Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Harassed by boom boom noise
Taken from Borneo Bulletin Opinion Page Dated 01/12/2010
For the past two weeks we have been hearing loud thumping music within the vicinity of Kiulap or Pusar Ulak.
This is densely residential area and I am very sure that the poor patients in nearby RIPAS hospital are within the booming noise radius.
It has kept us from sleeping and making us palpitate instead. Meanwhile it has disturbed my 6month old daughter's sleep.
I resent this intrusion and very angry that such inconsiderate neighbours are among us. I know this is a common problem all over Brunei and your paper does so well in highlighting this problem.
Please don't stop as we wait and hope for the authorities to impose laws that ban such wide spread noise pollution.
While waiting for help we can only pray and perform Doa for these people to realise their mistake and stop their selfishness.
- Anti-noise, BSB
I myself is also into car audio system, but at the same time, I'm also appalled at the attitude of some other car audio enthusiast... yes, being loud is fun... but please try to respect other people too... when you're in a residential area, respect the people living there as they might want to have some peace and quiet rest... i know, some of you might argue that there are other cars and/or bikes exhaust system that are far more louder than your car audio system, but that doesn't give you the excuse to ignore the comfort of other people... don't be selfish and don't let your ignorance to force the authority to force a ban on car audio system!
I have no problem with being loud, but be loud responsibly!
Nikon D7000 Review by DPReview
DPReview have posted their review of the Nikon D7000. Quote from the review, "In most respects, the Nikon D7000 is an excellent enthusiast's DSLR. The camera produces great image quality in most shooting situations, and it shines in low light, providing (just about) useable images right up to its ISO ceiling of 25,600 (equivalent). It feels swift and positive in general use, even in live view mode, thanks to greatly improved contrast-detection AF - not a traditional strength of Nikon's DSLRs. The D7000's buffer is decent, especially considering the large size of its files, but not in the same league as the D300S. However, although potentially irritating to a D300S user considering a second body, this shouldn't stand as a serious criticism of a camera aimed essentially at the upper end of the enthusiasts' market."
You can read the full review HERE.
A detour around Southern Coastal States
In October, I took a drive across of the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. I headed south from Virginia in I-95 and close to Florence, North Carolina, got off the interstate and drove around the country roads. Abandoned farms with collapsing barns and rusting farming equipment were numerous and presented excellent photo opportunities and causing. I only wished that those broken down buildings with saddleback roofs could talk.
The towns are not in better shape, the only areas of activity are the crossroad roads at the center of town with sleepy traffic light (even them were slow in changing colors), with a couple of gas stations with signs advertising gasoline for exactly the same price; where is the competitive spirit? 
Other businesses such as drugstores and barber shops were boarded up and for sale. Old tobacco warehouses are closed and crumbling down and usually one grocery store is open. One does not see much traffic or people walking in the streets. Where have all the people and industries gone? Not even Golden Arches!!!
Returning back to I-95 from the country roads, I continued on my way south towards Savannah, Georgia, where I first stopped at Fort Pulaski, in Tybee Island. It was completely built of bricks and offered no protection from the Army of Northern Aggression Parrot rifled cannons during the Civil War.
The Union forces took over the fort in April of 1862 in less than 7 hoursbut Savannah remained in rebel hands until the end of the war. After visiting the fort , I headed to the city for the night.
I was in Savannah for the first time 30 years ago. The city lost its old run down looks and is now bursting with activity. The historical center of town had been gentrified with old houses restored to their former glories. One major difference in the architecture of Savannah when compared to that of Charleston, is that the original core of the former is dominated by row houses with no spaces in between, while detachedhome separated by walls and gardens are predominant in the later.
Close to Savannah is Wormsloe Estate, famous for its Live Oak Avenue of more than 400 trees planted in the early 1890's. These avenues of oaks with the ubiquitous Spanish mosses are common throughout the south antebellum plantations, but this is the longest I have seen. The rest of this site is mostly ruins, the oldest one, the Tabby Ruins, dating back to the 1740's. What I found interesting was the walls left is that they were made of oyster shells mixed with lime, sand and water. The oyster shells came from the oysters eaten by the Indians, who threw them into piles called middens. This type of construction I have not seen in Virginia where wood was mostly used by the settlers in Jamestown.
While cruising around the city, I saw a sight familiar to astronauts in space, but in this case I did not need to get in a Soyuz rocket. I saw this huge compressed gas cylinder painted as the earth; continued to drive up the road but that image stayed with me...I have to return and photograph it. The steel planet was in the a yard of an abandoned house surrounded by abrick wall. I peeked thru the rough iron gate and saw numerous feral cats all over the yard. Much to my surprise, the earth was not along, its faithful companion, the moon, was there too assuming the duty of a mail box. I was told that the tanks was built to store propane gas but the city in its wisdom prohibited its intended use due to safety concerns. Wonder who was the dreamer who created a planetary system out of an abandoned gas tank!
Stay tuned, I will follow with another blog going up the coast to Charleston,
South Carolina
'Spider-Man' Lucirá un Nuevo Traje en el 2012!
Todavía falta para que podamos ver a Andrew Garfield dentro del traje de Spider-Man para el reinicio que dirigirá Marc Webb, pero Showbiz Spy nos cuenta que el actor ya se ha probado el disfraz para algunos ensayos bastante rigurosos, y que al traje se le ha dado una actualización con lo "último en tecnología".No hay imágenes o arte conceptual del traje aún, pero estamos seguros que empezando enero del próximo año ya tendremos alguna foto filtrada del actor en el nuevo traje. Se dice que se usaron numerosos accesorios para hacer que el "bulto" de la entrepierna de Andrew no se viera tan grande, debio a que el traje es más delgado que el de las anteriores películas. Una fuente cercana a la producción dijo: "Se dedicó un día entero para asegurarnos de que no había nada inadecuado en el área de la entrepierna del traje."
El nuevo diseño del traje será muy ajustado, cosa difícil para una película calificada PG-13 en cuanto a mostrar mucho los genitales del actor. Pero eso ha sido siempre una preocupación para muchos de los diseñadores de trajes de superhéroes. Y si se ha alterado el traje para que se vea "más tela", debe ser para que se asejemeje al del cómic.
Spider-Man cuenta con las actuaciones de Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Denis Leary y la dirección de Marc Webb. La película llegará a los cines el 3 de julio de 2012.
I Am Number Four Poster
The film is about an extraordinary teen, John Smith (Pettyfer), who is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Olyphant), John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events—his first love (Agron), powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny.
Join 'Double R, Double P' Week: BDAC
Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC), the local Non-Government Organisation is organising an awareness event but it's not your regular public event or ceremony, a press released stated.
For one week, from November 28 to December 5, 2010, part of its effort for the annual World AIDS Day celebrated every December 1 worldwide, BDAC will be holding a "Double R, Double P" Week - simply stands for Red Ribbon Profile Picture Week as it is happening now in popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter etc.
Anyone could join by simply displaying the 'Red Ribbon' as their profile picture throughout the week and update their status with awareness raising messages like "In Brunei Darussalam, most HIV infection are between 20-29 years old".
"We see many people, especially youngsters are connected via social networks like Facebook, hence why not we utilise this to a good cause with raising awareness on the issue while at the same time to inform and educate our friends. Public are invited to join this outreach event," said Iswandy Ahmad, the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador for Positive Living, BDAC.
This year's World AIDS Day theme is "Universal Access & Human Rights". As of last year, Brunei Darussalam had recorded 56 cumulative local cases.
Source: Borneo Bulletin
Monday, November 29, 2010
Laneige Broadway Musical Charity Competition Report
Laneige hosted its first-ever fundraising contest for SMARTER Brunei with full support from the Ministry of Education yesterday with the Broadway Musical Charity Competition that also aimed to raise public awareness.
Held at the Orchid Garden Hotel, it involved over 230 Secondary students taking part along with 50 teachers to support and coach them.
The guest of honour, Director of Co-Curriculum Hj Kassim Mohd Yassin, in his speech emphasised the importance of being an all-round student that is not just academically successful but also one who participates in various other aspects of learning, such as sports and performing arts.
"Extracurricular activities provide good opportunities for every student to improve himself or herself in many different ways. These are offered by school establishments."
He added that such ECAs, which the department supports, are aimed at boosting students' self-development, interests and enthusiasm.
"Music is certainly enjoyable but, more significantly, working with music has shown students that it can help communicate with emotions, as a lot of people find music to be powerful."
He further pointed out that participating in a drama show gives them poise, self-confidence and the ability to speak in front of others, as well as learning the importance of being patient or cooperative, regardless of how big or small their role is in a team, making them better individuals.
Meanwhile, Laneige's Marketing Manager Pat Li in her welcoming remarks among others extended their heartfelt appreciation to the ministry for the generous and unlimited support.
She disclosed that with all the students' participation and the audience members' generosity, over $7,000 was raised from the ticket sales for Smarter kids, while an additional $3,000 was contributed by Laneige.
The success of yesterday's event showcased the great support given by concerned community members. Presenting the mock cheques to Smarter President Malai Hj Abdullah Malai Hj Othman was Laneige's General Manager Mr Lim Hong Seng.
The students performed musical plays from the Broadway scene and the judges' criteria were based on teamwork, mannerisms, stage preparations, the English language, an understanding of the musical itself, facial expressions, creativity, innovation, costumes and overall performances.
Participating schools comprised Sultan Sharif Ali Secondary School with 'High School Musical - Stick to the Status Quo', RIPAS Secondary School with 'Enchanted - That's How You Know', Awang Semaun Secondary School with 'The Sound of Music - Do Re Mi' and Sayyidina Umar Al-Khattab Secondary School with 'The Sound of Music - So Long, Farewell'.
Also taking part were Sufri Bolkiah Secondary School with 'Oliver! - I'd Do Anything', Sports School with 'Grease - You're The One That I Want', Sultan Hassan Secondary Secondary School with 'Hairspray - Good Morning Baltimore', Sayyidina Othman School with 'The Lion King - I Just Can't Wait To Be King', SOAS College with 'The Lion King - Hakuna Matata', Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School with 'Mamma Mia! - Mamma Mia!' and STPRI with 'Mamma Mia! - Honey, Honey'.
Amongst others, the objectives of this contest were to increase the students' knowledge of art and culture through musical and plays, to expose talents, as well as to encourage teamwork and creativity.
The judging panel comprised Mr Mark Eckersley from the Brunei Amateur Dramatic Society (BADS), Mr Albert Polita from JIS, famous Bruneian artiste Zul F, Serudin Damit from RTB and Mdm Reena Lim Bee Yew from the MoE.
It was overall a meaningful programme deemed successful, as an encouraging amount of funds was raised. The Grand Prize and Best Costume winner was the Sultan Hassan Secondary School team, followed by STPRI and Sports School as the first and second runner-up winners.
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