Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Warning: Blog in need of updating

BLOG (noun): An online web log that is updated periodically with a certain frequency eg 1 or 2 days.

Of course I made the definition up, but if that was the general rule my blog would've been considered half-dead by now.

Apologies for the lack of updates recently. Was caught up with all sorts of stuff that are totally not worthy of being expressed here (well, I couldn't think of one anyway).

So, if you don't already know, this post is an update of sorts in my recent (mundane) life.

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I was at the RSH warehouse sales on Sunday. I've not been to many and was sure shocked to see the condition of the so-called sales area. It was more like a dump site with apparel and other sporting goods strewn all over. But it was the last day and I guess there should be no surprise.

The place was packed though. I did, however, manage to get a backpack for my upcoming trip at a nice discount.

Jansport backpack with Airlift 2.1 and Infusion technology (TM). Doesn't it make you feel like owning one even though you have no idea what those terms mean?

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Speaking of the trip, some of my colleagues will be on their way to Cambodia soon to visit the ruins of Angkor Wat. I'm planning for the same trip albeit at a different time.

Total cost is estimated at a little less than RM1k, free and easy style. Whichs means we go by no certain plans except for the air tickets and maybe the first night stay.

With views like this, who can resist a visit?

Thanks to AirAsia, now everyone can fly.

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Speaking of flying, did you heard about the one where our PM ordered a new Airbus? Tailored to VVIP specifications some more? At RM50 million?

The bloggers are questioning where the money came from to make this big-boys-toys purchase. The mainstream media on the other hand, are telling us that the government is telling them that the aircraft is leased. Owned by Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad (PMB) kononnya.

So the (50) million dollar question is: Where does PMB get its funds? From the taxpayers' pockets?

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Speaking of politics, I had better stop here. The libel cases against Jeff and Rocky has yet again proved that it is not 100% safe anymore being a blogger. Bloggers United!

I have kind of digressed from what I planned to write. But I guess til next time, cheers!

thought completed at 8:48 PM | 0 comments

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Friday, January 19, 2007

Batu Talam: A youngster's dream?

I read in the newspaper the other day that a 21-year-old youngster is taking on the mighty BN in the Batu Talam by-election.

My, he must be the youngest candidate to have been nominated for the election. Sure he's got a daddy with much experience in politics...albeit that was during a time when he was probably still playing with Ultraman figures and all that.

I said probably because you never know what a politician's son might have to go through during his growing years. He might have been campaigning for his dad with a loudspeaker in one hand and a lollipop in the other, who knows.

Anyway, it's not that I envy this guy very much. I mean, he's 21. Just out of his teens, barely old enough to get into Uncle Lim's playground. It's sad to hear that at a tender age, he has to give up life's innocence and plunge into this black hole.

21-year-olds should be having fun out there. Getting degrees, partying all night long, falling in love, enjoy the freedom that they never had. I don't know about you, but when I was 21, I sure had a whole lot of other stuff on my mind rather than contemplating in a career in politics.

That said, I actually respect the guy for having the guts to register himself as a candidate. Not for a small political post in some forgotten party, mind you. If he's half as good as the seasoned campaigners, I'd say he already deserves a good pat on the back.

I just hope he garners enough votes to get his deposit back. But then, it's hard to rule out the underdog. Everyone loves an underdog, and we know that because Rocky is Sly's best film yet.

Disclaimer: I am in no way expressing the belief that I'm a supporter of the ruling party, or the opposition, or anything in between. May the best guy win.

thought completed at 1:13 PM | 0 comments

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Kyspeaks: Now available in email circulation

I was at work when this seemingly innocent forwarded mail reached my mailbox, sent in by Gurl. The title was "FW: Nice Food in Klang Valley" with two Word files attached.

I get these nice food/rotten food emails all the time, but this was different. I opened the first of the two-part series and browsed through the places of interest. And then I had a strange feeling that I had seen the distinguished maps before.



Hmm....very familiar, these are.

Scrolled back to the top and finally found the real culprit behind these articles. None other than KY from Kyspeaks!



Apparently these files were a product of copying his blog entries on eateries in the Klang Valley area. I don't know who started it but it'll sure help popularize his blog among non-blog-readers, not to mention generate revenue for the featured eateries.

So, are we expecting Kyspeaks to go into print soon? Perhaps in the mainstream media ala Anthony Bourdain style?

thought completed at 9:56 PM | 2 comments

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Monday, January 15, 2007

The pickups

This is the reason why, in the city where automobiles are plenty and parking spots scarce, people opt for the rugged, park-me-anywhere pickup trucks.

Ah if only petrol weren't so expensive...

thought completed at 5:30 PM | 1 comments

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Friday, January 12, 2007

Celebrity moment of 2006

Manage to catch a photo opportunity with our former PM, Tun Dr Mahathir at a KFC outlet, of all places.

So is fried chicken the recipe to power, wealth, status and the ability to make yourself heard even though when you're no longer the top gun? Or was he there just for the fries?

Anyway, I'm starting to like him more and more now. If only he had done something like that when he was in power. But then, it's different when you're the PM and ex-PM.

thought completed at 10:18 AM | 4 comments

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Levi's 525

I used to be a khaki guy. Day in and day out I'd be donning a pair of khakis in different shades. I don't know why but I seemed to have grown too 'old' to be wearing jeans.



Now don't be offended here. I know 60 year olds nowdays wear jeans to sleep, and I used to have a few pairs of denim jeans myself. Even owned a couple of designer jeans which I think would cost a bomb nowadays considering the inflation rate.

Alas, all the money spent into that line of apparel went to waste. Somehow I outgrew the pairs of jeans that I had. 5 or 6 years back, khakis and cargo pants were the 'in' thing so it sort of stuck on me. So it was that all blue jeans were to be hidden away, never to be seen again.

Then it happened that one day, Gurl asked me why didn't I try on some jeans while we were shopping.

Thanks to her, I am now the proud owner of a pair of Levi's 525s.

Low rise boot cuts. That logo seems very familiar...

By the way, is anyone interested in purchasing 2 pairs of used (vintage?) Levis, or a pair of Calvin Klein relaxed-fit jeans? I need the money to repay the loan I took on that new pair of jeans :D

Technorati tags: levis, jeans

thought completed at 11:24 AM | 5 comments

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Sunday, January 07, 2007

Take a hike

Rumour had it that the petrol price was going for a hike again according to some emails circulating around last Friday. Some mentioned 30 cents, others 40. At a time when the toll prices have just been recently increased, this came as depressing news for the new year.

Fortunately though it did not turn out to be true. My guess is that they probably will not force an increment, given that the general elections are coming. All the more if it is going to be held this year. Perhaps we should send a clear message this time and ask the current administration to take a hike (pun intended).

Speaking of increasing expenditures, I was using the LDP last Friday after work. As usual, the stretch between Freescale up to the Sunway toll plaza was clogged with all kinds of vehicles. Which makes me think, who gives the right to LITRAK (the highway concessionaire for LDP) to raise the toll prices, when they can't solve a simple problem as a bottleneck at one of the busiest exit points?

As my colleague put it, the Sunway toll plaza is "one of the most stupid designs ever to be built". A view using Google Earth would give you an idea, if you still don't know what I mean.

And now they want to charge us RM0.60 more to endure the same daily routine of getting stuck in congested traffic? Where's the logic in that? Perhaps LITRAK should take a hike too.

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For those of you who are against the recent toll hike (which I presume would be everyone, except the highway concessionaire owners), go here and sign the online petition.

http://www.petitiononline.com/notolle/petition.html

Those who think it is not their problem because they're not staying in the Klang Valley, think again.

By the way, did anyone attend the protest at Sunway Pyramid on Sunday? I sincerely hope it wasn't treated as just another meaningless gathering, and some good actually came out of it.

Technorati tags: toll hike, LDP

thought completed at 8:49 PM | 2 comments

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Friday, January 05, 2007

Khoo Kongsi Penang

This is a rather outdated post. I was in Penang during the Christmas weekend. Snapped some pictures at the Khoo Kongsi in Georgetown.

It's a shame that although I've been to Penang numerous times since I was a kid, I've never been to this tourist attraction. A nice place to visit indeed...

Technorati tags: khoo kongsi, leong san tong khoo kongsi, penang

thought completed at 11:42 PM | 2 comments

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Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Wash this when dirty

I'm currently forced to type my posts offline, no thanks to the 'act of nature' that brought our country's internet speed to a standstill.

Nevertheless I'm not going to whine and live in misery just because access is limited, if you're wondering about that. While certain media might portray the blogging community as internet addicts, but I beg to differ. Some beloggers have a life too ;)

Anyway, I'm sure all of you have come across clothing labels with washing instructions at one point of your life. That is, if your wardrobe does not consist entirely of pasar malam purchases.




Instructions that come in ridiculously small type where you'd need a magnifying glass to comprehend them if you're older.

Wash inside out separately from other garments, machine wash cold/warm, do not bleach, warm iron, DO NOT SET FIRE TO GARMENT, DO NOT WEAR GARMENT IF YOU HAVE AN UNSIGHTLY BODY...the list of laundry jargon goes on and on.

Honestly, who has the time to follow all those instructions in the long term?

You buy an expensive shirt and love it to bits. So for the first few washes you handwash in order not to let the washing machine do any damage to your precious (washing machines have an endless vendetta against mankind and their clothing).

But for the next few weeks, work gets piled up and you start to get a bit lazy. Oh since it's a hassle to wash it I'll just wear it again tomorrow. By the time you realize your shirt needs a good soak, people would already be avoiding you, or rather your nasty smell.

All hope's not lost. I came across this ingenious label with a very practical message intended for the wearer.



Like the front? Wait til you see what's at the back.

Wash this when dirty

There you go. The most useful piece of advise anyone in the world could use.

Now, time to wash my dirty clothes.

thought completed at 8:59 PM | 2 comments

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