tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14393627287940845282024-03-14T03:42:12.340+08:00Thoughts, travels and monologuesJMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-39631316715836808842011-05-02T13:55:00.000+08:002011-05-02T13:55:19.153+08:00Basic principle of happinessEver heard of this book called the Art of Happiness by his Holiness The Dalai Lama?<br />
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</div><div>Chances are you have either read or heard of this book. I remembered there was a time when I was facing a difficult time in my life and this book has helped me immensely to recover from those dark times.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Recently came across an article by His Holiness which I think is a concise summary of the book. Hope anyone who is facing difficulty and unhappiness in life finds this useful. Go read the Art of Happiness, I strongly recommend it. It is a simple and easy to understand concept and not difficult to put it to practice. I read the Art of Happiness more than 10 years ago and the message is still clear in my mind. Coming across this article is a timely reminder to me that I should be spreading the message across others to assist them to face challenges in their daily life.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Whoever you are, I wish you as a human being to another fellow human being may you find the path and strength to achieve happiness in life.Enjoy the article.</div><div><br />
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<h1 style="color: #751e08; font-family: arial; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Countering Stress and Depression</h1><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; width: 623px;"><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">At a fundamental level, as human beings, we are all the same; each one of us aspires to happiness and each one of us does not wish to suffer. This is why, whenever I have the opportunity, I try to draw people's attention to what as members of the human family we have in common and the deeply interconnected nature of our existence and welfare.<br />
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Today, there is increasing recognition, as well as a growing body of scientific evidence, that confirms the close connection between our own states of mind and our happiness. On the one hand, many of us live in societies that are very developed materially, yet among us are many people who are not very happy. Just underneath the beautiful surface of affluence there is a kind of mental unrest, leading to frustration, unnecessary quarrels, reliance on drugs or alcohol, and in the worst case, suicide. There is no guarantee that wealth alone can give you the joy or fulfilment that you seek. The same can be said of your friends too. When you are in an intense state of anger or hatred, even a very close friend appears to you as somehow frosty, or cold, distant, and annoying.<br />
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However, as human beings we are gifted with this wonderful human intelligence. Besides that, all human beings have the capacity to be very determined and to direct that strong sense of determination in whatever direction they like. So long as we remember that we have this marvellous gift of human intelligence and a capacity to develop determination and use it in positive ways, we will preserve our underlying mental health. Realizing we have this great human potential gives us a fundamental strength. This recognition can act as a mechanism that enables us to deal with any difficulty, no matter what situation we are facing, without losing hope or sinking into feelings of low self-esteem.<br />
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I write this as someone who lost his freedom at the age of 16, then lost his country at the age of 24. Consequently, I have lived in exile for more than 50 years during which we Tibetans have dedicated ourselves to keeping the Tibetan identity alive and preserving our culture and values. On most days the news from Tibet is heartbreaking, and yet none of these challenges gives grounds for giving up. One of the approaches that I personally find useful is to cultivate the thought: If the situation or problem is such that it can be remedied, then there is no need to worry about it. In other words, if there is a solution or a way out of the difficulty, you do not need to be overwhelmed by it. The appropriate action is to seek its solution. Then it is clearly more sensible to spend your energy focussing on the solution rather than worrying about the problem. Alternatively, if there is no solution, no possibility of resolution, then there is also no point in being worried about it, because you cannot do anything about it anyway. In that case, the sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be for you. This formula, of course, implies directly confronting the problem and taking a realistic view. Otherwise you will be unable to find out whether or not there is a resolution to the problem<br />
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Taking a realistic view and cultivating a proper motivation can also shield you against feelings of fear and anxiety. If you develop a pure and sincere motivation, if you are motivated by a wish to help on the basis of kindness, compassion, and respect, then you can carry on any kind of work, in any field, and function more effectively with less fear or worry, not being afraid of what others think or whether you ultimately will be successful in reaching your goal. Even if you fail to achieve your goal, you can feel good about having made the effort. But with a bad motivation, people can praise you or you can achieve goals, but you still will not be happy.<br />
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Again, we may sometimes feel that our whole lives are unsatisfactory, we feel on the point of being overwhelmed by the difficulties that confront us. This happens to us all in varying degrees from time to time. When this occurs, it is vital that we make every effort to find a way of lifting our spirits. We can do this by recollecting our good fortune. We may, for example, be loved by someone; we may have certain talents; we may have received a good education; we may have our basic needs provided for - food to eat, clothes to wear, somewhere to live - we may have performed certain altruistic deeds in the past. We must take into consideration even the slightest positive aspect of our lives. For if we fail to find some way of uplifting ourselves, there is every danger of sinking further into our sense of powerlessness. This can lead us to believe that we have no capacity for doing good whatsoever. Thus we create the conditions of despair itself.<br />
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As a Buddhist monk I have learned that what principally upsets our inner peace is what we call disturbing emotions. All those thoughts, emotions, and mental events which reflect a negative or uncompassionate state of mind inevitably undermine our experience of inner peace. All our negative thoughts and emotions - such as hatred, anger, pride, lust, greed, envy, and so on - are considered to be sources of difficulty, to be disturbing. Negative thoughts and emotions are what obstruct our most basic aspiration - to be happy and to avoid suffering. When we act under their influence, we become oblivious to the impact our actions have on others: they are thus the cause of our destructive behaviour both toward others and to ourselves. Murder, scandal, and deceit all have their origin in disturbing emotions.<br />
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This inevitably gives rise to the question - can we train the mind? There are many methods by which to do this. Among these, in the Buddhist tradition, is a special instruction called mind training, which focuses on cultivating concern for others and turning adversity to advantage. It is this pattern of thought, transforming problems into happiness that has enabled the Tibetan people to maintain their dignity and spirit in the face of great difficulties. Indeed I have found this advice of great practical benefit in my own life.<br />
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A great Tibetan teacher of mind training once remarked that one of the mind’s most marvellous qualities is that it can be transformed. I have no doubt that those who attempt to transform their minds, overcome their disturbing emotions and achieve a sense of inner peace, will, over a period of time, notice a change in their mental attitudes and responses to people and events. Their minds will become more disciplined and positive. And I am sure they will find their own sense of happiness grow as they contribute to the greater happiness of others. I offer my prayers that everyone who makes this their goal will be blessed with success.<br />
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<br />
The Dalai Lama<br />
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December 31, 2010</div><div align="justify"><em>Originally published in the Hindustan Times, India, on January 3rd, 201</em>1</div></div></div><div><br />
</div>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-33324358663714315802011-03-04T18:16:00.001+08:002011-03-04T18:17:22.540+08:00Origins of the word computer bug<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><b>From Wikipedia:</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><b>The First "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_bug">Computer Bug</a>"</b> Moth found trapped between points at Relay # 70, Panel F, of the Mark II Aiken Relay Calculator while it was being tested at Harvard University, 9 September 1947. The operators affixed the moth to the computer log, with the entry: "First actual case of bug being found". They put out the word that they had "debugged" the machine, thus introducing the term "debugging a computer program". In 1988, the log, with the moth still taped by the entry, was in the Naval Surface Warfare Center Computer Museum at Dahlgren, Virginia, which erroneously dated it 9 September <i>1945</i>. The Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of American History and other sources have the correct date of 9 September <i>1947</i> (Object ID: 1994.0191.01). The Harvard Mark II computer was not complete until the summer of 1947.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/H96566k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/H96566k.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-58097132496959507242011-01-05T18:42:00.000+08:002011-01-05T18:42:14.750+08:00The less traveled road<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From the first time I was introduced to this poem during my college days it has always been one of my favorite. Written by Robert Frost, perhaps his finest - the author wrote this poem about his walks in the woods with his friend. During these walks, his friend will always wonder what they have missed by not taking other paths they encountered.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To me, this poem always represent the choices that life presents to us - not necessary there will be a right or wrong choice, but always an existence of a choice. Some may regret that they can't choose all the choices that present themselves, and there's always a dilemma on whether the choice yet to be made is a right or wrong choice. We are always afraid of choosing the wrong one (and some took too much time to choose!). And then we realize that we have to make choices, whether we like it or not and the choices that we make are always justified by our own reasoning and perhaps to a certain extend - logic. But is our choices the rights ones or the wrong ones? We probably think that the one we chose are the most attractive one amongst the rest - but is it true over the time? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I was first exposed to this poem I thought that it is a form of advocation of non-conformist attitude, but as I grew - what this poem really means to me is that we have choices in life - which is great.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So is the sigh mentioned in the poem a sigh of satisfaction or merely a sigh of regret? Food for thought - hope you like the poem as much as I do.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>The Road Not Taken (Robert Frost)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And sorry I could not travel both</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And be one traveler, long I stood</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And looked down one as far as I could</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To where it bent in the undergrowth;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then took the other, as just as fair,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And having perhaps the better claim</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because it was grassy and wanted wear,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Though as for that the passing there</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Had worn them really about the same,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And both that morning equally lay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In leaves no step had trodden black.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh, I marked the first for another day!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yet knowing how way leads on to way</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I doubted if I should ever come back.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I shall be telling this with a sigh</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Somewhere ages and ages hence:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I took the one less traveled by,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And that has made all the difference.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpzAXV8VrtoZXk3zwikdpEkMopi1Q67PBHLq9SNm5pHpRSpjMqESp1PSO1qw8EC2Oeil3xvbI8saH09fDyAUsQKDv5KxrMGLaLV2BBwabkVZCsC7zpE1qgJ7txcqNWmky_c8qPEBG4pY/s1600/n581283784_1446564_6148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpzAXV8VrtoZXk3zwikdpEkMopi1Q67PBHLq9SNm5pHpRSpjMqESp1PSO1qw8EC2Oeil3xvbI8saH09fDyAUsQKDv5KxrMGLaLV2BBwabkVZCsC7zpE1qgJ7txcqNWmky_c8qPEBG4pY/s1600/n581283784_1446564_6148.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Champasak, Laos (2009)</td></tr>
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</span>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-62033192579974944432011-01-01T17:04:00.002+08:002011-01-01T18:24:56.094+08:00New year, old friendsAs I sat in a restaurant in a mall near my home I am contemplating what would be the first post of the year would be about. Then I thought about my friend's request the day before to write about how we celebrated the last day of 2010 and ushered in the new year. To be forthright, as a matter of fact our celebrations yesterday was nothing exceptional to say the least. In fact looking at it you might call it downright mundane for a new year's celebrations - dinner, no countdown, few minutes of fireworks (which we don't even know there is one until it happened) and of course poker session till late at night.<br />
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Not even close to the top of list.<br />
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As we ushered in the new years it brought in many changes as well. Our celebrations soon consists of new faces - new friends, partners, spouses and children. 2011 would be no exception, already we are expecting a new bundle of joy for our group due in February and I myself would be soon getting married a few months later.<br />
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One of the great things why we celebrate the arrival of new year is it marks a time of our life where we can leave unwanted pasts from the previous year and renew our hopes for better things to come. It is a milestone for some, one year older, another year we have been married or another year that we have been friends. It is also a time for a kindly reminder that some things probably would never change. It's still the eccentric behaviour of one of us ( we are starting to lose hope that he might ever change ), he is still late for appointments, and I am still pissed with him for being not punctual, and one of us is still occasionally moody. <br />
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Although the years might roll by and certain changes and additions might come along, there are however a few that remain unchanged. Good friends remain, some people that you can depend for company and when you most need it, someone that you can rely on. Like familiar saying goes, it's not where you go but the company that you keep that makes it count Here's to 2011 and many more mundane new years to come, so long that it is celebrated with dear friends. <br />
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To old friends and to new beginnings. <br />
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<i>I have been commissioned to write this, so when we say commissioned it means that I should be getting paid to write this. JJ please take note!</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLoZ67pkyvcO-SlkQ9X96lxGLvbAdYWW4uXz4rrmwqGf7WAozV2NdOpInpeGvOXgItfMcAjblERr0qBTJpNtNaLtXqcC04VrjdvGTdMvbaRiraKrFfHWTbmyJyiQ53luH4FcKkhR2qE0/s1600/1_913318014l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLoZ67pkyvcO-SlkQ9X96lxGLvbAdYWW4uXz4rrmwqGf7WAozV2NdOpInpeGvOXgItfMcAjblERr0qBTJpNtNaLtXqcC04VrjdvGTdMvbaRiraKrFfHWTbmyJyiQ53luH4FcKkhR2qE0/s1600/1_913318014l.jpg" /></a></div><i><br />
</i>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-17569970356959546782010-12-24T00:16:00.000+08:002010-12-24T00:16:37.829+08:00How to make your blog's URL much coolerRecently discovered a cool way to use Google's URL shortener as well as the <a href="http://www.google.com/mobile/goggles/#text">Google Goggle</a> feature available on the Google app available on Android, Blackberry, iPhones and other smartphones.<br />
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For those of you who are unaware, you can shorten any URL by just using <a href="http://goo.gl/">Google's URL shortener</a>, the resulting shorten version of the URL would appear as something like this goo.gl/<i>xxxx </i>plus a 3D barcode which look something like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeR1EVps3xoGPOGeI3yIgAedMVD-B7cC6uv42Eq15NDUL9f6DnLYGFhD-9e2z2vWZzhkIGqboFD728ZAhKVpg-Nc3l0N0sABxoKKHXSohvE82N0TOxek9aV1sXhbBUGx_X5MFt5sZKdmk/s1600/chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeR1EVps3xoGPOGeI3yIgAedMVD-B7cC6uv42Eq15NDUL9f6DnLYGFhD-9e2z2vWZzhkIGqboFD728ZAhKVpg-Nc3l0N0sABxoKKHXSohvE82N0TOxek9aV1sXhbBUGx_X5MFt5sZKdmk/s1600/chart.png" /></a></div><br />
And then using the aforementioned Google Goggle, take a picture of the barcode <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">above </span>and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">voilà!, your search results returns the goo.gl version of the URL. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajwEAcnk8RcswW5YOlgoW5SdLJd3Gi_OX0qcxHXu4ul2B4GasQLx3MDlAbIv7zItt7bCcnvWpLW-4PrUBBqrXZ7NySQtJyXFgT5rFBSjzUDKZshNlMUqq_v5-uqKn3STPjSYwd8wA2IQ/s1600/IMG_0112.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajwEAcnk8RcswW5YOlgoW5SdLJd3Gi_OX0qcxHXu4ul2B4GasQLx3MDlAbIv7zItt7bCcnvWpLW-4PrUBBqrXZ7NySQtJyXFgT5rFBSjzUDKZshNlMUqq_v5-uqKn3STPjSYwd8wA2IQ/s320/IMG_0112.PNG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5ne7VTtEWDIpqJcnUUHtOO7WXwCFQuFiDojXWEjSjM3JInifXWZhVb8RCj-0Kk-8wxcikSlT2tBNd5akwiSHzyEsalD0WKzeRoPUibKnOLv11UXrfRhFq9erUgFKSwTQc7eIUyrrypY/s1600/IMG_0111.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5ne7VTtEWDIpqJcnUUHtOO7WXwCFQuFiDojXWEjSjM3JInifXWZhVb8RCj-0Kk-8wxcikSlT2tBNd5akwiSHzyEsalD0WKzeRoPUibKnOLv11UXrfRhFq9erUgFKSwTQc7eIUyrrypY/s320/IMG_0111.PNG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so a conversation like this:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Ah Beng:</b> Eh, what is the yew-arrr-ell of your broggg again ah?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Me:</b> It's w-w-w, dot epiphany ...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Ah Beng</b>: Ah? What ah? Tiffany ah? Why your broggg got a girl's name one? Your girlfriend ah?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">would soon be replaced by something like this:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Ah Beng:</b> Eh, what is the yew-arrr-ell of your broggg again ah?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Me:</b> No need URL, do you have the Google app on your iPhone? </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">Technology is cool, go embrace it like the cuddly teddy bear on your bed </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">:).</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></i>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-60858314333700241632010-12-19T22:21:00.000+08:002010-12-19T22:21:22.259+08:00G-Shock GulfmanRecently got me-self a new gadget, actually it's an early birthday gift from both my brother and sister, thanks to both of them :) . I have always been a sucker for products where featuring high tech elements both in the design of the product itself or during the course of producing it. Amongst the items that I have fallen "prey" to include phones, gadgets, or even clothing items like Columbia's <i>Bamboo Nano-Charcoal Fiber</i> tights, and their <i>Omni-Tech</i> jackets. Usually these products come with cool names like Omni, Techno, i-something and comes with a description like these on the boxes:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 32px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">"As bamboo charcoal with innumerable holes structure, can absorb and decompose benzene, phenol, methanol, sulfide, nitrides etc, it can reduce harmful matters and odors, such as a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 32px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 32px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 32px;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana;">53%<span style="color: #666666;"> </span></span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 32px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #666666;">deduction in odor from<b> </b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 32px;"><span style="color: #666666;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 32px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>NH3<span style="color: #666666;"></span></b><span style="color: #666666;">gas.<b> </b>It also can adjust the moisture, release anions, restrain microbe... etc. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 32px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 26px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 32px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 26px;">The major function of our products is Warming. According to</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 26px;"><b> ITRI </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 32px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 26px;"><span style="color: #666666;">test result, with 500W halogen light<b></b>shone on the bamboo charcoal yarn for 10 minutes, the yarn emits far infrared rays for<b> </b></span><b> 87% ~ 92%<span style="color: #004040;">,</span></b><span style="color: #666666;">and warm up the temperature<b> 10<sup> o</sup>C</b>,<b> </b>which is much higher than for instance wool's with</span><b><span style="color: #004040;"> 5<sup> o</sup>C</span></b><span style="color: #666666;">.The bamboo charcoal powder is equally diffused in to the fiber structure and not a coating on the surface, therefore any method of washing will not influence its function. It has an excellent</span><b><span style="color: #004040;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">water-resistance</span><span style="color: #004040;">, </span><span style="color: #006600;"> </span><span style="color: green;">natural no irradiation</span></b><span style="color: #004040;">, </span><span style="color: #666666;">the best choice of warm textiles."</span></span></span></span><br />
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Doesn't makes much sense to when I read it, but I suddenly feel much "cooler" wearing it. Smart underwear anyone?<br />
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This time around my latest gadget is a G-Shock watch. I have always wanted to get a G-Shock after seeing my friends wearing them. I wanted to have a watch for weekend use where I don't have have to worry about scratching it or suffering any "abuse" during the course of outdoor activities. Now as most of you know G-Shock watches are synonymous with toughness and more recently trendiness as well judging from the new colors and design available in their line-up. So there you go, a G-Shock is something that fits my needs pretty well and the great thing is it's not too expensive as well.<br />
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G-Shock was created as part of "Project Tough" by Casio engineers way back in 1981 with the sole aim of creating an "unbreakable watch". Over 2 years numerous prototypes has been created and finally in 1983 the first G-Shock was born - the DW-5000C. Here's what the makers have to say on the technology that is involved in making a G-Shock:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz90DShAYuHKaH-Nonz00oT5sM_O5wkhIVdV6cfiGDUCphq7p6SD8QNf4ThGtXpZDLd1n5T9dRFf-CvzVJyHWtcJ10pOE5ES4pCbIRZjKGE7mBVxuLOiNxiu1MyCru0giZYrJFGvRVS1s/s1600/g-shock1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz90DShAYuHKaH-Nonz00oT5sM_O5wkhIVdV6cfiGDUCphq7p6SD8QNf4ThGtXpZDLd1n5T9dRFf-CvzVJyHWtcJ10pOE5ES4pCbIRZjKGE7mBVxuLOiNxiu1MyCru0giZYrJFGvRVS1s/s640/g-shock1.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKJCESthIo8xxSR60Z3MSdPotMBCGjWoHOnrVNtVyKtjkSfiC3PuC1tRZtGl9e_cFIddyzUS6g7bD4F1nNJj0gUUdpEgxMo2v0_GX0_Ggo24aceDvPuxzA4XwOEBE5duDMX86W3kPasM/s1600/g-shock2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKJCESthIo8xxSR60Z3MSdPotMBCGjWoHOnrVNtVyKtjkSfiC3PuC1tRZtGl9e_cFIddyzUS6g7bD4F1nNJj0gUUdpEgxMo2v0_GX0_Ggo24aceDvPuxzA4XwOEBE5duDMX86W3kPasM/s640/g-shock2.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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And here are the tests the watches are subjected to: gravitational shock resistance, dropping sock resistance, hammer shock resistance, water pressure, electrical current, low temperature resistance and vibration resistance. Here's a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSaciL-tNg8">video</a> showing the various tests. Kinda "shocking" how they test their watches, sorry pun intended.<br />
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The model that I recently acquired is a G9100-2, where the postfixed number 2 denotes that it is in color blue. Nicknamed "Gulfman", the watch is part of the Master of G collection, others being the Frogman, the Mudman, and the Riseman. Each series represents unique features that the namesake suggests - Frogman has very high resistance to underwater pressure, features a dive timer, tide data and so forth, Mudman features dust and mud resistance design, a rally mode, a highly accurate stopwatch mode and the Riseman has twin sensors featuring an altimeter and a barometer (in which you can use it to gauge whether it will rain or not, by the means of atmosphere pressure around you).<br />
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Here's how my Gulfman looks like:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjboJiz65EPTjcMmss3y5wdkvPzPbyQxNvM8eXqDCrnoNBeDgbl9aA50txHzNRd_nrMkmhcEejV0N_9xqLgmaNTQGD0kP-dA1NZ3jcN9iNSuUHRKkTE13TXk9y-6SkrmwUUtr9XEi47o/s1600/GShock+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjboJiz65EPTjcMmss3y5wdkvPzPbyQxNvM8eXqDCrnoNBeDgbl9aA50txHzNRd_nrMkmhcEejV0N_9xqLgmaNTQGD0kP-dA1NZ3jcN9iNSuUHRKkTE13TXk9y-6SkrmwUUtr9XEi47o/s640/GShock+005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha36gN-nXx8AzqDRcZF44tSUBEdpdHZcJ1JAkCwGHhjd1sMCfY0ditDV1-Zyyn4GDTwlXrUgH_fSitS3Efw6XPyZT874eWdFk60P6PKMjRT8g3Ov90ZQJDHl70LNRxIrm8cQogX-a4O44/s1600/GShock+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha36gN-nXx8AzqDRcZF44tSUBEdpdHZcJ1JAkCwGHhjd1sMCfY0ditDV1-Zyyn4GDTwlXrUgH_fSitS3Efw6XPyZT874eWdFk60P6PKMjRT8g3Ov90ZQJDHl70LNRxIrm8cQogX-a4O44/s640/GShock+016.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMWz1F2Ezgtx6Jj5sFJrLhbTbqW-iLjnGOkYCozi9lyfDV_wfnQwvRvB_s6ohdtqY3OrvFNCGhpKvk5AR16VJv1jGXIyGjn0K2W8IVTeIi8f24KpwxGB00nISl6eOFOLcBrirA6J0EXA/s1600/GShock+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMWz1F2Ezgtx6Jj5sFJrLhbTbqW-iLjnGOkYCozi9lyfDV_wfnQwvRvB_s6ohdtqY3OrvFNCGhpKvk5AR16VJv1jGXIyGjn0K2W8IVTeIi8f24KpwxGB00nISl6eOFOLcBrirA6J0EXA/s640/GShock+017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNDw887vKO75MLWMD5DV4ttdDPvMiw6YNEFRVPMSC1rYdGVMjIsMFvSYDl3M7LW_wcrwGYC0Y3LPzugqoF9U9-eDRp9tvF4DVdSl0OHweIy2WL3ZbrO-QEpgyHnWDDjSlxV-0kkayfok/s1600/GShock+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNDw887vKO75MLWMD5DV4ttdDPvMiw6YNEFRVPMSC1rYdGVMjIsMFvSYDl3M7LW_wcrwGYC0Y3LPzugqoF9U9-eDRp9tvF4DVdSl0OHweIy2WL3ZbrO-QEpgyHnWDDjSlxV-0kkayfok/s640/GShock+019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3A8sSrJjKRQetffIcddzCrbOhavZh1Ebe_B6Ac33LFj1nfdQaHp1fiM2bCGuuOZZnL5n_XMVkg17BUW78Gpydk_HWq266ZFFL6Fr-yQLwhNrfgyVQZraIN1duilgW3dXpz2cg_6ygqwU/s1600/GShock+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3A8sSrJjKRQetffIcddzCrbOhavZh1Ebe_B6Ac33LFj1nfdQaHp1fiM2bCGuuOZZnL5n_XMVkg17BUW78Gpydk_HWq266ZFFL6Fr-yQLwhNrfgyVQZraIN1duilgW3dXpz2cg_6ygqwU/s640/GShock+007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Besides the usual shock resistant feature the Gulfman is the only watch in the Master of G series that features a rust resistant structure by using titanium in it's case back cover, button shafts and buckle. So the watch feels really light weighing at 53 grams. Each Master of G features a unique logo at it's back. Here's how mine looks like:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSiPSS288H9ZHLtGj4PzUtCehYMnYOKpj63GVNVKfOMku4AQq_ho0hqsJHEhzJBOCxZscgmWdWpMeL1ig6PHhWuTaNIbq3Rq9vyhxuMMmaN2EormTZh2Mvi9qYHCtlu8juDayU-8iEG0/s1600/GShock+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSiPSS288H9ZHLtGj4PzUtCehYMnYOKpj63GVNVKfOMku4AQq_ho0hqsJHEhzJBOCxZscgmWdWpMeL1ig6PHhWuTaNIbq3Rq9vyhxuMMmaN2EormTZh2Mvi9qYHCtlu8juDayU-8iEG0/s640/GShock+006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShvK2m10G3Sg4NZeuYWI2XNxhv0scb1vKeldprL31SLG1CdfkaJjwKQxVGeBOp78yCw0nQ9KeQu7Z4VQ_yWWVyI0ZolkMc3IdnkF6cf2H-KnQEChOKcoufnCccU51rMvprDRss20yvIc/s1600/GShock+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShvK2m10G3Sg4NZeuYWI2XNxhv0scb1vKeldprL31SLG1CdfkaJjwKQxVGeBOp78yCw0nQ9KeQu7Z4VQ_yWWVyI0ZolkMc3IdnkF6cf2H-KnQEChOKcoufnCccU51rMvprDRss20yvIc/s640/GShock+015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FFKB7R5dPhGOtl9_JathwLCJW2xN2iYZjMBxEi4NCYi_AdIngr-S0jXQC9JGA9z2jg0MSL1IGxrqDI0o7w3BEn1zCnGJdZAD0vvz-espCdfCgzHb5PVWrlvU6pp8QPMAFzBfT5Fx-c4/s1600/GShock+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FFKB7R5dPhGOtl9_JathwLCJW2xN2iYZjMBxEi4NCYi_AdIngr-S0jXQC9JGA9z2jg0MSL1IGxrqDI0o7w3BEn1zCnGJdZAD0vvz-espCdfCgzHb5PVWrlvU6pp8QPMAFzBfT5Fx-c4/s640/GShock+022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUwkO592bW67M2aIoOtQPeQch2wgW_YfOUWcbrpFUFjoXN6JMp95mBpe3l6WLlzWJj3hoqqQdK3psSQspbr_-3twq3NgNi7V-HovQZbgqhZLOEyagm_3REsD9cHaryYEPBGfw8blVkcs/s1600/GShock+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUwkO592bW67M2aIoOtQPeQch2wgW_YfOUWcbrpFUFjoXN6JMp95mBpe3l6WLlzWJj3hoqqQdK3psSQspbr_-3twq3NgNi7V-HovQZbgqhZLOEyagm_3REsD9cHaryYEPBGfw8blVkcs/s640/GShock+021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>And with the electro-luminescent (EL) back light synonymous with most G-Shock watches - the Gulfman features dual illumination back lights built into the LCD and the dial for better visibility (for those who work at night at the seas, I am not one of them), and has a feature that can turn on the back light automatically with just a tilt of their wrist - although I have to say that I have turned off this feature as it would probably drain the battery faster. The manual states that the battery can last for around 7 years.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaXYPOt-o0kkqe_O-rI4d9L7srTZy7AkGDd_Kxd9AgUpdwldqzmTlCFft6Ks5rN2KT7SHUpplBf5qTXzSKvLLhaDwEOtgavDfKSxrb2CXokdHY079yU08rMT5f_7q9MgwIMwJ7MAzuYQ/s1600/GShock+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaXYPOt-o0kkqe_O-rI4d9L7srTZy7AkGDd_Kxd9AgUpdwldqzmTlCFft6Ks5rN2KT7SHUpplBf5qTXzSKvLLhaDwEOtgavDfKSxrb2CXokdHY079yU08rMT5f_7q9MgwIMwJ7MAzuYQ/s640/GShock+013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dZ_JiuNHhzELJe9hM6TiAopsfGHF9wAqYq3yP2IbzbX1stU6CMxoMwDgOu8jvn5NPwXOAXwtHbP-xD0aofEM_5THd3QCR5BVLjy8iDSJFKyQKz5aVUxBeHaqDTzUrwGTATItKOBXWrQ/s1600/GShock+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dZ_JiuNHhzELJe9hM6TiAopsfGHF9wAqYq3yP2IbzbX1stU6CMxoMwDgOu8jvn5NPwXOAXwtHbP-xD0aofEM_5THd3QCR5BVLjy8iDSJFKyQKz5aVUxBeHaqDTzUrwGTATItKOBXWrQ/s640/GShock+014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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On the watch face you can see the tide graph and the moon phase indicator (with moon age and moon phase) , of which you have to set your coordinates and the lunitidal interval of your locality in order for the watch to display the info correctly. The watch is also water resistant up to 200m.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnmSwP5XkeGYgKUtzK6UYbjAKHfa1SycBUeOJpmPa2IvnKbQONBNd2S0YZH53rPvxMami12UFgymSOZJJ7zE9dpLL-YLbE1SEsg9syAAWbdZSrnFcDDsC_ewEKMEkOS-5ZxFgYxJxlxw/s1600/GShock+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnmSwP5XkeGYgKUtzK6UYbjAKHfa1SycBUeOJpmPa2IvnKbQONBNd2S0YZH53rPvxMami12UFgymSOZJJ7zE9dpLL-YLbE1SEsg9syAAWbdZSrnFcDDsC_ewEKMEkOS-5ZxFgYxJxlxw/s640/GShock+008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Another feature that I like is that it stores world time for 48 cities in 29 time zones, with daylight saving mode. Good to know what time it is before calling that cousin at London eh? Although I have to say one thing that I don't like is the abbreviations that they use for the city names some of which are pretty straightforward to guess like LON, but what's MLE?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFAycm3xVbs1WUwYMh8zAypxFZfIc15QXnIrNuReDeUGYUx7ZJw-X0BJpXe3xKz3MPYBItutPzBIO9-WcKErqE4CiDpCf3iCMO5MGyZab-YsQ9Zi3lLXOywCFyTPTeSk8XI7En7823To/s1600/GShock+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFAycm3xVbs1WUwYMh8zAypxFZfIc15QXnIrNuReDeUGYUx7ZJw-X0BJpXe3xKz3MPYBItutPzBIO9-WcKErqE4CiDpCf3iCMO5MGyZab-YsQ9Zi3lLXOywCFyTPTeSk8XI7En7823To/s640/GShock+009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The watch has 3 alarm modes - 2 normal alarms, 1 with snooze feature of which can be set to go off at daily, monthly, or on a certain date. It also has an hourly time signal.<br />
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The 1/100 second stopwatch feature allows you to measure elapsed time, split times and able to time up to finishes. A 1/100 second is also known as a centisecond, or 10 milliseconds which is 0.01 seconds. So how fast is a 1/100 second? Well it's probably somewhere as fast as a typical camera shutter speed. The stopwatch can display up to 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59.99 seconds.<br />
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Next feature on the watch is the countdown mode which allows you to set a time between 1 minute to 24 hours before the alarm sounds when the timer reaches 0. It also has a auto repeat feature which allows the watch to restart the timer after reaching zero and as well as a progress beeper which sounds at specific intervals before the end of the countdown. The above said stopwatch, countdown alarm, alarms and hourly time signal have a Flash Alert feature which enable the watch to flash with buzzer when ever the alarm / timer goes off.<br />
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The watch has an accuracy of plus / minus 15 seconds for every month of operation - for those of you who wonder what this means, man made watches inherently inaccurate due to many reasons some of which are due to the mechanism, quality of craftsmanship etc. etc. So if we say a watch is %99.9 accurate for example, it will still be out by a minute and a half in 24 hours! Some watches like mechanical ones (think Rolex, Omega etc.) are less accurate not by design but by nature - imagine all those tiny gears and screws in the watches are constantly affected by the gravitational forces, so they are quite inaccurate if you compare to a say, a much cheaper Casio quartz watch. Of course there are certain exceptions which features very very high workmanship and which are a Certified Chronometer where each watch has to be certified individually by COSC in Swiss where the watch movement has to achieve somewhere in the region of %99.994 accuracy which means -4 to +6 seconds accuracy. All certified watches are then allowed to feature the designation "Chronometer" which is a mark of distinction for a high quality and exclusive watch. However it is interesting to note that a normal quartz watch is %99.9998 accurate which only leaves room a loss of accuracy of between -2 and +2 seconds per day. Why is this so? Because a quartz watch uses a crystal oscillator to create electrical signals which is very precise. It is also interesting to note that some G-Shocks features self-calibrating features which the watch receives signals from calibration stations which is based on, wait for it ... atomic timekeeping! Whaaaattt?<br />
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Wheeeewww, that's a lot for a watch nowadays isn't it? But it's so cool to know that the stuffs that you are wearing has so many technology in it. Makes it sound like something from a James Bond movie. Well who knows, probably James Bond would be proud owner of a G-Shock someday ;)JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-22471969896458801002010-12-15T01:54:00.002+08:002010-12-19T15:47:47.460+08:00The Count of Monte CristoI am currently reading the Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas on the iBook app on my iPhone and iPad. Reading books the iBook is such a breeze and it has now become my favorite companion to pass my time. Anyway this post is not about the iBook or the iPad for that matter but probably I shall in my next post. <br />
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This post is about the Count of Monte Cristo, for those who have not read it before I highly recommend that you do. I feel that Dumas is such a great writer that all his characters in the book come alive in front of you as you read. You can't help but empahize with Dantes when he was cruelly dealt with injustice, you feel the joy of his learning when he met the abbe. I just wish I could write like the master storyteller that Dumas is.<br />
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From time to time I would encounter some classic lines from the book and I would like to share them with you. Here is the first one, an extract from a chapter detailing the time when Dantes was rescued by some smugglers after he escaped:<br />
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<i>Moreover, it is possible that the Genoese was one of those shrewd persons who know nothing but what they should know, and believe nothing but what they should believe</i><br />
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How true it is indeed that some can live their life wisely by knowing only what they need to know and when not to meddle in the affairs of others!JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-604922503476715882010-12-12T17:58:00.003+08:002010-12-17T17:32:56.425+08:00Serendipity? You better believe it<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">My company trip at a resort in Ayer Keroh has just concluded and I am writing this as we are on the way home. First of all this is the first time in my life that I have partake in a company event at this size although I have been given many opportunity by many ex employers which I am most grateful for. So not expecting much I packed my bags on Saturday and head toward the historical city of Malacca with the rest of the staffs from the company. Unbeknown to me there's a most serendipitous chain of event that is waiting for me. Now mind you when I said serendipitous I did not mean that I have suddenly struck a ten million dollar lottery but it's still a most fortunate event. Let me tell you why.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Upon reaching the resort I discovered that my roomie that I am supposed to share a room with is down with fever and was absent for the event. After putting my bag in my designated room I went for lunch and event activity. Upon returning back to my room I discovered that my room has another new occupant and my luggage gone. Feeling quite displeased with the sudden turn of events I stormed of to the front desk to find my bag and with the intention of making a complain. After a few firm words I was upgraded to a much bigger room - feeling quite pleased at this point I decided that I have no use for such a big room for myself and instead offered to switch room with another colleague which had brought her husband and baby along. During the lucky draw at dinner I did not win anything which according to the event organisers there are enough of prizes for more than half of the participants on the night. Well number 181 didn't yield any price for me. Feeling quite unlucky that I wasn't the lucky other half given the possibility of actually winning something is more than 0.5 I joked to those who cared to listen that I am going to win the iPad which was one of the grand price for second lucky draw on the following day ( I didn't have that much conviction when I said it). On the following day however I got another set of number 281 which again to me is such a coincidence to me, 181 being my birthday. Just plain coincidence?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When number 281 was announced with the prize of guess what - an iPad, my hair was standing on my back a sudden exhilaration of actually winning something that I really want. Serendipity? You be well believe that good things does come to us in our lives.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I always believe that our lives are intermittently peppered with highs and lows and this last to days I believe is a testimonial to that - albeit on a much smaller timeframe in two days. But guess what I have always feel lucky with my life - sure it's not so outstanding and I have been I some pretty low times. But I have grown to love what life has managed to offered to me. Good times I felt immediately pleased with but with bad times I have grown to learn from them after a recess. My motto is and has always been the mantra - everything happens for a reason. It is up for us to appreciate it and learn from it. Embrace the challenges and be thankful for the gifts. At the mean time - thank you God for giving me this iPad!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbXrhPEOtNuM19KuGq9_JIvNWSkz2_hU_qPIS3dUoQEFalOIJZ803iNu_SlgrmLxOd68gyu9vjV201gRwVGQOxvC15sKcntS-lx4rnQQkRMK-om3PuhNwb1hxP8ijpbzz8g1_voUIdI8/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbXrhPEOtNuM19KuGq9_JIvNWSkz2_hU_qPIS3dUoQEFalOIJZ803iNu_SlgrmLxOd68gyu9vjV201gRwVGQOxvC15sKcntS-lx4rnQQkRMK-om3PuhNwb1hxP8ijpbzz8g1_voUIdI8/s320/IMG_0104.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-28758107046448443372010-12-10T10:41:00.004+08:002010-12-17T17:35:34.840+08:00Air Asia - The airlines that cares? (pt. 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Just got a reply from AA after I wrote in to complain about my experience and here's what i got:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYFrLBVBJPdfylU6WW3_h_Fk6KHX17oS42fG3kwsrrByxlid3Uof-yGKZTjPgaoozFC3gdzcOZqKYSPd72mpVpm22JNhOz38aGbo5NAQh8Kj1td8NIECXwD0a099ae2td8XQDxnAhMlA/s1600/untitled.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYFrLBVBJPdfylU6WW3_h_Fk6KHX17oS42fG3kwsrrByxlid3Uof-yGKZTjPgaoozFC3gdzcOZqKYSPd72mpVpm22JNhOz38aGbo5NAQh8Kj1td8NIECXwD0a099ae2td8XQDxnAhMlA/s640/untitled.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>To those of you who don't know what's happening you can read my previous post on my frustrations with AA on <a href="http://epiphanyofahorse.blogspot.com/2010/12/air-asia-airlines-that-cares.html">http://epiphanyofahorse.blogspot.com/2010/12/air-asia-airlines-that-cares.html</a> .</div><div><br />
</div><div>Anyway first thing I noticed is the email address that is used to reply to my complain donotreply@airasia.com , which basically says one thing - "shut up we don't care about your complains but because we would like to appear to care to our customer so we have no choice but to create the feedback form on our website". And after reading the contents of the email I just went:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MBZ67Gsb6LvVxavTJj3G5LoQgkcapxCeBynpsJ11ubYg1TNRsmmVV9tLOR4_OIMNUVtTzl2HeRn74pJROAP_ufF81NGmhjJEMmGWwvVhMTNEj9hJcFwJ7ThsMhlWnIPZGRbBrOg5Tag/s1600/volcano_eruption_lg_nwm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MBZ67Gsb6LvVxavTJj3G5LoQgkcapxCeBynpsJ11ubYg1TNRsmmVV9tLOR4_OIMNUVtTzl2HeRn74pJROAP_ufF81NGmhjJEMmGWwvVhMTNEj9hJcFwJ7ThsMhlWnIPZGRbBrOg5Tag/s1600/volcano_eruption_lg_nwm.gif" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>And then after suggestion from my friend I went to Mr. Tony Fernandez's page on FB and here's what I found:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKY3DBSTCjpxH78wBRwOadY8m22B44X8eWNRbCBMGzczKBCB2chQsMHEbLweWey-bCFq9bMRnVuoNRKlKSJLe_63VKE0phqKAFAJE1PSgjNU4YNCBHHgNuK764HORKo34TygI7XhYjQH8/s1600/untitled2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKY3DBSTCjpxH78wBRwOadY8m22B44X8eWNRbCBMGzczKBCB2chQsMHEbLweWey-bCFq9bMRnVuoNRKlKSJLe_63VKE0phqKAFAJE1PSgjNU4YNCBHHgNuK764HORKo34TygI7XhYjQH8/s640/untitled2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well I guess it's to be expected since Mr. TF himself branded his own staff as, read this - <u>Low cost army</u>. So good luck Yogamala, and yeah I agree with you Air Asia system sucks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mr. TF you got to wake up from your "dream" and start acting fast - it's really starting to look like you weren't really paying too much attention to AA nowadays - F1 and Asean basketball taking too much of your time? Pooodah!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjbIDUR2PxjwFLmS1inYRPt7Q9cTXgEe7xJXk-aP9VoL92WDvCCLUI8uJaWDEnGiYHXggd4NebammmHQthSLNzoB64JJVrrbHwflPQ9BHUtaWZbDko5lnaPPtXZUX-b2NXUWHwXdS0T4/s1600/untitled3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjbIDUR2PxjwFLmS1inYRPt7Q9cTXgEe7xJXk-aP9VoL92WDvCCLUI8uJaWDEnGiYHXggd4NebammmHQthSLNzoB64JJVrrbHwflPQ9BHUtaWZbDko5lnaPPtXZUX-b2NXUWHwXdS0T4/s640/untitled3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div>P.S. I am thinking of writing to Tony directly next. Will keep you updated on the outcome</div>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-19097492025126922612010-12-08T21:07:00.004+08:002010-12-17T17:31:40.380+08:00Air Asia - The airlines that cares?Recently made a trip from KL - Bangkok on Air Asia and I can say that flying with AA is starting to feel like a torture. It started with trying to purchase the check in luggage after I have made my flight booking but was unable to due to some stupid bug on their website - so I went trying to get help from their customer service. Things looks pretty desperate after I saw I was the 999,999,999 on their "live" help so I decided to call their premier customer support which cost RM1.95 per minute. Expecting soothing music or some efficient help I encountered a guy who instead asked me to call Air Asia Kargo services (wtf?) and I just did and the woman who picked up was just as puzzled as to why I was directed to their department. After some explanation that I actually booked my flight via Air Asia Go Holidays she instead directed me to call another line (she was sensing that I was quite agitated at the point). After a third call I finally managed to arrange to purchase my check in luggage.<br />
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I thought my bad experience with AA was going to be over until the return flight from BKK - KL where I discovered that at LCCT's baggage carousel there was shitloads of confused passengers wondering where their baggage will appear. Seemed at that time the information screen was not working or some stupid idiot just forgot to update it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyrjQtGQBn0T69Mekd4Ty4kFbHW_zxqg4iv4TPPPggchwyQsfjaY1XEoD8xAPgVPN6gSmsaobydU4n27S4e7B0n15giwGhXON2pRYS6y71avsMxp3hVy6BtMU-DraiDmyIHsPDQZvO3k/s1600/IMG_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyrjQtGQBn0T69Mekd4Ty4kFbHW_zxqg4iv4TPPPggchwyQsfjaY1XEoD8xAPgVPN6gSmsaobydU4n27S4e7B0n15giwGhXON2pRYS6y71avsMxp3hVy6BtMU-DraiDmyIHsPDQZvO3k/s320/IMG_0081.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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It was most embarrassing seeing foreign tourists looking dazed and confused and more embarrassing seeing some AA staff just sitting down at the bench. Since there's no one manning the baggage information service desk, feeling utterly disgusted and pissed, I went to approach the procrastinating douche head to ask as to which carousel belt that my baggage would appear on. And he just stupidly replied "I am not in charge of the baggage". At that point the HULK in me was unleashed - at that point all I wanted to so is just do the Hulk Smash on his face so that his brains will splatter all over the floor. After that I will smash all the AA Airbuses that was parked outside on the runway.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbo9Vb4_22vELPtx3Kw1LptxmdRmQB8rbKvfnqcWMMgP_B4oX_BhK-bfZpvlLXlISnCVN4lOcCW31LPzZdSQtLbfYyoqtNMoWnTxLBIa-3OW4zA-HlIGWVjCLTzETFQ80Na0If22BH5ZI/s1600/newclaphypercj6.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbo9Vb4_22vELPtx3Kw1LptxmdRmQB8rbKvfnqcWMMgP_B4oX_BhK-bfZpvlLXlISnCVN4lOcCW31LPzZdSQtLbfYyoqtNMoWnTxLBIa-3OW4zA-HlIGWVjCLTzETFQ80Na0If22BH5ZI/s1600/newclaphypercj6.gif" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS334Gl-EGbu1jQWJ_DzZlY8BzOy9oHuFzHg2ugSbezrFzJM4d_xrrcFj760b0grPmNH3G6o2mxlbH-rk_QorYqeYilxMhYr_xBbxn3AD8XYdyJT6vp9G7hWS8IVBxpLrlOs5zwsG3k5g/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS334Gl-EGbu1jQWJ_DzZlY8BzOy9oHuFzHg2ugSbezrFzJM4d_xrrcFj760b0grPmNH3G6o2mxlbH-rk_QorYqeYilxMhYr_xBbxn3AD8XYdyJT6vp9G7hWS8IVBxpLrlOs5zwsG3k5g/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Or if I can think of a worst possible sentence for him - I would chopped him to pieces and let the dogs have him and poop it out again so that the dogs can eat him again and excrete him again and again. I can't find an image for that but you get the idea. Since that day (yes I did managed to locate my baggage) but I am still pissed 2 weeks after the trip. So today I decided to write to AA to complain and here's what I get:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGYAfrJWwMOMh3EdIK4RBFeOH-W2lfqE0Z-soQ3AvcMAwErsfRLswIrRpaAzDMxGXZvg6nDvtd5mS_nIP3JbInzjIW6mwWNqNbE6H-Snhec3aBzGAROLRoO3GvqlRqsarr0ax8XR6LfU/s1600/letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGYAfrJWwMOMh3EdIK4RBFeOH-W2lfqE0Z-soQ3AvcMAwErsfRLswIrRpaAzDMxGXZvg6nDvtd5mS_nIP3JbInzjIW6mwWNqNbE6H-Snhec3aBzGAROLRoO3GvqlRqsarr0ax8XR6LfU/s400/letter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The airline that cares - pooh! I hope Tony Fernandez reads this, AA you guys better get your act together, I hope Tiger Airways or Firefly will thrash your asses one day so you guys can stop paying lip service and do what you promise to do. At the mean time I just want to say this to you - you guys suck!<br />
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Oh by the way did anyone tried using the AA app on iPhone, it's the most useless piece of cr-"app" that I have ever seen.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-32366263129473748442010-11-04T21:28:00.005+08:002010-12-19T16:33:40.203+08:00Top reasons on why your dog is your best friend1) They have 'separation anxiety ' when they are away from you. How cool is that?<br />
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2) They give you unconditional love. And when I say unconditional love I really mean <u>unconditional</u>.<br />
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3) They look so darn cute when they are sleeping on the couch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lTpzaR6HWdgyMMyj5HvGavdaUur8psk2sfOxPguW7Vl42jLp-vh0ItBx_Zp0aI1raRRqa9t6WX1fKS8dqUUnudOZ_2HL9jYJF4qeHhJrZTmyxFPfPxGuJMLwCI_T05NtHGugS5I35h8/s1600/Iphone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lTpzaR6HWdgyMMyj5HvGavdaUur8psk2sfOxPguW7Vl42jLp-vh0ItBx_Zp0aI1raRRqa9t6WX1fKS8dqUUnudOZ_2HL9jYJF4qeHhJrZTmyxFPfPxGuJMLwCI_T05NtHGugS5I35h8/s320/Iphone.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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4) They look so darn cute when in costumes.<br />
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5) They are super-duper talented<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>5) Mountain lions <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11747293">are afraid of them</a><br />
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6) And best of all, they are the most loyal being on the face of the earth (which in my Elmo's case, when there's food)JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-84250891379747396472010-10-09T23:27:00.001+08:002010-12-17T17:31:22.424+08:00To all MalaysiansLet's start off by doing a simple experiment. Imagine your friend telling you about their bad experience when being served by a rude waitress( I get that once in a while, more often than not when I am in Malaysia than other countries). Or when you are reading some news about racism, corruption or some silly politician making some blatant statements which are not only unreasonable but it's also bordering to stupidity. Or some crazy moron tailgating your car when on the road even when traffic ahead is heavy?<br />
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What is the first thing that comes to your mind? I bet it would be somewhere along the line of "Aiyah, Malaysia is like this la!". If not, I can be sure that at least you have heard someone said this line before.<br />
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So what can we make out of this mental examination? That my dear reader is called cynicism.<br />
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To me, this is the greatest disease that has been plaguing our entire society at large in our modern times. And today I have decided to write something about this phenomenon.<br />
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Cynicism has bred a defeatist attitude in all of us, a lackadaisical outlook towards things that have been going on around us. Issues that need our attention, overdue actions that has to be taken. Achievements that we are truly capable of. Cynicism has given everyone of us an excuse to stay indifferent, an excuse to stay on the sidelines - until it happens to us. By being so it has left our country inheriting a population of underachievers, a country lacking of go-getters capable of bringing the nation forward into the future.<br />
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It's not that Malaysia lacks of a talent pool, look at 2 great Malaysians that has made a name for themselves overseas - Jimmy Choo and Michelle Yeoh. It's not that we cannot achieve greatness while remaining in our motherland, it is not because we have an ineffective government. Hypothetically speaking if everyone in Malaysia gave me one ringgit each I would have in excess of 25 million ringgit (still an achievable dream for me someday to have that kind of money), I would easily be able to feed 500,000 children for a month (<a href="http://www.worldvision.com.my/">http://www.worldvision.com.my/</a>). Point is that if everyone starts to take action, no corrupt forces nor ineffective governments can stop us. Even by just one person, can stop a great empire - think Mahatma Gandhi.<br />
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We need to rid ourselves of this apathy now. This is a rallying cry to all, a reminder that we are empowered to make a difference to our world, to our country. It is time to raise the civic mindedness of all Malaysians, we can be better and we will be better if we start to change. The change might be slow, it might not happen in our lifetime at all. But we can still instill good values into our children, for the next generation. To those with children, educate them so that they can grow up to be good citizens irregardless of status and wealth. This I believe is the least we can do.<br />
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What then have I done on my part? For starters I have written this blog. How about you?<br />
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Happy Merdeka.<br />
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<i>Written on eve of Merdeka 2010, 8pm.</i>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-21432671658405450522010-08-07T14:39:00.002+08:002010-12-17T17:32:38.643+08:00Miracle MeowThe doc wasn't too sure that he would live. Lying there on the cold steel of the doctor's table, his breathing was labored, his life was merely hanging on a thin wisp of thread. It was pitiful to see something so weak, ravaged by bites of a hundred army ants we felt hopeless more than hopeful, a sense of defeat looming over our minds like the specter of Death which was hanging over him. "Will he survive?" was always the first question that was ready to roll from the tip of my tongue the moment we entered the doctor's room. The doctor shook his head. "It's very difficult to say." came the reply. Usually the odds are against it. <br />
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But someone in the room knows better, the spirit who's body was on the metal table refuses to say no. No! I refuse to die here today! (meow, meow...) A faint meow came from the feline, tiny as it seems but a fighter spirit encased within the tiny body. It raises it head when we called out to him seeming to remind us to not just give up on him yet, that cats have nine lives and he has a few more to live on. <br />
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We decided to leave him at the hospital for the night. To see if it survives the night. I'll call him Miracle if he lives, said I to my sister. More of a cruel pun at that moment. <br />
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He's still alive! Came the call from my sis. Ok great, but the kitten was still very weak and I'm not convinced that it could live for another day, refusing to give myself false hope. Another day went by and then another. When I paid the hospital a visit the doctor was smiling this time. Yes, you can bring him home today. Kitty is doing well indeed and is eating well. A sense of relief. I knew all along the kitten wants to live says my sis. I guess she is right then. Miracle Meow, we hope that you will have a blessed life, all eight of them. God bless.<br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9HWwhsx56OJ7dh3dIjbrNdGLv7_51zHKiE051UQr6ELO433NlPhZpWebDFPP_fHGd7MQS6bg_X-fZQu0llTVxL7JW_xLJMU7oS5lbkW7_0iWie66rm9fcoIXJ-NDL6O4GnTuhPa_aHA/s1600/100809_233456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9HWwhsx56OJ7dh3dIjbrNdGLv7_51zHKiE051UQr6ELO433NlPhZpWebDFPP_fHGd7MQS6bg_X-fZQu0llTVxL7JW_xLJMU7oS5lbkW7_0iWie66rm9fcoIXJ-NDL6O4GnTuhPa_aHA/s320/100809_233456.jpg" /></a>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-77612606388117729392010-07-01T22:29:00.001+08:002010-12-17T17:35:04.083+08:00I eat Tom Yum when I think of you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil05plX7hc8obKf_mil-SpPfPqZCdT7aabY-fZlOjCqQM5PsLn3IJrN0TFrg_tWxDT6eBUiLGKmFk7KDekUsHY3CipmvVJglKKAEvdf67h8AA8HD1oIuaQd4PxUgZCsaBEYA_cjFVvlGA/s1600/tomyumkung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil05plX7hc8obKf_mil-SpPfPqZCdT7aabY-fZlOjCqQM5PsLn3IJrN0TFrg_tWxDT6eBUiLGKmFk7KDekUsHY3CipmvVJglKKAEvdf67h8AA8HD1oIuaQd4PxUgZCsaBEYA_cjFVvlGA/s320/tomyumkung.jpg" /></a></div>She tells me that she is having "nasi lemak" for dinner. Well sometimes I have Thai food when you are not around. It's our way of doing something, eating something and going to places that remind us of that special someone, whenever they are not around. Well I suppose it's also probably due to the fact that I do love a good bowl of spicy Tom Yum occasionally.<br />
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Wonder if I can find a good Thai restaurant at Europe. Miss you much, you are the sunshine of my life, wherever I am at.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-51227969735148986472010-06-21T02:41:00.003+08:002010-12-17T17:33:21.257+08:00Smiling Shau Kei Wan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<b>I</b>t's funny when you loathe some place or some situation that you are facing but when sometimes it's time to leave it you suddenly feel sad that you a finally getting out of it. Shau Kei Wan! I have to say what a place, crampy apartments, endless stream of old folks hobbling around in walking sticks, you have the same food everyday over and over again for both lunch and dinner - it does sound depressing. I did shed a few tears (literally) when I finally have to leave, but not tears of ecstasy because that I am leaving this place, but tears of sadness and longing for something I knew that I had it good all along. One thing I realized today is that it's not the place that matters, but what is filled in that place - friends, family and best of all the experiences that you share with them. I cried because I know my departure marks the end of a blessed period in Hong Kong with my friends - my only consolation is this a beginning of a new phase in my life. Will it be together with the rest of the team? I wouldn't know, my only salvation from separating from them is the thought that I have enjoyed my time with them as much I could. If I have not treated them that well at times, it is without ill intention.<br />
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</div>To all of the team, this post is for you - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Simon, Angel Lee, SHIT, ST, Darren, Murph, Joel, Jerome</span> and to my love <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Oh</span>, it has been an honor. So I will see you guys next time, for some of you most probably back in Malaysia.<br />
<br />
I hope you guys enjoy my jokes, thinks that my cooking is palatable and appreciate that I have tried to take care of the team the best that I can. You guys have been great and I hope that life treats you well, where ever you are. It's time for me to soldier on, looking forward to spend my life with my dearest Oh where ever our fate will bring us to.<br />
<br />
Till then, this is Jon signing out from Hong Kong.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoywrp5zs_rPDLagRcYZIkmkRLw9tuvvQjOkVCUkkXmQx64jHnl5GLb8FnoPLJTKDUB7oKFy4M0j57ChzMb0OEXBMNmlz1WvOlvuiaCi1yP5jkxlYyA-7DAf36E-5b6K_TqeDrhKwALFo/s1600/Hong+Kong+2009+193_picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoywrp5zs_rPDLagRcYZIkmkRLw9tuvvQjOkVCUkkXmQx64jHnl5GLb8FnoPLJTKDUB7oKFy4M0j57ChzMb0OEXBMNmlz1WvOlvuiaCi1yP5jkxlYyA-7DAf36E-5b6K_TqeDrhKwALFo/s320/Hong+Kong+2009+193_picnik.jpg" /></a></div>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-51307467662058531952010-04-27T12:39:00.001+08:002010-12-17T17:34:18.362+08:00IfI find this <strike>inspirational</strike> truthful and a sincere poem. How many of us can say that we have been truthful, not to other people but towards ourselves, have stuck to our principals and not swayed by the crowds? I can't at the moment, but I wish I could have, until I find my life's principals I think I am still searching for an answer. I wish to be a good man.<br />
<br />
<strong><u>If (Rudyard Kipling)</u></strong><br />
<br />
If you can keep your head when all about you <br />
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; <br />
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, <br />
But make allowance for their doubting too; <br />
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, <br />
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, <br />
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, <br />
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; <br />
<br />
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; <br />
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; <br />
If you can meet with triumph and disaster <br />
And treat those two imposters just the same; <br />
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken <br />
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, <br />
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, <br />
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools; <br />
<br />
If you can make one heap of all your winnings <br />
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, <br />
And lose, and start again at your beginnings <br />
And never breath a word about your loss; <br />
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew <br />
To serve your turn long after they are gone, <br />
And so hold on when there is nothing in you <br />
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on"; <br />
<br />
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, <br />
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; <br />
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; <br />
If all men count with you, but none too much; <br />
If you can fill the unforgiving minute <br />
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - <br />
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, <br />
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439362728794084528.post-58317749161980217662010-04-10T21:02:00.001+08:002010-12-17T17:34:34.786+08:00Prologue - Epiphany ComingFinally decided to blog in a more serious manner. I actually got inspired after looking at some other people's blog. So why start now? For starters I have decided to post pictures and write about my experiences during my travels. I also think that a blog is a good way for me to express myself. Most importantly of all, it is sort of a way to record down my memories, to etch on a medium so I can leave a trace in this lifetime. To make my presence among millions of other entities be felt. Call it my effort to make a ripple in our reality. To share amongst other. To seek advice and reaction from others from my posts.<br />
<br />
And hopefully to have an epiphany one day from my life's journey record.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721662292362445507noreply@blogger.com2