ISIS Target Mannequins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NBC News Picture

Image credit: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=327292:extremism-or-idiocy?-isis-militants-force-shopkeepers-in-iraq-to-veil-mannequins&Itemid=2#axzz38LFGqxg8

 

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (or ISIS as they are more commonly referred to) which had established control over Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city in June 2014, and thereafter, formally declared a caliphate has reportedly issued a mandate that all mannequins’ faces must be covered up!

 

According to NBC News, store owners said that this demand applies to both male and female dummies – a move that could be in line with staunch interpretations of Syariah law that forbid creating statues or artistic depictions of the human form.

 

Hmmm, if that is the case, it won’t be just mannequins. I would expect the ban to apply to figurines, photos, and the like.

 

I am just thinking. Maybe covering faces is not good enough. Maybe these dummies should be beheaded! LOL!

 

On Tuesday, I was at Cap Square Tower in KL’s Jalan Munshi Abdullah for the Chiyoda Malaysia Toastmasters meeting. I was invited by the club’s Vice President Public Relations, Aamir Javid to share Humorous Speech techniques:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was my first time doing it and I think it went well. Really. It was of course different from Stephen Fernando’s or even K Loghandran’s styles of presentation and even the approaches were different but that’s okay. I consider myself a regular Joe and my presentation should be seen from that perspective. I wanted Toastmasters to know that they too can deliver humorous speeches. It is not merely about being funny or wanting to be comical. It is about pushing your boundaries.

 

Other than this mini-workshop, there were the regular speeches and evaluations. A good meeting overall. And it was good to see external Toastmasters giving support – Andrew Tan (Satu Hati & Premier Advanced), Victor Loh (Satu Hati), Justin Jesunathan (ITC Bintang), Sharif Ahmed (Sunway University) and Solmaz Parpaei (Premier Advanced). I would score the meeting a 7.5 over 10.

 

 

Evidence Points to a Buk Missile

Fingers are now pointing to a SA-11 Buk surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile as being responsible for downing MH17. And evidence indicates that the Russians happily supplied it and pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine pulled the trigger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buk surface-to-air missile system Also known as SA-11 Gadfly (or newer SA-17 Grizzly).

Russian-made, mobile, medium range system.

Source: Global Security

 

Here’s a look at how the missile system works:

 

 

Intercepted conversations among the Ukraine separatists and suspected Russian intelligence officers disclosed that the former did discuss receiving the Buk system. Plus the fact that they had shot down an aircraft that they thought was an AN-26, a Ukrainian transport plane.

 

Not just that but local residents had revealed that they had seen pro-Moscow rebels transporting a Buk antiaircraft missile system near the city of Torez, where MH17 went down in a ball of fire on July 17. And the latter were reported to have expressed genuine surprise that a civilian airliner was flying over an active war zone (Business Insider, Malaysia, July 22, 2014).

 

Nonetheless, the Russians continue to deny they had anything to do with supplying the Buk to their friends in Ukraine. No surprise lah!

 

On Monday, I was at the 3rd Mile Square in KL’s Old Klang Road to deliver a CC speech #3 at the Money & You Toastmasters meeting. CP Lau was my evaluator and yes, this was another speech that is part of my Project 15. A good speech but I was told I should exercise my facial muscles more so that I can demonstrate my expressions even more effectively! The other speeches were good too and overall, it was a good meeting! I would give it a 7.5 over 10.

 

 

Cool Transformers

Image credit: http://www.hdwallpapers.in/transformers_2_official-wallpapers.html

Having finished marking two piles of exam scripts (totalling 52) and before the next big bundle comes in – I went out on Sunday and indulged in Michael Bay’s Transformers: Age of Extinction. And yup, it was enjoyable!

Check out all 4 trailers of the Transformers movie franchise:



Cool!

MAS Tempt Fate

Online news portal Malaysia Chronicle today reported that embattled Malaysia Airlines are choosing to be reckless. The airline have confirmed one of its planes – MH4, bound for Kuala Lumpur from London – flew over war-torn Syria on Sunday, following the closure of the flight's usual route over Ukraine in the wake of the MH17 tragedy.

MAS on Monday said the Syrian flight path was among routes approved by the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization. It would seem that the airline just love singing the same ICAO tune again. 

MAS have not learned at all. Why tempt fate?

Two Saturdays ago, I was at the Marco Polo Restaurant in Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur. The occasion was Dr William Lau's daughter's wedding dinner. 

I counted fifteen Toastmasters (including me) at this feast. And of course, I knew all of them.

BTW, this was a non-alcoholic dinner, and so I had stayed sober throughout! No wonder I was feeling really thirsty.

And last Saturday, I attended another wedding dinner. The couple is known to me, i.e. Madeline Tan and Alex Lee. It was held at the V Garden Restaurant in Jalan Batu Tiga Lama in Klang.

Check out the happy couple!