We go Stimboat!

For the weekend, the girls's (one of the) favourite has Auntie come back to stay. And so, as a treat, we all went to a buffet steamboat at Yuen's. Yeah, this is the only place where everyone goes and you have to make phone booking if you want to get a table instead of waiting in the queue. Since the girls were sleeping when it was time to go, we had to go in separate cars. Although it was told that Eason Chan was going to appear at Sunway Pyramid, the jam was a bit heavier than usual but no enough to make us late (by an hour or so, ha ha ha ha)

Kristine's latest funny face

Kaelynn did not bother much and kept on eating.
She loves prawns and like me, are a bit allergic to
them afterwards, as in going itchy all over.

This is one of the props which made Stephen Chow's
"GOD of Cookery". The "Lau Liu Har" I don't know
what's' it called in English. Still this is one of Wifey's
favourites. For me, after taking from the tray for
her, its all so wriggly, I just lost the appetite for it.

But there is a place in Klang where they fry them
with mee-hoon and it was delicious. Teluk Gong, if
I am not mistaken. But now, the place has changed
so much, I can't recognise the correct shop anymore

The leftovers made from Wif...er, us

Halfway through, the girls decided
to go for Ice-creams instead.

And this is also a good time to teach how
not to go hugging people when you have
raw eggs in your pocket............

The passing of a great person

Ever feel like all the roller-coaster rides, the fun stuff and the sweet candies and food you had for days suddenly came to a stop and you felt you have been cheated? Ever realised that those rewards you had were the Consolation prize whereas the real one was given to another person?

This was how I felt yesterday. (Its the feeling and nothing about the prizes)

Because after nine months of Leukemia, my friend's Mom passed away. I was OK until it was time to attend the funeral. Seeing his father for the first time in so many years, it was quite a shock. He has grown so thin, almost like POW. And it was sad because they have sold their family house after my friend got married and moved out. They got a smaller house for the both of them since their children have all moved out. And in less than a month after moving in, she was gone. Now, he will be all alone.

Back when we were young, his Dad was a very strong minded person and his Mom was the pillar of strength supporting all of them. His Dad would keep on pushing him, to strive for the best, study hard and so on. And his Dad really, really worked hard. And his Mom would always be there, advising him and encouraging him. As for his sister, well, she was a girl anyway, in a traditional environment. It was so hard to imagine all this after seeing her for the last time.

And for the rest of the evening, my mind was in a loop, back to the times when were all young kids, nothing to fear and with the knowledge our parents would bail us out.

Now, we are all grown up and in time, re will replace their positions too.

Damn. I should have keep in touch with them more often. Especially now.

So many things I did not know. And so many details they do not know.

Its back!

Still being numb this morning, as I was walking to the restaurant for a take-away Nasi Lemak I was really not in the mood for my usual breakfast. This restaurant was quite near to the office and they have started a new Nasi Lemak stall which offers quite a lot for just RM3.00 or so. Anyway, on my way there, this stupid crockcroach rushed towards me.

I was a bit surprised and since I do not wish to kill it, I used my shoes to kick-sweep (sort of like, using the shoes to lift it, then flick it away from my oath, la) it away. And it landed on its back, its legs in the air struggling, as if it was riding a three-wheel air bicycle.

Minutes later, when I came back, it was still
struggling. Whatever happened to the old
crockcroaches who can just turn itself back?
Sigh. These new Generations......

System relocation II

The second relocation was in Plaza Sentral but we won't be doing it so soon until the cabling team finishes their work come this Saturday. But what I did not like was the amount of crockroaches in there. Sitting on their sofa just for a few seconds, I can see a few of them running about on the floor. And I won't be surprised when we move their phones........

Ok, so the system is crammed into a big cupboard and
although its shieded from the Sun, the case is yellowing
with age. Whoever serviced this system left a big mess.

This one was slow enough for me to catch it with my
Nokia 5800. Its about 3mm.

By the time I got home, I opened their Telephone
bill and found this sucker dead in my work case.
I quickly searched and emptied my case to make
sure there are no more stowaways.

System relocation I

Today, one of our customer is going to move office. And so, I have to help them in relocating the phone system too. Mind you, when I said, phone system, I mean phone system only. I will not be bringing the phonesets as this is the customer's responsibility. The main reason is, in the past, during the move, with so many things to take care off, we could be blamed if they are missing some phones or items even though we ensured that they were all accounted for. Moreover, since the phones are getting old, if we drop them or something else made them crack, we have to get them replaced. And so, from then on, even though we were trying to be helpful, in any system relocation, we only move the system.

Hiding silently behind the water
dispenser and the plastic plants,
this little fella has been a steady
worker from day one. Although
it was hidden out of sight, no one
would appreciate it until there is
a power failure or something
happened to it. Notice the one
grey cable hanging out of it.

And its been suffering in silence as some clumsy footed
moron must have tripped on the grey battery cable and
yanked the connectors out of the board.

You want me to mount it where?

While I had the time, I quickly looked at the damage
done to the battery connectors. OK, the damage is
consistent with a sharp tugging force applied to it

And with the connectors still intact, the good news is
that I can just re-solder it back to the circuit board.
See? Even the circuit board's tracks are OK.

The contractors who put this DB Box here only meant for
one single connector module and its not even a proper
disconnection module which is just a few ringgit more.
You really need it as this would let you connect to a
lightning arrestor. But alas, this was not the case. I
will need to talk to the customer on this.

And so, I replaced it with the customer's own DB box,
which by the way, looks the same but has the metal
"legs" to cater for more dis/connection modules. I
used the same entry hole as all the cables are coming
out from the white metal trunking on the right.

"You're going out for lunch?"
"Yeah, aren't you? You can come back and finish it later."
"Nah. Just lock the doors as I need to finish this, It'll be ready by the time you come back"
"OK.Bye"

How the hell would I know they took a 2 hour lunch instead?

I found it!

Wahahahaaaahh! Haa ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Open Sesame!

To Mr. Lau, this is the set I have and we have the following:

1) The Hotel Door
2) 10 pieces card
3) Setter device
4) Card programmer device
5) Manual for the software
6) CD-ROM for the RFV2007-5 software

This is the RF door.

And it is mounted as mock-up

And this is the setup. But there is no software for
the setter which I have problem setting the door

Cabling in Seremban

OK, so we're going to Seremban today, in fact, we're been to Seremban quite a few times for this month. Except this time, its to lay a new cable. We could have done it faster if not for the customer's HQ's red-tape.

While my tech went across the road for a drink,
I followed along and also got myself a nice little
vadaai. This one is different as most of them are
flat. This one here, is like a small rock. Took me
ages to finish, though. In the end, I packed it but
forgot about it hours later and its still fresh.

The cable in question is shorting. Few weeks ago, it was
already showing the symptoms and but now, its all gone.
I took this picture and I was surprised at the deterioration.
This is a small underground conduit where the cable is
coming from. You can see a lot those yucky stuff which I
won't even touch. Its damp and blocked as well. Its as if
someone dumped some foam/glue/food and it just rotted.

And not only that, the stupid monkeys
who put the partition must have a big
problem with the cable guy or vice
versa because not only was the cable
stuck tight in the hole, it was damn
hard to get the new one through as
the partition was blocked from top to
bottom. Finally, we did it, though.

Just as we were walking back to the car,
I heard the unmistakable sounds of a
pre-recorded swallows and when I looked
up and there it is! You can see the bricks
(top floor in the middle of the picture) all
nicely done, like a big door for them to fly
in and out of the building. Pity those who
live around that place as the sound is a
bit irritating after some time.

The little Toshiba sneezed...... H1N1 virus?

Subject was discovered to be feverishly warm and

unable to perform its expected task

Further diagnosis revealed subject to be experiencing
severe fits of sneezing, with mucus everywhere.
(Pls refer to stain on the floor)

Until further notice, subject has been taken to
ICU for further observation.

So, when the dealer called me, it was already past lunchtime. It seemed that one of their customers had experienced "System Down". Unfortunately, this is one of the models I am familiar with and so, the job was assigned to me. Also, so save time, I have to wait for my tech to arrive (instead of me driving all the way back to the Office) so that he could deliver a spare system to replace the current one. We're taking no chances as then it comes to System Down situations, we always have to prepare for the worst.

Seems like the TNB was the culprit because apart form the destroyed PABX, their air-cons and network were gone too, not to mention some other electrical equipment and PCs as well. As usual, TNB absolves from all blame. Putting in the spare PBX is no use either because the customer's tech said the voltage is running at 249v AC instead of the usual 220-240 volt range.

Amid the acrid smell akin to a hospital disinfectant, I knew the system was not going to make it. Its two main capacitors have blown. When it comes to blown capacitors, its a serious sign (in this case) that the power supply is gone and maybe some interface cards too. And yo do not want to be there when it happens. The sound and pyro effect might be dangerous but in this case, since it is housed in a case, all you would every notice was some firework cracking sound, minus the shrapnel.

The meaning of Booger

A Booger is something that comes out of your nose
when you sneeze. Kaelynn is the only one in the
family who can sneeze a complete booger out of her
nose. Unfortunately, she does not know how to
sneeze into a piece of tissue paper.

A boogie is a form of dance. Here, Kaelynn
is showing how to boogie after cleaning off
the booger.

Revell's 1/100th scale Snaptite Nautilus

While rummaging my stuff the other day at the other house, I came across this model which I have forgotten so long ago. And I also forgot where (Miniature Hobby in 1Utama) and why I bought it (too much cash as a single Engineer). Its a very simple model, where you just snap in all the parts and close the two halves together to get a sinkable submarine......

OK, I also forgot why I wanted to have LEDs fitted into the model too. But revisiting this model ten years later, it was so embarrassing. Sort of like you suddenly saw your own photos in the 80's, wearing THOSE hairstyles and clothes. Maybe it was the timing or coincidence but this model did alert me to a few things:

1) The LED technology at that time and also at Pasar Road was still in its infancy. These LEDs were dim by today's standards. So, I will have to redo the lighting and this time, use White LEDs, something which does not exist at that time.

2) The wiring is the same as Kal's recent project. All the LEDs were soldered in paralled and I forgot what voltage I wanted to put in there, most probably 5 volts as opposed to the 1.5 volts which was not enough at all.

3) I still suck at modelling.

These green wires were my favourite. Its actually
called wire-wrapping wires and it costs a bomb.
Also, its damn fragile too and you cannot just use
a blade/cutter to shear off the plastic sheath but
to melt it away. The cutters would "encourage"
the thin wires to snap off when you least expect it

OK, just for fun, I gave it 1.5mA. OK, so it glows

Then I pumped in 15mA and the lighting got better

At the maximum of 150mA, it was ideal. But here, if you
look at the LEDs, their lens are clouded and so, does not
give a spotlight effect. I might have to change that and
mix clear LEDs into it. This also means re-doing the
interior ceiling.

The LEDs are so old that even its lefs (black) have oxidised.
And this particular square LED does not light up anymore
and so, the mysterious power supply orb is not supplying
any power.......

Well, one day, when I have the time, I will definitely get this model done. Its just the lighting that I am not pleased with and I so wanted to motorised the propeller too. This model did not come from any 20,000 Leagues movie to show, if I recall correctly and thus, no reference photos of the model.

Which also means, I have total artistic freedom in doing this model with some 1/100 scale figures. Maybe I will build some extra rooms since the other side of the model is completely empty and you cannot see much from the view port as well. Perhaps a room where they steer this fine vessel. Or maybe a crew quarters with very "active" crews. Ha ha ha ha.

For Kal

OK. I have hit into a snag. After seeing the original item, I have doubts as how its going to be lit with just a 1.5volt battery. Perhaps there is something missing here. The problem is this:

Let's say each LED takes 0.025A or current and since there are five LEDs in there, wired in parallel, the total current consumed would be 0.1A. And by my calculations, I don't even need a current limiting resistor to do anything. Either that or the 1.5 volt battery I have is exhausted. Man, sometimes I really want to kick myself for not getting that RM400.00 adjustable power supply. But that's another story.

Anyway, once its ready, I wll give you a shout and let you try. Unfortunately, I had to use thicker cables since the more flexible thinner cables were being sold for about RM35 per roll (instead of per meter) and this would mean RM70 down the drain. But don't go connecting the green LEDs yet, OK?

OK, this is the original circuit and if I slot in a normal
1.5volt "N" sized battery (a half-sized AA battery la)
the LEDs were so dim, even you could barely see the
glow. But using a multimeter to pump in 15mA, the
LEDs were glowing moderately bright. So, this means
the "N" seized 1.5 volt battery or any other 1.5 volt
batteries cannot be used since the red LEDs needs a
minimum of 1.82 volts (or so) to light up.

I tried with the new circuit and the result was the same.
I even put in a 1 ohm current limiting resistor bit it still
glowed like a sick LED. Oh, don't get me wrong but
these red LEDs do glow brighter than the original
ones given to me. And so, in conclusion..........

The small battery holder might have been meant for a
12volt 23 (whopping) Ampere battery, the same ones
you use for your car alarm remote. Doing some rough
calculations, 100Ohm resistor would do the job but as
the red LEDs are very bright, I upped the resistance
to 470Ohms, which more or less still gave the LEDs a
nice little glow. How it will affect the green LEDs, well,
we will have to use another set of resistors after all.
Aha! This will certainly throw out all the available
cramped space in there out of the window, of course.
But in the long run, perhaps an actual designed PCB
circuit board might do the trick.

[Update 30062009]
I just found some green LEDs and connected to the whole circuit. Using the initial 470Ohm resistor, the green LEDs were quite dim. So, I reverted back to using the 100Ohm instead and everything looks fine but I worry about the red LEDs being a bit too bright.

I do not like Coffee

OK, I do not like coffee much. I only like them when I am in the mood to like them. I mean, sure, they do taste nice but somehow, its never the same as compared to drinking Nescafe. For one, Nescafe has that strange feeling of leaving you asking yourself, "Did I just drink that Nescafe?" and the oft feeling that the drink felt so thin, as if its flavoured water with sugar added. NEver mind if the latest A mentioned its full of antioxidant. But I just do not really like coffee unless:

1) Its mixed with chocolate (or even durian, yes, it does exist at one time in 1Utama) and ice blended

2) Its from those Chinese restaurant, "Kopi Peng" which is so thick, you suspect they added cornflour

3) Chek Hup 3in1 Creamy Coffee

4) Just plain black coffee and bits of sugar, especially on a cold day.

Other than that, for the rest of 24x7x265 days, I cannot bring myself to enjoy it. Sure, occasionally I would mistakenly spit the word, "Nescafe Ais" when I was supposed to order "Limau Ais" but there you go, I still won't like it. Another thing is, compared to Tea, which one sip would turn me into an Owl for the rest of the Night (and morning), Coffee offers me two choices: Stay up slightly later or sleep like a log when I least wanted to do so.

Which comes to this morning's story. A lot of people think I like coffee inclusing myself, sometimes, to which, in actual fact, I do not. While I was mixing my cup of Chek Hup cofferr, Mom came in and saw me doing that. Sometimes, she sees me eating of drinking some stuff and that would just be the slightest excuse to buy them by the container loads which would mean, I have to finish them off. OK, so I exaggerrated but this is also one of the reasons which I would like to have my food and drinks in private, if I can. Since I do not talk much, everyone would assume whatever I ate, would be my favourite............

Me: la... la..... la.... la...
Mom [rushed in]: You're making coffee?
Me: Yeah. MY coffee
(as in my own preferred brand, no those dangerously-increase-your-heart-rate green packs of Nescafe Coffee)

Mom: Here, you should try this. I bought it for you.
I took a look at it. [Hokay. Its pink. And this sets off the testosterone alarm]

Me: No thanks. I prefer my own brand
Mom: Well try it. Its quite mild

Me: Mild?
Here is where double meaning comes in. Mild as in what? Unfortunately, I could not asked further as my Mom rushed out of the kitchen. So, let's have a closer look at the bag.

The word, "Power Root" on a pink background is never a good sign. Maybe my Mom is hinting at something. You know. "Power". "Root". Get it?

What the.......?
So, is it for me to drink and thus end our family line or for my Wife so we can conquer the World?

Or maybe, its because of this. Nevertheless, I am NOT drinking this coffee. And the very idea of spending RM100.00 for a bras is really not my cup of.....

Trip to Mid-Valley

And so, today, after weeks of waiting, we finally get to do our shopping at Mid-Valley. I suspect we could have gotten there sooner. But I fell asleep. Then when I woke up, THEY fell asleep. Haih.

Yeah, I was so tired for the rest of the week as it was just work, work and work. The funny thing was, we only had enough time to have dinner and shop at Carrefour there. Being tired and with the aircon off at Carrefour did not dampen our spirits, which was quite weird.

The girls waiting while Mommy was getting ready.
Kristine's choice of music was a mix of funk jazz
and classics played by a playful monkey high on
sugar sitting on a small chair.....

Took some shots of these models.
But funnily enough, the girls were
not into them although the do like
the Barbie DVDs.

I particularly loved this dress though.

Clowing around in Carrefour

Back home, minutes before their bedtime. Kristine
with her new hairdband and I suspect, glasses as
well. Kaelynn was not interested although I think
Mommy got her a new hairband too.

While I was away at work.....

When I came back, Kristine told me some Auntie came by and gave her something...

Me: Which Auntie?
Kristine: The one we go to dinner when Kaelynn was fever
Me: Which one again?
Kristine: The one with glasses
Me: You mean Auntie XXXXX?
Kristine: Yeah, fat fat Auntie XXXXX?
Me: Oh, THAT fat fat Auntie, ah........

The photo was so beautiful, and I am trying to now
go on a quest to get that prime lens, whatever it
meant. I'm a sucker for these type of portraits.

And she was so happy with the postcard