Faizal Tahir and his shirtless album cover picture

Singer-songwriter Faizal Tahir put a lot of thought into the design of his latest album cover Anatomi.

“Who has a scientist jacket?” singer-songwriter Faizal Tahir says while laughing right after someone asked him to explain the meaning behind the cover of his latest album, Anatomi. The striking image features Faizal, 37, posing like the Vitruvian Man, with wings and surrounded by a number of items.

Oh, he’s shirtless, too.

He knows the media will question him on this issue. “If I’m going to explain everything, it’s going to take a long time,” he says during an interview in Kuala Lumpur.

To put it simply, Faizal says the various elements on the cover represent the songs on the album as well as things that define him as a man. It ranges from his birth year (“The horse. It’s also my favourite animal.”) to his belief about duality (“Where there is shadow, there is also light.”) and of course, his favourite football club (“The wings represent the mythical Liverpool bird.”).

The cover also reflects his admiration for women who sacrifice for their loved ones (“The lady with the veil is balancing a number of things on her head.”), patriotism (“The Malaysian flag reminds me that no matter where I go, this is home.”) and the rabbit head is the persona he takes on to entertain children.

This Ipoh man has been selling records for 40 years

Chen’s modest store houses a treasure trove of goodies, including vinyl LPs, cassettes, hi-fi knick knacks and erhus.

When the sound of the erhu emanates from a particular stretch of Pasar Besar Ipoh, Perak’s central market, that simply means Cheng Ah Lek is at his record store for a day’s work. The proprietor of Perniagaan Nanyang has been selling vinyl LPs for more than 40 years, having opened his first shop on Osborne Street (now Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar) in 1974.

“I opened another shop in Yau Tet Shin market in 1984, but closed it two years later when I fell ill,” said the gregarious 74-year-old. Ultimately, the original Osborne Street store is what lasted longest, and Cheng was there until the turn of the millennium, when the owner of the lot eventually sold it.

This writer recalls visiting that store in the late 1990s and leaving with cartfuls of records on a number of occasions. With Chen having sold records for so long, he had an amazing inventory then.

According to him, he had tens of thousands of titles, though in the last 16 years, that volume has decreased tremendously. Good titles can still be had, from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Bad Company, Deep Purple and BB King.

What’s great about Chen’s collection is the condition of his records … they are largely NOS (new old stock titles), effectively meaning, they are unplayed records. And there’s been a copy of 10cc’s Deceptive Bends sitting there for months now, just waiting for the right music lover to claim it.

The Future Of Mobile Wallets

What’s in your wallet? Most of us would have some sort of payment method in it, for example, cash, credit/debit card and other nick-knacks such as ID card, loyalty cards, business cards, receipts, insurance cards, and the list goes on.

When we talk about mobile wallet, it’s not just a way to pay with a device, it is encompassing that actual wallet you possess with all of its contents and associated activities; integrating it into a type of digital device that empowers you to process what needs to be done without using your physical wallet.

Most often than not, that device is a mobile phone although it doesn’t necessary need to be. But as you know, the phone has already started to replace the wallet – you keep digital family pictures, perform online banking and transactions – your behaviour as a consumer and the phone is what forms the new digital mobile wallet.

Let’s take a look at mobile wallets through the eyes of the consumer, how they fit into their everyday lives and what we can expect to see in the near future.

Kids, do you know what this is?

Before Spotify, people used to drive around listening to music on this relic, the car stereo.

Collectors and music fans wearing the T-shirts of obscure rock bands brave the tropical heat outside a record store near Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, waiting to get their hands on new cassette tapes.

No, this isn’t a flashback to the 1980s, but an event marking recent International Cassette Store Day, an annual celebration of a music format once thought headed for extinction but now enjoying a rebirth.

Vinyl’s renaissance is well-documented and now it seems cassettes are rising from the grave, with artists such as Kanye West and Justin Bieber releasing songs on tape.

In South-East Asia low production costs and a retro-cool image have made cassettes an underground-music fixture, especially for struggling bands getting their name out.

“Cassettes are our best sellers,” Mohammad Radzi Jasni, owner of the store, Teenage Head Records, said after shoving one by Singaporean surf-punk band Force Vomit into a bulky tape player.

“They are still the best way to discover new bands here. It’s very affordable for the guys releasing it and the fans buying them,” he added.

Manufacturing costs can be as low as RM4 per tape in Malaysia, compared to RM60 to RM80 for a vinyl record. Vinyl’s cost is a hurdle for young bands and DIY labels in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

How To Clean Your Laptop

Cleaning Your Laptop

Unfortunately, unlike the standard desktop, a laptop is not as easy to open and clean. However, there are still several steps an end-user can do to clean and maintain their laptop.

Before cleaning any laptop, turn it off and unplug it from the power source. Also, because you’re going to be cleaning the laptop, we also suggest that you remove the laptop battery.

Best secondhand and rental bookstores in KL

Do you prefer your books to have a bit of character? Roll up your sleeves and score a literary gem or two at these top secondhand and rental bookstores in KL. 

Jumble Station

Jumble Station is a community outreach initiative by the NGO Parents Without Borders to help raise funds for single parents. There’s a small corner in the shop that sells secondhand books which were donated by the public. Get three books for RM10, two for RM8 and one for RM5.

Address:

	The School Jaya One 72A Jalan Universiti Petaling Jaya 46200
Opening hours:	Daily, 10.30am-8pm

Kobis Masak Putih Yang Mudah Dan Ringkas

KOBIS MASAK PUTIH 

1/2 biji kobis ~ di potong ikut kesesuaian

5 ekor udang basah ~ buang kepala dan belah belakang, cuci bersih

3 ulas bawang merah ~ di hiris

2 ulas bawang putih ~ di hiris

2 batang serai ~ di ketuk

1 tangkai cili merah di hiris

1/2 biji santan kelapa atau boleh guna 1/2 kotak santan KARA

sedikit air

garam secukup rasa

5 Most Expensive International Schools In The Klang Valley

To ensure their children remain competitive in the increasingly borderless world, more and more Malaysian parents are opting for international and private education for their children. However, these schools do not come for cheap.

In 2012, the Malaysian government has eliminated the quota for Malaysian enrolment at international schools. Due to the quota and the lack of affordable options, only selected affluent Malaysians could afford to send their children to these schools previously.

The 2012 decision to remove the quota has opened the floodgates and more international schools are mushrooming all over the country. According to the latest data by the International School Consultancy Group (ISC), a UK-based organisation, there are currently 99 English-medium international schools in the country, with a total of 39,460 students.

The market has been growing at a rate of 19% per annum for the past five years, and it is showing no signs of stagnation.

Based on latest findings, 40% of the students in these premium schools are local Malaysians, 9% British, 6% South Korean and 4% American.

How expensive are these premium schools really? We have collated the top 5 most expensive international schools in the country and this is how much you will have to fork out to send your child to these schools from nursery all the way till graduation:

Netflix Launched in Malaysia but with Limited Library

Netflix has been officially launched in Malaysia after the announcement made by Reed Hastings at CES 2016. Netflix expanded its service to 130 new countries around the world including Malaysia being one of the locations. However, there is a catch!

The content available in Netflix Malaysia won’t be as expensive as content available in Netflix USA. This is where using a VPN comes into play. With a VPN by your side, you can access Netflix library of any region and watch your favorite shows or movies online.

Netflix is one of the world’s largest online streaming services that offer thousand of movies, TV shows, and other media for your online entertainment. Now if you are located in Malaysia and are looking to access Netflix, then I am afraid you will run into the problem of geo-restriction.

Netflix is a US based video on–demand streaming service. Although Netflix is available in various other countries around the world, it is yet to officially launch in Malaysia. So when you try to access movies or TV series on Netflix while being in Malaysia, you will see the following message.

Disappointing isn’t it! So how do you access Netflix Malaysia?

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Gas and Bloating

Eating too much or consuming lots of fatty or spicy food commonly leads to gas and bloating. It’s not unlikely for the discomfort felt in the abdominal area to be accompanied with symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and headache. Whenever this excruciating problem strikes, worry not for there are a handful of effective home remedies you may try.

Drink Thirst-Quenching Coconut Water

The calming effect of coconut water to the digestive tract helps alleviate a crabby belly. Drinking it is a refreshing way to allow the stomach to bounce back from all the things that it is forced to process.

7 Things You Should Know About Caffeine

Coffee/tea is one of the most consumed liquid in our diets aside from water. Caffeine has a huge role in our daily diet and we are probably consuming it a lot more than we want to believe.

In a regular household 3 or more people consume caffeine in their daily intake. You might even know someone that is caffeine addict in denial. So, what is caffeine? Besides being in coffee and sodas or a great energy booster, what else do you know about it? Well, here are some trivia and facts about are favorite addicting and keep me up at night caffeine.

A little Statistic Trivia

• Most Adults consume 200 milligrams of caffeine a day or two and five ounces of coffee daily.
• 80 percent of the United States consume caffeine daily.
• People prefer coffee over Sex.
• Starbucks and other coffee shops are found all over the World.

Benefits of Antioxidants

Antioxidants come up frequently in discussions about good health and preventing diseases. These powerful substances, which mostly come from the fresh fruits and vegetables we eat, prohibit (and in some cases even prevent), the oxidation of other molecules in the body. The benefits of antioxidants are very important to good health, because if free radicals are left unchallenged, they can cause a wide range of illnesses and chronic diseases.

Antioxidants and Free Radicals

The human body naturally produces free radicals and the antioxidants to counteract their damaging effects. However, in most cases, free radicals far outnumber the naturally occurring antioxidants. In order to maintain the balance, a continual supply of external sources of antioxidants is necessary in order to obtain the maximum benefits of antioxidants. Antioxidants benefit the body by neutralizing and removing the free radicals from the bloodstream.

Simple Tips To Relieve Stress

Stressed? Our lifestyle today is very stressful. Some factors that cause this stress is pollution, stressful working environment, working two jobs, searching for a job and family problems. With so many things affecting our quality of life stress is one of the factors that can affect us mentally and physically. So, what do you do to relieve yourself from this stress? Have you ever considered giving yourself a stress free environment? Start pampering yourself and to reward yourself for doing such a good job at life and succumbing to stress. All you need is time, a little cash and a positive mindset. Pack away your mental stress and take the weight off your shoulder its time to distress.

Tips On How To Relieve Stress

Have Time For Yourself:

Perlu Atau Ingin?

Keperluan atau keinginan? Ungkapan ini yang sering terlintas di fikiran apabila melihat barang yang disukai di pusat membeli-belah. Perasaan tertarik dan keinginan untuk memiliki mendorong diri untuk membeli. Ia perkara biasa yang dilalui oleh semua orang. Ramai orang mempunyai wang, tetapi yang membezakan anda dengan orang lain adalah jumlah wang yang dimiliki dan cara wang itu disalurkan.

Perkara asas yang diajar ketika kita masih kecil jika mempunyai wang adalah untuk menabung. Sesungguhnya ia amalan yang amat berguna untuk masa hadapan. Ramai golongan muda masa kini gemar menghabiskan wang mengikut nafsu seperti membeli barang-barang yang bukan keperluan sehingga tiada duit simpanan. Ini menjadi masalah besar kelak ketika duit yang benar-benar diperlukan untuk tujuan yang lebih penting seperti berkahwin dan membeli rumah tidak mencukupi. Sebagai contoh, seorang lelaki yang baru mendapat kerja dengan gaji RM2,700 ingin membeli kereta buatan luar negara dengan harga hampir mencecah RM100,000, sedangkan dia dah ada kereta buatan tempatan yang masih berfungsi dengan baik. Jika dilihat secara realiti, memang tiada salahnya membeli kereta baru, tetapi dia tidak PERLU membeli kereta itu sebenarnya.

How To Access Blocked Websites? 6 Easy Ways

Short Bytes: Restrictions and bans over websites are always annoying, and governments are now censoring content more than ever. Check out the 6 easy ways to bypass the censorship to access blocked websites.

Given the current stature of the constitutional “Rights” and “Freedoms” conferred upon the public in most of the democracies, censorship and bans on trivial matters often come as a surprise. And in the era of the Internet, harassing the general public is even easier. Be it the controversial net neutrality, or restriction to access to specific websites.

If you also feel stifled by the blocked websites then here are some ways to access blocked websites:

1. Become Anonymous: Use Proxy Websites

A proxy website becomes a moderator between the user and server site. The proxy website camouflages the blocked site from the ISPs and allows you to access blocked websites. To get a proxy website for any blocked site, just perform the Google search.

Eg: Facebook Proxy Server. In case, Facebook is blocked in your institution, or you can go to

• http://www.spysurfing.com

• http://proxify.us/p/

and more…

 

Check out Sheila Majid’s new song, Sinaran Cinta

Stop what you’re doing and check out the latest single from one of Malaysia’s most beloved singers, Datuk Sheila Majid.

Video | Sheila Majid - Sinaran Cinta

SINARAN CINTA nyanyian Sheila Majid ini merupakan lagu tema untuk filem muzikal "Sinaran" yang akan ditayangkan di pawagam pada 26 November 2015.

Top 10 Mobile Apps For You to Check on WiFi Signal

Use these free apps to check on your WiFi signal

You have the most up-to-date device in your hand and you’re having a hard time connecting to the Internet. You fail to make calls or send text messages. Fuming frustration sets in as you realize the competency of your latest gadget is not in question but a weak network signal or Wi-Fi connection is at fault.

No matter how powerful your device is, with a sluggish internet connection, you’re not going to enjoy it much nor get urgent information to and fro especially businesses depending fully on real-time info.

Currently there’s help for you in the many forms of free Android apps available from the Internet. These apps are here to assist you in establishing better Wi-Fi connection or strengthening your network signals. Here’s a top 10 list of apps for checking your Wi-Fi signal.

3 Rules for a Happier Life

Decades of scientific research show that a few basic fundamentals are key to living a happy life.

Happiness is hard, personal, and among the quirkiest of human subjects. At least that's what you'd think. But that's not exactly what several decades' worth of scientific research says. While the elusive quality can't be broken down to a cut-and-dried formula, there are several firm rules that are fundamental to living a happy life.

That was the message of a talk by Dr. Miriam Tatzel at the American Psychological Association's 122nd annual convention, which was held recently in Washington, D.C. Presenting her research to the assembled psychologists, Tatzel stressed the importance of playing down consumerism as a route to fulfillment and boiled down the research on the subject into a handful of scientifically validated principles to follow for greater happiness. PsyBlog rounds them all up if you're interested in the complete rundown, but here are a few key points to get you started: