20 Secrets Your Waiter Will Never Tell You

Waiters at a Kuala Lumpur restaurant : Photo by Oxymanus

By Michelle Crouch, Reader's Digest

What would two dozen servers from across the country tell you if they could get away with it? Well, for starters, when to go out, what not to order, what really happens behind the kitchen’s swinging doors, and what they think of you and your tips. Here, from a group that clears a median $8.01 an hour in wages and tips, a few revelations that aren’t on any menu.


What we lie about
1. We’re not allowed to tell our customers we don’t like a dish. So if you ask your server how something is and she says, “It’s one of our most popular dishes,” chances are she doesn’t like it.
—Waitress at a well-known pizza chain

2. On Christmas Day, when people ask why I’m there, I might say, “My sister’s been in the hospital,” or, “My brother’s off to war, so we’re celebrating when he gets back.” Then I rake in the tips.
—Chris, a New York City waiter and the founder of bitterwaitress.com

3. If you’re looking for your waiter and another waiter tells you he’s getting something out of the stockroom, you can bet he’s out back having a quick smoke.
—Charlie Kondek, former waiter at a Denny’s in Central Michigan


4. If someone orders a frozen drink that’s annoying to make, I’ll say, “Oh, we’re out. Sorry!” when really I just don’t want to make it. But if you order water instead of another drink, suddenly we do have what you originally wanted because I don’t want to lose your drink on the bill.


What you don’t want to know
5. When I was at one bakery restaurant, they used to make this really yummy peach cobbler in a big tray. A lot of times, servers don’t have time to eat. So we all kept a fork in our aprons, and as we cruised through the kitchen, we’d stick our fork in the cobbler and take a bite. We’d use the same fork each time.
—Kathy Kniss

6. If you make a big fuss about sending your soup back because it’s not hot enough, we like to take your spoon and run it under really hot water, so when you put the hot spoon in your mouth, you’re going to get the impression — often the very painful impression — that your soup is indeed hot.
—Chris

7. I’ve seen some horrible things done to people's food: steaks dropped on the floor, butter dipped in the dishwater.
—Waiter at a casual restaurant in the Chicago area


What you’re really swallowing
8. If your dessert says "homemade," it probably is. But it might be homemade at a bakery three miles away.
—Charity Ohlund

9. I knew one guy — he was a real jerk — he’d go to Costco and buy this gigantic carrot cake for $10 and tell us to say it’s homemade. Then he sold it for $10 a slice.
—Steve Dublanica, veteran New York waiter and author of "Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip — Confessions of a Cynical Waiter"

What drives us crazy
10. Oh, you needed more water so badly, you had to snap or tap or whistle? I’ll be right back … in ten minutes.
—Charity Ohlund

11. We want you to enjoy yourself while you’re there eating, but when it’s over, you should go. Do you stay in the movie theater after the credits? No.
—Waiter at a casual restaurant in the Chicago area

12. My biggest pet peeve? When I walk up to a table of six or seven people and one person decides everyone needs water. I’m making a trip to deliver seven waters, and four or five of them never get touched.
—Judi Santana, a server for ten years

What we want you to know
13. Sometimes, if you’ve been especially nice to me, I’ll tell the bartender, “Give me a frozen margarita, and don’t put it in.” That totally gyps the company, but it helps me because you’ll give it back to me in tips, and the management won’t know the difference.
—Waitress at a casual Mexican restaurant in Manhattan

14. If you’re having a disagreement over dinner and all of a sudden other servers come by to refill your water or clear your plates, or you notice a server slowly refilling the salt and pepper shakers at the table next to yours, assume that we’re listening.
—Charity Ohlund

What tells us you’re trouble
15. I get this call all the time: “Is the chef there? This is so-and-so. I’m a good friend of his.” If you’re his good friend, you’d have his cell.
—Chris

16. The strangest thing I’ve seen lately? A man with a prosthetic arm asked me to coat check it because the table was a little bit crowded. He just removed his arm and handed it to me: “Can you take this?”
—Christopher Fehlinger


17. We always check the reservation book, scan the names, and hope for someone recognizable. I’m happy if the notes say something like “Previous number of reservations: 92.” If they say something like “First-time guest, celebrating Grandma’s 80th birthday, need two high chairs, split checks, gluten allergy,” then I start rummaging through my pockets for a crisp bill for the hostess and I make sure to tell her how much I love her hair fixed like that.
—Charity Ohlund

How to be a good customer
18. Use your waiter’s name. When I say, “Hi, my name is JR, and I’ll be taking care of you,” it’s great when you say, “Hi, JR. How are you doing tonight?” Then, the next time you go in, ask for that waiter. He may not remember you, but if you requested him, he’s going to give you really special service.
—JR, waiter at a fine-dining restaurant and author of the blog servernotslave.wordpress.com

19. Trust your waitress. Say something like “Hey, it’s our first time in. We want you to create an experience for us. Here’s our budget.” Your server will go crazy for you.
— Charity Ohlund

What you need to know about tipping
20. If you walk out with the slip you wrote the tip on and leave behind the blank one, the server gets nothing. It happens all the time, especially with people who’ve had a few bottles of wine.
—Judi Santana

Gadgets of the Decade - An Excerpt

Gadgets of the Decade

2000: The USB Flash Drive
In the 90s, the only way you moved files from computer to computer (short of emailing them) was putting them on a floppy, a Zip disk, or burning them to a CD. Then USB flash storage liberated us: Now ubiquitous, the "thumb drive" allowed fast, convenient transfer of large files from computer to computer. As they steadily dropped in price and increased in storage volume, the humble thumb drive paved the way for sexier Flash-based devices like the iPod Nano.
Runners up: broadband wireless router, PlayStation 2

2001: The iPod
Needs no introduction: the device that singlehandedly turned the music business on its ear and started Apple's transformation from a niche computer maker into an industry-redefining media company.

Runner up: The original Microsoft Xbox

2002: The Dyson DC07 Vacuum Cleaner
Call it the iPod of household appliances. Its inventor, James Dyson, solved a decades-long problem--the vacuum never loses suction--and its sleek gray and yellow design made the product line into museum-worthy fetish objects. (Seriously: they were in MoMA.)
Runner up: The Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner

2003: The Mainstream DVR
TiVo had been around since 1999, but it seemed destined to remain an expensive toy for TV obsessives. Instead, Big Cable realized they could make their own DVRs and bundle them into their customers' set-top boxes. Poof: suddenly everyone was speeding past commercials and using "DVR" as a verb.
Runner up: BlackBerry 6210 smartphone

2004: The Motorola RAZR Cell Phone
Before the RAZR, cell phones were clunky appendages worn by middle managers on their hips. Then, suddenly, they were a badge of cool--and have been ever since. The RAZR's superthin profile was exceedingly sexy, even though the phone itself was a call-dropping nightmare to use.
Runners up: Bose SoundDock; Logitech laser mouse

2005: Personal GPS Navigation Devices
Once a luxury option for the Lexus set, turn-by-turn digital driving directions suddenly became a convenience for the masses, thanks to TomTom and Garmin, the top two makers of those little dashboard pods you see in every rental car and livery cab.
Runners up: bluetooth headsets; Guitar Hero

2006: Intel-Powered Macbooks
By putting Intel chips inside their new notebook line, Apple dealt a deathblow to one of PC users' longest-standing canards against switching: "Well, it can't run [insert Windows application name here]." No more: With the sleek body of a Mac and the brains of a PC, the new Macbooks offered users the best of both worlds. (Not coincidentally, 2006 also saw the debut of Apple's PC-baiting "I'm a Mac" ad campaign.)
Runner up: Cheap or built-in Webcams from Logitech, Phillips, Microsoft, Apple, and others

2007: Tie - the iPhone, the Wii, and the Flip camera
It's not often you see three game-changing devices debut in one year, but these plastic idols ignited buying crazes that turned the smartphone, game system, and camcorder markets on their heads. Each one utterly dominated its competitors and was what everyone wanted for Christmas.
Runners up: The $500 flat-screen HDTV, the original Kindle

2008: Netbooks
Who would ever want to carry a laptop in their purse (or man-bag)? A lot of people--enough for a whole new computer market to spring into existence seemingly overnight. Starting with the ASUS Eee PC 700 (which didn't even come with Windows), these sub-$500 devices with minimal features were outselling "real" laptops on Amazon by year's end. After all, why lug a 5-pound, Photoshop-running behemoth around when all you want to do is answer email and surf the Web?
Runner up: Blu-Ray players

2009: Explosion of e-readers
Yes, the Kindle came out in '07, but it was buggy and unattractive. This year was when digital-reading really gained momentum: Amazon released two much-improved Kindle models, the paperback-sized Kindle 2 and the oversized Kindle DX, while Sony and Barnes & Noble got into the game with their Reader and Nook devices, respectively. Meanwhile, the tech-bloggers trembled all year at (as yet unfulfilled) rumors of an Apple tablet .
Runners up: Android-powered smartphones from HTC and Motorola
Text by John Pavlus

Panic of indifference, rediscovering ‘Bhinneka Tunggal Ika’ - An Excerpt

Indonesian Children : Photo by Oxymanus

Panic of indifference, rediscovering ‘Bhinneka Tunggal Ika’

Meidyatama Suryodiningrat , Jakarta | Mon, 12/21/2009 12:03 PM | Review & Outlook - JP/Nani AfridaJP/Nani Afrida

When the mantra of reformasi swept the archipelago in 1998, few could fathom the repercussions of deconstructing the New Order state beyond the toppling of Soeharto.

The age of predefined cultural and political hegemony gone by. Eleven years later the country is still grappling to fasten the fibers that create nationhood and a community based on the ideals of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).

The polemic of nation building is as loud today as in the 1930s, when the seeds of Indonesian nationhood were still being fertilized, as contentious as the definition of revolution in the 1950s.

If the cultural polemic of the past was dominated by the literati — Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, Muhammad Yamin and Sanusi Pane — and the political elite — Sukarno and M. Hatta — the 21st century is a cacophony of the layman and statesman, whether in the public or the digital forums.

A nation facing changes in the way its people interact.

Collisions between evolving views of consciousness spurred by shifting political paradigms, globalization, technology and a new generation of Indonesians who know nothing but the culture of democracy.

From Facebook to Prita Mulyasari. Hot pants to batik.

Between the rise of the liberal anchored beyond the parameters of orthodoxy, and the protraction of conservative traditionalism buried in blood and soil.

Rather than coming to terms with the miscellany, the outbursts have been panics of indifference that sully the beauty of diversity.

The freedom of information and expressions of individuality that marked the birth of a democratic Indonesia were tested by those who find it difficult to come to terms with such openness.

The “Javanese Way” of not saying what one really means, and pretending not to want what one actually covets, is no longer the modus of interaction.


The decision by a local branch of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to declare the social network Facebook haram (prohibited in Islam) was one example of how in 2009 the modernity of freedom of expression was bludgeoned by the old ways of the rigid past.

Like some authoritarian regimes, the only way some know how to deal with it is through censorship. In that same regard, the state is always hankering to control and limit information as much as possible.
Hence despite laws on freedom of information, a bill was sneaked into the House of Representatives that would widen the scope to which the government could brand information as a state secret.

Fortunately there was enough public awareness to see the bill suspended at the close of the 2004-2009 legislature. This effectively means the battle will continue next year.

The libel case involving Prita Mulyasari was another example of how the new culture of Indonesia’s modern democracy was tested in 2009. The mother of two was found guilty for writing an email to friends complaining about the services of a private hospital.

While Prita may have been guilty in her mode of expression according to the letter of the law, the outburst of public support and sympathy showed that injustice had occurred that affected a right that many now consider an inalienable part of the democratic culture.

The clash with modernity was further prevalent in Aceh, as overzealous councilors began to impose strict interpretations of sharia law that could see stoning to death for adulterers and women forbidden from wearing tight pants.

The events in the westernmost province are a further sign of the creeping conservatism that has flourished in reaction to the pendulum swing of liberal voices.

People fear the novel and unknown because it may undermine the safe bubble of established hegemonic traditions and loyalties. For many, new trends toward perceptions of authority, including views on sexuality and family, are challenges they would rather banish than face.

The same way that the freedom of religion in the Constitution does not translate into freedom of conscience.

How many remember the thousands of students of the Satria school in Jakarta who remain in exile and are refugees because their boarding school was forcibly shut down by residents uncomfortable at having, what they perceived as, a Christian mission in their midst.

As we have learned in 2009, laws and regulations in themselves are not enough to ensure tolerance because they don’t tell people how to respect one another.

And while we all agree on our love of material culture, from shopping malls to ownership of batik, the core values of culture to explain what makes up Indonesia are being shaped.

In other words, the Indonesia of tomorrow is being defined by the “cultural polemics” of today.

What many have forgotten, however, is that despite the veracity of debate regarding this issue in the past, what has been defined as Indonesian culture has always been the moderation of values where no one ideology, faith, ethnicity or even language has been predominant.

A secular tradition of all facets. It was a Sumatran, M. Yamin, who proposed the model of a unitary state akin to the Javanese kingdom of Majapahit. It was a Javanese, Ki Hajar Dewantara, who asserted that the national language of this country be Malay, not Javanese. Furthermore, it was Muslim thinkers who ensured that the new republic would not be an Islamic state.

The words of Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana in the 1930s may be a guide to the cultural polemics of the coming year: “If necessary we should take the sharpest knife and cut the weeds and parasite from the tree of ‘Indonesianest’ … Our cultural scouts must be free from the burdens of heritage.”


The writer is deputy chief editor of The Jakarta Post.

Do Not Kill Your Time / Knowledge In Islam - An Excerpt

Photo : Oxymanus

The Quran and Sunnah both emphasize the importance of time in the life of a Muslim. Allaah swears in the beginning of many Soorahs (chapters) by time or moments in time, for example Allaah Says (what means): “By the dawn and the ten nights (i.e. the first ten days of the month of Thul-Hijjah)...” [Quran 89: 1-2]

And also Says (what means): “By the night when it covers, and by the day when it appears...” [Quran 92:1]
And also Says (what means): “By the morning brightness and by the night when it covers with darkness...” [Quran 93:1]

And also Says (what means): “By the time...” [Quran 103:1]
When Allaah swears by something of His creation, it directs our attention to the benefit of that thing. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, further emphasized the value of time in many authentic Hadeeths. For example, Mu’aath bin Jabal may Allaah be pleased with him related that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The slave will not go forward on the Day of Judgment until he is asked four questions: about his age and how he spent it, about his youth and how he used it, about his wealth and how he acquired it and spent it, and about his knowledge and what he did with it.”

Youth is considered the peak stage in human life, because young people have the capacity and energy to accomplish many good deeds, but when they get older, they cannot do as much. These are stages of development as mentioned in the Quran, for example in Soorah Ar-Room (The Romans), Allaah Says (what means): “Allaah is He Who created you in (a state of) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave (you) weakness and grey hair ...” [Quran 30:54]

If we do not use our time effectively for something good, then we will definitely use it for something bad, which destroys our rewards and our lives. For example, if you do not make Thikr (mentioning Allaah and praising Him), then you will be saying something else, perhaps backbiting or perhaps talking about your children, your work, your neighbors, your friends or your enemies. What counts for you is using the time for something useful, doing good deeds and saying good things.
Try to make a short revision at the end of each day about what you did during that day. Ask yourself: What did I do today? What did I do that was bad today? Make repentance for the bad things that you have done and said, sincerely determining not to repeat such things. With the good, determine to do it again, do it more often and do it in a better way.

Our lives are judged according to what we did, not according to how many years we lived. We know that life is very short, and at the end of it comes death. We do not know when we are going to die, so we have to make sure that we do many good deeds before we pass into the next life and we are unable to return to repent from our bad deeds, or to do more good deeds. Time passes very quickly as Allaah Says (what means): “The Day they see it, (it will be) as if they had not tarried (in this world) except an afternoon and a morning.” [Quran 79:46]

And also Says (what means): “And on the Day when He shall gather (resurrect) them together, (it will be) as if they had not stayed (in the life of this world and graves, etc) but an hour of a day.” [Quran 10:45]
Time is very precious and if it passes, you cannot make use of it again. If yesterday passed without the performance of good deeds, then it is gone; you cannot reclaim any benefit from yesterday’s time. For example, if you came to travel from one city to another and you found that the airplane that you were supposed to travel on has already left, do you think that it will be back to pick you up? Or if you were traveling by train and you missed the train, do you think that the train will reverse to come back to get you?

When it is time for a person to die, he may ask for more time to do good deeds, as Allaah Says (what means): “Therein they will cry: ‘Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not what we used to do.’ (Allaah will reply): ‘Did We not give you long enough lives so that whosoever would receive admonition could receive it, and the warner came to you? So taste you (the evil of your deeds). For the wrongdoers, etc, there is no helper.” [Quran 35:37]

We say that we are so busy with our work and our children, but Allaah warns us against this saying (what means): “O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allaah. And whoever does that, then they are the losers. And spend (in charity) of that which We have provided for you before death comes to one of you and he says: ‘My Lord! If only you would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return to the worldly life), then I should give sadaqah (i.e. Zakaah) of my wealth, and be among the righteous (i.e. perform Hajj). And Allaah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allaah is All-Aware of what you do.” [Quran 63: 9-11]

Many people before us used their time effectively by performing good deeds, teaching, doing something for the benefit of the Muslims, their families and their relatives, or by advising others to be good, and calling others to Allaah and Islam, etc. They considered every day that passed which they did not use effectively for the sake of Allaah as denying the favors of Allaah.

Today we have those who “kill time.” These people gather to talk about things that are not related to Islam or the Muslims’ affairs; they play around or talk about others. These people are not killing time, but they are committing slow suicide because they are killing their time -- and their time is their lives! So they are slowly killing themselves and after they die, what good deeds have they done?

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “There are two favors (or bounties) of Allaah’s bounties, and in them many people are cheated (or deceived): health and free time.”

People underestimate the value of these two favors, and thus, they are cheated. This is like a person who has a house that he wants to sell. Someone comes and offers him 50,000 dollars for it. He isn’t sure of its value, so he hesitates. Finally, he agrees and sells it for that amount. Later he finds out that his house was actually worth a million dollars. Imagine how cheated he feels; imagine that feeling that if he had only known beforehand what it was really worth, he could have gotten more!

It is the same with our time. We underestimate its great value, and then when it is gone, we feel that we have been cheated because we didn’t get everything out of it that we could have. But just as the one who sold his house below its value cannot get it back and sell it at its true value, we also cannot go back and do more with the time that is already gone. At the end of our lives, we will not be able to go back and live our lives over again and we will not be given more time to do good deeds, to try to make up for the time we wasted.

So we must organize our time wisely, being very careful about what we use it for. We must treat the free time that we have, in which we could do good deeds as a precious resource, guarding it against waste or misuse.

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Knowledge in Islam and How To Seek It :

In this article we’ll try to shed some light on knowledge from Islamic perspective. Generally speaking, the Arabic word for knowledge is 'ilm, which, in most cases, indicates to Islamic knowledge or matters related to Sheree’ah (Islamic Law). Although, some of the Quranic verses in this article refer to Islamic knowledge, yet they are general in their meaning, and thus can be used to refer to learning in general.

The importance of education is a none disputable matter. Education is the knowledge of putting one's potentials to maximum use. One can safely say that a human being is not in the proper sense till he/she is educated.

This importance of education is basically for two reasons. The first is that the training of a human mind is not complete without education. Education makes man a right thinker. It tells man how to think and how to make decision.

The second reason for the importance of education is that only through the attainment of education, man is enabled to receive information from the external world; to acquaint himself with past history and receive all necessary information regarding the present. Without education, man is as though in a closed room and with education he finds himself in a room with all its windows open towards the outside world.

This is why Islam attaches great importance to knowledge and education. When the Quran began to be revealed, the first word of its first verse was 'Iqra' that is, read. Allaah says, (what means): "Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists). He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen. He has taught man that which he knew not" [Quran, 96: 1-5]

Education is thus the starting point of every human activity. Allaah created man and provided him with the tools for acquiring knowledge, namely hearing, sight and wisdom. Allaah says (what means): "And Allaah has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you might give thanks (to Allaah)" [Quran, 16:78]

A knowledgeable person is accorded great respect in many prophetic narrations.

Because of the importance of knowledge, Allaah commanded His Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) to seek more of it. Allaah says (what means): "and say: `My Lord! Increase me in knowledge" [Quran, 20:114]

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) made seeking knowledge an obligation upon every Muslim, and he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) explained that the superiority of the one who has knowledge over the one who merely worships is like the superiority of the moon over every other heavenly body. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said that the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets and that the Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention did not leave behind any money, rather their inheritance was knowledge, so whoever acquires it has gained a great share. Furthermore, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said that seeking knowledge is a way leading to Paradise. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Whoever follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allaah will make a path to Paradise easy for him." (Al-Bukhaari)

For example the Quran repeatedly asks us to observe the earth and the heavens. This instills in man a desire to learn natural science as well. All the books of Hadeeth have a chapter on knowledge. In Saheeh Al-Bukhaari there is a chapter entitled "The virtue of one who acquires learning and imparts that to others."

Islam calls us to learn all kinds of beneficial knowledge. Branches of knowledge vary in status, the highest of which is knowledge of Sharee'ah (Islamic Law), then other fields of knowledge, such as medicine, etc.

This is the knowledge (Sharee'ah) with which Allaah honoured His Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ); He taught it to him sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) so that he might teach it to mankind: "Indeed, Allaah conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses (the Quran), and purifying them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the Book (the Quran) and Al-Hikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet (i.e. his legal ways, statements and acts of worship)], while before that they had been in manifest error" [Quran, 3:164]

How great importance is attached to learning in Islam, can be understood from an event in the life of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). At the battle of Badr in which the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) gained victory over his opponents, seventy people of the enemy rank were taken prisoner. These prisoners of war were literate people. In order to benefit from their education the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) declared that if one prisoner teaches ten Muslims how to read and write, this will serve as his ransom and he will be set free. We can freely say that this was the first school in the history of Islam established by the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) himself with all its teachers being non-Muslims. Furthermore, they were all war prisoners.

On the one hand Islam places great emphasis on learning, on the other, all those factors which are necessary to make progress in learning have been provided by Allaah. One of these special factors is the freedom of research. One example of it is that in Makkah, the birthplace of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) dates were not grown. Afterwards the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) migrated to Madeenah, the city of dates. One day the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) saw that some people were atop the date trees busy in doing something. On being asked what they were engaged in, they replied that they were pollinating.

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) suggested them not to do so. The following year date yield was considerably very low. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) enquired them of the reason. They told him that the date crop depended on pollination. Since he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) suggested them to do otherwise, they had refrained from that. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) then told them to go on doing as they used to, and that, "You know the worldly matters better than me." (Al-Bukhaari)

Also we should know that there is no goodness in knowledge which is not confirmed by actions or words which are not confirmed by deeds, Allaah the Almighty says (what means): "O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allaah that you say that which you do not do" [Quran, 61: 2-3]

Knowledge brings a great reward. The one who points the way to something good is like the one who does it. When the knowledgeable person dies, his reward with Allaah does not cease when he dies, rather it continues to increase so long as people benefit from his knowledge. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "When a man dies, all his deeds come to an end except for three — an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge or a righteous child who will pray for him." (Muslim)

On other side, a person without knowledge is like someone walking along a track in complete darkness. Most likely his steps will wander aside and Satan can easily deceive him. This shows that our greatest danger lies in our ignorance of Islamic teachings in the first place and in our unawareness of what the Quran teaches and what guidance has been given by the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

On the other hand, if we are blessed with the light of knowledge we will be able to see plainly the clear path of Islam at every step of our lives. We shall also be able to identify and avoid the dangerous paths of disbelief, Shirk (associating with Allaah) and immorality, which may cross it. And, whenever a false guide meets us on the way, a few words with him will quickly establish that he is not a guide who should be followed.

Knowledge is pursued and practiced with modesty and humility and leads to dignity, freedom and justice.

The main purpose of acquiring knowledge is to bring us closer to our Creator. It is not simply for the gratification of the mind or the senses. It is not knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Knowledge accordingly must be linked with values and goals.

One of the purposes of acquiring knowledge is to gain the good of this world, not to destroy it through wastage, arrogance and in the reckless pursuit of higher standards of material comfort.

Six etiquettes of learning

lbn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah may Allaah have mercy upon him said: "There are six stages to knowledge:

Firstly: Asking questions in a good manner.

Secondly: Remaining quiet and listening attentively.

Thirdly: Understanding well.

Fourthly: Memorising.

Fifthly Teaching.

Sixthly- and it is its fruit: Acting upon the knowledge and keeping to its limits."

Conclusion

According to Quranic perspective, knowledge is a prerequisite for the creation of a just world in which authentic peace can prevail. In the case of country’s disorder or war the Quran emphasizes the importance of the pursuit of learning, Allaah says (what means): "Nor should the believers all go forth together: if a contingent from every expedition remained behind, they could devote themselves to studies in religion, and admonish the people when they return to them - that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil)." [Quran, 19:122]

Teaching Children Good Manners - An Excerpt

Photo : Oxymanus

Just as a child should be taught ritual acts of worship, he should also be taught good habits and etiquettes until they become second nature to him.

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "The believers who have the most perfect faith are those who have the best manners." [Abu Daawood]

Good manners are an acquired trait that must be adopted from a young age. Of such manners are the following:

Being respectful and dutiful to parents:

The first person from whom a child learns good manners is the father. If a child is raised in a good Islamic home, then it would be natural for him to treat his parents respectfully.

Allaah Says (what means): "And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them reach old age in your life, never say 'uff’ (an expression of displeasure), nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And humble yourself to them out of mercy and say, 'My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.'" [Quran, 17:23,24]

Maintaining good relations with relatives:

Sound cultivation also stipulates teaching children to maintain good relations with their relatives.

Allaah Says (what means): ''Worship Allaah and associate none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the needy, the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allaah does not like such as are proud and boastful. " [Quran, 4:36]

The fulfillment of this Divine command can be accomplished only by sound cultivation which makes them grow attached to their relatives out of obedience to Allaah.

Since relatives are an extension of the family, then strengthening ties with them strengthens the whole family and it is like strengthening the whole community and this reflects an Islamic community that enjoys a cohesive structure. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "The example of the believers in their reciprocal love and mercy is like a human body, when one of its organs suffers, the rest of the body remains awake and suffers fever." [Muslim]

Inculcating brotherly love:

Brotherly love and believers' solidarity must be embedded in children's minds and that the believers are brothers-in-faith. For example to follow the pious predecessors, the Muhajireen and the Ansaar may Allaah be pleased with them whose brotherly love and altruism Allaah commands in His Book.

Giving a friendly gesture or a happy greeting to Muslim brothers generates friendliness in their hearts and, strengthens the love among the believers. This indeed is a fine trait, which is instructed by Allaah, the Exalted. He describes the believers by saying (what means): "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves…" [Quran, 48:29]

Allaah also addressed His Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) saying (what means): "Had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you…" [Quran, 3:159]

Guarding the tongue:

Giving a good word is a type of remembrance of Allaah, telling the truth, guarding one's own tongue against slandering other Muslims are good deeds. The best Muslim, according to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is the one from whose tongue the Muslims feel safe.

Parents should make their children aware of the gravity of abusing others with their tongue and of the fact that the tongue is a double-sided and dangerous weapon. Therefore, they should be warned in particular against abusing it.

· Warning children against backbiting and slandering:

Children should be taught that backbiting is speaking slanderously about an absent person. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Do you know what back biting is?” They (companions) said: "Allaah and His Messenger know best." He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "It is to attribute to your brother what he dislikes." He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was asked: "What do you think if what I say about my brother is true?" He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "If what you attribute to him is true, then you have backbitten him, and if it is not true, then you have lied about him." [Muslim]

While talebearing is to circulate slanderous rumors between two persons to damage or sever the ties between them. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Talebearer will not be admitted to Paradise." [Muslim]

Deriding people in their presence by making negative facial expressions or by hand gestures while they are unaware is also forbidden in Islam.

· Warning children against lying:

Children must be taught to tell the truth and to keep away from lying, which is the most horrible habit. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "There are four traits whoever possesses them is a sheer hypocrite, and he who possesses one of them, possesses a trait of hypocrisy unless he quits it. They are: when he speaks, he lies; and when he enters into an agreement, he acts unfaithfully; when he promises, he breaches his promise; and when he litigates, he behaves treacherously. While the liar receives the anger of Allaah on the Day of Resurrection." [Al-Bukhaari]

Parents should not take this evil habit lightly, or consider it funny when their children tell lies because later on, it becomes easy for them to lie without any compunction.

· Abusing others:

Among the worst of manners is reviling people and swearing at them. If this bad habit is not redressed while the child is growing up, it becomes hard for him to avoid it later on.

Islam enjoins guarding the tongues. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "He who guarantees, what is in between his jaws (tongue), and what is in between his thighs (private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him." [Al-Bukhaari]

This means guarding one's own tongue against uttering anything that displeases Allaah, and guarding one's own private parts against committing illicit acts or fornication.

Grand past but uncertain future for Malaysia's Carcosa - An Excerpt

Photo by : Oxymanus

Grand past but uncertain future for Malaysia's Carcosa
By Romen Bose (AFP) – 7 hours ago
KUALA LUMPUR — The future is uncertain for Malaysia's Carcosa Seri Negara, the 111-year old grande dame of colonial Malaya. Once home to the country's former British rulers and now an exclusive hotel, it is up for redevelopment.

The centre of colonial social life in the early 20th century the hotel -- which is an amalgamation of two stately bungalows, the Carcosa and the Seri Negara -- will close its doors on December 31.

Its many admirers are concerned over the fate of the national landmark, which in its heyday was a symbol of colonial power and a location where the nation's history was made.

"We were told by the government it is giving a tender to a company that is interested in redeveloping this site so we don't know what its going to be," says hotel manager Caroline Filtzinger.

Run by the GHM group of luxury hotels since 2004, the management was informed of the government's decision in October by the Economic Planning Unit, which handles the property.

Despite enquiries made by AFP to officials in several departments within the EPU, no one was able to shed light on plans for the Carcosa.

Filtzinger admits the place is in need of a facelift but patrons keep coming back regardless, for functions and the trademark sumptuous afternoon tea on the veranda.

"It's also the premier wedding location in the country and everybody wants to get married in this historic location, on the lawns, it is really sad to see it closing down."

She says the hotel's main business has been hosting events rather than filling its 13 guestrooms -- elegant but somewhat faded suites ranging in price from 1,100-3,500 ringgit (325-1,030 dollars) a night.

Carcosa Seri Negara occupies 40 acres (16.19 hectares) with the land around the Carcosa plunging straight into the jungle before opening onto the Lake Gardens parklands below.

Construction of the Carcosa began in 1896 by the first Resident-General, or chief British adviser to the then Federated Malay States, Sir Frank Swettenham, who named his new home after a fictional city.

The total cost including the building of numerous winding roads and outbuildings came to 67,300 Straits dollars -- worth about 13.9 million dollars in today's money.

Completed in 1898, the half-timbered house was built in High Victorian style, with ornamental designs incorporating a Elizabethan gable and an ornamental "medieval parapet" adorning several of its sides.

Inside, the entrance hall is large and airy, opening up to the roof with timber buttresses giving it a church-like feel, the larger windows sporting Anglo-Saxon cross lattices, topped off with lancet arches from the Regency period.

After Swettenham, Carcosa was occupied by the country's top British civil servants and in 1913 the government built the King's House on the property, as a guesthouse for the Governor of the Straits Settlements who resided in Singapore.

During the second world war, the Japanese military used the two buildings as an officer's mess, and upon liberation it was taken over by the British military.

By 1946, Carcosa reverted to its original use and was the scene where on January 21, 1948, representatives of the Malay Sultans and the British government created the Federation of Malaya, giving the country limited autonomy.

The Communist insurgency that began in June that year saw the grounds encircled by barbed wire but by 1956, with the communist threat on the wane and a push towards independence, the building's future was in question.

However, on September 12, 1956, Malaya's Chief Minister and Malaysia's first premier Tunku Abdul Rahman presented the deeds of Carcosa to the British government as a gift.

On the lawns of the King's House on August 5, 1957, just before independence was declared, the Malay Sultans along with Malaya's last colonial administrator Sir Donald MacGillivray signed into creation the new nation.

King's House was later returned to Malaysia and renamed "Seri Negara" or "Beautiful Country."

Carcosa however was occupied by a succession of British high commissioners, and an invitation for dinner or to a tea party in the grounds was the height of social ambition.

Malaysian veteran educationist Rasammah Bhupalan remembers elegant evenings in the early 1960s when Viscount Anthony Head and his wife Dorothea resided there.

"There were many functions at the Carcosa, formal and informal and you would feel at once in awe of the stately events held in what was also a home," she said.

"Lady Head loved birds and I remember having tea with her at the Carcosa and these large number of birds chirping and keeping us company."

However, the pleasant days at the Carcosa ended as relations between Malaysia and Britain soured once Mahathir Mohamad became prime minister in 1981.

Shahrir Abdul Samad, a cabinet minister at the height of the anti-British fervour that infected trade and diplomacy, said the idea of handing over the Carcosa was conceived at this point.

"The British high commissioner came to see me to ask what would be the way forward to resolve the worsening situation," he told AFP.

"I told him that as he had been complaining about the costs of managing Carcosa for so long, why not consider returning it to Malaysia as a gesture of goodwill."

"In May 1984, Mahathir announced the British were returning Carcosa but it was done in a gradual manner sometime in early 1987."

Shahrir said the cabinet then decided to convert the buildings into a hotel for visiting dignitaries, and the first official guest was Queen Elizabeth II who was attending a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

While plans for the hotel and the two buildings are still unclear, many hope the buildings will be preserved.

"We should not get rid of Carcosa or demolish those historic buildings as it is a part of our history," said Shahrir, who left the cabinet earlier this year. "It is still very much an important part of the Malaysian story."

A Brief History of Naming the 2000s - An Excerpt

A Brief History of Naming the 2000s
By Laura Fitzpatrick Monday, Dec. 28, 2009

Waxing nostalgic about this decade is going to be tough. And not just because there's plenty--from 9/11 to the financial apocalypse--we'd rather forget. No, the trouble is that when we tell our grandkids about the first decade of the 21st century, we may not know what to call it.

This gap in the English language shouldn't come as a surprise; the debate over what to name the first decade of this century has been going on since the middle decades of the last one. The 1900s never got a name beyond vague constructions like the turn of the century. One popular term--the aughts--has proved too archaic (and tricky to spell) to be broadly revived. Wordsmiths tried new coinages starting early: in 1963 a New Yorker writer suggested "Twenty oh-oh" for the far-off year 2000, a "nervous name for what is sure to be a nervous year." Twenty years later, a New York Times editorial proposed the Ohs. In 1989 the late word guru William Safire floated Zippy Zeros. (It sank.) In 1999 a New York City arts collective mounted a campaign to name the decade the naughties, plugging the moniker on posters and stickers around the city. Attempts to poll our way to consensus failed. One in 6 voters in a 1999 USA Today poll preferred a variant of the aughts to the 2Ks, the Zips and the First Decade, among other options; in a separate survey the same year, 20% of respondents picked the Double O's. Meanwhile, in a poll by the British p.r. firm QBO, the Zeroes prevailed.

Mounting Y2K hysteria overshadowed debate in the late '90s, as many worried less about what to call the next decade and more about whether there would be one. After the world failed to end at the stroke of midnight, linguistic experts promised that a nickname would bubble up over time. Despite creative attempts--including Ryan Guerra's decade-long quest to popularize the Unies via brochures and blog manifestos--none has. We've gotten by for so long calling this decade the 21st century--a term that will sound ridiculous in 50 years--that we might as well get started on christening the next one. Will it be the tweens? The teens? An Australian website has already suggested the One-ders. Here we go again.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1948618,00.html?xid=newsletter-daily#ixzz0azp2267e
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UN to Review Progress on the Millennium Development Goals
at High-level Meeting in September 2010

“Time is short. We must seize this historic moment to
act responsibly and decisively for the common good.”


With only six years until the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon chose these words to strongly urge Governments to engage constructively in the preparations for a high-level meeting in September 2010 to review progress towards the MDGs and other international development goals.

The UN General Assembly took a decision in July 2009 to hold such a high-level plenary meeting at the opening of its 65th session in 2010. At the Assembly’s request, the Secretary-General has issued a report setting out a proposed format and modalities for the event, which are expected to be agreed through consultations before the end of 2009. The Assembly has encouraged all countries to be represented at this important meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government.

In the 2009 Millennium Development Goals Report released earlier this year, the Secretary-General noted: "We have made important progress in this effort, and have many successes on which to build. But we have been moving too slowly to meet our goals". The 2010 high-level meeting, he hopes, will not only result in a renewal of existing commitments but also can decisively galvanize coordinated action among all stakeholders and elicit the funding needed to ensure the achievement of the Goals by 2015.

China unveils 'world's fastest train link' - An Excerpt

Sat Dec 26, 7:54 am ET

BEIJING (AFP) – China on Saturday unveiled what it billed as the fastest rail link in the world -- a train connecting the modern cities of Guangzhou and Wuhan at an average speed of 350 kilometres (217 miles) an hour.

The super-high-speed train reduces the 1,069 kilometre journey to a three hour ride and cuts the previous journey time by more than seven and a half hours, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Work on the project began in 2005 as part of plans to expand a high-speed network aimed at eventually linking Guangzhou, a business hub in southern China near Hong Kong, with the capital Beijing, Xinhua added.

"The train can go 394.2 kilometres per hour, it's the fastest train in operation in the world," Zhang Shuguang, head of the transport bureau at the railways ministry, told Xinhua.

Test runs for the service began earlier in December and the link officially went into service when the first scheduled train left the eastern metropolis of Wuhan on Saturday.

By comparison, the average for high-speed trains in Japan was 243 kilometres per hour while in France it was 277 kilometres per hour, said Xu Fangliang, general engineer in charge of designing the link, according to Xinhua.

Beijing has an ambitious rail development programme aimed at increasing the national network from the current 86,000 kilometres to 120,000 kilometres, making it the most extensive rail system outside the United States.

China unveiled its first high-speed line at the time of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 -- a service linking the capital with the port city of Tianjin.

In September, officials said they planned to build 42 high-speed lines by 2012 in a massive system overhaul as part of efforts to spur economic growth amid the global downturn.

The network uses technology developed in co-operation with foreign firms such as Siemens, Bombardier and Alstom.

Christmas In India - An Excerpt

India is a secular nation and houses every community. Christians are a minority here and form nearly 2.3% of the population. But the fact that there are only about 25 million Christians in India, in no way lessens the observance of the festival. Moreover, the occassion is celebrated not only by Christians but by people of other religions as well.

The tradition of Christmas observance was introduced here with the colonisation of Europeans. Though the country gained its independence in 1947, many European customs and festivals stayed on. The fact that there is the presence of a Christian community in India, helped the maintaining of these traditions in no less a way. Today, Christmas is the biggest and most-loved festival of Indian Christians. The festival is also enthusiastically celebrated by people of other religions residing here.

Like in many other countries, Christmas is observed in India on 25th December. Everyone gears up for the festival from nearly a week before. Business stores are decked up for the occassion with every gift shop packed with Christmas trees, presents, ornaments and other items of decoration that are bought by millions of enthusiastic celebrants of the festival.

For Indian Christians, especially the Catholics, the Midnight mass on Christmas Eve is a very important service and holds great religious significance. Every year, on the night of 24th December, all members in Christian families visit their local churches to attend the Midnight mass. On this night, churches in India are decorated with Poinsettia flowers and candles. The mass over, everyone relishes a mouthwatering feast of various delicacies, mostly consisting of curries. Thereupon, presents are given to one another and "Merry Christmas" is wished. India being a multicultural nation, many different languages are spoken here. In Hindi and Urdu, Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Bade Din ki Mubarak'; in Sanskrit it is 'Krismasasya shubhkaamnaa'; in Bengali 'Barodiner shubhechha janai'; and in Tamil it's 'Christhu Jayanthi Nalvaalthukal'.

Nativity plays are staged in many schools(mainly the Christian ones) and churches on Christmas morning. The perfomances by young children depict the birth, life and actions of Jesus Christ and usually end with the singing of hymns and carols and the visit of a person dressed as Santa to distribute candies/toffees to kids. In the metros a smiling Santa Claus, entertaining children at departmental stores with toys and gifts, is not an uncommon sight. Caroling processions on streets and thoroughfares can also be seen on 24th night.

A sizeable population of the Christian Community reside in Mumbai of the Indian state of Maharashtra and are mainly Roman Catholics. It is a delight to watch their homes during Christmas. Every Christian home creates a nativity scene, often display a manger in the front window. Giant star-shaped paper lanterns are hung between the houses so that the stars float above you as you walk down the road. There is a provision of sweets, mainly home-made, in every household to welcome visitors during the occassion. In Southern states, Christians often light small clay oil lamps and place these on the flat roofs of their homes to show that Jesus is the light of the world. In the North-western states of India, the tribal Christians of the Bhil folk take out caroling processions during the whole Christmas week and often visit neighbouring villages to tell the Christmas story to people through songs.
In India, Father Christmas or Santa Claus is held to be the giver of presents to children from a horse and cart. As in the U.S., he is believed to deliver presents at the house of every kid who behaves well during the whole year. Santa Claus is known as 'Christmas Baba' in Hindi and 'Christmas Thaathaa' in Tamil.

Christmas In Bethlehem - An Excerpt

Bethlehem is the town where Jesus Christ is said to have been born. Naturally, Christmas here is a major event and the festival is celebrated in a grand manner.

Here, Christmas Day is observed not on a particular day. Bethlehem consists of people of different Christian denominations - Catholics, Protestants, Greek Orthodoxes, Ethiopians, Armenians and more.
While Roman Catholics and Protestants celebrate Christmas Day on December 25, Greek, Syrian and other Orthodox Christians observe it on 6th January. For Armenian Christians, Christmas Day is on January 18. Hence, Bethlehem witnesses a longer Christmas celebrations than many other places.

In Bethlehem, Roman Catholic services begin on December 24 and take place in St. Catherine's Church , a Catholic church adjacent to the Orthodox Basilica of the Nativity. Protestants hold their services in a different way. While some of them may attend special Christmas services in their local churches, others may arrange excursions for special services in the Shepherd's Fields or the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Some of the popular Jerusalem chuches such as The Anglican Cathedral of St. George, the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and the YMCA organize travel to Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations. Orthodox Christians(Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Romanian Orthodox and others) celebrate the birth of Jesus by taking out numerous religious processions and holding special services mainly at the Basilica of the Nativity. Most Armenian Christmas services are also held in the Basilica, albeit a little later, on January 18. The Christmas processions usually pass through Manger Square, believed to be situated on the traditional site of Jesus' birth.

The general Christmas traditions in Bethlehem are similar to the Europeans and North American customs observed during the festival. From a few days before 25th December, the town is decorated with flags and other items of adornment. Streets are strung with Christmas lights. A Christmas market comes up and Christmas plays are performed. A cross is painted on the doors of every Christian home and Nativity scenes are displayed in every household.

On Christmas Eve, annual Christmas processions are taken out. Residents of the town as well as tourists crowd the doorways and the roof of the Basilica to get a view of the parade. Galloping horsemen and police mounted on Arabian horses lead the procession. The procession is led by galloping horsemen and police mounted over Arabian horses; followed by a man riding over a black steed and carrying a cross. After him comes the churchmen and government officials. The procession quitely enters the doors and puts an ancient effigy of the Holy Child in the Church. The visitors
are then taken through deep winding stairs leading to a grotto where a silver star marks the site of the birth of Jesus.

Christmas In Japan - An Excerpt

In Japan, Christmas is observed on the 25th of December.

Here the festival is less a religious occassion and more a commercial event owing to the fact that only about 1% of the Japanese population is estimated to be Christian. Buddhism and Shintoism is the major religion in Japan. Christmas was initially introduced to Japan with the arrival of the first Europeans in the 16th century. But the festival gained popularity only in recent decades due to increasing migration of people from all over the world to Japan.

In Japan, Christmas celebrations take place on Christmas Eve and not on December 25, the actual Christmas Day. Preparations for Christmas begin here several weeks before December 24. Shopping for the season begin in earnest right from the beginning of December. Retail stores and shopping malls are seen to be thronged by a great number of people who spend quite a sum on Christmas trees, Santa clauses, Christmas gifts and other seasonal decorations. Most Japanese people love to decorate their homes with evergreens and adorn the exteriors with electric lights during Christmas. Even business establishments house a Christmas tree to observe the season of Jesus. Handing over presents to friends and family members is also quite a popular tradition here. The festival culminates with everyone in the family partaking in a sumptuous meal specially prepared to mark the occassion. The traditional Japanese christmas food is the Christmas cake, generally made of sponge cake, strawberries and whipped cream. Fried chicken is often eaten on Christmas Day.

And yet, Christmas is not a family occassion in Japan. The occassion holds a special meaning mainly for young people, especially women and teenagers. For young children, it is the time to recieve presents from "Hotei-osho", a Buddhist monk who is seen as the Japanese equivalent of Santa Claus.
Hotei-osho is believed to leave presents in each house for the children. It is said that this benevolent monk has eyes in the back of his head, so children try to behave like he is nearby. Christmas for those in Sunday schools is the happiest day of the year. On Christmas Eve or Christmas night, the children carry out special programs that go on for hours and consist of song, recitation and drama performances.

For single women in Japan, the Christmas Eve evening is the time to spend quality hours with their special someone. Excessive media hype has led to the occassion being seen as a time to be spent with one's boyfriend or girlfriend in a romantic setting. Like Valentine's Day in the U.S., it is an occassion when men express their love to the women they want in their lives. Christmas presents given to girls are mainly consist Teddy Bears, flowers, scarves, rings and other jewelry items. Greeting cards are also given to friends during this time.

In Japan, everyone wishes another 'Meri Kurisumasu', meaning "Merry Christmas", during Christmastime.

American White Christmas - An Excerpt

Conditions Ripe for a White Christmas
Paul Yeager Special to Sphere
(Dec. 11) -- The weather might seem complex, but the recipe for snow isn't as complicated as the recipe for Grandma's fruitcake. All that's needed is cold air and precipitation, and both look potentially abundant throughout the rest of the month, leading to the possibility of a more widespread white Christmas in 2009 than in recent years.

The likelihood of a white Christmas is always high -- greater than 75 percent -- in the northern tier of the country and in the mountains of the West. However, the presence of an El Niño and the threat of colder-than-normal weather will increase the chances of a white Christmas in the Deep South and along the Eastern Seaboard.

The cold air part of the snow recipe has been predicted by computer models that we meteorologists use to help with long-range forecasts. The coupled forecast system, a U.S. government forecasting model, has consistently predicted (since November) that temperatures in the entire eastern half of the country, including the Deep South, will be 1 to 3 degrees colder than normal in December, and it's currently forecasting cold weather for most of the nation for the remainder of the month.

Cold air without storms won't result in snow, of course, but storms combined with cold air might. And storms are more likely than normal where the cold weather is forecast because of a strengthening El Niño. An El Niño is when sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific are warmer than normal, and the moisture and energy from this warm ocean water promotes a storm track across the southern part of the United States. These storms often turn northward along the East Coast.

This weather pattern has already borne fruit (snow, actually) in Southern and Eastern climes. December snow has fallen in El Paso, Dallas and Houston in Texas, as well as in parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Snow has also fallen in much of the Northeast. The southern storm track remained active this week, producing the recent coast-to-coast powerhouse of a storm; it originated in California.

So when you mix these ingredients, the current weather pattern might mean fewer people will only "dream" of a white Christmas this year. They'll actually be able to shiver in the cold, spend more time stuck at the airport and drag slush onto Grandma's carpet.
___________________________________________________________________________________

An Excerpt :

Philippine Volcano Forces 20,000 to Evacuate
Jim Gomez - AP
MANILA, Philippines (Dec. 15) -- Authorities moved thousands of villagers from harm's way near the Philippines' most active volcano Tuesday after it oozed lava and shot plumes of ash, and said they probably would spend a bleak Christmas in an evacuation center.

State volcanologists raised the alert level on the cone-shaped, 8,070-foot Mayon volcano overnight to two steps below a major eruption after ash explosions and dark orange lava fragments glowing in the dark trickled down the mountain slope.

Nearly 50,000 people live in a five-mile radius around the mountain, and authorities began moving thousands of them in case it erupts, Albay provincial Gov. Joey Salceda said.

More than 20,000 people were evacuated to safety by nightfall Tuesday, Salceda said, adding he has placed central Albay province, where Mayon is located, under a "state of imminent disaster," which will make it easier for him to draw and use emergency funds.
The Philippines ordered the evacuation of 20,000 people after the Mayon volcano increased activity on Tuesday, shooting plumes of ash into the air.

"Whatever the volcano does, our target is zero casualty," Salceda told The Associated Press.

Albay province lies about 210 miles southeast of Manila.

Salceda said he had decided to cancel a trip to Copenhagen, where he was to attend the U.N. climate conference to discuss his province's experience with typhoons and other natural disasters.

He said he would appeal for foreign aid to deal with the expected influx of displaced villagers to emergency shelters.

The first of 20 vehicles, including army trucks, were sent to villages to take residents to schools and other temporary housing, provincial emergency management official Jukes Nunez said.

"It's 10 days before Christmas. Most likely people will be in evacuation centers, and if Mayon's activity won't ease down we will not allow them to return to their homes," Nunez said. "It's difficult and sad, especially for children."

Although the alarm has been sounded, life throbbed normally in many laid-back farming villages near the restive volcano. Throngs of farmers flocked to the town hall in Guinobatan, which lies near the danger zone, for a Christmas party, then headed home bearing gifts.

Village leader Romeo Opiana said the 249 residents in his farming community of Maninila, near the volcano, readied packs of clothes but no one had left. An army truck was parked nearby, ready to haul people if the threat grows.

"We're ready, but we're not really alarmed," said Opiana, 66. He could not remember how many times he had seen Mayon's eruptions since childhood.

Magma had been rising at the volcano over the past two weeks and began to ooze out of its crater Monday night, but it could get worse in coming days, said Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

"It's already erupting," Solidum told the AP. He said the volcano had so far only gently coughed out red-hot lava, which had flowed half a mile (half a kilometer) down from the crater.

Some classes were suspended indefinitely near the danger zone. Officials will find a way to squeeze in classes in school buildings to be used as shelters, Salceda said.

Residents in Albay are used to moving away from Mayon, which spewed ash last month and prompted the evacuation of some villages.

About 30,000 people were moved when it last erupted in 2006. Typhoon-triggered mudslides near the mountain later that year buried entire villages, killing more than 1,000 people.

Mayon's most violent eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1,200 people and buried a town in mud. A 1993 eruption killed 79 people.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common. About 22 out of 37 volcanos in the archipelago are active.

Associated Press writer Hrvoje Hranjski contributed to this report.

Malaysia To Host The PGA Tour 2010 and beyond

Photo : Oxymanus

December 07, 2009 21:44 PM

Malaysia To Host The PGA Tour 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

announced that Malaysia will be hosting the prestigious golf competition, the PGA Tour, next year.

"It was my childhood ambition to see the PGA Tour brought to Malaysia and now it will become a reality...and today, I am proud to announce that next year Malaysia will be hosting the PGA Tour.

"We will be the first nation in the South East Asian region to host such a prestigious golf competition. It is a great honour to be given the opportunity," said Najib in his speech at the official launch of the Asia Pacific Golf Classic Malaysia, here Monday.

The inaugural tournament will be held at the Mines Resort and Golf Club in Seri Kembangan, near here.

At the ceremony, Najib also announced that the golf competition offers a total prize money of US$6 million and the winner of the competition will walk home with US$1 million.

"I was not quite sure then that it could happen and I didn't know what it takes to be able to host the PGA Tour event in Malaysia.

Because it certainly requires a full agreement of the PGA Tour. Fortunately, we have Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, an entrepreneur who has the courage and vision to do things that are difficult or almost impossible to do.

"The competition (the Asia Pacific Golf Classic) will also be the largest prize purse tournament in South East Asia. And, there is a commitment in place to guarantee the growth of the purse," said Najib.

He noted that the competition would further boost Malaysia's revenue through tourism and enhancing the country's standing in the international sporting arena.

"It will be a boost and very positive. It will make the Mines golf course more popular as one of the major golf courses in the world. It will also make Malaysia as the favourite golfing destination," said Najib.

He said that over the four-day competition, over 400 million households and in 200 countries around the world would be watching the prestigious competition and this would be a good avenue not only for golf but also Malaysian tourism.

The inaugural Asia Pacific Golf Classic Malaysia will feature an international field of 40 players competing.

The top 25 players from the PGA Tour's final FedExCup standings will automatically qualify, as will the top-10 available players from the Asian Tour's Order of Merit and at least one Malaysian professional will be guaranteed a place in the field.

-- BERNAMA

Friendster sold to firm in Malaysia - An Excerpt

Friendster sold to firm in Malaysia
Benny Evangelista, Chronicle Staff Writer - Friday, December 11, 2009
An affiliate of a Malaysian online payment firm has jumped into the social-networking business by agreeing to buy Friendster Inc. of Mountain View, the two companies announced Thursday in Kuala Lumpur.

MOL Global Pte. Ltd., an affiliate of MOL AccessPortal Berhad of Kuala Lumpur, has agreed to buy the firm that pioneered social networking.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. A published report last week said Friendster was close to a deal worth $100 million with a firm from Asia .

In a press release, the two companies said the combined entity would merge MOL's e-commerce platform with Friendster's social network of 115 million users worldwide.

"The merger with Friendster will continue to transform the social-networking industry," Ganesh Kumar Bangah, MOL president and chief executive, said in a news release.

Friendster, founded in 2002 by computer programmer Jonathan Abrams, was the early king of social networking in the United States, but was eventually surpassed first by MySpace and now by Facebook, which has 350 million members worldwide.

However, Friendster went on to carve its own niche in Southeast Asia, where it has more than 75 million members.

The statement said MOL will take advantage of the brick-and-mortar holdings in the region of its principal shareholder, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, chairman and CEO of Berjaya Corp. Berhad, a Malaysian conglomerate with more than $1.8 billion in annual revenues.

The company said it plans to use those holdings, which include Starbucks, 7-Eleven, Borders, Krispy Kreme, Wendy's and Papa John's Pizza franchises, to extend the reach of social networking in Southeast Asia.

Death of a Salesman, Starring Tiger Woods - An Excerpt

"I have let my family down, and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect."





Death of a Salesman, Starring Tiger Woods
BY Joel RubinsonThu Dec 10, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Oh Tiger, what are you doing, man?! How can the biggest personal brand in sports, the best golfer ever, double-bogey like that (or nonuple-bogey, actually, presuming there are, in fact 10 mistresses and marriage is a par-one)?

Tiger makes $100 million or more per year from endorsements--more the result of his personal brand than his golf swing. His brand transcends the sport. He is The Natural, and he gives youth to a sport that skews old in its demos. His squeaky clean image made him a no-brainer for marketers and ad agencies.

None of this really changed when he smashed his car driving down a residential street he'd driven hundreds of times before or even because there was something fishy about the whole incident; it changed because he stonewalled.

In an era of social media, the table-stakes of branding are honesty, openness, and transparency. We all knew something happened, and we knew brand Woods should talk about it, explain it, let us forgive him for it. And we probably would have forgiven him, but now we can't even consider that without smirking and thinking of him as fodder for Letterman's top 10 and tabloid headlines about "the back nine."

I'm not sure why a big brand like Tiger didn't have better brand management. Tiger didn't say anything for a few days and then blogged, "This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible." Sorry, private citizens don't make tens of millions of dollars in endorsements. You are public. Brands exist in the mind of consumers that don't like being lied to.

Need a testament to people wanting and needing to know more? Tiger Woods was the number one source of traffic to news sites in December, according to New York research firm Experian Hitwise.

How brands respond in a crisis can be decisive. In 1990, Perrier was the coolest drink around, ordered by name as if it were an exotic mixed drink. Then laboratory technicians in North Carolina who regularly used Perrier as purified water in lab tests discovered an unacceptably high level of benzene (a carcinogen) in Perrier. According to the Economist in August 1991, Perrier broke the first rule in a crisis: "Don't play the problem down." Before they knew the real source of the problem, they announced it was "just one region (North America)," which turned out to be false. They joked at a press conference in Paris saying they were pulling the product off shelves worldwide because publicity is good! Net/net, management stonewalled the issue, market share plummeted, and the brand never recovered.

Contrast that with the Tylenol poisoning in the 1980s. J&J's response was quick and decisive, pulling all products off the shelf and eliminating capsules as a product form. I remember an article in The New York Times where experts were split on whether or not the brand name was still viable. Some need to surrender their expert badges; Tylenol maintained public trust because of how it responded and regained all of its market share.

Today, branding is about two-way loyalty; a consumer has a right to ask, "How will you show loyalty to me?" Loyalty is also about forgiveness. I think the public would have forgiven Tiger's transgressions, but I don't think the public will completely forgive him for not voluntarily coming clean ... for Tiger not showing loyalty back to his fan base.

In the world of athlete celebrity endorsements, an article in Promo Magazine (Sept. '07) talked about the need for careful 360-degree research on athletes, ensuring their "brand attributes" match those of the marketer to be endorsed and the need for an "exit strategy" in case things head south. The marketing research firm, Marketing Evaluations, Inc. The Q Scores Company (Manhasset, New York) tracks "Q scores" of roughly 1,800 celebrities. The scores are used to evaluate how positively or negatively the public feels about a celebrity and show how fast things can change after an incident. Two years after the rape charge, Kobe Bryant's unfavorable Q score was 53% (vs. 35% before the incident). Michael Phelps' unfavorable Q score went from 11 to 21 pre-post the bong photo. It used to be that this risk applied to most athletes, but not to Tiger; never to Tiger.

Now, Tiger has introduced risk into the equation and that will undoubtedly hurt his marketing value. Will he rebound? Will he conjure up unfavorable semi-conscious associations in the consumer mind? We just don't know for sure yet. We're all somewhat risk adverse so why take the chance? I can picture a marketer and their agency agreeing, "Maybe we better go with Jeter."

Read more of Joel Rubinson's

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What Do Tiger Woods and the Dow Jones Index Have in Common?
By: Bob SmileyWed Aug 19, 2009 at 12:19 PM In troubled times, investors are as desperate as ever to find a financial advisor they can trust. Good news--I found him! Warren Buffett? No. Jim Cramer? Please. I'm talking about Tiger Woods.

Not only can Tiger predict the direction of the stock market, there's a good chance he might be controlling it.

Yes, as bizarre as it may seem, by superimposing a timeline of Tiger Woods' career achievements with the corresponding Dow Jones Industrial Average ticker, one begins to notice an uncanny resemblance.

It's a parallel that took form almost immediately, with the Dow increasing steadily after Tiger turned pro in the summer of 1996. In the six weeks that followed his first Tour victory that October, the Dow grew 10%. When Tiger won his first Masters by a record 12 shots the following April, it grew another 30%.

That jump has held true during each of Tiger's most dominating stretches. From mid-1999 through the end of 2001, Tiger won 21 tournaments, 5 majors, and held all 4 major titles at the same time. Over that same period, the market expanded to unheard of levels, passing 11,000 for the first time ever. Six years later, while Tiger was in the middle of winning eight of nine events between 2007 and 2008, the Dow registered its all-time high of 14,164.53.

But Tiger's performance doesn't just line up with bull markets. During those times when Tiger appears weakest, so does the Dow. In 2002, Tiger fired his longtime coach Butch Harmon and decided to attempt a much-maligned swing change. He wouldn't win a major for over two years, and the market stalled right alongside him, unable to match its 2000 and 2001 highs.

Last summer was far worse. After winning the U.S. Open in June with a torn ACL and two stress fractures in his left leg, Tiger announced that he would be undergoing season-ending knee surgery. He confessed that he had no idea when he'd be returning, and many feared that he would never be the same. The Dow, clearly distraught, dropped nearly 5,000 points during Tiger's eight-month absence.

And then there's what transpired just this week. On Sunday afternoon, Woods was defeated in the final round of the PGA Championship by Y.E. Yang, a 37-year-old South Korean who didn't even start playing golf until age 19. The stunning loss was also Tiger's first ever in a major championship when holding the 54-hole lead. Did the market notice? Of course, it was off 200 points by the end of trading.

The evidence is hard to debate but the significance is fair game. Is some part of this correlation coincidence? Sure. But I have to believe that just as James Braddock lifted the country's spirits with his uppercuts during the Great Depression, Tiger Woods has the unique ability to do the same with his fistpumps. When he wins, all seems right with the world, and investing in it feels prudent. But when he struggles, perhaps that's nature's clearest indicator that dark days are truly upon us.

Bob Smiley is a golf writer and tailed Tiger Woods for his entire 2008 season, chronicling the adventure.

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Tiger Woods - Updated Dec. 3, 2009

With a combination of power, touch and tenacious resolve, Tiger Woods has become one of the most dominating golfers ever, transforming the sport along the way. His astonishing success, often accompanied by his signature fist pump after holing clutch shots, has even placed him on many people's short list of greatest American athletes, alongside figures like Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan.

Woods has captured many of professional golf's most revered records. He is in close pursuit of many of the rest, including Jack Nicklaus's 18 major tournament victories, the most prestigious record of them all. He routinely leads the sport's world rankings, a result of winning more than a quarter of the P.G.A. Tour tournaments that he's entered, a figure unrivaled in modern times.

As a toddler, he sank a putt on "The Mike Douglas" television show. His legend has grown steadily since. He won three straight U.S. Junior Amateur titles and then three straight U.S. Amateur titles, both records. With the simple statement, "I guess, hello, world," Woods turned professional in 1996. A year later, at 21, he became the youngest winner of the Masters, and broke the tournament record for lowest overall score (-18) and margin of victory (12). In 2000, at 24, he became the youngest golfer to have won all four major tournaments.

Early on Nov. 27, 2009, Woods was left unconscious after he crashed his 2009 Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and a neighbor's tree as he was pulling out of his driveway in the gated community of Isleworth, an Orlando suburb where many high-profile athletes live. Woods and his lawyers declined to speak to the Florida Highway Patrol about the crash.

The incident has been accompanied by reports and speculation about marital difficulties between Woods and his wife, Elin. The Windermere, Fla., police chief, Daniel Saylor, said that Woods's wife had used a golf club to break the rear window of the sport utility vehicle to help extricate him. The neighbors who rushed to his aid and called 911 offered their version of events through a lawyer, saying they believed Woods's injuries were caused by the crash alone. The Florida Highway Patrol said that aside from a $164 citation for careless driving, Woods would not face further charges.

Allegations of infidelity dominated news reports on Dec. 2. In a widely quoted article in US Weekly magazine, Jaimee Grubbs, a Los Angeles cocktail waitress, detailed a lengthy affair with Woods in 2007. Woods admitted transgressions the same day and apologized to his family and supporters in a statement on his Web site. Woods was not specific about exactly what he was sorry for. But the unusual admission by the usually composed Woods has shaken the PGA Tour and prompted his biggest sponsors to reaffirm their support for him.

Read More...

Born to parents both of mixed race and ethnicity, including African, Chinese and Thai, Woods's rise to stardom was made more noteworthy and barrier-breaking because he is the first non-white to lead a traditionally white sport. At Augusta National Golf Club, for example, which hosts the Masters tournament, the first African-American member wasn't admitted until 1990.

Some tournaments have tried altering course layouts to reduce Woods's advantage, but to little obvious effect. While Woods is among the longest hitters in the game, his putting and creative shotmaking, along with his much-ballyhooed focus and competitiveness, separates him from the competition.

Because of his skill and charisma, golf audiences have grown dramatically and the purses at professional tournaments have increased significantly since he joined the P.G.A. Tour. Golf's television ratings are largely dictated by whether Woods enters that week's tournament or is in contention. Huge endorsement contracts for Woods have followed as well. Combined with his tournament earnings, they could make him the first athlete to earn more than $1 billion in his career.

In 2008, after finishing second in the Masters in April, Woods won the U.S. Open in June with a stirring victory over Rocco Mediate after an extra 19 holes, despite a painfully injured left knee and a fracture in his left leg. The win at the Torrey Pines golf course in San Diego was his 65th over all and his 14th major championship; Woods called it “probably the greatest tournament I’ve ever had.”

Nine days later, he had reconstructive surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He revealed that he had played the event not only on a bad knee, but with a fractured left tibia. He sat out the rest of the 2008 season and the first weeks of the 2009 tour — a nearly nine-month absence — returning in February 2009 for the Accenture Match Play Championships in Arizona.

Woods said that the hiatus had given him the opportunity to reconnect with his wife; marvel at their toddler daughter Sam’s development, and attend the birth of their second child, son Charlie, on Feb. 8, 2009.

Woods’s significance to the PGA Tour cannot be overstated. His galleries are larger than players drew at many tournaments in his absence, and television ratings for golf tournaments fell while he was away.

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Major Sponsor Cuts Ties With Tiger Woods
Updated: 1 day ago - Mark Williams AP
(Dec. 13) -- Global consulting firm Accenture PLC has ended its relationship with Tiger Woods, marking the first major sponsor to cut ties altogether with the golfer since his alleged infidelities surfaced and he announced an indefinite leave from the sport to work on his marriage.
In its first statement since the Woods' scandal erupted, Accenture said Sunday the golfer is "no longer the right representative" after the "circumstances of the last two weeks." The move ends a six-year relationship during which the firm credited its "Go on, be a Tiger" campaign with boosting its image significantly. Accenture has used Woods to personify its claimed attributes of integrity and high performance.
"After careful consideration and analysis, the company has determined that he is no longer the right representative for its advertising," Accenture said, adding that "it wishes only the best for Tiger Woods and his family."
The firm plans to immediately transition to a new advertising campaign, with a major effort scheduled to launch later in 2010. An Accenture spokeswoman declined to comment further. Advertising firm Young & Rubicam, which has handled the company's Tiger Woods ads, also would not comment on the move.

One of the risks of advertising tied to a celebrity is that "your image gets carried by someone you can't control," said Jonathan Bernstein, president of Bernstein Crisis Management.
"They definitely understand there's damage," Bernstein said of Accenture.
Accenture's advertising campaign was almost entirely built around Woods and his success, portraying his ability to key putt or chip out of the rough. If Woods had acknowledged mistakes and said he would be back in a month, Accenture might be able to ride it out, said Rick Burton, a professor of sports management at Syracuse University, in an interview.
But Accenture can't afford to wait for what could be a long time before Woods returns.
"They had tied everything in their campaign to Tiger Woods it appeared," he said. "If he's not golfing, those ads don't make sense."
Burton noted that Accenture's billboards and airport advertising need to be replaced quickly. Without a backup plan, the company might fall back on something simple and conservative that could highlight its logo.

"It is probably prudent to take a low-key, conservative approach until they determine what their next message is that they want to send," he said. Going forward, Accenture will have to determine whether it wants to stick with sports or whether its been too burned by what happened and will go another route, Burton added.

"Accenture has made a decision to not continue with their sponsorship. We are disappointed but respect their decision," said Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent at IMG. The PGA Tour said it would have no comment.
Accenture has been title sponsor since 2001 of the Match Play Championship, a lucrative World Golf Championship event that draws the top 64 players from the world ranking. Accenture earlier this year renewed its sponsorship of the tournament through 2014. The contract is separate from its business endorsement with Woods.
The management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company has clients in more than 120 countries and about 177,000 employees across 52 countries. Starting as the consulting arm of now-defunct accounting firm Arthur Andersen, it split off in 1989 under the name Andersen Consulting, eventually ending all ties with Andersen and changing its name to Accenture.
The company went public in 2001 and now has a market cap of $26 billion. Earlier this year Accenture shifted its place of incorporation from Bermuda to Ireland, where it has done business for about 40 years.
While not terminating their relationship completely, another major Woods sponsor pulled away this weekend. On Saturday, Gillette, which uses the slogan "The best a man can get," said it won't air advertisements featuring Woods or include him in public appearances for an unspecified amount of time. Woods was hired by Gillette in 2007 and has been in ads for Gillette Fusion Power razors with titles like "Phenom" and "Champions" with other stars including tennis great Roger Federer and soccer player Thierry Henry.
However, other sponsors continue to stick with Woods for the time being.

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Woods' Wife Buys Island Home in Sweden
Louise Nordstrom - AP
STOCKHOLM (Dec. 12) -- Tiger Woods' wife bought a six-bedroom house on a small island near Stockholm that is reachable only by boat.

Stenake Johansson, chairman of the Residential Association on Faglaro island, told the Associated Press on Saturday that Elin Nordegren became the owner on Dec. 1.

"Elin Nordegren has bought it, but I don't know how much Tiger has signed on to those papers," said Johansson, adding that his organization is still awaiting all the paperwork.
Johansson could not confirm the house's reported price of $2.2 million and said he didn't know whether Nordegren and Woods planned to move in.
Tigers Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren, recently purchased a home on a Swedish island that is only accessible by boat. The development surfaces a day after her husband released a statement on his Web site saying he was taking an "indefinite break" from golf following revelations of his "infidelity." Here, the couple attend a Cardinal game with their daughter, Sam, on Nov. 21.
Tigers Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren, recently purchased a home on a Swedish island that is only accessible by boat. The development surfaces a day after her husband released a statement on his Web site saying he was taking an "indefinite break" from golf following revelations of his "infidelity." Here, the couple attend a Cardinal game with their daughter, Sam, on Nov. 21.
Woods announced Friday he is taking an indefinite break from golf in an attempt to save his marriage following two weeks of allegations of extramarital affairs.

There have been unconfirmed reports the couple may be headed to Sweden to escape the worst of the media frenzy. Nordegren's father, radio talk show host Thomas Nordegren, said Saturday he doesn't know if that's true.

"I have no comment to this. I don't know anything, either," he said.

Faglaro is one of the thousands of islands that make up the Stockholm archipelago. The quickest route there is a 45-minute ferry from Vaxholm - considered the main municipality of the archipelago - where Nordegren grew up.

The island has about 140 properties, mostly summer homes. Only two are used all year, Johansson said.

"But the Faglaro mansion used to be an old farm. It is solid and big and can be used throughout the year," Johansson said.

Nordegren's property is among the biggest on the island. Johansson said negotiations most likely started shortly after the house was put on the market in August - well before Woods' car crash last month at his Florida home touched off the scandal.

Woods and his wife have been married for five years and have a 2-year-old daughter and a 10-month-old son.

Since turning professional in 1996, Woods has dominated the sport by winning 14 majors and 82 tournaments worldwide.