Latest News!

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this is an unfinished version of my movie poster

Coming 2008! - TEMAN - A Ross Ariffin Movie

I'm in the midst of writing the full screenplay before approaching the relevant people and finding my Director and Production Manager.




I have been nominated for "Best Song Of The Year" award
and I will find out for sure this coming 28th April at the Anugerah Industri Muzik Awards final night!
You can also find out more about this at BlueHyppo

Results at the 14th A.I.M : I didnt win. I lost to M.Nasir. Ah well..life goes on. This only spurs me on to keep working hard and getting more of my songs out there!.

AMBER_MAE IS NOW AN INTERNATIONAL STAR!!

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Hopefully Amber_Mae will enjoy continued success and this may be the start of better things as far as shoots for adverts being shown overseas.This shoot was ( see a couple of photos from FRIM where the shoot was taking place on the 22nd & 23rd of March )for Johnson & Johnson to be shown in India.

Hopefully I will be within a month be displaying an embedded video of the finished advert for you all to view and enjoy. Believe me when I say that this was one tiring adventure!. Lets hope and pray that Amber_Mae will get more offers to be a star in more adverts for the International market!!.

If you are in need for a people-friendly, highly intelligent, well trained and disciplined dog with a big heart to grace your TV advert or Print ad then why dont you give us a call at the following handphone numbers:

Helena: 012 914 7868 Ross : 012 914 8224

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Amber_Mae Wins Top Prize Again!!


amber_mae clinches top prize as "most intelligent dog" and "miss k9" at puppy.com's recently held carnival. amber_mae was also featured in the NST and Berita Harian. this is her second award at puppy.com events. how many more can she win?. keep a lookout for her in the near future!


This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog congratulations to melissa and amber_mae and hearfelt thanks to Puppy.Com

amber_mae in the NST!
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amber_mae looks so proud!
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this photo speaks for itself!
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conspiracy theories galore. one of my favourite pastimes.

now I know from where Handel got his inspiration!!

PetyurPet Home Boarding

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This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog
more fotos of our dogs and others!
This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog
fotos of our Chloe!
This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog

Escort Services ( Canine Division )

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Faith Escort.jpg
Chloe Escort.jpg
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CALL Toll Free: 011-8899-DOG-ESCORT-MY

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Thanks for dropping by Ross's blogpage.
Youre most welcome to drop by anytime. This blog updates regularly mind you.

New Vids Of Our Furbabies At Play!





Sunday, February 25, 2007

UK man wins Malaysia legal battle

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A British man has been awarded more than £400,000 in damages by a Malaysian court after he was prevented from leaving the country for 16 years.

Ronald Beadle, from Derbyshire, was trapped in Malaysia after the country's Inland Revenue Board ordered that his passport be seized over a tax dispute.

The judge ruled that the Inland Revenue Board had acted arbitrarily and abused its powers.

However, she did not accept that Mr Beadle had been falsely imprisoned.

Nor did she allow his claim for loss of earnings, arguing that it was purely theoretical that he could have made a living elsewhere.

Retire

The dispute started out as a simple mix-up over tax, and turned into a 16-year legal odyssey.

In 1981, Malaysia's Inland Revenue Board ordered that Ronald Beadle's passport be seized over a disputed sum of £3,000 ($5,874).

But it was not until 1998 that a court ruled it was his employers and not he who had failed to pay up.

In the meantime, Mr Beadle was forced to remain in Malaysia and was unable to return to Britain, even for his father's funeral.

Now the court has awarded him almost £440,000 ($861,551) in damages.

Mr Beadle, who first came to the country as a serviceman in the 1960s, says he would still like to retire in Malaysia.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Malaysia: Caught in the middle

jonathan kent.jpg By Jonathan Kent
BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur


Malaysia lies at the heart of South-east Asia, the region described by the United States as the second front in its so-called war on terror.

But it is torn between its economic, cultural and political links with the US, and its status as a champion of the Islamic and developing worlds.

On February 15, 1,500 people protested outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur at an opposition anti war demonstration.

Police tried to close the protest down.

A week later, 200,000 attended a rally backed by the government, who then challenged the Islamist opposition party PAS to organise a bigger one.

Malaysian politics now looks like a competition to see who can bang the anti-US gong the loudest.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad led the way.

"They now no longer respect borders, international laws or even simple moral values. And they are now talking of wars, of the use of military conquests in order to change governments," he said.

"They are even talking of using nuclear weapons. It is no longer just a war against terrorism, it is in fact a war to dominate the world."

Despite these strong words at last week's Non-aligned Movement summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has been a key ally in the US war on terror.

Last year, both US Secretary of State Colin Powell and President George W Bush asked Malaysia to set up a regional counter-terrorism centre.

Malaysia's Foreign Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, told me that plans were coming along well for the centre: "We have identified the premises and we are going to identify the officials to head it, and we hope we should be able to get it going by this year."

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed
PM Mahathir is critical of US policy

The situation is complicated by domestic politics.

Dr Mahathir's party draws its support from Malay Muslims.

In recent years many have switched to backing PAS.

September 11 temporarily silenced the Islamist opposition, but the government fears war in Iraq could play into their hands.

However, PAS research chief Dr Zulkifli Ahmad says his party is determined not to whip up sentiment and be branded as extremist.

"We are going to rope in the entire support against aggression; Muslims, non-Muslims, the NGOs, the political parties, even the government for that matter, and we are going to take it beyond Islam because this is an aggression against humanity," he said.

All around me in an American burger chain are young Muslim men, one even wearing a Malaysian for Peace t-shirt, and their girlfriends, headscarves drawn tightly about their faces.

It sums up the contradiction here.

A lot of people don't equate Washington with the West any more... they're capable of making a distinction between Washington and ordinary Americans
Chandra Muzaffer, veteran commentator

"In Malaysia, especially for the last 20 or 30 years, what other foreign culture have we been exposed to except American culture?" explained disc jockey Patrick Teoh.

"I am bombarded for 18 hours a day with American television, I am listening to American songs, everywhere I drive I am confronted with the big McDonalds sign and my children want to have McDonalds burgers for lunch," he said.

Outside Kuala Lumpur's Central Market many people, particularly Muslims, are reluctant to say what they think about the US.

Those who will speak however tend to draw a distinction between America, its people and their government.

Dr Chandra Muzaffar, President of the International Movement for A Just World and an observer of Malaysian politics, is not surprised.

"A lot of people don't equate Washington with the West any more... they're capable of making a distinction between Washington and ordinary Americans. This is really beginning to emerge," he said.

"I say this because you see reports of this sort even in the peripheral media, some of which are quite shrill when it comes to Islamic issues, but they're capable of making those distinctions and I think that's very good."

It is the links between the two governments that are likely to suffer most in the event of war.

The threat of military action against Iraq is eroding the sympathy generated by the attacks on New York and Washington.

Even a moderate Muslim country cannot afford to be seen to be too friendly with an America seemingly bent on war in the Middle East.

Tun Mahathir on Al-Jazeera recently in a one-on-one interview claimed that " there is no such thing as a moderate muslim country ". Hmmmm...agree or not?

How Disney's TV gang has grown up

When Disney's All New Mickey Mouse Club unveiled its new cast in 1993, few would have predicted the cultural impact the young recruits of the US children's television show would have.

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Whether through talent, rivalry or some sort of showbusiness alchemy, the Mouseketeers produced three of today's biggest pop stars - Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake.

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Between them, they have sold more than 100 million albums, won 10 Grammy Awards and made a large mark on pop music.

Timberlake was the first to forge a singing career after the show ended in 1994, forming boy band *NSync with fellow Mouseketeer JC Chasez the following year.

The group's manager, Lou Pearlman, also put together a girl band, Innosense, featuring Spears.

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But Aguilera faced a tougher struggle in her quest for musical success, pedalling home-recorded demo tapes to record companies for four years before landing a contract with RCA Records.

By this stage Spears had gone solo and, in 1998, released her debut single ...Baby One More Time.

Helped by a raunchy video, which saw the 17-year-old dressed as a schoolgirl, the single sold more than nine million copies worldwide.

Legal troubles

Aguilera followed at a respectable distance, sending Genie In A Bottle to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic in the summer of 1999.

But she was unhappy at being marketed as a bubblegum pop princess.

"The image started really upsetting me," she told the New York Daily News in 2002. "I wanted more attention on my vocals and to be seen as a daring artist like Madonna."

Justin Timberlake at the Grammys
Justin Timberlake has won four Grammys

She took her manager Steve Kurtz to court in 2000, claiming he had exercised "improper, undue and inappropriate influence" over her personal and professional activities.

Timberlake had pulled off a similar coup a year earlier, splitting from svengali Lou Pearlman after a lengthy court battle.

While Aguilera and Timberlake fought for control of their careers, Spears was going from strength to strength.

Her second album, Ooops I Did It Again, won plaudits from rock bibles Rolling Stone and the NME and went to number one on both sides of the Atlantic.

As she kept up the pace on the pop treadmill, Timberlake - now her boyfriend - was making his next move.

Maturing sounds

Securing the services of cutting-edge hip-hop producers the Neptunes, he shocked *NSync fans with the R&B-flavoured single Girlfriend.

Aguilera was also branching out, enlisting former 4 Non Blondes singer Linda Perry to help her write Beautiful, the key track on her confessional Stripped album.

Spears also saw the need to take musical risks, but had to be careful not to alienate her teen audience.

Christina Aguilera
Aguilera has changed her image several times
As a result, her self-titled third album was somewhat schizophrenic, with I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman describing her marketing department's dilemma.

Nonetheless, it achieved respectable sales and kept Spears at the head of the pop pack.

In 2003, the star teamed up with Aguilera and Madonna for a performance at the MTV awards.

Both of the younger stars engaged in a kiss with the pop icon, but it was Spears' embrace that dominated headlines, showing Aguilera that she still laboured in her colleague's shadow.

Meanwhile, Timberlake had split with both *NSync and Spears to launch his solo career.

His friendship with the Neptunes paid off when he was offered a handful of demos that had been rejected by Michael Jackson.

The songs formed the basis of his debut album, Justified, with single Cry Me A River gaining the most attention.

Upper hand

Many assumed it was about his relationship with Spears, and the implication in the lyrics that she had cheated on him fuelled gossip columns for months.

But the end of Spears' relationship with Timberlake seemed to coincide with the start of her decline.

Britney Spears
Spears has sold more than 50 million albums
She tarnished her image as a teenage role model by admitting she had lost her virginity and enjoyed smoking.

And in 2004 she married twice, putting musical career on hold while she raises her two young children.

In the meantime, Timberlake and Aguilera have capped their success with new albums and a handful of Grammy awards.

But Spears retains the upper hand. Forbes magazine says she is the 12th richest woman in showbusiness (and the highest earning Mouseketeer) with a net worth of $100m (£54.1m).

Her recent stay in rehab and shaved head may show the star has troubles to address, but her fans will be eagerly awaiting her musical return.

Britney Spears flees rehab again!

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Britney Spears left a live-in rehabilitation facility early Wednesday, less than a day after checking in, according to several reports.

It was the second time in a week that Spears entered a rehab facility and checked out before her first day was finished.

The television news magazine "The Insider" initially reported that Spears called a car service, walked out of the Promises Malibu Treatment Center and left the facility early Wednesday morning.

Later, the TV show "Extra" and the celebrity Web site TMZ.com said the 25-year-old pop star had left the center far short of the usual 45-day stay. TMZ said she couldn't handle rehab and went home.

Entertainment TV shows and Web sites reported Friday that Spears had gone in and out of rehab that week. Some reports identified the facility as
Eric Clapton's Crossroads center in Antigua, in the Caribbean, but the AP wasn't able to confirm those reports.

Eddie Michaels, a spokesman for the public relations agency that handles Promises, said he had no comment. He would not confirm that Spears had been there or that she had left.

There was no response to an e-mail sent Wednesday to Spears' manager, Larry Rudolph. On Tuesday, Rudolph said Spears had voluntarily checked herself into an undisclosed treatment facility.

"We ask that the media respect her privacy as well as those of her family and friends at this time," Rudolph was quoted as saying. He didn't disclose why she entered rehab.

Spears had a meltdown weekend that included shaving her head, tattooing her wrist and clubbing with friends. On Friday night, she sheared off her hair at a salon. Spears was later seen wearing an inexpensive blond wig.

Since filing for divorce from Kevin Federline in November, Spears has been photographed pantyless, wearing skimpy outfits and partying heavily.

Federline's attorney earlier confirmed that Spears and Federline would continue to share custody of 5-month-old Jayden James and 17-month-old Sean Preston this month, following terms of a January custody agreement.

Federline manager Dan Dymtrow said there would be no comment on the latest Spears' departure.


On the Net:

http://www.promisesmalibu.com

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Mount Hood rescue aided by beacon & a dog...

GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. - Thanks to a high-tech electronic gadget and a big warm dog named Velvet, three climbers rescued after a harrowing fall and a night in the wind and cold high on Mount Hood are expected to be fine.

helping dog mt hood.jpg They were found at about the 7,400-foot level on Monday and hiked down the mountain with their rescuers.

"I'm really glad they were there for us," Matty Bryant, one of the three climbers, said of the rescue teams. "They did an incredible job. They were amazing."

Searchers credited the group's rescue to two things — Velvet, a black Labrador mix who provided warmth as the three climbers huddled under sleeping bags and a tarp, and the activation of an emergency radio beacon the size of a sunglasses case that guided them to the group.

"The most important part of this rescue is that they did everything right," said Lt. Nick Watt of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

The three climbers set out on Saturday with five other friends — all in the 20s and 30s and from the Portland area — to scale the 11,239-foot mountain, Oregon's tallest.

However, a storm moved in and on Sunday they started their descent in blowing snow.

"You had no visual reference around you to determine if you were going up or down," said one member of the group, Trevor Liston. "You could make out a climber at 30 feet at best."

Then he saw the group of three — all roped together with Velvet — disappear over an icy ledge.

Liston and the four others used a rope to lower one of their climbing party over the edge in an unsuccessful attempt to locate the trio.

Then they used a cell phone to call for help as the wind howled at up to 70 mph.

Liston, who described himself as a veteran of Mount Hood climbs, said all eight had experience at either rock climbing or mountaineering.

They'd known about the Mount Hood disaster in which three climbers died in December. But Liston said that wasn't the reason the group decided to take Mountain Locator Units, the small beacons that can send out radio signals to rescuers.

"We've been up on the mountain for many years," Liston said. "With the group we were going up with this time, we just wanted another extra level of security, just in case something happened, especially with winter conditions."

In addition to Bryant, 34, a teacher in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie, the rescued climbers included Kate Hanlon, 34, a teacher in the suburb of Wilsonville.

The other woman, whose name was not released, was being treated for a head injury in Portland, said Jim Strovink, spokesman for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. "She's going to be fine," he said.

Velvet, owned by Bryant, had minor cuts and abrasions on her back paws and legs from prolonged exposure to the snow, but she was cleared to go home.

"The dog probably saved their lives" by lying across them during the cold night, said Erik Brom, a member of the Portland Mountain Rescue team.

Liston said he felt that he and his companions were well-equipped for climbing Mount Hood in the winter with cell phones, global positioning system gear and the locator beacons.

"We'd been in those conditions up on this mountain before," he said. "We've walked out in whiteouts before. We didn't know it was going to be that bad. But we were prepared that it might be snowing and blowing."

Liston said he understands critics who say people climbing Mount Hood during the winter are putting not only their own lives at risk, but also the lives of rescuers dispatched when something goes wrong.

"It's a kind of delicate balance," he said, "about doing winter climbing, and pushing some of those limits, and not doing it, and only climbing in the summer in shorts and T-shirts.

"It's kind of a point of pride you might say for a lot of climbers — that you can take care of yourself out there."

Still, Liston said, "Things happen."

Monday, February 19, 2007

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Fears over China military build-up...

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China's recent missile test has raised fears about the country's growing military capabilities.

The US and other nations all voiced their concerns about an arms race in space. There were also complaints from neighbours like Japan and Taiwan who worry about China's military power.

So why the fuss?

After all, the technology that China used to blast the ageing weather satellite out of the sky was not new: the US and the former Soviet Union had it 20 years ago.

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And Beijing says that it only has peaceful intentions in space.

'Wake-up call'

But the test clearly demonstrates that China can compete in space - even though it is still a long way behind the US.

And that is enough to get Washington worried.

Senior Republican Senator Jon Kyl has called the test a "wake-up call" that underlined the vulnerability of US security and communications satellites in space.

China has already had two successful manned space missions and is planning a third, with long-term plans to eventually put a Chinese astronaut on the moon.

But its military space programme is top secret, with only a few senior government and army officials in the loop. That partly explains the long silence in Beijing after the January test - not everyone knew what was going on.

Military build-up

Regardless of who knew what and when, the test has once again underlined the growing power of China's armed forces.

Chinese soldiers. File photo
China says it spent $36bn on its armed forces in 2006

China wants a powerful military to match its powerful economy.

Beijing may be a nuclear power with the world's largest army, but much of its military hardware is outdated. So it has been spending vast amounts of money to modernise its military.

Last year, China claimed to have spent $36bn (£18bn) on its armed forces. But the US and other observers believe that the actual figure may be two to three times that amount.

Beijing has defended this increase saying that its military spending is still only a fraction of the US defence budget.

China's bill comes to about 1.5% of its gross domestic product in 2006 - compared with US spending which is more than 6% of GDP.

'Lagging behind'

On top of that, China's military still lags well behind the US armed forces.

For example, the country's naval capability is still extremely limited, making it unable to project its power beyond coastal regions.

It still does not have an aircraft carrier, although one is now thought to be in development.

But that has not stopped the US and neighbours like Japan, India and Taiwan worrying about China's growing military strength.

Taiwan recently claimed that China now has 900 missiles pointing at the island.

Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province and has threatened to use force if the island declares formal independence.

'Responsible player'

China has been quick to try to easy fears in Washington and other capitals, saying that its rise is a peaceful one that does not present a threat to any other country.

Beijing claims it is a responsible global player, and has regularly contributed troops and personnel to UN peacekeeping missions.

But at the same time it continues to isolate Taiwan, and still deals with so-called rogue states like Iran and North Korea.

Relations with Japan have only just started to recover after years in the deep freeze, following disagreements over Tokyo's attitude towards its wartime past.

In Washington, there are plenty of hawks who talk of an arms race with China in the years ahead.

While that is the case, it is likely that China's military build-up will still be regarded with suspicion in many parts of the world, regardless of Beijing's protests to the contrary.

The Tiger ( Me ) in this Pig Year...

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In the east, the tiger symbolises power, passion and daring. This fearless and fiery fighter is revered as the sign that wards off the three main disasters of a household -- fire, thieves and ghosts. Restless and reckless by nature, they are always impatiently geared for action.

However, because of their suspicious nature, they are prone to waver and make decisions. While they are quick tempered, they are equally sincere, affectionate and generous. Blessed with a marvellous sense of humour, they love babies, animals, jazz or anything that spurs their imagination.

Are you a tiger personality? Read your forecast for 2007

This year will be about purpose and conviction for the determined tiger. You move away from all
that is false and walk into the light both personally as well as in your professional life.

Joint ventures/mergers may consume you as anxiety about the future grips you mid-year. However,
major breakthroughs in July allow for others changing their perceptions towards you and you
build goodwill.

Those involved in sales/marketing are ambitious and may decide to move to greener pastures in October. Domestic life is peaceful, loved ones on your side and you enjoy memorable moments during happy weekends. Love life is steady and harmonious.

Famous people: Charles de Gaulle, Groucho Marx, Queen Elizabeth II, Marilyn Monroe
Lucky days: Monday, Thursday
Lucky numbers: 7, 9

Year of the Pig : A Good Year for the Entertainment Industry! - Yay!!

Kwai Lan Chan, internationally known Master of Imperial Feng Shui, offers her annual tips on the occasion of this Chinese New year of the Fire Pig to improve your luck in the coming months.

Hollywood, CA (PRWeb) February 16, 2007 -- Kwai Lan Chan, president of ImperialFengShui.com, releases her annual advisory for the coming Chinese New Year, the year of the Fire Pig, complimentary for all her students world-wide and for those who may be seeking answers to perplexing problems that seem to be keeping them stalled on the path to prosperity. Her students and those who have attended her seminars attest to the facts that, by redirecting the energies of homes and offices, vast improvements have come about.

As Chinese all over the world prepare for the coming New Year which begins on the Gregorian calendar February 18, 2007, Master Kwai Lan Chan urges others to join in the processes of clearing the clutter away from home and office environments and thank their personal God for gifts received in the past year and anticipated for the coming year.

Master Kwai Lan Chan finds this time of year her busiest as worldwide students contact her for assistance in preparing for the New Year which heralds a change in the energies that affect every person on the planet. For example, last year, the Year of the Dog, Master Kwai Lan Chan noted that it would be a very good year for lottery wins and many students reported having done just that. The energies of the New Year are different, as any student of Feng Shui will attest, and, therefore, Master Kwai Lan Chan offers simple tips for the coming year.

Based on thousands of years of observation by the Chinese Feng Shui scholars, her predictions are centered on the energies of both the universe and immediate surroundings which affect life progress at any given time. For that reason, her annual tips are of a general nature and more specific assistance may be acquired by contacting her personally. In general terms, then, the following are characteristics that may be expected in the Year of the Fire Pig:


* This year contains many elements of water and metal indicating that we can expect a great deal of water and cold weather. Mud slides may occur where there is not enough vegetation to absorb the water.

* Romance is indicated but not commitment. It is strongly suggested that romantic attachments remain in just the close relationship stage until a more auspicious time for carrying it further into a commitment.

* Entertainment is stronger than usual in the Year of the Fire Pig and will be a good year for this industry.

* Travel and business are strongly indicated as positives in this New Year. However, the energy is not strong for investing. Real estate investing should be winners if caution is taken to insure a cushion of profit before the investment is made.

* Remodeling of houses this year should not be started in the northwest, southeast, or north east portions of the house. The work should begin in another location before proceeding.

* For people who were born in the Year of the Pig, there is a travel advisory to allow plenty of time to go from point A to point B. Rushing to get somewhere because you are late may result in traffic accidents.

* People born in the Year of the Pig should be extremely careful about lending money or gambling in any way.

* Year of the Pig birth sign people are advised to carry a Rabbit symbol with them. By seeing the Rabbit often and concentrating on that energy (known as chi in Chinese), any negative chi for the Pig birth sign people can be altered favorably.

* Women are advised to pay special attention to health issues this year. Although it is a good year for having children, pregnant women should be extra attentive to their over all health. Elderly women should seek treatment for any stomach issues. In general, any woman who is not feeling well is advised to have an immediate check-up.

* Water fountains placed in southwest, south, or southeast locations are auspicious for attracting wealth and this year.

* The theft star is in the north and can be countered by placing a blue carpet in that area.

* Northeast is the sickness location for the Year of the Fire Pig and should be counteracted by the placing of a calabash (see website http://www.KwaiLanChan.com for information on this.

* For romance, place 9 roses in the east. You may visit www.fengshuiromance.com
* The center point in your environment this year relates to sickness energy. A heavy metal ornament is recommended for this area.

For those who already understand the basics of Feng Shui including the placement of objects in the environment which redirect negative energies, care must be taken not to put those objects in the wrong place. The aim is to align the environmental energies with those of the individual. As the chi cycle is in constant change, those placements need to be reconsidered for the coming year. More specific information can be found by contacting Master Kwai Lan Chan personally. Master Kwai Lan Chan's new edition of her Ebook "Cracking The Feng Shui Code" with 38 years of auspicious tips is now available for purchase, please email her magicalfengshui @ gmail.com

What's your take on this?

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HONG KONG
- Sunday marks the start of the Chinese New Year and it's a lucky one for those starting out in life. But the rest of us are in for a rough ride. Expect epidemics, disasters and violence in much of the world.

"The Year of the Pig will not be very peaceful," said Hong Kong feng shui master Raymond Lo.

Feng shui is the ancient Chinese practice of trying to achieve health, harmony and prosperity by using specific dates, numbers, building design and the placement of objects.

The pig is one of 12 animals (or mythical animals in the case of the dragon) on the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, which follows the lunar calendar. According to Chinese astrology, people born in pig years are polite, honest, hardworking and loyal. They are also lucky, which is why many Chinese like to have babies in a pig year.

"Any children born in The Year of Pig will receive help from others throughout their lives," Lo said.

Ronald Reagan was a pig. So are
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Woody Allen and Elton John. Not to mention
Hillary Rodham Clinton.

But a word of caution to the presidential candidate.

The pig finished last in the race that determined the zodiac's order, behind the dog.

Other animals in the zodiac are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey and rooster. The zodiac runs on a 12-year cycle, and each year is associated with the five elements that Chinese mystics make up the universe: metal, water, wood, fire and earth.

Therein lies the trouble.

Pig years can be turbulent because they are dominated by fire and water, conflicting elements that tend to cause havoc, Lo said.

"Fire sitting on water is a symbol of conflict and skirmish," he said. "We'll also see more fire disasters and bombings."

He noted that the Russian AK-47 rifle, a weapon of choice among insurgents around the world, was invented during a pig year.

"So it will not be surprising to see more gunbattles, murder with guns and bombing attacks in 2007," he said.

Malaysian feng shui master Lillian Too agreed.

"I wish I could say that there won't be natural disasters, but I am afraid it could be as bad as last year," she said.

"There could be epidemics," she said. "I am very worried about bird flu. Eat healthy foods and take care of your health."

Few Chinese seemed to be worried about the warnings, though, as they prepared for their biggest bash of the year — Saturday's Lunar New Year's Eve — celebrated by one-fifth of the world's population.

It's an occasion to have family feasts, buy new clothes and exchange red envelopes stuffed with gift money.

Not everything about the future looks bleak.

Most soothsayers said the world economy will continue to boom, though they advise people to be cautious about their investments.

"Because of the water element in the Year of the Pig, the economy will continue to grow, which also paves the way for another round of interest rate hikes," said Peter So, a celebrity fortuneteller in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong soothsayer Alion Yeo is predicting
North Korea will undergo a power struggle that will bring leadership changes around May. Last year, the Year of the Dog, Yeo warned that the North Korean nuclear crisis would worsen.

The North conducted a nuclear test in October.

Singapore fortuneteller John Lok predicted the situation in
Iraq will not settle and
President Bush will have a bad year.

He also said the next president of France may be a woman — no surprise there since one of the main candidates is a woman, Segolene Royal of the Socialist party.

While the pig is beloved by the Chinese, the animal is offensive to Muslims, who consider it unclean. For that reason, Chinese New Year celebrations have to be handled with care in Malaysia and Indonesia, mainly Muslim countries with large ethnic Chinese minorities.

For the first time in its history, Indonesia introduced a special set of postal stamps to mark the Lunar New Year. But concerns over Muslim sensitivities led the postal service to drop plans to put a large pig on the stamps. It chose a Chinese temple instead.

"We took the middle path," said Hana Suryana, director of the Indonesian postal service.

Still, that was progress for a country where ethnic Chinese, who make up 5 percent of the population and have long faced discrimination, once were not allowed to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

"That has changed now, but we still feel uncomfortable celebrating the day in a large way because there are some people who cannot accept that Chinese culture is a part of Indonesian culture," said Jhony Tan, a trader in Jakarta's bustling Chinatown.

Yusri Mohammad, president of the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia, said he had no problem with the Chinese celebrating the pig year in his country. He said decorative pictures of pigs in shopping malls are fine — as long as Chinese don't start using live pigs or eat pork in public.

For me personally...any year will be as good as you make it!

Thursday, February 15, 2007

My son Adam's official Oscars review at Cinema Online!

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CO's forumers debate over this year's Oscar nominations

By Adam Ariffin

Who do they want to get this?
9 Feb - The annual event of the year- The Academy Awards is back! This time, the heat is on the 79th round.

The Academy Awards®, also affectionately called the Oscars®, is the oldest, best known, most influential, most prestigious, and most famous of film awards.

More...

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Our Faith Is One Year Old Today!!

"Happy Birthday" Dear Faith (Dalmatian) and may you have many many more wonderful days like this!! Just look at them!! From left to right: Chloe,Faith and of course Amber_Mae!

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Wednesday, February 07, 2007

I Laughed When I Saw These Photos!

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Must have been taken by my daughter - who else?!

Some Nice Photos of Our Faith!

Some photos of Faith I came across at puppy.com taken by somebody at the 2007 K9 carnival in Jan where our Amber_Mae won her two trophies!

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Sunday, February 04, 2007

The 79th Academy Awards


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Fans snap up Harry Potter deluxe edition!

NEW YORK - It's months away from being on bookshelves, but fans can't get enough of the seventh — and final —
Harry Potter book, no matter the cost.

Not only is "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows" topping the charts of Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com, a deluxe edition, priced at $65, is No. 2, outselling the "You" diet book, Sen. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) and an
Oprah Winfrey-endorsed memoir by
Sidney Poitier.

Publicist Kyle Good of Scholastic Inc., the U.S. publisher of
J.K. Rowling's fantasy series, said Saturday that a similar deluxe edition of Potter 6, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," had sold around 100,000 copies.

The deluxe "Half-Blood Prince," according to Scholastic, includes a 32-page insert of art and illustrations, a "custom-designed slipcase," and a "full-cloth case book, blind-stamped on front and back cover, foil stamped on spine."

Barnes & Noble.com shoppers can get a bit of a break on the deluxe "Deathly Hallows," which the superstore was offering for a mere $45.50. The regular edition has a list price of $34.99, although Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com were selling it for $18.89. Wal-Mart had it at $17.27.

Many stores said they don't make money on the Potter books, but hope instead that customers will make additional purchases.

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Rowling announced Thursday that "Deathly Hallows" would come out July 21. The previous six books have sold more than 325 million copies in 64 languages and broken countless sales records. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," published in 2005, had an announced first U.S. printing of 10.8 million copies and sold 6.9 million copies in its first 24 hours.

'Potter' star to appear on London stage..

daniel radcliffe racy ad.jpg This photo,supplied by Peter Thompson Associates, is a recent but undated photo of Daniel Radcliffe, the boy wizard from 'Harry Potter' movies, who opens on the London stage in the Tony Award-winning drama 'Equus' on Feb. 27, 2007, poses with Joanna Christie. Previews begin on Feb. 16. The 17-year-old will perform nude in one scene. Radcliffe has ignited a bit of a media firestorm by posing for racy promotional photos. (AP Photo/Peter Thompson Associates, Uli Weber) .

Bird Flu Discovered in the UK!

turkey farm in uk.jpg LONDON - Britain confirmed its first outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu in a domestic flock on Saturday, saying the virus has been detected on a farm owned by Europe's largest turkey producer where 2,500 turkeys died.

As a precaution all 159,000 turkeys will be slaughtered on the farm in Holton in Suffolk, about 130 miles northeast of London, said Britain's Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg. He said he expects the outbreak to be contained.

Television news footage showed piles of slaughtered birds being funneled into an open tractor trailer before being taken away for incineration.

Landeg said the virus was detected in only one of 22 turkey sheds on the farm, which is owned by Bernard Matthews PLC.

Workers have been offered antiviral drugs and are wearing protective clothing, said Health Protection Agency virologist Maria Zambon. She added that the virus does not transmit easily to humans and has not been found to be transmitted through food.

Experts stressed the situation did not pose a public health threat.

The is the first instance of H5N1 in Britain since a wild swan in Scotland was found to have the virus in March. Turkeys and chickens are more susceptible to H5N1 than wild birds, who can carry the disease over long distances without showing symptoms.

"This virus is going to be in bird populations for years to come and the way in which we'll deal with it is by implementing the well-rehearsed plan to stamp it out at source," Dr. David Nabarro, the U.N. influenza coordinator, told British Broadcasting Corp. television.

Bird flu has killed or prompted the culling of millions of birds worldwide since late 2003 when it first began ravaging Asian poultry stocks. It has killed at least 164 people worldwide, but remains difficult for humans to catch. Experts fear it could mutate into a form that spreads easily among people, potentially sparking a global pandemic. So far, most human cases have been traced to contact with infected birds.