Polymesoda expansa

It's local name is lokan. It is a bivalves mollusc which is found buried in the stiff mud of the landward fringe of mangroves. It is well-adapted to this habitat, being able to tolerate long periods of low tide, and has the ability to resume filter-feeding rapidly when inundated.

Deer horn

Bought from one of the hawkers at the jungle product market, Serian. It costs RM100.00

Bird's Nest With Two Eggs.

While clearing my compound, my son found this bird's nest with two eggs on one of the flower plants. According to my grand ma, if anybody disturb the bird's nest with eggs, the bird will no longer look after the eggs. It was true because after a week, the bird left the nest and the eggs were rotten. I warned my son not to disturb any bird's nest when the birds layed eggs in the future.

Rooster

From Wikipedia,

"Cockadoodledoo" and "Cocka-doodle-doo" redirect here. For the nursery rhyme, see Cock a doodle doo.

A rooster, also called a cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken (Gallus gallus) with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels. The oldest term is "cock," from Old English coc. It is sometimes replaced by the term "cockerel" (which properly refers to a young male chicken) in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and almost always by "rooster" (a relative neologism) in North America, Australia and New Zealand. "Cock" is in general use as the name for a male of other species of bird, for example "Cock sparrow." "Roosting" is the action of perching aloft to sleep at night, and is done by both sexes. In the United States, "rooster" is preferred due to sexual connotations with the word "cock". The rooster is polygamous, but cannot guard several nests of eggs at once. He guards the general area where his hens are nesting, and will attack other roosters who enter his territory. During the daytime, he often sits on a high perch, usually 4–5 feet off the ground to serve as a lookout for his flock. He will sound a distinctive alarm call if predators are nearby.

The rooster is often portrayed as crowing at the break of dawn and will almost always start crowing before 4 months of age. He can often be seen sitting on fence posts or other objects, where he crows to proclaim his territory.

However, this idea is more romantic than real, as a rooster can and will crow at any time of the day. Some roosters are especially vociferous, crowing almost constantly, while others only crow a few times a day. These differences are dependent both upon the cock's breed and individual personality.

He has several other calls as well, and can cluck, similar to the hen. Roosters will occasionally make a patterned series of clucks to attract hens to a source of food, the same way a mother hen does for her chicks.

Capons

A capon is a castrated rooster. Unlike most other male birds, roosters have a small penis to facilitate mating. In the caponization procedure, the bird's testes are completely removed; a surgical procedure is required for this as the rooster's sexual organs are internal. As a result of this procedure, certain male physical characteristics will experience stunted development:

The comb and wattles cease growing after castration, giving a capon's head a dwarfed appearance.

• The hackle, tail and saddle feathers grow unusually long.

Caponization also affects the disposition of the bird. Removal of the bird's testes eliminates the male sex hormones, lessening the male sex instincts and changing their behaviour: the birds become more docile and less active and tend not to fight.

This procedure produces a unique type of poultry meat which is favoured by a specialized market. The meat of normal uncastrated roosters has a tendency to become coarse, stringy and tough as the birds age. This process does not occur in the capon. As caponized roosters grow more slowly than intact males they accumulate more body fat; the concentration of fat in both the light and dark areas of the capon meat is greater than in that of the uncastrated males; overall, it is often thought that capon meat is more tender, juicy, and flavorful than regular chicken.

In China, the Yangbi Huang breed can grow to be the largest rooster in the Asian continent, up to 35 cm long. This is thought to be caused by the castration of the roosters practised by farmers in Northern China, which affects the hormonal balance called a cockpit between two gamecocks. Gamecocks are not typical farm chickens. The roosters are specially bred and trained for increased stamina and strength. The comb and wattle is cut off of a young gamecock because if left intact, it would be a disadvantage during a match. This process is called "dubbing." Sometimes the roosters are given drugs to increase their stamina or thicken their blood, which increases their chances of winning. Cockfighting is considered a traditional sporting event by some, and an example of animal cruelty by others and is therefore outlawed in most countries.^[3] Usually wagers are made on the outcome of the match, with the surviving or last-bird-standing being declared the winner.

The cockerel "Waltz," when the cockerel struts in a half circle with one wing extended down, is an aggressive approach signifying to females his dominance, and usually, the female will submit by running or moving away from the cockerel in acknowledgement. On rare occasions, the hen will attempt to fight the cockerel for dominance. Once dominance is established, the cockerel will rarely waltz again. When other cockerels are in the hen yard, this waltz is used significantly more and most cockerels will waltz together if dominance has not been established, and either, one will back off or the two cockerels will fight. Note also that the cockerel will waltz again if he is taken out of the pen for a period, usually 24 hrs, and put back.

Some more aggressive cockerels will drop and extend both wings and puff out all their body feathers to give the hens and/or other roosters the impression of a larger size, and charge through the hen yard like a bull.

The cockerel was already of symbolic importance in Gaul at the time of the invasion of Julius Caesar and was associated with the god Lugus.Today it is an emblem of France and Wallonia and Denizli.

The fighting cockerel on a ball is the symbol for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. The cockerel wears a pair of spurs which is a reference to the club's nickname. It has been present on their crest and shield since 1901. Additionally, the cockerel is the emblem of Turkish sports club Denizlispor, which was founded in 1966. Also, the supporters of the club are called cockerels.

reference:

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=rooster&page=1&qsrc=121&dm=all&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRooster&sg=H4vwrPslUkx2SRTRiTZO4TkJ8Jrz3x%2BCwb55lK8Sw9U%3D&tsp=1268726429379

CHINESE NEW YEAR LUNCH

ORGANISED BY THE STAFF COMMITTEE

AT THE ACCESSS CENTRE

4 MARCH 2010

ASSALAMUALAIKUM,

THESE FEW DAYS, I'M QUITE BUSY. I HAVE TO PREPARE THE ATHLETES' NUMBER PLATES AND THEIR CARDS. BY YESTERDAY, EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETED. I'D LIKE TO RTHANK ALL MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THEIR EFFICIENT AND FAST JOB. TEY CAN DO THEIR TASKS IN TIME.

LAST NIGHT I SORTED OUT THE CARDS AND TODAY I'M GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THEM TO THE HOUSE MASTERS.

THE STAF COMMITTEE ORGANISE A CHINESE NEW YEAR LUNCH HELD AT ACCESS CENTRE. THE LUNCH WILL START AT 11.00 AM TILL 2.00 PM.

BUKA TANGAN UNTUK……………………

1. MENCURI????
2. MEMBERI DAN MENERIMA RASUAH?????
3. MENAMPAR ISTERI???????????

TIDAK……………………………

RASULULLAH S.A.W……………

MEMBUKA TANGAN BAGINDA……

UNTUK MENGHAYUUN PEDANG

DEMI MENENTANG MUSUH

what's on today:

The staff Committee organised a simple birthday gathering to our colleagues as follows:

Gan teck Jeen (12 Jan)

Ismail bin Drahman (11 Jan)

Ratno bin Duki (31 jan)

Tsai Maew Lin (12 Jan)

Azaliza (18 Feb)

Gepat (4 Feb)

Jelian Jambi (3 Feb)

Lim Lii Kian (26 Feb)

Wan Sulaiman (22 Feb)

The Prophet Muhanmad's Birthday Celebration - procession

Assalamualaikum,

I am very sorry for not keeping my promise.

yedsterday, I promised to publish the result of the Quranic Recital, Speech and Story Telling competetion which was held at SMK Serian. Unfortunately, all the result was sent directly to the PPD office. The Price giving ceremony will be held at the Mini Stadium Serian in conjunction with the Prophets Muhammad Birthday Celebration. The celebration would include procession, banner competition and followed by speeches by distinguished guests and the pizes will be given for all the winners of the best contingent, The winners of the yesterday's MTQ and the winners of banner competion.

This year, the Prophet Muhamad's Birthday Celebration is organised by The Serian District Education Office.

WHAT'S UP TODAY?

INTER-SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVEL QURANIC RECITAL, RELIGIOUS SPEECH COMPETITION, STORY-TELLING IS HELD TODAY AT SMK SERIAN.

PARTICIPANTS FROM VARIOUS SCHOOLS IN SERIAN DISTRICT TOOK PART IN THE ABOVE-MENTIONED COMPETITIONS. THE PROGRAMME WENT ON SMOOTHLY UNTIL NOON. DETAILS OF THE RESULT WILL BE PUBLISIHED TOMORROW.

To all My Collegues and Friends

To all my visitors, it's quite a long time that this blog is not updated.

I think its not too late for me to say A Happy New Year - Kung Hsi Fa' Tsai" to all my chinese friends. I convey my apology for not visiting you this year, especially Mr. Chai, Mr. Yeo, Miss Thian, Miss Lim Lii Kian, and many others whom I may not be able to mention here. To Puan Chong Hwee Theng and Mr. Tsai, thanks for your mandarin oranges.

My car is still in the workshop after we encountered a serious accident recently (on the 31st January 2010). Thanks God -the 4 of us were saved. We escaped from any injury.

I take the opportunity to convey my greatest appreciation to all friends who sympathised on us. Especially Cikgu AJ and family, Puan Rohana Bero, Encik Jamali whom in any form rendered their help to us. Not forgetting the passers-by who stopped at the scene, espedially Cikgu Jalil Chek's, brother (sorry I could not remember your name) , Mr Abok and many others whom I could not recognise. May God Bless you all.

Tomorrow, the school will reopen after a week break. The District Level Inter-School Quranic Recital will be held at SMK Serian. I am assigned to do the calculation Of Points scored by the Male Participants in Story-Telling in male Section. I have to bring my own calculator.

That's all for this time.

TO KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE HOUSE, PLEASE COUNT THE NUMBER OF LAMP POST FROM THE JUNCTION.

The house is located at the 30th lamp post from the mamin road.

My mother in-law's house

My fanily and I spent my holiday in Johor. We stayed at my mother-law's house in Kampung Parit Sempadan, Batu Pahat. We stayed there for 3 weeks. The house was located about 3 km from tthe main road. Inorder to go to the town, we have to get somebody to send us to the main road by motorcycle or car. If not, we have to go on foot. My brother in-law have a motocycle. So each time I want to go to the town, we asked his help to send us to the junction. Coming back from the town, we get a taxi. The taxi fare per trip is RM 20.00. The taxi driver will ask for the location of the house. he will never ask for the house number. Instead, he will ask for the lamp post. aHow many lamp post from the junction to the house. The first time, I ws a bit puzzled. Please do not expect me to count for the number of the lamp posts. It is not my job to do so. When I reaced home I started to look at the lamp post just in front of the house. There is a number printed at every lamp post, starting from the first lamp post at the junction. So, my mother in-law's house is located at the 30th lamp pos.

One morning, on November 28, 2009, I went to the Hot Spring Pool in Gersik Muar together with my brother in-law and our children. Here are some notes about the history of the hot spring wchich I goot from the information board at the entrance.

Sejarah Kolam Air Panas Sungai Gersik Muar

Menurut sejarah yang dapat dikesan dari Pejabat Pendaftaran Tanah dan cerita orang tua-tua, pembukaan Kampung Gersik ini bermula pada tahun 1883. Peneroka asal kampong ini ialah Orangkaya Ali dari Muar dan para pengikutnya yang menyusuri pantai Selat Melaka setelah berlaku perselisihan keluarga.

Penemuan kolam air panas Sungai Gersik merupakan satu-satunya yang airnya sentiasa panas secara semulajadi terdapat di Daerah Muar khasnya dan negeri Johor amnya. Kolam air panas ini mula ditemui oleh Tuan Haji Abd Rahman bin Haji Irsad atau lebih dikenali dengan nama Haji Abdul Rahman bin Getu pada tahun 1911. Ketika ini Kampung Sungai Gersik telah diterokai sejauh 2.5 Kilometer ke pedalaman dan kawasan sekitar Kolam Air Panas ini masih lagi hutan belantara. Pada suatu hari, Haji Abd Rahman telah masuk ke hutan untuk mencari linau dan anak kayu untuk dijadikan bahan membuat pondoknya. Setelah linau anak kayu diperolehi menjelang tengah hari, beliau telah ternampak sesuatu yang aneh menyerupai sebuah tasik kecil bergais pusat kira-kira 3 meter dikelilingi oleh lembah berlumpur serta semak. Airnya menggelegak dan berasap mengalir ke lembah di sekitarnya. Setelah itu, Haji Abd Rahman berasa seram dan takut lalu terus meninggalkan tempat itu tanpa mengambil kayu yang dikumpulnya tadi. Malang sungguh nasib Haji Abd Rahman kerana beliau tidak Berjaya mencari jalan pulang, sesat hingga ke senja. Haji Abd Rahman pun pulang lantas menceritakan kiisqah penemuannya itu kepada penduduk kampong. Anehnya kolam yang menjadi cerita hangat di kalangan penduduk kampong itu tidak pula ditemui apabila dicari. Kira-kira 3 bulan kemudian, haji Abd Rahman bersama Rajikan pergi ke hutan untuk mencari anak kayu dan rotan menemui semula kolam air panas yang diceritajan itu, beliau terus merintis jalan serta membuat tanda pada pokok-pokok sampai ke jalan keluar dari tempat yang tidak dapat dilupai hingga sekarang. DARIPADA PEJABAT DAERAH MUAR JKKK SG. GERSIK TEKS INI DIPETIK DARI PAPAN TANDA YANG DIPAPAR DI PINTU MASUK KOLAM AIR PANAS SUNGAI GERSIK, MUAR.

TO KNOW OUR LOCAL FRUITS AND PLANTS 10

Scientific name: Artocarpus odoratissimusFamily: MoraceaeCommon names: Marang, Tarap, Green Terap, Johey OakOrigin: Malesia, Borneo, Brunei Marang, or Tarap, is one of the most delicious tropical fruit and beautiful exotic tree. It has lobed leaves, as large as 2-4ft long and 1 ft broad, similar to the Breadfruit's, but a little less lobed. It is native to Southeastern Asia. In a wild, is found extensively in Brunei Darussalam and parts of Sabah and Sarawak. Fruit As indicated by the scientific name, the fruit has a strong scent. It is delicious, soft flavored and can be appreciated from the first bite. The fruit is considered superior in flavor to both Jackfruit or Chempedak. It is oblong, 10-12" long, and can weight up to a few pounds. The appearance of the fruit can be regarded as an intermediate shape between the Jackfruit and the Breadfruit. The fruit color turns from a light green to a deep shade of brown when mature. The skin is covered with soft spines, and has an appearance which is close to that of the Durian or the Jackfruit. The thick rind is covered with soft, broad spines. They become hard and brittle as the fruit matures. The fruit does not fall to the ground when ripe. It may be harvested while still hard, and left to ripen until soft. The ripe fruit is opened by cutting the rind around. Twisting and gently pulling the halves complete the operation. The interior of the fruit is somewhat similar to the jackfruit's, but the color is whitish. The core is relatively large, but there are fewer "rags" and less non-edible parts. Arils are white and the size of a grape, each containing a 1/2" seed. Once opened, the fruit should be consumed quickly (in a few hours), as it loses flavor rapidly and fruit oxidizes. The pulp of the fruit is eaten fresh, has delightful fragrant aroma. It is sweet, nutritious and has been used in many food preparations. Young unripe fruits are sometimes eaten as vegetables. The seeds are also valuable. Roasted, the seed has firm texture, nutty, not too oil and has a taste reminiscent of chestnut. These features hold tremendous potential for Tarap fruit and seeds to be developed into food products. This versatile tree has served the needs of the rural communities well providing food, nutrition and many other uses to people. It is cultivated in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Southern Thailand. The fruit is grown for local consumption, but the short shelf-life of the fruit limits its wider use. The fruit ripens quite quickly, and once it's ripe it deteriorates in less than a few days so exporting is a problem. There are no commercial plantations cultivating this fruit and thus availability is dependent on prospectors who venture into the thickets of jungles to retrieve them. When the season starts, truckloads can be found by the roadsides hawking Tarap. Ripe or not? Ripening takes only a few days and most tarap cannot be kept longer than a week. The fruits can be picked and stored in the refrigerator though but still shelf life is not too good and best enjoyed at once. To determine if the fruit is ripe, use the smell test first, and mind you it does smell although not as bad as famous "stinky" Durian. When ripe, the smell will be a sharp pungent aroma even when the fruit is unopened, the stronger the smell the riper the fruit is. The best is when you can detect a faint whiff and not too overpowering before you open it. The other indicator is how you feel the fruit. Grasp both your arms around one and gently rub and squeeze the fruit. As it ripens, the hard fruit will feel a bit mushy in you grasp. If fluid is dripping profusely from the fruit it could mean that the content within is already spoiling and should not be considered. Over ripe fruits would give your mouth a strong taste of fermented alcohol. To open the fruit, just press your thumb into the soft skin and pry the pieces away and you’ll be greeted by a nicely arranged array of white "fruits" that looks like pale miniature chempedaks. They will be wrapped in yellow tendrils extending from the husk and stuck to the main stem of the fruit found in the center. To eat, just twist the fruit and pop it into your mouth, the center of the fruit consists of a single oval shape brown seed. A single Tarap can hold as much as 150 to 200 little "fruits" within. The taste varies according to fruit. Fruits not fully ripen will have a starchy bitter taste while an evenly ripe one has the taste of rosemary with custard. Growing In tropical climate this evergreen tree grows to 60 ft tall, in subtropical areas it won't grow as tall and can stay under 20 ft. Marang can be grown in container inside a greenhouse, where it will enjoy high humidity. This tree is sensitive to freeze and requires protection below 45F. It needs regular watering and fertile well-drained soil. High air humidity is always a plus.The seedlings grow rapidly, first fruit can be expected within 3-4 years.

from:http://toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/plant_wk/artocarpus_odoratissimus.htm

Alek, my new pet

Date of birth: 19th May 2009

2 weeks after born, her mom went out and never returned, we suspected of food poisoning, because the time she went out, our gardener sprayed the compound with weed killer. She left her 5 kitties. My 3 daughters looked after them. They tried their best to make the 5 kitties survived. However, 4 of them died. Only Alek survived.

TO KNOW OUR LOCAL FRUITS AND PLANTS 9 NIPPLE BRINJAL, TERUNG SUSU

Solanum mammosum, Solanaceae.

This species ia a semi-woody herb from Central Africa and South America. It grows into a small shrub with large leaves of serrated margin. Thorns are found on the leaves and stem. The flowers are rather small. The fruits are orange in colour, smooth and conical in shapes with rounded lobes at the base. The fruits can be used for flower arrangement for indoor decoration. It grows by seeds.

(from "Malaysian Fruits in Colours" by H.F Chin & H.S Yong)

to know our local insects 1

the rhinoceros beetle

The rhinoceros beetles or rhino beetle are a subfamily (Dynastinae) of beetles in the family of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae). They are among the largest of beetles, and their common name refers to the characteristic horns borne by the males of most species in the group. The male beetles use their horns in mating battles against other males. Their larval stage is long, several years in some species. The larvae feed on rotten wood while the adults feed on nectar, plant sap and fruit. Rhinoceros beetle larvae are sometimes fried and eaten as a bush delicacy. However, their greatest economic importance is as pests: Oryctes rhinoceros especially can de-foliate and sometimes kill coconut and oil palms in the SE Asian and Pacific regions. Biological controls heve been developed, based on entomopathogen viruses and the fungus Metarhizium majus. Rhinoceros beetles are popular pets in Asia. They are clean, easy to maintain, and safe to handle. In Asian countries, male beetles are also used for gambling fights since they naturally compete for female beetles with the winner knocking the other off a log. Rhinoceros beetles are also the strongest animals on the planet in relation to their own size. They can lift up to 850 times their own weight. to know more, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinoceros_Beetle

SIAPA YANG PERLUKAN DUIT?

saya tak perlukan duit. saya tak perlukan duit? ya..memang betul. apabila saya ke stesen minyak untuk isi minyak kereta, mereka minta duit daripada saya. apabila saya ke pasar ikan untuk membeli ikan, mereka perlukan duit saya. apabila saya ke kedai gunting rambut, selepas rambut saya digunting, mereka perlukan duit saya. jadi, sebenarnya mereka yang perlukan duit, bukan saya, kerana apabila saya dapat duit, saya berikan mereka duit untuk mendapatkan barangan atau perkhidmatan mereka. any way, selamat menyambut hari guru kepada semua warga pendidik di seluruh negara.

muhddamine in his 20's

Muhddamine in 1982.

24 years old.

At that time, he was a trainee teacher in Batu Lintang Teachers' College (BLTC), majoring in Malay Studies and History. He only taught History for form three classes in 1988 (Bintulu Secondary School). In SMK Serian he taught form two classes in 1994 and form three in 1997.

GRADUATION DAY FOR UPPER SIX 2008 SERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL

DATE: 6TH NOVEMBER 2008