The influenza virus can survive on paper money for 10 or more days — suggesting that when we shop, spend and bank, there’s more than cash that is changing hands.
The link between flu virus and paper currency is explained this week in a story on SmartMoney.com. The findings don’t mean we should fret about handling currency — but it does illustrate why health officials repeatedly tell people to wash hands frequently. From the SmartMoney report:
> Read thru
By Nizar al Musalmy – Oman Observer
I was compelled into writing this article by this week’s city talk — “Does linguistic barriers affect one’s career?” As a father and indeed a nationalist, I feel I would be betraying my conscience if I did not position my views with regards to the topic. Arguments could be advanced in favour of English as a way of attaining education but look at the Spaniards, French or German’s how they use their own languages as medium of instruction. All communities should be proud of their specific languages and one can ask why we should continue to burden our children with a foreign language in which they are not competent after all.
But with all respect to such an ideology, it is paramount to understand that some languages could be so misleading and as a result ignore certain fundamental principles of teaching and learning. Not every language, which is spoken or even written, can necessarily be a language of pursuing careers. As such a language can be such a barrier and thus affect one’s career. A language is a reflection of the cultural and material development of a given society. The higher the level, the richer the language is. It is to this extent that certain languages do or don’t qualify for pursuing careers. One important thing to note about languages in relation to careers is that there is no simultaneous process worldwide.
For example, not any language can be used in teaching computer technology or physics. The societies that discovered and invented the basics of such knowledge used a specific language. Using a different language is like reinventing the wheel. Other languages may not have the necessary vocabulary to express complex concepts. It would be like loading a 7 tonne truck with 20 tonnes. It will not move. Imagine any one language and try to visualise studying the Newton’s law of universal gravitation. First there is a need of translating it from its original language and then a great deal of think up.
Then comes the task of describing the gravitational attraction between bodies with mass where by every point attracts every other point by a force along a line that intersects both points. Neither this description nor any specific type of career development in a foreign language can be distinctive. The efficiency of one’s native language skill plays a large part in the success or failure of learning in the foreign language.Those who pursue careers have to use a particular language even though it is not their own. They do not use it because of their love for the language per se but do it out of necessity.
As a nation and bearing in mind that we are in the age of globalisation, it is crucial for career seekers to equip themselves with necessary skills which include a good command of a well integrated language. The world is becoming smaller (linguistically) with English taking a lion’s share in international communication. To be successful in career development, one must be able to communicate without difficulties. This way one can be assured of his/her survival. Be alert — don’t let linguistic barriers affect your career.
From Oman Daily Observer
IT is not that very often that an international news agency disseminates feature reports eulogising the beauty of a destination. So when the reputable Australian Associated Press (AAP) featured the Sultanate in one of its latest feature feeds — a story picked up by various journals ‘down under’, it was indeed cause for celebration, most notably at Oman Air, which continues to be a key force in promoting Oman as a distinctive tourist destination.
“The report gives in a nutshell the unique attractions of Oman and why one should visit this country,” says Usama bin Karim al Haremi, Head of Corporate Communications and Media, Oman Air.
Titled Oman — A Land of Beauty, the report was prepared and distributed by AAP, one of the leading news agencies in the world to journals in Australia, and also to customers through AAP’s commercial
partnerships with all major international news agencies. We spotted this report beautifully illustrated in The West Australian newspaper.” In an interesting departure in writing style, the article starts with a Q&A-format introduction that has the writer asking pertinent questions about Oman and answering them himself. The Q&A goes as follows:
What do you want to go THERE for?
Because it is fabulous.
Isn’t it just desert?
No. It has mountains, fertile valleys, superb sandy beaches, fiords, a vibrant capital, exquisite Islamic architecture (including the jaw-dropping Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat), an ancient and fascinating culture that remains largely intact, an array of budget and world-class hotels and some of the best souqs in Arabia. Yes, there is plenty of desert, much of which happens to be very beautiful, plus oases, date palms, camels, ancient forts, archaeological sites, wildlife watching and plenty more.
Is it safe?
You are quite safe in Oman, which has a very low crime rate and a population of polite, gentle people who don’t hassle you and who seem genuinely happy to have you in their homeland, of which they are very proud.
But what do you do there?
Experience all of the above without the attendant masses of tourists you get in Europe, Asia and elsewhere. If it sounds like I am sold on the Sultanate of Oman, you have it in one. It is not for every traveller. Oman is generally hot and, with the exception of the monsoon months in the remote southern region of Dhofar, dry.
The AAP, according to Al Haremi, is Australia’s national news agency that holds a unique and enviable place in the media. “The work of its journalists provides the foundation stones of content in all daily newspapers in Australia; forms the backbone of radio news bulletins; and provides the background detail for talk-back radio shows and television news bulletins. AAP’s domestic news coverage is complemented by alliances with the major international news agencies. In this detailed report on Oman, there is a list of must-do things and must-visit places that the reporter finds impressive,” he says.
The article provides a sampling of things to do and places to visit in the Sultanate:
Muscat: Visit the Corniche at Muttrah, one of three cities that make up the sprawling, blindingly white capital of Muscat. It is an ideal starting point to get a feel for what Oman has to offer. As the name suggests, it is a crescent of coastline that is a modern working port, with a fish market, banks and hotels, yet it retains a romance that on first sight will make you catch your breath. The town is framed by a striking backdrop of bare mountains and the minarets of two beautiful mosques.
At night, when the locals — the men in immaculate dishdashas and the women in beguiling, ankle-length abbayas — stroll along the waterfront to catch the sea breeze, and the mosques are lit in ethereal shades of green and red, the effect is quite magical. Half-way along the Corniche is Muttrah Souq, said to be one of the best in all Arabia. It is like plunging into a parallel universe of silks, frankincense, silver jewellery and tubs of the addictive Arab sweet halwa. Haggle all you like then take a seat, sip a glass of tea, and watch the passing costume parade.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (Muscat): Truly, this is one of the most awe-inspiring buildings in the world. Marvel at the sublime lines and symmetry, at the sheer scale of it, at the one-piece, football-field sized carpet that took 600 Iranian women four years to weave, at the crystal chandelier the size of a block of flats, at the carved wooden doors and panels, at the cool corridors of receding arches, at the superb mosaics, at the soaring minarets and sculptured gardens. It is an active place of worship, with room for 6,500 in the main prayer hall alone (men only — the women have a smaller prayer hall to the side where they can watch the imam on CCTV). It is one of the few mosques open to non-Muslims, so act and dress with respect. Women must have head coverings and all visitors need to remove their shoes.
Desert Nights Camp (central Oman): Spend a night in the fabled Rimal al Sharqiya. Ride a camel or a dune buggy, watch the sun set from one of the surrounding high dunes or — better still — get up before dawn and watch the sunrise over the desert. The camp is the most luxurious of several offering overnight desert stays in central Oman. It is within easy four-wheel drive reach of Muscat. The falling Australian dollar makes it expensive (around $800 a couple for dinner, one night’s accommodation and breakfast), but considering you are in a desert, it is amazingly luxurious. One of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences!
Cruise the fiords: (Musandam Peninsula): Play Sinbad the Sailor for a day by cruising in an Arab dhow through the fabulous waters in the very north of the country. These adjoin the Straits of Hormuz, the strategically sensitive oil route between the Gulf states and the outside world. Watch dolphins surf the bow wave, snorkel on the reefs, marvel at the bare mountains and gaze at ancient fishing villages that remain accessible only by water.
Live like a king (Muscat): Stay a night at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa on the coast just outside the capital. There are 680 rooms spread across three hotels: the family oriented Al Waha, the coolly stylish Al Bandar and the super-luxurious six-star Al Husn, which is perched like a fortress on the headland with a commanding view of the mountains and private resort beach. The hotels are linked by the so-called Lazy River, an aquatic travellator that you can catch at any time and be carried to your destination in blood-warm water. The ambience is of restrained opulence with service levels to match. Rooms from about $350 up to the 500 sqm Royal Suite in the Al Husn. If you have to ask the rate, you can’t afford it.
Dubai was meant to be a Middle-Eastern Shangri-La, a glittering monument to Arab enterprise and western capitalism. But as hard times arrive in the city state that rose from the desert sands, an uglier story is emerging. Johann Hari reports
> Read thru
Aku pernah merokok (60 batang/3 paket sehari) selama lebihkurang lima belas tahun. Aku dah berhenti merokok sejak tahun 1996 iaitu 2 minggu sebelum aku bernikah – mungkin salah satu hikmah yang aku dapat kerana mendirikan masjid, wallahualam… Prinsip aku semasa menjadi perokok dahulu ialah, aku tidak merokok di tempat awam dan di rumah orang-orang yang aku kunjungi termasuklah di rumah orangtua ku sendiri. Kebetulan arwah ayah ku bukan lah perokok. Aku tak bermegah kerana prinsip aku tu tapi aku boleh bermegah kerana aku dah buang tabiat yang tak berfaedah tu. DUIT???…itu jangan cerita berapa ribu dah aku bazirkan…aku dah pun ambil iktibar.
Aku nak kongsi sisipan Utusan Malaysia pasal perokok yang sorang ni. Jangan terkejut kalau ada ramai perokok dalam dunia ni yang bermentaliti yang sama. Nasihat percuma dan ikhlas daripada aku kepada hamba Allah yang tak boleh ditegur macam ini ialah, kalau kita tak boleh merubah diri menjadi lebih baik, janganlah mereka sesuatu yang buatkan orang lain menjadi lebih buruk daripada kita. Teguran yang baik tidak perlukan jemputan.
Yang baik tu semuanya drpda Allah, yang tak baik tu hanya lah drpd aku. Maaf lah ya!!
> Utusan Malaysia – Manusia toksik lebih bahaya daripada bahan toksik
There can only be bad news when one’s intimate photos or videos are circulated on the Internet and via mobile phone. So, why do many still allow themselves to be caught with their pants down?
> Read thru
This kind of thing can always gets anybody into grave situations…the meaning of FREEDOM is anyone’s guess these days…
Betto Almeida is the Mr. Lucky of Rio’s Carnival. The 36-year-old artist awakes at 8 a.m. Has a little breakfast. Survives a commute through the city’s tough traffic. Arrives at the office by 11.
Then he spends hours painting the bodies of gorgeous women — and earning as much as $2,000 a day.
“You wouldn’t believe how many applications I get for an assistant,” Almeida deadpanned, never taking his eyes from his work as he brushed bright orange paint on the stomach of a model in his glass-enclosed studio under the grandstands at the Sambadrome, where Rio’s Carnival parades ended Tuesday at dawn.
“But it’s hard work, man. I take my job seriously.”
Slight, soft-spoken and unassuming, Almeida devotes his art to a sideshow of the samba parades: models who earn about $250 a night to mingle, clad only in paint, with high-rollers in the luxury boxes.
Wearing plaid pants, a green shirt with a red phoenix on it and a denim-and-camouflage hat, Almeida goes about his work with a nonchalant air as the party-crazed hordes outside press their noses to the glass and snap photos.
His day job is art director on television soap operas, but for the past 12 years he has been brushing, dripping and spraying paint on some of the most beautiful bodies Brazil’s Carnival has to display.
Michele Peres, a 28-year-old model wearing tiny black shorts, snakeskin stilettos and a watch, said the quality of Almeida’s work was vital to her professional success.
“I’ve been doing this for nine years, for Carnival and other events,” she said as Almeida painted a jaguar on her breasts. “He is the best body painter I’ve come across and his work draws more attention to me. It is good for him, it is good for me.”
A gentleman tapped on the studio window and, as gingerly as a drunk Carnival reveler could, requested that Peres turn toward the growing crowd. With a barely perceptible sigh, she complied, not hesitating to light up a smile once the cameras started popping.
Luana Minini, a 22-year-old actress, was making her first appearance as a Carnival body paint model and she took a slightly more timid stance: She had Almeida paint critical areas of her body in a back room before agreeing to have a red parrot with green wings covering her chest completed under the public’s gaze.
“I’ve always worked in theater and dance. This is a bit more free- spirited. But I’ve learned to control my nervousness. The paint acts as a cover, it makes me feel protected,” she said, motioning toward the jungle foliage in which the parrot on her breast resided.
Both women said some men — mostly foreigners — get a little frisky in the box seats, where the models mingle for 15 minutes before taking a champagne break for 15 minutes in a glassed-front room next to Almeida’s work space.
“It gets a little rowdy. Not too many men grab us or anything, but there is always one or two who get a little confused,” Minini said. “Brazilians understand the ambiance of Carnival and they come here prepared to see this.”
As the models answered questions, Almeida kept working. On his knees behind Peres, he dipped his brush into one of a dozen plastic water bottles cut in half to hold his paint, carefully painting jaguar spots on the back of the model’s thighs.
Sweat on his brow, he said the hard work is worth it. A modeling agency that employs the women pays him $1,000 for the roughly two hours it takes to paint each model. During the samba parades, he paints two women a night. And in a typical year will paint a minimum of 50 women for various events.
“I started doing it for theater and one of the samba parade officials asked if I would do it for Carnival models. How could I say no?” he asked, diving into a cheeseburger after finishing up with Peres. “A lot of guys are jealous of my job.” – AP
A new service provided by two mobile telecommunications companies to reveal the location of cellphone holders has sparked protests that it could be abused to invade one’s privacy.
Friend Finder is a service provided by two telecommunications companies in Malaysia and to date, the service has recruited 2.4 million users and still counting. While there are those who laud the benefits of the service which, among others, allows people to monitor and even track down the whereabouts of their loved ones, some feel the security measures put in by the companies are lax.
MCA Public Service and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong thinks the service indirectly exposes people to the risk of having their privacy intruded.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Dubai’s stock market rallied Monday, a day after the United Arab Emirates announced a $10 billion bond purchase to shore up the debt-ridden city-state, which had been hit hard by collapsing real estate prices and tight credit in recent months.
The Dubai government issued a statement on Sunday saying that it would issue $20 billion in long-term bonds, and that the Emirates’ central bank, based in Abu Dhabi, had agreed to buy the first installment of $10 billion.
Analysts had long predicted that oil-rich Abu Dhabi might bail out its neighbor emirate Dubai, whose economy is based largely on real estate and has suffered far more than Abu Dhabi has in the current downturn.
Dubai, which had financed its growth largely through international borrowing, said Sunday that the bond sale would allow it to “meet its financial obligations and continue its development program.”
But the bond program may be only a temporary fix for Dubai, where scores of major construction programs, including one planned to be the world’s tallest building, have been put on hold. Many foreign workers, who make up about 90 percent of Dubai’s population, have lost their jobs and left, and real estate prices have dropped by 50 percent or more.
Iraq Museum That Was Looted Reopens, Far From Whole
BAGHDAD — Well over half the exhibition halls in Iraq’s National Museum are closed, darkened and in disrepair. And yet the museum, whose looting in 2003 became a symbol of the chaos that followed the American invasion, officially reopened on Monday.
Thousands of works from its collection of antiquities and art — some of civilization’s earliest objects — remain lost.
The smell of fresh paint infuses the Room of Treasures, which even now is deemed safe enough for only photographs of the intricate gold and gem-studded jewelry made in Nimrud nearly 3,000 years ago, not the real thing.
Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki pushed to reopen the museum, against the advice of his own Culture Ministry, as a sign of Iraqi progress. Symbol it was, and symbol it remains — not only of how much Iraq has improved, but of how far it has to go.
|
shazali
Komen terbaru