Operation Theatre Kronos (1957)

 I've finally found it!

When I was a kid, I was very sure I saw a robot moving by pumping its legs up and down. Actually, it was more like stomping around. And it got me thinking, how can it do that?

From a very young pre-school age, that scene got me figuring how something that can move by just stomping around. No, I did not try it myself because of all that thinking and theorising. As I grew up, that scene slowly faded only pop in and out once in a decade or so. Like all my memories, it kinda mutates itself and for as long as I can remember, the image of a thick black and white piping stomping up and down was the only thing I can remember.

Boy, what a let down. But it was scary for kid like me at that time. Maybe slightly even now.
(Image courtesy of Scrapbook Infinity)

And now, after 4 decades, I finally know what it was. An energy siphoning robot dropped off from a UFO. It was a 1957 Movie. So, now I know I was not dreaming.

20240827 The missing piece

Let's face it. I make a lot of mess wherever I go and I do not like to throw things out.

If you had the chance (not) to look at my old Works Table, what you'd see are just piles and piles of... things. The same is now happening to my new Works Table too. As I like to work on my Projects every night, putting them away before bedtime is a chore. These Projects cannot stop just like that because I know in the next evening, I would be going through them again to see what went wrong and to catch up on my notes. After a while, it can be a chore and annoying. In the end, they had to be left on the table.

A simple Project involves soldering so, out comes the soldering Iron and tools. It also needs programming and out comes the programmer. Then it needs more soldering and well, since hte soldering iron is on the table...

The Missing Piece

One of the pet peeves was missing stuff and this time, a particular plastic piece from the Revell's The Mandalorian Spaceship. It is the front interior wall just next to the toilet. I have lost it long ago and after getting it replaced from Revell, guess what happened?

When it came to designing custom PCB, the physical piece helps in making good fit. So, after the custom PCB arrived and just a few minutes of tinkering, the damn thing disappeared. And that was months ago, almost to a year. I know its somewhere on the Table and not (God forbid) in one of those mountains of model kit boxes. It was not until when I started to really clear the said table last Sunday, that piece mysteriously appeared. On the very area I had searched countless of times before.

It is a very important piece since it is used to hold up a PCB to light the frontal area of the ship (aka the bow). So now, the Razor Crest Project can continue...

Just to be safe, I've kept the piece in my pencil case which *ahem* has been lost for quite a long time. And then promptly forgot where I had placed the whole case since Sunday.

 

20240825 Skip-ing in da Hous

 It is now end of August and we're still moving. We started this since end of May but with most weekends 'dedicated' to other Family errands and stuff, it was really delayed. This was supposed to be done about 3 weekends ago but with a few incidents with the Hospitals and relatives going away permanently, we could not find the time.

Still, we had to make it work and as promised, the skip was delivered on the day before so that we can expedite the whole thing today. It is amazing how much stuff I accumulated in just four decades. Once we got the kids, we even accumulated even more. I can see where I wasted my money on but hey, I was a bachelor at that time...

The house completed its renovation around 2009/10 I think and for the next 24 years, it was filled with a lot of... stuff. Some were bought and mostly we from before. It's so surreal to see the place starting to empty out.

This is the amount of stuff left to clear but it is not mine. Mine was four times more...
OK, I see two Allscript boxes, which are *ahem* mine.

This is my Works Room and it is in shambles. There are so much more stuff which I have forgotten were there. At least I have found back a few parts in the unbelievable amount of small electronic component debris.

I remember buying this more than 2 decades ago, which was meant for Bengmobile I.
Despite the title, I am not going to risk it. In the skip it goes.

Terminator 2 the Apocalypse Edition
Been keeping it and forgotten about it for decades since my purchase in the UK

There were two PAL VHS Tapes inside it.
At the time, T2 was THE movie.

There is no need for these anymore...
One, someone has already done a backpack for the Pack made with PVC pipes and two, no one is interested in Bootleg NERFs anymore.

Pre-Internet reference material. As an Engineer, I used to make sure I get them annually.
The smell and the fresh yet flimsy pages kept me opening it over and over again.

 

Prototype manual from my first Commercial Lighting System, which were for the re-imagined 2003 Battlestar Galactica 1/32 Vipers

I've forgotten I actually has this and it was the only model/ toy that I could tie to the movie. After so long, it is best to return to the original. Still, I want to light this up.

I have no idea why I got this but it was my favourite Bond Car. Maybe it is to compensate myself for not getting the bigger Corgi toy version which has a pop out fins and stuff. Then again, I still have to get the 1/24 scale version if I can.

Some Micronauts Sistem things and Dack Ralther. My Brother and I used to play with Star Wars figures and I painted a small mustache on a Luke Skywalker Pilot to represent Dack.

 

we've been going at it for about 12 hours now. And by then the skip is almost full. There's a lot of things we could not bring with us and so, we have to decide which one is more 'valuable' in terms of memory.

Yeah, I have to shed a lot more stuff. Some of these I have no use for and I am not going to sell them since they are just shelf sitters.

 

20240825 You have chosen... un-wisely

If it was up to me, I would have left the nest alone and let it grow.

But I have a Family and these mud wasps can be potentially dangerous. Still, they are living beings and dies not attack (for now).

Anyway, weeks later, that decision was done for me. I've seen 'fallen' nests at my Dad's house and tried to collect some.

Being naive and stupid. 

20240819 That trailing off irritation

 One of the things I hate and which is becoming more common is the trailing off. I am not sure as to why but this is quite annoying to me. For example, after a meal, I would ask how much is the total bill and the guy goes:

Me: Bro, kira
(kira = please, my kind Sir, I would like to know your compensation for cooking this delicious meal in your kind establishment)

Bro: It is RM9... (mumble)

Me: OK, here is RM9 ringgit

Bro: No, its RM9.20

ME: (WTF) I didn't hear you say that 20 sen!

Bro: Sorry, sorry.

This is a very bad move because to me, that fella is trying to cheat. Imagine what would have happened if I gave him a RM10 note and only to receive coins back. This small thing can add up over time, say, by the end of the day, you would have 'lost' a few Ringgit.

So, the next time, I would shout back, "RM9 is it? You tell me it is RM9, right?"

20240818 The best Car Interior Light in the World

 Ever since I realised VeeChai's courtesy light has burnt, I was on the lookout for a replacement. This time, I preferred something along the lines of NOT being a incandescent bulb. Like any other bulbs, this W5W is not different. It does give you a nice light but at the same time, because it can get hot and affect the clear RM30.00 plastic cover.

Using COBs

I replaced the roof lights in my first Bengmobile quite some time ago and the LEDs were OK. It was not spectacularly bright but it was alright. Fast forward more than a decade later, it is VeeChai's turn. And so, I got this off the Internet or to be more specific, Shopee.

This time, this is a COB (Chip on Board) version as it is supposedly brighter than LEDs.

 

This is a 48 LED version and it comes with at least three different connectors. And this COB is quite thin. The thickness you're seeing are actually the double-sided tape.
Mine was a W5W connector (lower left)

Damn, my roof is dirty after all these years. Anyway, I just need to pry off the cover (from near the switch side) and I can start with the replacement.

The W5W bulb is held by a very strong set of metal connectors. I just have to push the left connector a little to the left and the bulb will drop out. Inserting the W5W adaptor is quite tricky since it is fighting me all the way.

Finally, the COB plate is in and boy, I am so underwhelmed by the 48 LED's brightness.
Actually, two LED elements are out, with another two on its way.

The W5W bulb which is burnt.

The term sucker immediately comes to mind. I need to make the surrounding darker so that I can use the dim COB LEDs... or maybe, cover the whole car with a black cloth instead...

 Summary

So, yeah, I am not too happy about this dim COB. Which means I would need to get another set somewhere. One day. Soon. Maybe.

20240812 Servicing VeeChai or how my MyVi is deteriorating.

 So, I finally got the chance to service my car. Of course I can go to Perodua next door but based on the fact where I am working, it is both expensive and silly. We have hoists and I have bought the necessary Engine Oil and stuff. All I have to do is to wait for the day's cars to be completed and the appropriate permission.

Unfortunately, we could not change the Automatic Transmission Filter as the Oil which I had was not with me.

Underneath, there is a lot of oil which (after much Googling) I surmised it has something to do with the oil filter's adaptor housing. Or rather, its gaskets are failing. So, I would have to get this part ready as doing this before the next oil change would cost me another 4 litres of engine oil. I just hope I am right on this.

It's also time to change the front tyres. I cannot rotate them as they're too far gone. And they're just two and a half months shy of two years.

This time, I am lining the rubber gasket with a little bit of engine oil.

And I am sticking back to Perodua's brand as the one from Saudi Arabia is no longer being imported. That 10Km Engine Oil consistently lets me feel the power and the lightness of the car right up to the next oil change.

 

20240814 How Memory works

Who are you?

I forgot what I was thinking that led me to try to test my own memory. This morning, I was thinking about the names of some colleagues and although I could recall the ones whose faces I can 'see', there were two which escaped me.

So, while driving, I was thinking about this Malay Salesperson. He was always thin and gets 'bullied' by the GM to achieve his sales target. In my view, he was forced to get a Toyota Wish which for that time, required a lot of commitment. I guess this is one way for him to get his Sales and for him to make his Wife Happy. Still, after thinking about it, I could not recall his name. So, I kept on driving since there are not much distraction when you're driving in the dark at 0640 in the morning. And then as I was approaching a corner exit, his name hit me: Azhar.

One down one more to go. This was a chinese chap which always smiles and is quite handsome. He could be the inspiration for the Korean Boys today. Anyway, try as I might, I could not get his name. Even when I was driving back home. After a nice shower, my mind drifter to the quote, "You are right. Tell your sister, you are right." There are then images flashing of Vader as the side of the Emperor, looking at him at this revelation. Then it shifted to Yoda. And Bam! I got his name: Koh Yau Fui.

What?

Try as I might, I could not understand how my mind works. One moment I was thinking of a problem while simultaneously negotiating the current situation. Then I shelved that problem away to think of other things which might help solve the issue such as recalling incidents or other memories which involves that problem. Then I let it go because I felt as if I reached a memory deadend. Then after sometime, or even immediately, Bam!

Yeah, what?

20240808 Replacing VeeChai's door switches

 VeeChai is 12 years old now. And needs a lot of TLC. I know that if I were to send him to a Perodua Workshop, they are going to have a field day quoting a lot of stuff. Heck, they might even ban me from taking him out, maybe declare it unsafe.

I do know the front under-carriage has a problem ever since I had the brakes and tyres changed. I even had the lower arms and other bushings replace but the noise has come back. Anyway, for today's story, I am going to change the door switches.

It took me so long because of my mindset with Shopee after I learned that I can get free shipping just as long as my purchases exceeds RM15.00. I could go to the spare parts shop which I calculated the cost to be about RM3.22 as opposed to the free RM5.00 Shopee shipping. That is, if that shop has the part on a Sunday.

Are the Doors open?

It is quite infuriating when I disarm the alarm from a distance or when I am carrying stuff. After about 30 seconds or so, the alarm will re-arm itself. If I am carrying stuff halfway, with the door opened, I have to act fast to disarm it or else the alarm will go off after a few warning beeps.

For a 12 year old car, it is understandable that the rubber components or the switch itself is not working as it should be. So, it is slow to respond to the door opening or in most cases, not at all.

Replacements won't be in until Tuesday

Well, not really. It arrived on Tuesday. I was a bit busy with errands until it was pointless to replace the switches in the dim evening glow of the Moon (It is now at the waxing crescent phase). A lot of things can happen in the dark...

 

Finally, I got the chance to buy these door switches. It took me so long, the design has changed...

The only tool I needed was a #10 socket wrench. And I always do carry it with me in my bag nowadays because of my job. It allows me to change a typical car battery in less than 10 minutes.

You can pull the switch out as there are extra cables. Do note this only works for the rear doors. You'd have to fight with the front ones as the cables were too short. The cable snaps to the switch and you can just push the locking plastic to free it. For the front switch, make sure you hold the wires when you unlock it or else it will go back into the hole.

Don't worry if there is only one cable. This is normal as the other end would be using the bolt (once you screw it back on) to connect to the car.

All done! The latest switch is slightly smaller and it uses a different rubber design

 I know all four switches works perfectly because I can see the indicator on the front dashboard. I cannot see it from the courtesy light on the roof of the car because... the bulb is broken.