On one of the rare occasions of watching TV, I came across a repeat of The Oprah Winfrey Show where Illusionist and Endurance Artist David Blaine appeared live, announcing to try and set a new world-record in the longest breath-holding category. The record before that – 16 minutes and 32 seconds set by Peter Colat of Switzerland on February 10, 2008. 

Before his attempt inside the 1,800-water-gallons-sphere, Blaine spent 23 minutes inhaling pure oxygen, packing his lungs with extra oxygen just before the breathing tubes were removed. After Blaine filled his lungs with pure oxygen, his heart rate remained at 130 during the second minute of the breath-hold and then stayed above 100 for much of the time. The higher the heart rate, the more quickly oxygen is consumed, and the more painful the carbon dioxide buildup. Fortunately, his CO2 tolerance training (repeated breath holds every morning) was just enough to compensate. In the last minute, his heart rate became erratic and he got concerned enough to start rising from the bottom of the water-filled sphere^,but he kept his head underwater more than a half minute longer than the old record.

Ultimately, Blaine held his breath for 17 minutes and 4.4 seconds to set the world record, according to Guiness World Records, surpassing Colat's previous mark of 16 minutes and 32 seconds, also marking David Blaine's first Guinness record. Amazing, yet I reckon you gotta be totally insane to even think of doing something like that. *laugh* David Blaine, you have my greatest respect.

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After the loss of Jr., my 2-year-old golden retriever, I never thought I would fall in love with another. Not until I met…

Haha. Y’know, I never liked cats much, but I guess this little cutie changed my whole perception of his kind. *laugh* Let me introduce you to Tiger (his owners named him Fluffy but I’m calling him Tiger anyways *laugh*), a Persian cat who’s less than a year old. He doesn’t talk much though. Favourite pastime – sleeping. 

Interestingly enough, I discovered that until recently, cats were commonly believed to have been domesticated in ancient Egypt where it was a cult animal. However a 2007 study found that the lines of descent of all house cats probably run through as few as five self-domesticating (refers to the process of adapt ion of wild animals to humans, without direct human selective breeding of the animals) African Wildcats approximately 8000 BC, in the Middle East. African Wildcats also known as the Desert Cat, is a subspecies of the Wildcat (carnivore) BTW. *wink*

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A record-breaking 1.3 million devotees and visitors were expected to pack Batu Caves for the Thaipusam celebration today. *smile* The figure is an increase from the one million people that attended the celebration last year, but most importantly for many, this celebration also marks a public holiday for Malaysians working in Selangor, Penang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and now, the federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. *smile*

For my non-Malaysian friends, Thaipusam is actually a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil  month of Thai (Jan/Feb). Pusam refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates both the birthday of Lord Murugan (also Subramaniam), the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (lance) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. 

The highlight of Thaipusam is the kavadis. Kavadi Attam is a dance performed by the devotees during the ceremonial worship of Murugan, the Tamil God of War. It is performed during the festival and emphasizes debt bondage. The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore for help from their God. The simplest kavadi is a semi circular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that is carried on the shoulders, to the temple. In addition, some have a little spear through their tongue, or a spear through the cheeks. The spear pierced through his tongue or cheeks reminds him constantly of Lord Murugan. It also prevents him from speaking and gives great power of endurance. Other types of kavadi involve hooks stuck into the back and either pulled by another walking behind or being hung from a decorated bullock cart or more recently a tractor, with the point of incisions of the hooks varying the level of pain. The greater the pain the more god-earned merit.

Legend has it that Idumban, an ardent follower of the Lord Muruga, once decided he wanted to bathe the idol of the lord in milk. Murugan inhabits hillocks, in this case the hill of Palani. So Idumban slung two pots of milk on a piece of wood and carried them up the hill across his shoulders. Thus, the kavadi was born.

For a kavadi bearer, the process begins long before Thaipusam with the fasting – or in most cases – the abstinence period. Some start days before Thaipusam, some weeks. In Malaysia there are many who start some two months before Thaipusam, and abstinence during this period means staying away from meat and alcoholic beverages, and even coffee or tea, which are intoxicants. It also means no sex – yes, even among married couples – and no evil thoughts. It includes having one’s temper in check and not getting flustered or excited. *laugh*

<Pictures from Wikipedia, jeffooi.com and trisanna.com>

Anyway I just wanna wish all our Tamil members a Happy Thaipusam! Have a good one today! *smile*

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Ladies, I know I’ve been quiet on fashion topics (shows how much of a tom-boy I am! *laugh*) so I guess it’s time to catch up. Haha. I’m no pro though ya, and I believe everyone should have their own individual styles because THAT’s what creates an identity. *smile* Anyways, I though I’d highlight the wonders of leggings this time. Girls, if you’ve not tried them, leggings CAN be quite a practical item in your wardrobe, especially if you have tops that are neither long enough to wear as dresses, or short enough wear with jeans or a skirt. It can even change the way you look in a particular outfit. Take this for example… remember this pic?

This is I suppose an alternative way of wearing it – with cotton leggings and a pair of matching heels. *smile* Simple! Oh and of course, more decent ya... *laugh*   

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