Saturday, December 17, 2011
Story about a very loving person called 'mummy' ..
Monday, April 18, 2011
Menu Engineering Assignment
Intake:DCA 10/09
Lecturer-In-Charge:Chef Ahmad Suhairi
The 'Plouf' Restaurant..
MEANING OF PLOUF..
Plouf means the sound a stone makes when it drops into a French stream.
ABOUT THE RESTAURANT..
The trendy French seafood bistro on lively Belden Alley in the Financial District. Specializing in mussels, unique appetizers, salads, seafood dishes,and meats, we invite you to join us for a truly Parisian dining experience.
LOCATED AT..
40 Belden Place,San Francisco, CA 94104.
Plouf is located at 40 Belden Place in San Francisco's Financial District.
Belden Place lies between Bush and Pine and between Kearny and Montgomery.
OPERATING HOURS..
Lunch;
Mon-Fri:11:30am-3pm
Dinner;
Mon-Thu:5:30pm-10pm
Fri-Sat:5:30pm-11pm
THE CHEFS..
Thomas Weibull - Executive Chef
American- Born Thomas Weibull knows diversity in many levels, which is why his marriage with Plouf thus far has been quite successful. Originally, from Philadelphia with parents, his father from Sweden and his mother from the Philippines, it is no wonder with this cultural background why San Francisco is his new home. Chef Thomas trained classically in French Cuisine at the Kristinaberg Restaurant and Hotel School in Stockholm, Sweden when he later returned to the U.S. after living in Europe to learn more diverse cuisine. With nearly 18 years of experience behind him, he had worked nationally across the U.S. including Vermont, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and finally, California. After working in some of the top restaurants in San Francisco Chef Thomas worked under former Executive Chef, David Spanner and then later became Executive Chef in 2004 of Plouf. He has continued to maintain the reputation and standards with a new flair of cuisine, which lead Plouf to another 8 years as Top 100 Restaurants in San Francisco in 2004. With a supported staff mixed with diversity, there is little surprise why Chef Thomas feels at home on Belden Lane.
THE MENU..
Prince Edward Island Mussels..
Plouf House Specialty:
Bretonne - Sauteed leeks and mushroom ragout
Coconut Broth - Lime juice, garlic, cilantro, chili and coconut milk
Gratinee - Garlic and parsley butter
Mariniere - Garlic, white wine, parsley
Plouf - Garlic and sherry vinegar
Poulette - Shallots, bacon, white wine, parsley, and cream
Provencale - Tomato concasse, basil, garlic, and bellpeppers
Steamed Clams..
Bretonne - Sauteed leeks and mushroom ragout
Coconut Broth - Lime juice, garlic, cilantro, chili and coconut milk
Mariniere - Garlic, white wine, parsely
Plouf - Roasted garlic and sherry vinegar
Poulette - Shallots, bacon, white wine, parsley, and cream
Provencale - Tomato concasse, basil, garlic, and bellpeppers
Lunch - Appetizers..
Calamari w/Fennel Tempura with sauce gribiche
Carpaccio of Filet Mignon
Crispy Oysters w/Braised Leeks
Lobster Roll w/Haas Avocado and sweet chili sauce
Potato Wrapped Scallops with fennel and cucumber salad
Soup Du Jour
Lunch - Salads..
Bay Shrimp with Butter Lettuce
Caesar with prawns and shaved parmesan
Crisp Duck Confit
Fennel-Crusted Tuna "Nicoise"
Haricot Vert and Roasted Bell Pepper
Mixed Butter Lettuce
Lunch - Fish and Seafood..
Fish and Chips
Grilled Artic Char
Mahi Mahi
Red Wine Braised Atlantic Monkfish
Salmon
Sauteed Bass
Seafood Stew
Lunch - Meat and Poultry..
Braised Lamb Shanks
Roasted Chicken
Seared Hanger Steak
Sirloin Burger
Tian of Baked Polenta
Dinner - Appetizers..
Butter Lettuce Salad
Calamari w/Fennel Tempura with sauce gribiche
Carpaccio of Filet Mignon
Crispy Oysters w/Braised Leeks
Haricot Vert and Roasted Bell Pepper
Lobster Roll w/Haas Avocado and sweet chili sauce
Potato Wrapped Scallops with fennel and cucumber salad
Roasted Baby Beet Salad
Soup Du Jour
Tuna Tartare
Dinner - Fish and Seafood..
Ahi Tuna Au Poivre
Bouillabaisse
Fish and Chips
Grilled Artic Char
Grilled Prawns
New Zealand Bass en Croute
Red Wine Braised Atlantic Monkfish
Roulade of Petrale Sole
Smoked Salmon Filet
Dinner - Meat and Poultry..
Braised Lamb Shank
Roasted Chicken
Roasted Pork Medallions
Seared New York Strip
Tian of Baked Polenta
Famous Dish..
New Zealand Bass en Croute
Grilled Arctic Char
COMPETITORS..
1.Swan's Oyster Depot
2.Farallon
HOW CAN THIS ESTABLISHMENT BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN OUR ESTABLISHMENT??
Plouf is very popular and well known amongst the citizen in San Francisco as well as the tourists that visit around there. Eventhough the opening hours only start on lunch time, they manage to earn more profit and high turnover than our establishment. Their famous dish is very popular and highly demand by the loyal customer. Unlike our signature dish which is not very popular and some of the citizen cannot accept the taste of our signature dish.
The location of the Plouf is on the middle of the town which makes it easier for anyone to find it.Unlike our restaurant, which is located far from the town and it is kind of hard for anyone especially the tourists to find our restaurant.
Plouf also has their expert chefs to prepare any quality and tasty menu which every customer that comes to the restaurant would not want to miss the delicious food. Unlike our restaurant,we also hired an experience chefs but not quite experience as their chefs .So the food prepared is not as good as their food.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Favourite Spot!
There are a lot of places that have been the favourite spot of my friends and I.But the most favourite one is the one which located at the millenium plaza,Penampang and that is a restaurant called 328.We like to stay there when we got free time.There are varieties of food and drink there.Name it,and it will be serve in no time..
But most of the time,we only order chinese tea ping.Well,it is cheap and it does not have any taste..Perfect drink if we plan to stay until midnight.=).. We also like to stay there because of the view.We like the view nearer the restaurant.If you are lucky,you will be able to see people racing.yeah baby,cool isn't it?There is also a cyber just beside the restaurant.So when you want to surf internet and play variety of games,you can just drop by at the cyber.hehe..Okay peeps,if you got time,you can go and stay with your friends at the 328 restaurant.Peace!.. Have a nice day!..=)..
p/s:Spot the 328 sign on the picture,btw ,ignore the appearance of the model,haha..
Friday, April 16, 2010
Another Bad Day..
Loneliness..
Loneliness is a feeling in which people experience a strong sense of emptiness and solitude. Loneliness is often compared to feeling empty, unwanted, and unimportant. Someone who is lonely may find it hard to form strong interpersonal relationships.
Scientific views
Using data from more than 8,000 people in twin and sibling studies, in collaboration with the Netherlands Twin Register, John Cacioppo and colleagues found evidence that genetics account for approximately half of the measurable differences in loneliness among people in the study. These researchers claimed that helping lonely people was not simply a matter of changing their environment. Loneliness has been linked to heart disease as well as emotional problems, such as anxiety, problems with self-esteem and sociability. Research suggests that loneliness may have evolved during prehistoric times, where hunter-gatherers may have deliberately shut themselves away from others so they did not have to share meals. However, it is also argued that loneliness is a social phenomenon, capable of spreading like a disease.
Distinction from solitude
Loneliness is not the same as being alone. Many people have times when they are alone through circumstances or choice. Being alone can be experienced as positive, pleasurable, and emotionally refreshing if it is under the individual's control. Solitude is the state of being alone and secluded from other people, and often implies having made a conscious choice to be alone. Loneliness is unwanted solitude. Loneliness does not require being alone and is experienced even in crowded places. It can be described as the absence of identification, understanding or compassion. Loneliness can be described as a feeling of isolation from other individuals, regardless of whether one is physically isolated from others or not. It may also be described as a yearning for love or companionship, which is unfulfilled, but cannot seemingly be achieved, or may stem from the lack of love in one's life, and hence may lead to emotions such as rejection, despair and low self-esteem. Feelings of loneliness may be similar to feelings of the death or loss of a loved one.
In their growth as individuals, humans start a separation process at birth, which continues with growing independence towards adulthood. As such, feeling alone can be a healthy emotion and, indeed, choosing to be alone for a period of solitude can be enriching. To experience loneliness, however, can be to feel overwhelmed by an unbearable feeling of separateness at a profound level. This can manifest in feelings of abandonment, rejection, depression, insecurity, anxiety, hopelessness, unworthiness, meaninglessness, and resentment. If these feelings are prolonged they may become debilitating and prevent the affected individual from developing healthy relationships and lifestyles. If the individual is convinced he or she is unlovable, this will increase the experience of suffering and the likelihood of avoiding social contact. Low self-esteem will often trigger the social disconnection which can lead to loneliness.
In some people, temporary or prolonged loneliness can lead to notable artistic and creative expression, for example, as was the case with poet Emily Dickinson, and numerous musicians. This is not to imply that loneliness itself ensures this creativity; rather, it may have an influence on the subject matter of the artist.
Common causes
People can experience loneliness for many reasons and many life events are associated with it. The lack of friendship relations during childhood and adolescence, or the physical absence of meaningful people around a person are causes for loneliness, depression, and involuntary celibacy. At the same time, loneliness may be a symptom of another social or psychological problem, such as chronic depression.
Many people experience loneliness for the first time when they are left alone as an infant. It is also a very common, though normally temporary, consequence of divorce or the breakup or loss of any important long-term relationship. In these cases, it may stem both from the loss of a specific person and from the withdrawal from social circles caused by the event or the associated sadness.
Loss of a significant person in one's life will typically initiate a grief response; here, one might feel lonely, even in the company of others. Loneliness may also occur after the birth of a child, after marriage or any socially disruptive event, such as moving from one's home town to a university campus. Loneliness can occur within marriages or similar close relationships where there is anger, resentment, or where the feeling of love cannot be given or received. It may represent a dysfunction of communication. Learning to cope with changes in life patterns is essential in overcoming loneliness.
Typology
Common types
Loneliness can be summarized as falling into these categories:
- Situational / circumstantial - loss of a relationship, move to a new city
- Developmental - a need for intimacy balanced by a need for individualism
- Internal - often including feelings of low self-esteem and vulnerability
It can occur even as a combination of more than one category.
Common symptoms
Loneliness can evoke feelings of social inadequacy. A lonely person may become convinced there is something wrong with him or her-self, and that no one understands his or her situation. Such a person will lose confidence and will become reluctant to attempt to change or too scared to try new things for fear of further social rejection. In extreme cases, a person may feel a sense of emptiness, which may become a state of clinical depression.
In modern society
Loneliness frequently occurs in heavily populated cities; in these cities many people feel utterly alone and cut off, even when surrounded by millions of other people. They experience a loss of identifiable community in an anonymous crowd. It is unclear whether loneliness is a condition aggravated by high population density itself, or simply part of the human condition brought on by this social setting. Certainly, loneliness occurs even in societies with much smaller populations, but the sheer number of people that one comes into contact with daily in a city, even if only briefly, may raise barriers to actually interacting more deeply with them and increase the feeling of being cut off and alone. Quantity of contact does not translate into quality of contact.
Loneliness appears to have become particularly prevalent in modern times. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century families were typically larger and more stable, divorce was rarer, and relatively few people lived alone. In the United States, only 5% of households were single-person households in 1900; by 1998 it was over a quarter. 24 million Americans lived alone in 1995; by 2010, it is estimated that number will have increased to around 31 million.
A 2006 study in the American Sociological Review found that Americans on average had only two close friends to confide in, down from an average of three in 1985. The percentage of people who noted having no such confidant rose from 10% to almost 25%; and an additional 19% said they had only a single confidant (often their spouse), raising the risk of serious loneliness if the relationship ended.
As human condition
The existentialist school of thought views loneliness as the essence of being human. Each human being comes into the world alone, travels through life as a separate person, and ultimately dies alone. Coping with this, accepting it, and learning how to direct our own lives with some degree of grace and satisfaction is the human condition. Some philosophers, such as Sartre, believe in an epistemic loneliness in which loneliness is a fundamental part of the human condition because of the paradox between the desire of man's consciousness to havemeaning met with the isolation and nothingness of the universe. However, other existentialist thinkers argue the opposite. Human beings might be said to actively "engage" each other and the universe as they communicate and create, and loneliness is merely the feeling of being cut off from this process.
Effects
Chronic loneliness (as opposed to the normal loneliness everyone feels from time to time), is a serious, life-threatening condition. At least one study has empirically correlated it with an increased risk of cancer, especially for those who hide their loneliness from the outside world. It is associated with increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. People who are socially isolated also report poor sleep quality and thus have diminished restorative processes. Loneliness is also linked with depression, a risk factor for suicide. Émile Durkheim also described loneliness, specifically the inability or unwillingness to live for others (i.e. for friendships or altruistic ideas), as the main reason for what he called "egoistic" suicide. Loneliness can also be connected with having a schizoid character type in which case, frequenlty one sees the world differently, and experiences alienation from others, described as 'the self in exile', (Klein 1995).
Loneliness can play a part in alcoholism. In children, a lack of social connections is directly linked to several forms of antisocial and self-destructive behavior, most notably hostile and delinquent behavior. In both children and adults, loneliness often has a negative impact on learning and memory. Its effect on sleep patterns, as well as the above-mentioned other effects can have a devastating effect on the ability to function in everyday life.
Some other effects may not be symptomatic for years. In 2005, results from the U.S. Framingham Heart Study demonstrated that lonely men had raised levels of IL-6, a blood chemical linked to heart disease. A 2006 study conducted by the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago found loneliness can add 30 points to a blood pressure reading for adults over the age of 50. Another finding, from a survey conducted by John Cacioppo, a psychologist at the University of Chicago, is that doctors say they provide better medical care to patients who have a strong network of family and friends than they do to patients who are alone.
Cacioppo's 2008 book, Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection, outlines five distinct pathways through which social isolation contributes to increased illness and early death. He also offers an evolutionary rationale for why the subjective sense of social isolation—loneliness—is so profoundly disruptive to human physiology that it impairs cognition and willpower, alters DNA transcription in immune cells, and leads over time to high blood pressure.Enforced loneliness (solitary confinement) has been a punishment method throughout history.
Treatments and prevention
There are many different ways used to treat loneliness, social isolation or clinical depression. The first step that most doctors recommend to patients is therapy. Therapy is a common and effective way of treating loneliness and is often successful. Short term therapy, the most common form for lonely or depressed patients, typically occurs over a period of 10 to 20 weeks. During therapy, emphasis is put on understanding the cause of the problem; reversing the negative thoughts, feelings, and attitudes resulting from the problem; and exploring ways to help the patient feel connected. Some doctors also recommend group therapy as a means to connect with other sufferers and establish a support system. Doctors also frequently prescribeanti-depressants to patients as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with therapy. It usually takes a few tries before a patient finds the correct anti-depressant medication. Some patients may also develop a resistance to a certain type of medication and need to switch periodically.
Alternative approaches to treating depression are suggested by many doctors. These treatments may include exercise, dieting, hypnosis, electro-shock therapy, acupuncture, herbs, and many others. Many patients find that participating in these activities fully or partially alleviate symptoms related to depression. Another treatment for both loneliness and depression is pet therapy, or animal-assisted therapy, as it is more formally known. Some studies and surveys, as well as anecdotal evidence provided by volunteer and community organizations, indicate that the presence of animal companions—dogs, cats, and even rabbits or guinea pigs—can ease feelings of depression and loneliness among some sufferers. According to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, there are a number of health benefits associated with pet ownership. In addition to easing feelings of loneliness (because of the increased opportunities for socializing with other pet owners, beyond the companionship the animal provides), having a pet is associated with lowered blood pressure and decreased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.
Nostalgia has also been found to have a restorative effect, counteracting loneliness by increasing perceived social support.
A 1989 study found that the social aspect of religion had a significant negative relationship to loneliness among elderly people; the effect was more consistent than the effect of social relationships with family and friends, and the subjective concept of religiosity had no significant effect on loneliness.
Common types
Common symptoms
As human condition
Treatments and prevention
My Precious Handphone..
Im currently using the nokia n97.This handphone is quite satisfying with the function and it is user friendly.The price is quite expensive but it is worth to buy because there is a lot of new function and it is a touch screen handphone.
Operating times
Informal tests have shown that the battery can last nearly two days with regular use of the phone's various features. Nokia quote the following claimed operating times
- Talk time: Up to 6.0 hours (3G), 9.5 hours (GSM)
- Standby time: Up to 17 days (3G), 18 days (GSM)
- Video playback: Up to 4.5 hours (offline mode)
- Video recording: Up to 3.6 hours (offline mode)
- Music playback: Up to 40 hours (offline mode)
Digital TV
With the optional DVB-H Nokia Mobile TV Receiver, SU-33W it is possible to watch television on the phone.
Criticism
On occasion, the camera lens cover of the N97 can cause scratches on the lens. Nokia has acknowledged that on many devices the cover is mounted too closely to the lens so that dust and debris can cause scratches. On later models however, this issue seems to have been resolved.
Other common criticisms are the relative lack of RAM and free disk space on the C drive. With only around 50MB of free RAM available after boot, the phone can become sluggish and close programs in order to conserve memory. Many first part applications also will only install on C: and with around 50MB of free space, this is used quickly as it is also where temporary OS files are placed. This issue was resolved in the N97 mini as the user often has over 250MB of free space on C drive. A memory mapping alteration from firmware version 20 allowed applications to use less RAM and free it up better, helping to ease the strain of a lower amount of free RAM to the end-user.
Anssi Vanjoki, EVP of Markets at Nokia, admitted that quality control in software and hardware has been an issue for this device, saying "it has been a tremendous disappointment in terms of the experience quality for the consumers".
Marketing
The phone can be seen in the beginning of the music video for I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas when two of the members: Taboo and apl.de.ap are checking their DipDive and text messages.
Nokia N97 Mini
The N97 Mini is a downsized version of the N97 and has been available since October 2009. The N97 Mini downsized some features of the original N97, such as 8 GB of storage memory, 3.2 inch touchscreen, removal of FM transmitter and a shorter battery life. It includes however a bigger internal (phone) memory. It uses the 2.0 Nokia N97 software by default.
A limited edition called the N97 mini Raoul Limited Edition has been released in relation with fashion house FJ Benjamin and the Raoul brand. It also features the new Fashion Asia widgetand went on sale in late October 2009 in Malaysia and Singapore.
Lexus LFA..Ferrari Eater..
The Lexus LFA is a two-seat exotic sports coupe produced by Lexus as a concept car, "halo" vehicle, racing prototype, and production model. It is the second model in the F marque line of performance vehicles from Lexus, following the IS F. Three concept versions have been shown, each debuting at the North American International Auto Show with the LF-A designation as part of the LF Series concept line. The first LF-A concept premiered in 2005, followed in 2007 by a second LF-A with a more completely furnished interior and exterior. The third version of the LF-A, a roadster model, premiered in 2008. The production model, trademarked LFA, was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009.
The production Lexus LFA features a new V10 engine and a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) body. CFRP materials account for 65 percent of the LFA's body composition by mass. The LFA is scheduled to go into production in late 2010, with a projected run of 500 vehicles at the base price of US$350,000-375,000. A circuit-tuned variant is scheduled for 2012.
Manufacturer-Lexus
Parent company-Toyota Motor Corporation
Also called-Lexus LF-A (concept)
Production-Dec 2010 – Dec 2012
(planned, 500 total, 20 monthly)
Assembly-Motomachi, Toyota City, Japan
Class-Sports car,Grand tourer,Racing car
Body style -2-door coupé,2-door roadster
Layout-Front-mid-engine, rear-mid-transaxle, rear-wheel drive
Engine-4.8 L 1LR-GUE V10
Transmission-6-speed Automated Sequential Gearbox
Wheelbase-2,605 mm (102.6 in)
Length-4,505 mm (177.4 in)
Width-1,895 mm (74.6 in)
Height-1,220 mm (48 in)
Curb weight-1,480–1,580 kg (3,263–3,483 lb)
