Burj Dubai, is set to officially open on December 2, to coincide with the country's National Day after a 3 months delay.
Burj Dubai tower prices have dropped as much as 50%, reported The National. UK-based property consultants Sherwoods said prices in the development, excluding the tower, had fallen from an average of US$952 per square foot to US$828. Brokers said downtown Burj Dubai had seen some of the biggest price drops in Dubai because prices had previously risen so sharply.
Speculation have been rife about the final height of the 160-floor Burj Dubai, which reportedly stands at 818 metres.
The total bill for the Burj Dubai project is about US$4.1 billion.
Seems like Dubai is the place to be with soccer star David Beckham, recent rumors making rounds that he is all set to own his apartment in the Burj Dubai tower. There are 144 Armani-designed apartments in the tower and the cost of one of them is said to be US$7.5 million.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Then, and Now
The Douglas DC-3 first passenger plane and flight was in 1935. Early U.S. airlines like United, American, TWA and Eastern ordered over 400 DC-3. Capacity 28 passengers.
The Airbus A380 seat 525 passengers in 3-class layout.
Motorola DynaTAC 8000X is the first commercial handheld mobile phone in 1983 boasting 60 minutes talk time on a 10-hour charge. The Nokia E63 today has a talk time of 4 hours.
In Hongkong it was known as tai kor tai, probably referring to the triad bosses who will lose face if seen without one.
The first car manufacturers in the world were French:
Panhard & Levassor (1889) and Peugeot (1891) with output of 24 hp.
The new Peugeot 207 1.6l has 175 hp.
The first practical use of television was in Germany in 1929.
Then screen size was 12" standard. Today 42" screen is the rage.
IBM introduced in 1986 a personal computer with 256k RAM, Floppy Disk Drive and DOS operating system.
In the 1970s the 8 track car stereo system was the rage. No decent car owners will be seen without one.
Today's car stereo boast of iPod compatibilty beside radio/CD/MP3.
In the 1980s self-respecting adults would be out of place without a pager, also called a beeper. When beeped, the holder would head to a nearest public phone to return the call. That was convenience!
Today primary school students would be out of place without a 3G phone equipped with camera.
The legendary Walkman was such a hit then, equivalent to the iPod, playing on cassett with probably twenty songs.
It was not so long ago during the internet explosion in 1997 the first digital camera to hit the market was the Kodak DC210 boasting of 1.3 mega pixel and cost a princely sum of $1,300.
The Airbus A380 seat 525 passengers in 3-class layout.
Motorola DynaTAC 8000X is the first commercial handheld mobile phone in 1983 boasting 60 minutes talk time on a 10-hour charge. The Nokia E63 today has a talk time of 4 hours.
In Hongkong it was known as tai kor tai, probably referring to the triad bosses who will lose face if seen without one.
The first car manufacturers in the world were French:
Panhard & Levassor (1889) and Peugeot (1891) with output of 24 hp.
The new Peugeot 207 1.6l has 175 hp.
The first practical use of television was in Germany in 1929.
Then screen size was 12" standard. Today 42" screen is the rage.
IBM introduced in 1986 a personal computer with 256k RAM, Floppy Disk Drive and DOS operating system.
In the 1970s the 8 track car stereo system was the rage. No decent car owners will be seen without one.
Today's car stereo boast of iPod compatibilty beside radio/CD/MP3.
In the 1980s self-respecting adults would be out of place without a pager, also called a beeper. When beeped, the holder would head to a nearest public phone to return the call. That was convenience!Today primary school students would be out of place without a 3G phone equipped with camera.
The legendary Walkman was such a hit then, equivalent to the iPod, playing on cassett with probably twenty songs.
It was not so long ago during the internet explosion in 1997 the first digital camera to hit the market was the Kodak DC210 boasting of 1.3 mega pixel and cost a princely sum of $1,300.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
A Timely Reminder
Retrenchments are now so common that salaried people are living day to day, not knowing what tomorrow bring.
So this mobile message bring a stark reminder.
Simply translated - if you don't work hard today, you will be working hard looking for a new job tomorrow.
So this mobile message bring a stark reminder.
Simply translated - if you don't work hard today, you will be working hard looking for a new job tomorrow.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Economy Watch
Non Oil Domestic Export.
NODX 2009 - Year on Year
-20.8 percent in December 2008 - S$10.47 billion
-34.8 percent in January 2009 - S$10.04 billion
-23.8 percent in February 2009 - S$12.87 billion
-17.3 percent in March 2009 - S$11.88 billion
-19.2 per cent in April 2009 - S$11.32 billion
-12.1 per cent in May 2009 - S$10.94 billion
-11.0 per cent in June 2009 - S$11.38 billion
- 8.5 per cent in July 2009 - S$12.08 billion
- 7.1 per cent in August 2009 - S$12.1 billion
To date this is the 16th straight month of decline of export, an indicator for economic activity, since manufacturing for export makes up a substantial chunk of the economy.
The shrinkage look like slowing down though.
This report may indicates that recovery is anywhere near.
NODX 2009 - Year on Year
-20.8 percent in December 2008 - S$10.47 billion
-34.8 percent in January 2009 - S$10.04 billion
-23.8 percent in February 2009 - S$12.87 billion
-17.3 percent in March 2009 - S$11.88 billion
-19.2 per cent in April 2009 - S$11.32 billion
-12.1 per cent in May 2009 - S$10.94 billion
-11.0 per cent in June 2009 - S$11.38 billion
- 8.5 per cent in July 2009 - S$12.08 billion
- 7.1 per cent in August 2009 - S$12.1 billion
To date this is the 16th straight month of decline of export, an indicator for economic activity, since manufacturing for export makes up a substantial chunk of the economy.
The shrinkage look like slowing down though.
This report may indicates that recovery is anywhere near.
Monday, August 24, 2009
7th Month
A ministerial meeting on haze pollution in Southeast Asia on 19 August 2009 agreed to ban all open burning in the region.
This ban comes into effect and coincide with the chinese 7th month festival. Burning of joss and "hell" money is traditionally carried out throughout the month. So far the ban seem to concentrate on the open burning activities mainly in Indonesia.
Why do chinese burn hell notes or currency ?
The word "hell" is said to be introduced to the Chinese by Christian missionaries who told the Chinese that non-Christians go to "hell" when they die. Buddhist and Taoist considered hell the initial destination of the soul of the dead regardless of his or her virtue during life.
So to ensure that the deceased has lots of good things in their afterlife, joss paper which include credit cards, houses, cars, servants are burned. Hell money notes are known for their outrageous denominations ranging from $10,000 to $5,000,000,000.
In 2006, China ban at least the more extreme forms of joss paper, such as MP3 players, planes, boats and even paper condoms, paper prostitutes and well, paper Viagra.
But true Buddhism strongly discouraged the practice of burning joss paper to the deceased as they have no use for material possessions upon reaching either a heaven or hell realm.
This ban comes into effect and coincide with the chinese 7th month festival. Burning of joss and "hell" money is traditionally carried out throughout the month. So far the ban seem to concentrate on the open burning activities mainly in Indonesia.
Why do chinese burn hell notes or currency ?
The word "hell" is said to be introduced to the Chinese by Christian missionaries who told the Chinese that non-Christians go to "hell" when they die. Buddhist and Taoist considered hell the initial destination of the soul of the dead regardless of his or her virtue during life.
So to ensure that the deceased has lots of good things in their afterlife, joss paper which include credit cards, houses, cars, servants are burned. Hell money notes are known for their outrageous denominations ranging from $10,000 to $5,000,000,000.
In 2006, China ban at least the more extreme forms of joss paper, such as MP3 players, planes, boats and even paper condoms, paper prostitutes and well, paper Viagra.
But true Buddhism strongly discouraged the practice of burning joss paper to the deceased as they have no use for material possessions upon reaching either a heaven or hell realm.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Perfect Disasters
Is it imagination or is it real that natural disasters lately are more frequent, more destructive and more deadlier ?
Together with the internet and live TV feeds, the severity of these extreme weather events are dramatised, something not seen in this lifetime.
The 2004 tsunami killed more than 200,000 people lining the India Ocean. Tsunami of such a scale has not been recorded since modern times.
In 2005 hurricane Katrina incapacitated New Orleans, killing 1800 residents, something beyond the wildest imagination happening to the jazz capital of the world. Katrina was described as the most destructive hurricane ever to make landfall.
And the 2008 Sichuan earthquake flattened thousands of buildings and killed 70,000 people mostly children.
Nargis was a severe tropical cyclone that caused the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Myanmar.
The cyclone made landfall on May 2, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 146,000 deaths with thousands more people still missing.
This year 2009 saw typhoon Morakot sweeping through Taiwan burying hillside villages as it leaves a trail of destruction.
Beside loss of lives, the economic losses are expected to to hit US$65 billion annually. As the climate changes, more extreme weather events can be expected. And all we can do is wait. There is absolutely nothing human beings can do to prevent them from happening.
Together with the internet and live TV feeds, the severity of these extreme weather events are dramatised, something not seen in this lifetime.
The 2004 tsunami killed more than 200,000 people lining the India Ocean. Tsunami of such a scale has not been recorded since modern times.
In 2005 hurricane Katrina incapacitated New Orleans, killing 1800 residents, something beyond the wildest imagination happening to the jazz capital of the world. Katrina was described as the most destructive hurricane ever to make landfall.
And the 2008 Sichuan earthquake flattened thousands of buildings and killed 70,000 people mostly children.
Nargis was a severe tropical cyclone that caused the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Myanmar.The cyclone made landfall on May 2, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 146,000 deaths with thousands more people still missing.
This year 2009 saw typhoon Morakot sweeping through Taiwan burying hillside villages as it leaves a trail of destruction.Beside loss of lives, the economic losses are expected to to hit US$65 billion annually. As the climate changes, more extreme weather events can be expected. And all we can do is wait. There is absolutely nothing human beings can do to prevent them from happening.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Food as Medicine
This interesting article is taken off the www and should make healthy reading.
Slice a mushroom in half and it resembles the shape of the human ear. And guess what? Adding it to your cooking could actually improve your hearing. That’s because mushrooms are one of the few foods in our diet that contain vitamin D. This particular vitamin is important for healthy bones, even the tiny ones in the ear that transmit sound to the brain.
Close-up, the tiny green tips on a broccoli head look like hundreds of cancer cells. Now scientists know this disease-busting veg can play a crucial role in preventing the disease. Last year, a team of researchers at the US National Cancer Institute found just a weekly serving of broccoli was enough to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 45 per cent. In Britain, prostate cancer kills one man every hour.
Ginger, commonly sold in supermarkets,often looks just like the stomach. So it’s interesting that one of its biggest benefits is aiding digestion. The Chinese have been using it for over 2,000 years to calm the stomach and cure nausea, while it is also a popular remedy for motion sickness. But the benefits could go much further. Tests on mice at the University of Minnesota found injecting the chemical that gives ginger its flavour slowed down the growth rate of bowel tumours.
Cheese is not just good for your bones, it even resembles their internal structure. And like most cheeses, it is a rich source of calcium, a vital ingredient for strong bones and reducing the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Together with another mineral called phosphate, it provides the main strength in bones but also helps to ‘power’ muscles.Getting enough calcium in the diet during childhood is crucial for strong bones. A study at Columbia University in New York showed teens who increased calcium intake from 800mg a day to 1200mg – equal to an extra two slices of cheddar - boosted their bone density by six per cent.
Taugay bears an uncanny resemblance to the images we see of ‘swimming’ sperm trying to fertilise an egg. And research from the US suggests they could play an important part in boosting male fertility. A study at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio showed that to make healthy sperm in large quantities, the body needs a good supply of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that protects cells against damage by harmful molecules called free radicals. Just half a cup of bean sprouts provides16 per cent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C for a man. It’s not just dad but baby too who could benefit. Bean sprouts are packed with folate, a vitamin that prevents neural tube defects,where the baby is born with a damaged brain or spine.
OUR lungs are made up of branches of ever-smaller airways that finish up with tiny bunches of tissue called alveoli. These structures, which resemble bunches of grapes, allow oxygen to pass from the lungs to the blood stream.One reason that very premature babies struggle to survive is that these alveoli do not begin to form until week 23 or 24 of pregnancy. A diet high in fresh fruit,such as grapes, has been shown to reduce the risk of lung cancer and emphysema.Grape seeds also contain a chemical called proanthocyanidin, which appears to reduce the severity of asthma triggered by allergy.
A TOMATO is red and usually has four chambers, just like our heart. Tomatoes are also a great source of lycopene, a plant chemical that reduces the risk of heart disease and several cancers.The Women’s Health Study — an American research programme which tracks the health of 40,000 women — found women with the highest blood levels of lycopene had 30 per cent less heart disease than women who had very little lycopene. Lab experiments have also shown that lycopene helps counter the effect of unhealthy LDL cholesterol. One Canadian study, published in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine, said there was “convincing evidence’ that lycopene prevented coronary heart disease.
THE gnarled folds of a walnut mimic the appearance of a human brain - and provide a clue to the benefits.
Walnuts are the only nuts which contain significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. They may also help head off dementia. An American study found that walnut extract broke down the protein-based plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at Tufts University in Boston found walnuts reversed some signs of brain ageing in rats.
Slice a mushroom in half and it resembles the shape of the human ear. And guess what? Adding it to your cooking could actually improve your hearing. That’s because mushrooms are one of the few foods in our diet that contain vitamin D. This particular vitamin is important for healthy bones, even the tiny ones in the ear that transmit sound to the brain.
Close-up, the tiny green tips on a broccoli head look like hundreds of cancer cells. Now scientists know this disease-busting veg can play a crucial role in preventing the disease. Last year, a team of researchers at the US National Cancer Institute found just a weekly serving of broccoli was enough to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 45 per cent. In Britain, prostate cancer kills one man every hour.
Ginger, commonly sold in supermarkets,often looks just like the stomach. So it’s interesting that one of its biggest benefits is aiding digestion. The Chinese have been using it for over 2,000 years to calm the stomach and cure nausea, while it is also a popular remedy for motion sickness. But the benefits could go much further. Tests on mice at the University of Minnesota found injecting the chemical that gives ginger its flavour slowed down the growth rate of bowel tumours.
Cheese is not just good for your bones, it even resembles their internal structure. And like most cheeses, it is a rich source of calcium, a vital ingredient for strong bones and reducing the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Together with another mineral called phosphate, it provides the main strength in bones but also helps to ‘power’ muscles.Getting enough calcium in the diet during childhood is crucial for strong bones. A study at Columbia University in New York showed teens who increased calcium intake from 800mg a day to 1200mg – equal to an extra two slices of cheddar - boosted their bone density by six per cent.
Taugay bears an uncanny resemblance to the images we see of ‘swimming’ sperm trying to fertilise an egg. And research from the US suggests they could play an important part in boosting male fertility. A study at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio showed that to make healthy sperm in large quantities, the body needs a good supply of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that protects cells against damage by harmful molecules called free radicals. Just half a cup of bean sprouts provides16 per cent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C for a man. It’s not just dad but baby too who could benefit. Bean sprouts are packed with folate, a vitamin that prevents neural tube defects,where the baby is born with a damaged brain or spine.
OUR lungs are made up of branches of ever-smaller airways that finish up with tiny bunches of tissue called alveoli. These structures, which resemble bunches of grapes, allow oxygen to pass from the lungs to the blood stream.One reason that very premature babies struggle to survive is that these alveoli do not begin to form until week 23 or 24 of pregnancy. A diet high in fresh fruit,such as grapes, has been shown to reduce the risk of lung cancer and emphysema.Grape seeds also contain a chemical called proanthocyanidin, which appears to reduce the severity of asthma triggered by allergy.
A TOMATO is red and usually has four chambers, just like our heart. Tomatoes are also a great source of lycopene, a plant chemical that reduces the risk of heart disease and several cancers.The Women’s Health Study — an American research programme which tracks the health of 40,000 women — found women with the highest blood levels of lycopene had 30 per cent less heart disease than women who had very little lycopene. Lab experiments have also shown that lycopene helps counter the effect of unhealthy LDL cholesterol. One Canadian study, published in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine, said there was “convincing evidence’ that lycopene prevented coronary heart disease.
THE gnarled folds of a walnut mimic the appearance of a human brain - and provide a clue to the benefits.
Walnuts are the only nuts which contain significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. They may also help head off dementia. An American study found that walnut extract broke down the protein-based plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at Tufts University in Boston found walnuts reversed some signs of brain ageing in rats.
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