Containers

Whenever they want to have things to eat, we would insist the girls have some thing like a bowl or a plate. But sometimes, when they discover new stuff to eat, they would get very excited and would grab whatever they can find to serve as containers. Sometimes, this is a bit out of hand. You try to teach them the right way and then watch them as they use their wits.

This is Krsitine's container, from Chinese New Year

When Krsitine is busy with her Honey Stars,
Kaelynn decided to help herself to Kristine's
popcorns

She poured and poured and poured....

Oh, crap!

"Girl, why did you take your pants off outside here?"

"Did you go shi-shi (urinate) out here?"

"[sniff][sniff] What is that smell?"

"Oh My God!!!"

Krsitine crapped outside the house in onto the drain

In the morning.........

Seconds before I wake Krsitine up for school. Both girls looked
so cute when sleeping and they're almost in the same sleeping
position too. I was thought for a while that I was a lucky Dad....

Until I saw what they did the night before when I was in
a last minute trip to Kuantan/Kota Bahru. But luckily,
the Kota Bahru trip was cancelled when I was in Kuantan
This also means that I do not have the chance to re-take
the photos I wanted as this time, I brought my tri-pod.
And there was a full moon last night too, Haih

That bump on the head ... revisited

"Wooo....... that "thing" is getting worse."

"Yeah, it was bleeding and I spend a lot of tissues just now"

"Better get another Doctor and your RM65 back."

"Nah, going to Surgery on Monday."

"So, you're not coming to Ipoh with me, then?"

"Nope."

After I saw it, and then another look into the rubbish bin,
I swear if we did not come back to the office, Boss could
be bleeding to death or something. There was a lot of
blood on a piece of envelope in the rubbish bin.......

Ooops!

This lorry was making a turn at the lights but
it was so full of bricks that some of them fell off

bangkokboi's Full Moon Delivery Service

So, on a nice Sunday afternoon, bangkokboi came and whisked me away to help in his mission of possible. Yes, we are to deliver about thirty-odd Full-Moon packages to his relatives and friends. Although the actual date is on the coming Thursday, it was decided to be done with on the Sunday before mainly due to the reasons of him not being around.

Before coming over, he has already delivered about fifteen and so, I was to help him deliver the remaining ones. So, we went to Ampang, Cheras, Taman Desa, Taman Megah and one more place I forgot. After that, it was already late in the evening and we still had to return to his house for more packages.

So, why am I following along? Well, I did ask him if he did need my help before since I have the van. But in actual fact, I was to be there so that I could "guard" his car while he ran off to do his deliveries. Thank Goodness there were no cops about. But the change in the plans was due to his Mom offering to cook instead of going to those shops which would have cost a lot considering he has a lot of realtives and friends!

Also, I was there because one of his delivery route went to The Curve where I managed to get the Phaser Rifle back (but no Tricorder) and pickup the ultra rare Electronics Magazine (Elektor Electronics). Its ultra-rare because compared to tons and tons of computer magazines, they only bring in about two per newsagent or none at all.

bangkokboi looking chuffed with his Full Moon package

Loads of ranso...er, Ang Pows inside his car

Accident outside Flamingo junction in Ampang

Almost finished with the current batch........

And time for another re-load!

Salary's in! Woohoo!

Ok, the cheque's cleared and I can settle all my bills and IOUs. Yes, it takes three days to transfer from the company's (different bank account) cheque to my TigerBank. Sometimes, I don't mind this but sometimes, when I need to borrow money and stuff, the cash must come in on time.

My Boss did (sarcastically) asked would it help if he changed the company's bank and other staff's bank to my TigerBank so that I can get my salary instantly. I replied it would help. Then, sensing that I was serious about it, he asked (sarcastically?) what if he ordered me to open the another bank account, the same as everyone elses? I replied, then I woudl still have to take the cash out and deposit it to my TigerBank since I pay all my bills and Ah Longs on-line. Ha ha ha ha

Anyway, I am given an opportunity again. And again, something is stopping me. The debts are almost paid off and if I worked for a few months more, there would be changes and hopefully, for the better. Right now, where I am, I have the authority to command a team, plan projects and most importantly, make actual decisions. Not only that, I have a company car (OK, van, for now), take leave when I want (as long as I don't feel guilty about it), and I get to go to a lot of places, even fly there. And there are other plans in the pipeline which, if everything goes well, would eventually move the company out of the deep mire it was in since the last Director left. If I go to a new place, I would not get this type of treatment. There is a chance my life might improve but, in order to enjoy all those priviledges again, it will take years or even a decade.

But then, I asked myself, does late salary really justify a career change? What if I went there and then found out that I have to start all over again? This is a risk I am willing to take, if that was 15 years ago. But now, darn it, its impossible to think about it without risking the family.

Still, lets see if my luck changes. I hope that this time, I get a 5day week with a BMW company car and enough money to put downpayment for a Toyota Camry every month. Not forgetting the perks of at least three months paid leave annually and also great insurance and education funds for the family. And last but not least, a free house or bungalow in Bangsar and more importantly, no forced participations in annual dinners and trips. Now, that is worth going to a new place for.

No more working like a monkey/donkey/dog/ whatever animal at long hours.
No more starting off as an Technician/Engineer and going to field.
No more
No

So, I got myself some DVD+Rs, an FM MP3 player and
1GB thumbdrive for my Wife's car. I sneaked to Digital Mall
in Section 14 PJ. While I was there, I forgot to turn off the
lights of the van. Luckily, we got a chap to help us push-start
the van in the car park. That was not only panicky but embarassing

OK, maybe I got suckered by the DVD casing (or lack of it)
because the discs are sandwiched between the base and the
cover. So, all you need to close it is to screw the cover onto
spindle. And as more discs are taken out, you have to screw
the cover deeper. Well, nice design anyway.

My MP3 player (left) and my Wife's. Her's boasts of new features

such as equalisers, 200 frequencies (87.5~108MHz) and now, you
can select any song via remote control, provided you know the
number where the song was. But, the most imediate difference is
that the LCD is inverse, but still with white light.

Vexille

[This was a draft] 23.03.2008

I saw this last week when I had the chance. So I am posting this based on what I can remember.

This is a story about Vexille a female member of some Special Forces. For nearly a decade, Japan has sealed itself from the rest of the World while producing amazing technological products. Nothing can enter Japan or escape from it.

Anyway, things started to go wrong when in a meeting with important politicians ended up with most of them being dead and with a lot of collateral damages. The Special team penetrating Japan resulted in huge losses with only Vexille and some guy surviving (won't spoil the story here). From here, we learn about Japan's situation, the love triangle and who the actual villian is.

Vexille is CGI animation and if you have been following Appleseed movies, then this is jsut right up your alley. But you cannot compare them side by side or else in terms of mecha designs and ideas or you would be very disappointed.

For RM14.90 original, this DVD sure skipped a lot

Just do your Job!

"I don't care what you do or how you do it. I just want it done by (dateline)"

Sounds familiar?

This is what every Boss (and customers) would tell you. In other words, to put it mildly, they are saying, "I don't fucking care about your problems. Just solve my problems, you dipshit".

Everyone has a job to do (but whether you're being paid or not, is another question) and they have to complete it. Just like in an office you have projects and tasks and all have their deadlines. How you do them, is not important as long as its done properly and ethically.

But over here, it is different. For example, pulling a cable or cutting holes in the ceiling. There are no courses for you. There are no such thing as a University Degree for cutting holes in the ceiling, even. So, what you do is basically simple:

1) You learn by observing other people
2) You learn by seeing your Boss doing it once
3) You learn after being scolded by your Boss

Either way, you learn. And after some time, you become an expert at this job. All good and well, right? No. The problem is, although you have the skill, there are other things you need to be aware of. But since your Boss does not tell you about it, and you also are not aware about it, you won't even want to know.

And what is that? Safety.

To everyone, a job is a job and it must be done as fast as possible so that you do not suffer losses. And no one cares how they do it as long as the job is done, and the money paid for. And the more they do it, the more they are experts at their job, the faster they can get it done.

And everyone is happy.

Until someone falls/got electrocuted/chainsawed/killed on the job.

If this stupid cunt falls off, I am going to rush over
and kick his balls. He's alone there and there are
a lot of holes to be cut. Sooner or later, he will tire
and loses his balance.

Cabling Problem

This was our latest customer, who is about to move in soon. The reason we delayed laying the cables was that they did not give us the floor plan until the last minute and not only that, the tiles were not laid for the rest of the floors. Anyway, after seeing the last customer, I dragged my other technician with me to check out our "cabling team"......

Me: Wei, how's it going?

Cable team: OK, Boss.

Me: I heard you had to buy another roll of telephone cable and Network cables?

Cable team: Yes. The shophouses are quite long and not only that, we had to pull them direct back to the second floor. So Boss asked to buy the cables at *** as they're cheaper than the one you bought.

Me: Sigh. OK. Anyway since we're here, let us help you (The cables I bought were of higher quality and can last through all these pulling and abuse amongst the floors when being laid. They were "full copper" cables)

Cable team: Ok, Boss.

After much Pull, pull, force, force, kneel, climb, etc., later, we finished most of the floors and the cable team was about to clean up.

Me: Wei, What happened here?

Cable team: Wa had to clean up the cables around here lor

Me: They broke the wall, right? And then removed a lot of the cables?

Cable Team: yeah

Me: Last minute changes. Sigh.

The broken wall

We had to leave the cables in the holes since the tiles are not done

When the broke the wall, the almost broke everything

Even the junction box were not spared

Nor were the cables

Me: Hey, the cables underneath here are wet!

Cable team: Yeah, they're wet (I hate this when they don't tell me stuff until I find it myself)

Me: Weeks from now, we're going to have problems

Cable team: Yep

Me: And I am going to push the problem to you! You should have told me about the wetness!

Cable team: Gulp

That Bump on the head

Me: What's that on your head?

Boss: Oh? Just some kind of wart/boil, etc.

Customer: What's that on your head?

Boss: New Bluetooth device

Me: No ler, its a new RFID device we're testing. Beats using those "Touch n Go" cards at the door. You just move your head to the reader.....

Boss: Ha ha ha hah a

Customer: Ha hahahahaha

Then, later, in the car, a part of the plaster came off......

Boss: Bla.. bla.. bla.. went Doctor... less than a few minutes.... get medicine.... make money's worth so sit down and talked to him more... bla.. bla.. bla..

Boss: Wei, the plaster came off, ah?

Me: Yeah

Boss: Where is it? Can you find it and stick it back

Me: *look around in the car, saw the plaster got bits of blood* Euuuuuuuuu......

Boss: Never mind

Daesting, Desteing, 1.. 2.. 3..

Ok, so I was back at the customer's place again. This time, to fix the PA system which I bought for them. We had to get a more expensive amplifier since the original model we have been using was not suitable for the job. (It was a Karaoke amplifier). Because the applications are annoy....er, announce to staff, we had to make sure the amplifier does not fail. Hence, we had to connect the large speakers to a pair of audio transformers before connecting to the amplifier itself. So, after plugging in the amplifier, the feeling of hearing my own sound irrita...er, on the staff and scaring the dogs away as well, was, well, gratifying.

The transformers

Wiring them before turning the amp on

Meanwhile, my techs are about to install the speakers
on very high places....

And all done!

Nightshots

My wife wanted me to come home early as she had something to do. So, I rushed back and on the way, on a hill, I accidentally looked to the right and saw a wonderful sight. So, I really had to stop to take some photos so you know what I meant. But because I did not have my tripod with me, its crap.

When my wife heard about it, she asked me, "If you are about to take a photo and your kid accidentally fell into a drain full of water, which would you do first?". I hate these type of questions because if I do not answer properly, I get my ass kicked. And if I answer properly, I still get my ass kicked. So, based on past experiences, the answer would be the opposite of what I would come up with, which is, save the kid (because once they grow up, they will owe me a camera, Ha ha ha ha)

Anyway, I hope to have the opportunity to take the photo again, and this time, I have the tripod with me.

Just when the clouds were passing by and this week,
I notice KLCC's lights were very bright indeed. Election?

And a little bit to the right, wow

Mid-Valley's The Garden

Fooled by the Customer

I was at Pudu's Pasar Road today, to get the PA system for my customer when she rang. She asked me where I was and if I was nearby Imbi Plaza, could I go there to collect their three week old 16-port Gigabit Switch? Since I was nearby, I said I could and told her it would not be a problem. And so, she called up the shop to inform them that I would be at the rear entrance waiting, so they could pass the switch to me. But then, when I was nearing Imbi Plaza, it was gridlocked in a terrible jam and the customer told me to park in Imbi Plaza where she would reimburse me for the parking. This was because the shop had only one person manning it and he could not leave the place. LAter, I found out that his Boss was stuck int he jam as well, for more than an hour. Anyway, since I could not enter due to the jam, I decided to park behind Berjaya Square. Bad move because when I arrived, I was not only to pick up the itty bitty switch but a huge HP Laser printer. Damn it!

The Gigaswitch and the HP Printer which I forced the
guy to help me carry over the pedestrian bridge to the
Berjaya Times Square.

Nothing I can do for this camera as it has a very narrow
viewing angle. For this customer, he needs a wide angle
and so, he has to collect all of them back and go back to
China to get the wide lens version.

I tried to help by opening camera in the hopes of
adjusting the lens but .....

.....the lens cannot be adjusted.

In the meantime, my technicians were installing the thumbprint
door access system, which then failed to work properly. It was OK
in the lab but not here. So, after much tinkering, we discovered
that the cables used by them has expired and not only that, since
they covered it up with cement which then shrinks, the cable was
squeezed, making it totally worthless. So, we had to pull the cable
ourselves so that we can control the quality.

The PA system I got at Pasar Road? Its so loud
that it scared the dogs in the compound, making
them run off. Or was it because of my voice.....

Vampire?

Saw this at the Pudu area. There are other posters of
him being defaced with the same vampire teeth. I
think he is not very popular here

Today is 10th of March

@#$%!!!

What a Wonderful World

I woke up late this morning as my Wife allowed me to sleep late. And the weather was breezy and sunny. Not much cars on the road and the kids did not make much mess. What a Wonderful World which started since last night. And this song came into my head, although a bit more

(Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World)
I see waves of change........and panic too
Making Life better.....for me and you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.

I see many colours.....not just BLUE
The Freedom of choice.....not monopolys
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colour of the cronies.....so petty ..are sor highs
The look on their faces..... are scared .. go bye-bye
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do
Theyre really sayin......They (BN) got screwed!

I hear BNs cry...... I watch them hide
They thought they're better.....but the Rakyat knows
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world

(instrumental break)

The colors of the Blue.....so weak ..lies shattered
And there on their faces.....of despair ..of denial
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. We all did it!
Theyre really sayin...*spoken*(We ....have....won).

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow
*spoken*(you know they're gonna grow
in a World of freedom and smiles)

And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself .......what a wonderful world.

My Friend's Brother's Wedding

You know, as I go further with my D50, I realised that I suck at photography. I mean, taking shots of a wedding (last time) was easy with my FujiFilm s5500 as I just set it to the best setting and they all comeout wonderful. But with the Nikon D50, it is another story because I keep setting the wrong setting and also have problems with White Balance.

Throughout the night, I was busy fiddling with the setting (OK, so I still did not read the manual) instead of putting everything to AUTO and letting the D50 do the rest. I always have White Balance problem when it comes to lighting in Hotels and Public places. haih.

By the time I got everything almost right, it was almost over. This was because at the table I was sitting at, most of them got calls stating Barisan Nasional lost in both Penang and Selangor. And even in KL, Sharizat lost as well. Fearing chaos (already reported in Selangor where emeotions are running high) I decided to take the MRT and LRT back home as soon as I can. So, after the big toast and group photos, I left immediately, walking back under the rain to the Jalan Imbi MRT station as fast as I can.

Either I go and learn from someone or start reading and experimenting more with the D50 or else I will always be like this. Live View features are great but not now.

So, in this setting, everything was OK except for the speed

So I set the WB to FLASH and this is what I got

Jazz players in the dark, so I set the EV higher but in the end, I
had to settle for flash shots. Haih

Then, well, more problems

And this was usually my forte for candid shots but I just
can't get things right for that night

Finally, I got it just right but all the good
shots are gone. Haih and double haih

In the end, while waiting for transport, I settled for my
usual still shots.

Voting day

So, today is the day we play GOD to Politics. I have more or less made up my mind on who to vote since the candidate I wanted was not in tis constituency. Still, I have no problem with that. I would just have to compromise. My family went earlier while I waited for a friend of mine. In the evening, I would be away for a Wedding Dinner and I could not help worrying if something might go wrong in the night when the results are out.




[Update: 09032008 00:00]
Barisan lost big in Penang and Selangor to the Opposition and both sides are in shock over the results. Biggest shock was a two-term hardworking Sharizat (BN) lost to Nurul Izzah (PKR) who just came into the picture. Other BN bigwigs lost too, such as Sami Vellu (who has now totally destroyed MIC with no successor) and Kayveas.

Finally!

Finally, after more than three weeks testing and looking for missing parts, we have solved the problem of this Chinese made door access system. We have tried asking for help from most of our resellers but they could not help much. So, I had to test them during every evenings when I can help it.

It was not a matter of not buying from them as they had the same model but the nature of their business was that they did mostly trading and technical support was something completely new to them. Not only that, their notes are well guarded trade secrets. So, we had to do a lot of trial and error on this. Because of our fear of destroying the circuit, we had to do this slowly. I mean, we can buy another one again but this was not the option because if we chose it, it means we're not capable of the job.

Anyway, this afternoon, after much probing with the multimeter and more tests with one of my technicians, we got it done. Not only that, we also solved the problem of using only one power supply! Woohoo!

The fingerprint reader (bottom) and the power supply (middle)

Close-up of the fingerprint reader and the wiring problem
which took us weeks to solve. I could bite the bullet but
this could mean burning the device up.