TRAFFIC SUMMON CHARGES

Not sure whether the following is true as I just got this through the mail. Anyone can confirm?
Price quoted below are nett without further discount:
Speeding:
Exceeding 1 - 20km/h = $130 + 4 Demerit Points.
Exceeding 21 - 30km/h = $150 + 6 Demerit Points.
Exceeding 31 - 40km/h = $180 + 8 Demerit Points.
Exceeding 41 - 50km/h = $200 + 12 Demerit Points + Court.
Exceeding 51 - 60km/h = $200 + 18 Demerit Points + Court.
Exceeding 61km/h = $200 + 24 Demerit Points + Court.
Careless Driving = $150 + 6 Demerit Points.
Inconsiderate Driving = $170 + 9 Demerit Points + Court.
Dangerous Driving = $200 + 24 Demerit Points + Court + Vehicle Compounded.
Illegal Racing = $200 + Vehicle Confiscate + Court.
Fail to put on Seat Belt = $120 + 3 Demerit Points.
Double White Lines = $130 + 4 Demerit Points.
Phone and Drive = $200 + 12 Demerit Points + Phone Confiscate.
DO NOT hold your mobile in your hand when you drive even with loud speaker or ear piece.

Drink Driving (1st offence) = Up to $5,000 Fine and, or Jail Term + License Suspended + Court.
Drink Driving (2nd offence) = Jail Term + Fine + Court.

Making an illegal U Turn when there's no U-Turn sign = $70 .
Fail to Signal when changing lanes = $70 .
Driving at night without Headlights or Taillights Switch on after 7pm = $30 .
No Number Plate = $70.
Obstructed Number Plate = $70.
Obscured Number Plate = $70.
Number Plate Of Unapproved Type = $70

Demerit Point System :
Let's say you have 0 point on 1st January 2011, and you committed the offence of Failing to Put on Seat Belt. So now, you will have 3 demerit points and this will last for 1 Year.
If during this 1 year you have no demerit points offence at all, your 3 demerit points will be gone on 1/1/2012.
But, if during this one year, From 1/1/2011 - 1/1/2012, you committed another offence with demerit points, your very first offence will be extended for another year until 1/1/2013.

Best Job In The World

A Bridge



Margin Call

— MOVIECLIPS.com

Holla Reno!

MID-PAC!
WOLF-PACK!
MID-PAC!
WOLF-PACK!

Bigger Hammer?

Just remember, a bigger hammer isn't always the best solution, but it sure is a lot of fun.

7 resolutions for 2012 to keep fit

1. I will manage stress better
2. Every time I eat, half my plate will be veggies
3. I will do things to sleep better
4. I will watch less TV, and surf less internet
5. I will train 30 mins at least 3x per week
6. I will take care of my soft tissue
7. I will eat more home-cooked food

To read the full articles on the above, click here!

A Merry Christmas to you all

We wish everyone a merry and blessed Christmas and a happy new year. May you be blessed throughout 2012!

Don't forget to drop in at the church to celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas day.

Awesome things people do

Just want to share this awesome stuff people do. Click here to see them! I am sure you will be entertained. But please don't do this at home as they are too dangerous for the untrained.

Free Wildlife Photography book

Wildlife photographer and dpreview.com contributor Uwe Skrzypczak is again making his book

'Wildlife photography: On Safari with Your DSLR: Equipment, Techniques, Workflow' available as a free download. This is available for 24 hours only. So, if you are interested, please click here.
The free download period is:

GMT: 23:01 Saturday 17th to 22:59 Sunday 18th.

For Malaysia time, this will start now and finish at 6:59AM 19th Monday. (We are 8 hours ahead).

Condition for the download is that we are not allow to redistribute as it contravene copyright.

First Call : Volunteers for Asian Waterbird Census in Miri Jan 2012

Enjoying the backyard at Kuala Baram Lagoon.

Blue-throated Bee-eater, commonly found in wide open spaces, most interesting to watch.

Asian Waterbird Census, AWC is an annual waterbird census carried out by volunteers every January (sometimes starts mid December and spills over to February) at various sites thoughout Asia.

Analysis of data collected during AWC help Wetlands International, the organizer, in long term planning for the conservation of waterbirds and their wetland habitats.

The census has 3 major objectives:

1) to obtain information on an annual basis of waterbird populations at wetlands in the region during non-breeding period of most species, as a basis for reviewing of sites and monitoring populations

2) to monitor on an anuual basis the status and condition of wetlands

3) to encourage greater interest in waterbirds and wetlands amongst the public and thereby promote the conservation of wetlands and waterbirds in the region.

The census is mainly undertaken by volunteers from various sources with the community. The sites covered include rivers, lakes, reservoirs, tanks, swamps, coastal areas, mangrove and mudflats, reefs or beaches.

Waterbirds counted during the census include all waterbirds and birds associated with the wetlands habitat.

The census is coordinated in each country by a volunteer national or regional organisation, in Malaysia it's the Malaysian Nature Society. The coordinator is responsible for building up the network of volunteers, sends out count forms, liase with participants, receives and collate forms after the census and compiles and disseminates national reports.

The official dates for AWC are any dates between 9-31st January, however counts from December and February are still accepted from poorly known areas.

Great Egret. Come and find out how many species of similar looking white egrets are here in Miri.

MNS Miri Branch has a small band of birdwatchers who will be participating in AWC again this year covering the following tentative sites listed below, participation in the census is sought from all branch members and the public interested to know more about waterbirds and birds in general.

As this is only our first announcement, please keep an eye out for further follow-up as more potential sites are being arranged.

MNS Miri Branch AWC sites for 2012 (no new sites added):

a) Kuala Baram Lagoon South (completed)

07th January : South Kuala Baram Lagoon

Meet in front of Toh Pottery (after the little bridge) 0715hrs

We shall walk in a northerly direction making notes of sightings along the route. Propose to end session 10am. Continue along the stretch the next day.

Kuala Baram Lagoon North (completed)

08th January : North of Kuala Baram Lagoon

Meet at Shell Office Lobby 0700 hrs. We'll carpool to site.

We shall walk in a northerly direction making notes of sightings along the route. Propose to end session 10am.

b) Curtin Lakes Area (completed)

14th January

Meet at Curtin U security gate 0700 hrs

Survey campus area. Survey nearby area by car along area's road network. Propose to end session by lunchtime.

c) Kpg Masjid Kuala Baram

21st January (completed)

Meet after ASEAN Birdge Toll 0730hrs.

We plan to engage Kpg Masjid children to raise awareness about birds around the kampong and conduct AWC at the same time. Half a day session outdoors birdwatching with children along the footpaths in the village.

22nd January (rescheduled)

Meet after ASEAN Bridge Toll 0730hrs.

Survey route starting from roundabout to Jabatan Perikanan Jetty with prolonged stops long the way ie. SY Prawn Farm.

d) Pujut Lakes (completed)

23rd January

Meet in the parking lot in front of the Miri Go-Kart Stadium 0700hrs. We'll traverse the unsurfaced roads in the area to survey the lakes and waterbodies.

e) Pulau Bawai (date changed to 11th Feb)

New date : 11th Feb

Details to be announced once arrangement is confirmed.

f) Loagan Bunut National Park (confirmed)

04-05th February (overnite at NP)

Details to be announced once arrangement is confirmed. We are looking for 4WD drivers, please email us if you can drive your 4WD to Loagan Bunut, this trip will be on cost-sharing basis (fuel, boat, accomodation, group meals).

Most of these sites are revisits from past year's census which forms an important monitoring component of AWC.

White-breasted Waterhen at Kuala Baram, a common sight along Miri's swamp edges and drains.

Some of our past AWC highlights :

Nesting Grey-headed Fish Eagle with juvenile in Kpg Masjid, 2011

Peregrine Falcon in Peliau Cliffs, 2011

Nesting Balck-winged Kite Pujut Lakes, 2011.

Waders, Lesser Adjutant and Chinese Egrets in Sundar, 2010.

Malaysian Plover, Grey Plover, Wandering Whistling Duck, Oriental Darter in Miri, 2009.

Plovers in general in Kuala Baram, 2008.

Lesser Adjutant in Lutong, 2002.

Storm's Stork in Loagan Bunut, 2001.

Members and the public who are interested to participate in this largely citizen's effort can email mnsmiri@yahoo.com or nabghani@yahoo.com for further details.

Schools interested to participate as part of a school project are encouraged to send enquiries, we can tailor made a program to include a 1-2hrs informative slideshow session on waterbirds and a 2hr session in the field watching and identifying birds near your school area.

Requirements:

Able to be outdoors in the sun for 2-4hrs while maintaining good sense of humour throughout. We have Fieldguides to the Birds of Borneo, 8x40 binoculars and scopes for use during this survey.

Be a part of active local conservation, come birdwatching with us this January.

By

Nazeri Abghani/MNS Miri/Dec 2011

revised 22nd Jan 2012

revised 26th Jan 2012

A Quick Look Back

Potential at Cornell

http://www.cee.cornell.edu/news/spotlight.cfm?s_id=157

Wayne

http://thesouthend.wayne.edu/index.php/article/2011/12/engineering_students_prepare_for_steel_bridge_competition

Christmas Wishes

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xalngd_saturday-night-live-magic-fish-town_fun

Is your photo blue?

With many function halls switching to LED flood light, ...

... you will have nightmare if you don't know how to adjust your camera accordingly. The LED flood light is simply too cool and also too strong. Our normal eyes will see it as white or bluish white. Even if you switch on your flash light, the picture is still too blue! See this ...

Without correction, even the most expensive camera also cannot beat the strong LED light. The white balance will be completely out!

With correction, the colour can be restored. But how?
Here is how you set your camera:
Use manual white balance (WB) and set it to  between 9,000-10,000. You need to experiment with it.
If you need to use flash, the WB can be reduced slightly to around 8000. But do try it out.
Do not use auto WB.
If possible, set your camera to manual mode.

Drug Free Hi Blood Pressure Control

As usual, I walked at the Bulatan Park and met up with my walking buddy. He is concerned with his rounded tummy where he can't seem to get it flatten. So, I recommended my earlier remedy by walking and elevating the  heartbeat up! Then he went back and went through the internet. He found something interesting. Like squatting to elevate the heartbeat. Then he also said that one Chinese doctor has been massaging three pressure points, cycling and breathing.
Talking about breathing, it was found that it can also control high blood pressure. It was reason that the body automatically response to poor oxygen level in the blood by pumping out more blood. Simple logic is to increase the pressure... so there goes high blood pressure. Now, don't believe me, go to google and enter the key words "High Blood Pressure Breathing" and you will get load of information.
Here is my evidence:

Before I started my breathing, it was 135/90. After breathing exercise for one minute, it drop to the above!

This seems to work even if you are currently on drug. So, if you have HiBP, try it. If you have no HiBP, try it anyway because slow breathing is good for you.

Season Greetings!

I wish all my readers a happy and blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. May 2012 brings you blessing from God! These two cards are for you...

 You may download them and use them as long as they are not printed for commercial purposes. If you do copy them and redistribute, please do not remove the watermark.

Click the image for a bigger picture.
Picture taken at City Fan, Miri, Sarawak.

About Time

Six truths about time:

First: Nobody can manage time. But you can manage those things that take up your time.

Second: Time is expensive. As a matter of fact, 80 percent of our day is spent on those things or those people that only bring us two percent of our results.

Third: Time is perishable. It cannot be saved for later use.

Fourth: Time is measurable. Everybody has the same amount of time...pauper or king. It is not how much time you have; it is how much you use.

Fifth: Time is irreplaceable. We never make back time once it is gone.

Sixth: Time is a priority. You have enough time for anything in the world, so long as it ranks high enough among your priorities.

Christmas Bazaar .. go quickly tonight

Just realised that tonight is the last night of the bazaar. Go there to eat, be entertained and also to meet friends.

 Performance ... beautiful and graceful dances

 2nd hand merchandise

 Randy the chef...make sure you eat his kolo mee

... more food to buy!
See more photos here.

Christmas at Dewan Suarah..Go go go!

Have you been to the Christmas Bazaar and the City Fan? If you have not, please rush over before dinner. You will not regret it. They have food sales, etc. The prices are cheap! Kolo mee for RM2.00, home made pau for RM1.50, good quality second hand clothing for RM1.00 per piece. Don't eat before you go... they have plenty to offer. So, go go go...

 Christmas tree by Samling. If you are a one third rule freak, this photo breaks all of them! But I don't care, it is meant to be broken.

Another angle of the Christmas deco... framed to make my 1/3 rule freak happy!

He baked his first cheese tart

After observing and helping Janice making cheese tart, Timothy finally got his hand on baking the first successful cheese tart. They tasted good and unfortunately, I cannot eat many as they are simply too rich!

Well done, Timothy. I am happy that he enjoyed baking and now I can relax and enjoy whatever they bake.

How to remove visceral fat (Belly fat)

Visceral fat is fat that surrounds the internal organs.  Some people call it "hidden fat."  It most commonly collects around the mid-section, as this is where a majority or our major
internal organs are located.  Most of this type of fat builds around the stomach area.

Visceral fat is different from other types of fat that are closer to the skin.  This type of fat is more dangerous, and can increase the risks of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.  It can also cause high cholesterol.  Developing this type of fat creates a more serious health risk than other types of fat that are stored on other areas of the body.

I attended a talk by a doctor and he recommended walking.
 To remove belly fat, you need to (obviously) exercise. AND you need to ensure that during exercise, your heartbeat reaches 60-70% of 220-your current age. For example, if you are now 50 years old. You need to ensure that your heartbeat is between (220-50)x0.6 to (220-50)x0.7. The heart beat works out to be 102 to 119. At this heartbeat, your body burn fat from your belly! So, when you exercise, measure your heartbeat! There is a heartbeat measuring gadget you could buy from the pharmacy or just count your pulse. To make life easy for you, below is a table showing the age and optimal heartbeat for a flat belly!

Age	HeartBeat
30	114 to 133
32	112.8 to 131.6
34	111.6 to 130.2
36	110.4 to 128.8
38	109.2 to 127.4
40	108 to 126
42	106.8 to 124.6
44	105.6 to 123.2
46	104.4 to 121.8
48	103.2 to 120.4
50	102 to 119
52	100.8 to 117.6
54	99.6 to 116.2
56	98.4 to 114.8
58	97.2 to 113.4
60	96 to 112
62	94.8 to 110.6
64	93.6 to 109.2
66	92.4 to 107.8
68	91.2 to 106.4
70	90 to 105

The Official Clemson NSSBC 2012 Page

http://www.clemson.edu/ces/steel-bridge/

Confirmed 100% crocodile!

Finally my friend Musa shot this picture today around lunch time... is there any more dispute that this fellow is indeed a crocodile and not just a giant monitor lizard! Our friend from Miri City Council should see this picture!

Thanks to Musa for allowing me to post this picture. The council has finally set up trap! Go to Musa's fb album to see all the photos.

Christmas Parade 2011

Christmas Parade 2011 on 3rd Dec saw a record number in turnout. From the crowd compared to last year, there was a lot more people. But for this year, there was a little less colour.
If not for the heavy rain, it would have been a lot more fun. I could not join the band as the rain was a real nuisance!

Lighting up the huge Christmas tree by pressing the remote button. Datuk Chin Fah Kui had the honour to press the button.

The beautiful Christmas tree ... I think the top part failed to light up.

Congratulating each other...
The Christmas tree will be there for sometime. So, good opportunity for everyone to go over to take some pictures.

Have you been doing exercises?

Morning and evening time at the Bulatan Park ...

Every alternate day morning, the team changes...

Someone is there to guide you. Actually there are two teams everyday but at different places at the park.
Another team is doing repetitive exercise, so very easy to follow. Just join in!

Or you can be like my buddy who is there every day, morning and evening... just walking and hoping to get rid of the extra weight.

You could develop friendship....

Or you could just do simple stretching and bending...

... or could be training your qi!

... or could be walking while on the way to work.

... or could be doing exercise for speedy recovery. I hope he gets well soon.
Have you been doing exercise regularly? Don't wait until it is too late because sweating out is important for you.

Fly Hope

Sarawak Shipbuilder in Kuala Baram made Sarawak proud by being selected by Papua New Guinea to build a couple of ferries. The first of such ferry was launched yesterday at a simple ceremony in Kuala Baram.

The main reasons why Sarawak Shipbuilder were selected was their 100+ years of ship building experiences, a team of very committed family members who has been building ships for three generations in Sarawak, etc.
This ferry has a maximum seating capacity of 150.

Crocodile or monitor lizard?

Deputy Mayor of Miri City Council make a statement in yesterday Miri See Hua Daily news that the ...

... reptile in Bulatan park may not be crocodile but a a giant ...

... monitor lizard!! I was wondering whether he knows how a monitor lizard look like.
I really wish that people at the top do some research and compared photos we publish on the net so that they don't make remark which make them sound so ignorant. So, for the benefit of my readers, the above is how a monitor lizard generally looks like. (photo from Wikipedia) Colour and shape will vary a bit but the features are more or less the same. And...

... this is how a crocodile looks like!
The major differences, when you can only see the head, are the nose and eyes.

 Croc has distinctive eyes and nose well above the water. When they went underwater, it "drops" down like a ...

...submarine. I had not seen monitor lizard behaving in this manner.
He also suggested that more ...

... sign like this should be put up around the park! So if he thinks that it is not croc, why more sign?! Please don't waste tax payer money!

Weekend Birding at Lambir Hills

An obliging bulbul on a macaranga, and behind him the fruits many birds go for.

Not 4 weekends ago, while visiting Lambir with the kids, we met a birder with his father attempting some bird photography at Lambir Hills National Park with a 500m. His first question was : "Do we have a bird guide?". Short answer : "No, we haven't got one here in Miri unless you engage someone beforehand from tour outfits in Kuching or KL. Those guides in KK would be closest!"

Lambir Hills National Park is a big place. Birdwatching is probably manageable on your own if you know the birds and you are adventurous enough to venture into the trails alone. You'd still need a few days to do the place justice. The Lambir 2002 Birdlist (Shanahan & Debsky) boasts a comprehensive list of 200+ birds. There hasn't been any more complete work to date since then.

For bird photography, it's probably best if you are already aware of where the birds are going to be. This is where local knowledge, perhaps built over the years of birding the area or collective birding experience come into play. A bird photographer can quickly set-up in a designated place known to be having regular bird visits thus guaranteed results.

Over the years, many birders have been to and birdwatched at Lambir. Some of this additional information is added to the list maintained at the Park HQ Office. Occasional visits by Miri birders added some more valuable bird sightings to the list.

If you are visiting for only a day or two, some of the following locales within the Park complex might be useful for you. If you have more time, book yourselves into one of the hilltop chalets and do your photography to your heart's content from your chalet windows. If you feel lucky surely go lug your equipment along the Innoue-Pantu Loop trail, there are a few choice spots along the way for very shy birds that do come out calling once in a while.

My favorite places has always been just around the HQ complex. I'm not looking for any rarities in particular, any bird photograph is an image worth making in my mind. Some of these pictures I have made while checked in at the Hilltop Chalet. One of these days I might just try to lug the 600mm, tripod with Wimberley head as well as other associated accessories into Innoue, it's not yet time for now.

One of my favorite spot is Chalet No. 3 just up the hill behind the temporary canteen just after you've passed the old park office. In between the chalets there are a few nice rhododenrons and macarangas. A few other fruiting plants I don't recognize. These are perfect spots for birdwatching and bird photography without having to lug heavy equipment too far into the trail. During furiting seasons, these spots are a hive of activities. Dusky Munia are commonly seen flitting about the neighbourhood. At least 3-4 kinds of bulbuls and sunbirds make their stops at the macarangas picking up juicy little ripe fruits. Spectacled Spiderhunter, Purple-naped Sunbird and Hairy-backed Bulbul are regulars here.

Fruiting trees are all tell tale signs that the site could be your next productive site as far as birds are concerned.

Chalet No. 3 from across the wooden bridge. A fruiting macaranga in between Chalet 3 and 4 guarantees bulbuls, sunbirds, flowerpeckers and spiderhunters. A rhododendron is also nearby.

Another spot, the camera is pointing to a fruiting tree a favorite of bulbuls, barbets and leafbirds. Occasionally a squirrel or two would drop in.

Little orange fruit (unidentified) a favorite of several species of bulbuls, barbets and leafbirds.

If you are lucky you'll spot nesting Dusky Munia busy flitting back and forth tending or building nest for the season. Bornean Brown Barbet and Greater Leafbird are regularly seen picking up ripe fruits in this area.

Areas surrounding Hilltop Chalet is probably second only to Chalet No. 3. Here if you are early, you can point your lens towards babblers which are very active very early in the morning and late afternoon. There's also an unidentified fruting tree with little black berries and macaranga in front of the chalet. You can shoot all day from the comfort of your chalet living room.

Down the hill from the Hilltop Chalet is a small pond, quiet by the side with a little shelter on it's shore. Here Blue-eared Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher have been recorded. Black-naped Monarch stops by for a bath on hot days. Banded Kingfisher so far has been heard but has not yet been seen. You'll be probably be more lucky with the Rufous-backed Kingfisher in the same area.


This little pond is a confirmed favorite of at least three species of kingfisher as well as other birds. Occasionally a terrapin would pop it's head out of the water.

For the more stout at heart, a foray into the Innoue trail just behind the Hilltop Chalet could be just the thing to get you pumping. Other than the babblers, pittas and trogons regularly calls a short distance into the trail. Only a few birders have been privileged with photographs of both species. Further up towards Pantu shelter, sightings of Bornean Bristlehead has been made on numerous occasions. Near a small valley where a wooden bridge cross a little stream, there's a little pool of water on the right where a Banded Kingfisher regularly calls though he has yet to be sighted much more photographed by anyone.

With 200+ species of birds on it's list, those spending a few days at Lambir Hills NP would surely be rewarded with sightings of at least 1/3 of the birds there. A single half day trip maynot be enough for everyone, but it surely rakes up your chances of getting the less regularly seen quarries.

Nazeri Abghani/Nov 2011

Real or fake?

When coming to digital image manipulation, combined with powerful software and computer, the only limitation now is the imagination! I took the photo below ...

... during a late afternoon at a landscaping exhibition. The image above is no where near to being perfect: the trees are pale due to the strong sun and the image appears flat. To transform the same image, I need to enhance the colour and do something about the grass. Fortunately I have a few very nice looking grass ... and the end result is the following:

I would appreciate your opinion.
Click on any photo for a bigger image.

Tips: It is always better to overexpose a little than to underexpose your image. A little overexposed image has a lot more information than an underexposed image.