1. Milford Road, New Zealand
Not to be confused with the famous Milford Track trekking route, the Milford Road State Highway 94 passes through the Southern Alps of New Zealand’s South Island.
Photo: macronix
2. Stelvio Pass, Italy
48 hairpin turns up to a 2757m (9045ft) pass in the Italian Alps, and Top Gear’s pick for “greatest driving road in the world.”
Photo: Damian Morys Foto
3. Great Ocean Road, Australia
This coastal road in Victoria runs for 241km, between Torquay and Warrnambool. The car-less might consider the Great Ocean Walk as an alternative.
Photo: Stas Kulesh
4. Chalus Road, Iran
Tehran is connected to the northern city of Chalus via this road through the Alborz Mountains. Check this site for more images.
Photo: ninara
5. Cabot Trail, Canada
Wrapping around northern Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, the Cabot Trail is mountainous and windy with near-constant ocean views. I recommend biking it.
Photo: kennymatic
6. I-70 at Glenwood Canyon, Colorado
The Colorado River, of Grand Canyon fame, carved this canyon billions of years ago. The U.S. government built the 12-mile, $490 million interstate route through it, which was only completed in 1992.
Photo: Payton Chung
7. Millau Bridge, France
Southern France’s Millau Bridge is the tallest in the world — taller, actually, than the Eiffel Tower.
Photo: tibchris
8. Karakoram Highway, Pakistan
The “highest paved international road in the world” connects Pakistan with Xinjiang, China. It is currently closed at the Hunza Valley due to a massive landslide.
Photo: Umair Mohsin
9. Mountain road, Snowdonia, Wales
Mountainous northern Wales is traversed by many of these ancient, narrow, stone-walled roads. I’ve experienced the challenge of navigating them at night. With oncoming traffic. Car renters beware.
Photo: Richard0
10. Ice Highway, Canada
Winter means greater accessibility in northern Canada. This frozen road runs up the Northwest Territories.
Photo: madmack66
11. Chapman’s Peak Drive, South Africa
Another great coastal road, this one just 15 miles south of Cape Town.
Photo: Raveesh Vyas
12. Mountain road, central Peru
Most mountain pass roads in Peru qualify as “spectacular.” This one runs north from the Sacred Valley town of Ollantaytambo and is part of the car route to Machu Picchu.
Photo: ThiagoJ
13. Liwa, UAE
Roads through the desert oasis of Liwa, Abu Dhabi, stretch long.
Photo: Luca Assen
14. Going-to-the- Sun Road, Montana
The only route through Glacier National Park was featured in the opening scenes of “The Shining.”
Photo: Colin Gregory Palmer
15. Mývatn, Iceland
Mývatn is a volcanically active region in northern Iceland. This road will take you there.
Photo: Francesco_G
16. Seven Mile Bridge, Florida Keys
U.S. Highway 1 runs for miles over the water, connecting the Florida Keys to the mainland. It includes this long span of bridge.
Photo: milan.boers
17. Gotthard Pass, Switzerland
Traveling north from Italy into Switzerland, you’ll come to Gotthard Pass, which you can cross on either the new, straightforward road, or the old roller coaster above. My money’s on the latter.
Photo: Mikael Miettinen
18. Tichka Pass, Morocco
I recently drove over the 2260m Tichka Pass on my way to Zagora to ride a camel. The pass was cooler. No offense, camel.
Photo: cliffwilliams
19. Pacific Coast Highway, California
This is the only road getting reprised from the original post. It seems to deserve it.
Photo: tibchris
20. Dingle Peninsula, Ireland
The roads of western Ireland are narrow, flanked by green, and sometimes charmed.
Photo: ktylerconk
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
World's Most Spectacular Roads
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The cow wash: How an automatic brushing machine can improve milk production
Looking your best can sometimes be hard work. But for this cow, it would appear that having a brush-up is one of life's pleasures.
The animal is enjoying a spell in the cow wash, which, according to its designers DeLaval, is welcome news for farmers as well.
Udderly amazing: A cow closes its eyes and enjoys the brushing sensation created by the new machine
The cow wash boosts milk production by improving the animal's blood circulation and stopping the spread of disease, says the company.
The company has already sold 30,000 cow washes in its native Sweden, and is now bringing the product to the UK.
A spokesman said the cows enjoy the sensation of being brushed and it can boost milk production by 3.5per cent.
He said: 'The swinging cow brush is a self-grooming device that keeps cows happier, healthier and more productive.
'The brush starts to rotate on contact at an animal-friendly speed. It swings freely in all directions, smoothly up, over and alongside the cow.
Moo-ving past: A cow walks forward as the machine rotates, not only cleaning the animal but improving its health as well by improving blood circulation
'The bristles have the right length and hardness to stimulate the blood circulation whilst helping the cow to keep clean and calm.
'It is very popular among dairy farmers. Cows using the swinging cow brush are cleaner, calmer and therefore more balanced.'
A study conducted by scientists in the USA found the brush resulted in better animal health due to an increase in blood circulation.
It also concluded that cows using the machine were 34 per cent less likely to suffer from clinical mastitis - a condition which results in milk abnormalities.
The research team also reported increased milk production of up 3.5 per cent for cows in a pen using the swinging cow brush.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Owner faces ceaseless brake issues with Honda car but no resolution
Owner faces ceaseless brake issues with Honda car but no resolution
PETALING JAYA: How far will you go to get your car fixed? In these day of light-speed emails, instant messages and cellphones, an irate car-owner decided to adopt an old-school method of seeking redress — by placing stickers all over his problematic car.
And the message on the stickers read: "My Honda Tak Guna" (My Useless Honda).
To make sure he got the full attention of the car manufacturer, this sticker-adorned vehicle was parked outside the Honda Malaysia sales and service office here in Section 13 — much to the amusement of many pedestrians and motorists.
As to why he had resorted to such measures, events executive Jess Ross said his car brakes kept failing despite several repairs.
"Luckily, I wasn't hit by another car when it happened."
After sending the 15-month old car to the Honda authorised service centre, Sumber Auto, Ross claimed to have been told the car had its rear brake callipers fitted wrongly during the original assembly.
Even after the brake calipers were rectified, Jess' woes continued with the calamitous Honda Accord he bought for about RM140,000.
Three months later, after getting his disc brake pads replaced for the second time, his Honda Accord started juddering again.
This time Honda mentioned the brake discs needed to be skimmed.
"On June 20 , there was a screeching sound from my front wheels and the car started juddering again. This time, I decided enough was enough. The car was towed to the Honda service centre for a fourth check on this particular screeching issue."
Claiming manufacturing defects, Ross said: "My demands are simple, firstly I want Honda to fully rectify the problems on my car and include a manufacturer's guarantee that such defects will not recur.
"Secondly, Honda could replace my car with another guaranteed problem-free unit. If all else fails, I want Honda to buy back the car at the purchase price.
"Honestly, I am still open to negotiations and a win-win situation I feel, is the best for both parties," he said, stressing he has no plans to remove the eye-catching stickers from his car.
A Honda Malaysia representative said the company remained committed to inspecting, servicing and repairing the problematic vehicle.
"The company would like to assure Ross the affected vehicle will be serviced and repaired to his satisfaction." Still unhappy with this response, Ross asked: "Why is it Honda Malaysia can't guarantee their parts, which serve a basic function of braking, to function properly?
"Is it too much to ask for a guarantee for their supposedly original parts which they recommended we use?"
Thursday, July 15, 2010
What it means to be Malay 1st, Malaysian 2nd
When a Malay, Chinese and Indian, all Malaysians, apply for:-
- Scholarships, Malays will get it first irrespective of bright Malaysians
- Entry to the local universities and best courses such medicine, dentistry, law, Malays will get it first irrespective of quality.
- Residential hostels, Matriculation courses, MARA Uni, Malays will get 90% to 100%. (By the way, matriculation exams are internally set by own lecturers - about thousands of straight A’s students in Matriculation compared to the straight A’s STPM which are few. This is “Malay meritocracy vs Malaysian meritocracy”!
- Social Welfare, Malays will get it first irrespective of how poor the Malaysian rakyat are
- Business Contracts, Malays will get it first irrespective of who can offer the best value, quality and unblemished track record. Even when blacklisted, Malay associations have the right to complain because the rakyat owe them a living.
- Sharing of wealth and equity, IPOs, ASB, Malays will get it first. Even with ASB for Malays give higher returns and principal guaranteed capped at RM200K instead of other bonds for Malaysians with lower yield capped at RM50K. This will be ongoing. Why Malays cannot reach 30% equity? Statistics are manipulated so that valuation of shares is based on par value (Imagine valuing CIMB, Maybank, Sime darby etc at par value of RM1.00 instead of market value of RM12 etc.
Malaysians must accept these assumptions or make sure this is hidden or else privileges are gone..!! ) - Low cost houses, lands, houses even bungalows, Malays will get themt first because they are the supreme race and the rest of Malaysians are immigrants. Quotas for Malays are 30% to 50% with steep discounts to be subsidized by the rest of the Malaysians.
- Important Senior management jobs, CEO positions in government linked companies, Malays will get them first irrespective of the best qualified and most capable Malaysian candidates.
- Government linked positions, civil positions, nurses and teachers training, Malays will get first irrespective whether they are qualified or not.
- Religious land for worship or terms of God, Malays own it and the rest must obey.
- Demonstrations, freedom of expressions, racial blurs, Malays can have their say, others under ISA…
Now you know why it is Malay 1st, Malaysian 2nd. Education, welfare, economic, business policies are to benefit Malay first then Malaysian 2nd. The rest of the rakyat, who work hard, contribute to nation building will continue to be Malaysians 2nd..
So it is not so difficult to understand if a Malay Indonesian Badminton player is playing against a Chinese or Indian Malaysian, those who subscribe to Malay 1st, Malaysian 2nd will cheer for the Malay badminton player. When there is a citizenship application of a Malay Indonesian and a qualified non Malay, the Malay Indonesian will get it irrespective of merit.
That is why we have Malay is 1st class other Malaysians 2nd class. This is the only country that has racism and special rights enshrined in the constitution because Malay is supreme.
So if you have the opportunity to migrate to be treated fairly and justly, why stay? Malaysian 2nd means you will always be an immigrant. Why become an immigrant with 2nd class rights when other countries are willing to give you the same 1st class rights?
1Malaysia to appease Malaysian 2nd class hope until the next general elections…
Wise UP Malaysians! Vote wisely.
KHOO KAY PENG IS RIGHT. HOW CAN NAJIB WALK HIS TALK??? TIME IS ALSO RUNNING OUT!!!
1. NAJIB CANNOT EVEN DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE 1MALAYSIA CONCEPT & THE RACIAL POLITICS CURRENTLY PRACTISED BY THE MANY MALAY POLITICIANS IN UNMO.
2. IN THIS CASE WHERE IS THE FUTURE OF 1MALAYSIA? IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS ONLY NAJIB'S SLOGAN & WE CANNOT SEE HOW IT WILL WORK FOR ALL MALAYSIANS IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE!!!
3. 1MALAYSIA CONCEPT WILL NEVER WORK IF HE CANNOT STOP THESE MALAY POLITICIANS FROM TRYING TO CHAMPION MALAY SUPREMACY OVER OTHER RACES IN THE COUNTRY!!!
Khoo Kay Peng speaks out..
Can Najib Walk his Talk? So far, the judgment is NO.
Again the saying pertaining to this,
Your action is so loud (not walking your talk) that I cannot hear what you are saying (all your speeches are for nothing)
NEM, NEP, Perkasa & Malay First, Malaysian Second: Time is Running Out for PM Najib
PM Najib is forced to go back to the Barisan old script when he was asked to react on his deputy statement that he was "Malay 1st, Malaysian 2nd".
Najib defended his deputy, "Being a Malay doesn't mean that you are against 1Malaysia or you don't think like a Malaysian. Similarly, if you are a Malaysian Chinese, it doesn't mean that you don't think like a Malaysian or subscribe to the concept of 1Malaysia," he said.
Najib's knee-jerk reaction on Muhyiddin's statement unmasks his own understanding about nation building and the 1Malaysia concept.
The lack of national affinity and shared destiny is the main obstacle for 1Malaysia. It is sad to note that the 1Malaysia founder himself does not share the vision of nationhood and citizenship. If Najib does not trust his own nation building agenda, he should not have misused the name, 1Malaysia.
1Malaysia is not consistent with Ethnicity 1st, Nationality 2nd.
We cannot blame Muhyiddin for his lack of national identity because nation building was not featured in the Barisan rule over the last 5 decades. Barisan is an antithesis to 1Malaysia and nation building. The most important element in a nation building project is to outlaw racial discrimination. BN is the epitome of racism and racially based politics. And Running Dogs like MCA, MIC, Gerakan and SUPP are supporting UMNO in this pogrom.
Najib cannot remain coy and silent on the demands, attacks and allegations made against the Chinese community, in particularly, by Perkasa.
Interestingly, a politician such as Ibrahim Ali needed racism to resurrect his career. Of course he is enjoying the media limelight at the moment. At the Aljazeera interview, he lambasted "If these people say that they are second-class citizens, don't talk s**t! Don't talk s**t! I repeat three times, don't talk s**t!"
"We, the Malays have forgiven them a lot, we have sacrificed a lot of our interests," he added.
I would like Ibrahim to clarify what interests?
It appears that Muhyiddin is now clamouring to ride on Perkasa's wave by declaring that he is "Malay 1st" and "Malaysian 2nd".
Regardless of the publicity stunt and damage control, Najib knows that his defence of Muhyiddin and his statement is going to tear his concept to pieces.
His administration is dragging its feet on the NEM details and mechanism. It makes us wonder if there is any meat at all in NEM.
Time is running out for him. Another talk but no walk is going to put him on the same pedestal as Abdullah Badawi.
Najib should state his stand on Perkasa and Ibrahim Ali's disrespect for non-Malay citizens. They (Najib, Muhyiddin and Ibrahim) should remember that their salaries and perks are paid by Malaysians of all races. Not by the Malays only.
SAY NO TO RACISM!
RM4 Billion for PM's Department & the Government is Talking about Subsidy Cut?
The number of civil servants in the PM’s Department has also increased from 21,045 in 2003 to 43,544 in 2010. This is more than a whopping 100% increase despite the government pledge to streamline its administration through e-government.
Some of the agencies created include Pemandu (Implementation and Coordination Unit), and the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC). Six existing agencies which include the National Security Council (MKN) and Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) experienced an increase in manpower. Even ex-premier Abdullah Badawi's office is being maintained by the PM's Dept. What is the rational?
Yet, the government is adamant that this country cannot continue to subsidy some of the essential items and it had called on the people to 'adjust their lifestyle'.
At the rate we are going, the sand raiders will be the people and not any illegal smugglers. People soon be making a beeline to make mud pies using sand and mud.
Honestly, why must the PM's Dept. need a whopping 43k plus employees? What are the KPIs? On top of this, the number of ministries keep growing.
We are in a fix. The civil service is a fixed deposit of the ruling coalition. How can we expect the government to restructure it?
Perhaps Idris Jala can offer us some solutions.
Now, the PM must answer why he needs so many manpower for his department. It is supposed to be just a department. But its annual allocation is 10 times more than Penang's annual allocation from the federal government. Something is very very wrong here.
Original post http://khookaypeng.blogspot.com/2010/07/rm4-billion-for-pms-department.html
Monday, July 12, 2010
Jenazah penyokong BERSIH selamat dikebumikan (709 Bersih 2.0)
Semalam dilaporkan Baharudin, 58 tahun, bersama rakan dan keluarganya berkumpul di KLCC, terjatuh dan pengsan apabila disembur gas pemedih mata oleh pasukan keselamatan.Beliau kemudiannya dibawa ke Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) dan disahkan meninggal dunia kemudiannya.
Kira-kira 500 hadir, termasuk pemimpin kanan Pakatan Rakyat dan penyokong Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH) mengiringi jenazah ke tanah perkuburan itu.
Kumpulan tersebut berjalan dari Surau Al-Muqarrabin - tempat jenazah Baharudin disembahyangkan - sejauh kira-kira tiga kilometer dengan mengiringi van jenazah yang membawa jenazahnya.
Turut menyertai kumpulan tersebut beberapa pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat dan NGO antaranya Timbalan Presiden PKR Azmin Ali, Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Mahfuz Omar, ADUN Hulu Kelang Shaari Sungib dan Pengerusi Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) Badrul Hisham Shahrin.Sambil mengiringi, mereka membaca tahlil dan bertakbir sepanjang jalan tanpa henti.
Sepanjang perjalanan menuju ke tanah perkuburan itu, kumpulan tersebut berselisih dengan tiga kereta peronda polis secara berasingan menyebabkan mereka bertakbir kepada polis.
Sebelum itu, ramai pemimpin Pakatan, BERSIH mengunjungi Baharudin di surau berdekatan rumahnya di rumahnya di No 9 - 0 - 4, Kelompok Camar Blok A, Keramat di ibu negara seawal jam 9 pagi.
Ramai pemimpin kanan Pakatan yang hadir menziarahi Baharudin antaranya ketua umum PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, timbalan presiden PAS Mohamad Sabu, Azmin Ali (timbalan presiden PKR), dua naib presiden PAS Datuk Husam Musa, Datuk Mahfuz Omar serta pengerusi BERSIH Datuk S Ambiga.
Sewaktu jenazah dimandikan dan dikafankan, mereka memenuhi Surau Al-Muqarrabin mengadakan majlis bacaan tahlil untuk arwah.Majlis tersebut dipimpin ahli Majlis Pimpinan Pusat PKR Badrol Amin Baharon di surau yang terletak kira-kira 50 meter dari rumah Baharudin.
Kelihatan rata-rata pemimpin yang ditemui sedih dan ada di kalangan mereka sebak dengan kematian Baharudin.
Yang paling jelas, Ambiga dan Nurul Izzah yang tidak mampu menahan air mata sewaktu memeluk isteri Baharudin, Rusni Melan yang merupakan ketua Wanita PKR Cabang Setiawangsa.
"(Kejadian ini) tidak sepatutnya berlaku... Dia (Baharudin) adalah seorang hero," katanya ringkas.
Ambiga tidak mampu berkata-kata apa-apa dan menangis kerana tidak dapat menyembunyikan kesedihannya."BERSIH berasa kecewa kerana keadaan ini (kematian) berlaku. Ini menunjukkan polis tidak menghormati rakyat.
"Rakyat ada hak untuk berada di sana," kata ahli jawatankuasa pemandu BERSIH, Maria Chin Abdullah dalam keadaan sebak dan tidak mampu meneruskan kata-katanya.
Bahkan terdapat juga pemimpin yang bercakap-cakap tentang kekecohan yang berlaku dalam perhimpunan itu.
Dakwanya, sewaktu kejadian itu berlaku, beliau berada di dalam hospital dan nampak insiden itu terjadi.
Sehubungan itu, Gan yang juga ADUN Rawang meminta mereka yang mempunyai gambar insiden itu supaya menghantar kepada jawatankuasa pemandu BERSIH atau Pakatan Rakyat untuk membolehkan tindakan undang-undang diambil.Sementara itu, Mahfuz berkata beliau dan Salahudin Ayub akan membuat laporan polis berhubung penangkapan mereka semalam
Katanya laporan itu bertujuan untuk membolehkan peguam memulakan membuat semakan prosedur undang-undang bagi menuntut gantirugi.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The CHANGE we WANT!
by Tan Lee Chin
Sometime ago an article entitled “We, the non-Malays¡” by a Eunice Ong was posted on www.loyarburok.com.
I would like to respond to some of the points raised in the article. Note that what I say here is my personal opinion. I cannot claim to speak on behalf of all the non-Malays.
As a firm believer in the freedom of speech, I fully respect the writer’s view, but I would like to present another perspective on the
matter she raised.
I am a proud product and supporter of the vernacular school system, and have a dream to see progress and changes in my beautiful motherland of Malaysia, the only homeland I ever have.
Ong had attempted to look into the issue of Malay rights from a non-Malay perception and perspective.
Her main argument is that the non-Malays, after complaining so much on the privileges received by our Malay countrymen and making endless appeals for change from our end, still refuse to make sacrifices like accepting Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and Islam as the national religion, or even just sharing a meal with our Malay friends in a halal restaurant.
I believe that we, the non Malays, might have not been 100 per cent perfect in our daily interactions and dealings with our Malay friends, but I doubt many of us object to Bahasa Malaysia as our national language or have any reservation on respecting Islam as the religion of the land.
We will, of course, object and protest if our rights to mother tongue education and freedom of religious beliefs and practices as provided for in the Federal Constitution are violated.
Contrary to Ong’s presumption that some non-Malays might think that going to a halal eatery is a sacrifice, I doubt many will have any thoughts over such a social interaction. Most will just accept it as a matter of fact. I don’t think any sensible person will consider such matters an issue at all.
I, for one, enjoy the halal mamak delicacies as well as ikan bakar served in the Sin Chew Cafeteria. Yes, for a company with a majority Chinese staff, we have a Malay stall catering for Malay workers. The halal food outlet is also very popular with the non-Malay workers I have often contended that a single stream education system is not the solution for the many problems we face, in particular, disunity among the races.
The writer has claimed that social cliques are race based, and the various languages form a barrier to racial interaction.
Let me narrate a real life example of how language need not be a barrier in making friends, real friends.
My mother is less privileged in terms of education opportunity because she only had two years of formal education. She is now in her sixties going into seventies.
Mum speaks Mandarin, Hokkien, Melanau and the most broken Malay one could ever imagine. But Kak Amoy, a Malay helper to our family 20 years ago and who only speaks Malay, has been Mum¡¯s best friend till this day.
How they communicate with each other does not require rocket science, but simply through the heart ¡ª a matter of affection and sincerity.
Over the years, Mum¡¯s Malay has certainly improved by leaps and bounds.
Some might think that Mum is an exception, since she is a Chinese who grew up in a Melanau Kampung at Mukah in Sarawak. She doesn’t belong to our generation, does she? Moreover, she did not really go to school, so she is not very much a product of our education system. We can’t consider her case when discussing our education system, ya?
But, is language the only tool to national integration?
Obviously, language needs not be an obstacle to friendship between the various races.
Now, let us look at Ong¡¯s suggestion on doing away with the vernacular schools.
Here, let me draw the attention of the readers to the current local political situation.
The governing coalition led by Umno is formed by different race-based political parties, each representing the interests of their respective race.
Among them, many politicians will not hesitate to play the racial card to their personal interest, even if it is at the detriment of the nation.
Would it be wise to abolish the vernacular schools now, or integrate them into the national education?
I don¡¯t wish to speculate, but if we are to give up our rights to education via the medium of our choice, what other rights will we have to give up for the sake of national unity in future?
With due respect, Ong¡¯s suggestion of abolishing vernacular schools is an oversimplified unrealistic solution to the complicated state of affair that our nation is facing.
Many Malaysians are angry; they are bothered by many issues like corruption, misuse of powers by the authorities, inefficient government bodies, doubts on the independence of the judiciary, etc. These issues are not racial or religious, but simply basic moral, civil and social matters that affect every citizen whatever his or her
race or religion, or language.
Vernacular schools products like me and most other Malaysians are concerned about these issues, and we want to see a change for the better in our nation. Such a change is expected by all Malaysians.
We will have to make sacrifice for the change, and it starts with us individually.
For a start, let¡¯s stop giving bribes to traffic police, stop greasing hands to get things done at government offices.
Don’t politicise the vernacular school system. Leave the vernacular schools alone. The problems dividing the people of various races are not caused by them, but by politicians exploiting the racial sentiments.
My dream is to see my country progress to be an united harmonious nation, where our politicians dispute on ideals, not playing the racial and religious cards.
That, indeed, is the change we should be striving for -- mysinchew.com
The writer is the deputy head of the Culture & Education Department of Sin Chew Daily
