Starbucks: Haram?

UPDATE 4 august 2011:

Alright although I'm not a Muslim, I am pretty interested in this matter.

Simply because I'm practicing my right to critical thinking.

When it comes to sensitive matters like religion in this case, people tend to immediately jump on the band wagon with bon fires and pitch forks ready at an instant.

1st, I went straight to Starbucks...site HERE.

So, there is a logo.

I did some snooping around. And it led me to this site HERE.

Hmm...no date.

What is E471? Is it really contained in the drinks?

Any chemist or food nutritionist to vouch for the origin?

Perhaps it can originate from other sources?

Let's take a look around.

More haramness for your perusal.

I'm not sure of the legitimacy of this site. Anyone care to vouch for it?

My suspicion was further fueled by the Bahasa Malaysia used.

I would assume something this serious would warrant a more careful use of syntax and vocabulary. But then again maybe thats just me?

A few seconds on Google and I managed to track an earlier post.

Dated April 8, '08, 10:41 pm HERE

So this cup of hot coffee has been around for some time.

A few questions comes to mind.

1. Is the alleged Halal Guide site legit?
2. If so, how did Starbucks get the seal of Halal in the 1st place?
3. If it is true, wouldn't there have been a formal address at least 2 years ago?
4. If it's not true, then what are the true intentions of this site? Would it count as slander?
5. Which came 1st? The chicken or the egg? Wait...wrong post.

Anyone willing to go straight to the horses mouth and call Jakim?

If you do, please let me know how the conversation went.

No more here say there say, speculations and wild fire of a rumour spreading.

I understand that sometimes you share information because you care about someone.

But isn't it better to spread true information?

Like the fact that KFC has a new chicken chop dish for only RM9.90

instead of saying

the nuclear disaster in Japan would cause acid rain here.

Seriously, are acid rain and the nuclear pollution associated?

Can it travel all the way here?

So the next time you hear a shocking piece of info and itching to spread it to someone else,

STOP

Where did this info came from? Is it legit?

P/S: Have you ever spread a piece of information you weren't sure of? I know I have *blush*

Hotel Review: i Hotel

After a wonderful night being surprised by Carmen

I went off to meet up with some older friends for a few rounds at FnD Mindspot at TTDI. A wonderful place to hang out and play some board games. No, not just monopoly, I'm talking about Risk, Settlers of Catan and my new found favorite, Pandemic. The rounds that I mentioned earlier was referring to the turn while playing a board game. Nothing alcoholic. Makes me wish I was back in KL.

Luckily the people of i-Hotel were very tentative and actually called to check up on me and if I wish to extend the check in time. Aw, they care~

Here's a quick tour of my room the next morning.

I checked in quite "early" in the morning but the receptionist was still chirpy.

The entrance faces away from the main road so you might need to keep a look out for glowing blue lights.

I booked the executive room which was RM148 per night

But managed to get a discount for it.

Don't worry, I'll keep the review honest.

Unless someone is paying me for and advert *hint*

Room Features

• 5 star queen size Kingkoil bed mattress
• Ensuite bathroom
• 32inch LCD TV with Astro Satellite Channel
• Individually controlled air-conditioning
• Touch sensor bedlight
• Hot water shower
• Free highspeed broadband internet WiFi access
• Hair dryer upon request
• Room-to-room intercom system
• Food & Beverages to be purchased from reception
• 24 hours security & keycard access into rooms
• 
  

The comfy bed calling me. BUT managed to get a few shots 1st.

Please pardon the picture quality. It was late at night and I was pooped.

Touch sensor lights.

Wasted a good 5 minutes playing with it.

Opps...Cyclops.

Whee TV...with Astro!

Limited channels of course.

No cupboards to hide your lover, I mean dirty laundry in.

Work area. Free wi-fi is provided. Fast too! Great for businessmen

or internet addicts like me.

Complimentary water and tee pee.

Let's head to the loo.

Simple and clean lines.

Towels and water heater are provided.

I would suggest adding some fabric softeners while washing the towels to add extra fluff.

Body wash and shampoo provided.

Other toiletries please bring your own.

Now on to the not so pretty stuff.

Guess which side of the bed sheets I slept on?

Some of you might say "Why didn't you call for house keeping?"

Well for the very fact that I was already dead tired and risking looking like a panda the next morning? I'll survive.

The whole decorations were nicely done, simple and elegant.

Unfortunately this lil eye sore caught my eyes.

I think it's a watermark as the wall separates the bathroom.

I was awaken a few times during the night. The walls were rather thin. Not sure what the management can do about it.

But overall it is a pretty decent room and it functions well. The services were quick too and the staff polite. The receptionist even escorted me to my taxi the next rainy morning.

Pro:

Friendly, efficient staff.

Lovely decor

Wi-fi

Close to eating and entertainment locations

Great value for the price.

Con:

Rough towels

Stains

Construction for a view

Thin walls

Over all, aside from some minor problems, I would say that i-Hotel is a nice place to stay.

As a boutique budget hotel it definitely lives up to its name and I have a feeling this wont be my last stay there.

If you're interested, do drop them a line

Site

http://www.i-hotel.com.my/

Phone

Tel: 03-6142 8223

Fax: 03-6142 9223

Enquiries

info@i-hotel.com.my

Reservations

reservation@i-hotel.com.my

Facebook

Check them out on Facebook!

Address

No 60, Jalan PJU 5/20D,

The Strand Kota Damansara,

Petaling Jaya,

47810 Selangor Darul Ehsan.

For review or advert opportunities please drop me a message HERE

I Am A Brainwasher & This Is My Story.

I am a brainwasher and this is my story.

The life of a brain washer often goes unnoticed. You go in to the lab, wash a few brain as clean as you can in the allocated time and then you leave them be. Sometimes you return home thinking about them as you sort through the different kinds of detergents to use the next day.

I wash many kinds of brains:

• Full
• Empty
• Clean
• Dirty
• XXL
• XL
• L
• M
• S
• XS
• Nil
• Blue
• Yellow
• All kinds

And I do enjoy what I do. Most of the time. The hours can be taking and the energy to scrub some brains certainly takes a toll on the fingers, back and mood.

Today was a great day of washing. Some of the brains had won hampers for a drama competition. As I applauded their hard work and reminiscent about my time as a young wee brain and the joys that drama brings, a box of chocolates was shoved into my hand.

"For you."

I was secretly delighted at an instant. A child like shameless glee that I still have to learn to mask. "It's okay. Share it with the rest." the adult in me emerged.

"No, it's for you. It's okay."

I must say that I do love this bunch of brains. Naughty and cheeky and always having fun. They may not be the brightest of the bunch but I believe they will go far. They have good values. For some of them at least.

And perhaps they too have been brain washing me.

Surprise Party by Carmen

Many moons ago,

lil Miss Carmen had promised to throw a surprise party for me the next time I came by her town.

Sure enough she did, with prompts from me.

I promised to look really surprised.

Surprised enough?

We met up at Friendscino in Kota Damansara.

Thanks to Elwyn for being the designated picker-upper.

Wilee, Glow, Elwyn trying to eat me, Janice, Isaac and Vincent

A closer shot of the predator and me being totally oblivious o.O"

Me with sweet Wilee. I think she looks very much Korean, don't you?

I'm hoping to catch up with her at the David Choi concert soon.

Fingers crossed.

Elwyn looking drunk already, Carmen with her ever ready smile,

Isaac looking cool and Janice with her favorite toy.

Tony came a little later.

Group pic!

Friendscino is a cool place to hang and listen to some live music, but I agree with some of them, bloggers 1st meet should be some where quieter where WE can make all the noise.

Food wise, nothing to shout about so I won't be reviewing them.

So once again thanks Carmen for setting us up. I think you can be a social butterfly organizing dinner parties.

Some of the pictures were from Carmen. Do check out her blog HERE for pictures of the food.

P/S: Have you had a party recently?

Wow, miracle drug? Reeeeealy?!

Have you ever encountered this before?

My sisters in law friends uncle obscure 2nd wives BF pet cats husband

was coughing for 2 years then miraculously took this "medicine"

and was cured and now he's making millions!!!

-_-" yeeeeah..

I came face to face with one today. A highly educated colleague. But I guess all those years and money studying rotted his brains. Please stop telling me about miracle drugs from US supported by "bogus" doctors.

I don't mind when people sell supplements but when they start saying that it can replace MEDICATIONS and cure cripples pfft... that's where I draw the line. I mean literally he told me it can cure cripples.

This lady in the Felda estate was crippled

then she started taking this supplements and was up and walking.

She's now happily going around selling the product and making millions as well.

Oh Really? Why was she crippled in the 1st place? Car accident? Polio? Wow you mean it can cure Polio? Holy Cheesus Crust!

Probably travelling by foot for all I care.

I'm not denouncing the possibility that these supplements could be good for you. But when you put people's lives in danger for some quick bucks, I'm sorry, no amount of drugs can numb that sort of guilt.

A quick Google sorted it all out. The product is indeed good. But...the sales person has spun one to many fairy tales in their desperation to make a sale. Thus the domino effect leads to an avalanche of fairy tales.

Please, if ever in doubt, Google, ask specialist. I don't wholly believe in testimonials because people can believe in just about anything these days

Take everything with a pinch of skepticism. It's especially hard if it's someone you look up to or are suppose to respect. Just know that they are probably so deep into the rabbit whole that no amount of pills can kick them back up.

Best comment so far?

Lols Glo - Actually I do believe there are miracle treatments and medication as yet undiscovered. Probably need to trek through a long mountain range, join a monastery and progress through initiation for a few years before being allowed to proceed to the top of a mountain and camp outside a shifu hermit's hut on the edge of a cliff and meditate with him for another few years before getting the secret magical elixir formula... Of course made from ingredients which can only be crushed by using a Blentec (R) blender.

P/S: ‎=) don't worry I'm not selling blendtec appliances...

P/P/S: I realize that I usually try to put things in the objective perspective but this time, when dealing with lives, this village fool has really ticked me off. Do you find that sexy?

Miraku: Scallops Promo

Ben and I love Japanese food and one of our favourite Japanese restaurants in Penang

has to be Miraku.

Imagine our surprise when we walked in to this work of art.

Kawaii desu ne!~

Love the poster!

Miraku in Penang is having a scallop promotion from March till April 2011

Scallops galore!~

Spoilt by all the choices.

Our delicious h'or d'oeuvre served with a warm relaxing cup of ocha or green tea.

We ordered a few scallop dishes that night but sadly some had mysteriously disappeared before I could capture any pictures. *burp* Here are a few that I managed to catch.

Simple grilled hotate. Succulent and sweet.

Hotate backed in a pan with cheesy goodness. My calcium supplement.

The focal point of this restaurant adventure has to be this.

Salmon belly. It's not on the menu but you can ask for it.

Look at it.

They say a good wagyu is identified by the marble patterns made by the fat. The more the better.

Take a look at the exquisite patterns. Crisscrossing the plump flesh. Like a net cast to draw in the pink morsels.

Needless to say the taste was one to die for. And so was the price.

Any gueses how much it is??

No prize though, only bragging rights of having a sharp eye to identify an exquisite slab of meat.

Alright another challenge. Thanks to the new manager there.

He introduced to us what real good quality wasabi tastes like. Yes, Miraku really pulls out all the stops for quality for us that night.

The taste of freshly grated wasabi is quite different from the playdoh like consistency that we're used to in Malaysia.

Spot the Green Dragon.

Try and guess which dollop of wasabi is freshly made and which is powder made?

G Hotel, Gurney Drive, Penang

1st Floor, G Hotel, 168A Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.

Daily Lunch 12.00pm to 2.30pm, Daily Dinner 6.00pm to 10.30pm

Golden Moments.

Sometimes, you find something so spectacular, that it takes little effort to capture it.

Pictures taken with my humble...

Canon Ixus 70. Yes, very humbly so.

Do enjoy.

Sunbeams breaking through the morn of the coast of Penang isle.

Love this effect. No idea what it's called. But I dub this the golden moment. A few minutes of glowing amber magic.

Lastly,

in a failed attempt to recreate the golden moment in doors.

Kel commented that my smile looks odd. Maybe I need some lip gloss, and food.

P/S: Have you captures a magical moment in camera before? Do share.