HOW TO MEASURE THE WEATHER

There are five basic instruments needed for an accurate record of the weather. A rain gauge, anemometer (wind gauge), thermometer, barometer and weathervane.

1.Rain gauge. These come in all shapes and sizes from a basic glass jar with incremental measurements on the side, to a wireless rain gauge which can be placed anywhere in your garden and remotely records data such as current rainfall total, current rainfall rate per hour and daily, weekly or monthly totals. They can also be self-emptying allowing you to measure large precipitation amounts over a period of time.

2.Anemometer (wind gauge). This is a device used to measure the speed of the wind. Its most basic form is a cup-anemometer consisting of four hemispherical shafts mounted horizontally to each other on a vertical shaft. Anemometers can be split into 2 broad groups, hand held and fixed. A fixed wind gauge can measure the wind speed at a given location, and also can provide historical measurements such as average wind speed and maximum gust. A hand held anemometer meanwhile will generally just display the current wind strength, however is extremely flexible as it can be carried anywhere so you can measure the wind speed at the coast or on the top of a mountain.

BAROMETER MERCURY

3.Thermometer. These devices of course measure the temperature. Thermometers have progressed a huge amount since the days of a simple mercury thermometer. Now wireless is all the rage, and from the comfort of your favourite armchair you can check the current, maximum or minimum temperatures and have it displayed in °C or °F. So if you are a keen gardener you will be able to judge how cold it is outside and decide whether or not to cover your more sensitive plants.

4.Barometer. Now barometers measure the atmospheric pressure and again can be used to see if the pressure is rising or falling or steady, providing a good indication of the near future weather. However barometers are so much more than a weather instrument, they can be a work of art. Ornamental barometers grace the walls of many a home, and I can remember as a child tapping our barometer every day to see if the pressure was changing and if the weather was going to be 'fine' or 'stormy'. Of course technology has caught up with air pressure too, so digital barometers are widely available and, as in the instruments above, can be used to measure atmospheric trends aiding in a more accurate picture of the coming weather.

5.Weathervanes. Quite simply the weathervane measures which direction the wind is blowing from. A key component to any weather forecast. But, as with a barometer, they can also be an aesthetical addition to your garden, or roof top! There is now an almost unlimited range of designs ,the more popular styles including animals, birds, sports and many others. It is also possible to have your own hand crafted, designer weathervane.

All these weather recording instruments are widely available as individual units or bundled as a weather station. Whatever your reasons for recording the weather, be it as a hobby or as a necessary part of your profession, enjoy the weather whatever it throws at you!

ACESSORIES FOR MEN

When people think about the word accessory, they usually think about women, but that notion is quickly changing. While women have always had the choices of different types of jewelry, belts, hair accessories, scarves and shoes, men are creeping up with their latest accessories now too. There is no reason that men should not have the same variety as women; they like to change their minds and outfits too.

Fashion for men has really been changing a lot over the past few years and more and more designers are making clothes that tailored specifically for all types of men. It used to be that men fashion designers were only designing suits, shirts and pants for men, but now it has become all about the accessories and really tying that outfit together. Today, men focus more on the perfect pair of shoes, the ties that brings the whole suit together, and the latest belts and scarves.

Ties are becoming the most stylish way to really bring a mens fashion designer suit to a whole new level. Edwardian style cravats and the old fashioned styles of ties are definitely coming back in style. With this type of style tie you do not have to get too flashy with it; a very simple color or a silky white for a more formal look will tie everything together. When you wear a nice stylish yet simple tie like this, you can get a little jazzier with the color of the shirt or even the suit.

Shoes for men are coming out in hordes these days, you can tell by how much larger the shoe department in stores has gotten over the past few years. Dark and earthy shoe colors for men are always classic and very versatile. Be sure to stick to shoes that have a slim and thin sole; this makes the shoe look sleeker and will go well with your favorite designer suit. Belts are an accessory that every man should have, regardless of your everyday style. Men are also becoming much more fashionable and really raising the bar with stylish scarves. Scarves can turn a simple and basic outfit into something that is ready to be out on the town. Knit or smooth silky scarves are materials that you cannot go wrong with for any occasion. If you decide to opt for a more textured scarf then you probably want to go with one that is a solid color or a very simple pattern; do not overdo it. So next time you are getting ready for a night out, think about what extra little thing you could add to make your outfit perfect.

GUNUNG JERAI

Hai guys!!!

In this entry, I want to share about Gunung Jerai where is located at my mom's village...mai pi kedah!!

Formerly known as "Kedah Peak", this forest-clad Gunung Jerai is a massive limestone outcrop that rises 1200m above sea level. As the highest peak in the state, it adds a touch of variety to the scenic flat plains seen throughout the area. It's located near Sungei Petani, not far from the island of Penang. When you've been on Penang you must have seen the Gunung Jerai (across the sea) on the mainland.

From the historical viewpoint, Gunung Jerai plays an important part in the history of Kedah. Even before the Malacca Sultanate became famous, Indian and Arab merchants were already making a beeline for the Merbok estuary at the foothills.

After travelling from the Bay of Bengal, the first glimpse of this strategically located mountain was a welcoming beacon to the sea farers. As a result, they traded and even settled down at the foothills.

Considering this place to be sacred, traders built a complex of temples that have now been excavated and preserved at the Lembah Bujang Archeological Museum site.

Like all other mountains, Gunung Jerai has its fair share of history and fascinating tales. Legend has it that Raja Bersiong, the 'king of fangs', once had his ancient kingdom within the Bujang Valley, at the foot of the mountain. Recent archeological findings revealed the existence of the "Temple of the Ninth Water Pool"; many believe that it was Raja Bersiong's private pool.

Relics uncovered in the area provide evidence of a Hindu-Buddhist civilisation dating back to the fourth century A. D. Isolated from the other mountain ranges of Peninsular Malaysia, Gunung Jerai has a unique range of medicinal plants and herbs not found in other mountains

Today, Gunung Jerai is Kedah's premier hill resort and recreational park. On a clear day atop the peak, the cool, refreshing mountain offers spectacular views of the rolling paddy fields of Kedah stretching up to Perlis, and the islands of Penang in the south and Langkawi in the north-west.

The mountain also offers a unique selection of plants, which make it even more intriguing for the botanist. The Sungai Teroi Forest Recreation Park houses an endless variety of herbs, ferns, flowering plants, and climbers. Picnic sites are scattered all over the park, offering sweeping views of lowland plains and padi fields. Hiking trails that are interspersed with flowerbeds of vivid hues provide opportunities for leisurely strolls. Trees along the path are labelled for easy identification. Part of the mountain stream has even been dammed to provide cool clear pools for swimming. For the more adventurous, overnight shelters have also been provided.

The main vegetation is the dipterocarp forest which consist of hardwoods such as keruing, cengal and meranti. Going up the landscape changes dramatically from lowland to montane conifer forest. Typical species of the conifers include Agathis dammara and Podocarpus imbricatus. Several rare orchids are found on Gunung Jerai including the Bulbophyllum longiflorum. Pitcher plants of the Nepenthes species are also quite common.

The famous Alur Naga waterfall is located about 200m from the resort, which is a magnificent spot. The hike down a path of steep boulders was well worth it as one could spend the whole day enjoying the serenity and beauty of the falls.

The water was clear and the 30m high waterfall simply breathtaking. The pool beneath it is waist deep and safe for swimming. The name was derived from a legend where a dragon was believed to have lived in the cave behind the waterfall and occasionally came out to bathe in the pool.

At the peak of the mountain, the Museum of Forestry houses a wealth of information and artefacts on Malaysian forestry. The museum is housed in a beautiful traditional Malaysian house. It's located on a short distance from the Peranginan Gunung Jerai Resort. At the museum visitors can derive useful information on Malaysian forests and learn among other things, the commercial and medicinal uses of different indigenous plants.

OGRE???

An ogre (feminine: ogress) is a large, cruel, monstrous and hideous humanoid monster, featured in mythology, folklore and fiction. Ogres are often depicted in fairy tales and folklore as feeding on human beings, and have appeared in many classic works of literature. In art, ogres are often depicted with a large head, abundant hair and beard, a voracious appetite, and a strong body. The term is often applied in a metaphorical sense to disgusting persons who exploit, brutalize or devour their victims. Closely related is the troll figure, although these are sometimes not as malevolent.

The word ogre is of French origin. Its earliest attestation is in Chrétien de Troyes' late 12th century verse romance Perceval, li contes del graal, which contains the lines:

“et s'est escrit que il ert ancore

que toz li reaumes de Logres,

qui ja dis fu la terre as ogres,

ert destruite par cele lance”

"And it is written that there will come a time when all the kingdom of Logres [England] which formerly was the land of the ogres will be destroyed by that spear." The ogres in this rhyme may refer to the ogres who, in the pseudohistorical work History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth, were the inhabitants of Britain prior to human settlement. Ogre could possibly derive from the two mythical giants Gog and Magog (or from the Greek river god Oiagros, father of Orpheus).

The word ogre came into wider usage in the works of Charles Perrault (1628–1703) or Marie-Catherine Jumelle de Berneville, Comtesse d' Aulnoy (1650–1705), both of whom were French authors. Other sources say that the name is derived from the word Hongrois, which means Hungarian, as of western cultures referred to hungarians as a kind of monstrosity. The word ogre is thought to have been popularized by the works of Italian author Giambattista Basile (1575–1632), who used the Neapolitan word uerco, or in standard Italian, orco. This word is documented in earlier Italian works (Fazio degli Uberti, XIV cent.; Luigi Pulci, XV; Ludovico Ariosto, XV-XVI) and has even older cognates with the Latin orcus and the Old English orcnēas found in Beowulf lines 112-113, which inspired J.R.R. Tolkien's Orc. All these words may derive from a shared Indo-European mythological concept (as Tolkien himself speculated, as cited by Tom Shippey, The Road to Middle-earth, 45). Some see the French myth of the ogre as being inspired by the real-life crimes of Gilles de Rais.

The first appearance of the word ogre in Perrault's work occurred in his Histoires ou Contes du temps Passé (1697). It later appeared in several of his other fairy tales, many of which were based on the Neapolitan tales of Basile. The first example of a female ogre being referred to as an ogress is found in his version of Sleeping Beauty, where it is spelled ogresse. The Comtesse d' Aulnoy first employed the word ogre in her story L'Orangier et l' Abeille (1698), and was the first to use the word ogree to refer to the creature's offspring.

Malay Table Manners

Today, I want to share about Malay table manners. This articles I was read from one article at internet..so, hope you all enjoy reading it..

Like other races, Malay table manners is unique and the etiquette regarding food is also quite elaborate.Malay culture has a few ways of handling food which are still practised until today. There are rules and taboos that you must observe if you happen to be invited to a Malay home for a meal.

Malays are also invariably muslims, therefore there is no pork, non-halal meat or alcohol beverages served in a Malay home.

I will cover the traditional ways of dining, modern ways of serving as well as the etiquette during the breaking of fast during Ramadhan.

It is polite to bring a gift of fresh fruits to your host. This is called buah tangan. If it is a wedding reception at a village, it is nice to bring something sweet, like sugar, jelly or cakes in addition to your wedding present to the happy couple.

It is also acceptable to give a gift of cash for the newlyweds, you place the money in an envelope and hand it to either parent of the bride or groom upon leaving. The envelope is slipped discretely into their hands when you shake them to congratulate them on their son's or daughter's marriage.

Traditional Malay Table Manners

Typical Malay village homes are built in stilt. They have a flight of stairs leading to the main hall.

You are required to take off your shoes and clean your feet at the entrance. Most homes have a water pipe or a big earthenware jar called tempayan that holds water for the purpose.

Traditional Malay feast is laid down on the floor. When all guests are seated facing a square piece of clothes called saprah (similar to a tablecloth but laid on the floor), food will be brought in.

Malay meals are not served in courses, rather, all food are presented at the same time. Using a small bowl with water or ketor (a jug with cleaning water, together with a big bowl to catch the remaining water), you dip the tip of all your right fingers for cleansing. The meal will be eaten with your right hand. Left hands should never be used to handle food at any circumstances.

The main dish will be rice, there will be three or four side dishes that go with the rice. Dishes with kuah will have a spoon for your to scoop the sauce, soup or gravy but for dry dishes, you simply tear a piece of the food with your right hand from a communal dish.

Normally, female guests and children will be served on a separate saprah than from the men. The exception will be if the couple in question are honored guests or it is a small private affair.

The way men and women sit are notably different. Men crisscross their feet in front of them - bersila. Women fold both their feet on one side - bersimpuh (normally on their right side). For those who are not used to this manner of sitting, it can be quite uncomfortable.

Some rules regarding Traditional Malay table manners

* Each grain of rice is sacred, you must clean your place. Hence, you only scoop enough rice for your own consumption and not too much.

* Do not chew and talk at the same time. Take each morsel in small bites and do not swallow in big bites.

* If there were two guests suddenly reaching out for the same dish, the elder would be given the honor to go first.

* If you tasted something and did not like it, do not place it back in the communal dish. Put it aside your own plate.

* Bones, shells and inedible residue may be placed on a special platter provided. Failing which, you put on the side of your plate.

* Food cannot be placed on its own on the floor as a sign of respect for the provision that God provides. Also, you must never point at the food (or anyone) using your foot.

* Even though the drinks are offered simultaneously, it is better to drink only after you clean your plate.

* Burping or belching is okay for men (they must cover their mouths while doing so) but farting is a big no-no.

Now, let's cover modern Malay table manners.

Modern Malay Table Manners

Nowadays, most Malay homes have normal dining table and chairs but still, the basic etiquette is still followed, especially regarding the respect of food.

You will be served with a pair of fork and spoon but not dining knives.

However, some Malay families adopt elaborate western ways of dining, you would be wondering if you have entered an English home by mistake!

Now, let us cover finger food, snack and rules during teatime.

* For finger food, ketor or a bowl of water for cleaning your fingers usually are provided.

* If a sauce is offered, dip once in the communal sauce dish and eat right away. Do not dip the piece that you have tasted back for more sauce! This is okay of course if each diner is given an individual sauce dish.

* If there are several pieces in the plate left, do not take the last piece left. What you can do, place the second last piece back into the plate and both remaining pieces are taken simultaneously by you and the person before you.

There is a story behind this. It was said that the young lady who took the last piece of food on the plate would never get her match in marriage. Hence, the invention of this rule. However, the real reason is, the young lady should think of others before taking that last piece of food for herself.

* Tissue paper or serviette usually are prepared for you to wipe your mouth and fingers.

* If you must use a toothpick, use it while covering your mouth with both hands.

Credit to: http://www.bahasa-malaysia-simple-fun.com