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New FB Page

2010-07-31T09:09:00.002+08:00

Just created a new Facebook page on my photography works. For now, that's the one with the latest updates.

Edit : Darn... getting one page ID number wrong produces Lactose Free Milk instead of my page....

Rays of Light - Digital Camera Photographer of the Year competition 2009

2009-09-25T17:31:00.003+08:00

Rays of Light - Digital Camera Photographer of the Year competition 2009

Posted using ShareThis

To conclude the Vietnam series....

2008-11-22T10:37:00.000+08:00

Vietnamese Flag Meaning:
The red base represents blood spilt during the country's fight for independence. The star represents Vietnam's unity and the points on the star represent the union of the workers, peasants, soldiers, intellectuals and young people working together in building socialism.

Vietnamese Flag History:
The Vietnamese flag was adopted on November 30, 1955, after gaining independence from French rule in 1954. The basic design of the Vietnamese flag originates from the 1940s and was used by liberation forces fighting for independence against Japan. When the Vietnamese flag was adopted in 1955, it was only used by the communist-led North Vietnam. The southern half of the nation was called the Republic of South Vietnam. The south collapsed in 1976 and the country was unified under the name the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Source : worldflags101.com

TWENTY-EIGHT-IN-ONE!!

2008-11-22T09:46:00.004+08:00

Imagine squeezing 28 people + 1 potted plant in one minivan.... how is it possible???

ONLY IN VIETNAM!

Notice the driver (The one up front in pink) has got one squeezed on his left and another on his right.

What Malaysians do not know.... (as usual)

2008-11-21T15:39:00.002+08:00

Malaysians are a sorry bunch. As long as their everyday lives are not being disrupted, they are more than willing to be led by their noses to wherever, and believe whatever is being fed to them, including Elvis being alive.

Check these two articles out :

Malaysiakini.com 1
Malaysiakini.com 2

The first article is titled "Government should profit from Low Fuel Prices" and highlights how our dear Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad commenting that :

1) The government can make a profit if local fuel prices remain at RM2 per litre and
global crude oil prices hover at around US$55 per barrel.

2) "We gave it (money) away in the form of subsidies when prices were high, so it's only fair that the government makes some money now when prices are low."

3) Petrol stations will not be able to profit from the current low prices as they get a fixed margin of 12 sen per litre.

4) The government had stopped paying petrol subsidies since Nov 1 when global crude oil prices dipped below US$65 per barrel.

5) "At the price today, which is at RM2 (per litre), there is no subsidy and we do not have to pay.

So not only am I paying exorbitant Taxes for my car, road tax, income tax... etc etc etc. Now I'm paying an extra "hidden" cash back to the Government in the form of gas prices!!

Now that Crude Oil prices has dropped below USD 50/barrel... my government is litterally SWIMMING in everyday profits reaped from poor Malaysians who continue to pump petrol at RM2/litre, oblivious to the facts above, and blissfully happy that the gas prices just dropped to RM2/litre only last week!!

There's nothing left to say except a big huge facepalm.

P/S - I do think that Elvis is ALIVE! =D

My favourite shot of the Vietnam/Thailand Trip

2008-11-20T20:43:00.001+08:00

Many excellent shots this trip from the Grand Palace @ Thailand, Halong Bay @ Vietnam and even nice portraits... but the shot that stands out most for me after looking through all would be this :

The One that wasn't fast enough...

2008-11-20T20:04:00.002+08:00

Original Article : Honk & Go!

I wonder who and what law protects motorists/cyclists who are knocked down in Vietnam.

The fatalities must be very high considering the break neck speeds at which the cars/trucks charge down the roads.

Vietnamese Portraits

2008-11-20T19:59:00.003+08:00

Here's my attempt at Portrait Photography after shooting a great number of people in Vietnam :

And finally, a revisit of the above photo, but this time in Black & White :

My Official Statement on World of Warcraft : Wrath of the Lich King

2008-11-20T15:06:00.001+08:00

"Nothing will get me to go back again"

"Everytime I think of WoW I remember the endless arena matches, partner shopping just to find that perfect person that would make your team own, stressing each week when you don't get enough games in, trying to get enough time in for raids..."

"I've come to conclude that a casual wow player doesn't exist and that one only misleads oneself by saying that"

Halong Bay Caves

2008-11-17T16:09:00.002+08:00

And here's a set for the Halong Bay Caves that we got to visit :

Halong Bay

2008-11-17T13:34:00.003+08:00

Halong Bay is an interesting place. We took a one-day trip there and back to Hanoi. It's interesting to see so many beautiful rock formations coming out from the sea... but the only bummer was that we went mid-day, under a hot hazy sky, which kinda sucked photography wise.

I played all day with my 50mm f1.8 lens and a fisheye. Here's what I got (As usualy, larger versions are in flickr.. you definitely have to view large for the Panoramas) :

Moody Shots

2008-11-13T08:20:00.003+08:00

Here's something that I picked up along the trip. Trying some Black and Whites now to portray the mood of the shot so hopefully I succeeded some.

The first shot is titled "Heading Home Before the Storm", and the second "That Elusive Sale" meant to portray the signs of current times.

That being said I'm really confused on my lens requirements now. Travelling around on the D90 + 50mm has been loads of fun (not to mention supremely light). I can plant the camera anywhere, swing it round and round and it doesn't kill me at the end of the day. The 50mm really offers an interesting perspective on things. For wider angle shots, there's always stitch. ;p

Hmmmmmmm...........

Vietnamese Food

2008-11-13T08:16:00.004+08:00

I like Vietnamese food... it looks plain but it's got great taste and flavour.

If I wasn't so tired from running around (not to mention from PPing photos till early in the morning) I'd eat a royal feast of Vietnamese food everyday.

Portrait PP

2008-11-12T07:36:00.003+08:00

Had been wanting to try out portrait PP for a very long time now... finally got a chance when Zio sent me a guide some weeks ago which I only started reading a while back.

Here's the result :

Still much more to learn but overall I'm pleased with the shot before and after.

60mm f2.8 Testing

2008-11-11T06:47:00.002+08:00

Had an opportunity to test out a 60mm f2.8 on Sunday...

Thailand Grand Palace

2008-11-10T20:26:00.002+08:00

Went to the Grand Palace on Saturday and had some shots there... shot using 50mm f1.8 and Fisheye 10.5mm f2.8

More photos in my flickr.

NYARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

2008-11-07T20:28:00.003+08:00

Before I start... let's get some history :

1) I wanna buy a new lens - Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8
2) Price in Malaysia is RM 5,200 (RRP RM 5,988)
3) Price I was hoping to buy in Thailand : THB 45,000 based on my believe that the lenses are cheaper in Thailand.
4) Assume RM 1 = THB 10.

I went to Panthip Plaza today and shopped around for lens... got quoted THB 57k (RM 5,700)... PASS!

I went to the second shop... got quoted THB 40k++... My eyes went as big as ping pong balls... a dozen thoughts went through my mind including : Is this a second hand lens? Did someone drop the lens on the floor and cracked some internal? Is this a brand new lens price? Did he get it wrong? Am I dreaming???

I said to the guy...

"Are you sure of the price?"
"Yes"
"Is this for a brand new lens? Are you really sure???"

He started to doubt, looked at the pricings again... looked up sheepishly and said... sorry... that was for the Canon 24-70. The Nikon one is actually THB 57k.

@#*($&%&%(!@!@)$*%^@#@@#(&!#

Okay... next shop!

"How much is the 24-70mm?"
"40k+"
"Okay... how much is the total if I buy it with the 80-400mm?"
"Lemme check... oh hang on a minute... I got it wrong... that was for the Canon... Nikon is actually THB57k."

@#)*$(@*$!#@!(#*!@#(*@!$(*!%)*!%)*!@$)(@!#!@#(

I SERIOUSLY HONESTLY NEED TO LEARN THE WORD "I'LL TAKE IT!!!!!!!" AND THROW MY CREDIT CARD AT THE GUY, GRAB THE LENS AND RUN!

It happened on the SAME DAY not ONCE but TWICE!!! And I still didn't take advantage of the situation!!!!

NYARRRRRGHGHGHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I'm gonna go ram my thick stubborn suspicious head against the wall now.

Yawn!!!

2008-11-06T21:23:00.003+08:00

Stuck in the hotel room and not really in the mood to go out and play so... shooting random objects that I can find :

6 Months....

2008-11-06T00:39:00.002+08:00

Man... what a bummer... made a major boo boo today.

My passport was slightly under 6 months remaining before its expiry. Little did I know that they enforced the 6 month ruling so strictly. They wouldn't let me on the damn plane!

I actually missed my 1:40 pm flight.

I rushed to Putrajaya Immigration Dept only to find that they do not to new passports there. I went like... wtf... such a huge and modern building in the middle of Malaysia's political capital and one can't even renew/make a new passport there? Totally gay.

In the end, I had to rush back to the Immigration Dept close to home, had my mom and wife assist me in booking my later flight and grabbing my important documentations required for a new passport... and with the great help of the Port Klang Immigration Dept peeps... managed to get a passport done in less than an hour.

I made my flight.

Had to purchase a brand new ticket for it though.

I wasted a whole afternoon of being able to go lens shopping.

Gah!

Malaysian Law = Fail

2008-11-01T08:32:00.004+08:00

I got into an accident on Thursday.

What happened was my car came out of a busy junction with a yellow box slowly turning to the right... other cars had already stopped for me to go. Then there was this damn motorcycle driving on the middle of the double lined road speeding and just crashed into my car.

There was no way that I could spot him given the fact that he was breaking the law by speeding on a busy road close to the junction, and riding in the middle of the damn road on the double lines!

And no that idiot didn't die. He hurt his leg. His bike was fine. My car was not.

At that damn speed, I'm glad the car was sufficiently reinforced at the sides to cushion the impact. Else I might be with a broken arm, an injured leg and possibly some side injuries.

Both my car's right side doors don't open well now. In fact, the driver's side door doesn't open at all. It's jammed shut. Just to access the driver's seat I've gotta crawl from the left passenger side now.

To be honest my first thoughts after the accident was...

1) What the *@#&$
2) How the @#*$* am I gonna claim his @#(*&@#*! insurance to repair my car

Call me heartless but idiots who break the laws and cause accidents don't deserve any sympathy.

Now the first step to claiming his insurance is to make a police report... and that I did... and you know what, that's when once again, I found that Malaysian Law = Fail.

According to Mr. Policeman, REGARDLESS of circumstances, the guy who comes out of the junction is WRONG! The only thing they can charge the motorcyclist is for cutting on the double lines. The party at fault of the accident is ME!

W...T....F.....

That's just damn gay in every aspect of thought... you CAN'T predict the actions of those who break the law, and where the normal laws of the road don't apply to them! What's to stop them from driving on the opposite site of the road, not stopping at a red light, driving while drunk... etc?? And IF their actions of breaking the law cause an accident, shouldn't they be the guilty party???

So in the future if my front bumper is in need of repair... all I need to do is look out for peeps coming out of junctions... drive straight into them and claim their insurance to repair my car!! Afterall... ANYONE who comes out of the junction is WRONG!

Sheesh......

This country's very laws and judiciary systems are so flawed it isn't even funny.

Baby Baby Baby

2008-10-30T13:47:00.004+08:00

It's all been Baby... baby and more baby lately... it's true when they say Baby's the Boss. When he cries, everyone's more or less attending to him. When he sleeps, everyone else keeps quiet unless you wanna risk him crying again and have to pacify him all over again.

He's super cute when he's not crying though.

This next shot is what I managed during the time that I went to KL for the Powergen 2008 exhibition. Trying to frame twin towers with a 50mm prime lens is NOT easy. I ended up with some odd angled shot of the two towers. Finally I settled on 1 tower. ;p

This shot was HDRed to bring out the mood.

SOMEWHERE IN CHINA Photo and Film Workshop Part III

2008-10-17T21:47:00.003+08:00

The hall was too filled up with people to take some good shots... what more with me and my puny 50mm f1.8. You'd prolly need a 70-200mm at minimum to get something decent from where I was sitting.

So all the interesting shots ended up being sourced from outside in the Westin Hotel halls, the bar etc....

SOMEWHERE IN CHINA Photo and Film Workshop Part II

2008-10-17T21:39:00.004+08:00

The Workshop was an interesting event... not entirely informative and immediately applicable... but it's more of an event where the Hutchens Brothers show their styles of photography/videography as well as introduce their 6-series episode aired in National Geographic called "SOMEWHERE IN CHINA".

Photography is subjective, just as any form of art is... some people appreciate certain styles of it, and it's no different in this case.

I wouldn't exactly say that their styles leap out of the page at me at first look, but I'm sure that given time and closer scrutiny I would be able to appreciate their "still shots" better. I liked the videography though...

SOMEWHERE IN CHINA Photo and Film Workshop

2008-10-17T21:35:00.002+08:00

So I applied for the SOMEWHERE IN CHINA Photo and Film Workshop organized by National Geographic & Astro early this week... and surprisingly received a letter to attend the event :

National Geographic Channel cordially invites you to spend an evening with Peter and Jeff Hutchens at the SOMEWHERE IN CHINA Photo and Film Workshop.

Please bring along your individual letter for admission to the workshop.

The details of the workshop are as follow:
Date : Thursday, 16 October 2008
Time : 7:30pm (registration starts from 7 pm)
Venue : Westin Grand Ballroom 1, The Westin Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Dress Code : Smart Casual (preferably no slip-ons)

Thank you and see you there.

Hari Raya Open House Food Shots!

2008-10-12T23:55:00.002+08:00

D90 Food shots ahead! And taken using the extremely awesome 24-70mm f2.8 lens too! Thanks to Tim for letting me poison myself silly with that lens.

D90 ISO 3200 Test Shots!

2008-10-07T22:18:00.006+08:00

Not the best composed shots, but just a quick test of the ISO 3200 on the D90 before I threw the battery out for charging.

I am definitely very happy with my purchase.

BEHOLD THE D90!!!!

2008-10-07T17:32:00.002+08:00

Muahahaha... finally I have upgraded my Camera body to the Brand Spanking New Nikon D90!!!

No more crapping out at high ISO, no more AF-S reqs, and throw in a movie mode for the camera, and I'm a happy man with a new toy!

Pictures to follow soon!

... and my first diaper change!

2008-09-29T08:45:00.003+08:00

Rather than wait for the confinement lady to leave and start panicking when the baby poops all over the place, it would be wise to learn as much as possible, take over bottlefeeding, diaper changing... etc while the "emergency button" aka Confinement lady is still around.

Thus, I had my first diaper change sometime over the weekend, and it was an interesting experience. I won't go into details, but if anyone asks me what does a baby do throughout the day, I would revise saying "eat and sleep" to "eat, poop, piss, sleep".

The little guy eats and lot and poops a lot!

Man.... this will be a very interesting Hari Raya when I'll be home most (if not all) of the time to tend to the baby.

So I placed my deposit for my D90...

2008-09-29T08:32:00.005+08:00

I can finally smell a new Camera body coming up really soon.....

Smells like the brand new D90 too!

At last, I needn't bother about what lens I need to MF with, AF with... all I have to worry about is that I don't buy one of them dinosaur-age old AI lenses (that won't meter on the D90) and I would be just fine.

At last, I needn't bother about the D40X crapping out at ISO 800 and above.

And at last, I am seriously looking at buying a good nice f2.8 lens that I can play with.

Thanks to Wyluxx, Zio and Xandman for accompanying me to the shop.

Had a great time yesterday testing out the 2x teleconverter, checking out Zio's new D90 (and it's really funny jelly movie mode), Xand's D3 and Zeiss lens and all the great gears that photographers would lust after. =D

The D90's ETA is next Saturday at earliest... now to *attempt* a loooong quiet week.

Quote of the Day

2008-09-27T08:43:00.002+08:00

"A Wedding is the occasion when you cash out all your investments and stocks and pray that you'll have some leftovers"

Context : Joking with a friend about his upcoming wedding

Day 4 Back to Work

2008-09-23T11:57:00.002+08:00

I learnt something important last night...

The baby will cry if he's hungry, and as long as you feed and change his diapers, he'll be happily sleeping most of the time.

The mother however is the one that needs the most care during this confinement period. With the healing stitches, pain, aches, soreness and all, cannot wash hair for the first few days, cannot eat certain foods, must eat other foods.

I can't do much about a lot of things, but I promise to help out whatever and wherever I can.

Meanwhile, it's back to work.

Day 3 Relief

2008-09-21T20:34:00.002+08:00

Wn got discharged today together with the baby, and it was a huge huge relief for me.

For one, the hospital environment was driving me nuts... I find that a completely well person who stays in a hospital for long may very well fall ill too. There's just no place like home... and nothing better than to fall asleep on that super comfy mattress instead of that damn lazychair that's been giving me backaches.

Secondly, this is the day that the confinement lady takes over the caring of the mother and the baby. There's nothing better than to have an experienced pro around rather than the 3 - 4 nurses that have to take care of the entire ward and only pop in occasionally. Really lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.

Baby's been feeding... a lot. The good thing is that after he feeds and has his diapers changed, he falls asleep for a couple o hours, and this is a good time for us to catch some zzs. For the first time in two days I feel human again.

Baby cries a lot too... it's hard to decipher his cries at this point of time, so when he starts crying and doesn't seem to want to be fed or has his diapers changed, I am literally caught with my pants down and don't know what to do. The times when he's sleeping and quiet, I come up with a tagline for visitors - "If he cries, you breastfeed 'em!" ;p

Day 2 Observations

2008-09-20T22:58:00.003+08:00

Day #2 into this new chapter called Fatherhood and have the following observations :

1) Baby seems to get hungry often... more often than we get sleep in between. After a whole Day 1 of literally staying awake, I felt like a total zombie till I managed to get a little sleep.

2) Baby poos often too. Right now the nurses are changing his diapers. I do not look forward to the time when I have to do it myself. The poo is real black color and slimy... looks like it came fresh out of a jar of rojak sauce. I will never look at rojak sauce the same again.

Anyway, the real challenge lies ahead when we're discharged and head back home to handle everything ourselves! (With some help with the confinement lady of course)

Meanwhile, here's some baby photos when he's at his cute moments :

Fatherhood

2008-09-19T16:30:00.003+08:00

19 September 2008... today my son was born. A cute little bundle of joy 3.58kg (7.8 lbs).

It's truly amazing this miracle of life, this blessing that God has given to my wife and I.

Just want to thank everyone that's been praying, supporting and encouraging us throughout this 9 months.

Here's to my son!

D90 Arrives at our Shores!!

2008-09-16T15:26:00.003+08:00

Source : Nikon Malaysia

After a long wait, the much anticipated Nikon D90 has finally arrived at our shores... replacing the aged D80. Just today, the Nikon Malaysia website has been updated with the latest pricing. At USD 1299.95 Kit & USD 999.95 Body only, it is listed as :

Price:

RSP RM 4,588.00 (with AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR)

RSP RM 3,588 (body only)

At current exchange rates, that would work out to almost the same as if you were to purchase it from the USA.

Of course, we all expect the street price to be lower than that... and I personally think it to be about RM 200 off the RSP at least for the first batch, to drop a little bit more 2 months once things have stabilized.

It's certainly worth drooling about... the full specs can be viewed from the Nikon website, but the main highlights for me would be the Sensor (rumored to have the same processing capability as the D300... YAY High ISO-Low Noise!), Built-In AF-Motor (Which has been a major pain-in-the-ass for the D40X - AF, AI lenses here I come!!!), and more easy access one-touch buttons. Everything else including the Video mode is just dressing for me.

After a serious period of poisoning using my friend's D300 + Fisheye lens + 28-70mm f2.8... the only thing holding me back from marching to the store and buying the D90 is the fact that deep down I still long for the D300, and of course, splashing 4 grand on a brand new camera with the baby about to pop just seems downright "irresponsible"... even if I claim to wanna capture award winning photos with my soiled baby diapers. ;p

The ISA and the common Malaysian Part II

2008-09-15T14:39:00.003+08:00

Original Article : The ISA and the common Malaysian
Source : The Star Online

In a statement, JIM also said that the arrest of Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was an “injustice as she has already vehemently denied former Selangor Mentri Besar’s (Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo) allegations against her.”

Even the mosque in Damansara, which Kok supposedly asked to reduce the volume of its azan call to prayer, has denied the allegations.

It explained that the reason for the softer call to prayer was because it was facing a technical problem with its loudspeakers, JIM deputy president Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said in a statement.

I respect JIM (Jamaah Islah Malaysia, a Muslim NGO) for being forthcoming in the ISA arrests of MP Teresa Kok.

With this out in the open, is there any further doubt that the ISA has been abused by the men on high chairs in the present government?

Since the three have been wrongfully detained, can they not take legal action against the government? Or does the ISA give supreme and ultimate power to detain anybody in the streets regardless of wrongdoings or lack thereof?

The ISA and the common Malaysian

2008-09-15T09:48:00.004+08:00

Source : Malaysiakini.com, Wikipedia

The Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) (Malay: Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri) is a preventive detention law in force in Malaysia. The legislation was inherited by Malaysia after it gained independence from Britain in 1957. In essence, it allows for the arrest of any person without the need for trial in certain defined circumstances. Malaysia is one of the few countries in the world whose Constitution allows for preventive detention during peacetime without safeguards that elsewhere are understood to be basic requirements for protecting fundamental human rights.

The latest string of arrests and condemnation from various quarters show that this is yet another desperate attempt by the government to impose their will on citizens who are no longer dummies and taking everything in without going through the thought process.

Even BN members and component parties are against the so-called "justification" of the arrests :

Raja Petra was arrested for being a threat to security, peace and public order - This is funny. A man writing his own views on his own website being a threat. Is RPK gonna lead some form of people's revolt? Arms riot perhaps?

Tan was picked up for her report on former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s racist remarks. Police "arrested" her over information that her life had been threatened (Says Home Minister). This is the mother of all jokes. Let me ask you Mr. Home Minister... what threat has been neutralized since Saturday night till Sunday that has guaranteed Ms. Tan's life is no longer in danger to warrant her release if what you say is true?

Kok was detained over a residents’ petition in Puchong over a mosque - Residents' petition, and Ms. Kok gets detained. More information please?

The fact remains that there is no consistancy in this country. Residents and investors alike don't know what to expect from this rag-tag government who seems to do whatever they like, arrest whoever they don't like, change whatever laws that they can't bend, and scream bloody "ISA!!!!" "Seditious Act!!!!" "Sensitive Issues!!!!" at everything else.

Operation Lalang II

2008-09-12T22:32:00.004+08:00

Source : Malaysiakini.com, Malaysiakini.com II, Wikipedia

There's nothing much to say really... in what is yet another major step backwards for Malaysia, the government released their attack dogs - the ISA to swoop in on the journalist who reported on Ahmad's racist comments, Raja Petra (who is a well known critique of the government), and issue show cause letters to three papers who reported on the Ahmad Racist Remarks.

One is reminded about Operation Lalang which was conducted in 1987, basically to arrest everyone and anyone who "stood in the way".

Next move will be to shut down all internet and phone communications in the country, so that all those disgruntled citizens can never be heard outside of the country ever again!

Ahmad : Why should I apologize? Part II

2008-09-08T08:51:00.007+08:00

Original Article : Ahmad : Why should I apologize?
Source : Malaysiakini.com, The Star Online, Malaysiakini Open Letters

The above issue should be regarded as very serious, critical and personal to all the Chinese in Malaysia (and the other races as well), simply because it's about a Leader of a ruling government party challenging the very rights and status of the other races, specifically the Chinese race in Malaysia.

If Ahmad's claims that the entire Penang UMNO divisions back his statements and his refusal to apologize hold true, that could only mean :

1) Extremists like Ahmad and his merry men of bigot supporters are above the law. As long as you gather enough support, even the Prime Minister cannot reign you in. If the DPM saw it fit to apologize on behalf of such a statement, what makes Ahmad so special that he should DEMAND everyone else apologize to him instead? Even if what he said was taken out of its (historical) context, why would one mention all these racist remarks during a political rally? Is there nothing else in this country to unite the people other than racist remarks against others?

By the way, even his "historical facts" are wrong... the Orang Asli aborigines are the true "sons of the earth". It doesn't matter if you arrive in 1500s, 1800s or 1900s... the guy that arrived in 1500s is still an "immigrant" compared to the guy who came much later. I'd like Ahmad to go to the USA and start calling all the Mexican, Spanish, Italian, or even look Mr. Barack Obama in the face and call him an immigrant that doesn't deserve to have equal rights.

2) A small step is being taken towards the eventuality where the Rights of every other "non-majority" race in Malaysia will no longer be guaranteed and protected. The contributions of every race other than the majority will be slowly pushed aside and forgotten, and who knows, maybe one day all these "immigrants" would be chased out, locked up or "racially cleansed".

Far fetched? I don't think so.

If I can walk into a candy store today and steal a candy bar... what's to stop me from going there tomorrow and grabbing a handfull? If the store keeper sees me do it and yet does nothing, what's to stop me from bringing a bunch of thugs there and grabbing the entire jar of candy, and eventually cleaning out his store? Maybe mugging him for cash in the process?

If people like Ahmad can sing and cry racist songs all they like without being charged under the seditious act, or having the full force of the law brought down on them, then the Law of the Nation has failed because you breed a bunch of people who are above the law, and the law no longer has any respect or fear from the people... thus rendered null/void/ineffective. People above the law can do whatever they want.

Look at what happened in Indonesia, Hitler, Bosnia, Africa...

3) The current PM has as much authority over his charges as a houseowner does over the mosquitoes that fly all over the neighbourhood.

Quote from The Star : On Wednesday, Abdullah said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s apology was the “right thing to do” although the sentiment on the ground was that the apology should come from Ahmad himself.

Whatever happened to that now?

Let's put it simply with an example : I work in Company A, Big Boss is the head and in charge of everything. If I piss Big Boss, Big Boss fries my ass. If I piss off the customers/suppliers, Big Boss fries my ass. If I feel/think that I am going to say/do anything that has the possibility of pissing off customers/suppliers, I check and obtain Big Boss' approval first to cover my ass.

If I can do and say whatever I like without facing repercussions from Big Boss, it simply means that I have no respect for Big Boss, I have no fear of Big Boss, and that Big Boss isn't the man in charge afterall!

Ahmad is making clowns of the PM and DPM and everyone around and yet nothing is being done.

We need firm leadership to reign in the extremists... not just general statements day and night.

4) Look at the big issue that Malaysia made over certain caricatures, comments... etc on Islam... to the point of flag burning, protesting, demonstrations and boycott.

How about the demonstrations and riots against the mere recent suggestions that 10% of the UITM slots be allocated to Non-Bumis.

Does that mean that there are certain levels in bringing up sensitive issues? That some issues are more sensitive than others? Some issues pertaining to other races are of less importance?

5) Quoted from The Star Online :

Abdullah said that freedom of the press should not be used as one liked or to sensationalise an issue.

“There must be a sensibility to not report sensitive matters that would lead to ill-will among the people in the country,” he (PM Badawi) said.

AKA - Hiding the truth? So certain matters can be reported but others should be hidden? Look at Point 4 above... certain issues pertaining to specific groups should be ignored and not reported?

The point is... Ahmad brought up sensitive issues AND people got offended. When the Dutch politician made sensitive comments people got offended as well. What makes Ahmad's comments LESS serious/offensive compared to that of the Dutch Politician? Both claim to "to have been taken out of context".

Now for the MCA... if you can't even defend your own rights when someone questions it, then there is no point for your existance is there?

Ahmad : Why should I apologize?

2008-09-05T08:48:00.005+08:00

Source : The Star Online, Malaysiakini.com

One can be excused of not using his/her brain before speaking every once in a while, especially if it was at the spur of the moment, when tensions, excitement and adrenalin is high.

After that, if one were a mature human being, they would reflect on their own actions, conversations throughout the day/week and find ways to improve and possibly correct one's self.

This does not hold true for our BIGOT politicians.... who have been sitting on their high chairs for so long, that they no longer need to check what they say, or do because the law can't touch them!

One week after uttering sedicious remarks that the Chinese community are “immigrants who do not deserve equal rights”, Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail remains unrepentant of what he says, and the investigations against him are painfully slow. It's as if the authorities want the issue to be put to bed, put out of front page news so that they can just drop the charges and leave him be.

These are the *leaders* that are supposed to be safeguarding the rights of all the communities in the country... these are the *leaders* that are quoting the "Constitution" of the country at every turn.

Happy 51st Birthday Malaysia. We've walked 51 years in the wrong direction.

Babylon A.D. Review

2008-09-02T10:38:00.003+08:00

Warning : Spoilers ahead - Babylon A.D. Movie Review!

Babylon A.D. had a decent trailer, with lots of guns, explosions and action scenes to wet your appetite for another standard Vin Diesel action movie.

It starts off promising enough... the movie seems to take place somewhere in the near future, with certain elements of the current days, and some futuristic elements in it as well. It gets straight to the point, establishing Vin Diesel's char "Toorop" as a mercenary with "balls and keeps his word", and he's got a job of smuggling/escorting 2 ladies to New York from Russia.

There's action and explosions aplenty indeed as they move from location to location across Russia, to Canada and towards the USA.

The story also establishes that there's something wrong with Aurora, the lady that Toorop is supposed to protect and escort.

In fact, the story keeps building up questions and new possibilities and new angles and new fractions until it comes to a boiling point... a so called "climax" where it joins up with what Toorop said in the beginning of the movie :

"Save the planet. What for? Life's simple. Kill or be killed. A survivors' code. My code. And it all sounds great until the day you find yourself confronted by a choice. A choice to make a difference or to walk away and save yourself. I learned something that day. Too bad it was the day I died."

UNFORTUNATELY... that's when the movie died as well.

It just died so suddenly that I seriously believed the producers looked at their budget, decided it had reached its limit and decided to pull the plug.

The movie just ENDED!

All those questions before were left hanging, there was a car chase just for the sake of it, and fast forward to the future, where Aurora seems to have died giving birth to children that nobody impregnated, and Toorop became a father and had 2 kids to play with. THE END!

It left everyone in the cinema in shock. I was dumbfounded! What happened to the bad guys? Did they just give up? What miracle? What? Why? Who? How? When? Which?

As a result of that, the movie went from a "promising" movie to a totally sucky one in the blink of an eye.

Definitely NOT recommended!

Geez Mr. Vin Diesel... after Chronicles of Riddick, and now this! He really needs to work on his movie choices.

My Very First Attempt at HDR

2008-08-27T00:52:00.005+08:00

HDR... everyone's on the HDR bandwagon nowadays... I believe a lot of people HDR cause it's the fashionable thing now. I've held back from HDR-ing cause can't make head or tail of what to do and how it worked. However, I've always wanted to try HDR *someday*.

I guess the day has come.

I used photomatix and 5 shots for these, and simply slid the bars around to a degree that the picture wasn't offensive to my eyes and pressed the big button called "Generate HDR"!

Pretty satisfied with the results so far.... but it's too hasslesome for me. Will prolly only do it for certain special cases.

My ultimate dream is to enter one of them ancient European Cathedrals with all the stained glass, bring a tripod along and knock myself out taking photos within.

#1 - Vinh Nghiem Pagoda HDR Effort 1

#2 - Vinh Nghiem Pagoda HDR Effort 2

I'm divided on which is better... oh well. Keep both of them then! =D

Honk and Go!!!

2008-08-26T23:09:00.004+08:00

Well my Vietnam trip is at it's conclusion... albeit a little early due to an emergency from one of my colleague. Didn't get to go Hanoi this time, but had some great meetings and photos throughout.

I learnt a new way of driving during this trip... I'd call it "Honk and Go!!!". What you do is when you come to a junction, you just blare your horn and keep driving.. don't break, just plough straight on! Amazing how Ho Chi Minh City is without traffic jams and stuff. Everyone just honks and go! If you're slow to react at a traffic light once it turns green, 20 cars/bikes honk you... HAH! Payback time for those annoying slow-to-react drivers in Malaysia. As a result of that, every driver in Vietnam has lightning fast reflexes. It's simply perfect!

After several days of living here, I've come to feel comfortable with their way of life, and actually find Vietnam quite an interesting place! The art here is superb, lots of music, culture and very very beautiful traditional garment in the form of the Áo Dài. I'm definitely getting Wn one of those.

I definitely look forward to coming back to Vietnam.

More photos from the Vietnam Trip (Larger ones in Flickr just click on the photo) :

#1 - Indian Beauty in Vietnam

#2 - Áo Dài Portrait 1

#3 - Áo Dài Portrait 2

#4 - Vietnamese Musical Troupe

#5 - Vietnamese Dancer

More photos from Ho Chi Minh City

2008-08-25T08:45:00.003+08:00

#1 - Mat Rempit strikes back!!! Zillions of motorcycles in Vietnam!

#2 - Who said people in Vietnam were poor....

Ho Chi Minh City Trip

2008-08-24T23:05:00.005+08:00

Vietnam Vietnam... this be my first trip there....

First impressions :

1) Everyone HONKS... a lot! They honk hoot honk hoot and race across the streets. They honk and hoot as they cut in to another vehicle's lane. They honk and hoot just for the fun of it. In fact, it's like a honk-hoot syndrome... the hand keeps pressing on the horn prolly. When I first got into the taxi at the airport heading to the hotel, I guarantee ya the driver honked no less than 40 times!!! I kid you not!!

2) Mat Rempit haven! There's a ZILLION motorcycles here... it's like the national mode of transportation. Men, Old Men, Grandmothers, Pets... everyone sits on a motorcycle. Even ladies! (And yes they wear pants... can't seem to find much skirts here).

3) No dogs... I think all them dogs got eaten. I saw some live toads hanging from a string about to be someone's dinner. I guess they eat everything here.

4) These annoying kids/peddlars/shoe shiners... they don't seem to take NO for an answer!!! I damn near came close to screaming "READ MY LIPS... I DON'T WANT MY SHOE SHINED, MY ASS WIPED, BUY A POSTCARD, A RIDE TO CHINATOWN!!!" They follow you for a mile if they have to... keep asking the same question again and again and again and again. And I'm not sure if they'd gang up on you or beat you up if you actually shouted at them.

Other than that it's a pretty interesting place, decent food, nice people and good buildings and architecture.

Spent the weekend here so far and got loads of photos to show!

#1 - Hanging toads still alive

#2 - BUY MY STAMPS!!! But don't take my picture!!!

#3 - Notre-Dame Saigon Cathedral

#4 - Flowers blooming under Ho Chi Minh

#5 - Wedding at the Notre-Dame

#6 - Ho Chi Minh City Hall at Night

My favourite shot of the Thailand Trip

2008-08-24T22:55:00.003+08:00

Well the food shots turned out pretty good I think... but the best would prolly be another sunset photo that I managed to take from the plane :

Don't mind the dust on the sensor... my eyesight has been pretty bad lately. :(

USA 118 - 107 Spain

2008-08-24T18:25:00.002+08:00

Source : NBA.com

The GOLD Medal finally lands with the USA Men's team! After a long wait since the last 2 Olympics, they held on to win the Gold Medal.

There wasn't to be any 37 point victory margin this time, and Spain almost snatched a victory, pulling the score close 89-91. Kobe Bryant took over however, and after some good plays, ensured that the US remained ahead with a comfortable lead.

Well played Team USA and congratulations! Onwards to the next season of the NBA!!

Thailand Trip

2008-08-23T10:36:00.004+08:00

I just bought a Lowepro Fastpack 350 camera/laptop backpack yesterday... at an unbelievable price of THB 2,550 (Which translate to RM 260).

There's no way ever in Malaysia that I can get a price so cheap, so I didn't hesitate to get the Fastpack here. It's all original!

So far the trip's been great! Got to test the Nikon 10.5mm f2.8 DX Fisheye lens and the results is just awesome and really a fun lens to use!!!

#1 - Panthip Plaza, the Computer Stuff Haven in Bangkok

#2 - Simplicity....

#3 - Splendour!! Magnificent Indian Cuisine right in the middle of Bangkok!

USA 101 - 81 Argentina

2008-08-23T10:31:00.002+08:00

Source : NBA.com

In what started off to look like another thrashing session (especially after Argentina lost Manu Ginobili) turned to a very good game with Argentina making the US work very hard to get the win.

Anyhow, the USA team has made it... Silver guaranteed but they have gotta go for the Gold to erase the bad memories from the previous Olympics.

It will be an exciting match to watch this Sunday against Spain. While they beat them earlier in group play, Spain won't take things lying down this time!

Upcoming Business Trip

2008-08-20T09:15:00.003+08:00

Flying to Thailand today, then from there to Vietnam...

Entire duration of the trip will be 2 weeks... and yes it takes me precariously close to the delivery date.

I'm really hoping that everything being fine and normal, the baby won't come out till within the duration of the normal delivery dates (i.e. 40 weeks +10 days or -14 days) meaning early September should be right about when I get home.

Let's also hope that Malaysia doesn't implode by then as well.

USA 106 - 57 Germany

2008-08-18T21:37:00.002+08:00

Source : NBA.com

Wow! 49 points margin between the two teams. Just amazing the way the US played. Shooting %, 3-pt % and assists were up there.

Just a fantastic performance by the US team as they wrap up the group games and move on to the quarterfinals.

The next game will be against Australia on Wed, 20 August 2008, 10:15 am ET.

This Gold Medal will be the US' to lose.

Dark Knight Box Office Performance Part II

2008-08-18T10:11:00.003+08:00

Original Article : Dark Knight Box Office Performance
Source : Internet Movie Database

The Dark Knight has taken #2 spot in the All Time US Domestic list!! It overtook Star Wars (1977) and is inching closer to the Titanic.

After the weekend, The Dark Knight has grossed $471,493,000 Domestic, $734,593,000 worldwide (29th spot).

Let's all go watch Dark Knight again to boost the rankings further! Sink Titanic SINK!!

USA 119 - 82 Spain

2008-08-17T09:48:00.002+08:00

Source : NBA.com

The two best teams squared up last night... both coming in with 3-0 win records. One completely blew the other away.

The USA flexed its scoring muscle at last, putting to rest all doubts of their ability to score, and combined with their tight defense this entire Olympic games, put on one hell of a show.

8 US players came out with double digit scoring, as they top the group 4-0 wins.

Next game is against Germany Monday 8:00 am ET.

Chong Wei in Olympics Badminton Finals

2008-08-16T08:24:00.002+08:00

Source : The Star Online

First of all, a big congratulations to Lee Chong Wei... the sole Malaysian shutter to reach the finals of the Olympics Badminton. One would ask "what took us so long to get there?", but the fact remains that olympics medals seem to have dodged the country more often than not.

Chong Wei is guaranteed a silver medal, and would be an improvement over the bronze medal that Rashid Sidek won in the 1996 Atlanta games.

I quote Chong Wei from the Star :

And when he did get the winning point, Chong Wei collapsed to the ground in sheer joy and relief.
He then got up, ran over and jumped onto his coach Misbun Sidek’s arms.

“The huge pressure is off me! I have made sure of winning at least an Olympic medal. I dedicate this to my coach, who gave everything to prepare me for these Games,” said Chong Wei, who only reached the second round in his Olympic debut in Athens four years ago.

My point is this...

A MALAYSIAN got this far. Aided by a MALAYSIAN Coach.

The Olympics doesn't discriminate against race or religion. Neither does it have quotas, special priviledges or bonus points to a certain group of people. You're either good, or you're out! The math is simple.

If you want special priviledges, I've got the perfect thing for ya => Paralympic Games (Even then it's not a guaranteed win).

USA 92 - 69 Greece

2008-08-14T23:04:00.002+08:00

Source : NBA.com

Not bad! 3-0 now with a comfortable win over Greece. After a slow start in the first quarter that saw the US leading by only 4, the US team stepped up their game and dominated the 2nd quarter 31-16.

The second half saw the game closer, but the US still topped each final quarters to end the game at 92-69!

Spain is the only team with a 3-0 perfect win, and the US play them next this Saturday.

Superstar Treatment for Racist Teacher - Only in Bolehland!

2008-08-13T14:01:00.005+08:00

Source : The Star Online Article 1, The Star Online Article 2, The Star Online Article 3, Malaysiakini.com

I dislike the Malaysian mainstream media. Everything is so watered down, censored, controlled, beautified, dressed up and made to look pretty in front of the whole world.

If one were to read the articles from The Star Online highlighted above, one might be led to believe that the teacher simply called a few naughty students bad names in the heat of the moment and that was it. Nothing serious, nothing to be worked up about... the demonstrators outside the school were just over-reacting, everything is a bed of roses... let's just transfer the teacher out and call it a day okay?

WRONG!

Let's look at the full blown version, and why in every other country in the world, it would get you sacked, blacklisted, charged in the court of law and possibly locked up :

The reports, lodged by two students from SMK Telok Panglima Garang last Friday, stated that a female history teacher had allegedly called Indian students ‘keling pariah', ‘Negro' and ‘black monkeys', amongst other derogatory names.

In the report, the Form Four and Form Five student said the teacher purportedly told students during class that ‘Indians came from dogs', Indians are ‘children of prostitutes' and the community is stupid.

They also allege that teacher had said the community youth ‘did not have testicles', ‘always menstruates' and indulged in thuggery and theft.

The teacher in the Hulu Langat school had also purportedly beaten some Indian students and punished them with push ups if they were late for class.

The Form Four student in his report said students were "ashamed and embarrassed" by these incidents.
"She told the Indian students to stand up and said she wanted to test how we would react to the word ‘keling pariah'.

"We said we did not like it and she raised her voice and repeatedly called us ‘keling pariah' and wrote the words on the blackboard," his report stated.

What is a mentally ill individual with such a deep hatred for the Indian race doing in the classroom teaching my kids anyway???

Now in this country however, a simple "sorry I didn't expect things to become so serious and I accept the transfer to another school" would suffice.

Oh yeah did anyone mention that the *transfer* was to another school nearer to her home? Now she gets to continue her antics AND save fuel too!

Oh and... by transferring her there, what's to prevent her from continuing her crusade in spreading racist teachings?

Let's be honest... this case was brought up because a not-so-bright racist teacher decides to make racist and derogatory comments about Indians in front of Indians. Had she made the same comments in front of other races (injected a little humor here and there), would she have been caught? Would the other students have reported her? Or would everyone have enjoyed a good laugh over another race's expense?

And there you have it - another batch/generation of racially insensitive youths being brought into this world.

Is that what our government intends to promote?? Send racist teachers out to rural areas where they can pollute the minds of the other races, divide all the races and ensure that everyone hates each other enough to guarantee your ruling party stays in the office for a long long time? There's a name for it - "Racial Politics". And by ensuring that our children graduate with a racist mind, it will succeed.

This should be our education tagline - If you aren't racist you don't deserve to teach! If you get caught being racist you're teaching the wrong race!

Did the UMNO => PKR crossover really happen?

2008-08-13T13:16:00.004+08:00

Source : The Star Online

This was a rather odd article that appeared in the Star Online and was announced through Light & Easy Radio news, but never made the front pages, or today's newspaper at all.

Could it be an attempt to prevent the news from reaching the masses (who aren't internet savvy)?

Here's the article from the Star Online in case it gets removed for some reason :

PETALING JAYA: Two former leaders of the Bandar Tun Razak Umno division led 148 members to cross over to PKR.

Norasida Silam, who was the deputy chairman of the division, and Azmi Hassan, a former deputy chairman, handed over application forms to Bandar Tun Razak MP Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who is also Selangor Mentri Besar, at the division's PKR office on Monday.

“Norasida wanted to join us because he said he could no longer tolerate the non-existence of democracy practice in Umno, for instance the quota system for party elections,” said Bandar Tun Razak PKR deputy chief Othman Karim.

“He said ... he prefers to work for the people, not only for the Malays,” said Othman.

All I can say is.... it's about time we start working towards a Malaysian's Malaysia.

USA 97 - 76 Angola

2008-08-13T13:11:00.003+08:00

Source : NBA.com

It's now 2-0 for the US Mens Basketball team in the Beijing Olympics.

They seem to be doing well on the D but need more teeth in O. Hopefully with the next few games the O will improve... especially since they will be playing against Greece and Spain.

Next game is Thursday, 14 August 2008 08:00 ET against Greece.

Bar Council Forum and Legal Demonstrations

2008-08-12T11:54:00.003+08:00

Source : Malaysiakini.com, The Star Online Article 2, The Star Online Article 2

The Bar Council Forum : Conversion to Islam: Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution, Subashini and Shamala Revisited met with an abrupt end after protestors "rudely" interuppted with a gathering and show of force.

The forum was mainly to discuss the issues/problems relating to conversion to Islam.

Like it or not, if a family member/spouse converts to Islam, it affects the entire family and children. I believe that it's VALID that people be educated and informed of what to expect from such a conversion.

Is it WRONG to discuss maturely about such issues? Is it a taboo? Nobody is insulting or degrading any particular religion.

AND YET our Prime Minister's Reply is as follows :

The Ministry will decide if there is any basis to act against the Bar Council for holding the Conversion to Islam forum that could threaten the peace and security of the country, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Prime Minister said the Bar Council had been advised against holding the forum that touched on sensitive matters like religion and race.

“I hope such an incident won’t repeat itself. Last Saturday’s forum is proof that issues relating to religion and race are sensitive in the country.

“Thus, it’s important for us to control and restrain ourselves from discussing such matters.

“It’s better not to hold such forums in the future,” he told reporters after chairing the first Economic Council meeting.

Do you see a very disturbing trend?

Our leaders *claim* that having a discussion on real issues pertaining to religion can affect the country's peace and security.

Now talking about a specific religion is wrong. If this is the case, when will it start to become wrong to practice one's own religion?

Rather than "control and restrain ourselves from discussing such matters", shouldn't a level headed leader that is for ALL races be saying "Let us restrain from demonstrations and mob behaviour which will affect the peace and stability of the country".

All of a sudden demonstrations/riots/gatherings are "allowed".

By saying "It’s better not to hold such forums in the future.", doesn't that imply a control over what one can or cannot speak/say/comment?

If one incites hatred, racial elements, religious extremisms, by all means bring down the full force of the law on that person. Yet this forums was anything but that!

Let's be matured... like it or not, race and religion will always be a unique part of this country. Just like an inter-racial/inter-faith marriage, there will always be differences which need to be ironed out before the marriage can work.

There's no such thing as a "Let's get married but you are not allowed to talk about my religion or question anything that my race does!"

Only by promoting understanding, encouraging unbiaised education and matured discussions can we learn to accept each other's differences.

RIP Bernie Mac : October 5, 1957 – August 9, 2008

2008-08-12T08:50:00.003+08:00

Source : wikipedia

Bernie Mac (Bernard Jeffrey McCullough), passed away on 9 August 2008 from complications related to pneumonia.

Bernie Mac starred in movies like Transformers (Bobby Bolivia the Car Salesman), Charlie's Angels : Full Throttle (Jimmy Bosley), Ocean's Eleven/Twelve/Thirteen (Frank Catton) and even got his own The Bernie Mac Show.

My memories of him will always be *that funny guy* that always appears in many movies providing comical relief.

Thanks Bernie for your contributions to the movie and entertainment industry. We will miss you.

Dark Knight Box Office Performance

2008-08-11T13:48:00.005+08:00

Original Article : Why so Serious....
Source : imdb.com

No offense to Titanic fans, but I'd like to have someone swim up to Jack & Rose and knock them off the plank into the icy water. Thanks to The Dark Knight, I believe the chances of it happening is very real now (At least in the domestic market)!

As of 10 August 2008, the Dark Knight has made $441,541,000 on the Domestic US Box Office! That's third place behind Star Wars (1977) @ $460,935,665 and first place Titanic (1997) @ $600,779,824. That's *a lot* of ticket sales.

Worldwide, The Dark Knight is at #34 on the list @ $644,041,000. #1 is ho hum... Titanic @ $1,835,300,000. That's ONE BILLION EIGHT HUNDRED MILLION dollars in 1997!!! What made the Titanic so popular at that time? I know for a fact that chicks totally fell for that movie. Watching it 8 times in the theatre wasn't abnormal. Piracy wasn't that widespread, and the pirated VCD versions suck too.

The Dark Knight is one of the best movies to grace our screens in a long long time.

Frankly, between the Joker wearing his lipstick smile and Rose wearing nothing but *this*, I feel that The Dark Knight has more substance, story and action.

Let the Box Office numbers do the talking!!! The Dark Knight still has a couple o weeks left in its Box Office legs!

Trivia : The Dark Knight has beaten Opening Day Records, Opening Weekend Records, Fastest Movie to Hit 400-million... etc etc.

USA 101 - 70 China

2008-08-11T08:57:00.004+08:00

Source : NBA.com

The USA Men's Basketball team got off to a good start yesterday winning their first game 101-70.

Next game is vs Angola - 12 August 2008 8:00 am ET!

Gonna be hard for all those living in the USA to catch the games during office hours... but oh well at least it isn't like 3:00 am or something. ;p

Beijing Olympics 08.08.08 Opening Ceremony

2008-08-10T10:02:00.004+08:00

It's said that 4 billion people tuned in to watch the opening ceremony 2 days ago.

I must be the only one that completely missed it... deliberately. ;p

Never been a fan of dances, shows and stuff... the only reason that I might actually want to see em is if I was at the venue itself with a camera in my hands. Otherwise... PASS!

It might have been the "greatest" show on the earth, but I reckon someone else will prolly come along and out-do it in 2012?

I've only got one reason to watch the games : Team USA in Basketball!

To the Olympic fans - Enjoy the games!!!

Mix.fm Lie Detector Test : Are you seriously ready for the truth?

2008-08-06T12:24:00.005+08:00

Source : Mix.fm

"Just register the person you’d like to have take the lie detector test. And let us know why you want them to take the test. If you and your friend/relative/partner/spouse/boss/etc dares to take the test, we’ll pay you RM 1,000 cash in total!"

Hitz.fm ran a similar programme last year (or might be the year before... I forget).

For the most part, this is a very interesting concept... both parties (the nominee and the candidate) has an opportunity to earn some quick cash by answering some questions. Of course, who gets selected to sit in the hot seat depends on how *interesting* the story leading up to the questions is.

However, I heard that some broad put her husband's secretary on the chair this morning for reasons we all can guess, subjected her to a number of questions, and at the end of it, having learnt that the secretary wasn't the one having the affair but someone else, broke down and cried on national radio.

Could she have found out by asking the husband directly? Unlikely... the husband's most probably played a couple o seasons of dodgeball and covers his tracks well.

If the secretary was indeed the one having the affair, would she have agreed to taking the lie detector test in the first place? Prolly not... it's bad enough to have an affair, much less confess to it in front of the whole nation, unless one wants to send a very cruel message to the wife.

Can this "lie detector test" results be used in the court of law should the wife elect to divorce the husband? I doubt it, since it wasn't the husband himself that confessed... just a "clue" from a third party who wasn't involved in any way.

What did the wife gain having learnt that the husband was having an affair? Perhaps closure on an issue that has been bugging her for nights and days?

Was this a win-win situation? I'd think not... the money is insignificant. The trust is gone. The family & husband/wife union is broken. The kids will go dad-less for the rest of their lives.

Some other examples of situations where the truth might not be the best answer, or you seriously need to plan the timing of the truth :

If you know one of your friend A is cheating on another B, would you tell B? How would B react? Accuse you of being jealous of A & B's relationship?

Your wife puts on an outfit she spent a fortune on and asks the million dollar question "Do I look fat??" and you think that she looks like The Penguin's twin sister.

Your best friend LOVES a particular hobby/interest and spends a lot of time, money and effort into it. But he/she truly and totally sucks at it, beyond redemption.

I guess the point is this... Everybody lies, have lied and will lie.

We hate being lied to. We like to be told the truth all the time, but are we truly and seriously ready for the truth? You'd be surprised how many people knowingly live a lie.

Time is another factor too... learn about the truth NOW, or learn about the truth LATER?

I guess we ourselves have made Truth or Lie complicated, and not as simple as Black or White anymore.

Heath Ledger Overdose Controversy - Another Twist

2008-08-05T14:54:00.003+08:00

Original Article : Why So Serious...
Source : Times Online, Wikipedia

Heath Ledger's death has always been a mystery to all. As with the deaths of other famous personalities, there has been several conspiracy theories, controversies and speculations surrounding his death.

Here's a man at the peak of his career, winning awards and Oscar nominations for his performance in Brokeback Mountain, and now with his Oscar worthy (IMO) performance in The Dark Knight passing away due to acute intoxication by the combined effects of drugs.... such a big waste indeed.

And now, Actress Mary-Kate Olsen has refused to talk to police on Heath Ledger's overdose without immunity from persecution. Seems that police want to question her on how Heath managed to obtain 2 powerful drugs that contributed to his overdose.

What does Ms. Olsen have to hide? Or who is she protecting? What is the extent of her relationship with Heath (The masseuse who found his body tried calling her three times before thinking of dialing 911... rather odd for someone who's "just a friend" to leave such an impression to a mere masseuse!)

MRR2 Cracks... AGAIN!

2008-08-05T14:39:00.003+08:00

Source : The Star Online, LimKitSiang.com Archives

MRR2 is falling down, falling down, falling down....

After cracking, repairing and cracking again, one wonders when the damn bridge is gonna actually fall down.

Looks like the 70 million was well spent afterall! What's it gonna cost now? 140 million? 200 million? I wonder what the GRAND TOTAL Project Cost is gonna be just to build a flyover in Malaysia. This is not even a bridge over the ocean or a river bridge mind you.... this is a flyover on dry solid land!

I quote from LimKitSiang.com :

"On August 9, 2004, the MRR2 flyover in Kepong was closed after cracks were discovered. On August 12, 2004, the Cabinet appointed British consultants the Halcrow Group to investigate reasons for the cracks and come up with a way to repair the MRR2. On Sept. 29, 2004, Halcrow submitted its findings, noting that a design flaw and the improper anchorage of the crossbeams on the concrete columns were at fault."

I wonder who's gonna take the fall for the cracks/repair works this time?

Built to last 100 years? LOL... maybe they will finally turn the MRR2 into a very expensive bicycle/motorcycle lane.

This MRR2 fiasco really CRACKS me up!

I sense a loooong day ahead...

2008-08-05T09:08:00.003+08:00

So I woke up this morning at 04:20 am with a splitting headache.... tossed and turned a couple o times after popping an aspirin before heading back to sleep.

Dreamt of being hunted by a Terminator and running around dodging em.

Woke up again feeling worse than crap. Unfortunately "headache" isn't yet a valid excuse to get an MC or a Sick Leave.

I quote Mulder from X-Files : "Dreams are answers to questions we haven't figured out how to ask yet"

Maybe the question is "Do I need to lay off Sarah Connor Chronicles (Terminator) TV Series marathons"? ;p

Mummy 3 : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - Review

2008-08-02T22:30:00.008+08:00

What do mummies with all the power to rule the world have in common?

They were all dead before, they died again, and are dead now.

What's with baddies nowadays? Why do all the stupid bad guys get all the super powers? Why can't a bad guy with half a brain get some super power?

I quote the Joker (The Dark Knight) : "This town deserves a better class of criminal... and I'm gonna give it to them."

My summary on Mummy 3 :

1) The whole thing is too rushed. Everyone's rushing from one scene to another, one location to another, one fight to another, one chase to another. Then BAM! It's suddenly over. Bad guy dead... game over!

2) The plot is pretty thin, if it exists at all. It's basically a no-brainer movie, cut-and-paste from all the other mummy movies in the franchise.

3) Bad guy loses because of his stupidity/ego again.

4) Rachel Weisz was smart to pass on this one.

5) You watch it "just because" it's part of the franchise. But I've had enough of dead & stupid mummies, and the Mummy-Busting O'Connell family.

6) No chemistry between the actors/actresses. Another "hollywood romance" disease. Meet one day, marry the next.

Lessons for wannabe criminals/bad guys :

- If someone tries to stab you with the same knife many times, you take the knife, destroy it/melt it rather than throwing it on the ground in anger for others to pick it up again and stab you with it.

- If you are in a confined space with 4 enemies opposed to 3 allies, BUT you have control over the elements and can melt off people's heads with ease, why run??? Stay and fight, kill all your enemies/melt their heads or whatever before moving on to the next agenda.

- L2 Shoot Fire Balls *accurately*

- When you injure your enemies, move in for the finishing blow with one *accurate* fireball.

- When someone challenges you to fight like a man, you smile at him, take out your gun and shoot him dead. Period.. Forget about ego and stuff. Dead heroes won't come back to live and taunt you. Your ego can take a beating but it's unlikely someone's gonna resurrect ya again.

I'm tired of all these "stupid" baddies. Somebody give me a better class of criminal!!!

Anakku Apparel Sale 50%

2008-08-01T10:46:00.003+08:00

I went shopping yesterday with Wn for our soon-to-be-born baby boy...

Good thing we did as well... Anakku, a local baby stuff brand was having a 50% Sale off ALL Apparel. No such thing as a mark-up-then-reduce fake sales shit... this was the real deal!

I bought 15... yes FIFTEEN shirts/pants/suits for my son. Cost me only 150 bucks.

That's male shopping for ya. Buy EVERYTHING you need once a year, under 15 minutes.

FYI, the sale promotion is till 3 August 2008.

“Zero active bleeding”, “Zero ulcer or pus” and “Zero tear and scar” Part II

2008-07-31T11:23:00.003+08:00

Original Article : “Zero active bleeding”, “Zero ulcer or pus” and “Zero tear and scar” in Mohd Saiful's anus
Source : The Star Online

Hospital Pusrawi has clarified that the medical check conducted on Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was not a sodomy-related examination....

... It also stated that Dr Mohamad Osman was a general practitioner at the Emergency and Accident Clinic and not a specialist.

...“The report looks genuine but the original is with me,” he said, adding that the hospital had yet to ascertain the validity of the report.

Pray tell me what test/checks are done to determine "zero active bleeding", "zero ulcer or pus" and "zero tear and scar" in an anus if not a sodomy/gay-action related test.

Maybe victim in question had one hell of a world-scale constipation that literally tore him a new one.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Preview

2008-07-31T09:48:00.004+08:00

Source : Starwars.com Official Site, Wookieepedia, Comingsoon.net
Official Release : 15 August 2008

Firstly, the movie hasn't been released yet, only the trailer, which I happened to watch in the theatre when I caught the X-Files movie.

George Lucas summarized this movie as below :
"It's unusual for an animated film, because it's not really hardcore like say Beowulf and it's not a Pixar movie, so it kind of falls in between in this funny world where Star Wars is, which is kind of hard-edged but not really, sort of on the verge of PG-13, flips over once in a while, but sort of the high end of PG."

I guess the "Star Wars" saga has been milked, marketed and presented in any and all forms and features now with this animated film.

I am a fan of the Star Wars universe and really love the space battles, starships and characters in Han Solo, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and all, but I'm not taking well to the "animated series/film" part, having grew up on the movies. I mean we've seen many cartoons, comics, books make it to the big screen, but from a movie back to an animated film??? It just strikes me as odd, akin to taking a step backwards... even more since the animation takes the form similar to the animated TV-series, instead of a more advanced CG.

Bottom Line : Will I go watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars?? I'm tempted to, just cause it's Star Wars. Notice the difference? It's not OMFG I DEFINITELY MUST WATCH IT kinda reaction... at least not for this one.

I hate to think that my last big screen memory of Star Wars would be that of a cartoon.

Naming Our Son Part II

2008-07-31T09:07:00.006+08:00

Original Article : Naming Our Son
Source : Forwarded Email Titled "Why Chinese shouldn't have Christian names", Author Unknown

Here's further justification that handing out names isn't a cakewalk. Whoever spent the time cooking this up... my hat goes off to you sir :

Why Chinese shouldn't have Christian names:
Anne Chang (Mandarin)-Dirty
Anne Chin (Mandarin) - Keep quiet
Faye Chen(Mandarin) - Dusty
Carl Cheng(Hokkien) - Buttock
Monica Cheng(Hokkien) - Touching your buttocks
Lucy Leow(Hokkien) - You are dead
Jane Tan(Mandarin) - Frying eggs
Suzie Leow(Hokkien) - Lost till death
Henry Mah(Mandarin) - Hate your mum
Corrine Tai (Hokkien) - Poor fellow
Paul Chan(Mandarin) - Bankrupt
Nelson Tan(Mandarin) - Bird laying eggs
Leslie Tong(Mandarin) - Rubbish bin
Carmen Teng (Hokkien) - Leg hair long
Connie Mah(Cantonese) - Call your mother
Danny See(Hokkien) - Squeeze you to death
Rosie Teng (Hokkien) - Screws and nails
Pete Tsai(Hokkien) - Nose droppings
Macy Koh(Cantonese) - Never die before

I LOLed. The funniest one for me would be "Monica Cheng".

Penang, Pebble of the Orient

2008-07-30T14:19:00.005+08:00

Source : The Star Online

Oops... did I say Penang, Pebble of the Orient?? The correct one should, or rather I would use the word WAS - Pearl of the Orient.

Let's not go into history about how Penang has existed since before Malaysia's Independance together with Melaka, Singapore... etc etc. Let's not talk about Penang's tourism potential as well.

Let's talk about what Penang looks like to an outsider like me.

Why Penang you ask? I don't even live there. I don't work there. I don't have relatives or a pet iguana there. What's all this gotta do with me?

I was at Penang last month, mainly for a food trip, and I did take some time to pry my attention away from the food plate/bowl to have a look around at the "new modern" Penang of the 21st Century.

What I saw shocked and disappointed me. There's next to nothing by way of new development in Georgetown. Everything's just as it was years back. Komtar mall is still as deserted as ever, if not dirtier and creepier, the other adjoining malls are just as run down, the city is still as jammed... every single morning on the radio I hear traffic reports about "Jalan Masjid Negeri jammed as usual; Jalan Jelutong, also jammed. If you can, delay your trip into the city or use the ferry".

If you asked me "What's new in the city?", I wouldn't know how or what to answer.

Maybe they did build a new mall and some condos towards the south of the island... but Georgetown is the main city of Penang!

Batu Ferringi beach is dirty, with a lot less foreign tourists. The souvenirs are mostly (if not all) from Thailand.

9th Malaysia Plan seemed to have given a breath of life to Penang with many projects slated to improve the overall transportation problems, and even tourism for Penang.

Suddenly, all the projects are cancelled *after* the March Elections, in which BN lost the state to the opposition party.

Are these cancellations politically motivated?? Racially motivated?? Financially motivated?? (What with government officials buying new Mercedes Benz, police departments paying out millions extra for contracts and all?)

I feel sorry for Penangites. Oh well... at least you guys still cook one hell of a plate of Char Kuey Teow, Rojak and other foods.

Penang might have existed around the same time as Singapore did historically, but the two cities are worlds apart.

T-Minus 7.....

2008-07-30T10:53:00.003+08:00

It's getting nearer now to what many would call D-Day.

Am I anxious? Hell yeah... there's just this feeling of expectation yet uncertainty. Nobody's discovered a gene that automatically gives you good parenting skills yet so tough luck.

I wonder when the actual delivery day would be... I mean 7 months is based on 40 weeks. Yet it might even be as early as 38 weeks, which is 5 weeks from now, just a little over 1 month.

At the rate the weeks are rolling by, the date will be on me in no time.

I'm gonna be travelling some next month. Just praying and hoping that all the timing will be smooth and won't coincide.

I WANT to be there for the delivery. It's the least I can do as a husband to my wife and a father to my child.

Garden Fest Most Interesting Shots

2008-07-29T09:41:00.006+08:00

And now for the awards!!!

The Ironic Shot of the Day Award goes to :

"SILENT SOUND OF NATURE" Exhibit but with a Generator right behind!!

(P.S. - the actual exhibit is beside the signboard but out of the picture. This exhibit wins a Bronze Award from the competition judges too... I guess they must've shared the irony too.)

The Best Ninja Shot of the Day Award goes to :

Tending to Garden Exhibits and Each Other!

Lessons Learnt :

1) When you decide to feel up your buddy's ass, go somewhere private with four walls.

2) Don't assume that everyone at a Landscape/Garden Exhibit will come with a Wide Angle/Macro Lens.

The Malaysia International Landscape & Garden Festival 2008 Part II

2008-07-29T09:31:00.007+08:00

Original Article : The Malaysia International Landscape & Garden Fest 2008

Posting additional photos from the Landscape/Flower Photoshoot. These shots are using the 70-200mm f2.8 lens, and the 50mm f1.8 :

1) Pretty Red Flower

2) Tree Bark

3) Flowers, many flowers!

4) More Red Flowers

“Zero active bleeding”, “Zero ulcer or pus” and “Zero tear and scar” in Mohd Saiful's anus

2008-07-29T09:05:00.003+08:00

Source : The Star Online

LOL! Now that's funny. I guess it explains why the cops are slow/reluctant/hesitant/unwilling to release the police report/medical report on Saiful (The dude who accused Former DPM Anwar of sodomizing him).

I'm not familiar with medical terms, and I dislike doctors who talk martian... but I believe “Zero active bleeding”, “Zero ulcer or pus” and “Zero tear and scar” in Mohd Saiful's anus can be summarized as "No A.N.A.L. action!"

Now even that doctor has gone into hiding.

Sends a message doesn't it?

The Monster Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR Lens

2008-07-29T08:45:00.008+08:00

Tried out the 70-200mm f2.8 VR lens... which I dare say is almost every Nikon user's dream lens. It's a monster when fitted to the D40X.

Few words describe my experience using this lens :

Heavy. Huge. Super Fast AF. Great pictures. Nice Bokeh. Attention whore.

Yeah that's about right.

Special Thanks : Wyluxx for lending me the lens and for the above photo.

The Malaysia International Landscape & Garden Festival 2008

2008-07-28T14:07:00.006+08:00

I had the opportunity to go for the Malaysian International Landscape & Garden Festival 2008 (Laman 2008) yesterday with Zio and Wyluxx of the LYN D300 group.

My main purpose was to take shots of flowers with a macro lens that hopefully I could borrow from either one of Zio or Wyluxx. My interest in photography has me looking at different styles of late, especially macro (I think it opens up a world that is truly awesome if shot well) and I was considering purchasing a macro lens to help me achieve some awesome shots.

Well... after half a morning's worth of shooting in the 90mm Tamron lens that Wyluxx brought along, I can summarize that awesome my shots were not... at least not to my "wow" standards yet.

I got a little tired of manual focusing at one point and borrowed the 70-200mm VR Nikon lens from Wyluxx and took some snipe shots and even flower shots with the lens. Imagine me standing with this big ass bazooka, 5 ft away from the flower and shooting it. LOL.

The 70-200mm VR lens is an awesome lens... fast to focus, sharp and the bokeh is just nice! For RM 6k, I'd expect it to be nothing short of that.

As for the 90mm Tamron, I conclude that it's the photographer aka me that needs a lot more work. No fault of the lens that my shots didn't turn out alright.

So... do I pass my first test as a Macro Photographer or should I be focusing elsewhere?

Special Thanks : Zio & Wyluxx for lending me some lenses and giving some good advice. Good outing mates!

Onwards to the macro photos!!

#1 - Water Plant

#2 - Orange Flower

#3 - Orchid Macro

#4 - Spiderman!!

The Proton Dilemma Part II

2008-07-28T09:11:00.007+08:00

Original Article : The Proton Dilemma
Source : The Star Online, NST Online

The cat is out of the bag as people dig deeper into the Mercedes Benz purchase by the Terengganu state government.

It's now revealed that :

1) He said Proton also found that only 35 of the 67 Proton Perdanas bought by the Terengganu Government were sent to authorised workshops.

Corruption : Terengganu Government.

Why send cars to unauthorized workshops when you know it will void the warranty. Anyone who owns a car knows that. If the government claims ignorance, then I seriously worry that we are electing "stupid" people into the office.

2) He said of the RM1,071,668.82 maintenance costs reported by the Terengganu Government on the Perdanas, 93% was spent outside the the Proton service system. Proton's records showed that Terengganu had been billed only RM78,048.68 by its authorised service centres. The balance of RM993,620.14 was spent on 16 V6 cars serviced by unauthorised centres.

Corruption : Terengganu Government.

35/67 ≈ 52%. Meaning HALF the number of cars are being sent to authorized Proton service centers. Yet 78k/993k ≈ 7.85% of the cost. I don't need an Accountant to tell me that something is gravely wrong with those figures. I also don't need an Accountant in the government's treasury department to come to a conclusion that we are being overcharged.

Two possibilities :

a) There is blatant wastage of public funds and our dear government officials do not feel accountable for public funds AT ALL. Meaning the janitor could've prepared the invoices and our dear government just approves without a second look.

b) Profit sharing is widespread - meaning the unauthorized service centers work hand-in-hand with our government officials. One charges exorbitant fees, the other approves the payment of the exorbitant fees, and both of them share the profits made from the difference in charges.

3) There was overcharging and second hand-parts being sold as genuine parts.

Corruption : Terengganu Government, Service Centers

It's pretty clear that the service centers are cheating the government. Now why would one cheat the government and risk losing a sure-thing customer unless - one got away with cheating the first time and through time got bolder; one has an inside operative; one is incredibly stupid; one knows the government is incredibly stupid and ignorant.

I mean come on... we're talking about real life here. It's common to get cheated by the workshops if one is ignorant or stupid. But you can't cheat the same man twice, especially not with EXORBITANTLY high invoices. Are our government officials living in caves? Do they not have friends who drive cars?

4) In some instances there was also over-servicing of the car

Corruption : Terengganu Government

5,000km or every 3 months. That's the standard. Anybody with half a brain and who owns a car knows that. Again this questions the intelligence of our people in charge, or gives proof of profit sharing.

5) Proton has suspended one of its service centres in Terengganu for allegedly using non-genuine spare parts, overcharging and conducting repairs without recording it in the carmaker’s online warranty system.

Corruption : Proton Service Center

Similar to point 3) above.

6) Eight of the 16 Proton Perdanas for Terengganu’s executive councillors have been seized by the Anti-Corruption Agency. This has left them with no choice but to use the Mercedes E200 Kompressors for their official duties.

Corruption : Terengganu Government

Mercedes Benz don't get made overnight. This deal has been inked many many months before... possibly a year or two. It's so obvious that the goverment officials are coining lame excuses just to use their new cars.

Since the case only comes to light now, there is every indication that the government will still continue using the SAME service centers and conveniently get charged skyhigh prices.

If a Proton "second hand sold as new" gearbox costs 20k, anyone wanna guess how much a Merc Gearbox would "cost"? 200k? 500k?

"Stupid/Ignorant" Government or "Corrupt" Government? Take your pick!

X-Files Ending Credits Surprise

2008-07-26T09:22:00.004+08:00

Source : News.com.au

It's a common practice (at least here in Malaysia) for everyone to rush towards the exit immediately when the end credits turn up. With more movies having "easter eggs" at the end of the movies, one would definitely be tempted to stay till the end of the credits, or buy the DVD.

The X-Files - I Want to Believe is not an exception! I just learnt today that there was in fact an easter egg after the end credits. While the kiss towards the end of the movie served as a reuniting kiss-and-make-up for Mulder and Scully, the easter egg is described as below :

That's not to say there will certainly be a next time, with a scene after the credits showing the pair heading into their happily ever after - waving goodbye as they bob away on a rowboat, with the usually demurely-clad Scully in a bikini.

"It was a way that if this was going to be the last time we did it, it was Chris's way of how he wanted to leave the characters - that they were alone in a rowboat adrift and they were again reliant on each other and together," Duchovny says. "If we get to do another, forget that - it was a vacation or a moment in time. Or if we don't - which is always a possibility - I found that moving and wonderful that that would be the last time we see them and we turn and wave goodbye and that could be our last goodbye - or the characters' last goodbye. I always felt that The X-Files as a movie franchise had real life in it."

I guess that's what X-Files fans worldwide is hoping for - Closure... at least on the part of Mulder and Scully's relationship.

Fans would want another X-Files movie to close out the 2012 Alien Invasion as part of the main story arc.

Taking some time to pause and think about the movie, I guess it does make sense that while the storyline was more towards a normal X-Files series, the gist of the whole movie was about Mulder and Scully's relationship. In that, the movie has delivered afterall.

To the X-Files Team : Thank you.

X-Files : I Want To Believe - Review

2008-07-25T08:54:00.006+08:00

After many years of X-Files absence, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully returns to us with the latest X-Files Movie - I Want To Believe.

Firstly, one shouldn't expect the plot to be based on the conspiracy theory/UFO/Black Oil that has been the main backbone storyline of the X-Files series and first movie. I made the mistake of thinking that and left the theatre wanting.

TBH, the storyline, while interesting, reminds me of a standard X-Files episode. Asides from taking this opportunity to reunite the actors and the team, I don't see why this shouldn't be TV-based. I'm being critical here because with the standards of TV-series being very high nowadays, movies are expected to be higher still - what with bigger budgets, longer screen time and all.

On-screen chemistry between Mulder and Scully... is also at an expected level. The magic has diminished somewhat probably due to the long break of the series... at least it has for me. I still enjoy Mulder's witty comments, but Scully seems too serious this time.

Overall, I wished they had explored another story-arc other than that of what a normal X-Files episode on TV does. I wish they added a lot more new elements and goodies for the fans rather than just make a movie to reunite the cast for the sake of it.

Oh well... at least Mulder and Scully do share a long kiss towards the end of the movie.

T-Minus 8.....

2008-07-23T11:07:00.003+08:00

And counting......

Why in the world do people say "9 months" when it's actually 40 weeks = 10 months. Or "9 1/2 months @ 38 weeks"? Sheesh.

The Proton Dilemma

2008-07-23T10:00:00.005+08:00

Source : The Star Online Article 1, Article 2

Not so fresh out of the news oven is *yawn* yet another controversy regarding the Terengganu State Government's decision to buy 14 E-200 for RM 3.43 million, citing the currently used Proton Perdana is too costly to maintain and kept breaking down.

Several notes and my comments :

1) "He cited an instance where the state government had to spend RM175,229.97 for the maintenance cost of one Proton Perdana and RM132,375.76 for another from 2004 to July, this year due to frequent breakdowns." - Someone here is either getting scammed big time or has a share in the auto-repair shop. A brand new Perdana V6 costs RM 101k. Even a kindergarden kid is able to tell me that there's something wrong in servicing a car for more than what it's worth - minus the four years depreciation while it is under warranty.

2) Why Mercedes? Like everyone else in this planet has already pointed out, there are other cars in existence like Honda, Toyota, Nissan... etc that are "reliable". Or is someone trying to make a statement and show off that he's now in power.

Now comes the best part :

As we know, most if not all of the state governments use the Proton Perdana currently. If and when the Terengganu state government proceeds with it's purchase of the Mercedes, would that start a precedence of ALL State governments switching over to Mercedes? Let's look at RM 3.43 million x 10!

It's not a secret that everyone in Malaysia makes fun of our local car company Proton. The general wish of any tom, dick and harry is to "graduate" out of a proton car as soon as one is financially able. But now with the government condemning our beloved local car maker, is that a move to drive the nail into the coffin?

On one hand our government is trying to get the general population to tighten their belts, spend only on necessary things... blah blah blah. And now you have government officials wanting to spend millions on brand new Mercedes Benz to zip around town.

Yet another award winning move by our government! Bravo!

Tribute to the Too-Free-Threesome

2008-07-21T17:31:00.002+08:00

Skin, Baboon and Ganny the Bunny

Special Thanks : Ganny for the Graphics

STERILIZE!!!!

2008-07-21T16:14:00.003+08:00

Special contribution from Skin and Ganny - They have not only enlightened me on the theoretical methodology of conducting a primate circumcision, but provided a graphical one as well :

I tag this NSFW.... LOL!!

Skin's Method :

1) Buy a bottle of dettol
2) Get an "election"
3) Dip ur XXXX into the solution
4) So u will be officially skinzor sterilized

Special Thanks To : Skin, Ganny

Why So Serious..... (The Dark Knight Review)

2008-07-21T09:05:00.006+08:00

Batman - The Dark Knight... by this time today, all the serious movie buffs have watched the movie already. For those who haven't, you should. This movie gets my vote for the Movie of the Year.

There are many reviews and previews and stuff like that on the movie that you can find all over the internet. After the passing of the late Heath Ledger, I must admit that interest in the movie, especially his character Joker has soared.

I did some preliminary reading of the movie, just to get a feel of what to expect. I also entered the cinema with high expectations.

I came out of the cinema in disbelief. I couldn't believe how good the movie was, how mind blowing, how chaotic, how well written/acted/directed the movie was.

A few points I'd highlight :

Joker kicked everyone's butt. Seriously. I have never seen a villian so chaotic, yet so organized at the same time. Everyone else, including Batman and his fancy set of toys is completely out of depth, out out-planned and out-thought by Joker. It's rare to see Batman desperate... "human"
Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, it does. The movie is fast paced, and goes from scene to scene quickly. There isn't any development of the characters which were well defined from the first Batman. This is Joker's movie.
Heath Ledger played his character well. I am fascinated and in awe by his character portrayal. It's nothing like how Jack Nicholson played the Joker some time back. In fact, no offense to Mr. Jack Nicholson, but the new Joker totally kicks ass. I seriously believe Heath Ledger should get an Oscar for this.... posthumous though it may be.
The movie is deep, and dark. It goes to the depths of human carnal behaviour, it shows the struggles that each character faces. The worst of all, it's not exaggerated... humans might well behave the same under similar circumstances.

Some poeple may not like it as it strays from the happy-ending, hero-gets-the-girl crap that we are all used to for "superhero movies", but this would be the best Superhero movie that I've ever seen.... not in terms of CG, but in terms of storyline, plot development, acting... etc.

Highly Recommended!

Edit : Just some thoughts... actors are often known to immerse themselves mentally, psychologically, emotionally in their characters in order to play them well. Could it be that the late Heath Ledger got so traumatized by his character after completing the movie shoot?

IT GROWS!!!!

2008-07-19T10:13:00.010+08:00

Stupid as it may sound, but watching your own little town grow can be very addictive. Let's face it... we're all addicted and attracted by growth - Be it the size of our bank account, the size of our houses, cars, cities, gangs, stocks, salary... the higher, bigger, more the better.

The core of the problem, is of course, to sustain the growth. It's very easy to have a growth spurt - one mad dash, one steep opening day climb, one first leap. But it's the finishing that counts.

The same applies to this little city called Baboon Empire.

The concept is such that for every visit to the page from a new IP, the population / industry / transportation / environment... etc grows by 1 unit. Only one fraction per "hit". So if you decided on that day to grow the transporation, the same IP cannot be used to grow the population.

It's easy on the opening day to cash in on favours and ask ALL of your friends, their mothers, pets and cousin-sisters to visit, but come second day... what then? Come third day... how now? Are you expected to ask everyone to visit your city everyday? What do your visitors get out of it? There has gotta be something new or something to look forward to other than the addition of more buildings in a city that isn't theirs in the first place.

Unfortunately there isn't much customization available for the city... you can't do anything there but post messages. Hmmm... could I use it as a "Guestbook"? Will the general populace be open to the idea of navigating away from your blog to leave a message?

Otherwise, how does one break the system or link it such a way to generate 1 hit for your city each time someone visits your blog? Popup blockers kill the idea of an auto popup... not to mention everyone's loathing for unwarranted popups nowadays.

This requires more thought... meanwhile, I'm open to ideas!

Add : What would be smart is to provide "inter-city links" that a user can link to other friend's cities. Or even have more customization for the city.

Baboon Empire!!

2008-07-18T14:21:00.006+08:00

A long time ago in the Galaxy far far away....

There lived a bored simian Sith Lord called Darth Baboon. He was so bored he took his Sith Infiltrator, entered a random hyperspace coordinate and chanced upon this place called Earth.

He landed in some jungle somewhere and proceeded to subjugate the local primate population.

After a while, and due to the "Rule of Two" mambo jumbo - "Only two shall there be, a master and an apprentice: one to embody power and the other to crave it" crap, he realized that building an empire was gonna be harder than he thought.

He decided to bend the rules, implement that rule only for fellow simians, while allowing as many human followers as possible to come under the supreme protection of the Baboon Empire.

Thus, this day on 18 July 2008, BABOON EMPIRE is BORN!!!!

I hate Banks

2008-07-18T12:48:00.003+08:00

I hate Banks. Period.

They do the stupidest things, ask the stupidest questions for simple matters, are the most inefficient and time wasting bodies (asides from government agencies) that was ever created by man.

Yet you can't really be sewing your dollar notes into curtains now can you?

I call it a necessary evil, but I @#(%* hate calling banks.

How many times have you received your credit card statements to find that mysteriously named "Finance charges" appearing in one corner for 0.54 cents even though you paid your due amount in FULL, and ON TIME? They expect you to call them, put you on hold for 15 minutes, then inform you that they would reverse the charges. When you pay your bills less 0.54 cents, you suddenly realize next month that the 0.54 has happily built an interest of 0.0x cents between the time it took for the damn system to reverse the charges. You pick up your phone, dial the bank...
You get several different cards from the same bank with several different statement release/payment due dates. Here's the bank expecting you to sit down every other week of the month and write cheques.
You cancel your credit card over the phone after talking to one of the phone banking officers and they say yes ma'am yes sir! It's all done! No worries! Then you find out one fine day that the card wasn't cancelled and it's still active and happily collecting annual fees while the bank officially waits for your typewritten, signed and faxed Letter of Cancellation.
You fax in your Letter of Cancellation (or any other important documentations), only to call several weeks later and find out that "No... nobody received the letter. What time did you fax it sir? What day? I checked... sorry... the bank did not receive it."
You have to call EVERY single year, threaten to cancel your card in order for them to give you an annual fee waiver. I mean WTF you KNOW I will call you every single year, same month, same day, same time asking for the waiver so why don't you just GIVE it to me! Or at least pretend I call every year and give it to me anyway!!!
You cannot be late for payment ONE SINGLE SECOND. Else they'll hound you every other second.
While at a bank with 2,756 people ahead of you in queue, only 2 counters are opened out of 570 total counters. And the other tellers are busy chatting, counting money or making faces at each other.
The Bank sends you monthly statements for a 12-month term Fixed Deposit. Unless you're gonna give me additional interests in-between terms or add money to my principal sum otherwise please stop sending me the same paper photocopied 12 times.

And the list goes on...

I seriously hate banks with a passion.

Thank You US and Japan

2008-07-17T13:34:00.002+08:00

Source : Channel News Asia, Yahoo Malaysia News

I'd just like to thank the International community for taking note of the sorry state of affairs that the country is in.

I believe there comes a point where there needs to be constant international scrutiny, pressure and intervention to ensure things do not get out of hand in this country... where the ruling parties can do whatever they want, bend whatever rules they like to suit their needs and protect their own interests.

Men driven by fear

2008-07-17T10:36:00.005+08:00

Source : The Star Online

KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim an hour before the 2pm deadline as they feared that he would not show up.

Federal CID director Commissioner Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin said Anwar was supposed to go directly to the Kuala Lumpur headquarters immediately after giving his statement to the ACA in Putrajaya.

“However, we were informed that after he left the ACA headquarters in Putrajaya he re-routed and headed back to his house in Segambut,” he said.

“He was arrested as we had reason to believe that he was not going to show up at the KL police headquarters,” he said.

This is a very scary statement. It shows how non-existant a person's rights is here in Malaysia.

A man is judged by his word. How shall we judge the Malaysian government and their ever twisting words, double meanings, lame reasoning and excuses?

1 hour before deadline.

What can a man accomplish in ONE hour? Flee the country by plane, sea, chopper, boat? Hold a massive rally?

Segambut IS in Kuala Lumpur itself. It's a stupidly short drive to the KL Police Headquarters. Looks like a man can't even return to his home and take a leak or bang his wife one last time before he heads to the police station to face unpredictable people stricken with fear and make rash decisions.

If one does not show up at 2:00 pm SHARP, you have all the reason and full backing of the law to arrest or hunt him down.

Why the hell arrest 1 hour before? Is there any SANE reason other than fear?

To Block or not to Block!

2008-07-17T09:49:00.004+08:00

Source : The Star Online

I bring this up today because AGAIN everyone is going to be stuck in traffic jams because of another set of roadblocks being setup.

Let's see what's their reasoning for doing so....

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has defended the police for setting up roadblocks around the city in anticipation of a public demonstration, causing massive traffic jams.

The police, meanwhile, said the roadblocks would continue as they have been “successful”.
The Prime Minister blamed the situation on those who planned to hold demonstrations and said the police were only doing their job of maintaining order and public safety.

In what way would roadblocks help prevent demonstrations? Get the demonstrators stuck in massive traffic jams so that they will be late for the demonstrations? Frustrate them?

"Excuse me sir! You do not look like one who's heading to work! You MUST be heading for the demonstration!"

"Your car looks like it's going to be used for the purpose of setting up bon fires at the demonstration venue!"

Hello!?!?! Anybody home?!?! THINK MCFLY! THINK!!! Let me spell it out so that even kindergarden kids can understand - YOU STOP DEMONSTRATIONS BY CONFRONTING THEM AT THE DEMONSTRATION VENUES AND GETTING THEM TO DISPERSE!! YOU DO NOT STOP DEMONSTRATIONS BY HALTING TRAFFIC INTO THE CITY COMPLETELY!

“The police are trying to reduce hindrances and traffic jams (that would be caused if the demonstration go on) too,” he said, adding that businesses and shops expected the police to ensure disturbances do not occur.

Umm... let me spell it out to you. If the demonstration occurs outside the Parliment, only the roads beside the parliment would be affected. The rest of the city WILL function as usual. Any normal citizen would get about his/her normal life and businesses will continue AS USUAL!

By preventing half the city from getting to work on time, don't you think that corporate businesses and everything else is at a standstill and causing more losses and disruptions??

“But at the same time the demonstrators say police have no business disturbing them. The police have a responsibility in ensuring there is no trouble,” he said.

I don't see any trouble in peaceful rallies. It happens every single day in every other country in the world. The only trouble occurs when a person cannot even exercise his/her right in airing his/her opinions publicly with a group of people who share the same views. That's called OPPRESSION!

Abdullah reminded the demonstrators that they could hold their rallies at stadiums where “they can scream at the top of their voice and “not at these places (in the streets) because people have the right to go about their business in peace”.

Sorry sir. Your crack police squad just disrupted every single business in KL because everyone - innocent or not, was caught in the jams that your crack squad created.

Um... right... gather at stadiums where your people can monitor and moderate everything, or even deny permits to have protest rallies?

The rally that was anticipated to take place at Parliament House by Pakatan Rakyat supporters did not materialise yesterday.

After getting stuck in the jams for 3 hours, I think you took away EVERYONE'S mood for the day to conduct daily business/activities... not only the demonstrators. Why are you so afraid of people gathering?

Police said they would continue to set up roadblocks at several major roads if needed.
“We have no choice as our main concern is to maintain law and order,” said City police chief Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman.

Your thinking is FLAWED sir. Like I mentioned earlier you do not maintain law and order with roadblocks. You address the demonstrators at the rally site itself and politely request that they disperse!

The roadblocks proved to be “successful” although it caused inconvenience to many people, he told a press conference at his office yesterday, adding that 1,600 policemen were deployed for yesterday’s operation.

If your main aim is to maintain "law and order" I'm afraid you failed miserably. I didn't see ANY order at all during the chaotic traffic jams. And in case you haven't noticed, "Law" wasn't observed by ANY road user that day as it was a every-man-for-himself bend traffic rules to get to their destinations asap. Again sir, your reasoning is seriously flawed.

It is learnt that PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and a few supporters tried to hold a gathering at Central Market at about 1.30pm. They left when asked to do so by police.

WOW! Now that wasn't too difficult to do wasn't it??? Was there any businesses disrupted? Any traffic jams?? NOTHING! They all peacefully left. No animals, insects or public property was damaged. The police asked them to leave, and they left.

Now why can't you employ the same tactic to disperse any rallies big or small? Why can't your 1600 policemen be posted at the rally point to maintain "Law and order" and to peacefully request demonstrators to leave???

I rest my case.

Countdown...

2008-07-16T14:52:00.003+08:00

Wn is now 31 weeks pregnant...

Anytime between 37 and 42 weeks is a full term pregnancy.

6 weeks to go... max. 11 weeks.

I'll take the average of 40 weeks, so it's T-Minus 9....

Quote of the Day

2008-07-16T13:49:00.002+08:00

"Different angles to look at things, but you're still fucked from all angles" - Skin

Context : The Malaysian 2nd-Class Citizens Discussion

The House I almost bought...

2008-07-15T15:00:00.004+08:00

A couple o years ago, before I got married, my family and I went house shopping. My personal criteria was that the new house HAD to be in what is considered a "Gated and Guarded" area. Meaning it's fenced up, and has guards posted at the guardhouse entering the (private) housing area.

I treasure my privacy, security and do not like to be in an area where any tom, dick and harry can walk in and out, park his lorry/bus, open a preschool at the corner lot, and where the snatch theives won't be waiting outside your gate every morning.

We literally shopped around the Klang Valley, and came across this one place where they sold "Link-Bungalows" for a very very good price. The price was so good, and the show house so well decorated that we were heavily attracted it.

We were at the point of signing the S&P when for some reason my sister and wife-to-be (at that time) highlighted the location and environment. Location wise, this place was far from where we stayed at that time (15 minutes min.); far from town (25 minutes min.), and relied heavily on one main road which is heavily populated by trucks and lorries. Environment wise, the show house was misleading. The show unit was built directly beside the sales office, and you could not see the exact place your house would be built or enter the housing estate area. You only saw your "house" from a miniature model map. Taking more steps backward, one notices that there is an industrial area located on one side, and palm oil estates at the other side.

Thankfully, we jammed on the brakes, took a moment to consider our decision and did not purchase that unit.

Now, 2 - 3 years down the road, I took the opportunity to visit the housing estate to have a feel of "what might have been".

We were right on the location and environment. If I had to drive all the way to this home today, I'd go crazy. The surrounding area hasn't changed as well... in fact, it doesn't give me any security. The "fence" is so short that it's more aesthetics than practicality.... which is true of many "gated and guarded" housing areas nowadays. The area seems so secluded and a little run down.

House wise, the driveway is so short that if you park your car, it'll take up the whole driveway, and half of the car is not covered... exposed to the elements. Worst of all, the gate is not centered relative to the house. It's totally weird and baffles me to no end!!! It's such that anyone who wishes to park two cars in would have to literally park the second car sideways!

(Right : Good way of planting a gate... plant one pole right in the middle of your driveway)

I don't know about the quality of built for the house as I did not enter the unit.

Overall... I am glad that I had bought my current house instead of what I had almost bought.

Nothing against the house or the developer, but the moral of the story is one needs to look beyond price and showhouse decorations prior to buying a house.

Bon Odori 2008

2008-07-13T20:13:00.012+08:00

My first time at the Bon Odori festival. Didn't know what to expect, and didn't know what to do... so on Ganny's recommendation, the 5 of us went to "look-see".

A few observations :

1) The food sold there is normal. Some are a little pricey, and nothing particularly special (except for the RM1-per-stick-of-chocolate-dipped-strawberry that my wife loved).

2) The crowd was... AWESOME! I've never seen so many people (Malaysians) dancing/participating before. The Malaysians that I had in my perception were a shy bunch, and asking them to participate in anything (that doesn't involve a prize or free gift) is like getting them to chop off a limb.

(Right : Malaysians DON'T Participate. Period. What you are seeing are prolly Singaporeans dressed as Malaysians. Either that or there must be some free gifts at the end of the line.)

3) You HAVE to dance along. Otherwise you get bored, very fast.

4) There were many Japanese wearing their kimono or traditional garb there. Interesting sight.

5) There were many other photographers with their big ass lenses walking around taking candids.

6) The actual event involves a group of guys hitting drums in the middle of the stage, surrounded by ladies in kimonos doing various circle dances, then the crowd is expected to dance along with them.

(Right : Drum guys middle, kimono ladies outside)

7) Again, the number of people at the stadium is amazing.

We left after the first dance "session". There were a total of three.

Korean BBQ dinner was superb... really enjoyed the bulgogi and the BBQ meats and stuff. Thanks to Skin for introducing the joint to us.

(Right : Look at the crowd!!!)

All in all, it was a good fellowship time for Skin, his wife, Ganny, myself and my wife. It's good to go out once in a while, experience something different and have a good meal.

More Bon Odori Photos :

#1 - The Yellow Bunny Man... gives me nightmares. He should get a new makeup artist.

#2 - The Three Ninjas - Skin, Ganny and myself

#3 - Finally, the Show Highlight - YMCA Man!!!

My Favourite Shot of the Labuan Trip

2008-07-12T08:56:00.006+08:00

My personal favourite (and my wife's too) of the Labuan trip is....

No... not a shot of the factory, neither is it a shot of the barite, or some machinery. I kinda like my bulldozer shots... but the best shot of all happened after all work has been done :

Takes your breath away doesn't it.... and I'm not even the artist... just the messenger.

Another Milestone for Malaysia!

2008-07-11T11:02:00.006+08:00

Source

I'll quote the important parts :

"Visitors from 11 countries - including South Africa - could be forced to get a visa before coming to Britain, it was announced."

"The countries are South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Malaysia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia and Swaziland."

"The countries have until the end of the year to prove to the Home Office they have taken steps to tighten passport security, protect against crime and terrorism, co-operate over deportations from the UK and worked to combat immigration abuse."

Malaysia Boleh!! We are really making progress as a country!!

Pretty soon I'll need a Visa to head to Singapore! Looking forward to that indeed.

Labuan Day-Trip

2008-07-11T09:32:00.007+08:00

I hate early morning flights... especially those that you have to wake up at 5 am in the morning, head to the airport, and zombie-walk your way into the plane. The plane would then be vibrating and noisy throughout... and best of all, add in a crying infant that wails his heart out throughout the flight.

Why in the world do parents bring month old infants on board a plane is beyond me. There ought to be a law against parents with babies below 1 year from bringing their toddlers on the plane. If I were the kid, I'd cry for sure! What with the ever changing cabin pressure, the noise, the cramped space, the vibrations...

I always get the seat immediately in the vicinity of parents with infants.

(Left : Obvious signs of a new factory... dirt/unpaved roads, tractors, cranes, contractor/construction signboards... DUH!!)

Anyway, I arrived safely, well fed (after having ordered 1 Nasi Briyani, 1 Hotdog on the plane), got into this taxi cab that was supposed to bring me to the destination, and immediately regretted my choice. The cab driver was old, spoke very softly, and most of all, didn't understand the directions that were provided by my client... to the point where my client got fedup and asked me to get down and grab another cab!!!

The cab driver drove turtle speed, headed towards the general area, stopped me in front of some random factory and told me that was it!

I went "No it ain't! The place I'm going to is a new factory under construction!!"

"If you don't go down and ask, how do you know?"

I rolled my eyes, wanted to sarcastically reply that "It's under CONSTRUCTION - Meaning there will be construction materials, tractors, dirt roads... NOT a plant that looks as if everything's been there for the last 100 years like you have!"

Labuan is a freaking small island by the way... how the hell can you get lost on a small little island! I finally asked him to drive further down the street, and voila! There was the factory I was supposed to go to - dirt roads, tractors and all!! Sheesh....

(Right : Barite Powder Plant Production Line)

Anyway, the whole purpose of the trip was for me to have a look at the actual plant, take measurements of the modification area so I can firm up my proposal. Up to now, I still can't understand what a couple o photographs, a plant drawing and some site measurements can't be done by someone else at site and passed on to me! I mean, what's the point of me flying all the way out there??

I completed the tasks before lunch, got bored after lunch, hung around, tried not to get into people's way, chatted with some other contractors, ended up finding a table, popped open my laptop and started doing some work. That didn't last very long either as there wasn't network connections for me to hook on, grab emails or send out emails.

(Left : What is barite? Dirt? Mineral? Rock? Stone?)

Thank goodness I brought a book.... a very thick book to read.

My outbound flight was at 20:50, and I literally wasted the afternoon away.

Reached home dead tired at 12:15, and here I am face on the keyboard trying to pry open my eyes.

Ante-Natal classes tonight... this is gonna be a looooooonnng day.

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New FB Page

Rays of Light - Digital Camera Photographer of the Year competition 2009

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TWENTY-EIGHT-IN-ONE!!

What Malaysians do not know.... (as usual)

My favourite shot of the Vietnam/Thailand Trip

The One that wasn't fast enough...

Vietnamese Portraits

My Official Statement on World of Warcraft : Wrath of the Lich King

Halong Bay Caves

Halong Bay

Moody Shots

Vietnamese Food

Portrait PP

60mm f2.8 Testing

Thailand Grand Palace

NYARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

Yawn!!!

6 Months....

Malaysian Law = Fail

Baby Baby Baby

SOMEWHERE IN CHINA Photo and Film Workshop Part III

SOMEWHERE IN CHINA Photo and Film Workshop Part II

SOMEWHERE IN CHINA Photo and Film Workshop

Hari Raya Open House Food Shots!

D90 ISO 3200 Test Shots!

BEHOLD THE D90!!!!

... and my first diaper change!

So I placed my deposit for my D90...

Quote of the Day

Day 4 Back to Work

Day 3 Relief

Day 2 Observations

Fatherhood

D90 Arrives at our Shores!!

The ISA and the common Malaysian Part II

The ISA and the common Malaysian

Operation Lalang II

Ahmad : Why should I apologize? Part II

Ahmad : Why should I apologize?

Babylon A.D. Review

My Very First Attempt at HDR

Honk and Go!!!

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Ho Chi Minh City Trip

My favourite shot of the Thailand Trip

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Thailand Trip

USA 101 - 81 Argentina

Upcoming Business Trip

USA 106 - 57 Germany

Dark Knight Box Office Performance Part II

USA 119 - 82 Spain

Chong Wei in Olympics Badminton Finals

USA 92 - 69 Greece

Superstar Treatment for Racist Teacher - Only in Bolehland!

Did the UMNO => PKR crossover really happen?

USA 97 - 76 Angola

Bar Council Forum and *Legal* Demonstrations

RIP Bernie Mac : October 5, 1957 – August 9, 2008

Dark Knight Box Office Performance

USA 101 - 70 China

Beijing Olympics 08.08.08 Opening Ceremony

Mix.fm Lie Detector Test : Are you seriously ready for the truth?

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MRR2 Cracks... AGAIN!

I sense a loooong day ahead...

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Anakku Apparel Sale 50%

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Preview

Naming Our Son Part II

Penang, Pebble of the Orient

T-Minus 7.....

Garden Fest Most Interesting Shots

The Malaysia International Landscape & Garden Festival 2008 Part II

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The Monster Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR Lens

The Malaysia International Landscape & Garden Festival 2008

Bar Council Forum and Legal Demonstrations