Bike Friendly City Project Phase II

Now you can see more and more people are doing cycling especially over the weekend. At least that's what I do noticed :)

The project to make Penang a safer place for cyclists has entered the second phase.

The first phase which involved the putting up of signboards and drawing of bicycle emblems from Gurney Drive to Teluk Bahang and the George Town heritage enclave was completed almost two months ago.

G Club Penang Cyclist chairman Dr Lim Seh Guan, who initiated the road safety project, said the team was now looking for sponsors to carry out Phase Two which covers the stretch from Teluk Bahang to Balik Pulau. The phase is expected to cost RM70,000.

“Phases Three and Four will cover Balik Pulau to Queenbay Mall and Queensbay to Gurney Drive,” he said when contacted recently.

He said the project would have to be done in stages due to lack of funds.

“The state helps by organising cycling events to raise funds for the project but we rely mainly on corporate sponsors,” he said.

Citing Phase One as a success in raising awareness among other road users of the rights of cyclists, he said eventually the state should have dedicated bicycle lanes covering the entire island.

“To create bicycle lanes would require widening and tarring of roads — it will be a long and expensive process.

“That is our goal eventually. For now, we are focusing on creating awareness among all motorists so that they will learn to share the road with cyclists,” he said.

For details, visit http://www.pbb.com.my/.

The Star

"328' MCA Election 2010 New LineUp

Here's the result of the new MCA election held yesterday. It's a blend of team from all fraction. Wondering if they can really work together...hmm...

I think much have been said over the last one year of this internal MCA problems. Everybody is losing their patience when talking about MCA. Let's see how they sit down and start doing their work...

NST Online

Malakoff 26km Penang 2010 - 30th May 2010 (Sunday)

Event : Malakoff 26km Penang 2010

Date : Sunday 30 May

Venue : Start/Finish @ Youth Park, Penang

Distance : 26km starts at 5:30am

: 6km starts at 6:30 am

Organised by : Pacesetters Athletic Club, Malaysia (PACM)

It was certainly a tough race for me last year given that I didn't prepared well and also the distance is 5km longer than the half marathons (21km) that I have participated...

But this should be a good run for those who are eager for some running competition after being lying low for the past few months due of the quiet running calendar at the beginning of the year.

So you have 2 months from today, start training !!!

For more information, please click

http://www.malakoffrun.com.my/v10/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=41

Button wins Australian GP

I wouldn't term this as a great Button drive, it's the superb tactical call by his team of mechanics :)

FORMULA One world champion Jenson Button timed his pitstop to perfection to chalk up his first win for McLaren in a rain-affected and entertaining Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Briton, a winner in Melbourne with Brawn GP last year, took the lead when Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, starting on pole position, was pitched into the gravel mid-race by a brake failure.

'It feels so good ... Guys, amazing job, I think we got that pitstop pretty much perfect,' Button, who went for an early change to slicks that proved crucial, shouted over the team radio after beating Renault's Robert Kubica by 12.034 seconds.

'It was the right time. Fantastic job, this is a great way to start the year.' Poland's Kubica was comfortably clear of Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa, who nosed out Spanish team mate Fernando Alonso for third.

Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher finished 10th for Mercedes after being effectively ruled out of the running at the first corner.

Button's left front tyre hit Alonso's right at the first turn, causing the Spaniard to spin and collide with Schumacher and break the Mercedes' front wing. Both then had to fight back from the rear.

They said the majority of the Australian GP winners will go on and win the Drivers' Title for that season. Whoever it is, I surely hope for better fights and more exciting races come our way!

Reuters

Chances to witness the glimpse of Mars

MARS MARS, wait for me to view you !!!

For the next two months Malaysians can catch a glimpse of Mars which to the naked eye would resemble a bright orange star in the sky.

The sight of the red planet would not be visible to the naked eye again until March 2012.

USM Astronomy Club academic adviser Assoc Prof Dr Chong Hon Yew said Mars could be seen only with a telescope after May.

He said Mars could be seen clearly from Monday at 9pm, when the moon and the planet converge for a bright conjunction while the red planet is directly opposite the sun.

Dr Chong said Mars would “disappear” from the naked eye in May when the planet would be in the constellation of Leo in the south-western sky.

“It would then be smaller than it would be in April. It would be visible only with a telescope until the next opposition on March 4, 2012,” he said.

Dr Chong said every two years, Earth and Mars would come close together when the latter appeared 14 arcseconds in diameter or 1/120 the diameter of the moon.

“Every two years or so the sun, Earth and Mars line up. This is called an opposition.

“The planet’s 14 arcsecond diameter will remain essentially unchanged for about a week, setting the stage for some good observing.”

He said the last time Mars was the closest it had been to Earth in 60,000 years was when the planet was 34.65mil miles away on August 27, 2003.

“Mars was then face-on to Earth and opposite the sun on the 28th (opposition). It was the closest to the sun in its orbit on Aug 30.

“The reason Mars was so close was that Earth was about the farthest away from the sun in its orbit at the time that Mars was nearing its closest point to the sun,” he said.

The Star

National Flair Bartending Championship 2010 : 29th March 2010

National Flair Bartending Championship 2010

Date: 29th March 2010
Time: 2pm onwards
Venue: Hard Rock Hotel, Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang

Organizer Malaysian Association of Hotelier Penang Chapter

A new star will bloom and will be harvest by the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Penang Chapter this coming 29th March 2010, 2.00pm at Hard Rock Hotel, Penang, in the form of “National Flair Bartending Championship Competition 2010”.

On Monday, 29th March 2010 19, 2.00pm more than 30 of our nation’s best bartenders / mixologists are expected from every state of Malaysia to make history. They'll be helping to establish a New Record by participating in the 2nd National Flair Bartending Championship 2010, where the eventual Champion and 1st Runner Up will secure a place in the prestigious upcoming 6th ASEAN Bartending Championship in Singapore on 21st April 2010, representing our country, Malaysia, against the finest bartenders of ASEAN.

This event will be a visual feast, with awe-inspiring flair techniques of tossing, balancing, mixing and flipping cocktails and bottles in the air before a judging panel which include amongst others, State & Federal representatives of the Tourism sector, VIP’s & past Asean Bartering Champions.

visitpenang.gov

Earth Hour 8:30pm tonight 27th March 2010

Please help and remember to switch off your lights tonight as well as other electrical appliances :)

Penang will join the rest of the world to flick the switch for Earth Hour! 10,000 candles / lamps will be lit up at Esplanade during the Earth Hour program on 27th March from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Part of Penang will soon be going dark to help Mother Nature. On 27th of March 2010, Penangites are urge to participate in WWF movement known as "Earth Hour," to raise awareness regarding climate change and global warming.

The State Government will officiate this campaign at Komtar Walk by turning off the lights of Komtar, City Hall , Town Hall and more to show initiative and support to this movement in hope that the public as well as schools, shopping malls, factories and other organizations will follow suit."

A campaign by Futurize Global Community Foundation "Unifying Minds - Energizing Souls" will be held on March 27, 2010, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. Where 10,000 candles and lamps will be light up at Esplanade during this earty hour.

Program at Esplanade
Tentative schedule:
7.30 - Pre Earth Hour Events (Inauguration, VIP arrivals, Talks & etc)
8.30 - Light up the lamps (create awareness to safeguard our planet)
8.40 - A Universal Thought (Unify all minds to globalize climate change)
8.50 - Minimal Breathing Technique (Help restore the balance on Earth)
9.00 - Sing along with us - We are the World (Feel your gratitude, love & care for nature)
9.10 - Personal commitment (Practice Earth Hour every hour from now on)
9.30 - End of Program

Save our Mother Nature by turning off your light for one hour.