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Puss in the Boots or Puss in Boots

Salam , Hello and Greetings to all.

Holiday is the most suitable time for me to spend time with family especially with my children. As this moment I have not make any plans yet of going for a trip either sightseeing or shopping. But just to relax and spend quality time with my girls, I decided to take them to a movie. My wife and our two sons did not come along. My 8 year old son prefers to stay home so that he can spend his time playing games in the net without having to share with his sisters. My wife had to take care of my 2 month old son.

There are a few good movies screening right now. I let my girls choose the movies they want to watch. They came to a choice between The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn and Puss in Boots. Since I haven’t watched any of the Twilight series, we decided to choose Puss in Boots. Another reason or I should say the main reason that we choose Puss in Boots is because my 2^nd daughter is a big fan of Lady Gaga and she told that her song is in the movie.

 

On the way to the cinema, I was arguing with my daughters about the title of the movie. I said that it should be Puss in the Boots rather than Puss in Boots.  The movie was in 3D and the ticket was quite expensive (RM18), so for 3 of us, it summed up to RM54. (for about 90 minutes of entertainment) . When the movie started, then only I realized that the title was correct.

Puss in Boots means Puss the cat wears boots as in Men in Black where the men wore black. Logically this cannot be true because how can a cat walk wearing boots but this is a cartoon character in which the cat walks on 2 legs and uses the other 2 to fight using a sword.

I am not much of a movie critic therefore you may not have to agree with my view about the movie. In my view, the combination of Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots) and Salma Hayek (Kitty Soft Paws) as the voices of the two main characters in the movie is excellent.  The Spanish accent from the two suits the animated character. The 3D animation was great and the combinations of the nursery rhyme characters such as Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Jack the Beanstalk, Golden Goose and a few others make it lively. It is not a really funny movie but it has a story and message. Since it is an animated cartoon movie, you have to forget about the law of physics or logic.  My view of the movie, it is a good family entertainment and I gave the movie a score of 8.2 out of 10.

At the end, the much awaited moment is the song Americano by Lady Gaga played during the credits. We tried to wait for the whole song to end but we were asked to leave because the crew had to clean up before the next show.

That’s it for now………..thank you for spending your time reading.

Have a pleasant day.

About the Moon , Reds and El Clasico

Salam , Hello and Greetings to all.

Last night was a memorable night for me. I was looking forward for it since last few days. It was a night fill with excitement from dusk till dawn.  It started off with the lunar eclipse which is the second one in 2011 ( I missed the June 15^th ). I had to rush home before 7 pm to witness it from the beginning. As my preparation for the lunar eclipse, I browse through the internet to get some information about it. Here is some information that I would like to share with.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes behind the Earth so that the Earth blocks the Sun's rays from striking the Moon. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, a lunar eclipse can only occur the night of a full moon. The type and length of an eclipse depend upon the Moon's location relative to its orbital nodes. 

Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a certain relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of the Earth. A lunar eclipse lasts for a few hours, whereas a total solar eclipse lasts for only a few minutes at any given place, due to the smaller size of the moon's shadow.

The shadow of the Earth can be divided into two distinctive parts: the umbrapenumbra. Within the umbra, there is no direct solar radiation. However, as a result of the Sun’s large angular size, solar illumination is only partially blocked in the outer portion of the Earth’s shadow, which is given the name penumbra. and

The full moon passed right through the Earth’s dark umbra shadow last night to showcase a total eclipse of the moon for 51 minutes. Before and after totality, the moon was partially eclipsed for about one hour and 20 minutes, so the whole lunar eclipse from start to finish is about three and one-half hours.

In Malaysia we saw the entire lunar eclipse at these following times:

Partial eclipse begins: 7:46 pm
Total eclipse begins: 9:06 pm
Greatest eclipse: 9:32 pm
Total eclipse ends: 9:57 pm
Partial eclipse ends: 11:18 pm

The Moon does not completely disappear as it passes through the umbra because of the refraction of sunlight by the Earth’s atmosphere into the shadow cone; if the Earth had no atmosphere, the Moon would be completely dark during an eclipse. When it was at total eclipse, the moon appeared to be in coppery-red. The red coloring arises because sunlight reaching the Moon must pass through a long and dense layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, where it is scattered. Shorter wavelengths are more likely to be scattered by the air molecules and the small particles, and so by the time the light has passed through the atmosphere, the longer wavelengths dominate. This resulting light we perceive as red.

I took some pictures during the eclipse using my Canon EOS 600D. I am not a professional photographer and I have never taken any pictures of the moon before this. Some of the pictures that I took are at the bottom of this post. By the end of it, my whole family enjoyed witnessing the eclipse.

Did I mention red somewhere just now? The next excitement of the night is watching the live telecast of BPL game between Liverpool and QPR. The game started at 11 pm and coincidentally almost the same time after the eclipse. Liverpool went into the game not on a high note after losing at Craven Cottage last week.  3 key midfield players Gerrard , Lucas and Spearing were not available and also the Reds are win less in Anfield in the last 4 games. They also are win less against the newly promoted side so far. So the Reds have to win in order to be in contention with the other top 6 teams.

As usual, the Reds dominated the entire game with more than 60% possession and have more than 20 shots on goal. Suarez was excellent, Maxi and Kuyt worked hard while Adams and Henderson controlled in the middle. It was stalemate at the half. Liverpool took the lead early in second half through Suarez header from Adams pin point cross. Liverpool piled on the pressure but Rangers defense and particularly the keeper Cerny kept the score line. In the end the game ended with the Reds wining 1-0. With Newcastle losing, Liverpool remained at 6^th place in the standing. The game plus post game show ended around 1.30 am and I went to bed but I set my alarm at 5 am. I had to wake up to watch the much anticipated game, the El Clasico.  

 

El Clásico (English: The Classic, Catalan: El Clàssic), also known as El derbi Español, is the name given in football to a match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. It is contested twice a year in the Spanish La Liga competition, and more often if the clubs meet in other competitions. Other than the UEFA Champions League Final, it is the most followed club football match in the world, watched by hundreds of millions of people.

 

The rivalry comes about as Madrid and Barcelona are the two largest cities in Spain, and the two clubs are two of the richest, most successful and influential football clubs in the world. FC Barcelona has 77 official trophies and Real Madrid 74. Together with Athletic Bilbao, these are the only three clubs in La Liga to have never lost top-flight status. They are sometimes identified with opposing political positions, with Real Madrid viewed as representing Spanish nationalism, and Barcelona viewed as representing Catalan nationalism. The Rivalry is argued by many to be the biggest in world football.

This is the seventh El Clasico in 2011 and this time the game was played in Santiago Bernabéu, and as expected it was filled with excitement. Real took the lead just 22 seconds in to the game through Benzema then Barca leveled the score through Sanchez on the half hour mark. Two more goals from Barca in the second half secured 3-1 win. The victory sends Barcelona level on points with Jose Mourinho's men and to the top of the Liga table due to their superior head-to-head record against Madrid, who have a game in hand.

 As I mentioned earlier, all these three events started from dusk and ended at dawn. I supposed these are worthy for me to write. Hope you enjoyed sharing my view.

That’s all for now…..thank you for spending your time reading

Have a pleasant day.

December Feast

Salam , Hello and Greetings to all.

It has been quite a while since I last wrote. It’s now in the month of December, and when I think about December, there are few things that come to my thoughts…. School holidays, Exams, Heavy rain, Flood, Shopping, Sightseeing and of course Kenduri (it’s a Malay word meaning Feast)

It’s a custom in Malay culture to have a kenduri (Feast) as a form of celebration, thanksgiving or gratitude for certain occasion or ceremony. In the month of December, feasts are for either wedding ceremony or circumcision ceremony.

Circumcision….what is that? Never mention that word to a 6 - 12 year old boy. It’s a nasty thought that has been in the back of their mind through their childhood. It’s due to the ignorance and naivety of circumcision. The notion of having their precious body part to be cut off really frightens them.

Let me try to write a bit on that. I’ve search through the net on some of the facts about circumcision and I want to share it with you. Here goes… This word has two parts; circum which means around and cision which is short for incision, meaning to cut. Circumcision is a surgical procedure that involves partial or complete removal of the foreskin of the penis. The first evidence of circumcision comes from early Egyptian wall paintings that are more than 5000 years old. All boys are born with a sleeve of skin called the foreskin covering the head of their penis which is an acorn shaped part named the glans. The foreskin hides the glans for most of the time so it can't be seen. When a penis is circumcised, the foreskin is cut off, so the glans is always seen. Normally the foreskin can be pulled back for a few moments for washing and urination

Worldwide, people circumcise their boys to show they belong to a particular religion, race or tribe. Boys in the modern countries, circumcise because it's cleaner and prevents or cures health problems. It's neat and tidy without loose skin over the end and it helps you to pee better. Reasons for circumcision fall into three broad groups:  for an immediate medical indication, to prevent future disease and as an act of religious dedication.

In the teaching of Muslims, circumcision is exercised because the cleanliness and purity is very important as part of the ritual for prayers.  The space under the foreskin around the glans is naturally a bit wet because after peeing with the foreskin forward, some pee creeps back there and become trapped under the foreskin. All this soon makes it smell and if it is left unwashed, it can start an infection.

Circumcision for a Muslim is done before the boy reaches puberty. It is common in Malaysia for boys in the age of 8 – 12 to be circumcised in December. This is because of the long school holiday which is about 6-7 weeks. The wound due to the circumcision can heal between 3-4 weeks.

In an effort to persuade the kids, the parents would promise gifts and make a feast. People who come will contribute to these boys.  The trend now is that, circumcision ceremony is held in a group.  The more, the merrier. This is to make the boys feel less frighten and have more confident. Such gatherings help create a cheerful atmosphere.

As for me, I have 2 boys, an 8 year old and a 2 month old. I’ve started to slowly preparing my 8 year old son for it. I always take him to the circumcision ceremony feast and trying to persuade him in doing it. I don’t know yet what to get (bribe) him but by the age of 10 I hope I can get him circumcised.

That’s it for now………..thank you for spending your time reading.

Have a pleasant day.

The Agony of Defeat, The Joy of Victory and A Hard fought Draw

Salam , Hello and Greetings to all,

I am an avid sport fan and I subscribed to a satellite television that have more than 10 sports channel.  Basically I can watch 24/7 sports program. Last night I spent my time watching 3 live action programs.  

The first one is our national soccer team playing in qualification for the London Olympic against Bahrain. This is the team third game ( they lost their previous two against Japan and Syria). This game is considered to be a do or die mission. Losing this game means logically they are out of contention for the Olympics. The team is in a high with the fans after winning the gold medal in SEA Games about a week ago in Indonesia but the paid a price for that. Most of the regulars are injured or still nursing from injury sustained from the tournament. Some of them still haven’t recovered completely from the fatigue after having to play in the grueling tournament. (Hope I am not making excuses for them).

The team known as Harimau Muda ( Young Tigers) started out fiercely and dominate the game. They lead 1-0 in the first half and then by 67th minute they doubled the score and also Bahrain is reduced to `10 men after a player was sent off. I am so confident that our 3 point is secured. 

Earlier I had promised my children that I am going to treat them with KFC Krusher, so all of us including my wife and the kids (including our new born baby) went out to get them while the game is on and we were leading 2-0.  We enjoyed our Krusher and  love all the flavours. I can taste all of them since each of my children choose different flavours.

Enough about the Krusher….now back to the game. When I got home I asked my dad the final score of the game. To my surprised, I was told that Harimau Muda lost 3-2. Bahrain had scored 3 goals in a span of 6 minutes. With the lost, our dream of qualifying for the Olympic is shattered.

Sincerely I am not upset with the result nor should blame them. They have done our nation proud by winning the SEA games Gold medal and have given hope that someday our national team will rise up to a respectable standard. I hope the stay together as a team, train harder and gain valuable experience and eventually will make the nation proud of their achievement.

The next 2 sport actions that I watched was almost simultaneous – F1 Brazilian Grand Prix and BPL match Liverpool vs Man. City.  I had to switch from one channel to another to watch them both. ( most of the time on the BPL match ). Brazilian GP is the final circuit of the season but it lacks the suspense and climax since the overall champion Sebastian Vettel was crowned few races ago. The race was won by Mark Webber , Vettel’s Red Bull team mate , his first win this year even though he was on podium 10 times.  In this GP , the fight is for 2^nd place overall between Webber , Button and Alonso. The highlight of the Brazilian Grand Prix is the record breaking 15^th pole position set by Vettel. Previously it was held by Nigel Mansell with 14 pole position in a season.

The match between Liverpool and Man. City was very exciting. I really enjoyed watching. The undefeated league leaders wounded after losing their UCL match travel to Anfield fortress to play against the high flying Reds. At half time it was square 1-1. Both team played a very entertaining game. The time of possession was quite even 51%-49% in favour of the Reds but the shots-on-goal was dominated by the Reds. City managed to hold on with the score line due to the brilliance goalkeeping of their England No 1 Joe Hart. He made a spectacular save from a goal bound header by Caroll in the dying minutes of the game. The match ended with a 1-1 draw.

That’s all for now….thank you for spending your time reading.

Have a pleasant day.

The Hijrah Calendar

Salam , Hello and Greetings to all.

Here is another interesting information that I would like to share. Since we are still in the midst of celebrating the Islamic New Year , I found an interesting info about the origin of the Islamic calender.

Muslims measure the passage of time using the Islamic (Hijrah) calendar. This calendar has twelve lunar months, the beginnings and endings of which are determined by the sighting of the crescent moon.

Years are counted since the Hijrah, which is when the Prophet Muhammad and is fellow Muslims (known as Sahabah, the Companions)migrated from Mecca to Madinah (approximately July 622 CE). The emigration took place after thirteen years of persecutions by the disbelievers of Makkah.  By the command of God, the Prophet left the city with his companion Abu Bakr Siddique (R.A.) and escaped a death threat by the disbelievers. The event marks the beginning of a second phase of the Islamic movement. It is the phase when Madinah became the center of an Islamic state.

The Islamic calendar was first introduced by the close companion of the Prophet, 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab. During his leadership of the Muslim community, in approximately 638 CE, he consulted with his advisors in order to come to a decision regarding the various dating systems used at that time. It was agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the Hijrah, since it was an important turning point for the Muslim community.

The Islamic year has twelve months that are based on a lunar cycle.

Islamic months begin at sunset of the first day, the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted. The lunar year is approximately 354 days long, so the months rotate backward through the seasons and are not fixed to the Gregorian calendar.

The names of the twelve Islamic months are as follows:

1. Muharram
2. Safar
3. Rabiul-Awwal
4. Rabi-uthani
5. Jumadi-ul-Awwal
6. Jumadi-uthani
7. Rajab
8. Sha'ban
9. Ramadan
10. Shawwal
11. Dhil-Q'ada
12. Dhil-Hijja 

I know my birth date of the Gregorian calendar , but I don't know the date based on Islamic Calendar. I'll find it out  soon and also for my wife and my three children. I did take note of the date my new baby boy was born based on Islamic Calender since it was about 7 weeks ago. 

That's all for now.....thank you for spending your time reading.

Have a pleasant day.