Story of Staying on Track

Few words: I’m obsessesed with the American series: Lie to me. It never fails to amaze me how the Dr. Lightman spot lies through humans’ facial expression. No doubt the science is awesome, but if I were to choose; I rather not to see lies. Knowing everything is not always a blessing.


A few months ago, I was standing here in front of burger stall with sadden face and aching heart; let’s just say it’s not a good story to begin with. Months later, I’m here standing in front of the burger stall basically doing the same thing but with a completely different state of affairs. Amazing huh? How one heart can change so fast (or should I put ‘so much') in few months time. "Looks like I’m off from my track again".

Ever wonder how repulsive you look in the past few months? I bet you don’t, in fact I think you’re the last person on earth to realize or want to know about it. People just don’t seem to care about this matter anymore, I mean, who will keep track on what you’re today and what you will be in months later; that’s absurd not? Simply!

You may change a lot, you may not, you may doesn’t even know what the changes are; but definitely not through yourself. People experience change but not all realizing the changes; just for the reason you can’t see yourself. That’s when the peoples around you come in handy: friends, families, foes, chatters, girlfriend, boyfriend and basically everyone who see you other than what you see yourself. I don’t deny, who understand you better than yourself; I mean, you’re the only one in this whole darn world that know what you’re good for and what you’re not.

You are the one that fill in your own column of your strength and weakness, because you know yourself better than us. But wait a minutes, who’s there to judge what you put is a definite strength. It may seem one to you, but how sure are you that your strength is a plus and not a minus? Even the only person in this whole darn world, aka, you; can’t be sure about it. That’s when the role of the person around you comes in place.

After that incident, I look at myself as a completely different person; I may have mixed up the strength and weakness column in the past; somehow I bring a few weaknesses into the strength column. Nevertheless, I'm lucky that someone point that out (ouch!) and I manage to pull out what shouldn’t be out of the list. The process of realizing is of course through a very painful experience. Humans are miserable huh? They only learn through pain; I mean they learn more through pain. Some say experience make you a fighter and I can’t further disagree with it. I have to come clean; if I were a fighter today, I got it all through pain. From the pain, human tend to remember the mistake with all their might so that they won’t repeat the pain once again. That’s when pain guide mankind to a better...erh...mankind.

One bad thing about human is they tend to forget. Human brain can only keep so limited input,s like your hard disk for instance. You need to delete old files in order to make room for new inputs; the same applies to human brain, but in a much complicated way. When human tend to lift off from their track of life, the deflection will bring them to a different ground; different level where they start to forget the pain. That’s when pride comes in and ego takes over the body. That’s when I started to put back my weakness to the strength column again; repeating the same last mistake. This happen occasionally, but I’m just another human and human tend to make mistake too. However, as long as human can control this; there is really no one you can blame. I admit there is a slip out every now and then, but as long as I still put control into practice; it doesn’t even matter not?

Months ago, I completely aware of the pain and trust me I will do anything just to avoid the pain. Months later, the pain might have faded where pride and ego come in full force shadowing the pain. I’m once again back being an egoist for a while until someone unintentionally say that right at my sorry face: “Attitude shows it all” and that’s ring a bell. Of all the sudden, waking me up in the dark and realizing how repulsive I was. “Attitude shows it all”, I thought I have changed but now I realize that I’m just circling the same old mistake and falls back to that silly mistake every so often. “Attitude shows it all” and that’s actually a good call. Thanks!

Months later, I’m here standing in front of burger stall and struggling to stay on my track. At least, I still remember the pain and no opt to repeat the same mistake anymore. Yet still I’m not the one to judge, you guys are.

Time to hit the books now, adios!

Of Long Time Not Updated Blog

Few words: Recently someone has really been up to my nerves. If you’re so lucky reading this, please! Can you don’t be so guai lan all the time. I already don’t like you; don’t make me hate you with you and your idiotic chuckle. I mean what’s up in your sleeves; go bug others instead! Get a life, you soulless puppet!


It actually feel like I’m in the middle of some war. You know, restless night, busy day and dozen bullet to dodge every now and then; simply no time to die. I can’t deny that it had been a while since my last update and I'm not planning to give you lame excuses anymore. Nonetheless, time just doesn’t seem enough when you grew older, at least for now; exam, final year project, mini projects, reports and life just keep getting busy, don't they? But the fact is there are just too many things I wanted to share yet just so little time to blog. And to choose between one, I had actually missed many beautiful things in my blog. What I regret the most is that I never had the chance even just to jot them down in my blog. I guess my blog had been a real blank for the past few weeks.

It has already become part of my routine to write down beautiful things that happen in my blog; for the purpose of sharing and mainly for self seeking. For the past few weeks, my blog life is nothing but blank. I don’t blame if my readers have jump ship, abandon or deleted my link because who won’t when they keep seeing the same post every time they logged in. The thing is its just plain thorny for me to squeeze time in between to blog. No doubt blogging is very calming but sleep is more vital in my case. I have to stay fresh the next morning, I’m in the middle of some war, remember?

Many years ago, my mum started to plant this idea in my head. "Hobby is just for fun but get your priority straight first"; which is always money making in my case. That’s nothing wrong not? Getting your priority straight will lead you to be someone powerful; but of course excluding a lot of fun. You’ll be scoring like Wilt Chamberlain in whatever your priority is but your life will be as stiff as wood. I don’t know since when, where and how but somehow, my hobby had become purely part timer for sometimes. To be real honest, I had have a very dull life back then, work-sleep-work rather than play-sing-play. Until one day where I was so fed up and decided to trade some of the priority for fun. All these years, I had been living my life as a trader between the balance of these two elements.

I can't help but I’m always in awe, why can’t priority be fun; I mean money making can be fun too not? I’m not fated to become a money making machine; I can always venture into other fun field, like circus for instance. But then again reality strikes back really hard, fun jobs aren’t meant to be fun; even clown complaint about their work. Anything that comes with responsibility is not fun. That’s when my mum’s idea starts to ring back a bell in my head. Hobby needs no burden, that’s why it’s fun but its different story for money making. I guess I’m fated to be what I'm supposed to be and there will be more woody life to come. Cruel reality!

Nevertheless in the midst of all this woody life, I still have time to grasp for some fun. Every now and then, my friends and I would just travel to somewhere new on short notice or better still without one. It's just so random. We will drive to somewhere somehow on no direction basis. For instance, last few weeks where we randomly ended up in some paddle field museum, crystal mountain (or so the place to be called) and Alor Setar Mall right after a class. The place is crappy and the foods are nothing to be excited about. Nevertheless, the time spent being with friends is something to be. Some claimed that we can just be friends for now and no friendship last forever, but who care as long as we had good time for the time being.

Oh yes, remind me to stab the guy that sell me the broadband. No bills, no news, nothing for months but out of nowhere; when I checked yesterday, I owe Celcom RM 200 for a month of broadband usage. What the frog wrong with his no hidden or installation charge and RM 50 a month promises? That’s all pure craps, mister salesman! I’m going to bring two parangs with me; one to chop him when he can’t fix my problem and the other one for wasting my time. If you’re so lucky reading this, please shift your shop to somewhere else for safety purposes or go hide for Celcom’s sake. What I don't understand is why Celcom give their broadband selling permit to those not qualified deceitful seller, that only ruin your market, you dumbo!

Nokia N900’s Franken Camera

Few words: I have bunches more of assignments on my pending list, time just seem not enough lately. I’m planning to visit the nearest vendor machine to buy ‘time’. Hopefully it’s cheap.


One of the major downside of Nokia N900 is its limited 5.0 mega pixels camera. I know, 5.0 mega pixel is pretty decent to start with but hello! We’re at the era of 12.0 mega pixels but why is Nokia N900 still stuck in the era of Nokia N95? If I would tag Nokia N900, it will be a powerful device for net surfing, multitasking, big ass storage and lots more but definitely not for its camera. Face it! We have nothing to shout about with 5.0 mega pixels nowadays. Yes, it can take pretty decent photo with its default camera, just like other normal camera phone does but if we were to compare with *cough* SE Satio 12.0 big lenses monster *cough*, the quality is like comparing cave to Hilton Hotel.

But then everything changed after the community introduces Franken Camera into N900. Let’s keep thing short, Fcam or Franken Camera is software develops by some programmers to unleash the full power of N900 camera. I believe one of the programmers is Mister Franken himself or so they named the software to be.

Now, just imagine yourself in some café. Suddenly something pops up and you decided to capture it with your N900. Snap! There you go; your pathetic shot. Then you look over to the next table, someone doing the same but with a 12.0 megapixel camera phone. You quickly hide your phone. The guy from next table walks over to the counter, and gives you this stupid stare. You felt embarrass, you covered yourself with newspaper. Why is that happening?

Now, imagine again; you in some café then something pop up and you decided to snap it with your N900. Of course, this time with Fcam installed in your N900. You look over, some guy doing the same with 12.0 mega pixel camera. This time, you walk over; throw him the phone and say “I’m just using 5.0 mega pixels” proudly.

Okay, what I’m trying to say is, with Fcam installed; you can do more than a phone camera can do. Suddenly your N900 turns to be a mini DSLR. Focus, white balance, ISO, HDR and more DSLR terms; you name it and Fcam got it all. But of course, its power is still very inferior to a real DSLR camera; after all, N900 only has a 5.0 megapixel camera and furthermore it’s inappropriate to compare a phone with camera to a real solid DSLR camera. I’m just saying that it’s capable to use certain function of a DSLR camera, nevertheless.

I guess words can’t describe everything, why not lets the picture do the talking.

‘Bokeh’ effect or the haze effect is one of the techniques found in digital photography nowadays. Fcam come with the supremacy to play with focus, hence N900 too can produce such a ‘bokeh’ effect result. Amazing huh? Below are examples of playing with focus. The focus is on the doll in the first photo and on the frog in the second photo.


Below are more examples of N900 photo. (credit goes to LYN forumers)

"With N900's Fcam, beautiful photo is now possible". I think I just tagged N900 under powerful camera ;D

Unboxing Nokia N900

Few words: It had been a while since the last time I crack mind to blog; most of the time, I’m writing for academic purposes. Strange thing, every time when I start blogging, I smile. Guess that’s why I love blogging so much.

I had been longing for this device since I followed some forum reviews in LYN. But unfortunately, this device is not widely available (except for KL folks, you’re just lucky). I had been to several shops probing for this device but all giving their own nana story, either they give you this blank stare or telling you it’s not officially releases in M’sia. Due to that, I had waited for two months before I really lays my hand on this device; the Nokia N900. That’s also through a dealer who travels all the way from KL. Finally…

Let me get this straight, if you’re going to seek for professional review, go somewhere else, I’m not near professional neither in phone nor review. But if you’re looking for a plain review by a simple guy, welcome to my blog. Nokia didn’t pay me for this (and Nokia should) hence I’m going to write whatever I feel about this phone without bias.

Nokia N900, it’s not appropriate to refer it as just a phone; it’s more like a tablet that have GSM function embedded in it. Basically it gives us the ease to net surfing as well as the freedom to call, unlike the older version tablets.

Nokia N900 comes in a plain black stylish mysterious box. There aren’t much information we can get from the box, except for IMEI and a little silver writing here and there. Upon opening, there is of course the device itself; N900, TV-out, an USB cable, a cleaning cloth (you’ll need it since N900 is a fingerprint magnet), a manual and a pretty standard earphone. The earphone do surprise me, it’s comparable with those from Ipod. A pretty impressive box overall.

Let’s turn our focus to the device. It’s running on Maemo 5 OS which Nokia decided to abandon after their successor Meego is out. You must be thinking, why buying a phone…erh… or a tablet that Nokia planning to abandon. However there’s no official news that Nokia will 100% abandon the Maemo but if it’s not 100%, it’s going to be 90%. Maybe just some minor update like a few kbs update files, you know, just to carry out their ‘responsibility’ and keep the rest of Nokia tablet users mouth shut.

That’s true but I still wanting to buy this phone despite all the fuss and trouble, that’s insane not? Because of what this tablet is capable to, I just can’t let my hand go off this phone. Aside from the price of course, I got to admit, the price drops like crazy within a year and maybe more in 2011 (after the release of N8 and N9). Even so every time I compare N900 to other phone *cough* Iphone4 *cough*, “Screw you! IP4!” just pop up in my head. Of course, we can’t compare these two phones since it’s like comparing durian (N900 is a tablet) with apple (IP4 is a ipod-phone) but in this case, I really can’t help but to say durian smashed apple real bad. One thing that really hook my attention is the freedom to customize N900, apparently Nokia doesn’t want to know what you want to do with your phone once they sold their phone to you; throw it, smack it, brick it, eat it and Nokia just stand there watching. “Up to you” they said. Unlike the apple, they’re controlling and want to know everything you did with your phone. For Nelson Mandela’s sake, IP need to be jail broken before you can use certain apps, which I don’t quite understand; you paid for that phone already don’t you? But Steve is making like “No,no,no we just rent you the phone” (This is the last time I compare, I swear).

N900 is armed with only ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz with PowerVR SGX530 graphics, but good news is it can be Over Clocks; some LYN forumer claimed it run smoothly even at 900 MHz. That’s near 1 GHz not? Of course, greater speed means greater burden and eventually shorter lifespan. But still it’s an extra not? Let’s keep it short, N900 has what a standard phone can offer: 3G, WLAN, GPS, 5MP Camera and FM Receiver (and Transmitter as well) and so on. The only down side are the GPS and the Camera. Outwardly Garmin is not supported by Maemo, but there’s an alternative to that Sygric Map. The software is good, just necessary to compare with Garmin. The M’sia map on the other hand is long outdated nevertheless. The 5.0 Mega Pixels camera is not something to brag of, face it! Nokia is not a regular camera producer. Yes it comes with Carl Zeiss Optic, Dual Flash and Auto Focus, but the photo quality is still far from Sony Ericsson. But the good news is the community is there, with something called the Fcam (short for Frankencamera), it unleashed the real power of N900 5MP camera. Through Fcam we were able to play with focus, shutter speed and exposure time, like a real DSLR camera did. Of course it’s not as good as DSLR camera but we’re still able to feel the excitement of playing with a mini DSLR. The only problem is the widescreen photo ratio is a bit weird for me; it just out, totally out.


Above is an example of a humble Fcam shot. There are still bunches more of apps that I never try on (I'm still exploring).

About the design, I have nothing to comment. It’s not all over the hype but it’s not that bad. The device is bulky itself but I don’t really mind since it comes with a slide out QWERTY keyboard. The weight is nothing but a dumbbell (180g phone is already a dumbbell for girls), but who care if you’re carrying a device with the capability of a netbook but with one tenth its weight.

One strange thing about the slide out keyboard is it can’t be fully open. I think it’s to overcome previous Nokia slide phone ribbon problem. The sliding mechanism is just alright, Nokia should have added a kick to it; lubricant perhaps? The three rows QWERTY keyboard seems to amuse me, looking at the arrangement make me wonder why not Nokia open up an inches wider just to insert another row of keyboard. Nonetheless after using it for week, strangely but surely, the keyboard just fits the place and at certain point; it’s pretty convenient once you used to it. Oh I forgot, N900 still using resistive screen instead of capacitive screen which are used extensively in the latest phone industries. Amazingly, N900’s resistive screen works just well as other capacitive screen. The good part of resistive screen is we can buy cheaper stylus or use any pointy material as an alternative. It also had a kick-stand on the back of the device, sadly it only work for landscape viewing.

The audio is good, despite some forumer claimed that their speaker is a crap. In my opinion, it work just fine; at least it beat Nokia X6 flat. The reception is never a problem unlike … (too bad I just swear not to compare again). The net surfing experience is a must to emphasize, MicroB is almost next to nothing, it make all other phone net browser like a joke that doesn’t sound funny. Almost like a 3.5 inches netbook. One thing that seem odd to me is the infrared transmitter. To be able to spot an infrared transmitter in nowadays phone is rare, but it’s an extra; at least I can use it as a TV controller via infrared like old days good Nokia 6600.

Despite me only used N900 for a week and still counting, but I already done my research a few months earlier. If that also can’t convince you, go get yourself a N900 and feel its power.

The bottom line is Nokia N900 is like a celebrity, with many hidden agendas, secret affairs, luscious scandal, scrumptious hangouts but still everyone like it. Its rumor to be a phone made only for geek, but to me it still serves me well.

For more information, do visit: http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1546003

The Nokia N900 really stand out among all the others phone 80% thanks to the community. With endless effort, the community brings what’s once sound impossible to reality for instance, the Dual OS: Nitdroid and Maemo running on the same platform, sadly it’s still under development. This Dual OS really give Nokia and other Anroid phone manufacturer a big kick, it spoils market but to us the N900 users, it’s a blessing. I never believe there’s a phone…erh… or a tablet that tailor made for the users, in most agendas, it’s the otherwise until I met Nokia N900.

Lovin’ it to the max.

Twenty Fifth

I know that you cursed me, because I sneezed so much just now. I know you're mad at me for not replying your call. I know and I know how you wish to chop me on a chopping board right now.

"I'm sorry dear! My bad, sincere one this time"

But then again, I can explain, I didn't realize that my phone credit expired until the last minutes when I was going to text you; which is the midnight (of course). Nonetheless, that's not going to stop me, I ran to the nearest ATM machine, hopefully to reload via the ATM. But guess what, all transaction stops after twelve (of course again); I know it from the start but still I never gave up any hope. A few minutes later, I'm running like mad cow seeking for any reload booth near my hostel, but seriously, who still open at midnight?

Guess there's nothing I can do but to blog you this. I know you'll ask me to borrow a phone from my friends, but the things is who going to let you use his phone for an hour or two of sweet talks?

"Geez, men really are good at excuses and sweet talks, not? Terrible!"

Wait! Is that an advantage to us, men? Nothing to complain then. I was just trying to tell you this if I manage to reload and I didn't forget.

"HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DEAR! THANKS FOR ALL THESE YEARS"

I promise that I'll 'die die' reload tomorrow and compensate on what we missed out today. After all tomorrow is still twenty fifth of July. I promised and this time for real. I really hope that you read this first thing tomorrow (if possible before breakfast), if not I'll have to suffer for a while and explain all over again till lunch (but I'm not complaining).

FHM

Did you know we have our own Malaysia’s version of FHM?

Oh so you know?

Then I guess I’m the only one that is not aware of this. Freaking right! We have our own version of FHM for so long now. Darn it! I missed all the fun. Yet I’m still not too sure what’s wrong with our country censor board but somehow FHM managed to sneak pass it. It’s the best men's magazine in town, of course next to Playboy and Maxim; nevertheless it’s a delight to know that we have our own version now.

That day, precisely three days ago, I was in some magazine booth trying to grab some reading materials; mostly comics and maybe once in a blue moon newspaper. It is a booth, so it is small; with no luck of getting anything, I browse through the magazine randomly and WHOA! I come across some sexy lady cover. At that point, I don’t know what to do, I had to come clean here; I was panic to see such magazine. My left brain keep telling me to flip the magazine “Flip it! Flip it you bastard!”, but my right brain warn me “Don’t! You moron might get us killed! It could be the shopkeeper’s secret collection”.

What? It’s normal to panic okay, to own such magazine in our country is equivalent to smuggle pigs across border or to mate an elephant with Chihuahua.

With all the guts left, I flipped the magazine and surprisingly it's a legal read (I flip it because of my scientific curiosity and not because of the sexy ladies, get me right okay!). It even comes with a price tag and guess what: it’s FHM. ”OMG! *grasp* IT’S FHM! *grasp*” I heard so much about FHM from my cousin till I can spell it even in my dream, but that guy is so desperate he even subscribed it directly from UK, that’s 6 times Ringgit Malaysia, man. But since now we have our own version, it won’t cost so much.


I calmed down.

I bought it.

And I should have seen it coming.

Malaysia’s FHM is all about interviews, gadgets, fashions and girls with clothes on. HALAL to the max. KNS!

World Cup in Mamak

The word ‘mamak’ first came to me when I was in the primary school, thanks to my buddy, Syed. He is an Indian-Muslim, by and large the Indian-Muslim is more known as ‘mamak’ by the local. Since then, I have been calling him ‘mamak’ instead of his real name (if that pissed you off, blame it to the local). The most significant change mamak brought to the country is none other than their roti canai; food made from water and flour, beaten and toasted on a hot surface. The mamak then taken their roti into another level, it undergo countless evolution after evolution, modification after modification and now you’ll be surprise how many choice there are in their menu. When you talk about mamak now, the first thing that came to our mind is their multi-branched restaurant; a place to eat, chat and brag.

You got to admit that the mamak really have brain, they opt for cheap labor: Bangala instead of the local, they installed Astro, they buy big screen television, they run as late as 7-11, they sell purely halal foods, they put a wifi sign but off it during peak hour, they raise the price of ‘teh tarik’ when only flour price raised, they ask their waiters to give you a dead stare when you not ordering anything from their menu, they put ridiculous name for their food: Roti KL Tower for instance, they put chairs and tables at the pedestrian road illegally, they sell candy bar and goodies at their counter for extra income. How can they not be rich?

Now World Cup is just around the corner, there’s no reason why mamak not taking this opportunity? In fact, they had already blocked the whole road just for their tables and chairs: illegally that is. How can they not be rich?

Everyone knows what it feels like watching World Cup at home; it’s just like watching TV at home right? But, not everyone knows the thrill of watching World Cup at mamak; to be honest, it’s exactly like barbarian watching a frenzied wild boars fight. Despite this, I’m still going to blog this even at this midst of chaos.

Yesterday, it was the England-Germany game and everyone was so spirited before the match. I’m of course on the English side and even predicted that it’s going to be a two-nil match. I reached the mamak stall nearby fifteen minutes before the game, and guess what? It was already full house. But my strong will keep me stay there despite raining; thank god it was only cats and dogs rain. In this midst of chaos, you have to be cautious who you support and where the supporters are. Nonetheless, all that only show when the first goal is scored. When the first goal is scored, observes clearly who’s the one cheering and who’s the one cursing. Then pick a side to either cheer or curse at that time. But of course, don’t cheer on the cursing side and vice versa.

Tired of the commentator? Bored with their ‘ah-mou’ slang? Never worry, at mamak you won’t be able to listen to the commentator all the times; in fact mamak have their own group of commentators-wannabe. I was near the gamblers group yesterday. Well before the match start, it was all about ‘eat ball’, ‘let ball’ and ‘buy which side’. But once Klouse scored their first goal; it’s all about ‘his mother’, ‘your mother’ and ‘F which side’. But the funniest line of the night which I actually laugh it out loud is “Rooney kaw gay kah? So sissy geh”

The atmosphere at the mamak for the whole night is terrible. Germany supporters provoking the England fans, the fans banging their table after each goal, motorcyclist parked their bike almost everywhere, people honed their car after each goal and it was pure chaos. If not because of the World Cup yesterday, the police would have misunderstood it as a riot. It was awful. Nonetheless I do enjoy watching the game till the end, although many of the England supporters leave when Muller scored his third goal for Germany. I was shouting, cheering and cursing all the time despite the rain and I have to stand throughout the whole game (Duh! That’s what full house supposes to be). Eventually I lose my conscience and the barbaric side of me had taken control over my body. The game ended with the German triumph over the English: four-one. Luckily there was no fight and everyone leave peacefully.

Overall I enjoy the night: You can have your ‘teh tarik’, your own commentator and your ‘roti canai’ with you; what more can you expect, even the audience in the stadium can’t enjoy such a luxury.

But back to my conscious, since when I’m a football fans? I guess with that kind of atmosphere, you couldn’t not to be a fan. I guess this is the end for England in World Cup 2010; “Goodbye Three Lions”