Proper way to dispose unwanted cooking oil
How do you dispose the unwanted cooking oil, especially after frying?
I have been pouring the them down the sink until I saw a government message on TV saying that is not the right thing to do. And since my government decided to tell me what’s wrong but leave me to ponder what’s right, I turned to the internet.
Why shouldn’t I just pour used cooking oil down the drain? Because cooking oil and grease poured down the drain can build up in pipes causing backups at home, into streets and the storm drain system. Overflows can happen and pose health and environmental hazards. Clogged drains with stagnant water is a haven for aedes mosquito larvae.
If the amount of oil is small:
1. You can use paper towel or newspaper to absorb the unwanted cooking oil and throw it into the garbage bin, or
2. You can carefully pour it into a strong sealable container, such as an old plastic jar with a lid, or just any unwanted mineral water bottle.
If the amount of oil is large:
1. You can freeze it to solidify the oil and throw it into the garbage bin, or
2. You can use any solidifying agents like cat litter, sawdust or sand.
If the amount of oil is HUMONGOUS:
1. You can try to ask if any restaurants would take them since they usually sell them to the oil recycling vendors, or
2. You can contact your local authority, or
3. If you think the above 2 steps are irrealistically mafan, just cut down your oil intake, since too much of oil is neither good for the body and the drain.
So let’s remember never to pour cooking oil down the drain anymore.
I referred to the following websites:
http://www.ebmud.com/wastewater/residential_pollution_prevention/residential_FOG_FAQ/default.htm
My bathroom, hazardous?
Yesterday, I filled up a recycled mineral water bottle with Dynamo detergent (lemon fragrance, creamy yellow in colour) to put inside the bathroom.
Man it looks like a bottle of mango yogurt drink!
Then I thought, I can’t have this if I have small kids at home. The colour and the smell are so delicious they might mistaken it as yogurt drink, consumed it, poisoned, and DIE!!
But I don’t have kids la, just 2 working adults in the house. I don’t think this mango yogurt wannabe can cause any hazardous to us.
“Eh, do you know what this is?” I asked the other adult in the house.
“DUH..” he said.
“Then what is this?” I asked again.
Confidently he said “Mango yogurt ler!”
=.=
I have the word DYNAMO written all over the bottle now. I don’t wanna take any risk.
Who knows what he craves for in the bathroom!
How clean is my house?
I aggressively scrubbed my kitchen during the weekend, and then I stumbled into this on Monday morning (as if the thought of having to work is not disturbing enough):
“A recent seven-country survey conducted by the Hygiene Council, a global panel of medical experts, found that Malaysian kitchens were more bacteria-infested than bathrooms.”
“Overall, Malaysian homes were found to be the dirtiest among all the countries studied, right after India. The cleanest abodes were found in Saudi Arabia.”
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Frontpage/2349934/Article/index_html
OMG is this for real??!!!
So after work, my bathroom went through an hour of intense cleaning. Just in case if anybody would ask for me to participate in such survey, and I would be too proud to say NO because only people with dirty homes are afraid of such auditing.
INFERIORITY COMPLEX?
My bathroom and kitchen are squeaky CLEAN now. I’m still not volunteering for any audit or survey.
Must love videos (2)
Tell me this baby genius didn’t put a smile on your face!
Cell 52
I am reading MAYADA, DAUGHTER OF IRAQ now. It’s about a woman’s survival in Saddam Hussein’s Torture Jail. Man this is really a very very very very WRONG book to read before you sleep!
Yea, you guessed it. NIGHTMARE!!!
I was with my second sister when we approached the jail reception (if there’s such thing), asking for permission to visit my eldest sister who was held in the jail. I assumed the Indian lady at the reception had not eaten for a year because despite the number of times we asked her about my eldest sis she continued to finish her rice before attending to us. So with her extremely bo-gam-wan face, she stepped out of the counter and directed us to the corridor.
The lights were dimmed, the doors were orange.
My sister was locked up in CELL 52. (You will know why if you read the book.)
There were 2 layers of doors to each cell, and we had to walk up a step at the second door. The empty cell was extremely small, smaller than a public toilet booth. It is so small that one has to curl up like a shrimp to sleep on the floor.
The Indian lady left, giving us some private time with my eldest sister. So she’s not so evil after all. Maybe she needed the job to feed her kids, even if it requires her to ignore her conscious.
My eldest sister was terribly frightened and she hadn’t slept in days. We tried to calm her down so she could get some sleep, but she kept saying she heard voices of men saying there will be an execution soon.
Nothing can be more heart wrenching than to see your own family member suffering.
I’m so glad that it’s just a bad dream. Maybe the book is not the actual culprit to my nightmare. Maybe it’s my guilty conscience. That I complained to my best friend so much about my sister when I am the one in denial, thinking I’ve contributed so much but in actual fact, I was merely a selfish sister.
Sunni and Shia Muslims?
Read THE KITE RUNNER recently. The story SO INTENSE la!!!
So, SUNNI and SHIA muslims. HUH?? Malaysia is an Islamic country, but very seldom we, or maybe just me, heard or talked about this.
So what’s the difference between the Sunni and Shia Muslims? Below are the important facts I wanna remember so I can *cough* show off *cough* when the topic arises.
1. After the death of Prophet Muhammad, the question of who was the successor to the leadership of Muslim nation arose:
a) Sunni Muslims believe that spiritual leadership to the muslim community is not a birthright, instead the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job, and the Prophet Muhammad’s closes friend and advisor, Abu Bakr, was elected the first Caliph of the Islamic nation. The word SUNNAH means tradition, and therefore one who follows the tradition of Prophet is called SUNNI.
b) Shia Muslims on the other hand think that the leadership should remained within the Prophet’s family, and that Ali ibn Abi Talib, husband of the Prophet’s daughter Fatimah was appointed by the Prophet to take over the role.
2. Only 10% of total Muslims are Shia Muslims, primarily located in Iran, Iraq and Yemen. The 90% Sunni Muslims are located in most Muslim countries.
3. Shia Muslims believe that the Imam’s authority comes directly from God. They think of the Imam as saints and perform pilgrimages to their tombs. Sunni Muslims on the other hand disagree on the veneration of saints, and believe that a muslim leader needs to earn his trust from the people.
4. There are also differences between the Sunni and Shia muslims in terms of religious practices such as prayer, fasting, etc.
5. MAHDI means “The Guided One”. Both Sunni and Shia muslims agree that Al-Mahdi will be a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and bear the name Muhammad. He will unite the muslims and defeat the Daijjal. However, the Shia muslims believe that Al-Mahdi was already on earth as the “hidden imam” who works through mujtahds to interpret Quran and will return at the end of time, while the Sunni muslims think Al-Mahdi will come in the future.
Of course the history and differences between these two groups are much more complicated than the above mention which is, to me, VERY COMPLICATED already!
Personally, as a non-muslim, I think SHIA is a cooler name because of the pronunciation (yes very shallow I ADMIT), but I am more attracted to the Sunni ideology that one cannot inherit spiritual leadership. Hah, like I know any better, konon! Anyway, I do believe that both groups are pretty much the same since the ultimate guideline is still the Quran, which I believe teaches nothing but good.
PS 1: These are the links to where I got most of my infomation from.
http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islamic_sects.htm
http://islam.about.com/cs/divisions/f/shia_sunni.htm
PS 2: Please forgive and educate me if I’ve totally misunderstood the whole Sunni and Shia topic. Many thanks in advance!
How Alaska became part of the United States?
I am so ashamed to confess that I just found out exactly where Alaska is on the world map. And the first question that came to my mind was
“How on earth it became part of the United States if there’s Canadian territory in between Alaska and other states?”
I looked up the history and there were too many details to remember, so I am going to just briefly reiterate the story here.
In 1867, the united states bought Alaska from the Russian Empire at 7.2 million dollars, which is 2 cents per acre. According to wikipedia, 7.2 million dollars then equates to approximately 102 million dollars now.
Alaska did not become a state because there were very little (or maybe nobody) living there, and population is a requirement for statehood. In the 1890s, they discovered gold and brought thousands of miners to settle in Alaska. In 1912, Alaska was granted territorial status, and finally statehood on January 3, 1959.
Do you know the Japanese troops invaded and occupied three outer islands in the Alaska during World Ward II? I wonder if the Japanese used their bicycles there like how they invaded Malaysia.
By the way, Hawaii is the other state in US not bordered by another state. Am I the last person to know this?
How much do you know about Greenland?
In the midst of nowhere, the country GREENLAND randomly came to my mind. It felt like a far away land where people rarely speak about (in Malaysia). So I googled and realised how little I know about the world’s largest island. I didn’t know until now, that:
1. Greenland is a self-governing Danish province and their currency is Danish krone. This is their flag, the white represents the snow, and the red is the sun.
2. Greenland is also the largest dependent territory (by area).
3. The world’s largest national park is in Greenland.
4. The first group of people migrated to Greenland from the American continent more than 4000 years ago.
5. Greenlandic and Danish are the official languages. Greenlandic is closely related to the languages spoken by the Inuits (Inuit and Yupic are the two main groups referred to as Eskimo) in Canada.
6. There are less than 56,700 people living in Greenland. Most of them are Inuits, and the rest are Europeans (mainly Danish). The largest city Nuuk in West Greenland has the highest population.
7. Back in the olden days, the Inuits only wore clothes made from animal hides or skins to keep them warm, like this:
When the Europeans set foot in Greenland in the 17th and 18th centuries, they introduced clothing fabrics and glass beads to the people in Greenland. These materials were gradually incorporated into the Inuit’s dress, particularly for festive attire, like this:
8. Greenland chose to leave the European Economic Community because they did not want to allow European fishing fleets in Greenlandic waters.
9. Greenland is critically dependent on fishing and fish exports, with shrimps fishing industry the largest income earner.
10. It is the government’s policy to provide the students free university education anywhere in Europe or North America. University of Greenland located in Nuuk is the only university there.
Of course Greenland is muc more than what I’ve written here but I can only take in this much info now because the word ALASKA just knocked on my door!
My mission to reduce plastic waste!
Sometime ago I watched an episode of Edisi Siasat Mandarin on NTV7, covering on plastic bag pollution that is happening in Malaysia. Do you know that:
1. Malaysians are generating waste products at a rather alarming rate? Every year, the amount of plastic bags thrown by Malaysians can easily fill up a building the size of our world-renowned Petronas Twin Towers!
2. Most of the plastic bags use in Malaysia are non-biodegradable? Because these bags are not just cheaper but can withstand more weight.
3. A non-biodegradable plastic bag takes AT LEAST 1000 years to degrade? Just imagine if plastic bag existed since the ancient china kingdom, the plastic bag used by Shi Huang Ti to tapao his kopi-peng, can still be found NOW!!
4. Very few department store or hypermarket in Malaysia uses biodegradable bags? Jusco is one of the very few. I think TESCO too, and TESCO MELAKA is giving 1 point (which is equivalent to RM1 spent) to every plastic bag you reuse for the things you bought.
5. Using biodegradable bags is not the solution to the problem? Because they still take a few years to decompose completely. Looking at the amount of plastic bags Malaysians throw away each day, the biodegrade process of these “environmental friendly” bags will generate massive carbon dioxide which is not so friendly anymore are they?
So I am now in a mission to reduce plastic bag waste in Malaysia (dare not say the word WORLD). I am bringing my own bag whenever I go for my grocery shopping! I kicked start my plan last Monday and look what happened.
I am definitely not the first person to bring my own shopping bag because the cashier immediately asked for my bag when I approached the counter. BUT my mission created commotion among the customers lining up behind me.
First they thought the shopping bags were FREE GIFTS and wonder how come they didn’t get it (typical kiasuness). And they tried to whisper but failed miserably lar. I heard every word of their conversation. THEN, they sent one of them to peek. Can you believe the man stood so near to me and tried to look at the logo printed on my bags (I got the bags from this free movie event hosted by a company lar). He was so near I could smell his breath, EEWWW! Ok lar his breath doesnt stink but STILL?!
And he spoke to his “convoy” loudly in cantonese, “Oh, lee ko koi zee gei dai lei geh…” (DUH!)
Then the “convoy” replied “Oh, hai wo hor, zhou meh ngo lam mm dou geh?” (cos you sei-chon lar, DUH!)
Another “convoy” said “hai lor, plastic kam sai…” (ok at least i created some awareness)
Haih, why our fellow malaysians so sua-ku one? Go watch edisi siasat lar!
But I must admit that I was enjoying the attention, cos when I walked away with my bags I could still feel their eyes following me, wondering why they never thought about helping to reduce the plastic pollution thats happening around the world!!!
So bringing your own shopping bags don’t just help to reduce waste BUT ALSO MAKES YOU LOOK COOL!!!! But this only happen in Malaysia lar I think. ANYWAY, fellow Malaysians, I urge you to do the same NOW to enjoy this INSTANT CELEB STATUS before everybody starts bringing their own bags and this is no more COOL.
Start bringing your shopping bags TODAY!!
Oh and also, since my shopping bags look so not glamourous, even the credit card promoter hesitated to approach me. LOL! So DING! One points for bringing your own bags to shop. You become UNTOUCHABLE by the promoters!!
I repeat, BRING YOUR SHOPPING BAGS TODAY!! (or whenever you shop la, adoi!)
My Clinic Encounter(s)
Another weird dream.
Went to the clinic to get medications for my running nose and cough. Below is the conversation between me (M) and the nurse (N):
M: “Can you give me good antibiotics? I need to recover fast before next Tuesday cos my dad is going for his kidney transplant, and if I’m sick I cannot see him in the hospital.”
N: “Okay. So your mum is going for a kidney transplant?”
M: “No, my dad.”
N: “I see, your mum is getting a transplant.”
M: “Not my mum, MY DAD is getting a transplant.”
N: “But you said your mum.”
M: “No, I said my dad.”
N: “I see, so your grandpa is getting a transplant.”
M thinking “@#%&!$%” and said “so can I get the antibiotics?”
N: “so when is your grandpa’s operation?”
M: “MY DAD IS GETTING THE TRANSPLANT, not my mum, not my grandpa!”
N: “But you said you grandpa!”
M: “No I didnt! I said MY DAD, whom my MUM married to, IS GOING FOR THE TRASNPLANT. Can I get the antibiotics now?”
N: “OH! I get it now.”
M thinking “finally” while N prepared the antibiotics. And when she handed me the meds,
N: “So your mum married your dad, and now your grandpa is getting a transplant.”
M took meds and left. Which part of “My dad is getting a transplant” she can’t understand, for crying out loud???!!!!
This is so far the most frustrating conversation I had, in my dream.
By the way, I am really having running nose and my dad is really getting his kidney transplant next Tuesday. I really need to get well. So this morning, I went to the in plant clinic for real.
N: “Employee ID?”
M: “81****”
N handed me paper and pen, and said:”Write down your full name, and department name.”
M: “Wokay.”
N: “Oh address also.”
M: “Har, why?”
Kepo sitting near the nurse’s desk laughed HAHAHAHA. (Funny meh?)
N: “The doctor needs the address.”
M: “But why?”
Kepo laughed again. (stop laughing la, kepo!)
N ignored me.
I have to confess and said: “But I forgot my address.”
Kepo laughed again (Geez!)
N: “It’s ok, just write anything, to keep the doctor happy.”
So I obeyed and wrote down the name of the apartment. I am not even sure if I gave the correct block number.
And the doctor later talked to me like I’m a kid.
D: “Open your mouth and say AAAH.”
M opened my mouth (only kids say AH la come on).
D: “Say AAAH.”
M opened my mouth bigger.
D: “Say AAAH.”
M thinking WTF and said “ah”.
D: “Say AAAH”.
Fine, M: “AAAAAAAHHHHH”.
D: “ok, now let me listen to your lungs” and proceed to put her stethoscope on my back.
D: “T-A-R-I-K N-A-A-A-F-A-S”. I inhaled and hold my breath until she finished saying the two words (which took her about 5 secs), and just when I wanted to exhale she repeated “T-A-R-I-K N-A-A-A-F-A-S”. Whoa, can die man! I was panting for breath like as though I just ran up the KLCC tower!
OK here’s the abrupt ending to my story. Bye.
