Oh!pEnions: March 2007

Network Cable Tracer B

So, after rummaging dozens of boxex, I found an IC Socket. So, I desoldered the 4017 IC and used an IC socket. Ha ha ha ha!

This is the circuit board with the "broken" 4017 IC

This is the where I soldered an IC socket before
putting in another 4017 IC. But I need to replace
one of the LEDs too. Well, when I have the time la

All done! It works 99.5%

This is my other Network Cable Tracer which is
working fine. Notice anything similar?
I do not like this one much because it
uses a slide switch to switch it on and
to control the "fast" & "slow" modes

Network Cable Tracer A

Another one of those important tools. Although I seldom use this since I dealt more with Telcos, I still need to have it. It will tell you if the cable is faulty or not in a few seconds.

The seller was generous enough to give me
a free 9volt battery too as these beasts use
them like nobody's business because most
of the time, we forget to switch them off

Why I got this one was because of its design
and also the power switch located at the side
compared to others which is a slide switch.
Also, another bonus is that the tester has an
adjustable speed instead of the "Fast" & "Slow"
settings on most testers

This means, I can test at my own pace.
I just love blinking LEDs

Then I stupidly plugged into the telephone jack
where the voltage destroyed the IC. Oh well, I
think the IC is a 4017 which I can replace but
I have to find an IC socket so that I can change
it whenever it burns out again, compared to the
other testers which uses SMT, is a pain in the
backside to remove and solder

Continued next post

Blinking Lighter

Sometimes when I go fill up the car with petrol, I would scan the counter for new lighters. Usually, there are the normal RM1 lighters and then there are the more expensive lighters which has an LED to act as a mini light. Sometimes, they even include a compass as well. But this time, they have blinking LEDs which caught my eye. So, I bought one on the spot. Mind you, its not cheap either as they costs RM2.50 and not only that, I need to find a smoker to finish the gas before I can finally take it apart for the circuit without having it exploding in my hands.

Also, Kenny (Agrillon from SFTPMS) the lighter is RM2.50 and not RM1.00. Sorry

In less than one second, the three LEDs flashed
This is the red LED

The Orange LED

And the Blue LED

For the White LED, you'd have to push the button

Satria 3D Effect

This morning, I saw this Satria with raised pattern
maybe when it is done, it would look quite nice

Restoran Yuen Buffet Stimbot C

At after nine, there are still may people waiting
for their tables outside. Luckily, the no one is
rushing for the chicken wings anymore. But
unluckily, we're too full to take them too

Address:
32A-1, Jalan PJS 8/6
Mentari Plaza, Bandar Sunway
46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel:016-2086678, 56375825

Restoran Yuen Buffet Stimbot B

OK, eveything's ready! Time to eat!

There are a lot of raw material for you to choose from

But Kristine and I usually go to the Ice Creams

What you're seeing now, are the rush for the chicken wings

Continued next post

Restoran Yuen Buffet Stimbot A

We had another stimbot a week ago, courtesy of Kristine's Uncle. Once in a while, it is ok as I really enjoyed them. The ones I liked was the one with the Chinese Herb soupbase and also a pan for you to fry stuff like luncheon meat. But they are hard to find.

Anyway, Yuen Restoran in Mentari Park (across Sunway Piramid) was chosen. And boy, do believe me when I say there are a lot of people. Luckily, we did put in a reservation which shortened our waiting time to just a few minutes. For those who did not, they had to wait in line and sometimes, for more than half an hour. Still the staff placed some chairs for them.

The restaurant took up three floors and every floor was packed, especially with families and also a lot of mid-20's. For you see, a stimbot is not just a meal in itself but also part of a social activity. For me, I just go there for the, well, I am not sure why I got there for anyway. Ha ha ha ha.

But after a while, they all looked the same and this is where Yuen or a certain few others, distinguished itself. Specialty dishes like chicken wings. Yuen's is Chicken Wings in Soya Sauce or something.

Kristine could not wait to start her dinner

So, we had to admonish her

There are a lot of people tonight and this is just the second floor

Why is Yuen Restoran so popular?

Continued next post

LHD Gen2 at the Toll

OK, so I've never seen a Left Hand Drive Gen2 before

Neither have I ever seen a LHD Driver paying on the right hand side

Trip to Kuantan

OK, so, this time, everything is ready and they're nowhere to be found. Which is just great. Sigh

So, I had to deal with the customer, and using best guess, do what is necessary. The lines are still not in yet, as the person in charge is has dengue fever. So, we'll jsut slot in the card, connect up the phones and on Monday, get the main distributor to do a remote programming as there was a problem with the system which we could not rectify.

By the time we dealt with the cabling (or rather, corrected them all since they wired it with different cables for every socket) it was quite late in the evening. But still, there is a nice reward for me. I can drive like an idiot all the way back to KL with all those curvy roads, passing Genting Base, since there were not much cars. And also beating those Camrys, Vios, Mercedes, Wiras at the curves while my technician was as pale as a ghost. Yeah, need to upgrade the suspensions.

And I wonder where they got the dumb-ass
contractor to do the cabling. Although this
socket is new to me, one look would have
indicated that it is still wrongly connected

And unlike conventional connections, this one take
the cables crossed. Well, you know what I mean

Scenery up there

So, this is my second trip to Kuantan after the boo-boo two days ago. On the way, I could not resist in taking these pictures along the highway. Although the sly is cloudy, I decided to take them anyway because I won't know when is my next trip up here.

Its just exposed land, shaped by nature, which sometimes, is quite beautify. And even if you take them with a camera, it will never be the same. How I wished the Sun was shining in the afternoon

Goodbye sttee

While I was in Kuantan, I got a shock when babe_kl SMSed me about sttee's accident. It was a bit saddening, to be so far away and yet, I could not do anything to help. By the time I came back in the evening, the Funeral has already finished and so, because I am not sure of the procedures, I decided not to go to the house (In case I break some pantang, which I usually do)

From the reports, we all know what happened but its no point in debating who is right or wrong as he will never come back. Its a lesson we have learnt, but being a typical Malaysian, we will forget all about it in three weeks time, until another incident happens again.

My theory:
I am not sure about this stretch, but looking at the bridge in the background, there could be an exit. So, the crane broke down near the exit and when the Unser came out of the exit........
I could be wrong but for the sake of friendship, I hope this is right. Because I cannot see him driving the other way.

Image taken from TheStar

You can read more here: The Star and here.

Wasted trip to Kuantan

Arriving here and already given the bad news, my mood was quite topsy-turvy. We were requested by the main-Con to come up as quickly as possible to install the phones. But based on what I saw, obviously, coordination and planning wasn't their forte. Our original schedule was on due to be on the 23rd and not two days before. It is not nice to rush a person all the way up to Kuantan within a day's notice and tell them everything is ready when it is not.

Then we were blamed for the cabling error when they pulled it to the wrong place. I have already stated to them on the meeting a month ago to pull it to the PABX and not to the Telekoms SDF room. But then again, the cabling job was given to them based on their "kulitfication" and they know nuts about cabling. Each trip up there costs us about RM120 and with another staff, it would be close to RM170. You'd think we have too much time on our hands and we're loaded.

The excuse?
I was not there at Kuantan last week to do a site meeting, which is just to repeat my statement to them in KL.

My excuse?
The person in charge told me he is not going and when I called the main-Con many times, I got his personal mailbox.

Moral of the story:
Sometimes, when you bit off more than you can chew, don't blame the toilet for not being accessible when you shit in your pants at the last minute.

Oh, you mean everything is ready now, is it?
How can we do this when the guys are painting
the walls and the cabling's not ready? Oh, you
mean the customer likes paint splattered
phones too? What do you mean you have not
applied for Telekom lines?

You pulled the cable to where? I told you in the
last meeting to pull it to over there, not here.

Snoopy was here. If I took this shot months
ago, it would really looked like that little bird
Now, its all grown fuzzy. My tech beside me
was wondering why I was taking photos in
the middle of the highway.....

In Memoriam

Here lies John Mo Sai Lui
Who lost his J-Card when he got jui
He got stomped till pok pok chui
So, the J-card Sale, he mou tak hui

Peri peri veli Hotti

When I bought this just for fun, I did not
know it would be that hot. But here is the
part where it failed: In the ad, the girls ear
has steam coming out and mine doesn't.
Maybe it only affect girls...........

This would give Twisties a run for their money

Obi-wan's Lightsaber B

Dad: I have assembled it! But son, I still do not know what this is.......

Boy: Never mind, Dad. This is what its supposed to be

Obi-wan's Lightsaber A

Boy: Dad! Dad! Look what we made today!
Dad: What is it?
Boy: We made this at the shop
Dad: At the shop? You do not take that subject, boy.
Boy: Well, it was raining the whole day, so the tutor brought us to the shop
Dad: Well, this is a very nice piece. What is it?

Boy: Its a puzzle, Dad. You have to guess
Dad: Alright. Well, this looks like an opening port of somekind
Boy: You are getting warmer, Dad.

Dad: Hmm, the other side has some locking mechanism, though
Boy: Yep. And here is another piece, Dad.

Dad: Wow. You did this all by yourself, Boy? Its very nice.
Boy: Well, not really, our replacement tutor taught us this

Dad: Well, your craftsmanship is very nice

Continued next post

Bedtime

Kristine is growing up now, and she is already
know how to brush her teeth and also wear
some caps.

And she also knows how to dress herself

Death on the Road

The road from Sungei Buloh towards the old Airport Road is always jammed up. And this has been happening for years. Everytime I get there, I have to make sure other drivers do not cut into my lane on purpose (Ha ha ha ha). Some even drove on the road shoulder just to get there faster. Suddenly, this morning I witnessed some activity at the FRIM.....