How Best To Transfer Draft From Words to Blogger

I always start the draft of my posts in Words. God knows how I need my writing to be checked in terms of spelling and grammar. And the thesaurus tool is a life saver.

I used to transfer my draft directly from Words into Blogger. But the formatting doesn't always come up right. The reason, I think, is because there are a lot of "hidden" formatting characters in Words.

Nowadays, I would copy the final draft in Words into Notepad first. When the draft is pasted onto Notepad, most formatting characters will be filtered, leaving only the text. Then I would copy the draft from Notepad into Blogger. Only then I'll do the formatting like bold, italic, colors, etc before publishing.


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Thank You For Being A Friend

Beatrice Arthur, "Golden Girls" star, dies at 86

I didn't know her as Maude. To me she's Dorothy - witty and sarcastic in the funniest way with her deadpan delivery and trademark glances - of Golden Girls.

The Golden Girls came into my life when I was away from home for the first time doing my university years. At that period, I enjoyed and embraced sitcoms more than ever. They worked wonders to a homesick heart. And Golden Girls was one of my favourite sitcoms.

Bea Arthur, thank you for bringing me laughters during a tough and yet enjoyable times of my life.

Goodbye, Dorothy.




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Resourceful Arsenal

I wasn't an Arsenal fan (in fact, I'm no die-hard fan of any particular football team). I didn't really fancy them during their "Invincible" era. I think I actually clapped when Rooney, who was then wearing the blue Everton shirt scored against them back then.

But, ever since they moved into Emirates Stadium, and start emphasizing on their youth system when they lack the financial resources to acquire expensive players (I think), I began to admire the football they're able to display with their limited resources.

Nowadays, due to work and family commitment, I don't get to watch many football matches. But if I do, it'll be matches that involve Arsenal. I can't help being captivated by the mesmerizing flow of their games.

So, there's no prize for guessing which team I'll support for next week Champions League semi-final match between Arsenal and Manchester United. And I hope for the sake of the hard work and creativity that they put into their football, they'll go on and win the Champions League too. And won't it be ironic, if they would beat, of all teams, Barcelona and Theirry Henry (although I'm also a fan of Theiry Henry) in a Champions League final and emerge as the winner.






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Baby Shaker

When you think of Apple, Macintosh comes to mind, then iMac, iPod, iPhone, etc. Sleek design and quality are never far from the chain of thoughts that started with Apple.

Having said that, "thoughtless", "reckless", "deeply offensive", etc would not usually be terms associated with anything launched by Apple. And so you would have thought.

In a week, none other than the week designated in the U.S. as National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week, such a controversial iPhone application was launched through iTunes - Baby Shaker. The objective of the game? To shake the phone until the crying baby stopped, with its eyes closed and red crosses appeared over them. Tasteless?

Apple has since issued an apology and the game was removed after the public outcry.
(Apple apologizes for Baby Shaker)

But then again, controversy is the best form of free marketing, isn't it?


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Shrewd!

Do you remember who predicted that when Liverpool was top of the table in English Premier League at the end of 2008, that the league leader then will falter and lose the title?

Back Then: In December 2008, after a 1-1- draw with Liverpool, Arsense Wenger said Liverpool was too scared to win the title.

Now: After an incredible 4-4 draw with Arsenal last night, Liverpool is top of the table again, but only on the same points as Manchester United, and having played two more games than their rival. Liverpool's chances of winning the English Premier League title? Not good.

But: This time round, Arsene Wenger is saying Liverpool can beat Manchester United to Premier League Crown.

So: Mind game ahead of the coming Arsenal-Manchester United Champions League semi-final match?

You betcha!


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Happy BEarth Day!

Happy Earth Day, Everyone!

Ever wonder why today, 22nd of April is the day we celebrate the Earth?

It could have been started from a communist connection, or it could have been born out of convenience for organizing an event. Find out more from National Geographic.



So, any idea on the gift for Mother E?


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Back Then ... And Now

I usually read newspaper that is already 2 to 3 months old.

Reading newspaper used to be a daily routine, before this evil combination of "Internet" and "Blogging" suck most of my times for other activities into its swirling black hole. Since then the pile of newspapers that awaits my loving caress has grown as high as my knee. I'll still flit on the headlines to update myself daily, I just don't dwell on it too long unless it's a major news break.

There is one good thing about this kind of newspaper reading habit though - I get to be reminded on how current events were started, what happened then and how they turn out over times.

So I'll start a series of posts under the category of "Back Then And Now" on events that I find interesting in comparing what happened back then and how it has evolved into their current status.

Let me start on the sport news.

Back in 22nd December of last year, a certain footballer in his 30's was reported as "embarrassing" his introduction to his new team during a match. Phrases like "the fans did not bother to turn up", "lukewarm applause", "turned up the music on the loudspeakers to drown out the near-deafening silence" were written to describe the scene of his entry. The end of a glittering football career? No.

Not when the football player is Mr David Beckham.






Back then: David is beck with a whimper

But being a great athlete that he is, he has proven over his careers in England national team and in Real Madrid that this is hardly the things that bother him. His never-say-die attitude has served him well. That's why he is the great player that has the admiration from the world over.

And now (or recently): Milan keen to extend Beck's loan period (and had since gotten it extended).

What a turnaround! But coming from David Beckham, that's hardly surprising.


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You Got Talents?

Heard of Susan Boyle? Well, she's been buzzing around the net at the moment. In case you missed it here's the link to YouTube:

A clip from Britain's Got Talent!

* If you want to fully enjoy the clip, do spend a few minutes watching it before reading the following.

I was close to tears, no, tears were welling up to the brim, at the end of the clip, moved, like at the rousing and inspiring end of a movie.

I think a lot of elements had brought such high emotions from this audition. Firstly, her first impression had lowered everyone's expectation of her - her face, her hair, her clothing, her mannerism, the fact that she comes from a "collection of villages" and, her age. After she lowered everyone's expectation, she announced her seemingly unattainable dream to the world - to be as good as Elaine Page. That drew cynical expressions all around the hall. All these transcended nicely into the atmosphere of an underdog going into the fight of her life; a simple country woman wanting to make it big in the world stage. To add another strung of incredulous tension to the bow, she chose a "big" song from a famous musical, I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserabs. And the melodic introductory strings started to fill the air in the hall.

Like an inspiring movie, the underdog turned around every cynicism, every contemptuous smile, every negative snort of her with her first note sung.

From then on, as she kept singing with her powerful, inspiring voice, the emotions of the crowd peaked, and stayed peaked. The waves of emotions grew stronger and stronger until at the end, a standing ovation. Against all odds, the underdog had done it.

Against the continuing epic music in the background, when the judges gave their high praises, and she reacted with pure, undisguised overjoy, my tears never subsided, inspired by this simple woman, as endearing as my own aunt.

Here's the media reaction to this woman's audition.
(Read about her background too, that'll raise your appreciation of this woman up another level.)


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Rain

Rain is always welcomed in this part of the world where tropical heat rules the day. It always provides a much needed respite from the sometimes unbearable hotness of the weather. But as desirable as the rain is around here, there are still times that you wish it would not have presented itself - early morning on a working day.

The coolness that it adds to the freshness of the daybreak makes getting out of bed seems like dragging a body with the weight of an elephant up a step of 50 feet. I hate rain in the morning when I can't sleep in.

Rain, rain. Rain of the early shine, come back on a Sunday morning.


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The Greatest

I like sleeping, which is actually my number one hobby. It beats blogging to a distant second. And it's been a while since I'm willing to sacrifice my all-important beauty sleep and get up early in a Monday morning (which is Sunday in US time) to watch a major golf tournament, the US Masters of 2009. The reason?

Tiger Woods.

Suddenly, after about 10 months of who-cares mentality to golf news, I started to care again. And that ...

is why Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of our times.


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Ultimate Human Sprint Speed

Usain Bolt broke the world record of 100m and 200m with the times of 9.69 seconds and 19.30 seconds respectively.

But do you know what's the estimated ultimate sprint speed of humans for these two distances?

9.58 seconds for 100m and 18.63 seconds for 200m.

<News>



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Anger Management

Husband: When I get mad at you, you never fight back. How do you control your anger?

Wife: I clean the toilet.

Husband: How does that help?

Wife: I use your toothbrush.


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Of Eggs And Bunnies

If you're celebrating Easter today, Happy Easter!



If you're not celebrating Easter today, Happy Holiday!



If you're not having a holiday today, Happy Friday!



You GOTTA be having a Friday, right?


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What Not To Do

It's a football match. Your team has just conceded a penalty. The penalty taker is staring at you looking for clue. He runs towards the ball. Unfortunately, you're the one standing on the goal line as the keeper. What to do?

You could think about last night dinner, or make plan for the hot date that's coming up tomorrow, or imagine how to celebrate when the penalty is saved, how heroic you would look after the heroic act, how your team mates will congratulate afterwards, how your girlfriend will reward you after this super save, etc, etc, etc.

But whatever you do, don't fart during the penalty kick. It'll earn you a yellow card.






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A Gift To Our New Prime Minister

2-1, a gift and a reminder to our new Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak from the Rakyat of Malaysia.

In the 3 same-day by-elections, the opposition parties (Pakatan Rakyat) had won 2 (Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau) against 1 (Batang Air) of the ruling party (Barisan Nasional).


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The Best April Fool Joke

I'm going to tell the best April Fool joke ...
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