Fire at Red Dragon Hostel (formerly Rex Cinema)

I was on my way to have breakfast at Petaling Street when we saw smoke coming out of the roof of the former Rex cinema in Jalan Sultan. Within minute, a fire and rescue truck has arrived. My son who have not witness a building fire was curious about the incident. At the same time, I have my camera with me, it would be interesting to take some photos of the incident.

The Red Dragon Hostel which was once the landmark of the Rex cinema in Jalan Sultan is the place of accommodation for backpackers. All of them managed to flee the place with their items and most of them were seen at the side of the place when the fire occurred.

I can still remember and have told my son that the former Rex cinema was a frequent place that I go to watch shows after school. But the original Rex cinemawas operated by the Shaw Brothers was burnt down in early 1970s. At the time during the incident, the last show that the cinema was showing was "Gone in 60 seconds". The Rex cinema was then really burnt down within 60 seconds. The cinema was then rebuilt and commence for business in 1976 where it was equipped with the best cinema equipment in town and once again there were many patrons to the cinema. However, with the video boom back in the 80's, the number of patrons started to lessen, the cinema was closed in 2002. The Rex cinema was then turned into a hostel instead.

The fire was brought down within an hour and there were many on lookers there which include me and my son.

Here are some of the photos taken during the incident.

Just some sex facts

I found these sex facts (or fiction) quite interesting:

BODY

1. 94% of men lie about their penis size. According to condom manufacturers, only 6% of men
2. need to use extra large condoms.
3. The average man is 4-5 inches long when erect; no matter what you have heard
4. ladies, that's the truth. Incidentally the average vaginal capacity is only 6 inches, for you women who think you can handle king dong.
5. 80% of American men are circumsized, though Pediatrics say it is not necessary.
6. No matter what all the ads say nothing but time can make your penis grow. (most men reach the end of their growth by the early 20's)
7. There is no correlation between penis size and shoe size, hand size, or nose size.
8. Blue balls does exist! It's technically called "prostatic congestion."
9. Only 16% of men shave their privates.

THINGS MEN MIGHT WANT TO KNOW

1. Only 9% of women around the globe consider themselves "attractive" (20% of British women do). 43% of women use the term "natural", 24% say they have "average" looks, 8% prefer the term "feminine", 7% say they are "good looking", and 7% say they are "cute", and finally only 2% of women say they are "sexy".
2. An estimated 85% of women wear the wrong size bra.
3. 60% of women have had breast implants.
4. 75% of women like getting humped(Vulgar Slang The act or an instance of having sexual intercourse.)
5. 95% of women shave their privates.

A FEW THINGS YOU BOTH MIGHT WANT TO KNOW

1. Masturbation is healthy for both men and women.
2. 70% of high schoolers have had sex before they have graduated. 27% lose their virginity senior prom night. Only 3% wait until marriage.
3. 95% of men would have sex with a girl after 1 month of dating. Only 10% of women feel this way.
4. Teens are most likely to have sex for the first time in June.
5. First-time intercourse is often unplanned, meaning it's less likely teens will use contraception.
6. Virginity is often lost with a person they haven't been dating.

5 REASONS WHY SEX IS GOOD!

1. It is a good workout. Sex burns about 150 calories every half an hour. It will lower your cholesterol and improve breathing circulation.
2. You won't get sick. According to research if you have sex 1-2 times a week. You are less likely to get sick.
3. You'll feel happier. You will feel a greater sense of well-being. Women who have more sex were clinically proven to be less depressed than women who don't have sex.
4. Makes you look better; problem is that ugly people don`t get any. Sex releases hormones which make your skin and hair softer and shinier and tone your physique.
5. The best reason: You will live longer. Studies prove that sex makes you live longer. Men who had sex 1-2 times a week, had half the death rate as those who did not indulge themselves at least once a month. It also makes you look younger. If you have sex 3 times a week you may look up to 10 years younger than you really are.

SOME THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN

Having sex 3 times a week for 1 year = Running 75 miles!

Why People Have Sex: 237 Reasons

Why do people have sex? A new study counts the ways and comes up with 237 reasons.

The study comes from Cindy Meston, PhD, and David Buss, PhD, of the psychology department at the University of Texas at Austin.

First, they asked 203 men and 241 women aged 17-52 in Austin, Texas, to anonymously list every reason they had ever had sex. Those men and women were taking psychology classes or were participating in other studies at the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory of the University of Texas.

All in all, participants listed 715 reasons for having sex. The researchers deleted repetitions, boiling the list down to 237 reasons. Follow this link for the details of the study.

Next, Meston and Buss presented the list to 1,549 psychology students and asked them to rate how often, if ever, they had had sex for each of the 237 reasons.

9 Leading Reasons for Having Sex

The researchers identified nine broad themes that characterize the students' top reasons for having sex:

1. Pure attraction to the other person in general
2. Experiencing physical pleasure
3. Expressing love
4. Having sex because of feeling desired by the other
5. Having sex to escalate the depth of the relationship
6. Curiosity or seeking new experiences
7. Marking a special occasion for celebration
8. Mere opportunity
9. Sex just happening due to seemingly uncontrollable circumstances

The study also highlights five general themes that were least frequently cited by the students.

Those themes included wanting to harm another person (their partner, rival, or a stranger), getting resources (such as a job, money, drugs, or gifts), enhancing social status, using sex as a means to a seemingly unrelated end (such as relieving a headache), or having sex out of duty or pressure.

Top 10 Reasons Why Women Have Sex

Here are women's top 10 reasons for having sex:

1. I was attracted to the person.
2. I wanted to experience the physical pleasure.
3. It feels good.
4. I wanted to show my affection to the person.
5. I wanted to express my love for the person.
6. I was sexually aroused and wanted the release.
7. I was "horny."
8. It's fun.
9. I realized I was in love.
10. I was "in the heat of the moment."

Top 10 Reasons Why Men Have Sex

In the study, men's top 10 reasons for having sex are quite similar to the women's list. Here are men's top 10 reasons for having sex, according to the study:

1. I was attracted to the person.
2. It feels good.
3. I wanted to experience the physical pleasure.
4. It's fun.
5. I wanted to show my affection to the person.
6. I was sexually aroused and wanted the release.
7. I was "horny."
8. I wanted to express my love for the person.
9. I wanted to achieve an orgasm.
10. I wanted to please my partner.

I think the answers are very obvious. The conclusion.. everyone one need sex for one thousand and one reasons.

Congratulation of our Prime Minister who is getting married on Saturday

Wow, what a surprise news received today that our Prime Minister is getting married this Saturday (9 June) to Jeanne Abdullah. It was reported in many news clips that Jeanne is a distant relative, has been taking care of the prime minister and his house since his wife, Endon Mahmood, died on Oct. 20, 2005. It was also mentioned that Jeanne was the ex-wife of the brother of Endon Mahmood.

The statement on the Prime Minister's Office web site said Jeanne Abdullah, who will turn 54 on July 29, is the eldest of four siblings. Jeanne is the ex-wife of Endon's brother. Then this would mean that Jeanne is actually the Prime Minister's sister-in-law!!!

The statement said Jeanne has "wide experience in the administration and hotel sector after being involved in managing several famous hotels in Malaysia, including Hotel Hilton Kuala Lumpur and Hotel Pan Pacific."

She has also worked before as ... manager of the Seri Perdana Complex (the prime minister's official residence)," the statement said.

It said Jeanne has two daughters, Nadiah and Nadene, from the previous marriage.

The wedding will be held at the prime minister's official residence and will be attended by close family members only, it said.

Anyway, it would be good for the Prime Minister to have someone to keep company after being a widower.

Thousands of Mexicans strip for photo shoot

A record 18,000 people took off their clothes to pose for US photographic artist Spencer Tunick on Sunday in Mexico City's Zocalo square, the heart of the ancient Aztec empire.

Tunick, who has raised eyebrows by staging mass nude photo shoots in cities from Dusseldorf in Germany to Caracas in Venezuela, smashed his previous record of 7,000 volunteers set in 2003 in Barcelona, Spain.

Directing with a megaphone, Tunick shot a series of pictures with his Mexican models simultaneously raising their arms, then lying on their backs in the square, as well as another scene on a side street with volunteers arranged in the shape of an arrow.

Hundreds of police kept nosy onlookers away during the nippy early-morning shoot, and a no-fly zone was declared above the plaza.

One of the world's biggest and most imposing squares, the Zocalo is framed by a cathedral, city hall and the National Palace official seat of government, which is adorned with murals by Diego Rivera.

A ruined temple next to it was once the centre of the Aztec civilisation and was used for worship and human sacrifice. Spanish conquistadors used bricks from the temple to help build their own capital.

Some participants said the massive turnout showed that Mexicans, at least in the capital, were becoming less prudish.

Mexicans are not used to showing skin. Most men wear shorts only while on vacation, and women tend not to put on miniskirts because of unwanted whistles and stares.

"This event proves that really we're not such a conservative society anymore. We're freeing ourselves of taboos," said Fabiola Herrera, a 30-year-old university professor who volunteered to strip, along with her boyfriend.

The capital of the world's second-biggest Catholic nation, where tough-guy masculinity and family loyalty are held dear, has recently challenged some important traditions.

Last month, Mexico City legislators legalised abortion in defiance of criticism from church officials.

Also, gay couples are getting hitched in civil ceremonies thanks to recently passed laws in the capital, and lawmakers plan to debate whether to legalise euthanasia.

Not all Mexicans were impressed by the spectacle staged by Tunick, who was refused permission to hold his nude photo at the famed Teotihuacan pyramids outside the capital.

"They're losing dignity as men and women," said 63-year-old Armando Pineda, leaning against the cathedral and watching the now-dressed models leave the plaza. "It's an offence against the church."

The Mexico City metropolitan area is home to about 18 million people.

Reuters

Good news for overseas bank in China

Here is good news for overseas bank in China:

Four overseas banks will be able to offer unlimited yuan services on Chinese mainland next month (April 2007) after they incorporate locally.

They include Hongkong And Shanghai Banking Corp., Citigroup Inc., Standard Chartered Bank and Bank of East Asia. The China Banking Regulatory Commission approved the first wave of overseas banks to open up the market as part of the country's commitment to join the World Trade Organization.

Some local people can't wait to try their services from overseas banks after having to line in queues for hours at domestic bank counters.

Before the incorporation, overseas banks could only take term deposits of more than one million yuan which restricted their clients.

What does local incorporation mean for the overseas banks?
A full array of retail yuan business to Chinese including mortgage, credit card and personal lending; if not only term deposit of more than one million yuan is allowed - more income channels.

What does local incorporation mean for retail consumers?
More products and services options from overseas banks.

Credit cards, mortgages and private banking are seen as lucrative sectors with China's emerging number of middle class and super rich clients.

Entering the market
Overseas banks to open as locally incorporated entities in April:

• Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp
• Citigroup Inc
• Bank of East Asia
• Standard Chartered Bank

Overseas banks preparing for local incorporation:

• Hang Seng Bank
• Mizuho Corporate Bank
• Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ
• DBS Bank
• ABM Amro Bank NV
• Wing Hang Bank
• Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp
• JP Morgan Chase & Co

Overseas banks applied for local incorporation:

• United Overseas Bank
• CITIC Ka Wah Bank
• Nanyang Commercial Bank