The archive posts

As i looked back to my old entries in the archive, I have just realized something:

1. I wrote something on the fact that i've never been down under (australia), and last september, I've made it. I didnt realize that it was some sort of a subconscious wish what with all those Australian Open in Melbourne, and it actually came true.
2. I was up to the point of expressing my dismay of unable to attend my graduation day last May 2006, but alhamdulillah I finally got my chance last May 2007.

It's autumn in the northern hemisphere part of the world and it has been 2 years since I passed my PhD viva. And not too long after that I was diagnosed with hypertension. How ironic this PhD as a supposedly short form of Permanent health Damage! It was not just my third and final tertiary education degree from the world 5th ranking university as published by Times Higher Education for the 2007 list (which saw no Malaysian universities made it in the top 200 list), but it also left an almost permanent scar.

31st October = Halloween day. Not a significant day in malaysia yet it was one of those days that my college mates and I did something crazy together. Not totally crazy but oh well, we'd dress up as some freaky monster. That was in 2001 and 2002 though. In 2003, I went to the Black Widow pub down Gloucester Road with 2 of my research group mates and we were given some free santa claus hats? OK sorry, that was our Christmas thingie before the holiday kicked in. Dont worry, I am a staunch teetotal...no need to worry about whether i downed some alcohol or anything close to some few drops of it in my drink. Yea, now i remember, I stopped doing this Halloween stuff from 2003 and onwards to pay my respect to Ramadan fasting month.

Early weeks of November, apart from missing those Lord Mayor Parade in South bank side, I'd opt to go to those bonfire night instead. And i managed to go to one of its fireworks sites in Ravenscourt Park. That was the nearest I stood next to a huge bonfire with some ear-deafening yet totally awesome firework pyrotechnics. The rest were mostly just watching from afar including from my old flat's bedroom window. As cliche and cheesy at times this fireworks maybe, i still would get excited watching those colourful flares lighting up the sky, doesnt matter where on earth I'd be. A bit similar to watching those snowflakes even though i've seen them for like the umpteenth time.


What I'm getting in Malaysia??? A face to face with Sean Ghazi, no fireworks between us of course but it was definitely an uplifting experience to meet a local artiste with international flair who can naturally speaks good English. No bonfire night in Malaysia, but inshallah, there'll be more "fire" relight inside of me soon.

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I knew those words i said may have hurt my mother so many times but i dunno, ever since i am back in Malaysia, I've thrown my tantrums quite so often that I prefer to stay quiet when I am at home. Contrary to the popular believe where office and work can add more stress to one's life, i am an opposite case. I seek my solace in my office. I laugh more when i am with some of my work colleagues than i do so at home. Yes, i have bought a new house but i am yet to be able to move there due to limited savings. I hope i can apply another loan especially for new house renovation and refurbishment so it'll be ready to be habitable, hence another of my personal haven.

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On a lighter note, I have bought a new desktop for home use. My old pc is already nearly 6 years old and being Dell, not just any RAM can be bought and fit in without consulting Dell PC. One little yet rather sickening problem: new pc supported MS Vista as XP is slowly phasing out of the market except by personal request on ordering a new pc. Both my HP printer and digicam photo uploading software do not support Vista. Consequently I still am relying on my old PC (good old PC, bought it in london yet received the whole set "made in malaysia". The new one has Made In China stamped all over the place) for printing and photo uploading purpose. Not that big hassle la, but it is also an early indication that whatever new electronic gadget i'll be buying in the future, it must support Vista as its ultimate OS (and its basic requirement has to be of XP-compliance). My new office PC is pre-installed with XP, which is a good thing as it is compatible to many softwares available.


And i bought this new Dell pc on a 12-month interest free credit card scheme. That would keep my options open on how i'll be paying it later within the 12 months period of course.

I am yet to own a laptop. I think i am one of those few people in the developed world who has never own a laptop but to date has bought a desktop for the third time. My virgin experience with owning a pc using my own pocket money was way back in Bradford, autumn 1998 during my undergraduate studies. The second was in early spring 2002. I love electronic gadgets tawwwww, but i am patient on when i can afford to lavish myself with equipping myself with woteva state-of-the-art latest technology gadgets. I hope to be able to get a new set of laptop once i get my own research grant.


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We had to incorporate Kemahiran Insaniah (human capital) evaluation in our final year grading. Hmmm...that is equal to more works to do.

Just some old PC jokes

1. Who would think Adobe Photoshop could assist a doctor's job, or more precisely, a radiologist job? I suppose it could hide some "bad" news.....If a model gets airbrushed to erase any skin flaws or making her thinner than real life, why not an X-Ray photofinish?

2. Thought that ESC button is only for aborting some pc job/command/ etc? It might give an inmate who is planning a breakout a certain sort of imagination.....

3. Careful what kind of password you wish to inscribe on creatinng a new web account. Especially not any word below 6 characters.

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Oh and by the way, I got that DSL power surge from that G & B shop before the shop closed and it costed me RM 25 after a little more bargain as a regular customer. So far, it does work. I dunno whether it is a good idea on testing this new product during some heavy shower or not. An experiment sort of to see whether it does serve its purposes or not. Moreover, it is still under warranty period though. But at the mo, i'd like to have it as my first shield against any sudden lightning strike. And perhaps, right after that i'll just unplug my modem and continue with my work on the pc without internet connection. That would be the safest bet, i reckon so.

Power Surge for DSL connection

Must. Get. That. DSL. Power. Surge.....U dont need to wait till the rain starts to pour in malaysia when the lightning can strike even 10, 20 mins before the shower hits the area. Last sunday was the hmmmm....dunno how many times....but last sunday was the WORST hit of all time ever since i am connected to the broadband in this country. Imagine the strong burning smell emitted from my old (Jaring supplied) Aztec modem. There was a little but distinctly sharp 'clack' noise and the modem is dead. I took precautions for my pc as it is connected to a SIRIM approved power surge cable. Now, I must connect the modem DSL phone line to an appropriate power surge specially customised for phone-to-modem connection purpose.

I just got back from G & B shop off taman reko, kajang and asked about this power surge. They have quoted its price: RM 26.00. Alas, i did not carry enough money with me, and so I just bought a new ADSL Aztec modem for RM 91.00.

The shop closes around 7 pm. Maybe I should go back to that shop later today to purchase that power surge item.

Previous post on broadband failure due to lightning strike here.