Is it still safe to Drink BUBBLE MILK TEA?

Of late, I have been reading tweets from my friends about this craze on the bubble milk tea. This guy above... drinks a lot of that tea... here's the proof on Twitter!

Anyways, I read this news article... and I thought I need to share this...

Authorities are now monitoring some food products from Taiwan that may contain a Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an ingredient that may have potential harmful effects on health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cited reports that DEHP was illegally added to some food products in Taiwan to improve its emulsification. "FDA is currently monitoring high-risk products from Taiwan (sports drinks, fruit juices and soft drinks) to ensure that they are safe for customers," FDA head Suzette Lazo said in Advisory 2011-006. Lazo said DEHP is used widely as a plasticizer in making articles such as medical devices, intravenous bags and tubing, blood bags and infusion tubings and nasogastric tubes.

She said that while low doses of DEHP are "generally safe," high doses or prolonged exposure can have "harmful effects," and exposure should thus be limited. "Children are especially prone to the harmful effects of high doses of DEHP or to repeated exposure, which can lead to testicular defects, fertility problems and toxicity to kidneys," she said. Lazo also said Taiwan has informed the Department of Health that the implicated material may have been imported to the Philippines by a company. "Efforts to trace the local counterpart of this company are currently in progress," she said.

Product recall

Taiwan-based news site Taipei Times reported some 167 food ingredient suppliers face recalls because of toxic contamination in connection with DEHP. A Taipei Times report quoted Hsu Ming-neng, deputy director-general of the department’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as saying DEHP has been detected in the products of 47 local manufacturers of food and drinks that unknowingly used the tainted ingredient, all of which have to be recalled.

Hsu urged other manufacturers to send their products for tests to prove that they are free of the harmful chemical. Taiwan health officials confirmed on Monday that DEHP had been found in an emulsifier that is commonly used in fruit jelly, yogurt mix powder, juices and other drinks. According to the Taipei Times report, investigations showed the tainted emulsifier products were either produced by Yu Sheng Chemical Co. or came from intermediaries supplied by the company.

Hsu said the FDA should be able to track most of the contaminated items within the next couple of days, when the department will again write to the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) under the WHO to report the details. Hsu said he told INFOSAN officials of the incident while attending the World Health Assembly in Geneva earlier this week. The department later also wrote to INFOSAN via e-mail to provide further information, but the group has not yet responded, he said.

Food ingredient exporter Poss-mei Corp. said it has notified its clients in more than 20 countries to stop selling its concentrated juice products and await test results. Possmei said it will further inform its clients if the products are safe as soon as the results are available. Some juice products produced by Possmei were on the DEHP -contamination-related recall list announced by the New Taipei City’s Health Bureau on Wednesday, the report said. The company also supplies bubble milk tea ingredients. Among its most well-known overseas clients is Bubbleology tea house in London, which has also expressed concern over the DEHP contamination in Taiwan.

Possmei, however, said that the emulsifier is usually not added when making tapioca balls — a main ingredient of bubble milk tea — making contamination unlikely.

Source

Errr.... these are the other bloggers who also love their bubble milk tea. =)

Basketball Wives Season 3 Premieres Tonight!

Errr.... Basketball Wives is a reality television series that premiered on the VH1 cable television network on April 11, 2010. Created by Shaunie O’Neal, the ex-wife of NBA center Shaquille O’Neal, the series follows the lives of a group of women who have all been somehow romantically linked to professional basketball players. The show is filmed in Miami, Florida.

....and the Basketball Wives returns tonight for a third season, and they say that it is with a big bang. We've seen how shocking the ending of the second season was with all those that were revealed. Now followers of this series are eager to see how the wives are after the tension and anger that became flames at the end of season 2.

Season 3 brings in the drama queen Shaunie O’Neal, who wants to avoid all the drama. Really? She wants to avoid the drama and the best place to be in that is away from all the drama is Miami. But I guess we will be in for more drama this time. These women live on drama and they just could not help but be in the middle of it all. We will be seeing in season 3 how Ms. O'Neal tries to juggle love life, family outings, and here shoe line. What would be the effect if she mismanages the juggling? That will make Season 3 very exciting.

Gangster Fighting at Giant Hypermarket?

Someone posted up this video and claimed that it is a gang fight at the Bukit Jalil Giant Hypermarket. Err... I am not sure where this is, but it certainly dont look like a gang fight to me - looks more like a group chasing/beating up one person.

Justin Bieber Launches the "Someday" Fragrance for Women.

Talking about his new Someday Fragrance, 17-year-old Justin said, “Let’s be real, the way a girl smells is very important to a guy! I have such a deep connection with my fans, so creating a fragrance that I personally love is another way I can bring them closer to my world.” Justin Bieber’s Someday Fragrance is bottled in clear glass bottle, designed by Lance McGregor and features a heart-shaped flower on top and removable silver charms hanging at the neck.

Created by Honorine Blanc of Firmenich, Someday is billed as a “fruity gourmand’ formula that is sure to appeal Bieber’s fan base. Justin was involved in development, designing as well as the packaging of the perfume.

Lynn Xiong's mum wants higher dowry from Aaron Kwok!

THE mother of Chinese model-cum-actress Lynn Xiong was unhappy with the HK$800,000 (RM314,356) dowry offered by artiste Aaron Kwok to marry her daughter, China Press reported. It was speculated that Kwok, 45, and 30-year-old Xiong had planned to tie the knot this year.

Earlier this month, Xiong and her mother were spotted meeting Kwok in Hong Kong supposedly to discuss wedding plans.

An insider said her mother wanted a higher dowry and demanded that a wedding banquet also be held in her Nanjing hometown in China. Kwok, however, stood by his decision to give only HK$800,000. The mother was seen leaving unhappily.

When approached, both the mother and Xiong refused to talk to reporters.

Among female celebrities in Hong Kong, Michelle Reis was paid the highest dowry when she married Julian Hui in 2008. Her parents received HK$3.8mil (RM1.5mil). Actor-cum-singer Ronald Cheng gave HK$1.9mil (RM746,600) to Charlene Choi's mother when the couple got married in 2006. They, however, divorced last year. Cantopop singer Miriam Yeung's parents received HK$990,000 (RM389,016) from her husband Real Ting.

The Serial Acid Splasher - The Photofit.

Police have released a photofit of the corrosive liquid splasher.

The photofit was produced based on information from a witness of a possible attempt by the splasher in Jalan Desa Pandan yesterday and other victims. The witness told police about seeing a man on a black Honda EX5 motorcycle about to uncap a plastic bottle. The witness said the man fled after realising that he had been spotted.

The suspect wore a full-faced black helmet. City CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ku Chin Wah urged the public to help police catch the splasher. “He is believed to be in his 30s and was on the motorcycle that had a false registration number,” said SAC Ku. Those with information on the splasher can call the police at the Rakan Cop hotline (03-2115 9999) or SMS POLISKL at 32728.

Meanwhile, Friday the 13th proved unlucky for a woman in Wangsa Maju, when she became the latest victim of the splasher. This brings the number of victims to 21. City police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said the woman, in her 30s, was splashed while she was in her car. “The incident occurred at 8.45am near Section 10 in Wangsa Maju,” he said.

“She was driving with the driver's side window down when the splasher came up to her side,” DCP Zulkifli told newsmen after a shooting competition between City police and the Media at the Malaysian Police Training Academy yesterday. DCP Zulkifli said that the woman did not suffer serious injuries.

NSFW! Topless Pics of Pippa Middleton!!!

As Prince William and Kate Middleton honeymoon in a secluded spot, the spotlight is now on her sister, Pippa. There's a brewing legal battle over publication of 5-year-old photographs of the bridesmaid sunbathing topless.

The publication of the Pippa pictures - showing the 27-year-old on a powerboat with older sister Kate (in a revealing bikini) and William (in a red and white bathing suit) - prompted the Middleton family to file a formal petition to Britain's independent Press Complaints Commission. That complaint is seen as the first salvo in what is expected to be a conflict between the monarchy and the press as both sides try to establish boundaries in a new royal era defined by William and Kate, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and their determination to live a normal life.

The prince and his bride jetted off this week to a secret honeymoon spot that royal watchers believe was chosen specifically to keep them out of the lenses of the paparazzi. "That and security would have been of primary importance," said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine. We've known for a long time William would not stand for any nonsense regarding his wife and her family."

Many Britons - mindful of how Princess Diana was tracked by the paparazzi in the moments leading to her fatal car crash - want the new royal couple, and the rest of the Middleton clan, to be able to move about without facing a constant barrage of flashing cameras.

The Cicadas are BACK after 13 years!!!

Cicadas return after 13 years.

If you live in the South of the USA, you already know the cicadas are back. The red-eyed, noisy insects found in southern states emerge only once every 13 years, and the last time they caused their ruckus was in 1998. That means it's time for the 120-decibel chirping again.

But don't worry, aside from the annoying noise, cicadas are harmless to humans. They don't sting or bite, although if one sits on you for long enough it might think you're a tree and stick you with a feeding probe. (Therefore, if a cicada lands on you, don't let it get too comfortable.)

Cicadas, often mistakenly called locusts, can be found on every continent except Antarctica. There are many species of the insect, the most famous of which in North America is the periodical cicada. In the Southern part of the USA, they emerge only once every 13 years. In the Northern part, the cicadas stay dormant underground for 17 years.

The Real Shaolin Soccer. =P

Yes, I am talking about the Shaolin Soccer - made popular by Stephen Chow. =)

Apparently, there's this kungfu school which teaches football....

See the pictures below...

So... the next time you see someone do this, you know that it is possible!!!

Man suicides off world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa.

A man committed suicide on Tuesday in a plunge of 39 floors from a segment of the world's tallest skyscraper in Dubai, according to the its owner and reports in the local media. Emaar Properties, the owner of the towering Burj Khalifa said in a brief statement "an incident involving a male" was reported at the tower's site at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday.

"The concerned authorities have confirmed that it was a suicide, and we are awaiting the final report," Emaar's statement also said. It did not elaborate further. The media reports quoted security officials as saying the man fell from the 147th floor of the 2,717 foot-tall (828-meter) Burj Khalifa and landed on a deck on the 108th floor. It is the first known suicide from the landmark tower, which opened in January 2010. Reports on the websites of the Gulf News and 7 Days newspapers say the man jumped Tuesday after a dispute with his company.

Police did not immediately reply to calls by The Associated Press for further details. According to Emaar, the skyscraper has 160 habitable stories. An observation deck is located on the 124th floor and a restaurant — billed as the highest in the world — is located just two floors bellow.

The tower was designed by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, which has a long track record engineering some of the world's tallest buildings, including Chicago's Willis Tower, the tallest in the U.S. formerly known as the Sears Tower. Burj Khalifa ranks not only as the highest building but also as the tallest freestanding structure in the world, according to its developer.

In March, a French skyscraper climber successfully climbed the tapering metal and glass tower in downtown Dubai in six hours. The 48-year-old climber, Alain Robert, used a rope and harness to comply with organizers' requirements in the Gulf sheikdom. Late last year, actor Tom Cruise was seen dangling from the Burj during stunt filming for the latest installment of the "Mission: Impossible" series.

Track Down The Serial Acid Splasher In KL: 7 Things You Can Do Right Now!

This post is taken from Tekkaus.com blog - lets all work together to spread the awareness of this issue here.

Sounds like I am a barbarian huh? But I am sure that's the exact emotion the victims and their families have right now! I wonder how come this crazy man can be roaming free on our streets just like that? What have our corrupt police been doing besides lustfully raiding those vice dens and massage parlous to catch prostitutes in the act? Can't PDRM channel more of our police force to nab this cold-blooded criminal? A serial acid splasher is terrorizing the lives of people in KL! Damn it! All of us especially those residing in KL should be more careful!

Beware of the serial acid splasher in KL!

Last week another 5 innocent victims have been hurt by the acid thrown at them. So far 20 victims have been injured. All are women and girls except a male school teacher in 8 different incidents over the past 2 months! These crazy attacks happens right in the heart of KL. I wonder where are the cops? Maybe they are having their long tea break at some mamak stalls! Aren't our most advanced city is equipped with high resolution surveillance cameras? Or those money has been used to buy cheap 1.0 MP cameras and the rest has been channeled into someone's else pocket? Ok sorry...it's not the time to play the blame game.

We must track down this animal as soon as possible. One of the latest victims is a one-year-old helpless baby. See how insane this serial acid splasher is? Then another victim who was attacked last Friday suffered serious burns which could cause her to lose her eye. People lives are at risk here. 20 victims' future has been affected by this animal! All of us should work together to track down this animal before more innocent people are being harmed!

1. March 2 - Eight Year 4 and Year 6 pupils and a teacher of SK Bukit Bandaraya in Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar were splashed with a liquid by a motorcyclist clad in black.

2. March 24 - Two marketing executives were splashed with acid as they were walking along Jalan Tun Sambanthan at 5.30pm.

3. March 25 - A 25-year-old history teacher, on the way to school, was attacked near the back gate of a school in Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad at 7am.

4. March 26 - A Frenchman and his female companion became the 13th and 14th victims of a corrosive liquid-splashing attack by a motorcycle duo in Jalan Conlay about 3pm.

5. April 2 - In Jalan Mantin, Negri Sembilan, a 27-year-old woman and her 18-year-old niece were attacked by two men on a motorcycle 9pm.

6. May 6 - Two women were splashed with acid when a motorcyclist attacked them from behind in Jalan Pudu Lama at 9pm.

7. May 6 - Thirty minutes later, a lawyer in her 30s, was attacked near a parking lot in front of The Mall shopping centre in Jalan Putra.

8. May 7 - A woman and her one-year-old baby were standing in her house compound in Persiaran Titiwangsa when the splasher rode by and threw the liquid at them at 3pm.

This is how a Honda EX5 looks like.

All of us must be on our toes from now onwards. We must work hand-in-hand to track down this animal. This serial acid splasher is of dark complexion and he rides either a Honda EX5 or Yamaha bike with a basket in front. So you should be more careful when you see these 2 types of bike approaching you. If you are a woman, a girl....or well just about anyone who is staying in KL-you might want to follow the following guidelines here:

Always walk facing against the traffic: So that the serial acid splasher will not attack you from the back. Besides that by walking against the traffic you will have a better chance of avoiding anyone who looks suspicious to you.

Avoid walking by the side of the road: If possible don't walk at the side of the road at all if it is unnecessary. You will be exposed and make yourself easy target for this serial acid splasher. Walk near the building where there are crowded people.

Always bring along an umbrella: This might sound crazy...but I suggest that you bring along a huge umbrella with you. So whenever you see someone suspicious approaching you, immediately open that umbrella to shield yourself from any possible attack. Yes! Just open it even though it is not raining. Best of all use the umbrella all the time. Moreover your umbrella can be a potent weapon for you to defend yourself in dangerous situations.

Inform the police of any suspicious motorcyclist: Banking on our lazy and inefficient Malaysian police alone is not enough. So the moment you see anyone riding a bike with dark complexion and looks suspicious...immediately take down the number plate and inform the police to come over as soon as possible. Who knows? Your information might lead to the nabbing of this serial acid splasher!

Put on more clothes: I know the weather is scorching hot right now. But putting on an extra jacket or vest might buy you some time to escape the devastating acid if *touch wood* you are being splashed!

Don't go out at all: No matter where you go, try not to walk...at all. If possible don't even go out if you don't have any transport, preferably car. It doesn't matter if the sundry shop is only 50 metres away from your home...you don't want to risk being splashed with acid right? So ask your parents, husband or other family members to ferry you around if you can.

Use as much water as possible: Water is the best remedy to counter the corrosive acid. The moment someone is being splashed with acid (either it is you or other victims), pour as much water as possible onto the affected body parts especially the eyes. Keep on pouring a large amount of water to dilute the acid. Keep on doing this until the acid has been diluted and washed away. So I suggest all of us to bring a water bottle all the time.

We don't want this happen to our beloved ones right? :(

I really, really hope there will be no other innocent people being splashed with this corrosive liquid again. I am sure our police force will do justice to the lives that have been affected by this serial acid splasher in KL! If you happen to meet this heartless, cowardly serial acid splasher in his act, don't hesitate to alert the police or nab him. Remember if we don't do anything, this could happen to our beloved ones. We must track him down and kill him! Ok...sounds like I am a savage but I am sure you get what I mean! We Malaysians must work hand-in-hand to bring down this serial acid splasher in KL. He is an animal!

Lets spread this - and all do our part to track down this criminal!!!

Anwar Ibrahim’s driver claims murder attempt on boss.

I read this today on MalaysianInsider =) My best guess is that.... the blame game has now started!!!

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s driver today alleged a sinister murder attempt on his boss after discovering that the brakes of the Mercedes Benz he was driving had been tampered with last month. Abdullah Sani Said, the 51-year-old driver who has worked with Anwar for 28 years since the latter was still the deputy prime minister, lodged a police report on the incident at the Tropicana police station outside the party’s national headquarters here this evening.

Abdullah Sani said he made the discovery on April 19 following an incident on his journey back to Kuala Lumpur from Perak in the Mercedes Benz S350 with the number plate KCD 77 which, he said, was on loan to Anwar from a close friend. At the time, said Abdullah Sani, he and another aide, Mohd Nurol Sayah, had just ferried Anwar’s wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Faekah Husin, the political secretary to the Selangor mentri besar, to a PKR programme in Chemor, just outside Ipoh.

“On our journey back to KL via the North-South Expressway at about 1pm, before the exit to Sungkai near the 353km, a lorry suddenly cut into the right lane and forced me to jam on my brakes,” he said in the report. He said the moment he applied the brakes, the Mercedes S350 began to vibrate violently. “I heard the sound of something shattering at the back.

“Suddenly, the back tyres of the car felt like they were locked. This forced me to try my best to navigate the car towards the road shoulder,” he said. He said he saw swerve marks and broken pieces of the car’s brake disc on the road. He said he called for a tow truck and the vehicle was taken to the RCY Benz workshop in Glenmarie, Shah Alam for inspection.

At the workshop, Abdullah Sani said he was told by the mechanic that the back brake disc of the car was missing a “pin bolt” that is used to support the “brake caliper”. “I was also told that it was impossible for the bolt to be detached without being tampered with,” he said. He said that based on the mechanic’s explanation, it was clear that “certain parties” had deliberately tampered with Anwar’s car with the intention to “hurt or murder” the opposition leader or his family members.

“And on advice from the mechanic, this shows that there were elements of sabotage here, seeing as this vehicle is often used by Anwar,” he said. He said he feared for his safety and that of his boss, adding that he hoped the police would initiate investigations immediately.

Abdullah Sani’s report was also accompanied by a signed diagnosis of the incident by Azman Hassan, the mechanic from the workshop. In his declaration, Azman confirmed that it was “impossible” for the “pin bolt” to detach on its own without being tampered with. “I found that the source of the incident was because of the one missing pin bolt which attaches the brake caliper.

“For your information, there should be two pin bolts. It was because of this missing one that caused the entire back right braking system of the car to be destroyed. “In my experience as a mechanic for the past 10 years and specialising in repairs on Mercedes Benzes for the past seven years, it is impossible for the pin bolt to detach on its own,” he said.

Marg Helgenberger Calls Justin Bieber 'A Brat'!

While being interviewed in Europe, 'CSI' veteran Marg Helgenberger let slip her real feelings about teen pop idol -- and 'CSI' guest star -- Justin Bieber.

Bieber guest-starred on the procedural drama back in February and, according to RadarOnline.com, Helgenberger was asked about the singer and his role on the show during an interview in France. Helgenberger was asked if Bieber's role was written just to raise sagging ratings, or because the singer is "truly a good actor."

The 52-year-old actress rolled her eyes and said, "Justin Bieber wasn't bad bad. But he'd never acted before ... He's better than you'd think." Helgenberger then said, "I shouldn't be saying this, but he was kind of a brat."

She seemed to backtrack a bit by saying, "I only had one small part (with Bieber) ... he was very nice to me." But then Helgenberger gave her reason on why she had such a low opinion of the 'Baby' singer: "But he locked one of the producers in a closet and he put his fist through a cake that was on the cast's table."

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