.

PM Najib Tun Razak said today a comprehensive study will be conducted on the “pool” system in the civil service which is regarded as a device for punitive administrative measures.

The prime minister said that the element of natural justice or the right to be heard and assessed independently must form part of the procedure.

“I hear the whispers and grouses of the civil servants. I know and I care.“Don’t worry or assume that I don’t care or am not attuned although the whispers are soft and indistinct.

For those who have been victimized and left the service,there is nothing much they can do about it.It is hoped that those currently in the pool will be given fair treatment and the right to be heard, to gain promotion or the proper posting that fits their training and aptitude.

The time has come to the PSD head honchos themselves to stop selective persecution of their own service officers!

Nine-A Great Musical

 

One of the more recent Broadway musicals to come to the big screen, Nine tells the story of Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis), a world famous film director as he confronts an epic mid-life crisis with both creative and personal problems. He must balance the many women of his life, including his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his film star muse (Nicole Kidman), his confidant and costume designer (Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist (Kate Hudson), the whore from his youth (Fergie) and his mother (Sophia Loren).

Melodramatic and dark, it documents the crises that Guido went through to come to terms with his love and his life.

This film is Rob Marshall's latest foray into the world of Hollywood and perhaps his best to date. Based on the Fellini film 8 1/2 (which describes the number of films Guido has directed to date... he co-directed one for the 1/2)... this version simply is magical as it transforms reality into fantasy.

Marshall gives you wonderful choreography and the musical numbers are magical. Weaving the singing and dancing seamlessly is his forte here. His treatment of using black and white versus color and back again are well conceived and executed tastefully.

One great musical movie, I have seen in a long while since Moulin Rouge.   

The Next Hot Product: 3D TV

Following the footsteps of Samsung and Pansonic, Sony Corp will launch 3D televisions in Japan in June 2010. Sparked by renewed interest through  3D movies  movies such as Avatar, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and the forthcoming Toy Story 3, this field is expected to be hot as competitors launched their products as the year pans out.

Electronics makers are now rushing to get flat panel TVs with three-dimensional visual effects to the market.

In February 2010, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the world’s No. 1 TV brand, launched 3D TV sales in South Korea and said it would launch globally in March with the aim of selling at least two million 3D TVs this year.

Panasonic Corp will launch its 3D TVs in the United States tomorrow (10 March 2010), and cooperate with top US electronics retailer Best Buy Co in promoting them.

For Sony,they will market the  46-inch screen for 350,000 yen (RM13,175) and a 40-inch model to sell for 290,000 yen. Sony added it planned to launch its 3D TVs overseas around the time of the Japan launch.

It will be an expensive affair as there are not too many movies in 3D currently and so sales of 3D TVs at best will be muted at such high introductory prices.

I do not foresee many buyers in Malaysia. It at all there are buyers, these will basically be status symbol seekers.

The River: Interesting Comparisons

Valerie Bloom's poem, "The River" is an interesting short poem.

She describes to us what a river meant to her.

The river is to her, many things.

She personifies the river and compares it to many things. What are these things she says of the river?

i.A wanderer, a nomad and a tramp:

A wanderer is a person who likes to move. He does not to stay in one place.

“He doesn’t choose one place to set up his camp.”

A nomad belongs to a wandering group of people such as tribes in the desert that moves from place to place in search of food or a better environment to stay once the current place has been depleted of resources.

A tramp is like a beggar and a vagabond. He goes from place to place to look for alms and lives off the generosity of kind people. A tramp is normally seen as a lazy bum.

ii.A winder:

The term comes from the word, ‘to wind’. To wind means to bend from one side to another in curves. As such, the river cuts through soft soils but it goes around hard rocks. We can say that it loops and wounds itself on the way down. It does not chart a straight path.

“He twists and turns and cannot be still.”

iii. A hoarder:

Just like human beings, a river also likes to keep its secrets and its treasures. So, it hides these deep in the bed where it is difficult for others to find them and to take them away.

“…….little treasures that he wants to keep.”

iv.A baby:

When a river moves downstream or down a waterfall, noises are heard. Water splashes all over and air comes out gurgling onto the surface The poet likens this to a baby innocently sucking on its thumb in sheer delight.

“Gurgles and hums……”

v.A singer:

When the river water moves through a rapid or down a waterfall, the poet imagines it to be singing and dancing and this joy is spread to the surrounding areas for all to enjoy.

“The country side echoes the notes of his song.”

vi.A Monster:

Finally, for all the joys it gives to us, it can also destroy. When it floods, the river rages on and kills. Human beings, animals, houses and vegetation including trees and crops are destroyed.

“…gobbled up trees and he’s swallow you next.”

Valerie Bloom's poem, "The River" is an interesting short poem.
She describes to us what a river meant to her. The river is to her, many things.
She personifies the river and compares it to many things. What are these things she says of the river?
i. A wanderer, a nomad and a tramp:
A wanderer is a person who likes to move. He does not to stay in one place.
“He doesn’t choose one place to set up his camp.”
A nomad belongs to a wandering group of people that moves from place to place in search of food or a better environment to stay.
A tramp is like a beggar and a vagabond. He goes from place to place to look for alms and lives off the generosity of kind people. A tramp is normally seen as a lazy bum.
ii. A winder:
The term comes from the word, ‘to wind’. To wind means to move from one side to another in curves. It cuts through soft soils but it goes around hard rocks. As such, it loops and wounds itself on the way down. It does not chart a straight path.
“He twists and turns and cannot be still.”
iii. A hoarder:
Just like human beings, a river also likes to keep its secrets and its treasures. So, it hides these deep in the bed where it is difficult for others to take them away.
“…….little treasures that he wants to keep.”
iv. A baby:
When a river moves down stream or down a waterfall, gurgling noises are heard. The poet likens this to a baby innocently sucking on its thumb in sheer delight.
“Gurgles and hums……”
v. A singer:
When the river falls through a waterfall, the poet imagines it to be singing and dancing and this joy is spread to the surrounding areas for all to enjoy.
“The country side echoes the notes of his song.”
vi. A Monster:
Finally, for all the joys it gives to us, it can also destroy. When it floods, the river rages on and kills. Human beings, animals, houses and vegetation including trees and crops are destroyed.
“…gobbled up trees and he’s swallow you next.”