You eat, I eat too

Reanne entering into solid food phrase lately. Mummy given her fine plain porridge as starter. Also tasted carrot, potatoes and pumpkin too. Another great milestone for Reanne.

Dad's Birthday

It was a very special day that falls on a very special date on 28 Aug (28.8.8). It was my dad's 54th birthday!

Your first reaction might be (commonly and often), "Wow, your dad is so young!" If you know my age (which going to touch 35 years old) you will definitely get more amaze. Yes, my dad got married at a 'tender' age of 18 years old and become a father by 19. That's not all, my grand father and my great grand father also married a that age of 18. Double wow. Anyway I broke that record.

It all started from a mere family member of two (my parents 35 years ago) later to four (added myself and brother Silas), many many years later to six (added Pei and Rachel a.k.a daughter in-laws) and now nine (added Ivan, Reanne and Sarah a.k.a grand children). A bridge of three generation. 350% biological growth! Wow, that is amazing.

One thing I thank God for is that this family is under His saving grace. After I come to know the Lord, God also touched my brother and subsequently my parents.

I also thank God for my dad for His hand that have been watching and guiding him all this years. Upon finishing his Form Two, my dad came out to work as a apprentice carpenter specialize in rattan furniture making. Then met my mother in the same industries which later.....married and have children. Anyhow life was still very tough then with only small sum of incomes. Nevertheless God's grace abound. My parents manage to pull through by seeing Silas and I graduated from college and entered into the working world. And now as grandfather, I am sure as he looks back that many years ago journey was a remarkable one. He is now serving faithfully in the church as office staff and a cell leader. Indeed a God fearing servant, a dedicated father and caring grandfather.

Lord, grand Your grace and favor to my dad as he continues to serve You in ways he know best. Grand him good health and strength to journey through into Your will and purposes in his life. Propel him to greater high that he never imagine before.

Malaysia International Fireworks Competition 2008

Tonight will be the Grand Finale of the Malaysia International Fireworks Competition 2008 which is being held in Putrajaya's PICC. Admission is free.

Four team i.e. Malaysia, China, Canada and Spain already have performed their fireworks couple of days ago.

Below is the layout suggested by the organizer where you should observe the display around PICC.

For more detail information, click here

Raise the flag

With last minutes kind of decision, I 'raised up' our country mini flag 'Jalur Gemilang' in my car desktop. This Sunday August 31st will mark our country 51st Independant Day or 'Merdeka Day' since 1957.

Compare to previous year, I sense that this year will be a different one. Changes is slowly coming and surely if not definitely to mark a new journey for the next half century. It is a significant year to all of us Malaysian. Never have the people of this land gather and united to seek a betterment of this nation. A pursue worth pressing for. At least for the next generation that is to come.

I encourage we all raise our flag in whatever shape and size to encourage this nation endeavor.

Keep your extracted teeth

Stem cells 'created from teeth'

Japanese scientists say they have created human stem cells from tissue taken from the discarded wisdom teeth of a 10-year-old girl.

The researchers say their work suggests that wisdom teeth could be a suitable alternative to human embryos as a source for therapeutic stem cells.

Research involving stem cells is seen as having the potential to treat many life-threatening diseases. But some people do not believe it is morally right to use human embryos. The researchers, based at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), say it will be at least five years before their findings result in practical medical applications.

Stem cells have the ability to develop into other kinds of human cells, and experts believe they may eventually lead to treatments for some of the most intractable conditions, such as cancer and diabetes.

The AIST researchers said they had identified a form of stem cell in the wisdom teeth which had the capability to develop and be grown successfully into other forms of cell outside the body. The cells they harvested continued to grow in the laboratory for just over a month, they added.

They used teeth that had been extracted three years ago and had been preserved in a freezer. That means that it's easy for us to stock this source of stem cells. In the US, dentists are starting to offer to store stem cells taken from wisdom teeth and from baby teeth, another potential source, for therapeutic purposes in the future.

Another breakthrough in stem cell medical science instead of the current commercialize stem cell stored in 'bag'. It's much more convenient and should be cost efficient for everybody.

Catching Up

Ah Mei and Gary wedding photos

Cheese!

Ivan having fun with grandpa Ah Kong

We drop by Ah Mei and Gary's place after visiting my in-laws last Sunday. It has been few weeks we didn't see each other especially for the kids to have some 'manja' time with their 'Ah Yi' (aunt). As usual, a lot of photo taking time as you can see above. The sisters taking the time to catch up here and there. I catch up with Gary on politics (who can avoid talking it anyway). We even discuss about blogging. It turns out Gary also wanted to blog but no time. The 'fever' is spreading fast.

Ivan got a surprise from his Ah Kong as my father in-law have hand made him two pairs of drum sticks. It was beautifully done. My father in-law is very good with hand works as well as many other things like electronics, computer, camera, videocam etc. Both of them engaged in drum 'jamming' session fun time after that.

We later adjourned for dinner at nearby restaurant and watch the closing ceremony of Beijing Olympic.

Moon is in the air

Did you spotted any Mickey Mouse? Clue is 'tanglung'

We went to Sunday Pyramid two Sundays ago for a 'short' mega sales shopping. Can't help but to notice a big festive season is around the corner. We were greeted with colourful tanglung with all shape and size. Not to mentioned like hundred variety of mooncake being display for sales. Yes, pretty soon Mooncake Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival gonna come. To be exact on 15 Sept (Sunday).

It's going to be Reanne first experience. Maybe this year Ivan actually gotta have a chance to hold a tanglung.....real traditional tanglung with candle. It will not be complete if one did not experience the old fashion way of playing real tanglung. Looks like Mickey Mouse will be Ivan's favourite. How fortunate kids nowadays. My time best you can find a rabbit, fish etc and most fanciful might be the 'Ultraman'.

Am looking forward for the festival to arrive.

Not sleeping well?

Your phone may be keeping you awake - and not because it's ringing.

According to a research study earlier this year which got little attention on this side of the Atlantic, mobile phones send out radiation that hampers people's ability to sink into the deep stages of sleep. Scientists from Karolinska Institute and Uppsala University in Sweden, and from Wayne State University in Michigan, gathered 35 men and 36 women between the ages of 18 and 45 and exposed about half of them to 884-megaherz wireless signals identical to those emitted by cell phones. The other half got no radiation. The result: The people who had been subjected to the radiation took longer to enter the deep stage of sleep that refreshes and restores, and spent less time there, than the other group.

What about Wi-Fi computer signals? Can they interfere with sleep? The scientific jury is still out, but consider this: Kevin Koym, who owns a consulting company and a software engineering firm in Austin, Tex., says of his struggles with insomnia: "I never had sleep problems until I started using Wi-Fi So now I am careful to shut off my computer at home in the evening."

Whatever the scientific verdict, taking a nightly break from your electronics can't hurt. So turn off the computer, power down the CrackBerry, and relax.

Now I am sure you should have good valid reason to off your gadgets i.e. cell phone, Wi-Fi etc. to the sake of good sleep. Consider also for your kids should they sleep with you in the same room. We got total 3 cell phones including Pei's.......so imagine the high radiation! So, be wise off them.