Tail End

Ashes

2010-04-07T23:29:00.000+08:00

Sifting through ashes
feeling the buds of life
yet to face the faded sun
that stares over gray and none

Hmm... I have a blog??

2009-08-11T17:18:00.002+08:00

Since I got sucked into Facebook I completely forgot about blogs... It's a disease I tell you. Facebook.. It sucks right at me soul... I have no resistance against the insiduous pull...

So now I write. I am very well approaching a point in life where I decide what to really do with my life. Working for people sucks... It'll be better to work for a bigger company where your responsibilites are set in stone and all you need to do are put down in writing. Training would also come with a bigger company. Working for a one man show kind of boss is the worst. Everything you do doesn't contribute much and you keep doing things not as the boss wants simply for the reason that he keeps moving the goalposts! Well, in his defence he didn't do so maliciously it's just that he's not used to having proper goals and markers set. I won't stay with the company I'm working for much longer. It's just plain stupid to work for someone who can't even set a clear goal. There's clearly no future whatsoever.

Anyway all the business he gets are through corrupt practices. Having people inside the tendering body of government agencies and private entities. Manipulating the tenders and specifications so that only the ones he offers fulfill all the requirements... I feel downright dirty working here. So I don't feel that it's clean money I'm getting anyway. It's against my principles.

So now back to umm... what did I come here to write???? I forgot....

Losing a Battle, Winning the War

2009-02-07T01:24:00.002+08:00

PR lost Perak. That's a fact. This is simply a temporary setback. This event in itselt empowers PR. The rakyat is forced to move and choose now and UMNO's ways are shown to everyone who could see. Clear sight is a prequisite to seeing properly of course. So, all in all, it's a good thing. I am sad but this is the challenge now. What could I do within my capacity?

Airasia's Game

2009-01-14T18:22:00.003+08:00

I received an e-mail from Airasia telling me about their sincere desire to explain their new KLIA-East airport. The e-mail invited me to go the their website or blog to read and understand better. Note the lack of 2 way communication implied here. I was curious about their attempt at gaining public trust so I went to the blog.

The facts they laid out was simple, rough, overly pessimistic at points that would invalidate the new planned airport and overly optimistic with reasonings that support the new airport. Statistics given were also overly optimistic, assuming growth is ever infinite, up to the point of growing beyond well established airline companies. The fact that Airasia focused on companies is also very misleading as they are trying to justify an airport which means they need to list down numbers for airports rather than companies since one company doesn't monopolise a whole airport unless it's Airasia and it's pet LCCT of course.

I of course typed in a comment which lays down some of my doubts and grievances which led me to the next discovery. They moderate the comments. My post isn't shown immediately and still no sign of it after 15 minutes. Flipped through the pages. Most were positive and supporting comments. There were a few slightly critical comments and very few disagreeing comment.

All in all, the attempt at gaining support from the general public is like any Malaysian Government publicity campaign. A stage act that's one sided, closed to discussion and criticism with sprinkles of some truth thrown in to seem to be open. I would rather they be sincere and open with discussing this issue with the general public which includes organisation and political leaders who represent the people. One sidedness and an effort to silence criticisms implies something to hide.

2009

2009-01-03T12:49:00.006+08:00

Welp, nuthin much. The year came without much fanfare, as usual. Hey it's just a calendar date change, man needs something to measure life by right? Nyways I've an attention seeking cat wedging himself between my right foot and my side table. This cat really neeeeeds attention so he'll get it any way he can.

Oh, I got my first tyre puncture with mah new car last nite, 2nd Jan, about 8pm. Bummer. Found out the moment something got stuck on my right front tyre. Was a big ass screw!! How did that get on the right lane of a busy 3 lane city road I've no idea but I didn't have a safe spot to change to my spare (It was the driver's side yo~ Risk of becoming a Hilmi splatter on the road!) So I crawled slowly, with a drub drub drub accompaniment, to a safer place. Took me 10 mins and by the time I got there the screw was firmly wedged in. Was only halfway in the tyre when I first checked.

Driving on a dedicated spare is a new experience fer me. Amy the Volvo had a full 15" alloy rim as a spare haha. Wobble wobble wobble to Saujana Utama. Lo and behold, a tyre shop was open. That was a lucky break. The nice Indian chap (couldn't be more than 18) told me they close at 7.30 but as long customers are comin, they'd stay open huhu. My lucky nite. So anyways I already reinflated both front tyres with the proper pressure this morning.

Gen2 is a very touchy car when it comes to tyre pressure. When I sent it for servicing the fellas checked my tyre pressure and filled it up some and I had a fun time drivin home pullin the steerin a wee bit to the left to go straigth. The next morning I got the story at the petrol station air pump. The tyres were unevenly inflated. Never fill up air in your tyres when they're not cold (mornings man, air cools very slowly so parkin at the office or shopping complex doesn't count). Roads and driving style would warm some tyres and the air inside up more than others so~~ Bad mojo man, balance is the key.

I need to find meself a nitrogen fillin tyre place when next comes time to swap rubber. Doesn't make much difference to driving feel but it keeps the tyres cooler. Maintain grip and prolongs lifespan. Well, only the initial fillup would be nitrogen but the checks and refills wouldn't add much air, it would still be mostly nitrogen~~

Mah Bro

2008-10-24T09:35:00.002+08:00

Since mah younger bro just got his back fixed, read here, here's some thoughts I just had when I was in the loo. Yes, the loo is where ideas foment. Anyway back to my thought. I actually learn a lot from my bro. Ever since I was small I had these strict thought patterns that are akin to a set of boxes that interlock with each other. So this rigid thinking makes it really tough for me since some shapes don't fit into the pattern and there are also a lot of other vague forms that aren't even shapes. So this is where my bro came in. He would happily say something or explain something to me in such a way that shapes didn't matter anymore and it the thoughts, ideas, opinions just slip in.

So what got me just now is that these random non-pattern thingies that got into my regimented form and substance thought world actually helped reduce the importance of patterns. So by late teen-age my mind was more open, things dind't need to fit for me to accept and understand. Understand anything so far?

What I'm saying here, wrapped concisely is, my brother played a big part in me having the unique way of thinking that I have now. My basis was a left brained based thinking. My bro helped me utilise right brain thinking. That's why I could relate to people easily and empathise with them. Throughout school and later university I always was the person people talk to about their problems. Some aren't even actually my friends, more like acquaintances. It's simply how I think and how I really listen to everything they say.

Note there's an exception to the listening without judgement. The closer the person is to me, emotionally speaking, the more prone I am to revert to my older more primitive way of thinking. I've been working more than 4 years on this particular issue. The fact that I get upset at family members and loved ones easily. There had been a lot of progress but this touches the core. I believe, my emotions are formed during childhood and as such it doesn't link with the improvements I developed later.

Ok, meeting now so I'll wrap off this post then.

Kucing

2008-10-19T19:07:00.002+08:00

Huwaaaaah~ Internet....

I've been out of the office even longer these few weeks (in fact I didn't even go to the office Thursday and Friday) so that means less internet. Seriously thinking of maxis's wireless service tho it won't be that fast since my place only got 3G and not HSPDA. Anyways too laaazay to write nything much.

Got The Witcher tho. Lovely game. No time to play it much. So sad. Oh Hana chan, if you read this... You'll drooooool over The Witcher. Think Neverwinter Night but nicer graphics and Planescape quality (not type) storyline :D

Buat Kerja!

2008-09-22T11:47:00.006+08:00

Went to Putrajaya for berbuka the other day. Was the Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan's majlis berbuka. One thing. The food sucks and I mean really sucks. How do I describe it? It's like majlis berbuka when I was in high school. Not normal everyday food lah but a real majlis. Still, considering that it's one whole ministerial division of the government.... I spoke with the pakcik next to me and he said it was a major disappointment. He worked there for three years and the least two times it they was grand. Everyone received expensive gifts and all.... Note that that's taxpayers money and I'm glad they cut the gifts out but what's with the bad food?

A picture from Putrajaya. Please click it so you can see what the banner there says~
On my trip to Australia the other day. I'll post updates bit by bit. Here are some pictures of the Singapore budget terminal. It's smaller than our LCCT here in Malaysia but has much better ambience. Everything looks slick and spiffy. Anyway the place I put my laptop on is their surfing terminal. You could also register and surf wireless for free.

Telur Mistake?

2008-09-10T09:22:00.004+08:00

What do you think of the title? Is it a chicken accidentally laying a goose egg? I've no idea myself but I read it on a restaurant menu here where I had lunch (before the fasting month!!)
Well, actually the kang kong (king kong?) belanca is also a grammatical + spelling mistake.

On another note, I'm getting a Gen2 CPS. Manual of course. I'd have to change gears a lot in town but I'd have the option of zoom zooming when I drive out of town. As I said to the sales guy, I'd get an auto Gen2 only if Proton comes up with a model with paddle shifts haha.

So anyways here's my lovely old car sandwiched between 2 younger (newer) siblings.

It's still a good car (with some rattles, clanks and holes). One thing I love about this car is the power. The thing I hate is fuel consumption. I'd roughly halve my petrol bills (hey company doesn't pay I still for balik kampung or jalan2 cari makan!) since the gen2 should have something around 6.5l-7.5l/100km whereas the volvo uses 12l - 18l/100km.

Oh, I'd have to change my driving style. Right now I depend on power surges to overtake and shift lanes. My out of town driving is also a rear wheel drive style which really doesn't suit a front wheel drive car. I know this from driving my bro's Gen2 before this and also my dad's Perdana. Normally I half drift my car through fast corners since the volvo really doesn't take corners that well. I've to learn how to take corners fast with fwd car now.

So okay. Back to work now. I'm driving to meet clients~

New Car?

2008-09-09T12:58:00.003+08:00

A new blog entry after how many months? Well, I've moved somewhere near KL and working in KL (thankfully not in the city centre). So anyway now I'm thinking of a new car for various reasons. The two main ones are simply maintenance and petrol.

Actually my boss also told me to get a smaller car since this company actually pays all my petrol bills except weekend fill-ups of course. A 1989 Volvo 740 Turbo isn't exactly a petrol sipper by any means. It's a gulper especially when I drive to the city to meet with clients. Traffic jams = thirsty volvo.

Right now I've two cars shortlisted. There were three but the Bestari 206 (Peugot 206) got crossed off the list courtesy of the small space for rear passengers. The two contenders are the updated Proton Gen2 Hi-line and Suzuki Swift 1.5. Both cars are in different price ranges and handle differently. I'm only test driving the Gen2 this afternoon. I know Gen2s have excellent control and balance but what I want to know now is whether the new Campro CPS engine has the power to match. The old Gen2 is simply a terrible low rev car. I keep stalling the engine in traffic jams. It only turns alive once you push it beyond 150km/h. Ridiculous but that's how the old campro engine works. Power only after 4500 rpm.

Well anyway, if the Gen2 doesn't deliver, I'd get the Swift which is also an excellent car. Only one reason is putting me off the swift for now. The price. I could afford to get it but I won't have much spending money if I get it.

Going to the car dealer now for a test drive~~

Father's Day!!

2008-06-16T01:20:00.003+08:00

I forgot it was Father's Day yesterday.. Anyway Here's an interesting tidbit from www.apples4theteacher.com.

In the USA, Fathers' Day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in June since being made a national holiday in 1966. In Australia and New Zealand, fathers are honored the first Sunday in September. Other countries celebrate fathers throughout the year.

Nice aye? ^__^ By the way Father's Day in Malaysia is also on the 3rd Sunday of June.

Procrastination

2008-05-28T22:15:00.001+08:00

Hmm... a topic that is indeed close to my heart. Well, I feel somethign akin to a dull stab everytime someone says this word so it is figuratively correct. Anyway a psychotherapist who also practices EFT, Gloria Arensen has written a book called Procrastination-Nation. I've yet to find it here and a search on Kinokuniya's website shows it's not yet available and not just here in Malaysia; It turned out completely blank which means Kinokuniya haven't had a whiff of it yet. Anyway head out to Gloria Arensen's website to learn more of this interesting book. Her blog is procrastination blog isn't updated much tho, she was more into writing the book than blogging. It still has great information in it so definitely worth a check.

Exp books?

2008-05-27T22:37:00.002+08:00

Well, it has come to my attention that the book with the offending price tag was from a publisher that the author herself is unhappy with. So let's hope it's just the publisher that caused the price increase rather than a general book price hike. Anyway it'll take some more months since bookstores generally raise the price of newer books when a price increase happens. At least that was how it was when our currency depreciated massively last time.

Oh the publisher is HarperCollinsUK and the RM50+ paperback is The Spirit Stone, Book Two of the Silver Wyrm or as HarperCollinsUK printed on the cover that I have here, Book 5 of the Dragon Mage which is most definitely wrong. Can't say I'm fond of this publisher right now.

Malaysian Book Lovers Shafted!

2008-05-03T20:11:00.003+08:00

Oh man, it's been so long since I last updated. This I have to write. Book lovers in Malaysia. Mourn the easy days. I just got a message from an avid book reader that new mass paperback books are now RM50++.

I'll be buying everything online then it seems. A few books plus bulk postage... It'll be cheaper. I can't believe this is happening. Am dreading my next trip to a bookstore. If it's true then no more bookstores for me. Say NO to unfair prices. Don't let whoever it is responsible extort you. We have alternatives! Books are for life~~~

Sadly,Post Options
A book lover

Ayam Besar

2007-10-07T01:48:00.001+08:00

I just remembered an amusing thing some kids said at a friend's wedding. It was already night then so the family's settling down after a busy day.

A little boy, about 5 or 6 years old, came out of the kitchen area carrying a big bowl of sup tulang. Let's call him Boy A. It was kerbau by the way so just had a polite sampling. Didn't like it much, prefer beef over buffalo meat. Anyways this kid sat down and began heartily slurping the soup, nibbling on some bits of bone and gristle. I was just talking to my friend, the groom, who was a little bit giddy though he was really pale and sweating. I missed the wedding vows so didn't know whether he fumbled or not... So anyway back to the boy.

As he was enjoying his meal, a few other boys about his age came and asked him whether he's enjoying his soup. He smiled and said yes it's tasty. One of the other boys, I'll call him boy B, then admired the large piece of bone in the soup and said, "Waaah, besarnya tulang ayam kamu. Patutla sedap sup tu". The conversation then went as such...

Boy A, "Bukanlah ni sup kerbau, bukan sup ayam."

Boy B "Ayam tu, bukan kerbau. Besar ayam kau dapat."

Boy A "Eh, mak aku cakap sup kerbau, macam mana pulak jadi ayam."

Boy B, "Kau silap tu. Memang tulang ayam. Betul tak korang?', asking the other boys in his group.

Boys B, C and D, "Ha'ah la. Memang tulang ayam tu."

The first boy then just stared at his soup and after a while carried the bowl back to the kitchen.

Okay, for those who don't read Malay... Here's an approximate translation..

Boy B first said, "Wooow, that's a big chicken bone you have there... No wonder the soup's nice"

Boy A, "What? It's not chicken, it's buffalo... How could it turn into chicken..."

Boy B, "You got it wrong. I'm sure it's chicken bone. Isn't that right guys?"

Boys B, C and D, " Yea, that's chicken bone for sure."

Welp. Twas a really really weird and surreal conversation. I didn't even believe I was hearing it right at the time ^__^

Blogged with Flock

Energy

2007-09-26T13:48:00.000+08:00

Been having less energy these few weeks. I suspect an herb has something extra to do with this tiredness. I had been taking this particular herb on and off for close to a year as it's supposed to help my liver. Oh, I do have some liver problems and that affects me to a certain extent. Anyway my doctor insisted that I try to take it regularly for once because I admitted to taking it half dose once a day. Why did I do that? Because whenever I take it full dose twice a day I'd feel really really bad after just 4 days. Anyway I this time I tried to keep to the program as is rather than improvising as I see best. The herb is supposed to have a really obvious effect after just a month of regular consumption. The research and feedback shows marked improvement in many cases.

Well, after about a month and a half taking the herb I must say it really has a significant effect on me. I got really really really tired, felt throbbing pain around my liver area, intermittently at first but almost all the time by the end of the period, felt very weak and had trouble sleeping, waking and generally doing anything because I lack energy. It didn't seem good so I just stopped cold turkey and informed the doctor that I'm not taking the herb anymore. I don't know what effect it had but I really hope no permanent damage was done to my liver as I still have less than 30% of the energy I had before this even after a month of stopping the herb and sleeping at home most of the time... Ironic isn't it, a liver helping herb actually having the opposite effect. Well, I can't really say opposite effect as I haven't done any blood tests to check my liver's current condition. Well, I'll go and get the test done soon to check what effect it had. Maybe it improved my liver and the tiredness and energy loss are just incidental side effects?

Smoking Gun

2007-09-23T22:11:00.000+08:00

Am wathcing a documentary right now. The narrator said "Until today, there's still no smoking gun...." Okay, am not quoting verbatim, the important part is the phrase smoking gun. The Malay subtitles said "tiada senapang asap" which literally means there are no smoke guns. Long live literal translations. Gives me plenty of laughs. You can't believe what how they translate... The funniest I know is when they translated 101 dalmations into "seratus satu bintik" which means one hundred and one spots!!!. It's not even remotely right in any way ^__^

A Tribute to Robert Jordan

2007-09-17T18:45:00.001+08:00

Robert Jordan, one of the greatest fantasy authors of the modern day. I started reading his book a few years ago, in 2002 if I'm not mistaken. I love his books and love the world he created. I type today with great sadness. This author that inspired millions died on the 16th of September 2007 around 2.45 pm. His fans would already know this but I write here not to inform anyone. I write in honour of his name. The legacy that he created.

My deepest condolences to his family and friends. May God be with him.

Ahmad Hilmi Jaafar
17th September 2007 6.50pm (GMT +0800)

Afraid of Water?

2007-09-11T14:49:00.000+08:00

will the sticker be afraid of water? like spills or whatever...

I read this question in a forum I frequent. The person wants to know whether the said sticker is water proof or not. Technically.... if the sticker is 'afraid' of water, that means it's hydrophobic right? Which makes it waterproof :D The guy answering it helpfully related how he rubbed water on the sticker and it simply rolled of the sticker. I noticed he avoided answering whether the sticker's afraid or not :D

At last.... The book....

2007-08-19T22:12:00.000+08:00

The book.... The book's here at last. No I don't mean Harry Potter, I finished that off a few weeks ago and it was an amusing read.. Not bad but not great either. There I said it. Just a simple observation of mine no flaming please. I still like the story.

Anyways I got meself 2 new books. One I finished reading 2 weeks ago, the new Robin Hobb book, Renegade's Magic, the third book in her excellent Soldier Son Trilogy. This series of her started slow but it built momentum really well and the last book is the most excellent (that also makes it the strangest book :D). I'm not going to spoil anyone who might go and read the trilogy, let's just say it's unrelated to her other books and it has very different ideas and concepts...

The book that caused me to feel giddy isn't Hobb's book though. It's Steven Erikson's latest Malazan Book of The Fallen, Reaper's Gale. Oh I do love the Malazan series. It's excellent. Confusing as hell and excellent. I'll be re-reading the books again after I finish this latest book. He writes in such a way that I only understand a certain comment from book one in the 3rd or 4th book. Tis crazy but really really addictive.

Ah, actually I got a delicious morsel to nibble on before I got these books. George R. R. Martin's The Hedge Knight, a graphic novel. It's a juicy tidbit, not enough to satisfy my Song of Ice and Fire craving but enough to tide me by.

Okay, I'll be offline reading Reaper's Gale. Signing off....

Insanity

2007-07-19T12:33:00.001+08:00

I'm embracing insanity rather than trying to reason out everything. Things fall into place very much as they will no matter how I plan and so I'll simply do what I can according to the moment I'm in. The future? Well, I carefully create things I really need such as the presentation slides for our company's upcoming event and I'll practice as much as I feel necessary. Other minor things I will deal with as they come...

Anyway speaking of the event. We have 2 events coming in August. One is a seminar by Dr. Alan Godlas, a sufi event. The title is "Spiritual Transformation in Daily Life by means of Remembrance Gratitude and Love". Find out more at the spiritual transformation info page in Holistic Leader's website. Direct linky to the seminar info page~~

The other event is a Light of Healing emotional freedom seminar titled "Dunia di Sebalik Emosi" - Beyond Emotions - The World Awaits You...
I know the Malay title sucks and that's after my sister revised the title. It doesn't exactly have the profound tone of the English title.

Oh here's the seminar advert as will be published in the August edition of Jelita magazine. It's fully in Malay though~

Which OS Are You?

2007-07-03T15:27:00.000+08:00

I found this gem of a quiz. Well, I think it's interesting and I guess anyone with a twinge of geekiness would do so too. How about you mah little sisters, Hana & Aimi? Find this quiz interestin?

Which OS are You?

Carcass

2007-06-26T12:01:00.000+08:00

Welp, I woke up early today and had meself a bit of leisure surfing before doing anything else. When I went out of me room to take a bath.. Lo and behold, my car was missing... Tis the saddest thing yet this week as I've been looking forward to drive my own car yesterday morn and yet it was taken from me because of a minor problem with starting the ever ailing merc. Turns out the merc's battery was flat so a simple battery change solved the problem. Oh but that was yesterday... Why was my car missing again today????

I took the merc's key and opened it's door. Immediately obvious was the auto-gear in D position. Oh god don't tell me they took my car just because they couldn't see that the car wasn't in neutral or parking.. I reset the gear position to P, tried the ignition and sure enough the merc starts easily.

After that I actually wasted more than an hour tuning the merc's audio system. It's amplifier and subwoofers weren't properly tuned after my dad installed replacement units some time ago so I did what I could. Now CDs and high-Q MP3s sound great while the FM radio works fine as long as reception is good. Any interference and you'd hear every single pop and crackle. Well, that shows the audio upgrade was worth it... Everything's crystal clear.... Oh low quality MP3s sound really bad with this audio system. I tried an MP3 CD that was in the glove compartment and my ears almost bled. Thankfully I rip my own CDs most of the time and the rare cases I actually get an album through the net it would be because it isn't selling in stores anymore so the online rips would also be high quality...

Di3Va

2007-06-23T22:19:00.001+08:00

This is the least interesting live concert I've seen on tv. The only thing that I could see for sure is that they have great stamina. Continuous singing till a commercial... Other than that there's nothing spectacular. Their voices aren't that great and the songs don't sound as they do on the radio... I'm not comparing this show to their CDs. I'm comparing them to radio broadcasts. Well the fans seem to love it. Maybe it sounds better live or they're all loyal fans.

Oh I actually do like some parts of the show. The orchestra :D They play lovely music

Work - Qwiz

2007-06-14T21:26:00.001+08:00

A quick pre-trip quiz ahaha~

Your Career Personality: Original, Devoted, and Service Oriented

Your Ideal Careers:

Art director
Book editor
College professor
Composer
Film director
Graphic designer
Novelist
Stage actor
Psychiatrist
Writer

The Quick and Dirty Career Test