Pluckerz Corner

The Passing of the King Of Pop - M.J

Who doesn't know Michael Jackson? The man who remind me of days where I would pretend and dancing like him. Trying to do the moonwalk, and trying to dance to his moves in "Thriller". Dressing up and wearing similar sunglasses to look like him. He was an icon to many throughout his music career. Always fighting to unit the "blacks" and "whites", bringing the awareness of the suffering of people in Africa, and many others. He was "The King Of Pop".

Though he enjoyed much fame and fortune, Jackson's illustrious career would be plagued with sexual scandals and financial meltdown.

 Michael Jackson at age 11

He started his career at the age of 11 with his brothers, The Jackson 5. There he and his brother, Marlon, were the lead singers. They toured the midwest, and later signed for Motown Records in 1968. The Jackson 5 went on to produce hits like "ABC", "I'll Be There", "I Want you back", and "The Love You Save" all which peaked at number one on the Billboard 100 Hits.

Jackson would later produce his greatest works such as "Thriller", "Billie Jean", and "Beat It" which were on his album "Thriller", sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide, making it the best selling album of all time. His signature move - the moonwalk - debuted on Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever during his performance of "Billie Jean" live where about 47 million viewers were watching.

 Michael Jackson before his illnesses

He then suffered a setback on the 27th of January 1984, during a filming for a Pepsi Cola commercial. Jackson's hair was accidentally set on fire by pyrotechnics and he suffered second degree burns to his scalp. He went on with his third rhinoplasty surgery (for his nose) and soon after, became very self conscious about his appearance.

 Michael at the peak of his career

On the very same year, 14th May 1984, Jackson was invited to the White House to receive an award from American President, Ronald Reagan. It was an award for Jackson's support of charities that help people with alcohol and drug abuse.

In the year 1986 would be the year that widespread rumors and tabloids started following Jackson. It began with the story of Jackson sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow his aging. The claim was untrue and Jackson himself explained that the reason for the photo of him in the chamber was for a promotion of his upcoming movie at that time, Captain EO. Next, Jackson would purchase a pet chimpanzee called Bubbles who he shared his toilet with him. Jackson was linked with the rumor of purchasing the bones of The Elephant Man. Although untrue, these claims and stories inspired the nickname, Wacko Jacko.

  Michael after being hit by illnesses

News of Jackson bleaching his skin to become fairer was also untrue. Jackson was actually diagnosed with vitiligo and lupus (both illnesses made him sensitive to sunlight). Changes to his face however, were due to significant weight loss. There were witnesses that speculated that Jackson was suffering from anorexia nervosa. Other medical professionals believed that the singer had body dysmorphic disorder, a psychological condition where the sufferer has no concept on how others perceive them.

How he look like then till now

Many other rumors, tabloids and gossip shadowed the King Of Pop during his reign. But through it all, he came back stronger then ever. May it be sexual scandals, financial debts, health issues or even re-launching his career, Jackson always seemed to make it through. He persevered and continued his work with charity and those in need all over the global. He also continued to win many awards and nominations.

Jackson was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at a London arena, with the first starting on the 13th of July 2009. A move that was setup for his comeback into the music industry. His first 10 shows alone would have earned him approximately £50 million. He was said to be rehearsing really hard and was looking forward to it.

Sadly, his reign ended on the 25th of June 2009. He was found unconscious in his rented home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. Paramedics responded to a 911 call and arrived at approximately 12.30pm. Jackson was reportedly not breathing and CPR was quickly performed. He was then rushed to UCLA Medical Center when he fell into coma. Its to be said that the caused of his death was Cardiac Arrest (an abnormal heart rhythm that stops the heart from pumping blood to the body).

The uniter of Black and White music leaves behind 3 children (Prince, Paris and Blanket), 2 ex wives (Lisa Marie Presley and Deborah Jeanne Rowe), and millions of fans (including me) that he had gained throughout his years. Thank you for your great music... You will always be remembered. This is my tribute to Michael Jackson, the true King Of Pop. R.I.P

 

Rest In Peace Michael Jackson (1958 - 2009)

For other references:

• http://www.michaeljackson.com

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson

Travel: Malta

I've been wanting to go to Malta for a while now. Many people would say it isn't worth it cause its so small a country and stuff but, I find it really unique and it has loads of things to offer wary travels from around the world. So here is a little bit about the small island in the Mediterranean.

 

Flag of Malta

About Malta

Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea that lies south of the island of Sicily, Italy. The country is divided into 3 main islands that are inhabited (Malta, Gozo and Comino).

Although small in size, Malta has a long and rich history. Their history goes back from the Neolithic age all the way till the Second World War. They've been sieged by the Turks, conquered by the French and taken over by the British. But through it all, today, Malta has become a freight trans-shipment point, financial center, and tourist destination.

Malta gained their independence from the British in 1964 but still remained a commonwealth country. In May 2004, Malta become a member of the European Union.

Important Facts

Official Currency: € Euro

Official Language: Maltese & English

Other Spoken Language: Italian & French

Capital: Valletta

Traveling Around Malta

Their are many modes of transportation in this tiny island. You can choose from their public transportation's (buses, taxis, ferry, boats), renting a car or motorcycle, or if you prefer something a little more stylish, maybe even a seaplane or helicopter ride around the country.

But the most convenient mode of transportation would either be by bus or motorcycle.

For buses, even the longest rides won't cost you more then €1.30 and a standard bus ride would probably cost you around €0.47. Buses are very frequent and most run till about 22.00. During Fridays and Saturdays however, bus services can operate till around 3 in the morning. Do keep in mind that most buses leave out of Valletta, so if you want to head back into the capital, remember to ask your bus driver.

 

Malta Buses (No 2 will look alike)

Local Delicacies

Maltese celebratory meal is the Fentaka (which means Feast of Rabbit, marinated overnight with bay leaves and wine). The meal will began with a spaghetti in rabbit sauce, then followed by a rabbit meat stew (or fried).

 

Rabbit Spaghetti and Rabbit Stew

However, do bare in mind that most traditional Maltese dishes are rather humble in nature (most of the time fish and vegetable base)

As for their beverages, Malta has their own soft drink called Kinnie (non-alcoholic drink made with bitter oranges and slightly reminiscent of Martini). Their local beer is Cisk (4.2%) and has a sweet sort of taste. Malta also does produce their own wines. Though not as famous as wine from other countries (France, Australia, etc.) they are rather inexpensive (60-95ct a bottle) and are actually quite good in quality and taste. 

  Maltese Official Soft Drink and Beer

Top 10 Things To See & Do In Malta

• Ride a Maltese Dghajsa (A water taxi that will take you around the Grand Harbour)

• Visit one of their sandy beaches (Ghadira Bay, Golden Sands, Xlendi Bay & many more)

• Fort Rinella (Where the world's largest cannon sits)

• Hagar Qim Temples (Temples from the Neolithic ages)

• St John's Co-Cathedral (Once the conventual church of the Knights Of Malta)

• The Armoury (Where the original armour of the Knights of Malta are displayed)

• The Hypoguem (The worlds only known prehistoric underground temple)

• The Knights Spectacular (A 2-hour musical about the great siege of 1565)

• The Blue Lagoon (A lagoon with crisp, clear, turquoise waters)

• Ggantija Temples (The oldest standing structure in the world)

I hope that I will be able to visit this little gem of an island in the Mediterranean Sea. In the meantime I hope you guys find this information helpful.

For more information on Malta (including accommodation), I have sourced out 2 very useful sites that may help in planning your trip to this wonderful country.

• http://www.101malta.com

• http://www.holidays-malta.com

 

Dinner In TJ Haus Restaurant (Subang) =)

Its was the night before fathers day so my family and I decided to go out for dinner to celebrate it. We decided to head to TJ Haus Restaurant. A small little restaurant located in SS18 Subang. It might be hard to spot the place at first, but just remember, the restaurant is on the 1st floor not the ground floor.

 

Remember it's on the 1st-Floor

TJ Haus specializes in European Dishes and trust me, the food is awesome!!! Not only their portions are quite big, the food is really tasty and also the price is very reasonable. They have a really interesting concept where they try to price their dishes below RM 30. They have a really nice, cozy and peaceful ambience. So enough with my blabber, here are some pictures of the place and some of the dishes I ate. Enjoy!!! =)

 

The stairway up to FOOD!!! =D

 

The view of the place when you first enter. (Notice the little angel fountain)

 

One of the many decorative items they have. (I noticed they have lots of angels around)

 

Their bar like area where beverages and desserts are prepared.

 

Ah, my fat little niece chowing down her kids meal. (That's my mum beside her)

 

My appetizer, Graved Lach Wit Rosti (Seasoned salmon strips served with a side salad). It was really mouth watering.

 

My dads Water Crest Cream Soup. (Not bad, had a somewhat different taste)

 

My MAIN COURSE!!!! Lamb Shank!!! (Served with Ratatouille and mashed potatoes) Simply delicious!!! (And filling too =))

 

After eating, we decided to wash our food down with a Brazilian Smoothy. (Coffee, Vanilla Ice-cream and Chocolate) <-- Need I say more? ;)

 

And has you leave the place, walking down, you will notice yet another angel (and an old radio thingy)

Well, that's it. I could have had more pictures but my family decided to start eating before I had the chance to take any pictures. =p But trust me, TJ Haus is a really nice place and I would recommand it to anyone who wants to have a nice meal. May you be single, with a group of friends, going with your partner, family or anyone, it doesn't matter, cause TJ Haus is really worth it.

Their operating hours are from 11.00am - 2.00pm and 6.00pm - 11.00pm. They are closed on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. For reservations, please call them at 03-56364508. And for those of you who are really keen on going there, here is their address, 27 A, SS18/1B, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor. I hope you guys enjoy their dishes as much as I did =)

5-minutes Meditation.

I know a whole lot of people who encounter stress and problems in their everyday lives. May it be work related, about your relationship with your partner or family, issues with friends, financial worries, or probably you just woke up on the wrong side of bed. But its safe to say, everyone has some (or alot) of stress or problems in them.

Its true that there are many ways in handling your problems, stress or issues. But here, I just wanted to share a method that has been working for me and a couple of people I know. It is meditation.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking, "I don't have that much time to just sit at one place and meditate" or "whats the use of it? I'll still feel the same afterwards". Well, I can assure you, it does work and it doesn't take that much of your time. Just a 5-minute a day meditation session can do wonders for you.

Here is a really easy way of meditating:

• Find a nice, quiet and comfortable place where you can't get distracted. (Maybe in your room)

• Sit with your back straight and place your hands in a comfortable position. (You can try holding your hand together and placing them on your stomach or placing them on your knees)

• Next, just close your eyes and begin to slowly take deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling. Relax yourself.

• Focus on your breathing. Try to clear your mind, but if you can't just concentrate on your breathing. Listen to every single breathe you take.

That's it! Simple isn't it? And trust me, if you can do this everyday, you will be amazed with the results. If you are worried that you might lose track of time, just set a timer. You can also add in some music (soft meditation music) or maybe some aromatherapy. Don't worry whether you are doing it right or wrong, just relax and redirect your focus to your breathing when other thoughts enter your mind. Finally, once you are use to it, you might want to increase your meditation time. Remember, the more you practice, the more stronger the effects will be.

You can find out a whole load of meditation benefits by reading. But, it is always better to "Know and Feel" rather then "Read and Listen". So, go ahead, meditate and try it for yourself. You can be the judge to whether it works or not. Enjoy. =)

Hidetoshi Nakata

To all you Pluckerz out there, my I present, my all time favourite football player, Hidetoshi Nakata (Nakata for short).

 A former national player for the Japanese Football team, Nakata was born on the 22nd of January 1977 in Yamanashi, Japan. He started out his footballing career with Hokushin Boys Soccer Club (1986). He then went on to play for Kofu Kita Jr. H.S (1987), followed by Nirasaki H.S in 1992. He finally made his breakthrough into professional football when he signed for Bellmare Hiratsuka in 1995. There he played as a midfielder (central most of the time) and went on to score 16 goals in 85 games. While at Bellmare, Hide made his senior national team debut on May 1997. He proceeded in helping Japan to the 1998 World Cup finals in France.

Nakata went on to sign for Perugia after the 1998 World Cup. There he went on to play 48 games and score 12 goals. After 1-and-a half season with Perugia, he then headed to A.S Roma with a fee of ₤15 million. With this move, it marked the highlight of his career when he went on to win the Seria A title with Roma in the 2000 / 01 season. His most important match with the team would come when they played Juventus on the 6th of May 2001. He was a substitute for that match and came on for Totti in the second half with Roma losing 2-0. Nakata, the came up with a screamer of a goal (30-yards) which curled beyond the reach of Juventus goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar. He then set up the second goal by driving in another long range shot that stung van der Sar's hands and fell for Vincenzo Montella to tap in for the equaliser. The match ended with the scores 2-2 and Roma stayed at the top spot with a 6-point margin. He played a total of 30 games and scored 5 goals for Roma.

 

Goal and assist from Nakata (AS Roma Vs Juventus)

After a season with Roma, Nakata signed for F.C Parma for ₤18.5 million in the summer of 2001. There, he went on to play for 2-and-a half seasons in which he won the Coppa Italia in the 2001 / 02 season. From 2001 - 2004 Nakata played 67 games and scored 5 goals for Parma. In the 2004 season however, he was loaned out to Bologna and finished of the season with them (playing 17 games with 2 goals). He then moved on to Fiorentina and played only 20 games for them in the 2004 / 05 season. In August 2005, Nakata made his final move to Bolton Wanderers in England on loan. He played most of their games (24 games with 1 goal scored). He went on to help Bolton finish 8th that season.

On the 3rd of July 2006, at the age of 29, Nakata announced his retirement from Football. He wrote on his personal website "I decided half a year ago that I would retire from the world of professional football... after the World Cup in Germany. I will never again stand on the pitch as a professional player. But I will never give up football."

International Stats

Nakata played for Japan in all 3 of their World Cup finals (1998, 2002 and 2006). He was a key player in most of their matches and was with the national team for 9 years (1997 - 2006). In those 9 years, he has appeared for Japan a total of 77 games and has scored 11 goals.

Other then those 3 world cups, Nakata has also featured in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and also the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

After Retirement

After his retirement from football, Nakata's plans are uncertain. He has been travelling around the world. It is stated how long he will be travelling but he does this in search of what to do for the rest of his life by meeting new people and going to new places. Nakata is also an Editor-at-Large at Monocle, a fashion magazine. He was invited by his close friend Tyler Brule (who is the Editor-in-Chief).

Other Fun Facts

• Nakata was the first ever Japanese footballer to play outside of his country.

• In the 1998 World Cup, he dyed his hair red to get noticed by scouts from Europe.

• Nakata has cited the popular anime and manga series, Captain Tsubasa, as his primary inspiration in choosing football as a career.

• Nakata is also a talented baseball player.

Awards

Asian Cup Winners Cup (Champions) - 1996

J-League Best Eleven - 1997

AFC Asian Player Of The Year Award - 1997, 1998

FIFA Confederations Cup Best Eleven - 2001

FIFA Confederations Cup (Runners-up) - 2001

Seria A Title (Champions with Roma) - 2001

Coppa Italia (Champions with Parma) - 2002

Selected into FIFA Top 100 Players - 2004

 

A night at The Carlsberg Lounge

A couple of days back, I had the privilege of being invited to the Carlsberg Lounge (which so happens to be in their factory itself). There was a small event going on that night for their clients and everything was on the house... =) In my heart when I heard that, I was like "THANK YOU GOD!!!" free flow of beer. =D

The sad part though, it wasn't all night long. It started from 6pm and ended somewhere around 10pm. Kinda short I guess. But I ain't complaining, free flow...

So anyways, I was allowed to bring a guest along with me. So I brought my best buddy Danny (aka Barney the purple dinosaur - don't ask why =p) We reached around 7pm and got straight down to business. Starting of with some Tuborg's (which by the way were going pretty fast). Food was provided as well, but it was a first come first serve kinda thing. So we ate and continued our night of beers.

In total, we each had about 6 - 7 beers each, ranging from Carlsberg Gold, Super Skol, and Carlsberg Green (draft). I have to admit, their draft beers were so smooth and it just went down. It was a great night filled with fun, drunk old chinese man and women, some funky tunes from the 80's and of course, BEERS!!!

Here are some pictures I took of that glorious night...

 

Here is Danny starting the night of with a Tuborg.

 

The view of the place from where we sat.

 

This was actually the main display cabinet, awesome huh?

 

Here is a clearer view =)

 

A view of many types of other beers from their distributors

 

Here is one of the sides of the bar where we sat.

 

A more complete view of the beer display.

 

Two very satisfied customers. Thanks Carlsberg!!! =)

 

Here is the view of the bar from where we sat.

 

I didn't wanna go home even though it was closing =p

Thai Green Curry

For my first food posting, I thought of doing something Asian. So I decided on Green Curry. I made my first Green Curry some years back when I was in France. At the beginning I was a little worried and concerned about the taste. But, feeling a little bit adventurous, I went on cooking it anyways. Final word, AWESOME!!! So here a simple Thai Green Curry recipe. I hope you guys like it. Enjoy~~~  =)

Ingredients

• 400 Grams Beef (You can also use Chicken, Pork or Fish)

• 3 Tbsp Thai Green Curry Paste (Use prepared / canned green curry paste or you can choose to make it yourself)

• 2 1/2 Cups Coconut Milk

• 5 Small Fresh Thai Eggplants (Cut into pieces) (You can also use Snow Peas, Baby Corn or Long Beans)

• 3 - 4 Fresh Red and Green Chilies (Sliced)

• 2 Fresh Lime Leaves (Torn)

• 1 1/2 Tbsp Fish Sauce

• 1/2 Tbsp Sugar (White or Brown)

• 1 Tbsp Sunflower Oil (Peanut Oil or Corn Oil can also be used)

• Garnish: 1 Bunch Cilantro and Sliced Red Chilies

Preparation

1. Slice the beef into thin pieces about 1/3" (3 cm) thick. (If you are using chicken, select boneless thighs or breast)

2. Saute the green curry paste in oil over medium heat until fragrant 

3.  Reduce the heat and gradually add 1 1/2 cups of the coconut milk a little at a time.

4. Stir until a film of green oil surfaces.

5. Add the beef and fresh lime leaves and continue cooking for 3 minutes until fragrant and the beef is cooked through. Transfer to a pot, place over medium heat and cook until boiling.

6. Add the remaining coconut milk, season with sugar and fish sauce.

7. When the mixture returns to the boil, add the eggplants, cooking them until they are done.

8. Sprinkle red and green chilies over, then turn off the heat.

9. Arrange on a serving dish and garnish with cilantro and red chilies before serving.

Note: Served best with fragrant rice (E.g Jasmine Thai Rice)

Plucking...

I decided to just this section to my blog so that everyone can basically see what interesting or lame things I've been up too =p Nothing much, just places I've hanged out at, functions I attended, clubbing, plain old me =) All whole section dedicated to my Plucking moments...

Here, you will find out most of what i've been up to... (don't worry I'll keep it has exciting as possible)

Feel free to let me know what you think and maybe tell me about other places or things to do... =) 

Movies and Music

The double M... Movies and music. Here, I will be posting to you Pluckerz about all sorts of movies and music. From the classics to the modern age. From comedy, to horror. I will be filling you all with loads of information and news.

I'll even try to cover non-english music and movies. =) Hopefully you guys will also be interested in getting to know more about them.

And of course if you know of a good movie or music piece, please do let us know at anytime. =)

 

All About Sports... (Mainly Football / Soccer) =p

 

I will be posting a lot on football stuff in this part of the blog. =p I really do enjoy football by the way. So anyways, i will be covering things such as latest match scores, matches that I actually watch, football (and maybe some other sports) gossip and news.

Not only that, I am also planning to write about a list of my favorite or / and great football players. From those who aren't that famous to the likes of world-class players. Hopefully this will be somewhat a place for you Pluckerz to get to know your favorite footballers too.

If you would like me to post something on a certain player or event, feel free to leave a comment. =)