supercolossal

8119

2012-01-19T09:20:00.000+08:00

Happy anniversary :)

Cork Sniffing

2011-06-28T11:03:00.002+08:00

I believe cork-sniffing happens on many areas especially on stuff that are subjective and hard to quantify (esp to the 5 human senses), ie. sound, taste, feeling etc. If you are wondering what does the term cork-sniffing means, this is the definition from google

"A derogatory term used to describe a person that tends to overanalyze physical properties that may not even be relevant. These people seem to split hairs on details and are usually just percieved as windbags who just like to hear themselves speak. The implied insult of the word, is that the corksniffer, is a lab worker that microanalyzes everything to the extreme, but fails to see the big picture. The term probably originated in the wine industry or the wine conneisour pastime to describe people that innaccurately believe they can tell the quality of a wine by sniffing the cork"

This happens very commonly in online guitar forums that I visit because the many aspects of guitar ie tone, playability, sound is inherently subjective and you will always get long debates about A vs B, singlecoils vs humbuckers, Jap vs Korea, mass vs boutique etc etc. Have to admit all of us are cork sniffers to a certain extent because we have our own personal preferences and biases.

I stumbled on this from My Les Paul forums some time back and thought it was pretty hilarious and real to a certain extent. I think I'm somewhere in Level 2 :P

The unofficial Field Guide to spotting, identifying and classifying the Cork Sniffer:

Level 1 CorkSniffalus Minimus

Dismisses guitars made in China; prefers Korean or Japanese.
Amp must have a tube in it somewhere.
Pedals he uses can be described as “sounds a lot like [X] pedal” or “just as good as [Y] pedal.”
Enjoys that his sound is “pretty close” to youtube clips of equipment he admires.

Player profile: 420 is just as important as 401k, ok more so. Spends 10 hours playing for each 1 hour on gear.

Level 2 CorkSniffalus Regularus

Dismisses any guitar not made in the USA.
Reissue tube amps are nice; solid state is all crap. 70’s tube amps are good too.
Pedals must have true bypass.
Frustrated his sound is “pretty close” to youtube clips of equipment he admires.

Player profile: Average income. Spends 4 hours on gear for each 1 hour of playing. May still play out a bit, doing covers.

Level 3 CorkSniffalus Superious
Dismisses any guitar not accompanied by paperwork containing the words “Custom Shop.” Guitar should closely resemble one in a picture with a major guitar player who played at least two decades ago.
Dismisses stock pickups as too muddy. Hand wound is the only way to go.
Dismisses stock caps and capacitors. Only PIO capacitors will do. Knows that current Gibson bumble-bees are “fake.”
Amps stay the same, but of course stock tubes are “junk.”
Monster amp cord or high level planet waves style cord is necessary to avoid losing “top end” of signal.
Anything stock causes tone to sound as if a “blanket” has been thrown over stock part during playing. Blankets are not good. Page never played with a blanket.
Pedals must be the same name and appearance as they were in the 70’s or early 80’s, unless they are actually from that period – true bypass ignored for these gems.
Dismisses youtube clips and demands tightly controlled comparisons that eliminate all variables.

Player profile: Manager or in sales where commissions are good. Spends 20 hours on gear for each 1 hour of playing. May have played out when younger.

Level 4 Corksniffalus Maximus

Dismisses any guitar that isn’t pre-1970; or custom shop and that has not had all hardware replaced with identical items that provide no functional improvement but that cost at least 500% more than the stock parts, in order to achieve historical accuracy (due to ageing or dimensions based on an old guitar). Guitar player who played a similar model must have been famous at least thirty years ago.
Capacitors should actually be from the 1950’s.
Reissue amps are out. Only boutique amps or amps made before 1970 are ok; careful tube selection is a priority.
Mogami platinum cords are necessary to maintain signal fidelity.
Pedals must be at least thirty years old (except channel switchers and tuners, which must be true bypass), and must cost at least three times the average cost of a new pedal of similar function. Boutique pedals are alright too, as long as they meet the same price criteria.
Power must be isolated and conditioned before touching precious equipment.
Dismisses any clip as simply unable to remove all variables or capture the nuance of a live performance.

Player Profile: Dentist, lawyer or such. Knows intros to many, many songs. Can play blues scale but is especially proud to know how to get a “jazz vibe” going. Spends 40 hours on gear for each 1 hour of playing.

What's worse than a cold toilet seat?

2011-04-07T10:10:00.000+08:00

A warm one :P

Blasphemy

2011-03-16T09:33:00.002+08:00


Follow the star

That scene above looks awfully familiar :P

Anyways, I hope to get the Tim really soon, has a 6 months waiting time, and hopefully is worth the wait. It's supposed to be one of the most transparent overdrives there is in the market with a very unique eq and tone stack. Timmy is the younger brother of Tim, simple with less switches but we guitarists will always want more :)


Hope to get it by Christmas* this year :P - kinda coincides with the pic above ;)*

Age vs music

2011-03-15T16:59:00.004+08:00

Ever since I moved, I have not been having a proper place to keep my CDs and have been temporarily putting them in a storage box for quite some time. One fine day, I decided to take them out for some casual listening, and only then did I realize I had quite a large number of CDs (perhaps around 200+) which some I have accumulated over the years since high school. I started my collection from the 90s when alternative rock and grunge was the in-thing, so it's pretty easy to guess what sort of CDs will be in my collection.

So I took some out, listened to them, and to my surprise, found out that my music preference has changed, maybe I got older, maybe my taste got better ;-). I could not like more than half of what I had in the storage box after I've listened to them, so I thought in light of the storage problem I had, it is time that I did some 'herd trimming' and reduce this collection by selling them as used CDs in a local forum.

So I ended up with a for sale stash with almost 70+ CDs. I'm sure I liked them when I bought them initially but somehow I could not recall ever putting them in to the CD player to play. I suppose thats why some still looked very new and shiny. So here they are, listed here, as a reminder for me that I used to own these so that I won't buy them again in the future (I hope not :P)

Aerosmith - Nine Lives
Ash - 1977
Ash - Intergalactic Sonic 7's (2CDs)
Ash - Nu-clear Sound
Bryan Adams - Unplugged
Chris Cornell - Euphoria Morning
Chuck Loeb - Listen
Coldplay - Parachutes
Coldplay - Rush of Blood to the Head
Coldplay - X & Y
Collective Soul - Greatest Hits 1994-2001
Creed - Human Clay
Creed - My Own Prison
Creed - Weathered
ELVA (2CD)
Eric Clapton - Complete Clapton
G3 Live in Tokyo - Satch, Vai, Petrucci (2CDs)
G3 Rocking in the free world - Satch, Vai, Malmsteen (2CDs)
Garbage - Version 2.0
Green Day - International Superhits
Incubus - A Crow Left of the Murder
Incubus - Light Grenades
Incubus - Make Yourself
Incubus - Morning View
Jazz Cafe Piano
Joe Satriani - Crystal Planet
Joe Satriani - Engines of Creation
Joe Satriani - Flying in a Blue Dream
Joe Satriani - Is There Love In Space
Joe Satriani - Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani - Not of This Earth
Joe Satriani - Professor Satch and the Musterion of Rock (1CD+1DVD)
Joe Satriani - Satriani Live! (2CD)
Joe Satriani - Strange Beautiful Music
Joe Satriani - Supercolossal
Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien
Joe Satriani - The Extremist
Joe Satriani - Time Machine (2CD)
Khalil Fong - Timeless Live in HK 2009 (DVD)
Kula Shaker - K
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park - Meteora
Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern
Metallica - And Justice For All
Metallica - Black
Metallica - Load
Metallica - Reload
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
Metallica - S & M (2DC)
Michael Buble - Call Me Irresponsible
Michael Buble - It's Time
Michael Buble - Michael Buble
Nirvana - From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York
Nirvana - Nevermind
Oasis - Don't Believe the Truth
Oasis - Heathen Chemistry
Oasis - Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
Pearl Jam - Official Bootleg - Rock am Ring, Nürburg, Germany
Radiohead - The Best Of (2CDs)
REM - New Adventures in Hi-Fi
REM - Up!
Savage Garden - Savage Garden
Silverchair - Neon Ballroom
Silverchair - The Best Of (2CDs)
Smashing Pumpkins - Adore
Smashing Pumpkins - Greatest Hits (2CDs)
Smashing Pumpkins - Pieces Iscariot
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
Soundgarden - A-sides
Steve Vai - Alive in An Ultra World (2CDs)
Steve Vai - Real Illusions : Reflections
Steve Vai - The Seventh Song
Steve Vai - The Ultra Zone
Suede - A New Morning
Travis - The Man Who

So far I've been able to clear out almost 50 out of the 70 over CDs listed here. Though I'm selling at a loss but it's better than having these lying around doing nothing. All sales proceeds will go towards my Stratocaster fund (slowly but surely getting there). Hoping to clear out the remaining CDs real soon.

www.piriform.com

2010-07-28T13:27:00.003+08:00

I stumbled across this UK-based company which makes some really nifty utilities that windows users would find very useful. They are actually donation-ware where you can choose to donate any amount which you feel like but is otherwise free.

piriform means pear-shaped, which could also mean to go wrong. I suppose that's what the tools do, help you out when things go wrong with your computer.

They have 4 utilities at the moment with very unique names.
1. ccleaner - a comprehensive cleaning tool
2. defraggler - a defragmenting tool
3. recuva - a data recovery tool
4. speccy - system information tool

I've tried out ccleaner and recuva and I think they are great, partly because of the simple interface, speedy performance and also because it is very lightweight, about 2MBs for the lite version. Puny comparing to the supersizeme-bloated-gigabyte monsters of today's software.

The world needs more lean software like these. Looking forward to more tools from them in the future.

If I Could Fly

2009-09-06T13:01:00.006+08:00

Keep coming back to this video, cos it is just so awesome. Not really a video, but a live recording of Joe's performance in a radio show, but still live nonetheless. This song really comes alive in this version. Notice the good tone, sustain and harmonics, and also the many improvised parts (tapping parts, natural harmonics)

This is also the song that Joe sued Coldplay for copying the melody in Viva la Vida. No offense to Coldplay fans, but I think this one is definitely the real deal.

You can find the original track in Satriani's album Is There Love in Space.

Enjoy

Weekend Top 10 List

2009-08-21T13:31:00.008+08:00

Spent last weekend over in KL attending a good friend's wedding. It was great, I realize nowadays weddings are where you get to meet all (literally 'ALL' of them) your undergraduate friends and have a great time catching up.

As usual, something interesting always happens when everybody gets together, and I'm summing it all up on this top ten list (in case I forget :P) For those who were there, let me know if there are any more worthy ones that should make it to the list.

In descending order

10. 12 o'clock

9. Well done

8. 1 o'clock

7. I don't know you, and you, and you, but I remember you (insert name here) :P

6. RM150

5. I'm horny, but not a bastard

4. What do you think about the oil price?

3. I'm driving my gf home

2. Ask (insert name here)

and the Number one quote for the weekend goes to...... (drumroll)

~~1. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...~~
1. I'm sorreyh, I'm so sorreyh...

I have to admit that number 1 quote really deserves to be number 1.

eBay and flanging and 7-legged spiders

2009-08-04T06:30:00.014+08:00

I recently won my first auction in ebay, paying about USD60 (which I think is a pretty good deal) with shipping for a used-reissue Ibanez FL-9 Flanger. I've been looking for this for quite some time but could not really find a good deal at a reasonable condition. Most I've been are either affordable but in a very battered/wornout or mint with a very high price. This came without a box, and looks really good from the outside. Cleaned it up some sticky tape residue on the sides and some grime from around the knobs and it looks pretty brand new. There was a small dent near the name plate but thats ok. Most important to note of course is that all Ibanez 9 series pedals including the reissues are still made in Japan. 4 knobs, delay time, width, speed and regen, all the parameters I'll need to tweak the flange sound that I need.

There are some audio processing theory involved in flanging, and I hope to understand how it works as I begin to use the pedal more often. In fact, flanging is almost similar to chorusing.

Tested it out, and it has this really warm sounding flange with the option of getting really metallic with more extreme settings. Set it with a slow speed, strum a chord and listen to the sweep of the pedal, amazing. I've yet to really run this with distortion and to get those aeroplane sounds, hope it does not disappoint. In fact, it sounds much better than a Boss BF-2 that I had sold off previously, which sounded pretty boxy and less transparent. This lemon yellow pedal should be keeper this time and I think it could double up as a chorus pedal too.

Being my first transaction in eBay, I searched eBay up in Wiki and found some really unusual auctions which had taken place since it was founded. I'm suprised that people to auction off items such as an F/A-18, an aircraft carrier, Britney's hair and a 7-legged spider picture. The last one really stumped me, apparently it something originally created by David Thorne to pay his chiropactor. Read up how this came up here.

Monkeys and Mangoes

2009-06-09T10:13:00.002+08:00

Overheard between the bear and the cat in a small town, famous for scavenging monkeys that roam at will.

The Bear brings some cut mangoes over to the cat.

Bear : Have some.
Cat : I didn't know my mum had mangoes.
Bear : The monkey passed one to your mum on his way back home.
Cat : O_O
Cat : Really???? I've gotta ask mum about this. Mum, bear said that the monkey passed a mango to you on his way home.
Mum : hahahahahhahahaa.....
Cat : You know bear, I ALMOST believed you.

Bear is really getting good at making these one-off jokes.

I Heart BearBear

2009-02-12T09:16:00.002+08:00

Happy Valentine's Day pENguiN~

Fred and the Silver Sketches

2008-09-06T18:08:00.021+08:00

I've always thought that (most) celebrity endorsed products are usually overhyped, overpriced and overpublicized; but it is a known fact that many people (including myself ironically) do actually purchase something just because their favourite artiste says that they are using it too. And of course, they are paid to do that :)

I'm a big fan Joe Satriani, and he does endorse a couple of products like his own signature JSX guitar amplifier from Peavey and the famous Ibanez JS Series guitar. And obviously these two pieces of equipment are just way too expensive (about USD 1.5k apiece) for me to own (pENguiN~ would kill me), though I would want to. Besides those, Joe's also endorses guitar pickups from Dimarzio (particularly the Fred) and also the new Vox Satchurator distortion effects pedal.

Dimarzio Fred, Peavey JSX and Vox Satchurator

Ibanez JS 1000 - gorgeous

Then, on a lighter vein, he also endorses accessories such as JS signature straps and picks from Planet Waves.

Joe's signature straps and picks - notice the character sketch oriented art

Last year, in pursuit of his guitar tone I actually swapped out the stock pickups of my guitar to those that are used in his JS series Ibanezes. Well if I can't get the guitar, I can at least try out their pickups. So, the Dimarzio Paf Pro goes to the neck position and Dimarzio Fred to the bridge position. Cost me quite a bit in fact, but it was a good upgrade. Pickups are so crucial to an electric guitars tone, and swapping these in really breathed in new life to my electric guitar's tone. Now if only I can play half as good as Joe :P

Dimarzio Fred with the silver polepieces and Paf Pro with the black pole pieces. Middle single coil was unchanged

And more recently, to get a little more of Joe (mojo??), I've decided to get one of his signature guitar straps from Planet Waves. Not as pricey as the pickups, but pENguiN~ says that I'm still paying too much for nylon webbings and leather ends. But let me say the strap looks really thick and comfy, and most importantly cool with ermm.. the bizzare-looking silver sketches. That's the name of the strap design anyways. Apparently, Joe likes to do character sketches and has decided to incorporate his quirky artwork into his signature straps. I haven't gigged with it yet at the moment, but I'm sure it'll feel great.

The Silver Sketches up close

Product Card of the strap - apparently it's supposed to stand up to 1000lbs of force :P

It even came with a cool looking hook

I'm not quite sure what to do with my old strap - it's a plainer looking Planet Waves

I wonder what or when is my next Joe merchandise, but the Vox Satchurator looks pretty yummy.

A cat person or a dog person

2008-09-01T14:52:00.005+08:00

The Star usually runs a section on pets in the Saturday issue. These are some things I picked up a couple of weeks back.

Firstly, your choice of pets does reflect on your personality. A dog owner is very much different socially compared to a cat owner. I think it's pretty true to some extent. I'm a cat lover so should I say more? Apparently, society is getting more introverted (blame it on technology and lifestyle) and thus cats should be becoming more popular. Good news for the felines but not so good news for the canines :P

And sometimes we do wonder if our pets are capable of any emotional feelings at all, and it says here though they are capable of feelings, they are mostly motivated by their need for food, shelter and even social hierarchy. Clinically, they are incapable of emotion due to the lack of a certain brain function or brain part that facilitates this. So, the next time you feel fuzzy all inside when when your tabby cuddles up to you, don't expect it to feel the same. It just feels secure :P. But before you scorn your pet for being exploitative or 'fake', think of it this way. You and your pet exist in a symbiotic relationship; while you provide it with shelter, food and care, it will then acknowledge you as it's provider and security in it's own way which will in-turn fulfill your emotional and companionship needs.

Last but not least, different pet owners have different relationship expectations towards their furry friend. The part about Noah is pretty funny - and true. I'm sure you know of some people who just can't bear to leave that stray kitten or puppy out on the streets. Which one are you?

Just a random lolcat, to spice things up

Life

2008-07-16T12:33:00.006+08:00

I got this from a forwarded email just today. Pretty meaningful if you ask me. After some googling, I found out that this art was originally created by AdonisWerther, and is appropriately filed under the series called Life.

4 pictures here summarizes the 4 phases of one's life, going thru childhood, courtship, relationship, losing a loved one and finally death itself. Notice the little details such as the number of birds, the kite, the trees and the time of day, all relating to the passage of one's life. Also, pay extra attention to the changes in the trees, how they change/age to depict the journey of life and also the creation of new life. These details bring such significant meaning to the overall message that this picture is trying to convey.

I'm sure this would evoke different feelings and thoughts to different people. Makes us ponder what life is all about and how should we live our lives... and what is beyond death.

This is slighty more dramatized version, with stronger colours and objects.

Lone Wolf

2008-07-06T22:45:00.025+08:00

Thanks to the internet, I stumbled upon some old gems in this website. Project Aon is a fansite dedicated to publishing html versions (or e-versions) of the once popular Lone Wolf role-playing gamebook series. Let's take a moment back in time...

Back in the 80's and early 90's gamebooks were very popular, and you can never fail to find some sort of gamebook title from the many different genres ie. medieval, sci-fi, futuristic, horror, etc from many different publishes and authors on the shelves. I remember reading titles from the Fighting Fantasy series and also the Way of the Tiger. But somehow, Lone Wolf was a better experience because it had a more epic setting in the sense that it had a continuing storyline (up to 20 books in the initial series) set in a vast and diverse realm with unique races and creatures. Each book read in the series would further expand the realm and storyline more and more, giving you a sense of progress and anticipation. Given the amount of detail that the author Joe Dever has put into the character, storyline and realms, I would say that it is almost on par with my other fantasy favourites namely Dragonlance and Lord of the Rings.

From Top to Bottom - Way Of the Tiger (Avenger), Fighting Fantasy (Space Assassin and Robot Commando) - those are the only two FF novels that I own

If you are not familiar with how gamebooks work, basically it is like reading your typical novel, but it's interactive in a sense that you are involved in deciding the story's progress and arcs. The book is broken up into many sections (up to 350 or more in Lone Wolf books) that you will traverse in a non-linear fashion. Each section which you visit will usually ask you to choose between two or more choices, which would then steer the story in one way or another. RPG fans are well aware of course that this not just about trivial choices such as turning left or right, but rather there are other elements such as skills, hitpoints, special items, and combat may affect the choice you make or the outcome at the end of each section. Some amount of luck would help too as some actions including combat might require you to choose number thru a die roll (Lone Wolf uses a random number table which you close your eyes and point to randomly) to determine the outcome. Back then when RPGs were still very much a pencil and paper (and dice) affair and would typically require a group of people (a party) to start a session; gamebooks allows the reader to enjoy an adventure without such a hassle.

Gamebooks were considered expensive (RM15 each?) back then (in fact books are never cheap here in Malaysia, even now), and whatever that I've read were usually borrowed from the library or from friends, so it was really hard to read the books in a orderly fashion to appreciate the storyline better. I've read (not in order) maybe 8-10 books in the original Kai/Magnakai series, but only own 2 of them.

The 2 Lone Wolf books that I own

So, Project Aon is really a dream come true; firstly I get to read all the books that I've missed, or even read all of them in order from the top, and most of all it's free. And reading on the PC is much easier (just click, no page flipping), but of course nothing beats having the real book, but I'm not complaining. It's hard to find an actual gamebook nowadays much less read one. Project Aon not only hosts the Kai/Magnakai series, but also the GrandMaster series and some other miscelleanous gamebooks which I think is worth checking out too. So all you Lone Wolf fans out there, this might just be what you have been looking for to fulfill all your LW needs.

Lone Wolf is set primarily in the mythical world of Magnamund in the universe of Aon. The reader, play as Lone Wolf, a warrior-monk whose potential as a hero emerges from the tragic defeat of his teachers and kinsmen, known as the Kai Lords.

The Realms of Magnamund

So how do you start a Lone Wolf adventure, simple, you will need to choose some skills, determine your combat skill and endurance points (using the random number table) and choose some equipment. Having done that, you can immediately turn to section 1 of the first book and begin your adventure. Simple as that! Consult the game rules in the table of contents in case of any doubt :P You can actually treat each book as a separate adventure, but I strongly recommend that they are read in sequence, only in this way that the storyline can be fully appreciated :P

So, if you are ready, try out the first book Flight from The Dark... this is the synopsis

You are the sole survivor of a devastating attack on the monastery where you were learning the skills of the Kai Lords. You swear vengeance on the Darklords for the massacre of the Kai warriors, and with a sudden flash of insight you know what you must do. You must set off on a perilous journey to the capital city to warn the King of the terrible threat that faces his people: for you are now the last of the Kai you are now Lone Wolf.

Updates - 30th July 2008
I found out that I could download all the Way of the Tiger series here at the Home of the Underdogs. It's a scanned pdf version from the original books. Though not as sophisticated as the HTML versions of Lone Wolf on Project Aon, it's good enough for me, at least I still get to flip pages.

Kind sir, would you take me in?

2008-06-24T22:38:00.011+08:00

How do you do? My name is Simba and I'm a 1-year old male tabby. I am clad in glorious white and orange. (Thanks mom!). I have been neutered :-( some time ago, can't remember much about it cos I was very little then; I only remembered that I had to wear a collar for a couple of days. I'm in the pinkest of health (just check my paws ;-)) and people say that I behave well too. Are you willing to provide me a home with love and care? Are you looking for a companion that you can spend your time with? You might just be looking for me. Though I may look aloof and arrogant (most of my kind are), but I'm sure once we get know one another better, I'll warm up and I'm sure I will enjoy your company as much as you enjoy mine.

I have some very nice pictures of myself right below.

Trust me I look even better in person. If you want to know me better, leave your email in the comment section and I will get in touch with you.

EG - My colleague is putting one of his cats out for adoption. Please leave your contact, email preferably in the comment section and I will get him to contact you. FYI, both colleague AND cat are located in Penang, Malaysia :)

More pics here. Check out his other photos too, I think they are great :)

John Mayer in CSI

2008-05-27T13:07:00.006+08:00

I think I've watched this episode before. It's Season 7, Episode 1 - Built To Kill, Part 1. Plot synopsis here. This portion shown by this clip is towards the end of the episode.

In case you are interested, the two songs featured here are Waiting on The World to Change and Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, both from his latest album Continuum.

Wrist Ergonomics

2008-05-04T23:00:00.008+08:00

I recently got myself this wrist support from S&J to, how do you say it, to upgrade or improve my mousing ergonomics. It's supposed to support my wrist while I'm mousing. I've yet to use it, and I plan to use it in the office cos' I think I use the mouse a lot there. This is not a perfomance enhancing product :P (no, I don't think it'll make you more accurate when you are sniping somebody nor will it make you target that ultimate skill more accurately on the enemy hero!) but it's supposed to add comfort (and joy maybe!) to your mousing sessions. Please let me know if your wrist support has given you any other notable experiences :P

Wrist support advocates are somewhat like 2 sides of a coin. I've come across some articles on the web advising against using any wrist supports of any kind, claiming that they aggravate and even make RSI's worse. On the other hand, we see reputable companies like 3M and Fellowes producing/selling wrist supports and even recommend using them in our daily tasks. So I'm kinda confused at the moment. I just have to find out myself.

I haz a bone

What is it good for?

It's shaped like a bone, something like those Mickey Mouse's dog Pluto would chew on :P and the packaging is creatively created so that it looks as though a dog is having that a bone in its mouth. It's also appropriately called the bony-bar wrist rest. I have to give credit to S&J for having such erm... I have to say adorable items. And they do have many other really interesting stuff for sale at very afforable prices.

Blacko

Birds of a feather flock together

pENguiN~ got herself one too, but hers is transparent with colourful stars in it. Not sure if she'll blog about it :P

YouTube embed code

2008-05-01T10:17:00.011+08:00

Embedding YouTube videos in blogger has always been a hit and miss affair for me. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, all I know it has something to do with the xHTML code generated from YouTube's post feature, which apparently has some error when you try to post it on Blogger.

So most of the time, I'll try to post videos from YouTube with minimal edits, meaning very little text, no formatting, links or even images. I've managed to do a few posts previously with formatting and stuff but it was just too tedious; I even had to redo the post a few times.

I had this problem again when I tried to post John's video, so I decided to google it up on the Internet, and voila I've found a solution, thanks to Psy2k's simple tutorials. It's really trivial, and I'll have to blame my mediocre HTML knowledge for not realizing this earlier.

This is taken directly from Psy2k's post

Validate the Youtube embed code!

As we now the embed code of youtube is a mess as it uses the embed tag which does not validate as xhtml. Using the code this tip you can embed a youtube or google video to your site or blog and keep your code validated:

The moviecode is a code found in each youtube video address and is after v= until the first ampersand (&).

For example in this YouTube URL...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmHHjUZPyMY

The moviecode is xmHHjUZPyMY. All you need to do is paste the code in to your blog editor and replace the moviecode portion with an actual YouTube moviecode.

Posting YouTube videos on the blog has just become so much easier for me.

John Mayer - Any Given Thursday

2008-05-01T00:01:00.014+08:00

John Mayer's live performance in his Any Given Thursday's DVD ranks as one of my favourite live DVDs to watch. Favourite in the sense that I can watch it over and over again, each time experiencing something new.

John's showmanship is clearly showcased here, playing guitar and singing at the same time. Notice that he is not your typical rhythm guitarist/singer but plays very complex accompaniment parts, which combines both melody and chords at the same time, something like what Hendrix does in Little Wing. Also, most of the rhythm grooves are synchopated, and to make things harder some of his singing parts are synchopated too. I have always thought playing and singing along even on straight beats is hard enough, but John takes it to another level.

Also take note of lots of the late-SRV influences when John blazes away on his guitar solos in between songs, simply beautiful. Coupled with really good vintage Stratocaster tones from his guitar, John has truly made this set, a set to remember.

Two of my most favourite tracks off the DVD is Covered in Rain and Something's Missing. Covered in Rain is not in any of his official releases, but you can find Something's Missing in his 2nd studio album, Heavier Things.

For those who might have listened to him on his debut album Room for Squares, and wrote him off being just another pop artiste, try out Any Given Thursday and you'll be amazed at how differently John does those songs live.

Enjoy them here below as I have for so many times over and over again.

Something's Missing

Covered in Rain

Gung-bhang

2008-04-18T14:43:00.003+08:00

This post might be a little disturbing :D

I found these two pics when I was going thru a forum that I frequent. What is going on with the orange cat (female I presume) in the middle?

This is really freaky... has anybody seen anything like that. I know that female cats are superfecund, which means that they will mate with multiple males when in heat... but not ALL at once :P So, this is really bizzare. As for the males (those crowding around the orange cat - I assume they are) they would usually fight one another at first sight (it's a territorial instinct) but here, for the lack of a better term, they look like they are 'taking turns', almost to the point of cooperation :P

But then again, I've read that most orange cats are toms (male), but let's not get there, it's just so unnatural :P

Either way, this is really something out of the ordinary.

Did I just drop a bar of soap?

One at a time boys :P

Does Your English Cut the Mustard?

2008-04-03T20:58:00.009+08:00

My vocabulary needs some work.

I suppose some people might find me boring because I always use the same words or some might not understand me because I don't use enough and/or the right words.

However, I seem to be pretty good at punctuating, too bad that it doesn't show during conversations :)

Your English Skills:

Punctuation: 80%

Grammar: 60%

Spelling: 60%

Vocabulary: 20%

Does Your English Cut the Mustard?

Lolcat

2008-03-31T09:28:00.005+08:00

What's a lolcat?
From Wikipedia

A Lolcat, or LOLCAT, is an image combining a photograph of an animal, most frequently a cat, with a humorous and idiosyncratic caption in (often) broken English—a dialect which is known as "Kitty Pidgin", "lolspeak", or Lolcat. Read more here.

I will be posting lolcats from time to time in an effort insert some humour into my blog :P
You can get more (not limited to cats) here

Some random lolcats

see more crazy cat pics

see more crazy cat pics

see more crazy cat pics

see more crazy cat pics

see more crazy cat pics

see more crazy cat pics

Scaling Up vs Scaling Out

2008-03-27T08:26:00.007+08:00

This is something I picked up from the internet. Though it might seem like an AMD fan rant about the current state of the x86, but it does bring up some salient points about the scalability of the AMD platform as compared to it's Intel counterpart.

4-way configuration for the Opteron and Xeon

I would have to agree that the AMD processor (K8 Hammer microarchitecture onwards, circa 2003) has been build ground-up from day 1 to be multiple-CPU scalable thru the use of HyperTransport (HT) links and integrated DDR memory controllers. HyperTransport technology allows two AMD CPUs with HT links to connect directly without any glue logic to make a multiprocessor platform and they can be further scaled up to maximum 8 CPUs (on Opterons with 3 HT links each).

In comparison, Intel is still maintaining a Front Side Bus based Northbridge/Southbridge platform architecture up till today and will only introduce integrated memory controllers and point-to-point serial interconnects in their upcoming Nehalem microarchitecture (late 2008).

My only comment is that AMD's scalability advantage was never really widely or heavily adopted and capitalized, especially by enterprise/corporate users that would benefit the most from the cost savings and performance gains. In fact most of the publicity generated for the technology came from the enthusiast community. Perhaps it takes a bigger player (Intel comes to mind) to affect changes and promote (read enforce) technology adoption (ie. USB, AGP, PCIE etc) We'll have to see after Nehalem to comment on this again.

AMD's ready to scale you up

When it comes to scaling x86 servers, it's smarter to think inside the box

Architectural traits reaching back to Pentium remain present in the Intel-powered servers of today. The limitations of those servers aren't likely to be noticed as long as the routine of IT and commercial server buyers is to add capacity by scaling out, purchasing new two-socket servers. But the time will come when adding a rack server, or a rack of servers, is no longer the wise person's path to increased capacity. Smart planning will lead you to handle bigger workloads without more servers.

The terms "scale up" and "scale out" are sometimes unfamiliar to x86 buyers. They refer to the locale of capacity expansion, computing ("thinking") capacity in particular. A server that scales up can be made to handle substantially higher workloads through upgrades inside the chassis. These systems cost more at first, but they're designed to have untapped capabilities that you can turn on with an incremental investment far less than that of a new server.

Scale up is the factor that has kept proprietary Unix big iron in business. Linux on a commodity two-socket Intel server was supposed to push HP, IBM, and Sun out of business. It looks that way if you see a rack chassis as a rack chassis without regard for what's inside. But scale-up maximizes everything from power savings and server consolidation ratio to server longevity, with the bonus of lower long-term costs and higher availability. All AMD Opteron servers scale up. It's baked into the CPU, the bus, and the total system architecture. AMD's strategy is to make it possible to scale up any Opteron server for five years with only a CPU swap, no new server required. This stands in stark contrast to Intel's "tick tock" plan that attempts to nail IT to the stereotypical two-year purchasing cycle. Intel's two-year cycle of obsoleting chips makes parts scarce and expensive, so that if you do buy an Intel-based server with empty sockets with plans to scale it up, it's unlikely that CPUs precisely matching the models you have now will be available, and the availability of FB-DIMM memory at your existing Intel servers' speed may be rare as well. AMD's five-year plan is more in line with the way IBM treats, and retains, its customers.

Scale out means bigger racks, more servers, more heat, higher power and cooling costs, another tick on your service contract, another hand to hold in the middle of the night, and so on. The only thing going for it is convenience, and that's a powerful motivator. Most shops have the deployment of new rack servers down to a science, and there's rarely a need to even remove the cover on a server before you slide it into the rack. Opteron servers yield to the very same plug-and-play initial deployment, but in a few months when you'd ordinarily add a new server, you can take the scale-up route of your choice: Swap out your Opteron CPUs with higher speed or more cores, add RAM or use faster RAM, or fill empty CPU sockets with new CPUs. It really is as simple as it sounds, and when you (or your field service person) buttons up the case, you have a new server, or two, or two and a half, where your two-socket server used to be.

You have to adopt a long-term view to justify buying x86 servers that you can grow without filling more rack units, but the economy has a way of fast-forwarding reality such that the present suddenly laps the plan. If you're not already in spend-it-while-we-have-it mode, all forecasts indicate that you will be. Servers that you buy from now on should put you on course to grow your capacity, or to ready yourself for an overnight recovery, while you gently apply the brakes by reducing your costs now.

If that's too wishy-washy for you, I'll give you a hard example: A copy of Windows Server 2008 costs the same for a one-socket, four-way server as it does for an eight-socket, 32-way server. Each unit of Windows Server 2008 carries a license that permits the operation of an unlimited number of Windows virtual machines on one physical server. Today, expanding Windows server capacity means buying more servers, and therefore more Windows licenses. It may be that you have so many servers that a volume license, as costly as it is, is cheaper or more convenient than one license per server. Using any Opteron scale-up scenario, one Windows license covers all the cores and virtual servers you can squeeze into one physical box. As a bonus, any variety of distributed computing is done faster on scale-up hardware because far more server-to-server communication is handled at the speed of memory rather than the speed of Ethernet.

That scenario can be carried further. When you get to know Opteron, especially the quad-core Opteron CPU nicknamed Barcelona (revision B, with the TLB flaw repaired, is now shipping), I'll explain how AMD's redesign of the x86 architecture not only scales up through added components, but scales up through evolved software as well. There are many more features in quad-core Opteron than generic x86 and x64 operating systems use. You will scale up your quad-core Opteron servers merely by installing a Windows or Linux point release that includes Opteron-specific optimizations, or changing the architectural target of the projects you compile in-house. I realize that my strong position on Opteron and desktop derivatives, like the amazing Phenom, might appear to some like bias. Please understand that when I dig into AMD CPUs and platforms as technology and foundation for IT strategy and investment, I simply see so many changes for the better.

Posted by Tom Yager on March 26, 2008 03:00 AM

A Nat Geo Moment

2008-03-11T14:53:00.014+08:00

Very Nat Geo don't you think

This picture was taken by a fellow CG member when we were at Cameron Highlands recently. It is a male mackerel tabby cat and with the prominent M pattern on it's forehead. From the looks of it, he seems to be in his teens (approx 1 year of age), don't ask me how, I just know. He was staying with the family from which we rented our bungalows from. He seems to be very well taken care of with a sleek and shiny coat and obviously very active. Always seen jumping and pouncing around, more so during the evening when the evening crazies kick in. He seems to be very friendly with people too, my friend picked him up and he was immediately kneading on his shirt.

Our mackerel tabby in colour

He has this partner which is a female tortoise-shell which is more aloof and reserved. She is more timid and when it comes to people, and tends to shy away from any physical contact. She looks older though than her male partner, most probably in the adulthood (2-3 years of age) and seems to be more matured. And she doesn't seem to like the idea of being picked up that much compared to her friend. Don't really have a good picture of her though. Nevertheless, she's one beautiful tortoise-shell as you can see below. Her coat is absolutely shiny and vibrant. The picture below just does not do her justice :)

The tortoise-shell female

Random kitty facts
Do you know that most if not ALL tortoise-shell coat cats (like the one above) are females?
Quoted from Wikipedia

For a cat to be a tortoiseshell or calico, it must simultaneously express both of the alleles, O and o, which are two versions of the same gene, located at the same locus on the X-chromosome. Males normally cannot do this: they can have only one allele, as they have only one X-chromosome, consequently virtually all tortoiseshell or calico cats are females. Occasionally a male is born (the rate is approximately 1 in 3,000). These may have Klinefelter's Syndrome, carrying an extra X-chromosome (XXY), and will almost always be sterile or they may be a chimera resulting from the fusion of two differently coloured embryos.

Lots o' Info Here
Cat Fanciers Web Site

The 2008 Malaysian General Elections

2008-03-09T14:32:00.015+08:00

After 13 days of campaigning, the 12th General Elections of Malaysia climaxes on the 8th of March 2008, as voters cast their votes and candidates (and voters too...) anxiously await the results. The polling stations were closed as of 5pm yesterday and by 9pm I was scuttling back and forth between my PC and the TV to make sure that I don't miss out any result announcements. Results started trickling in at about 11pm+ and it went on until almost 4am in the morning. By 9am I was up again to look at the final results :)

In summary, BN obtains simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat with 138 seats to form our next Federal Government. They would also be forming state goverments for the states of Perlis, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Terengganu, Pahang, Sarawak and Sabah.

The opposition meanwhile has managed to secure 82 Dewan Rakyat seats and would be forming state governments for the states of Kelantan, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak and Selangor.

Below are some random facts and figures that I have compiled...

2/3
The lost of the 2/3's majority in the parliament which has always been held by the coalition parties. Out of the 222 parlimentary seats contested, the BN won 138 seats (62%), 10 shy from the 148 required for 2/3's majority. BN returns to form the Federal Government, albeit with a much weaker majority margin. In contrast, the BN won a whopping 199 (90%) out of the 219 seats during the 2004 GE. This is touted as BN's worst election performance since Malaysia's independence in 1957. On a sidenote, the only other time where the BN has missed the 2/3's majority was during the elections of 1969 (66% of the seats).

0
The number of state assembly and parliamentary seats which was won by Gerakan (BN coalition component party) in Pulau Pinang. Gerakan lost all 4 parliamentary and 13 state constituencies that contested in. Instead, most if not all state and parliamentary seats went to the opposition. Pulau Pinang, a long time Gerakan stronghold will now be governed instead by the opposition parties. Gerakan acting president, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, himself also a casualty of the massive loss (P46-Batu Kawan), has taken full responsiblity for the party's poor performance and has stepped down from party leadership. Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has also been the Chief Minister for Pulau Pinang since 1990.

1
P118, Setiawangsa, the only ONE out of 11 contested parlimentary seats in the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory that was retained by the coalition. The remaining 10 seats went to the opposition. Looking back, BN acquired 7 out of the 11 seats back in 2004. In essence, the newly formed federal government would actually be operating on opposition territory. ;-)

5
Number of Malaysian states in which opposition parties would form the State Government, namely Kedah, Perak, Pulau Pinang, Selangor and Kelantan. PAS' dominance in Kelantan was further strengthened this time round taking 39 (24 in 2004) out of the 45 state seats. Opposition prevalance in states seats of Kedah (21 out of 36), Perak (31 out of 59), Pulau Pinang (29 out of 40) and Selangor (36 out of 56) which is typically the coalition stronghold really caught everybody by surprise (myself included) this time round. This is truly a historical moment in Malaysia's political history.

29
Years served in the cabinet by Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu. He is the 2nd longest serving minister in the country after Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz. He has served since 1979 and a big portion of his tenure was with the Public Works Ministry (JKR) as the Works Minister. He has also been the President of the Malaysian Indian Congress since 1979 and has represented Sungai Siput in the Dewan Rakyat since 1974. In this election however, Samy Vellu has unexpectedly lost this long-time MIC stronghold (P62-Sungai Siput) to a PKR candidate.

31
Number of times that PKR's parlimentary seat tally has increased this year compared to the 2004's GE. In 2004, they only managed to secure 1 parlimentary seat, which was P44-Permatang Pauh. This year however, they have increased their tally by 31-times, giving them a final count of 31 parliamentary seats, exceeding everybody's expectations.

50
Number of years that Malaysia has been independent :-) - ok this might be lame :P

82
Total number of parlimentary seats won collectively by PAS-DAP-PKR opposition alliance, first time in Malaysian history, to deny the unbroken 2/3's majority dominace of the BN. PAS would take 23 seats this time round (up 16 seats from 2004), DAP takes 28 seats (up 16 seats) and PKR takes 31 seats (up 30 seats!!!!!). In total the opposition is up 62 seats from 2004 where collectively they only managed to secure 20 seats.

196
Total number of state assembly (DUN-Dewan Undangan Negeri) seats that were won collectively by the PAS-DAP-PKR opposition this year. In comparison with 2004, they only managed to obtain 51 state seats. This massive state seat winnings, have been attributed to the fall of states such as Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak and Selangor into the hands of the opposition, giving them the majority they need to form the respective state governments this term.

36,492
Amount of majority votes with which Teresa Kok of DAP obtained to win the P122-Seputeh parlimentary seat. I'm not sure about other possible majority numbers but I think this is by far the highest majority count that I have seen for this years election. Let me know if I'm wrong.

I will update this post time and again with more interesting statistics as more official data is released.

2008 will be remembered as truly a defining moment in Malaysia's political history. I foresee great and exciting times ahead for Malaysia and all Malaysians :-)

More info here
2008 Malaysian GE Results
2004 Malaysian GE Results

The Marvels of Modern Logistics

2007-12-05T23:37:00.000+08:00

UPS Package Tracking

A couple of months ago, pENguiN~ helped me order an Intel Core2Duo Processor for my new PC (don't ask how/why) from the US. I was quite amazed with the shipping company, UPS in this case; one for being able to ship that fast (with expedited shipping), but most importantly is the ability for the customer to track their packages in almost real-time, which you can see above.

The package travelled through 8 cities (if I count correctly) over a period of 4 days before it finally reached Penang. I still remember how I eagerly anticipated the packaged arrival, not by praying hard :P but by constantly checking their tracking system. I can only imagine how much effort has been put into the overall infrastructure to enable such a real-time data availability to customers, and even more so when considering that each data collection point is not localized but rather distributed geographically around the world. Hats off to UPS :)

Now, how I wish Pos Malaysia can do the same too.

Some facts on UPS.

Worldwide Facts

Founded: August 28, 1907, in Seattle, Wash., USA
World Headquarters: Atlanta, Ga., USA
World Wide Web Address: http://www.ups.com/
Chairman & CEO: Michael L. Eskew
2006 Revenue: $47.5 billion
Employees: 427,700 Worldwide (360,600 U.S.; 67,100 International)

G3 Soundcheck Parody with Funny Voices

2007-10-17T00:07:00.001+08:00

Some of you might recognize these three guys as Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and John Petrucci. Have some laughs at this parody, take note of the Godfather-style dialogues ;-).

The Everglide Titan GamingMat

2007-10-16T21:54:00.000+08:00

I recently bought myself a so called professional mousing surface from Everglide. It's the cloth/fabric-based Titan GamingMat, and it incorporates Everglide's award-winning Fibertek Surface, which based on what I've read from the website, is actually a uniquely woven fabric surface that will ensure that the optical mice will track flawlessly with even and constant acceleration throughout it's surface. It will also provide an almost frictionless (a miniscule amount of friction is imperative) surface for the mouse feet to glide on. All of this in turn will provide the user with an improved mousing accuracy and tracking experience. Phew... that's pretty impressive, and you can read all of them here.

There are many many different kinds of mousing surfaces in the market at the moment, and could be made from many different kinds of materials ie. glass, aluminium, synthetic rubber, metal, plastic etc. It all boils down to the user's preference and budget. Mousing surfaces have evolved long enough that they are not limited to just those free mouse coasters (usually with very loud cartoon graphics) that you get every now and then or even your bare desk surface. Mice are now used NOT just to plagarize texts off from the internet or to click on the start button of your favourite OS but they are now used as a very accurate pointing/shooting/select tool in today's high-paced computer games. In due time, gamers have come to realize that apart from the mouse itself, the mousing surface (usually the good ones) does make a difference, such as that extra railgun frag in Quake III Arena, or that headshot in de_dust, or even that critical hydralisk drop in the opposing Protoss base that you have been patiently planning for the past 30 minutes.

There is actually money to be made in this, more so with the emergence of professional computer gaming. So, to meet these 'professional gaming' needs, many companies have come up with a myriad of mousing surfaces, all in the name of providing the ultimate mousing surface for the ultimate victory in whichever game that the gamer might be playing. I think I've mentioned product endorsements before in my previous posts about Professional Gaming. Many professional gamers have been approached to endorse a specific brand of mice and/or mousing surfaces so that they would use them during their tourneys and can later claim that brand X's mousing surfaces made him/her somewhat more accurate during his/her last railgun frag :P. Knowing that computer gaming has a large fanbase, there is a lot of advertisement/sale potential to be had thru product endorsements for these mousing surfaces. In a nutshell, the adverts are saying that if you were to use the endorsed products, you could almost be as good as pro-Gamer Y or pro-Gamer Z. Everglide is not an exception, it too has its own gamer endorsed products in the forms of the Fnatic and DKT MonsterMat.

Personally, I'm not a professional gamer, but rather an occassional gamer instead. I've gone thru many different kinds of mousepads, none which are of the professional type :P. And sad to say that, most of them have not provided a very satisfactory mousing experience, and I've always been on the lookout for a good mousing surface at a reasonable price. Also, I came to realize that most typical mousepads are just too small for a decent mousing experience. I think that is why many people choose to use just their desks as their mousing surface, but desk surface being pretty rough can actually wear your mousefeets down pretty quick and that will deteriorate your mousing experience further.

The main reason I bought the GamingMat was it's sheer size; at 355mmX254mmX4mm it easily dwarfs the typical mousepads and is only surpassed by its bigger brother the MonsterMat (444mmX355mmX4.3mm). Many would agree that a large mousing area is really useful in today's high resolution desktops, having an insufficient mousing area would cause your mouse to fall off the mousing surface every now and then, and what's the fun in that :). And it would truly be a disaster if that were to happen when you are actually in the middle of sniping somebody. I'm not trying to give a review here, but having used the GamingMat for a week or so, it seems to be THE mousing surface that I've been looking for, tracks smoothly, has enough friction so that I can actually feel the mouse, and most importantly large enough that my mouse would not fall over the edges :P.

Lots of mousing surface

Logitech MX300 on the Everglide Titan GamingMat

Now, I can only hope that I would at least last me a few years, with moderate usage, after all I paid RM50 for it, and I do hope to get some mileage out of it. pENguiN~ however, thinks that I've just wasted RM50 on a piece of rubber and cloth :P. If you are interested, you can get it too from ModernoPC.com, that's where I got mine from. You can either go to their shop at the address listed in the website, or you can opt for a courier delivery right to your doorstep. Their service is very prompt; upon funds transfer, I got my goods delievered to me on the following day thru courier.

The box in which the mousepad came in.

American Chopper

2007-08-13T13:15:00.001+08:00

Updated.

I was watching this one episode of American Chopper on Discovery, when something that Mikey said really made me laugh. If I remember correctly, it was the episode where they were building a custom bike for Billy Joel, and as usual, Mikey being main comic relief in the show, never fails to amuse and entertain his fellow co-workers and of course his father, Paul Sr. And of course, us viewers get to ride along and laugh out hearts out.

The family of Orange County Choppers (OCC)
From left - Paul Sr., Mikey, Paul Jr.

He said, "Some people cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go."

I googled it up and found that the originator of this quote was none other than the witty Oscar Wilde. To reproduce its wit effect on your listener (assuming they haven't heard it), you'll have to say it with the proper intonation and emphasis. Read the first part with your usual tone, and when you reach the word 'others', pause for a moment (just to stir up some anticipation), and then emphasize on the word 'whenever' as you continue to finish up the remaining of the phrase. I'm sure will get some laughs out of it.

Oscar Wilde

The Second Renaissance

2007-08-07T09:39:00.000+08:00

Work in the office has been a little low paced lately, and I was kind of thinking that perhaps I should blog :P. And then I thought of this Animatrix mini-episode that I watched some time back. Alright, some info on this.

I'm paraphrasing this from Wikipedia. Animatrix is a collection of 8 anime episodes which provides most of the foundation and groundwork for the actual Matrix movie trilogy. It was released around the same time as the first Matrix installment and some of the episodes are actually written by the Wachowski brothers themselves. These 8 episodes showcases the different facets of the Matrix plotline, giving us a better idea on how the Matrix works, how it came about and what was mankind's role in it's existence.

I believe many found the Matrix storyline to be somewhat confusing and disconnected at times because the movie does not explain everything, but I think that is not a weakness because the Matrix trilogy is actually narrating on the current state of events, after the existence of the Matrix. However, the Animatrix will take you further back into history, and like I say lays down the groundwork for the subsequent storyline to tread on. For curious Matrix fans who are yet to be enlightened, try getting your hands on the Animatrix DVD and, I guarantee that you will not look at the Matrix trilogy the same way again (bullet time, Keanu Reeves??? :P, Morpheus' sunglasses) but rather look beyond that and appreciate the actual plot and storyline that the Wachowski brothers had envisioned.

Of the 8 episodes, I've actually pulled two out from YouTube to put here on my blog for your viewing pleasure. They are called The Second Renaissance (Part 1 and 2) and are actually two parts of a fictional documentary. As a short synopsis, these two parts provide a back-story to the original Matrix films, explaining the historical events leading up to the First Man-Machine War. Beginning in the mid twenty-first century, Part I describes the creation of the machines and the origins of their conflict with the human civilizations of Earth. Part II reveals the first war between the humans and machines, ending with a machine victory in the later years of the century and the establishment of machine control over Earth. These two parts were actually written by the Wachowski brothers themselves.

Why these two, because I was really taken aback when I watched them, because they paint a picture of what humanity is truly capable of in the future and also the dangers of imprudent technology utilization. It also shows that past major history events are repeating themselves again in the future, only difference now is that it happens between machines and men. And even the title tells us that this is something significant that would change the lives of humankind dramatically and permanently. Pondering that this might/could happen in the near future did send some shivers down my spine.

But on a lighter vein, for those who are seeking answers to why/how the Matrix exists as it is in Neo's world, this two parts, I think will satisfy that curiosity.

I salute the Wachowski brothers for their creativity and imagination in creating this fictional world, and plots that are truly convincing and alive. I've always judged the quality of a movie/anime by the impression that it leaves on me at the end of the movie and the fact that I watched this two parts 2 years ago and that it still lingers on my mind for me to blog about, shows that it was a truly worthwhile and meaningful watch.

Disclaimer : These two episodes contain violence/gore that could be disturbing to come viewers. I shall not take any responsibility for any adverse psychological/emotional effects that might occur after watching them. After all, you clicked the play button :P

The Second Renaissance - Part I

The Second Renaissance - Part 2

My First Chronograph Watch

2007-07-31T22:36:00.001+08:00

My Seiko Chronograph*

I recently got this timekeeping piece as a birthday present, it's my first ever chronograph wristwatch. pENguiN~ thought that since I am always late for my appointments, a watch would prove useful to remind me to be on time (...NOT). She also said that, having a good wristwatch makes a man :P.

Talking about making a man, a friend of mine (I'm not sure if he visits this blog :P) gave me this piece of advice some time back. Apparently he got it from his father. I still remember it because I felt it was quite true and seems practical enough.

He said, "There are a few things that a man should make sure that he has, one of it is a pair of good shoes and another is a good wristwatch."

I'm not sure if there are anything else that I might have forgotten, but I remembered that it left a lasting impression on me until today. That friend of mine lives by this advice, making sure that he always gets the best watch and shoes that he can afford.

So does having a wristwatch at last complete me? Well, it might seem a little narrow-minded to think that these are the only two things that are important to a man, but let's look at this in inverse, what if a man has everything except these two things, would you look at him differently? Call me superficial, but I guess sometimes a person has to manage how the world looks at him/her.

Personally, I think that the advice is sound, if we look beyond the superficials and start to think practically, a pair of good shoes and a good wristwatch would prove very useful in many many situations. How many times have you wished you had a sturdier pair of shoes when your pair starts to go crocodile on you? Also, I bet there were many times you wished that you had a MORE water-resistant watch when the one on your wrist starts to fog up :)?

Alright, enough pondering and on to some details on the watch.

This is a Seiko Chronograph Watch. It is actually one of their many battery-operated quartz models. Has the standard stuff, 3 chronograph dials: second hand, 1/20th of a second, and hour/min elapsed. Center hand indicates the stopwatch seconds. Also has luminuous hands and markers (glows in the dark) and has a date function too. Battery is rated to last between 2-3 years depending on usage. Comes with a stainless steel case and bracelet, and has a 100m water-resistant rating (I don't swim actually :)).

I've been wearing the watch for almost week now, and still needs some getting used to, and since then I tend to be more careful with my left wrist, wouldn't want to 'scratch' the scatch-resistant Hardlex Crystal. Timekeeping wise, I have the watch set at +15mins at the moment, just to make me more time-aware, and hopefully more punctual as a result.

* Picture taken using a Panasonic Lumix FX-9 in macro mode.

Trusting Him

2007-05-23T23:29:00.000+08:00

Visualize strolling through a peaceful forest with the Lord Jesus at your side. You are on a journey to the land where hopes and dreams are fulfilled. As the sunlight filters through the trees you think to yourself, Life couldn't be more perfect! Surely this is what the Lord meant when he said he had come to give us more abundant life! You are sharing with him your hope of becoming a mother soon and thanking him for creating you a woman and giving you the privelege of conceiving and bearing new life.

But suddenly, you being to hear the rush of water and, as you come to a clearing in the trees, you see a wide and roaring river. Your heart stops! You need to get to the other side. That's where your hopes and dreams will become reality. You feel panic and frustration rising within you. You begin running frantically up and down the shoreline looking for a way to get across to the other side. You see your future waiting for you over there, but there's no way to reach it. You big to call for help, hoping someone in a boat will hear you and take you across. You feel so alone. Where are your friends and family when you need them the most?

You being to stomp your foot and beat your fists against the nearest tree. You should, "What's happening? Five minutes ago I was so happy - now this!" You throw yourself down on the bank. You feel as though your heart has been torn out and thrown into the murky water, to be washed away downstream in the foam.

The tears continue to fall for days, weeks, years it seems. But, finally, out of total brokenness you being to llok for the friend you abandoned at first sight of that horrible river. You don't take many steps before you see him sitting there. As your eyes meet his, your very soul suddenly overflows with feelings of love, peace, and acceptance.

"I've been waiting for you," he says. "I know the way across the river. Will you trust me to deliver you safely to the other side?" Words cannot form in your mouth, so you silently slip your hand into his, assuring him that yes, you are ready.

He begins to lead you along the shoreline and it isn't long before you see a path across the water leading to the other side. Stones! A path of stepping stones! Why hadn't you seen those before? Finally, there is a bridge across the troubled waters. There, just waiting for you, are the hopes and dreams of a lifetime.

He steps out first. How comforting it is to know that he goes before you. Time passes slowly. It seems you've been stepping from stone to stone for a very lont time, so you strain to see around your leader, wanting to know how much farther you have to go. In doing so, you los your balance and slip off the rock into the churning water. He quickly turns, reaches down, and draws you out of danger. You're thankful he doesn't rebuke you for your impatience and lack of trust in his ability and promise to get you safely to the other side. He just smiles and says, "Follow me!"

As time drags on you again begin to wonder when you'll ever reach your destination. You think to yourself, If I look back to see how far we have come, maybe that will encourage me to keep the faith. So you stop and look behind you.

You can't believe your eyes! You look to the left and then to the right! There are people behind you - men and women all plodding along on paths to get to the other side. Where did they all come from?, your heart cries. Where were they when I felt so alone?

You position yourself on the stone beneath you so you can see these fellow travelers more clearly. You begin to realize that not all pathways are the same. Some paths seem shorter than others. Some are straight and others crooked. Just to your left you see a woman practically running across her stones, not taking the careful, slow steps you must take in order not to slip or fall. Why, her stones are much closer together than yours - no wonder! How unfair! She will reach the other side long before you will and you started out before she did!

You decide you must speak to the Lord about this. You carefully turn forward again and there he stands, on the stone right in front of yours - patiently waiting for you to continue your journey. You are surprised at the bitter and selfish words that flow out of your mouth but, after all, "This isn't fair!" He listens and, when you are finished, gently says, "The stones I have chosen for your brothers and sisters are not your concern. You follow me!" He stretches out his hand and once again you relinquish your hand into his care and allow him to guide you across.

It seems forever, but you finally reach the other side. As you wearily step onto the bank you look behind you. Your heart is filled with compassion for those still stepping from stone to stone. You hear the Lord say, "My child, if you could share with them how to make their journey easier, their burden lighter, what would you tell them?"

Thinking for a moment you reply, "Lord, I'd tell them that even though the stones you have chosen for them seem too many in number or too far apart for their stride, if they will only keep their hand in your hand, neither looking to the left nor to the right, but gazing steadfastly in front of them, then you will guide them safely over each stone until they reach the desires of their hearts."

-Janet Malcom
©2006 Bethany Christian Services

The Blues

2007-05-21T16:57:00.000+08:00

I was listening to Eric Clapton and BB King's Riding with the King and I recalled reading Blues for Dummies once in a bookstore on how you should/should not sing the blues. It was just plain hilarious because it's not like you can sing the blues about anything under the sun, there were some requirements and it usually involves the more tragic and ironic side of life. But too bad I couldn't recall much about it.

So I googled "how to sing the blues" and found something equally if not more hilarious on the subject matter, though this is actually meant as a joke, I think it does showcase some of the requirements of singing the blues.

I won't get to the nitty-gritty of what is blues all about, how to play it (music theory etc), flattened fifths/sevenths, dominant seventh, history of blues, blues styles etc. I guess I'll save that for another entry (if I'm hardworking enough).

But of course, this comes with no offense intended to you blues lovers out there. Personally, I'm one too, and in short, amongst the many musical genres out there, blues (besides jazz) to me is the epitome of musical expression and creativity. And blues is not always about the good things in life or even happy-ever-after love, it's reminds us of the harsh realities/tragedies of life which is not always a bed of roses, and gives us an avenue to express our daily struggles and ironies.

Ok here we go. And as a reminder, please take this with a pinch of salt :-)

How To Sing the Blues
from BluesGuide.com

1. Most Blues begin “woke up this morning.”

2. “I got a good woman” is a bad way to begin the Blues, unless you stick something nasty in right away:
I got a good woman—with the meanest face in town.

3. Blues are simple. After you have the first line right, repeat it. Then find something that rhymes. Sort of.
I got a good woman—with the meanest face in town.
I got a good woman—with the meanest face in town.
She got teeth like Margaret Thatcher and she weighs 500 pounds.

4. The Blues are not about limitless choice. You stuck in a ditch, you stuck in a ditch; ain't no way out.

5. Blues cars are Chevies, Cadillacs and broken-down trucks. Other acceptable Blues transportation modes include Greyhound buses and southbound trains. Walkin’ plays a major part in the Blues lifestyle. So does fixin’ to die. Blues don't travel in Volvos, BMWs, or SUVs. Jet aircraft and state-sponsored motor pools ain't even in the running.

6. Adults sing the Blues. Teenagers can’t sing the Blues. They ain't fixin' to die yet. In the Blues, "adulthood" means old enough to get the electric chair when you shoot that man in Memphis.

7. You can have the Blues in New York City, but not in Brooklyn or Queens. Hard times in Vermont, Tucson, or North Dakota are just depression. The best places to have the Blues are still Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City. You cannot have the blues in any place that don't get rain.

8. A man with male pattern baldness ain't the blues. A woman with male pattern baldness is. Breaking your leg while skiing is not the blues. Breaking your leg when your broken-down pickup truck rolled over on it is.

9. The following colors do not belong in the Blues: violet, beige, mauve (unless you’re truly desperate for a rhyme).

10. You can’t have the Blues in an office or a shopping mall. The lighting is just plain wrong. Go outside to the parking lot or sit by the dumpster.

11. Good places to have the Blues: the highway, a jailhouse, an empty bed, the bottom of a whiskey glass. Bad places to have the Blues: ashrams, gallery openings, weekends in the Hamptons, golf courses, Tiffany's, and Ivy League institutions.

12. No one will believe it’s the Blues if you wear a suit, unless you happen to be an old black man—and it’s an old black suit.

13. Do you have the right to sing the Blues?
Answer “Yes” if:
a. your first name is a southern state—like Georgia
b. you’re blind
c. you shot a man in Memphis.
d. you can’t be satisfied.
e. you're older than dirt
Answer “No” if:
a. you once were blind but now can see.
b. you’re deaf
c. the man in Memphis lived.
d. you have a trust fund or an IRA.
e. you have all your teeth
f. you were once blind but now can see

14. Blues is not about color, it's about bad luck. Tiger Woods cannot sing the blues; Gary Coleman could. Ugly old white people got a leg up on the blues. Julio Iglesias and Barbra Streisand will never sing the Blues.

15. If you ask for water and your baby gives you gasoline, it’s the Blues. Other acceptable Blues beverages are: wine, whiskey, muddy water, beer, black coffee.
Blues beverages are NOT: mixed drinks, kosher wine, sparkling water, Snapple, Starbucks Frappuccino, or Slim Fast. Although Rubber Biscuits and the Wish Sandwich are famous blues snacks, better stick to common blues grub like Greasy Bar-b-que, Fatback and beans, and Government cheeze.
Blues food is NEVER: Club sandwich, Sushi, or Crème brule.

16. If it occurs in a cheap motel or a shotgun shack, it’s a Blues death. Stabbed in the back by a jealous lover is a Blues death. So is substance abuse, the electric chair, or being denied treatment in an emergency room. It is not a Blues death to die during liposuction or from tennis elbow.

17. Excellent names for female Blues singers: Sadie, Big Momma, Bessie, or Fat River Dumpling. Excellent names for male Blues singers: Willie, Joe, Little Willie, Lightning, or Big Willie. Singers with names like Muffy, Sierra, Auburn, Alexis, Gwenyth, Sequoiz, Brittany or Rainbow are not permitted to sing the Blues, no matter how many men they shoot in Memphis.

18. The Build Your Own Blues Singer Name Starter Kit:
a. Name of physical infirmity (Blind, Cripple, Lame, Asthmatic)
b. First name (from above lists) or name of fruit (Lemon, Lime, Kiwi)
c. Last name of a U. S. president (Jefferson, Johnson, Fillmore, etc.)
Examples: Blind Lime Jefferson, Cripple Kiwi Fillmore, etc. (Okay, maybe not "Kiwi"…)

19. I don't care how tragic your life; if you own a computer, you cannot sing the Blues.
You'd best destroy it. Fire, a spilled bottle of Mad Dog, or shotgun.
Maybe your big ass woman just done sit on it. I don't care

20. Hey there, you can READ! This too be a big ol' problem. Most folks singin' the Blues ain't never had much a chance for education. In the Blues… the three R's stand for Railroads, Runnin' and Rehab.

21. It gots to be dark to sing the blues, preferably after midnight. Singin' da blues at noon is forbidden.

22. If none of the above works, try one last, pathetic stab at authenticity: name your guitar. Remember, Lucille is taken.

23. Epitaph on a blues musician's tombstone: "I didn't wake up this morning"

Sympathy

2007-05-15T12:19:00.001+08:00

I was watching the Goo Goo Dolls performing live in Buffalo on DVD when something that Johnny Rzeznik said before he started singing this song struck me.

"... it is something we all need once in a while but should never ask for."

Very well put I would say, and I certainly agree with him. Everybody needs a little sympathy once in a while but never in any circumstances should one demand or request to be sympathized with.

I started listening to the Dolls since I was in highschool during the late nineties when they were making a big hit with Name. Name became the signature sound/style for their songs even till today: an acoustic guitar with unusual/non-standard tunings which is rhythmically strummed, alternating between open or partially open chords with some varying basslines. Having non-standard tunings allows chords to be voiced in the open or unfretted position with minimal note fretting thus giving the Dolls the characteristic full sounding or sometimes shimmering chord voicings (due to the open strings) which I personally love so much. And of course, Johnny Rzeznik's husky voice, never fails to infuse the songs with emotions and feelings. Try listening to Iris or Black Balloon and you'll get my point.

I can't seem to find the live version of this song on YouTube but I'm putting the video here instead, it's a really nice acoustic song, perfect for sing-along sessions. And of course here are the lyrics.

Sympathy - Goo Goo Dolls

Stranger than your sympathy
And this is my apology
I killed myself from the inside out
And all my fears have pushed you out

And I wished for things that I don’t need
(all I wanted)
And what I chased won’t set me free
(all I wanted)
And I get scared but I’m not crawlin’ on my knees

Oh, yeah
Everything’s all wrong, yeah
Everything’s all wrong, yeah
Where the hell did I think I was?

And stranger than your sympathy
Take these things, so I don’t feel
I’m killing myself from the inside out
And now my head’s been filled with doubt

We’re taught to lead the life you choose
(all I wanted)
You know your love’s run out on you
(all I wanted)
And you can’t see when all your dreams aren’t coming true

Oh, yeah
It’s easy to forget, yeah
When you choke on the regrets, yeah
Who the hell did I think I was?

And stranger than your sympathy
And all these thoughts you stole from me
And I’m not sure where I belong
And no where’s home and no more wrong

And I was in love with things I tried to make you believe I was
And I wouldn’t be the one to kneel before the dreams I wanted
And all the dark and all the lies were all the empty things disguised as me

Mmm, yeah
Stranger than your sympathy
Stranger than your sympathy
Mmm hmmm mmm

This song is available on their 2002 studio album Gutterflower.

Also check out their live performance DVD - the Goo Goo Dolls : Live in Buffalo. This is one truly unique performance because it began to rain cats and dogs in the middle of the set. Instead of stopping, the band just kept on playing thru the rain, much to the delight of the fans while still sounding really good.

An Evening at the Beach

2007-05-08T09:53:00.000+08:00

Some friends of mine visited Penang last week and we spent some time hanging out at the beach in Tanjung Bungah during one of the evenings. It's actually the beachfront for Crown Jewel Hotel and Paradise Sandy Beach Resort that is actually open to the public too. You can reach the beach either through the hotels or like us though the housing area just adjacent to the hotels.

Good company

Well the beach is quite a far cry from having crystal clear waters and white sands but being in the middle of an urban sprawl, I guess even having a beach is already a luxury. But nevertheless it was quite relaxing to just sit on the beach with some good friends, I guess it's the company that counts.

Good friends :P

Alright off to some pictures. I took them using my P&S Panasonic FX-9. They could be a little underexposed, due to the cloudy weather that we were under that evening. All pictures here have been resized to 640x480 pixels.

I love this shot

Something is wrong here

Trying to take everything in

This is actually a posed shot

Gonna miss you guys

5 Obsessions

2007-04-23T12:38:00.000+08:00

My first tag since I started blogging. Frankly, I've always thought these things are a little corny, but what the heck, there's a first time for everything.

I'm supposed to reveal 5 things that I'm most obsessed with and I think I have to really try my best on this.

1. Tidyness - I have to admit, I'm a neat freak, I like everything to be in order. And having things in a less orderly fashion would somehow irritate/stress me out, makes me feel that something is wrong somewhere. It's something like the Roy Waller character played by Nicholas Cage in the Matchstick Men. But of course not to Roy's extent of having an OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) towards tidyness. He'll start to vomit and even have seizures whenever he sees things in a non-orderly fashion. Let's just say, like how Roy would put it "I've got things in a certain way, and that's it." To sidetrack, watch Matchstick Men, it's good :)

2. Comprehensiveness - I have this thing for wanting to know the big picture about something before I can actually make any decisions/progress on it. For example, making a purchase on something. I would read/ask/research/surf until I feel (read: substantial amount of time) I've had sufficient knowledge on the subject matter before I actually make the decision. I practice this too in my workplace, good in sense that you would really get to know more, but somehow I think it would take away a lot decisiveness and forward-progress, especially if time is a critical factor. This is something I would like to improve upon: being decisive with the information at hand.

3. Guitars and their associated electronics - As far as I can remember, I don't recall how I came to have this obsession, but I guess it must've been watching too much G3 live performances on DVDs and visiting jemsite too much. So whenever I see a guitar, I'll try to figure out the model, the pickup configurations, the bridge, and whenever I see live performances I always like to take note of their gear, ie. effect pedals, amplifiers, head, which position his pickup switch is in etc etc. And window-shopping at music shops, casual chats with guitar techs and jamming sessions are a sure way for me to pass my time when I'm bored. Personally, as a guitar player, I've always looked to upgrade/improve my rig but any musician would know that they don't come cheap :(. And of course, some purists argue that the tone is in the fingers but... the GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) is always there.

4. Good music - Can't live without music, and they have to be in good quality, so I guess no pirated CDs for me. Properly-encoded (no clicks, no extra EQing - no heart-thumping lows or ear-piercing highs, decent bitrates) MP3s are ok, but I would still prefer CDs anytime.

5. The Internet - Best thing since sliced bread. Like Sarah's obsession with coffee, I have mine with the Internet. Like coffee it too can cause withdrawal symptoms because it arises out of the lack of information from the Internet. Living in the Information Age bombards us with lots of information and we have learned to take it as an essential part of our lives, and which failing to receive will cause with varying effects on different individuals ie. moodiness, feeling blue, loneliness, anxiety, tendency to snap at people, anger; that can only be cured by an undetermined dose of web-surfing, MMORPG-ing, forum browsing, instant messaging, news reading, and blog-writing. Undetermined because like I said earlier, the symptoms and their required cures vary from individual to individual. I have to admit that the Internet has been an important part of my life and yours too I believe.

I think that's enough obessions to keep me busy for a while. Who would I tag? I hope I have enough looking at my not-so-long friends' list. I think I'll just tag 3 people :D

1. A NBTD Beach Boy - bruce
2. pENguiN~
3. tales of a hard twig and two rocks - yengs

Signing off.

My VisualDNA

2007-03-20T12:46:00.000+08:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

I got this survey off Sarah's blog, and found it to be pretty interesting. It uses pictures to assess your personality and I found that their description of me could be quite accurate. In summary,

My mood : Sophisticat
They like to live the high life; mixing in the right circles; always look their best; they like to impress and make an impact.

My Fun : Escape Artist
They are forever slipping off, getting away from the rat race, and recharging those batteries. Independent, and thoughtful, they know themselves well.

My Habits : New Wave Puritan
They are strict, organized and ever so neat, they practice the art of self-discipline. They like things done simply but with an eye for detail.

My Love : Touchy Feeley
Love for them is about human contact - the nitty gritty. They are very physical - a high sex drive (hoho!!!) demands plenty of attention.

You can read more about those personalities and what each picture selected roughly represents by clicking on Read my VisualDNA at the bottom of the widget, or even assess yourself by getting your own VisualDNA.

Real Life Starcraft/Broodwar

2007-03-07T16:44:00.001+08:00

I was searching for some video replays of Starcraft on YouTube when I stumbled across these two very hilarious videos, but of course you'll need to be a Starcraft fan to be able to appreciate them.

Well, here you go. They were both made by the same group of people. Try not to laugh too loud if you are watching this in the office, and you'll need to put on your earphones, cos' the sound effects may be a little disturbing.

Real Life Starcraft

Real Life Broodwar

I don't know about you, but watching this does bring back many fond gaming memories of yesteryears.

Sony Ericsson Z550i

2007-01-24T09:04:00.000+08:00

My very first clamshell phone (right). Bought it just two days ago to replace my aging SE-T610 candybar phone, an older family member of this new one. I got a pretty good deal trading in the SE-T610, which according to the warranty sticker will turn three this coming February, which makes me think, that's quite a long time since I last changed my cellphone.

This is my fourth cellphone so far, and below in chronological order, is what I've owned before this.

1. Nokia 3210
My first cellphone, used it during my undergraduate days.
Used it for almost 3 years before I traded it in because the battery was failing.
Damn those NiMH batteries.

2. Motorola T191
Small and compact, only managed to use it for 2 years before the battery started failing too.
NiMH again :P

3. Sony Ericsson T610

By far the most expensive phone I've ever paid for to date, but honestly this is a very good phone, feature-packed and almost considered state-of-the-art for its price range back then.
My first colour screen and camera-fitted phone.
Replaced because the mini-joystick and keypad was starting to malfunction, not a battery problem this time, thanks to the much better Li-Ion batteries.

Sidetracking a little here, having owned cellphones from different manufacturers namely Nokia, Motorola and Sony-Ericsson in my case, I would like to comment a little on the user-friendlyness of the GUI. I conclude that Nokia has the best GUI, followed closely by Sony-Ericsson. And I have to sadly say that Motorola's GUI is difficult if not frustrating to use, at least for the T191 model that I was using.

So, when I went shopping for a new phone, my first criteria was no more candybar phones, because if you've noticed, all my previous phones were in that form factor. So I decided to switch camps and be a clamshell owner instead.

My phone wishlist...
1. Spend no more than RM800 for the new phone, preferably with a trade-in
2. Speaker-phone function - ala the Apprentice
3. Decent camera - anything nowadays is better than the one the T610 has
4. Looks - not too flashy or fashionable; and has to be masculine to some extent :P
5. Ergonomic and responsive keypad - important for texting sprees and hehe gaming
6. Sufficient screen real-estate - clamshells can inherently house bigger screens due the fact that they are folded over, and a larger screen will not increase the overall device size tremendously
7. Memory card expansion - I'm sure it'll come in handy one day
8. Intuitive and user-friendly GUI

Alright.... I did the list after I got the phone :P . In that case, I guess that list would be what I like MOST about the phone.

After setting up the GPRS profile and personalizing the phone (and also some RMs poorer due to downloads :P) I can say that this phone is a real pleasure to use, mainly because it had those 8 points stated above. However, for those who require 3G, I will have to disappoint you in that this phone is not 3G-capable.

Ok, off to some actual pictures

My almost 3-year old SE-T610, I'm gonna miss it

Top view - SE-Z550i, closed flip

SE-Z550i, open flip

More info on the Sony Ericsson Z550i
Z550i Product Page from Sony Ericsson's official website
Z550i Review on mobile-review.com

The Bear and the Cat

2007-01-19T16:25:00.000+08:00

There once lived a bear and a cat. The bear was known for its ferocity and bad temper while the cat was notorious for its slyness and cunning (it's always trying to do something behind the bear's back). For some unknown reasons, these two animals lived together, sharing food and a cave which they took shelter in during the night.

One late night, as the cat was watching TV, it felt hungry and quietly took some food from their fridge to chew on (the bear prohibits snacking after mealtimes). And the cat has always had this craving for chocolate (even more prohibited, in fact it was illegal :P). In the meantime, the bear was sound asleep.

All of a sudden, the bear woke up and from the corner of its eye, caught a glimpse of the cat watching TV and to its dismay, noticed that the cat's mouth was moving, most definitely chewing on something. It hollered, "Cat, what are you eating?"

Ooops, the cat knew it was in trouble and had to come up with something quick. Taking advantage of the fact that the bear was an unusually heavy sleeper, it said, "You're dreaming, bear! Go back to sleep".

The bear, not buying into any of this, immediately got up and looked at the cat in the eye. Its keen sense of smell began to go to work at once. "You stupid cat, that's chocolate you've been eating........!"

I leave the rest up to your imagination.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Professional Gaming

2007-01-04T12:27:00.000+08:00

Fire in the hole!!!

I stumbled upon this article on TwitchGuru, telling us some of our misconceptions on professional gamers. To the not-so-gaming inclined, professional gamers are people who game for a living, taking computer gaming to the next level by competing in international tournaments and competitions with very very lucrative prizes (often in tens of thousands of USD).

Professional gamers are usually very competent in the game that they specialize in, and will most definitely, in netspeak, pwn your usual cybercafe ali, ah kow and raju. In some sense, we can almost equate them to the professional sportsmen which we always watch on ESPN, only that instead hitting/kicking something around (almost all sports involve that in one way or another) in the field or court, their sport can be played from the comfort of their bedroom by staring at a square screen accompanied by a two (sometimes more) button rodent and an array of clicking keys. Often you will need a broadband connection to be able to participate. However, usually for competitive gaming, they are usually held in large halls or convention centres.

Some professional gamers in action, there's actually a chick there :P

As much as their sportsmen counterparts, professional gamers have their fair share of glamour, both in the virtual and the real world, some of then even become celebrities and endorsers of products. I've come across some professional gamers endorsing the two-button rodents I've mentioned earlier and the surfaces in which they thrive on, and I think the list goes on. Heck, there are even dedicated sports channels that highlight the recent events in the professional gaming scene.

I'm only going to put the headlines. You can read the rest here.

10 Things You Didn't Know about Professional Gaming
10. Pro gamers aren't geeks - they are jocks
9. There are female pro gamers - for once, you can meet chicks while being good at CS or DotA
8. Trash-talking is the air, and so is sportsmanship
7. Pro gamers retire earlier than tennis players - how early do tennis players retire? Can somebody tell me?
6. Pro gaming has its own sports media - something like ESPN for gamers
5. Stats are more than just wins and losses - and they are confusing - not surprising cos' even badminton has stats nowdays
4. Pro gamers are divided over the games - some like vanilla, some chocolate
3. Pro gaming has stars - and you thought I was pulling your legs
2. Heated rivalries are ablaze
1. It really isn't about the money - really???

Time to brush up my Quake 3 railing skills :P

The Cat

2006-12-05T13:03:00.000+08:00

A very typical mackerel Malaysian cat

"The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is valued by humans for its companionship and its ability to destroy vermin. A skilled predator, the cat is known to hunt over 1,000 species for food. Intelligent, the cat can be trained to obey simple commands, and has been known to teach itself to manipulate simple mechanisms" - more in Wikipedia

I also got to know that cats have been around humans for at least 9,500 years and in ancient Egypt they are worshipped as gods and the best part, back then one had to observe special mourning and burial fomalities if one's household cat were to pass away. That might include mummification and shaving of one's eyebrows, like how one would handle the passing of a family member. On the extreme, killing a cat, unintentionally or otherwise would result in a death penalty to the perpetrator.

But, there were also times where cats were put into a bad light. We all know how cats are associated with witches (especially the black ones), devildry and ill luck. If you have read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, there is a scene where Tom and Huck actually carries out a so-called witch's ritual to cure warts by bringing a dead cat to the graveyard in the middle of the night. And of course we all know the consequences of having a black cat cross your path.

In short, cats to a certain extent have been both revered and vilified by different cultures. For many people, it's either that you like them to bits or you totally disgust them.

I have to admit, I love cats and if I can't convince you to like them, at least read why I do.

Top 10 List on why I love cats (in no particular order)
1. Cats are hygenic because they self-groom
2. Cats do not take up much space - they can fit in very small spaces
3. Cats are independent
4. Cats do not smell bad when they are wet ;-)
5. Cats are ever so graceful
6. Cats have personality - some are aloof, some sophisticated, some condescending, some indifferent
7. Cats don't look dumb, at least most of 'em.
8. Cats have nine lives?
9. Cats can catch mice (and many other things), if they want to :-)
10. Cats can show their affection for you without slobbering all over you :P

But on top of all this, I do really hope that cats wouldn't scratch around that much, though I think that is much of that is pure instinct. Maybe few more thousand years of evolution might change that.

What about you? Leave a comment, on what you adore (or hate) when it comes to humankind's somewhat popular feline.

Some random kitties...

A very uniquely coloured kitten

The same cat you saw at the beginning of the post

This one looks so cosy with its paws tucked under

Don't look back in anger

2006-11-27T16:18:00.000+08:00

What's the story morning glory? (1995)

Don't believe the truth (10 years later - 2005)

NO, this is not a rant post.

It is just one of my favourite songs back in the 1990s from Oasis. I recently picked up their latest studio album, Don't Believe The Truth and listening to them kinda makes me think back when I first listened to them back in 1996. What's The Story Morning Glory was my first Oasis album, and was their second. During then, songs like Wonderwall and Don't Look Back in Anger were almost staple on the radiowaves, you can almost always hear them on the air whenever you turn the radio on.

Oasis were somewhat a breakthrough for their time, bringing Brit-pop to another level with their unique songs melodies and lyrics admist bands like Radiohead, Suede, Blur and Ash (remember Girl from Mars?) Morning Glory propelled them into the fame that they would ride on for 4 or more studio albums. I have always likened Oasis to The Beatles, due to their lyrics and song melodies.

I have this uncanny liking towards Britpop bands, their unique music being one of the reasons but I think it's their British accent that gives their song that little extra something. If you were to go thru my CD collection, there are some other British bands like Suede, Ash, Coldplay, Travis etc there too. And though some might resent the British accent, I like them as much as I like the songs that they come together with.

Oasis was special to me because listening to their songs made me pick up guitar playing seriously, I had just began to pick up guitar then and wasn't too good at it. Playing their songs really gave me a lot of chord changing exercises, and helped me practice various open chords and the dreaded barre chords. Coupled with their easy to sing lyrics and melodies, Oasis gave me and many new guitarists, I suppose, something fun to play and sing along with. I even performed with some friends on stage once singing some of their songs, and had a lot of fun doing it.

But why Oasis but not other bands?

If you haven't noticed, Oasis' songs almost always have an acoustic guitar accompaniment, and this allows the song to sound pretty good even if played unplugged. That allows anybody with an acoustic guitar to sound almost like them. And it's no surprise here that some of their best recorded performances are their unplugged sessions with just vocals and acoustic guitar. There are some bootleg CDs of their acoustic performances and I suggest that you check them out if you haven't because they are really worth listnening to.

I was quite a big fan then, and to date have collected all of their albums except Standing on the Shoulder of Giants which I think is a really weak album and deserves a miss.

Oasis made it pretty big back then, partly due to their music and also partly due to the antics of the band members, notably Liam and Noel. They were notorious for bad conduct and offensive bahaviour and remarks. They even had some trouble with the law, but in retrospect which famous artiste doesn't in one way or another.

Well, for this latest CD, I'm still trying to find the Morning Glory sound out of it, that's my benchmark because I think by far that's the best Oasis album. Don't Believe the Truth has the usual gritty sound but, still lacks what it takes to be another Morning Glory. The one track that to some extent relate, was Track 11 - Let There Be Love. Strummed guitar and vocals here carry the Oasis sound that we can all relate to.

Oasis has come quite a long way since Definitely Maybe and critics say that this could their better albums since Be Here Now (3rd studio album), which I have yet to agree with. If you haven't why not check it out at your local record store and tell me what you like or dislike about it?

Get more Oasis info here - Oasis Official Website
More on my favourite Oasis album - What's the Story Morning Glory from Wikipedia

My Oakley Journey - Part Uno

2006-10-22T22:36:00.000+08:00

My craze for Oakleys started a couple of years ago, when I started wearing contact lenses. Being a short-sighted person, wearing spectacles all this while has kind of put me off wearing sunglasses because firstly, it was quite costly getting prescription sunglass lenses and clip-ons or magnet-ons (or whatever you call those) didn't really appeal to me.

So, there I was at an eyeware shop, looking at what options that I had for sunglasses, which I found that that there were just endless possibilities and choices and at that moment I had to admit, I had almost zero knowledge for all the relevant nomenclature. That somewhat made me a little reserved while making enquiries, while at the same time trying to get as much information as possible.

I could somewhat remember trying out a models from different brands which included RudyProject, Adidas, Nike and of course Oakley. Somehow, the Oakleys left a lasting impression on me from then on. Must have been their more radical/loud and industrial design, coupled with their many frame options and colours and most importantly, their iridium-coated lenses which I think are just a class above the rest in terms of their colour and build. Drop by any outlet with Oakleys and I bet it's the lenses that would get your attention first ;-)

I ended up spending most of my time trying out as many Oakley designs as possible, and getting confused in the end because there were just so many models to choose from. Being a first timer, I had no idea there were just so many to choose from. I only vaguely remember trying out some Minutes, Romeos, Juliets, Splices, XXs, Half-Jackets and some other models which I cannot recall. What stuck in me the most was the astronomical price tag which they carried which commanded a minimum figure of RM600 for the lower-end o-matter frames (high-grade plastic) to maybe around RM1,500 or MORE for the higher-end x-metal (titanium alloy) frames.

I did not buy anything on that visit, there were just too many to choose from and to me at that time, RM600 for a pair of sunglasses was just outrageous. Furthermore, I dislike making puchases on someting which I have very little knowledge about without having done some research on the internet to get some opinions and views.

On and off, I would drop by selected eyeware shops (not every eyeware shop has the priviledge or afford to carry Oakleys in their shelves) just to gaze at their models, and to make some general enquiries; mainly just to check the prices and to see how low could the seller go down to for a particular model. Thru this, I've managed to put together a better idea of what Oakley has on the shelves and also their price points, and at the same time able to recognize and identify at a glance, some of their more famous models like the Juliets, Half-Jackets and Romeos etc.

Up till that point, I had yet to find a particular model that would be suitable for me, partly causing me unable to actually make a purchase. Given the very radical design for Oakley models, it was quite a task to find the right pair, sometimes the frame would fit, but the colour was not that suitable or vice-versa, and most of the time it would not fit at all. Having to cost so much, I had better make sure that they fit me perfectly before I actually buy them. But many would agree with me that most of the time it is the price tag that would put many people off, no matter how good the sunnies look on them.

Somehow that perception changed.

Colossal Satriani

2006-09-12T12:23:00.000+08:00

Super Colossal is Satriani's latest piece of work, released couple of months back. The albume theme brings back some of his other-worldy and sci-fi, obvious in albums such as Is there Love in Space and Engines of Creation.

Guitars in this album have the vintage/warm and round sound even on the heavier numbers, which makes easier on the ears for prolonged listening. Fans will quickly associate the tone with that of this previous 2 studio albums, a departure from his 80's tone that fans grew up with on his much earlier works.

Joe plays everything on this album except for the drums and percussions, and I think it was a job well done.

Overall this album stays true to the Satriani signature of being virtuoso but yet melodic at the same time. One thing that Satriani never fails to do is to produce some really catchy numbers in every album that you can easily whistle/hum to giving it a 'singable' factor, which kind of makes the tune stick in your head for days.

Some of my favourite tracks include
Just Like Lightning, lots of wah usage here
Redshift Riders, a Oriental/Phrygian sounding piece,
Ten Words, one you can whistle/hum to, an inspiring tune.
One Robot's Dream, has some synth, has a nice jam section
The Meaning of Love, has a dreamy feel to it, reminds me of Until We Say Goodbye
Made of Tears, another interesting oriental tune, gotta love the accompaniment, very middle-eastern

The other tracks are so-so but thats just me. Maybe I need some more listening time to soak it in. Overall, this is one of his better albums since Crystal Planet, not I didn't enjoy those in between.

If you are listening to Joe for the first time, listen to Crystal Planet to start off with to decide if Joe is your cup to tea. Better still try out The Electric Joe Satriani - An Anthology compilation which collects all his hits, to at least give you a bird's eye view of Satriani's works.

For die hard fans (like me), this is will be another album to add into your Satch collection.

For more info on Satch's works, go here Joe Satriani's Official Website Discography