A good example is someone who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way...

One More Weekend In Raissa

2011-10-22T01:48:00.000-07:00

Today, 22-Oct-11, it's going to be more than two months since the last time I visited my hometown, BDG. I remember that day, 09-Aug-11, I just finished with my night shift in JKT and I drove back home. It was the last time I drove RS-1, whom I missed so much now.

More than that, I really miss my family out there in BDG. This is the longest time I don't come to Bandung since I got transferred to my new assignment in BPN. Before, I was satisfied enough to come back home once a year, meeting my dearest ones for only couple days in a year.

It's been more than two months also I haven't seen RS-2 since the first time I saw her. My sister always sent me some pictures of her, she looks very nice now. I wish I can see it with my own eyes.

The things I miss so much right now are:

1. RS-1 - miss the sound, miss the leather!! :)

Miss all my song collections inside. Miss my sleeping bag on the trunk.

2. My lovely Ibanez(es) - need to take care of them, been a while I don't play them.

3. RS-2 - last time I saw, she was still dirty. Now she is going to be a very nice one :) Going to be launched soon enough! .

4. Lake House - visit this page for more info http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002018154815 it's been ages since the last time I went there. The ducks were just got rid. Next gear to bring over there is a boat #wishlist. We'll see if I can get one when I get home :)

One more weekend in Raissa, then hopefully I can jump on to a flight to JKT by the end of October. And will have my time off in BDG while celebrating my special day

Thank GOD for everything that has happened, He knows better about the future, He holds the future.

We can only plan, but always His will be done.

Man's Pray

2011-10-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

I got this from my friend. I figured the words are nice. Enjoy!

"Lord, I pray for a woman that will be a part of my life. A woman that really loves You more than everything. A woman that lives not for herself but for You. She must know for whom and what she lives, so her life isn't useless. Someone that has a wise heart not only a smart brain. A woman that not only adores me, but can warn me when I'm wrong. A woman that can be my best friend. A woman that makes me feel like a man when I'm beside her. I don't ask for a perfect woman but I ask for an imperfect woman. A woman that needs my support, my love, my prayer for her life. Give me Your hands so I always be able to pray for her. Give me Your eyes, so I can see good things in her and not the bad one. Give me Your mouth that is filled with Your words of wisdom so I can support her. And I want that finally both of us can say "How Great Thou Art". Amen"

Lesson in life

2011-10-14T11:49:00.001-07:00

A wise man sat in the audience and cracked a joke.
Everybody laughs like crazy.
After a moment, he cracked the same joke again.
This time, less people laughed.
He cracked the same joke again and again.
When there is no laughter in the crowd,
he smiled and said:
"you can't laugh at the same joke again and again,
but why do you keep crying over the same thing
over and over again?"

What Is A Relationship Actually?

2011-09-11T16:42:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been involved in some discussion about relationship. Relationship between parents and sons/daughters, brothers and sisters, friends, co-workers, etc.

Keeping up a good relationship is not as easy as flipping hands. We need to give it some efforts.

For me, being a neutral person is actually the best position we can have. That way we can actually be friends to everyone. But, being on this position also will give us disadvantage, such as it will feel that we do not have a strong decision. Anyway, being neutral is also a decision. In the other hand, we cannot make everyone happy :)

For me, the most important relationship in the world is the relationship between us and God. This is a really private relationship that no one else can disturb. Having a good relationship with God is the role key to keep up our relationship with others, to appreciate others, to appreciate what we had, to appreciate what we have, to appreciate what we don't have. I'm actually not in the best position to say this, because I'm currently pretty far away from my God :) I need to rebuild it and recover it.

Then it comes to family. They are the very first people that had met us in the world. They are the one who makes us like we are now. Never ever sacrifice family matters for any other matters, they are our main priority.

Interesting relationship that I still need to figure out is the relationship between man and woman. Most of people wants to have girlfriend/boyfriend as soon as possible, so do I actually. But when I think about it further, I don't think having girlfriend is more beneficial. If something bad happens, I believe it will generate more disadvantages. Bad experiences I had before make me a better now, hopefully :) I feel that having lots of friends is soooo much better. No heartache, no anger, no worries, and many others. Better to propose the person you love directly, and be friends before.

The other relationship that is interesting is one between us and co-workers. In the place I work for, I don't have any issues with my co-workers. Actually we are a bunch of young people that work together since the first we're out of college. That's why I really feel the teamwork right here. I enjoy working with my friends. We had good and bad times together, faced troubles together.

Focus not on yourself. God gives you life to be light among others.
Build your relationship with God, be loyal to your family, be good to your friends.

That's what a relationship for me. What's yours?

How Will I Know If I Met The Person I Should Marry

2011-04-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

This article was taken from an email my friend sent me.

Enjoy :)

The choice of a marriage partner should not be based on "I get a warm,wonderful feeling whenever we're together and I want to have that warmwonderful feeling forever, so let's go get married". Feelings, as we have discussed, have no logic on their own.

They need to be acknowledged, ofcourse, but they need considerable assistance from your brain. Marriage means choosing the person you will spend the rest of your life with.This person will live with you, eat meals with you, sleep with you, and go on vacation with you. More important yet, this person will share your children. You need to choose wisely.

The decision should not be made based on feelings alone. You need to ask yourself some tough questions. The decisions have to be made on solid considerations. Will this person be a good partner? Is she/he mature enough to put her/his ownselfish desires aside to look out for what is best for the family? Is heprepared to be a good provider? What is his track record? Is heresponsible enough to get a good job and keep it? Will this person be a good parent? Can you stand the thought of yourchildren turning out exactly like this person? They will, you know.

Children spend a lot of time with their parents and consequently pick up many ormost of their parents' character traits. You had better like your spouse'straits a lot because you will be seeing them again in your children. If something were to happen to you, would you completely trust thisperson, alone, with the ask of raising and forming your children? This is not apleasant thought, but it is an important consideration. Not everyone dies ata ripe old age with great grandchildren gathered around the bed.

Sometimes a parent dies and leaves young children! In the care of the other parent. If you feel that you would need to be around to correct or lessen this person'sinfluence on your children, Then you are considering the wrong person. Does this person share your faith in God? God does not give us children sothat we can mold them into the coolest, most popular people in school.

Our job is to get them to heaven. To do that, we need to raise them believingin God. It is tough to do that if only one parent believes. Saying "this is right and this is wrong, and I want you to ignore Mommyuntil you are thirty-five" does not work. Small children ask about eightskillion questions in a single day.

The answers to those questions go alongway toward forming the kind of adults they will become. Who will be answering those? Questions for your children? Does this person you are marrying have sexual self-control? Single peoplesometimes have this idea that marriage is just some kind of lifelong sexfestival and that as long as they have each other, they will never betempted by other people. Wrong! There are many times in every marriagewhen one partner or the other is sexually unavailable - illness, the lastmonths of pregnancy, travel. There are also times when spouses, just get on eachothers' nerves. At times like this, other people can seem very appealing. That can bedangerous, because there are plenty of very attractive people out therewho are willing to make them available to married men and women. Do you wantsomeone who has never said "no" to sex? If he is not good at saying "no"at eighteen, it won't be different at forty. Do you want to worry aboutwhether or not your spouse is being faithful?

These are very important questions, and if you are not comfortable withall of the answers, you should definitely not marry this person. None if this is to say that feelings play no role at all in a marriage decision.

You don't have to, "Well, I suppose that you would make a goodspouse and parent, so even though I don't particularly like you I guessI'll marry you'. You need to be happy and excited about the prospect ofspending your life with someone. Your brain however, must acknowledge that thisperson as a good catch.

Don't listen to your heart alone or your head alone. Wait until yourheart and head agree.

Smell the fresh air!

2011-04-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

I might be sitting in the lowest state I've ever experinced in my life now. Hard to focus, silenced over sorrow, unacceptance of what happened, angry over curiousity, etc. Light chat with friends helped me, but it's not the best way to do. To be honest, the problem was about my past "horizontal relationship". I still cannot accept that it was suddenly over. Now it really feels hard for me to get up again. Until today I realize that I waste my life if I focus only on this silly thing, which is definitely not more important than my life itself. I know it will be still hard, but as long as I can accept my current condition and what already happened, I should be just fine. How to accept something that you don't really want is really hard, I know. Don't regret, don't expect, accept whatever it is. I read these statements from @TracyTrinita twitter: "Don't focus on relationship, life is sooo much more than just dating.. Enjoy your life, semua indah pada waktuNya." Simple, but slapped me! A lot of things out there to do, lots of people need your attention, lots of people care about you! Why do I have to stand here, stuck with this silly feeling.. NO! I have to get up! As long as we believe in Our Mighty God, then we'll be just fine. Enjoy the feeling, we'll be okay. It takes time, but definitely do-able :) So, smell the fresh air and be thankful and cheerful for what you are now!

RS - April 16, 2011

"What's the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail, even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries."

Friend or Foe?

2011-03-21T01:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you think that you already have a forever friend..until you realized that she/he treated you so bad and you don't want to meet her/him anymore? Or maybe it's gonna be the opposite, that you did something wrong and she/he doesn't want to meet you anymore. The thing about true friends, they never leave you under any circumstances. They will stand beside you in good or bad, sunny or rainy days. It doesn't matter how good the condition is, true friends always take care of each other's back.

Once, I might make a very bad mistake to someone, without knowing what exactly the mistake was. She/he was just gone and never come back. No explanations, nor communication after. It was a truly sad moment in my life. Losing a very best friend of mine without any good reason. The only thing that I could do was to pray that she/he will be alright and will find some more good friends to replace my presence. "Whenever you are, wherever you are, whatever you do, I will always pray the best for you", that's what I said to myself.

If you are a person who wants to be a good friend, then start to be one.

- Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.Just walk beside me and be my friend. -

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDMNoLS8lQo

God's answers to our prayers may exceed our expectations

2011-03-16T05:04:00.000-07:00

After a long time, this will be my first time to write in 2011. I will dedicate some of my spare time to write and share about God's grace in my life.

I recently had a very tough time in understanding what my life purpose is. After that one particular moment in my life, I felt useless, not worthy, and angry to God. I don't why He let that particular moment happening in my life that was "smooth" before.

Slowly but sure, He opened up my eyes and my heart again that nothing is impossible. Every single thing in our life has its own purpose. He will not let us be tempted more than our strength, and He will not let us down.

Now, I'm standing in the middle of the intersection of my life. I can choose to wait or to let go. Making decision is really not like flipping-coin #I wish it's that easy#. The only thing that I can do now is wait for His will to be done in my life, instead of going somewhere based on my will. I still remember a really nice proverb I got when I was in high school: "When you have so many choices and you are not sure what to do, be at peace. For God is there."

Just pray, and He will give you the best based on His will.

I know not by what methods rare,

But this I know - God answers prayer;

I leave my prayers with Him alone,

Whose will is wiser than my own.

Countries with the Most Millionaires

2010-06-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

As the financial markets rebounded in 2009 and developing markets continued to grow, lost wealth around the world returned. Despite the volatile global economy, many households gained or regained millionaire status last year, according to a new report by the Boston Consulting Group. The study finds global wealth increased 11.5 percent in 2009, to $111.5 trillion, just short of 2007 levels. When measuring assets under management -- cash deposits, money market funds, listed securities, and onshore and offshore assets, but not wealth attributed to investors' own businesses, residences, or luxury goods -- the U.S. continued to lead with more than 4.7 million "millionaire households," followed by Japan and China.

Singapore, a country with a population of about 5.1 million, had the greatest concentration of millionaire households: 11.4 percent of the country's total. Wealth may have returned to precrisis levels last year, but confidence has not yet. BCG expects global wealth to grow an average 6 percent annually through 2014, led by robust economies in the Asia-Pacific, but Peter Damisch, a BCG partner and a co-author of the report, says people are still hesitant about investing. Many moved assets from private banks to state-guaranteed retail banks and are still waiting for either new opportunities or new confidence to reinvest, says Damisch.

1. United States

Bloomberg News

2009 Population: 306.8 million*

2009 number of millionaire households:4,715,000**
Percentage increase: 15.1 percent YOY**
Share of country's wealth held by millionaire households: 56 percent**

Even though the U.S. real estate market remained weak, the stock market rebound helped boost the number of millionaire households 15.1 percent in 2009. The U.S. had the most millionaires by far, leading second-in-line Japan by 3,485,000 households.

Millionaires represented a fraction of the U.S. population last year but held 56 percent of its wealth, according to Boston Consulting Group.

* Source on all slides: Population Reference Bureau
** Source on all slides: Boston Consulting Group. The year on year change in number of millionaire households was calculated using a constant exchange rate; BCG used yearend 2009 exchange rates to calculate the number of millionaire households in both 2008 and 2009.

2. Japan

Population: 127.6 million

2009 number of millionaire households: 1,230,000
Percentage increase: 5.9 percent YOY
Share of country's wealth held by millionaire households: 21 percent

The number of millionaire households in Japan grew by a 5.9 percent in 2009. Although No. 3 on the list China tightened the gap with a 30.7 percent increase, Japan still outpaced its developing neighbor by 560,000 households.

3. China

Bloomberg News

Population: 1,331.4 million

2009 number of millionaire households: 670,000
Percentage increase: 30.7 percent YOY
Share of country's wealth held by millionaire households: 50 percent

While developed countries struggled through the recession, China's economy continued to boom, with gross domestic product growing 8.7 percent last year. The surge of commercial activity has created a growing nouveau riche population in China that includes entrepreneurs and investors, although they still represent a tiny fraction of the total population.

Seeing opportunities in the growing wealthy demographic, luxury retailers have set up operations in major cities, and high-end real estate is drawing interest -- for example, a $30 million house reportedly sold in Shanghai.

4. United Kingdom

Population: 61.8 million

2009 number of millionaire households: 485,000
Percentage increase: 11.5 percent YOY
Share of country's wealth held by millionaire households: 23 percent

As the financial markets improved, the millionaire population is rebounding in the U.K. Their numbers fell by more than half in the recession, according to a 2009 BBC report. The British Chambers of Commerce said the economy was showing signs of leaving recession in 2009, and gross domestic product ticked up 0.3 percent in this year's first quarter over the previous quarter.

5. Germany

Bloomberg News

Population: 82 million

2009 number of millionaire households: 430,000
Percentage increase: 23.1 percent YOY
Share of country's wealth held by millionaire households: 22 percent

Not only have Germany's rich increased in numbers, apparently some have also heightened their sense of public duty.

According to a report by CNBC, a group of German millionaires and billionaires founded a Club of the Wealthy and proposed to Chancellor Angela Merkel that they give 10 percent of their income as a "rich tax" for 10 years to address budget problems.

6. Italy

Population: 60.3 million

2009 number of millionaire households: 300,000
Percentage increase: 7.6 percent YOY
Share of country's wealth held by millionaire households: 27 percent

Italy's economy contracted by 5 percent in 2009, but the number of millionaire households grew, and the rich increased their wealth, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study. The report shows that the increase in wealth was mostly a result of €85 billion that flowed into the country under an Italian tax amnesty on assets held in offshore accounts.

7. Switzerland

Bloomberg News

Population: 7.8 million

2009 number of millionaire households: 283,000
Percentage increase: 8.4 percent YOY
Share of country's wealth held by millionaire households: 44 percent

Switzerland, one of the wealthiest nations by personal income, also has the third-highest concentration of millionaire households -- 8.4 percent of total households, according to the Boston Consulting Group.

In a sign of further strengthening, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economics recently raised its growth forecast for the economy in 2010 to 1.8 percent from 1.4 percent.

8. France

Population: 62.6 million

2009 number of millionaire households: 280,000
Percentage increase: 11.2 percent YOY
Share of country's wealth held by millionaire households: 19 percent

The French may enjoy high quality of life, but France did not make it into the top five for its number of millionaire households. Its gross domestic product last year dropped 2.2 percent, but the government expects GDP to pick up by 1.4 percent in 2010.

9. Taiwan

Bloomberg News

Population: 23.1 million

2009 number of millionaire households: 230,000
Percentage increase: 21.1 percent YOY
Share of country's wealth held by millionaire households: 37 percent

Home to manufacturers and such technology companies as Acer and Asus, Taiwan has a large number of millionaires, who represent 3 percent of total households, according to BCG. The wealthy in Taiwan enjoy a favorable tax regime. According to an article in Commonwealth Magazine on Chinapost.com, eight of Taiwan's 40 wealthiest people paid no taxes in 2005 and 17 paid just 1 percent of their income. The article adds that nearly 30 percent of households in Taiwan do not pay taxes, and many of them earn high incomes.

10. Hong Kong

Population: 7 million

2009 number of millionaire households: 205,000
Percentage increase: 16.2 percent YOY
Share of country's wealth held by millionaire households: 73 percent

In Hong Kong, 8.8 percent of households are millionaire households -- the second-highest concentration in the world after Singapore, according to data from the Boston Consulting Group. Media reports say the stock market recovery and rising property prices in Hong Kong and China helped the richest add billions to their wealth in 2009.

Article by Vanessa Wong (www.finance.yahoo.com).

The Meaning of Wealth Translated Around The World

2010-05-25T18:02:00.000-07:00

We like to think the reasons for seeking wealth are universal. Humans, by nature, like to be comfortable, like to have power and like to have the choices and freedoms offered by lots of stuff and money.

Yet it turns out there are some regional variations in the meaning of wealth around the world.

The new Barclay’s Wealth Insights study, released this morning from Barclay’s Wealth and Ledbury Research, finds that the emerging-market rich view wealth very differently from the older-money Europeans and the slightly less nouveaux Americans.

The study surveyed 2,000 people from 20 countries with investible assets of $1.5 million or more. They shared some common themes: a vast majority of rich people from all regions agreed that wealth enables them to buy the best products and that wealth gives them freedom of choice in their life. Most also agreed that wealth is a reward for hard work.

But the differences are more interesting:

Respect

Asians and Latin Americans were more likely (49% and 47%) to say that wealth "allows me to get respect from friends and family." Only 28% of Europeans and 38% of Americans said respect was a byproduct of wealth.

Charity

About three-quarters of respondents in the U.S. and Latin America said wealth enabled them to give to charity. That compares with 57% in Europe and 66% in Asia.

Happiness

About two thirds of Europeans and Americans said wealth made them happy. But it had a greater happiness affect in emerging markets, with 76% of Asians and Latin Americans saying wealth made them happy.

Role Models

Less than half of Americans and Europeans say the wealthy "set an important example to others to be successful." That compares with 71% of Latin Americans and 61% of Asians.

Spending

Wealthy Europeans are far more likely to spend their dough on travel and interior decorating. Latin Americans seem to put the highest spending priority on education, while the U.S. surges above the rest in philanthropy (which the report counts as spending).

We can read several things into the differences. Most obviously, the U.S. has a more formalized and tax-favorable system of philanthropy than the rest of the world. (It is too sweeping to say Americans are the most "generous.")

What is more, the global financial crisis may have tarnished the image of the wealthy -- even among the wealthy. And finally, the longer a country has wealth, the less it craves the attention and respect wealth brings.

Provided by The Wall Street Journal (by Robert Frank, May 24, 2010)

I don't know how accurate this is, but for me wealth cannot buy happiness.

I just got an email about a farmer couple, they are walking to their home from the rice field in the middle of big rain. Then a couple riding a motorcycle passes them. They say, "Look how lucky they are, they can go home without walking so far like us". The couple who rides motorcycle then see a couple who drives a pick-up truck then say "They are so lucky, they don't need to feel a big rain like us". Later, the couple in that pick-up truck sees another couple in a luxurious sedan, "Wow, they must be so happy, they can enjoy that luxury. It's not like our uncomfortable car". The couple inside that luxurious sedan sees the farmers couple who walks and holds each other's hand, then think deeply inside their heart, "How precious life those farmer couple gets! Meanwhile I barely have time to talk each other."

Being wealthy is most likely how we appreciate everything we have.

Be blessed!

Five Billionaires Who Live Below Their Means

2010-04-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

At least once in your life - maybe even once a week or once a day for that matter - you have fantasized about coming into a lot of money. What would you do if you were worth millions or even billions? Believe it or not there are millionaires and billionaires among us who masquerade as relatively normal, run-of-the-mill people. Take a peek at some of the most frugal wealthy people in the world.

Warren Buffett
Millions of people read Buffett's books and follow his firm, Berkshire Hathaway's, every move. But the real secret to Buffett's personal fortune may be his penchant for frugality. Buffett, who is worth an estimated $47 billion, eschews opulent homes and luxury items. He and his wife still live in their modest home in Omaha, Nebraska which they purchased for just $31,500 more than 50 years ago.

Although he's dined in the best restaurants around the globe, given the choice he would opt for a good burger and fries accompanied by a cold cherry Coke. When asked why he doesn't own a yacht he responded "Most toys are just a pain in the neck." (Find out how he went from selling soft drinks to buying up companies and making billions of dollars.

Carlos Slim
While most of the world is very familiar with Bill Gates, the name Carlos Slim rarely rings a bell. But it's a name worth knowing. Slim, who is a native of Mexico, was just named the world's richest billionaire – that's right, richer than the uber-famous Microsoft founder. Slim is worth more than $53 billion and while he could afford the world's most extravagant luxuries he rarely indulges. He, like Buffett, doesn't own a yacht or plane and he has lived in the same home for over 40 years.

Ingvar Kamprad
The founder of the Swedish furniture phenomenon Ikea struck success with affordable, assemble-it-yourself furniture. For Kamprad, figuring out how to save money isn't just for his customers, it's a high personal value. He's been quoted as saying "Ikea people do not drive flashy cars or stay at luxury hotels." That goes for the founder as well. He flies coach for business and when he needs to get around town locally he either takes the bus or will head out in his 15-year-old Volvo 240 GL.

Chuck Feeney
Growing up in the wake of The Depression as an Irish-American probably has something to do with Feeney's frugality. With a personal motto of "I set out to work hard, not get rich," the co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers has quietly become a billionaire but even more secretively given almost all of it away through his foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies. In addition to giving more than $600 million to his alma mater Cornell University, he has given billions to schools, research departments and hospitals.

Loath to spend if he doesn't have to, Feeney beats both Buffett and Kamprad in the donation category, giving out less grants than only Ford and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations. A frequent user of public transportation, Mr. Feeney flies economy class, buys clothes from retail stores, and does not wast money on an extensive shoes closet, stating "you can only wear one pair of shoes at a time". He raised his children in the same way; making them work the same normal summer jobs as most teens.

Frederik Meijer
If you live in the Midwest chances are good that you shop at Meijer's chain of grocery stores. Meijer is worth more than $5 billion and nearly half of that was amassed when everyone else was watching their net worth drop in 2009. Like Buffett he buys reasonably-priced cars and drives them until they die, and like Kamprad he chooses affordable motels when on travel for work. Also, like Chuck Feeney, rather than carelessly spending his wealth Mr. Meijer is focused on the good that it can provide to the community.

The Bottom Line
The dirty little secret of some of the world's wealthiest people is that they rarely act like it. Instead of over-the-top spending, they're busy figuring out how to save and invest to have that much more in the future. It's a habit you might want to consider in order to build up your own little storehouse of cash.

Reference: www.news.yahoo.com

China stretches the imagination with world's longest sea bridge

2009-12-16T22:07:00.000-08:00

Barely 18-months after completing current record-holder, work begins on link between mainland, Macau and Hong Kong.

Much of the bridge will be fabricated offsite and will be designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 201kmph (125mph)

China today announced it had begun construction of the world's longest sea bridge – barely 18 months after opening the current record-holder.
The Y-shaped link between Hong Kong, Macau and China will be around 50km (31 miles) long in total, 35km of which will span the sea, said the state news agency Xinhua. Due to be completed by 2015, the 73bn yuan (£6.75bn) cost of the bridge will be shared by the authorities in the three territories.
The structure also includes a 5.5km underwater tunnel with artificial islands to join it to bridges on each side. According to the engineering group Arup – which has helped with the design – it is the first major marine bridge-and-tunnel project in China. But the engineering firm described the structure as 38km in length; the reason for the disparity was unclear.
Work is expected to begin with land reclamation to create an artificial island of around 216 hectares (540 acres) off Zhuhai. This will become the customs point for those making the crossing.
But much of the structure will be prefabricated offsite, so, for example, the concrete deck sections can be produced at the same time as the foundations are laid. The tunnel will be made of precast sections – each 100 metres long.
"It is designed with a service life of 120 years. It can withstand the impact of a strong wind with a speed of 51 meters a second, or equal to a maximum Beaufort scale 16 (184 to 201kmph)," said Zhu Yongling, an official in charge of the project construction. "It can also resist the impact of a magnitude-8 earthquake and a 300,000-tonne vessel."

A computer-generated image of the £6.75bn bridge, much of which will be fabricated offsite

Six lanes of traffic will pass across the bridge at a maximum speed of 100kmph, cutting driving time from Hong Kong to Zhuhai from four hours to one.
The bridge was first proposed in 1983 as a way of fostering economic ties between China, Hong Kong and Macau. But it will be particularly welcome as the Pearl River Delta – for many years the hub of China's manufacturing – is buffeted by economic problems. The area's attempt to move up the value chain, combined with the rise of the yuan and the global economic crisis, has seen exports plummeting.
The bridge is one component in a plan issued in January by China's top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission, which aims to fuse the area and the two special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau, into one of the world's most vibrant economic centres by 2020. In particular, the government hopes it will help to develop the western side of Guangdong province.
"It is a move for Hong Kong, Macau and the Pearl River Delta region to cope with global economic downturn, boost investment and inspire people," said the vice-premier, Li Keqiang, at the inauguration ceremony in Guangdong. "Meanwhile, it can also further increase [their] links and promote economic co-operation."
Hong Kong has said the bridge should generate $HK45bn (£3.6bn) of economic benefits within the first two decades of use, Reuters reported.
According to an article in New Civil Engineer magazine earlier this year, the bridges cross three navigation channels while the tunnel goes under a fourth.
"There is an airport nearby, so we could not build a bridge [in that area] which was the reason for the tunnel. The immersed tube is the longest in the world at 5.5km long," Naeem Hussain, global bridge leader at Arup, told the publication.
He said the bridge's piers would each be 170 metres high and that the design team had minimised the structures impact on estuary flows by limiting the size and number of columns in the water.
But the WWF and other environmental campaigners have warned that construction could devastate marine ecosystems and endanger the rare Chinese white dolphin, which is found in the estuarine waters of the Pearl river. Officials say they have already considered environmental issues in planning the project.
"We will control the construction noises and turbidity of seawater, and prevent oil pollution," Zhu told Xinhua.
It is only a year and a half since China opened a 36km span across Hangzhou Bay – in the eastern province of Zhejiang – which is currently the longest sea-bridge.
Wang Yong, the head of that project, said the design had led to more than 250 technological innovations and engineering breakthroughs, many of which will no doubt prove useful in building the new construction. He added that the Hangzhou bridge survived 19 severe challenges, including typhoons, tides, and geological problems during the three and a half years of construction.
The longest water-spanning bridge in the world is the Lake Pontchartrain causeway bridge in New Orleans, at 38.4km. But officials said that Hangzhou was a particularly difficult site to build because of its complex climate.

Reference: www.yahoo.com

Workspace and/or livingspace..

2009-10-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

Ini beberapa snapshot lingkungan kerja sekaligus tempat tinggal selama di Gulf of Mexico..

Sejauh mata memandang, biru...ngeliat baju kerja sendiri juga..biru :))

Selamat menikmati...

Setelah melihat lingkungan kerja di tengah laut, di bawah ini ada beberapa snapshot dari land rig di Colorado..

Kerja di mana pun ada kenikmatannya masing2..yang paling penting adalah menikmati semua hari pemberian Tuhan dengan niat dan selalu bersyukur :)

Tuhan berkati..

How to Change a Serpentine Belt On Your Car

2009-10-19T00:53:00.001-07:00

Do you have the same issue as the following figures?

Before you go to the shop, figure that maintenance cost is really expensive, and almost get ripped off...

It's better to relax, watch how to change it, and do it by yourself!

Serpentine Belt Performance Problems: How to Change a Serpentine Belt On Your Car eHow.com

Shared via AddThis

Serpentine Belt

2009-10-19T00:32:00.000-07:00

A serpentine belt (also known as a multi-vee or multi-rib belt) is a single, continuous belt used to drive multiple peripheral devices in an automotive engine, such as an alternator, power steering pump, water pump, A/C compressor, air pump, etc. The belt may also be guided by an idler pulley and/or a belt tensioner (which may be spring loaded, hydraulic, or manual). The serpentine belt was invented and patented by DAYCO PRODUCTS and first used by Ford Motor Company for the 1979 Mustang.

It is more efficient than the older multiple belt system and may consume less underhood space. By using a single, wider belt instead of multiple, thinner belts, the belt may be put under increased tension without stretching. Higher tension reduces slip, which increases belt life and mechanical efficiency. Reduced slip can allow the use of lower-ratio pulleys; this reduces the load on the engine, increasing fuel economy and available power. The tendency for V-belts to "flip over" in the pulley groove (at high RPM) is eliminated. A serpentine belt also is much easier to maintain and replace, since there is no need to remove multiple belts in order to replace one of them.

The drawback of this single belt is that if the belt breaks, the vehicle loses all of its peripheral devices; however, the belt typically gives ample visual warning of impending failure, sometimes even totally shedding several grooves (ribs) while still continuing to function normally. Some vehicles use two serpentine belts for their system, such as the Manual Transaxle equipped Ford Taurus SHO, 95–99 DOHC Nissan Maxima and many BMWs.

Reference: http://www.wikipedia.org/

Touring the City....City Touring....

2009-10-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

The Honda City is a subcompact car manufactured by the Japanese manufacturer Honda since 1981 for the Asian market.
Since 2002, the City is also known as the Honda Fit Aria. It is a subcompact sedan that uses Honda's Global Small Car platform, which is also used by the Fit/Jazz (a five-door hatchback), the Airwave (a wagon version of the Fit Aria/City), the Mobilio, and the Mobilio Spike. One of the characteristics shared by the Fit/Jazz, City/Fit Aria, and Airwave, is the location of the fuel tank. Rather than placing it under the rear seats, it is located under the front seats, thereby freeing up valuable room in the back.

In November 2002, the fourth generation City was released and included a four-wheel drive version. Like the contemporary Honda Jazz, the Jazz is actually a rebadged Honda Fit, in the City's case a rebadged Fit Aria.

In September 2005, a face-lifted version of the City was launched in Thailand, Malaysia in October 2005, and Indonesia in November 2005; it is known as the City ZX in Thailand, India, the New City in Indonesia and Malaysia, and City in Singapore and Pakistan. The most significant changes are a new exterior (new front grille, new headlamps, new fog lights, new taillights and bumpers). The front end has been extended forward by 65 mm (2.6 in) while the rear has been extended by 15 mm (0.6 in). The side mirror is electronically foldable. Both the i-DSI and VTEC trim levels have 14-inch (360 mm) alloy

wheels as standard equipment. Interior changes are minor but it does include an armrest for the driver and additional map lights.

The engine remains the same but the intake manifold has been modified, resulting a 10% temperature drop in the intake air temperature, the suspension has been upgraded as well.
Honda City in Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Singapore, and Malaysia are using CVT gearbox for both i-DSI and VTEC variants. The CVT gearbox simulates a 7-Speed automatic transmission with Triptronic style override using paddle shift buttons. This is very rare for a subcompact of its class.

The Panther is a next-generation multipurpose vehicle that is equally suited to carrying large loads of passengers or cargo. The Panther, which classifies as an Asian utility vehicle (AUV), was developed to meet local conditions in terms of climate, roads and family structure as a durable vehicle. The Panther has established a favorable reputation for performance, reliability and durability. The same model is so popular in the Philippines and Vietnam.

The series of new Isuzu Panther that was launched on August 2004 are Grand Touring, Touring, LS Turbo, LS, LV Adventures, LV, Smart and LM type. The new Isuzu Panther has 10 selections of color for you to choose.

The exterior combines the sophisticated styling of the latest minivans with the rugged styling of an SUV. The luxury feel combines with a clean and aerodynamic design. The newest version of Panther features a sporty front face accentuated with redesigned bigger headlamps, front grille, bumper and fenders. Inside, the Panther offers all the functions and comforts of a true passenger car. It boasts ample shoulder, head and legroom.

A normally aspirated 4JA1 and a turbo-charged 4JA1L are available. These 2,499 cc direct-injection diesels offer an excellent combination of high power and good fuel economy.

Reference: http://www.wikipedia.org/, http://www.isuzu.co.jp/

Story behind Ocean Monarch

2009-05-12T20:19:00.000-07:00

I was here!! :D

The scene opens on an extremeclose-up of a golf ball, teed up on artificial turf.

Rock music is playing, and as the camera shifts slightly, we see the golfer’s shoes ashe readies his feet for the shot.

The camera angle shifts again so we see the golfer’sprofile, backlit by the sun, as he swings. There’s water in the background, and, in theforeground, men wearing work clothes and hard hats walk past.

Is this a golf course?

The camera cuts to a close shot of the golfer’s face: movie star Bruce Willis,playing Harry Stamper, soon to be the savior of the modern world in the disastermovie “Armageddon.”

An aerial shot reveals that he is practicing his swing on a helipad.On a drilling rig.

Offshore.

Wait a minute, is that the Enserch Garden Banks, now known as the Ocean Monarch, but renamed the China Sea for the movie? Yep.

And it doesn’t take long to figure out that Bruce Willis’ character, Harry Stamper,is, well, a character: smart aleck, angry, and smart as a whip.

When he learns thathis grown daughter is “under cover” in one of his rig hand’s bunks, he reacts by givingchase with a shotgun.

Here we go again….Shotgun blasts glancing off the rig’s superstructure.

People running across the catwalks, sans hardhats… and some sans clothes. A man and woman“sharing a bunk”?

I told you this was a movie!

Of course, technically, the Garden Bankswasn’t a Diamond Offshore rig at the time. In January 1997, when “Armageddon” wasfilmed, the Garden Banks belonged to Enserch Exploration and was managed by Global Marine.

Diamond Offshore bought the unit from a group of owners in 2005 andchanged the rig’s name to Ocean Monarch.

Never judge the book by its cover..

2009-05-10T23:26:00.000-07:00

Really nice...

Blackberry Booming

2009-05-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

Denger2 nun jauh di sana Blackberry lagi booming..

Unlock ATT Blackberry, cuma dengan $3.88 saja :D
Murah meriah :)

Nice instruments to have

2009-05-04T15:01:00.001-07:00

Nice things to have...

1. Ibanez GA6CE Classical Acoustic Electric Guitar

2. Harpto Chipboard Case

3. Perri's Police Line Leather Guitar Strap 2.5 inch

I've been dreaming about these stuffs since long time ago, especially item #3 :) I'm ready to use it with my sweet Ibanez GSR200 ;)

Cool songs

2009-05-04T15:01:00.000-07:00

Center of My Joy - Ruben Studdard

Jesus You're the center of my joy

All that's good and perfect

Comes from You

You're the heart of my contentment

Hope for all I do

Jesus You're the center of my joy

Oh, help me sing

Jesus You're the center of my joy

All that's good and perfect

Said it comes from You

Yes it does, yes it does

You're the heart of my contentment

Hope for all I do

What's his name? Jesus

Jesus You're the center of my joy

When I've lost my direction

You're the compass for my way

You're the fire and light when

Nights are long and cold

In sadness You are the laughter

That shadows all my fears

When I'm all aloneYour hand is there to hold

Jesus, yes you are

Jesus You're the center of my joy

All that's good and perfect

Comes from You

You're the heart of my contentment

Hope for all I do

Jesus You're the center of my joy

My joy

You are why I find pleasure

In the simple things in life

You're the music in the meadows

And the streams

The voices of the children

My family and my home

You're the source and finisher

Of my highest dreams

Oh, Jesus, oh

Jesus You're the center of my joy

All that's good and perfect

Said it comes from You

Yes it does, yes it does

You're the heart of my contentment

Hope for all I do

Oh Jesus You're the center of my joy

And Jesus, nobody but you, you you you you you

Of my Joy

Jesus, you are the center of my joy

When I was downYou picked me up

When I was thirstyYou filled my cup

JesusYou're the center of my joy

Oh Jesus, You're the center of my joy

Oh oh My joy

Who Am I - Casting Crowns

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours
I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours