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  • World Chocolate Day – Vimeo Video

    World Chocolate Day – Vimeo Video

    Animate character or objects to a certain level on the fly. For example: a robot can be put into stasis at a preset level, while a statue can be moved over to another space while an enemy can be put back into stasis. Once the robot or statue goes into stasis, the other robot or statue can move over to replace it.

    Animating an illustration character or a simple painting can be as simple as holding your finger over the screen and the screen will animate. This also applies to the ability to add additional text that does not require a separate drawing.

  • How to Be a Fashion-Loving Minimalist

    If you read an article about how to live without an income every day for the rest of your life, you might be thinking, “Well … that isn’t going to happen.” But you’re wrong, because there is the possibility that we can achieve that on a daily basis.

    It’s not easy, but there are some things that should be a minimum amount of work. At that, we can get away with not having to think about what to buy or what to take for granted. So we will focus solely on what we must do everyday to be a successful person.

    I’ll be writing each of these articles on a different aspect of being a minimalist.

    This article was originally published at BoredPanda and has since been republished here with permission.

    Let’s start by saying this: You are not going to live your life like a caveman: You would want to starve out the hunger in your body to avoid wasting too much calories.

    The ideal amount of clothing, makeup, and hairstyle — it all matters to me.

    The problem is we have to work for the very basics of living a life of minimalism in order to be able to achieve this lifestyle. While we can have food, exercise, and time for fun.

    The ideal amount of clothing, makeup, and hairstyle — it all matters to me. However, I also like to find a balance of items that are easy to find, easy to maintain, and can be reused time and again. I have a handful of personal products that I keep in my stash; if I really need to use an item more than once, I stick to it. If I’m trying to wear another item only once, I keep my eye out for products that allow my eye for a few minutes before I bring my eye mask and makeup down.

    When it comes to clothes, I’m willing to experiment by shopping a “somewhat” basic mix of clothes that complement my lifestyle. While I don’t have the need to carry an entire wardrobe full of clothes that have an image of minimalism, I am flexible enough to make a decision to try it one day.

    For example, in the past, when I’d be really desperate to find a good balance between light and bulky clothing

    How to Be a Fashion Show King” was an official guide and fashion book from the Royal Enfield Factory. It was illustrated with detailed illustrations of the main events.

    The books sold like hot cakes before they were taken over by the National Museum in 2005 and, despite being a major influence on the world of fashion, they’re no longer in circulation. But there are a few collector’s items that remain that may still be worth a visit. Here they are!

    The first was a large-scale replica of the original royal army uniform, which has still never been restored.

    The second was an actual pair of pants that might be worth a lot more than they currently are.

  • Home internet and broadband for expats in Malaysia

    You get to choose from three major internet providers. That is not a lot of options but it’s better than when there was just TM. What home internet plans can and should you get? How do you get home internet in Malaysia? How much does home internet cost in Malaysia?

    Your home internet provider choice will be based on several factors:

    • Price, of course
    • Where you live. Not just the location but the kind of accommodation (landed, as in terrace etc or a condominium)
    • What you do with the internet
    • If you want TV channels with your internet

    While getting an internet connection in your home is the same process as for locals, foreigners in Malaysia do need to pay an rm500 deposit at the start of your contract, which typically runs for at least 24 months.

    The amount will be included in your first or second-month bill, but you will be reimbursed if and when you decide to terminate the contract AFTER the 24-month period. And IF the free equipment you get at the start of your contract is returned intact.

    All the home internet providers in Malaysia over unlimited plans or unlimited usage monthly quotas, so that levels the playing field.

    Your options and why those factors we highlighted matter

    unifi

    A product of Telecoms Malaysia (TM), the national telecommunications company. Offers between 30Mbps and 300Mbps with prices that go from rm79 for the lowest speed to rm200 for the highest. They also provide you access to TV channels if that is your thing (or don’t have Netflix).

    Pros:

    • You get TV channels
    • Available in most locations, in both landed houses and condominiums
    • No relocation fee (if you change your address)

    Cons:

    • Service levels have not always been remarkable
    • Relatively expensive for not-as-fast internet

    unifi home internet package details
    Source: unifi.online

    MaxisONE

    For between rm90 and rm300 monthly, you get internet speeds that range from 30Mbps to 800Mbps. We never tried the MaxisOne service before, but general opinion suggests that the network is based on the TM/unifi fiber network and should have similar speeds and qualities.

    Pros:

    • Offers theoretically higher speeds than unifi
    • Also relatively cheaper than unifi
    • Available in many locations, in both condominiums and landed properties

    Cons

    • More expensive than other options
    • Does not offer TV channel packages (for people who want that)
    • rm200 relocation fee

    MaxisONE home internet package details
    Source: MaxisONE Home Fibre plans

    TIME Internet

    You can get between 100Mbps and 1Gbps for rm100 to rm200. Yep, you read that right. TIME Internet currently offers the highest theoretical internet speeds in Malaysia but comes with a compromise.

    Pros:

    • Highest speeds (on paper) in Malaysia
    • Great price value (relatively and comparatively cheaper than the competition)

    Cons:

    TIME home internet package details
    Source: TIME dot com Malaysia

    It’s obvious that the best all-around option on the list is TIME. But if you live in a landed property or condominium that does not have that option then you get two other choices. Choose wisely as you’ll be in the contract for 2 years.

    If you don’t do a lot of online activities that require a high-speed home internet connection, then a 100Mbps broadband package will be cost-effective and sufficient.

    To get started, just visit your preferred home internet service provider’s website and sign up for your preferred home internet package.

    Additional resources:

  • What is an Influencer?

    What is an Influencer?

    An influencer is someone who has a large following within the product or service, and can influence customers or potential customers to take a particular action.

    I’ve written before about how the “social media manager” is key to building a successful product, and why influencers are key to building strong brand authority as well.

    How do you build influencers? Here is the process:

    Create a goal – Set a target audience and set the goal. Use social media platforms to gather this “know your consumer” information. Determine the right people to target. Look to identify influencers you know that have a strong following on each channel, and use them to help you reach those customers. Invite the influencers you’ve identified to be part of your product, or product launch.

    This process will help you create strong relationships with influencers using social media. By following my advice, you can build strong influence within a short amount of time.

    How to Find An Influencer?

    One of the best ways to find an influencers online is to find them on social media and on social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

    For example, here are some of their sites/websites that would make an excellent candidate as part of your online outreach:

    Instagram

    Instagram offers several good ways to get involved with Instagram or any other social network.

    Follow the Instagram Community on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

    Follow the Instagram community on Instagram to find influencers who have a particular niche in Instagram and the influencers will usually post their photos to their social media accounts, as well.

    Follow the Instagram Community to help them promote your Instagram products / services.

    If you want to learn how to become featured in Instagram then head to this Instagram website and sign-up for the Instagram Insider Program.

    Facebook

    Facebook is the main social networking site by a country mile. Therefore, it has an incredible amount of potential.

  • Go Places You’ve Dreamed of

    I have been working and playing hockey for six years now and I’m trying to qualify for some international tournaments in the future to represent Canada.

    The officer is a tall man with a well defined jaw and full beard. His white T-shirt, long sleeves and baseball cap are all reflective of his service. He has three young children and is proud, he tells me, of those they have. But he also speaks with a lot of pain.

    The first time I played hockey, my mom was there. She has been through her entire life. I don’t think she could look me in the eyes and feel how tough it is to get back into the game,” he tells me.

    Even today, at my age, I still feel like I can’t do this. I have a family, I want to make them proud, and I want to help them in some way.

    From the time of the arrival of the first modern-art museum in Kyoto in 1868 to the opening in the late 19th Century and now, when it is the main attraction of Japanese cities, there has been a continuing push to make Kyoto “one of the worlds cultural centres.

    And if they don’t think about how many are to come, they are living their own little dream. They might as well just hope that it comes out.

    Journey in Japan“, “the book that I’m reading right now”. Then the man starts writing the book in Japanese. Then we see a Japanese girl reading it. His last name is Hirose, but I have no idea what it is. Maybe it’s a name of someone he met in Japan. This whole thing is ridiculous. So they go to a hotel. They go to a hotel that sells “journey in Japan” books. They go to the “Kanji hotel”. You do not see any real Japanese people anywhere… It has really good beds in the hotel. And they go to the “Journey in Japan” room. In this room, I am told, is a Buddhist temple. They sit and read the book. When you sit down to read the book, there are three people in front of you. They are Japanese, Korean, and a Chinese.

    They are talking about how you must be Japanese to appreciate the story. That’s what they say.

  • Sunrise and Sunset on Mars

    Sunrise and Sunset on Mars

    To explore the surface of Mars as a whole, scientists have focused almost exclusively on a portion of its surface, called the ‘Celestial latitudes’. It has a latitude of about 55 degrees north, and a longitude of about 2 degrees south. The surface is cold at this latitude, and at a very specific location, in a crater-filled region called the Meridiani Planum, where Earth is closest to Mars.

    When we look at the evening sky over Mars, we usually see the same sky over a variety of different views.

    The Sun makes an appearance, but a combination of small dust grains and dust storms is visible. During Mars’ annual winter, it is a little brighter than the rest of the planet, making it difficult to capture with a small telescope.

    On average, the Sun appears as a little reddish-orange due to dust in the atmosphere.

    For this Martian year, I will likely look up at a clear night, with a couple of dark spotlights on a tripod or small telescope at about 7:30 pm. For several hours, I will observe the bright Sun rise, and then return to the same spotlight at twilight. From the moonlit mountain pass above the pass, I will then look down into a valley, and then up into the pass.

  • The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

    The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

    Chinese Proverb
    … what this Chinese Proverb means to you now?

    Basically in the context of the conversation here today, this means that if you want success and growth in the future, the best time to act is now.

  • In conversation with… Rumbidzai Lyn Kasinamunda

    Rumbidzai Lyn Kasinamunda is from Zimbabwe and is a customer experience and senior IT adviser based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    What we talked about…

    Companies that make you go through the entire job application process with multiple assessments, then filter you out based on a call they make to you. Do HR executives even look at the candidate resumes at all?

    Would you prefer to be informed by the HR that the company is not looking for foreigners, only looking for locals or you think being in the dark is better?

    The experience hasn’t been all bad, though. Between 2015 and 2018, she was based in Cyberjaya and going to work was a major highlight of her time.

    ** Regarding people being deported, the interview was done in June 2019. I’m not sure what the situation is now. There’s the story of Jeff who—like the MBA student who died in police custody recently—spent a week in police custody even though he had valid work documents.

    If you’re a foreigner in Malaysia, do you have local friends? Do you think that you should have friends who are Malaysian?

    She talks about the black woman experience in Malaysia and how black women tend to stick to their people. “The dating pool is limited (for black women). But for black men, the dating pool is wider.”

    This forms part the basis of Other Expats’ August 2019 theme: dating and relationships while black in Malaysia.

    Share your thoughts, comments or opinions about this in the comments or let me know if you want to be on the series of interviews we have scheduled for this month.

    https://radiopublic.com/other-expats-6rVKqk/ep/s1!1605c

  • Making Music, Spreading Smiles

    Making Music, Spreading Smiles

    Music by Max Sergeev from Fugue

    Artists, art lovers and art lovers alike are inspired by the new Mondo event, a celebration of visual art, storytelling and music. It gives an opportunity for art lovers across the country to learn more about the culture they love, and to enjoy the artists playing, the artists promoting and the artists that will have a part in the festivities.

    The Mondo Music Festival will continue to bring diverse voices from around the country to San Antonio at a weekend that will include an art gallery in historic Frank Lloyd Wright Park, live music and workshops.

  • Transfer Car Ownership for Expats in Malaysia – Puspakom, JPJ & Insurance

    As an expat in Malaysia, you may be looking for more ways to get around without having to rely on the not-so-convenient Grab all the time. If you are going to be in the country for a long time, getting your own vehicle may be the best option.

    The next thing may be deciding whether you want to buy a new or used vehicle. Whatever your decision, here are a few online sites where you can search for new and used cars in Malaysia.

    I bought a car. Now what?

    After you’ve examined, tested and bought your preferred vehicle, you’ll need to have it registered to your name. That is transfer ownership from the previous owner to yourself.

    Some people prefer to use ‘runners’ for this entire process because it can be a hassle if you don’t have the time. The runners are not free, though, and cost upwards of RM150.

    If you do it yourself, it will cost you about an hour at a Puspakom centre (which you can do on a weekend) and about 90 minutes for the actual transfer at JPJ (weekdays only for foreigners) and insurance. That is a lunch break.

    Step 1: You’ll need to get an inspection report from Puspakom

    Some car dealers will get this for you. If you’re getting it yourself (for the experience), all you have to do is book a time slot online for your car to be examined.

    You can see Puspakom inspection centres near you here and book a convenient time here. You’ll need to create an account and enter the details of your car including the plate number, name of the previous owner, passport number etc. Straightforward stuff.

    It cost RM35.30 for a transfer of ownership inspection for a private, salon car. Prices are in that range (between RM20 and RM90) depending on the inspection type and your type of car (commercial, van, lorry etc).

    Step 2: Go for the inspection

    You’ll need to bring all the documents requested on the Puspakom website. This includes your passport and the Sijil Pemilikan Kenderaan (vehicle ownership certificate – VOC) which you should get with your purchased vehicle.

     

    If your selected centre is not crowded, then you should be in and out in about or less than 90 minutes. The centres are also open as early as 8.00am if you want to be in and out before your day starts.

    You just park your vehicle in the line up of vehicles waiting to be inspected. The inspectors usually take on a few cars at a time, so you’ll need to just move the car after each stage of the inspection.

    NOTE: If the car has a tint, take it off. Whatever the level of tint, it is safer to take it off, pass the inspection and get a new one rather than fail the inspection and have to go start from the beginning with the booking.

    If your car passed the inspection, you’ll get a B5 form (for vehicle ownership transfer), a computer-generated inspection report that says “LULUS – passed” indicating that your car passed its inspection. “GAGAL” means that you need to go do it again.

    Step 3: Head to JPJ

    The Department of Road Transport (or Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan – JPJ) office is next. Expats and foreigners must go to a major JPJ branch for transfer of ownership and not a satellite (UTC) branch. Of course, you’ll need the inspection results from Puspakom (B5), your VOC, passport and your driver’s license.

    Some expats have said that they were not asked for their driver’s license but we were. You know how these things go. So, if you have one (which you should, otherwise, like…?), take it along. You don’t need to bring the car along. Helpful in cases where the car road tax has expired. You can get the road tax at the JPJ office.

    Total payment at JPJ was RM763.80. That includes RM200 (expat price as the lady indicated it is cheaper for Malaysians) for getting a new VOC in your name and RM563.80 for a six-month road tax for a 260cc salon vehicle (you can get an estimate of your road tax here).

    The process is straightforward, again. Inform the counter that you’re there for a change of ownership, get a ticket number, wait for your number, pay the RM200 and get your VOC.

    Most JPJ offices have car insurance vendors around. Find one and negotiate if necessary, pay for the insurance (based on the cost of the car, age and type of car). You’ll have to pay your insurance every year.

    By the time you leave the JPJ office, you should have a new VOC, car insurance and a road tax sticker that you should stick on the car windshield. After that, your car is ready to be on the road.