Finally Becca is operational!

I admit I have neglected Becca ever since I'm with Jacqueline about a year ago, I can only concentrate and devote myself to one and stay loyal to it, so as time passed, Becca's condition had deteriorated beyond imaginable state. She can't run as fast as she used to, definately not the top speed that she had once proudly claimed...
Finance has been pretty tight lately, with the influence of gaming platform getting cheaper by the day, my latest cash reserve had fallen victim to the ol-mighty PSP. Talk about crisis mode.

Nevertheless, it sadden me when one day, I found out that Becca had to be sort of like 'drifting' whenever there are rain and the road is wet. So subsequent root cause analysis found was that the rubbers are the culprit, and followed closely by faulty support system which made navigation during rain dangerous.

Rewind back in time, Becca was once supported with fully adjustable Titan suspension, but in a twist of fate, Jacqueline took away that system and swapped a stock standard 10 years old system. Think as a scenario where the game King Quest being played in a Pentium 4 . She had been on that setup ever since and coupled with ignorant and deserted treatment, the cause and effect had become significant.

However fast forward now, she had the luxury again of adjustable suspension setup thanks to the many party that make it possible. There are people who negotiated with 3rd party dealer to establish margin, the guy who helped to source cheaper parts in KL, the courier guy which respond well to unknown territory and the financial stimulus guy, some lesser people were involved but this is not a thank you note.

So with all you great guys help, you manage to turn from:

This piece of crap

To....

This cute little baby

Test drive had been smooth and trial run had already begun. After the drive in period, we'll be able to take it for a head-to-head session with Jacqueline for a baseline comparison.

So finally Becca can operate like what she's suppose to. Welcome back 'dear'!

Bye GIII, I love you

Today mark a sad farewell to the FIRST tyre I ever bought myself.
Its a Bridgetone Potenza GIII set for Becca around mid of 2005, decided to bought it due to newly launched model with expected performance from the previous Potenza RE711, all in all it served faithfully in 1 official time trial SSO held by Proton, in 2 'quite official' drag somewhere in Malaysia and countless other 'non-official' event throughout its lifespan.

It has also have 0 puncture, 0 blister, and also 0 incident of leakage throughout its service. Of course some of the aspect is driver related, nevertheless the tendency and proneness would contribute in its own way.

With all its glory, today it will retire into the world of scrap and recycle as the current owner (my sister) is pretty harsh on the usage. Potenza GIII were once with pretty directional thread, now whats left is smooth silky tyre....

And this is not the worst yet, got one of the tyre can see the inner wire. The correct term is steel belt, unbelievable. A few more mileage you'll definately see the nylon and under-layer kevlar d. Noob might mistaken this for racing slick tyre.

Well, what's over is over, tyre is meant to be consume and replaced, so now welcome a new member of the tyre family, Falken Ziex 322

Thank you GIII for your contribution, and hope you'll reincarnate to become a better tyre other than the likes of Sime, Silverstone and Goodyear.

New Year Celebration 2008

This year my new year celebration was originally thought of having a nice dinner at QB &and then go back home watching old drama and probably doze off halfway the show, so dinner at Pancake house with Jeebs, Chui Ling, Neebs and Joyce for the lovely set, then Jeebs say want to go countdown. So fine loh, I'm bored at home anyway, so goto this 'currently-hot-place' at QE2 which suppose to stands for Queen Elizabeth 2 near Penang Jetty, its a floating club with 360 degree seaview and situated strategically between ferry terminal and Esplanade.

10:00pm, The road to QE2 was jam quite heavily (coming from Jelutong expressway), so no choice, inching the poor Savvy slowly in the street of Penang, Jeebs finally parked the Stratos Blue car opposite QE2 and we walk over. Once there the big fat 'gatekeeper' told Jeebs RM240 for beer and RM350 for liquor. We was like WTF, just came back from Langkawi really made use think twice on the cover charge they are charging for these small amount of alcohol. However the mood and countdown spirit superceded any rational thinking and we settle down for some Heinekens as we are not heavy drinker. Got ourself a sweet windy spot at the connecting bridge and waiting for the 12:00am everyone is eagerly hope it arrive soon.

11:30pm and we were still chatting, taking pictures and playing with the party pack and the club is getting more and more people entering, the music played was noticeably crappy, does not get you into the mood, so never mind, we're here for the party and countdown, not good music ma hor, if want good music go Chill Out lah, there got 3 different genre for everyone to choose. Ok, fine.

11:40pm, after coming back to our table from the bartender requesting some ice, there is a commotion outside at entrance where people started to trash the gate. Apparently a group of people is overturning everything and some even throw items down the sea below (people not included). So instinctly we move aside and they proceed on with leaving no table and chair standing, impressively more arrived and they make a bee line into the club house and according to Neebs trashed the bartender counter as well. In a matter of minutes, these parang/helmet holding triad members evacuated the area and vanish into the dark street opposite QE2, all this with the police watching helplessly in front of the entrance doing nothing (ironically they are there to maintain peace on the street, perhaps what happened inside the clubhouse does not consider street order). But this is understood lah, triad matter very messy 1, no one would have the resources and lifespan to meddle with this type of affair.

So while we instinctly leave the table, we had unfortunately grab any of our stuff and therefore left with nothing to party. However, this is where Neebs shine! He had instinctly grabbed all the remaining Heinekens before making the run, thumbs up for the fast witted guy! The next few days he had the proud MSN line of "save the Heineken" :P Everything is over in just a matter of minute and before we know, everything is ruined and there are even cars with windscreen smashed out there.... And Joyce don't worry, we all knows he care about you more than anyone in this world, just that those beer are vulnerable coz they can't run.

Anyway, at 11:50pm, we walk our way to Esplanade to witness the firework event that was about to happen.

At 12:00am, thousands worth of firework lighted the sky of Penang and this is the first time I see any firework in short range, ever since this event, I swear to god I will not go see firework at ground zero location as you tend to have neck pain and its not that grand, imagine watching an action movie in front row seat and you'll know what I mean. So after the fireworks, Neebs suggested to experience ice beer since the traffic is stagnant and is expected to be so for the next 1 hour. Got into this secluded gay bar and ordered 1 mug each, ice beer is like taking a glass that was stored in sub zero temperature and poor the cold beer into it, the ultra cold temperature cause the foam of the beer to transform into mini icecube and you have ice beer. Its just RM8 each + 1 free party gift.

At about 1:30am we started to walk back to the Savvy and I think I saw a cockroach...

So that about sums up the New Year countdown celebration with my friends. So overall, QE2 sux, maybe to bring your partner to go for dining is probably nice and romantic, but its also preferably to sit somewhere way inside where they have sofas and seaview and not anywhere near the entrance and connecting bridge as you never know when triad will pop up again ;)

"Save the Heineken!"

Langkawi LIMA 2007

Have wanted to experience air show all my life, but never really got the chance. But LIMA changed all that, now that I have heard the sound of aircraft flying close with afterburner on, and also smell the smoking fume from fighter jet, I think I can rest my craving...

So next stop is to fly a plane with the stick...

Anyway, besides airshow, the main reason is also to take a break, away from routine, away from life. So what else is there at that small island?

I know my *friends* forced me to drink alot of absolute fokca & take obscene photos of me when I was drunk. I might have some foreign object forced into my body for all I know, as I was happily drunk on my bed on both nights.

Besides that also have chance to visit the places around, really a nice place to live, not hectic, no traffic jam and the air does feel bit more fresh. Surroundings either sea or trees....

Somewhere in pantai Cenang


Somewhere in some yacht zone


Somewhere near cable car outpost


The total % breakdown in expenditure below could really sum up the whole experience..

• Nearly half of my spendings are for food, basically the 3 of us did not settle for normal local food - the western food is ok only, but thai food at pantai cenang not bad, Mahathir's roti shop very expensive, the typical local food is just so-so

• Next follow up with transportation - the price during LIMA is not cheap, have to thanks Edwin for securing a cheaper alternative (rent a car in land, instead of jetty), the rest is petrol and cab to jetty

• Entertainment and accomodation was last on the list with NO signficant spendings to be reported, LIMA fees of RM20 also included in this category.
  
  
  Overall, the trip is fun and nice, but will not go again since there is no repeatitive value in this island as there are better beaches, better booze (not cheaper) and better place with leng lui.... too bad KY cannot join me for this :(

and things can be better if Alvino did not treat this vacation like a sleeping tour, the whole trip like he just wanted to rest his tired body.

Starting on the day to Langkawi ferry he sleep

LIMA also he wanted to sleep

Take cab also sleepy

Sleep king and smiling queen...

Anyway, thanks guys for the great trip, lets plan for another one :P

Long time no post

I haven't been posting for the past 2 months, actually alot has been going on, financial, family, work.... shit, work must be the biggest headache. Then there's hobby and wish list....
Stucked in the whirlwind of revolution. Hope reformation took place ASAP.

Reality or Game?

Looks like games nowadays are getting more and more realistic, I used to think my PS2 are one of the greatest gaming console because of its great processor (at that time) and there has been rumor during the launch that Japan is restricting its sale because of potential baddies might use the PS2 processor to power guidance missile or some crap. But apparently things have change for the better, nowadays PC games have evolve into something very detail and crisp, we have dunno-what-generation-gaming-console out in the market (Wii, PS3, xbox360..etc) and they are now nicer than any of the graphics I have seen as a gamer myself.

I remember last time we have great games like Doom, Heretic and Quake…. They are good games (at that point of time) and we are happily fragging in cybercafé or home LAN party. But now the games have changed, one of the example I have is when I came across this GT4 comparison site, and being a car freak, I still could only score 10/14 !!! The graphics nowdays really are pushing our eyes to the limit.

If you are free, click here and try it out.

So many priority in life right now, I am not sure whether PS3 is really worth to put on the list, after all, I can't stay in this state forever... the hell with grow up

Street driving pt. 1

Street driving is a complicated art, the survivability depends highly on the ability to adapt (change), techniques to overcome challenge and of course a little bit of luck, all of this to get the joy and suffer from commuting process. It is exactly what Fort Minor sing in their song “Remember the name!”, its 10% luck, 20% skills, 15% concentrated power of will, 5% pleasure, 50% pain, and a 100% reason to remember the name”. If there is ever a statistic to compare the accident rate between average Joe and Ah Beng racer, I would put my money on Ah Beng when it comes to safe journey. Why? We have seen many reckless asshole that plough the road with their crazy high speed zig-zagging and uber acceleration but we seldom see them involve in any serious accident. On the contrary we have young kids driving on their father’s BMW 3 series and got killed when they skidded on the corner and hit a tree; we have people accident when they lane switch from auxiliary lane to main road; we have people rear ended another car during a downpour and the road is wet…. So many cases, why those ah beng didn’t die?
Answer is simple, they knew the condition of the car and environment better than a typical Joe.

• They knew their Goodyear Eagle GA is a non-directional tyre, so its water characteristics sux, they know not to speed during the first phase of rain coz oil from the road will be virtually ‘floating’ around which makes the road very slippery.

• They knew the limit of the car during high speed cornering because they have ‘frequent’ that zone, they know what speed is safe for such corner and will their car sensitive to porthole



• They knew their braking ability of their car and will find a way to avoid accident if they see the braking distance is too close, rather than an average Joe who pray to god so that the brakes will save them



• They knew their acceleration rate of their car and know whether will beat the red lights or not

But if you ask a typical Joe whether he knows any of the statement above, I can bet with you they knew not more than half of it. Partly because they are ignorant and do not think the knowledge is critical to their survival on the street. I have my first accident when I underestimated the power of 140kmh, or another word, the handling of a 1000kg car running at 140kmh is not linear as you are driving on 80kmh. To stop within 50m is ridiculous in stock standard form. That is why I hit the back of a bike (luckily with no casualty), this is a costly lesson because I have to pay to repaint my bumper, but it also taught me power without handling is useless. So I know adjustable will have its value…

The point of this post is to enlighten people especially the average Joe type to love the ones you dear most and don’t drive ignorantly on the road. The bastard who drove like an arse will meet his doom one day if he is not good enough, no point cursing him/her because he/she is entitled to the road as much as you. Just be defensive when driving and you will reach your destination in your expected time.

Perception of mother land

Do you have the respect you expected from your workplace? Do your ring of peers acknowledge your level and give you the honor and listen to you the way you deserve? Respect has been a main attribute to shape the world we have today, every developed nation fight their way to obtain their success WWII started because after Germany signed the Versailles treaty, the alliance pact implemented restriction and try to subjugate the country, being a nation of people who think they are the ‘ultimate people’, they lost the thing that they once have – respect. So with that they try to win it back by launching WWII, a war that went wrong in the middle of the course but what is important is the reason for them to launch the war – To reclaim their honor and respect.
Japan got their respect when they have workers dedicated to their job and future, by bringing a nation that have taken 2 nuclear blast at their home soil, not to mention losing the war, only to bring it back to full industrial strength in less than 30 years. We have South Korea coming up the radar of respect, with 50 years ago, ranked 1st as the poorest country in Asia after suffering a long war with North Korea. Not anymore after they have achieved world recognition in car making, shipbuilding & electronics.

In order to get respect, the people of the nation itself must also feel proud of themself first, but sadly we aren’t. If we take a survey, there is a high percentage that the Chinese of this country is the most degenerated among Asia region, lets take Singapore for example, they have a very screwed up mentality and they are slave to credit card, just like Taiwan, but they live a couple of standards higher than majority of us, that makes them feel superior and indirectly they seemed to made more contribution to the world. This might be a fucked up way of seeing it but we can’t deny its true. We might be happy with a RM3k a month salary but people in the world are already working towards RM30k a month.

So despite all the crap, why are we still here in this fvcked up country? Alot of concerns apparently, most were still here because:

• they believe out there, you'll be treated as 3rd tier citizen
• we have a commitment to our family here in our mother land
• naturally changes are unwelcomed as it disrupt the status quo of an already functioning system
• the items we gain here is enough to bring us through till old age
• they afraid its difficult to get a job out there if they leave their company here
• they never ponder the possibility of leaving

If we look through our history, we can see that chinese is one that does not dare to take the big leap. Ever since we got forced to smoke those damn heroin i guess.

Therefore the future of our mother land is at our hand, do I see a future with it? Do I feel proud of it able to walk in space and crap? Seriously... nope. But maybe I'll let the next generation to worry about that.