GONG XI FA CAI WITH TEA LATTES

So, Two montHs ago, I mEntioned that StaRbucks wIll make the ChriStmas holiday sEason so special and they did indeed. During the Christmas season, we were served with the smooth and cold toffee and cherry frappuccinos, with an extra exquisite aged Starbucks Christmas Blend coffee bean. If you had some short-memory, click back to view that post. Last Christmas, we had Toffee Nut Frappuccino, Toffee Nut Latte and Dark Cherry Mocha Frappuccino. Well at least Britney Spears also agreed with me that the Christmas offerings were great although i actually missed Praline Mocha Frappuccino more.
As expected, Starbucks will once again ushering and welcoming this Chinese New Years like all these years, this time with sOme goodness from tea Farm this time. THEir special beverages of the upcoming Lunar new Year are tea lattes. I'm not surprise with the seleCtions at all since the Chinese are known for their love of the tea trAdition. Tea traditioNS and cultures are part of the heritage. Therefore, it is great that the upcoming Angpow festival will be filled out with a special menu within the range of tea latte.

First, you will assure heard of Green Tea Latte (GTL) as loved most by our dear Jess. Well, this new year, GTL spawns rather new edition but not so much different version from the original - Green Tea Soy Latte (GTSL). As the name suggests, it is a combination of the normal Tazo green tea with latte (milk coffee) but uses Soy milk insTead of cow milk. Soy milk is getting A great demand and populaRiTy to replace cow milk in the Starbucks' recipe these days. Yes, soy milk is healthier than cow milk and less likely to cause any side effects, while it can be consumed by those with lactose intolerance. I think it is like GTL but with some soy flavour and aroma in it. I think it was great!!

Second beverage is a unique drink called Chai Tea Latte (CTL). Chai tea is not an original Chinese tea and not as well with this one of course. Chai tea is an Indian-origin spiced tea and known for its herbal and earthly aroma. Traditionally, spices like cardamon, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, peppercorn and cloves are used to be mixed in these tea. I'm pretty sure that they are using the same spices here and there, Just like the TAzo Grey Earl or somethiNg.

Last but not least, Vanilla Black Tea Latte (VBTL). It uses again, Tazo's range of great taste of black teas. Black tea is the vast majority types of tea available worldwide. It is largely consumed by the West and can be found everywhere.Well, here in Starbucks, they put some Vanilla into your beverage...I haven't taste it yet, so I have no idea how it would be.

Well, these beverages cost an usual price range of between RM 13 to Rm 16 (around) for the size between Tall to Venti. The best tea lattes from Starbucks are serve as hot or chill. So, what are you waiting for - go grab one today and enjoy!! Well, it is a brand new year 2009..the year of the ox!!

Before that of course, the author would like to wish you an early Happy Chinese New Year wish - GONG XI FA CAI!! Sorry, the author is going back to enjoy his Green Tea Soy Latte.

YOUTH '09

Hello readers,
I have several questions for you to ponder just a while:

1) Are you aware of the upcoming YOUTH '09?
2) Are you free this weekend?
3) Do you want to catch some great activities that you are about to discover (below)?

YOUTH '09 - WHAT IS THAT?

You bet it! If you are not in town or haven't heard about this event anywhere before, this is your chance of knowing it and your chance to do so.

YOUTH '09 is Malaysia's largest youth lifestyle event features a 3-days festival that is held from this Friday (9th of January) at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), bringing in youth communities for a range of exciting activities. This festival caters not only the youth but also involves everyone from all different background and age. The theme for this year's event is "Malaysia's Largest Youth Lifestyle Revolution".

SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED ANSWERS (FAA)

1. Entrance is free. Yes it is free but you can get your free pass to YOUTH '09 from Youthsays, the event's official online community at here.

2. Previous participants have described the events to be exciting, beneficial and revolutionary. Do check out for a massive and bigger benefits for us as the youth (Take note: youth are those below 35 years of age or so)

3. Time of event: Everyday 10.30 am to 9.30 pm. Come anytime you want but do check their schedule for more updates on the events

4. YOUTH'09 is jointly organized by Persatuan Pemuda Negara Malaysia, YouthMalaysia, and The Youth Intelligence. YOUTH'09’s partners include Rakan Muda, 8TV, AIESEC Malaysia, Animax, Fly FM, Hai Magazine, Hot FM, Jazzercise, Kareer.com.my, Macro Kiosk, Malaysian Today, Mangga, Mangga TV, Nuffnang, Wanita, Don't Panic, Remix, Utusan Karya, Sports Planet, Innity, MIRC Incubator, Utusan, Kosmo, and Friendster.

5. Some of the awesome activities include:

The 2nd National Youth Entrepreneur Convention 2009
Battle of the Bands 2
Extreme Street Dance Challenge
Communtiy Meet-ups and Gathering
Career attack
1 vs 1 Caged Futsal
Youth Designer Festival
Modern Fitness
Graffiti: Write It Out Loud
Expression Photography Challenge
Celebrity Sessions
Foosball Tournament
FLY FM Campur Chart
3 vs 3 Basketball Challenge
Animax Cosplay Competition

For more of these events, please visit the website here for more details.

GET YOUR FREE PASS NOW!!!

So anyone is coming? Reply me, OK....

Why Bible Is Not In BM?

[Sources: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/25/nation/20081225184149&sec=nation]

These days the Churches and The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) have voice their hopes that the Government will allow Bible to be published in Bahasa Malaysia (BM). Why not since our government is so supportive in the usage of BM in our daily life. The government however has restrict the usage of Bible in written BM. "Though special exemption was made for this Bible to be used by Christians in churches, in this modern day and age when almost anything can be accessed on the Internet, it is regrettable that our Holy Scriptures are still seen as ‘prejudicial to the security’ of the country,” said Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng, vice-chairman of CFM.

Let me tell you something why Bible cannot be published in BM. The reason is that publishing the Holy Bible in Malaysia is a crime. What worst to come is that the crime is punishable by one law; be fearful people, it is the Internal Security Act (ISA). According to the ISA Section 22 (1), the government had indeed placed the Bible as a dangerous tool!!

Article 22 (1) of ISA states that certain publications and documents are considered unlawful if it contains any:

1. Incitement to violence
2. Counsels disobedience to the law or to any lawful order
3. Likely to a breach of peace, or to promote feelings of hostility between races or classes of the population
4. Prejudicial to the national interest, public order or the security of Malaysia
   

So, it seems like having the Holy Bible in BM is a violation of the fourth point. Suddenly, I ponder upon the question of on how a holy religious book can be such a "prejudicial to the national interest, public order or the security of Malaysia". I can't help laughing when I read that statement again and again.

[Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/2/nation/20090102173955&sec=nation]

On the other hand, a Catholic newspaper The Herald may push things a little further by taking the Malaysian Government to court for allegedly violating the rights of religious minorities by refusing to let the publication to use BM. See here we go again, same issue, regarding the use of BM. Apparently the Home Ministry had restricted them from using BM for the newspaper's multi-lingual editions. Rev. Lawrence Andrew, editor of the Herald, said the newspaper sent a letter to the ministry Friday to appeal the order. If there is no response in seven days or the decision is not retracted, the Herald will consider legal action against the government. A bold move!!

Bold as it seen, this is the second time The Herald is bringing up matters against the Government by court. The Herald has sought a court order to challenge the government’s ban last year on its use of "Allah". A hearing is scheduled for next month. Yes another bold move!!

But what is the chances of over-turn the decision?

In Malaysia, which deem as a role model of a multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-ethnicity nation, it is unfortunate that there are some party is trying so hard to preserve and protect what the majority have by suppressing the underlings and the minorities. This is their policy as such and evidently, we have see throughout these 50 years this nationhood stands. Priority in this and that! Advantage on this and that! So if the minorities are to able to stand on their own feet, guess what, they did it on their own. It is time to re-consider the way of life we are heading for the next century. Live to spoon-feed or learn to scoop on your own.

It is kind a hard life to live as a minority. As a minority living here in Malaysia, why can't the Government open their eyes wide enough to see this. What makes you think the Bible is a dangerous tool that can destroy the nation? And what makes you think that by writing Christianity in BM can doom the nation? I guess only those who can't think out of their little boxes, those who are ignorant enough and those who are so ultra-conservative can come out with such idea. It will be a less-critical thinking if you think that by writing Christianity in BM can destroy the faith of one, thus creating havoc and chaos. So as for me, why not BM?