Certainly, there was the big recession that gripped the world as the subprime mortgage crisis in the US from the year before grew into a full-blown economic crisis, sending governments into a tizzy of bailouts or stimuli. Or both.


There was the ongoing conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan; the worsening news about global warming and our apparent inability or unwillingness as a species to bite the bullet and begin to take real and meaningful action; the acrimonious state of politics in Malaysia beginning with the February defections in Perak that toppled a Pakatan state government not yet one year old, not to mention the leadership feud within the MCA.


Of course, there was also the death of one Michael Jackson.


That was one of 2009’s biggest news. The Prince of Pop’s death from drug overdose came as a shock amidst news of his comeback attempt with his This is It concerts.


Sadly, it was not to be. The Thriller is gone. But in death did Jackson enjoy a resurgence in popularity, winning fans among a new generation that, till then, had never heard of him. In the annals of history, though, the death of a celebrity will be but a mere footnote.


The other African American who made the news in a really big and significant way was Barack Obama. His rise to the highest office in the Land of the Free, becoming the 44th president of the United States of America, brought the shameful story of slavery to a full circle. It was a momentous and emotional occasion, and in him, America had an eloquent president who could move anybody. Except the Republicans.


The world heaved a collective sigh of relief. The Wild West and language-mangling days of George W. Bush were finally over. Obama promised the world the world — to end Guantanamo, to take the lead in facing global warming, to extend a friendly hand to the Muslims, to reform healthcare, to roll back the Washington lobbies, to return America to its rightful place as a civilised nation, the first among equals. The euphoria could not last, however.


The Jewish settlements in the West Bank continued to expand apace, and as does the appalling blockade of Gaza, with Washington barely raising a squeak. The Goldstone Report on Israeli conduct in the Gaza massacre, authored by a respected South African Jewish judge, was ignored. Obama’s healthcare reform has been criticised as hopelessly compromised for failing to remove profit (i.e. insurance companies) from the equation. Copenhagen looks like Kyoto II. Only worse.


And Wall Street, having been bailed out, is back to its greedy ways, paying record bonuses to employees for an excellent job wrecking the world’s economy. Perhaps the most ironic image of this iconic president is his receiving the Nobel Peace Prize shortly after ordering 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan. Just last
month, he announced he would not sign the International Mine Ban Treaty. In September, he okayed the US’s biggest defence budget ever at US$663bil.


Bush must be pleased.


Barely one year after taking office, Obama is no longer looking as newly minted and hopeful as the day he set out on his inspiring election campaign.


On the home front, we saw Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak become Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister on April 3, promising reform and a more inclusive administration. 1Malaysia became the catchphrase of his administration with its tagline of People First, Performance Now.


The new Prime Minister released 13 ISA detainees 10 days after coming to power but did not abolish the ISA. He also removed the 30% bumiputra equity requirement from 27 sub-sectors within the service industry and moved to curb the worrying crime rate. Today, Malaysians are seeing more policemen on the streets, whether in the makeshift beat bases, roadblocks or even on horseback. The effects on crime have, happily, been telling.


Not everything is shipshape, however.


The toppling of the Perak’s Pakatan government has seen an ugly series of events taking place, from the defections of PKR reps to BN after their arrests by the MACC and the MB vs MB battles, to the assembly sitting under a tree and the forcible removal of Perak speaker V. Sivakumar from the state assembly by the police.


The Perak Debacle cast a shadow over our important institutions, including the monarchy, judiciary, police, and MACC – which brings us Teoh Beng Hock’s shocking death following a mysterious plunge from the
MACC HQ after being held for overnight questioning.


Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Kohilan Pillai reported that 210,00 Malaysians migrated between Jan and August this year, compared to 94,000 between Mac and Dec 2008. The brain drain is worsening.


Did the chaotic political situation play any part in this?


On another note, Malaysians mourned the passing of one of its best filmmakers. Yasmin Ahmad died aged 51, just six movies into her remarkable film career. A maker of TV commercials and films who had always celebrated multiculturalism, Yasmin was the face of 1Malaysia before there was a 1Malaysia. Her untimely death was a loss not only to the entertainment industry but also to the country.


Elsewhere in the world, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao was the outstanding athlete of 2009 after having singlehandedly put the excitement back in boxing. Pacquiao, considered the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, set the boxing world alight after he pulled off three stunning victories over Oscar de La Hoya (TKO,
Dec 2008), Ricky Hatton (KO, April 2009) and Miguel Cotto (TKO, Nov 2009).


Pacman is set for immortality and what is widely expected to be the biggest payout in boxing history if he and Floyd Mayweather can agree to a showdown. Meanwhile, he’s gunning for a congressional seat in May.


On the flip side, Tiger Woods — always brilliant, never controversial — fell from grace and became the butt of jokes after a car crash opened the floodgates to his many extramarital affairs.


But the biggest news of them all this year is probably the seismic shift taking place in world politics. One day when we look back on 2009, we will perhaps see it as the crucial moment when the West relinquished its leadership role.


With the memories of Guantanamo and the deceptions and miseries of Iraq and Afghanistan still fresh in the mind, the world saw just how much havoc the neoliberal economic model and its promulgation of unfettered greed could wreak. And what did the West prescribe as remedy?


Bailouts, easy credit, stimulus packages; in short, the very things they warned Asian economies against during the economic flu of 10 years prior.


That China is credited with pulling the world, especially the Asian economies, out of the current slump, is a sign of the times. As is the fact that a communist country (in ideology, at least) now bankrolls the world’s mightiest capitalist country.


Just 20 short years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, when the West trumpeted the “end of history” and proclaimed their free market and democratic system as the only model left standing, that triumphalism has
been deflated.


Don’t we live in interesting times?


Credit: Wednesday 30 December 2009 StarSpecial

I spend my Christmas eve with my family at home. nothing much to do. We went tot Jusco Seremban 2 at Christmas night with mum and sister. Mum bought a shirt for CNY.

On Boxing Day, after went to Ah Poh's house, night my family have steamboat buffet + bbq at Lobak. Lots of choices include seafood, meat, vegetables and desert. Its RM 18++ per person.

Since its buffet, of course get the 'exotic' food first. I eaten most BBQ: fish, chicken wings, calamari and prawns. The soup base has two flavours, one is chicken soup and tom yum.

The restaurant

Choices of fresh food

DF Restaurant of Steamboat
Taman Permata
70200 Seremban
Negeri Sembilan

This new year, I'll be going to Times Square on Friday.. So sad to countdown myself.

Year 2009 will end in 3 days, so fast *dreaming.

Jusco Seremban 2

I am happy today (17 December), because completed Sociology presentation.

Overall good job for me (kudos) and Ms. Chan (replacement tutor) put up good comment for our group. And not forget thanks to Chin Ying, Lin Fong, Lai An, Kai An and Hooi Ngan although we only work for past week but is fun and great feeling.

The minor problem I have was soft-spoken. Maybe I lost my voice earlier. However has good eye contact.

I am at hometown after three weeks didn't went back. Looking forward to celebrate Winter Solstice festival with family and cousin. Of course my favourite Tong Yuan is with red bean soup (best if refrigerated).

Happy birthday to mom :)

Malls dress up premises with traditional and unusual decorations (The Star)

Christmas season is down the town, lets see various deco theme in malls in Klang Valley

Sunway Pyramid has chosen a French Christmas theme this year, inspired by Moulin Rouge of the 1900s. The centrepiece of their decoration is the windmill and shoppers will find hanging cages with mannequins wearing cabaret-inspired clothing all around the mall. Visitors to the mall can also enjoy a stroll through a French-styled courtyard, surrounded by bare trees adorned with fairy lights while browsing the various push carts laden with Christmas merchandise.

Inviting: Christmas decorations at 1 Utama shopping centre in PJ

1 Utama, has chosen the theme A White Lyrical Christmas and the concourse area in Oval has been transformed into a red and white wonderland surrounded by real trees bearing clusters of white baubles and pearls.

The theme will bring to mind a song by Bing Crosby that has the particular line “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas just like the one I used to know…” which is a famous yuletide song.

Chandeliers, candleholders and music bells complete the setting but the main attraction is the giant musical box on the launch pad that is set to see many performances this holiday season.

For those who want to see a different kind of Christmas setting, Suria KLCC is the place. It has come up with a Candy Wonderland Christmas theme and has decked its premises with tasty treats. The concourse is home to a candy house surrounded by sweets and colourfully-decorated trees, gingerbread men and huge bow-topped presents that house a couple of international brands selling their merchandise.

Mid Valley Megamall is opting for a fantasy Christmas theme like A Magical Christmas and fairytale characters like the Snow Queen, Moon Lady, Golden Dragon and more will be making their appearance around the mall.

The Kingdom of Christmas at the mall features towering decorations including a castle with arched doorways, decorated trees and a huge birdcage at the East Atrium.

Festive sight: The East Atrium of Mid Valley Megamall features a number of stalls selling merchandise set up in a village setting complete with a small bridge to enter the centre of the area. A huge cage at one side houses fake mules and a huge decorated Christmas tree completes the setting.

The Curve on the other hand, has gone green, literally, with its lush garden with huge arches located at the Piazza where shoppers will be able to witness falling snowflakes.

This Roman garden concept is made complete with traditional pillars and columns and the Centre Court will feature a 40ft Christmas tree adorned with lights and ornaments whereas the mall will be done up with gold and copper decorations.

Three type of trees including blue coloured LED lighted Christmas trees surround the stage at Sungei Wang Plaza where a “Magical Christmas” is taking place.

White swans that bring love and harmony can be seen flying in from the front entrance all the way into the concourse area where the stage is set, complete with swans with moving necks.

Ikano Shopping Centre has opted for an Underwater Christmas and has fish tanks placed in its concourse area as well as fun activities.

The stage has also been decorated with lights with many sea creatures surrounding it and a ship at the side called “Santa’s Ship”. Other malls in the Klang Valley such as Mines Shopping Centre, Berjaya Times Square, The Gardens, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and other malls will not disappoint either as all have put up decorations and will organise various Christmas-themed activities for everyone.

Dubai World, the main investment arm of the Middle Eastern city-state, is asking for at least a six-month delay on paying back a nearly $60 million debt that due this month.

Dubai World borrowed billions of dollars to acquire some of the most high-profile commercial developments in the United States in recent years, and it could be forced to sell them at a loss if the Persian Gulf conglomerate can't restructure its debts.

List of aquisition:
Istithmar World, spearheaded the holding company's acquisition of the Mandarin Oriental, New York, for about $380 million in 2007, and a 50 percent stake in the Fontainebleau Miami Beach for about $375 million last year.

Dubai World also bought the CityCenter Casino & Resort in Las Vegas for about $5.4 billion.

Earlier in the year the Dubai’s stock market was down 60% and many residents believed that the property market was on the brink of collapse.

Dubai had borrowed billions to finance its infrastructure and construction companies such as Dubai World, and Emirates Airline.

That's not the only situation in Dubai. As for Malaysian construction firms are less affected; IJM Corp Bhd (completed most projects includes construction of Fortune Tower at Jumeirah Lake). Gamuda Bhd top official said the company was not significantly exposed to the fallout in the construction sector in Dubai.

Interior fit-out (IFO) company LCL Corp Bhd founder and executive chairman Datuk Low Chin Meng said payments were generally slow in Dubai. They will shift focus on interior fit-out (IFO) contracts in cash-rich Abu Dhabi, after the completion of projects in Dubai. The company has projects such as Atlantis The Palm Hotel, Dubai Metro System, Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Hotel.

Al-Saleh (Dubai Finance Department Director-General) said Dubai World's problems started from a reliance on previously easy-to-get, short-term loans that were used to finance long-term projects like luxury high rises and even more manmade islands.

Most of Dubai World loans range from three to five years, whereas the projects that were financed range from 25 to 30 years. The difference between the finance terms and carrying out the projects led to this crisis.

Dubai World had spent over US$12 bil on Palm Jumeirah – a palm shaped island off Dubai. Other than the super luxury Atlantis Hotel and some residential units, the island remains under-populated.

Palm Jumeirah

The Atlantis Hotel

The World

Other developments include The World – a group of artificial islands costing US$14 bil to build. As money ran out, some of these islands are facing erosion.

The soon-to-be completed Burj Dubai, towering over 800m or almost twice the height of Petronas Twin Towers, has become an essence of past excesses. No doubt Dubai has achieved a lot but excesses built on debt often crumble when credit is removed.

Burj Dubai - 818 metre

China, with its rapid economic development and a growing middle-income segment, stands to become the biggest consumer in the world. Multinational companies strive to gain a share of the China market.

China is the world’s most populous country (1.3 billion people) and has the biggest foreign exchange reserves (US$2.3 trillion). On those two counts alone, it has sufficient heft to sway the global economy. It already replaced Germany last year as the third largest economy, and is set to take Japan’s No. 2 spot soon.

This post is about updates of FarmVille in Facebook. I will regularly upload new pictures

Here enclosed the picture:

Christmas decoration

St. Patrick's special

Winery

This is first post for month of December, so fast year 2009 will end.

I am quite busy next week and following week:

• Mid term and practical test
• Press conference presentation
• Assignment

Well, life in university is not easy as you and me thought. Just work it out!!

I will be going back on Thursday (Awal Muharram holiday) and celebrate Winter Solitice festival with family.