Bermain Main Bersama HTC Baruku

Translation: playing around with my new HTC. I was in OU, waiting for my haircut appointment when I decided to attempt blogging using my new gadget. After a few lines of typing, I've decided not to continue. Typing on a touch screen phone definitely needs getting used to. At the moment I think i type faster with a stylus than using my fingers. But it's an awesome gadget! I have begun to fell in love with it. As for typing SMSes, I think I'll be using the non-qwerty version of keyboard. It's beeter suited to my style at the moment. You guys will have to wait for a few more posts before seeing me blogging on the move. Later!

Update: You know what,i'm updating my blog using the non-qwerty keyboard and i can type rather fast.So the future look promising,hihi

Update: I'm now trying to use the stylus.It's pretty ok,so yeah,now I have options if i don't like the qwerty keyboard.yeayyy!

You're Not Gonna Believe What I Just Bought!

Hahaha, guess what. I bought something, and this could be the most spontaneous purchase of the year! Over the past few posts (I think) I have been babbling about getting a new phone for my birthday. I thought it would be a good..you know, birthday present. My top choice would be getting a Blackberry Bold. I'm still over the fence about it and all, and I'm still browsing to some options (I have HTC on my list), also the fact that I am checking my requirements (emailing and stuff).

So anyway, there's this handphone fair at Seksyen 14 PJ. So my mum, my sister and I went there to check it out. We then stopped at this booth having HTC phones. I tried the Touch HD just for the sake of trying. Then suddenly it strikes me and I asked 'Itu Touch Diamond 2 ada ka?' And suddenly there it is. Fresh from the oven, the newly released TD2 (and I was just reading about it in the Internet!), waiting to be played around and tested by a potential customer.

After about 20 mins of playing around, I then made the final decision; I am buying it! Hahaha, talk about being super spontaneous! Talk about buying Blackberry la apa la, last2 beli HTC! Haha. Asked him to equip the gadget with some softwares and all, and got myself a 4GB MicroSD. Price is about 2.6K, which is OK (considering it's new and it's an original unit, coming from an authorised dealer). So, there you go! I got back a happier person (and a huge hole in my pocket) having a new mobile phone!

I haven't actually explored the capabilities yet (just had it fully charged). But so far, I'm impressed by it. There's Opera Mini which allows fantastic Internet browsing, Office Mobile apps, GPS. Indeed a fancy gadget i must say. The only issue is that it's fingerprint magnet. Anyway, I'm so looking forward to exploring its true ability. Can't wait to start blogging, twittering and emailing on te go!

More on HTC TD2 later!

Seen And Heard: Kris Allen - Falling Slowly

Well peeps, Idol may be over, but the heat is still on. I am enjoying some of the best tunes performed by the contestants, and one of the performances that stood out was Kris Allen's take on 'Falling Slowly' during the Movie Week. Kris Allen truly brought his soul near to the audience's listening pleasure. He somehow managed to connect with emotions way up high. Listening to it makes me high! Check it out!

Download

Falling Slowly lyrics:

I don't know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You'll make it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along

There's No Such Thing As 'Deleted' On The Internet

I stumbled across an article, which found to be worthy of reading. It concerns your privacy issues, and what can happen if things got ugly. Article is courtesy of Yahoo! Tech.

It's always fun to write about research that you can actually try out for yourself.

Try this: Take a photo and upload it to Facebook, then after a day or so, note what the URL to the picture is (the actual photo, not the page on which the photo resides), and then delete it. Come back a month later and see if the link works. Chances are: It will.

Facebook isn't alone here. Researchers at Cambridge University (so you know this is legit, people!) have found that nearly half of the social networking sites don't immediately delete pictures when a user requests they be removed. In general, photo-centric websites like Flickr were found to be better at quickly removing deleted photos upon request.

Why do "deleted" photos stick around so long? The problem relates to the way data is stored on large websites: While your personal computer only keeps one copy of a file, large-scale services like Facebook rely on what are called content delivery networks to manage data and distribution. It's a complex system wherein data is copied to multiple intermediate devices, usually to speed up access to files when millions of people are trying to access the service simultaneously. (Yahoo! Tech is served by dozens of servers, for example.) But because changes aren't reflected across the CDN immediately, ghost copies of files tend to linger for days or weeks.

In the case of Facebook, the company says data may hang around until the URL in question is reused, which is usually "after a short period of time." Though obviously that time can vary considerably.

Of course, once a photo escapes from the walled garden of a social network like Facebook, the chances of deleting it permanently fall even further. Google's caching system is remarkably efficient at archiving copies of web content, long after it's removed from the web. Anyone who's ever used Google Image Search can likely tell you a story about clicking on a thumbnail image, only to find that the image has been deleted from the website in question -- yet the thumbnail remains on Google for months. And then there are services like the Wayback Machine, which copy entire websites for posterity, archiving data and pictures forever.

The lesson: Those drunken party photos you don't want people to see? Simply don't upload them to the web, ever, because trying to delete them after you sober up is a tough proposition.

In other words, don't be stupid. The internet is specifically made for sharing large and varied amounts of data across the world . Once you put something out there, it doesn't belong to you anymore. If it's something you created, you can attribute it to yourself, but there's no controlling where it ends up. I'm reminding everyone and myself, to be really, really, really, really careful when uploading anything in the Internet. The Internet is such a HUGE closet, you never know what sort of ugly skeletons hidden underneath. Don't say you have not been warned!

The Coronation Of The New American Idol

And much a surprise to many people, the underdog beats the favourite. Kris Allen has been crowned the winner for Season 8, beating the judges' favourite, Adam Lambert. Even I was surprised of this result. The radio airwaves have witnessed a lot of listeners and fans of Idol to show dissatisfaction over the results. Many thought Adam is a more deserving winner, considering the fact that the flamboyant contestant displayed originality at its best, together with its amazing vocal talent and showmanship. I actually have considered a few theories regarding the results. Check this out.

1) One factor which might steer the result to Kris's favour is the voters allegiance. To be more specific, Danny Gokey's. All of us are expecting a showdown between Adam and Danny. So what happened is, when Danny didnt make the cut to the final 2, Danny's fans switches their support to Kris, as obviously they won't support Adam (d'uhhh). So Danny has got massive fans and voters, and Kris certainly has captured the hearts of his fans. Together combined, their votes have overcomed Adam's.

2) Another factor (and an interesting one that is) which contributes to the losing (result wise) of Adam Lambert, is of course lies within Adam's character itself. As all of us are well aware of, American Idol is a family-oriented show. The big chunk of the audiences are of course the conservatives. What I am trying to say is that, perhaps America is not ready to have a flamboyant, mascara-wearing, over the top theatrics displayed by Adam throughout the show. And of course, there's the sexuality factor too. It has been rumoured that Adam is in fact...gay. There has been pictures surrounding this rumour (I've seen it btw). No offence to Adam (not that I'm against your sexual preference of whatever), but I think America still loves an original, talented act which also displays honesty and down to earth character, which Kris is.

So there you go, some of my rantings on the Idol results. There's an article about the so-called upset which can be found here. Anyway, I would like to congratulate both contestants for displaying such a top notch performance throughout the season. In my eyes (am the rest of the people out there), both of you are winners, and this will be an exciting beginning for both of you. To Adam, winning Idol isn't everything and definitelt is not the end. Look at Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry. They certainly have made it big time in the scene despite not winning.

All and all a great season if Idol, and hope to see you again next year!

American Idol Season 8: The Final Showdown

So, the moment has now arrived; the season finale of Idol is approaching. With one last performance to go, we’ll be seeing a showdown from two different spectrums; the glam-rock prodigy against the acoustic dark horse. The guy-liner against the guy next door. Nobody could have predicted on how this season turned out to be. The contestants, each and every single of them have displayed true vocal quality, showmanship talent and sheer genius in bringing up their A game. But I mean, I’m sure everybody have predicted the final to be a Gokey-Lambert battle, but Kris Allen, truly being a dark horse in this competition, has displayed the very reason why America loves him and find him deserving a spot in the final.

In my opinion, both have been a worthy candidate as the new American Idol. They have their own swagger in what they do best. Adam Lambert is…remarkably Adam Lambert. He brought a truly unique flavour in his singing since the beginning of the season, not to mention his vocal is…wowww. He can scream all he wants and can still talk like nothing has happened. A very consistent contender indeed. He’s got game; with panache, theatrics and mad vocal skills. Kris, on the other hand, is a music genius in my opinion. At first I was like ‘who the heck is Kris?’, and now I was voting for him like crazy (and apparently my sister is rooting for him too!). Did you guys checked out his performance last week? He turned out a Kanye West song (a rap song mind you) into some sick acoustic version, which I thought (and Randy does too) was wayyy better than Kanye’s version! His version of ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ brought him into the realization that he is a dark horse of this competition. He has always remained true to his roots, never pretentious to be something he’s not, and that’s what I like about him.

Now comes the question; who will I root for? Well, Adam is magnificent, but his style is just not my cup of tea. So there you go, I’m rooting for Kris all the way. Kris, I still think you’ve got a shot battling it out with Adam (although I think it’s gonna be a long shot; there I’ve said it, I think Adam will win this battle). Regardless of what’s going to happen, I’ll still be a fan of you, and realize that not winning Idol is not the end for you. Just look at Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson and David Archuletta, they’ve turned out good. I mean real goooood.

I’m heading back home at 5 sharp today to watch it, and so should you. I am expecting a great show, so don’t you ever disappoint me Seacrest!

A Friend Of Mine Who Studies Insects For A Living

Now this is new. I recently received news from a colleague of mine back in KL, that a friend of mine from the university years appeared in The Star. Apparently the scoop was on nature studies. Little that I know that he, an Aerospace Engineering grad, decided to pursue his interests in...biological creatures which can fly. Never knew that he was so keen into this sort of field. Maybe perhaps someday he will become a host in National Geographic Channel programme, or the one among us Malaysians to create some sort of miniature, micro mini sized planes (which can fly on its own!). Anyway, this entry is entered as a tribute to those who dare to pursue their own dreams. I salute you!

Article Link

Seen And Heard: Angels and Demons

So, summer is approaching for all of us movie buffs! This season kicks off with the opening of two sensational blockbusters worthy of not being downloaded over the Internet. Fighting for the top spot is the legendary Star Trek (which a lot of you, I’m sure grew up watching the franchise, which I don’t sadly) and Angels and Demons (the prequel of the great Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code novel series, now adapted into a major motion picture). While I haven’t got the chance to watch the former, I have just returned from watching the latter.

In this installment, Tom Hanks returns as the Mr Know-It-All symbologist Robert Langdon. He is on a quest to uncover the mystery behind the legendary infamous secret society, known as the Illuminati, which threatens to seek revenge against the Vatican. From what I understood, the Illuminati are the secret brotherhood, you can say of which science is their core ‘religion’. The Vatican is concerned over the ideals they fight for, sciences over religion (in this case, Christianity). And so the Vatican took an oath to eliminate the Illuminati once and for all. Till now, they were thought as a myth, which now seemed to reappear, seeking justice to what they have fought for. Their plan, is to destroy Vatican City by a means of antimatter, created by means of experimentations by a group of scientist in Switzerland. Prof. Langdon, being the expert at what he do best, tries to unfold the secret and thus save the Vatican from total abomination.

As far as the storyline goes, it is fairly straight forward, not-as confusing and mind boggling as the Da Vinci Code, also more fast-paced as Prof Langdon and the others are running against time to save Vatican (oops, no spoilers). I think The Da Vinci Code addressed a more radical ideal that needs a lot of appreciation from its readers and audience. Angels And Demons on the other hand addresses a more, universal ideals to be accepted and understood by audiences as to why Dan Brown initially wrote a book about it; which is on the co-existence between science and religion, which ultimately suggests that it is acceptable. I’m trying not to sound very professor-ish here. Hope that you guys got what I’m trying to say.

I understand that the Vatican were not exactly on the same page with the production crew during the filming, that they are not allowed to enter Vatican City to shoot this movie (yeah, this movie does step on some sensitivity issue), but may I say the production sets have been top notch. Scenes in Rome and Vatican City, especially is what have I expected; vibrant, spiritual, gargantuan (I just loved the statues, sculptures and all). It’s just epic in my opinion. Damn, should have visited Rome when I got the chance! And the score for this movie is just brilliant. I was literally seating on the edge of my seat during the 150-minute running.

So, summing up; a good summer flick to watch. Not as complicated as The Da Vinci Code, it’s fast-paced, stunning visuals, and Tom Hanks, of course. I’ll give it 7.5 out of 10 (I am saving my full mark for Transformers 2. By the looks of the trailer, it’s gonna be sick!). So go check it out!

Small ‘o’ and Big ‘O’

They said laughter is the best medicine. I may not be a good doctor, but I hope this will somewhat cure a small chunk of your sorrow moments. The joke is an excerpt from FHM (their taste for jokes is just as refined as their taste in cover girls, haha)

Two guys are in court before a judge for smoking weed.

‘You seem like nice young men,” he says, “and I’d like to give you a second chance. I want you to go out this weekend and show others the evils of drug use and get them to give up drugs.”

The men show up in court on Monday.

“How did you do?” the judge asks the first man.

“I persuaded 17 people to give up drugs.”

“That’s incredible. What did you say?”

“I drew two circles like this, ‘O’ and ‘o’, and told them the big circle is your brain before drugs and the small circle is your brain after drugs.”

“That’s admirable.” says the judge, before looking over at the second defendant. “And you, how did you do?”

“Well, You Honour, I persuaded 156 people to give up drugs forever.”

“That’s amazing! How did you manage to do that?”

“Well, I used a similar approach. I also drew two circles like this: ‘o’ and ’O’ and pointing to the small circle, I said ‘This is your asshole before prison, and this will be your asshole after!’”

In Quest Of Getting FAT…ter. Am I Doing It Wrong Here Guys?

Here I am, just stuffed myself with 2 OR Fillet Burgers with a Cheezy Wedges for dinner. I have been thinking about this for a while actually. If I can be frank, I am a bit…concerned about my personal appearance right now. It’s not that I don’t love my body, but I just hoped that maybe someday I can have a more…manly physique. Nothing much, just some abs, buffed arms and larger calves, something that translates into looking good in anything that you wear. So to put it bluntly, I am trying to get fatter. I have been having days (not everyday though) of having ‘unhealthy’ diets for dinner at quite a later time. Basically more on the fast foods and less on the rice and stuff.

So here I am thinking, I should be seeing some results here. Eating this junk at 9, 10pm, it must do something to my body. I don’t know; grow off extra fat or something. At least that is what I’m hoping for. But till now there has been not a small hint that this diet is working. Am I doing it wrong here? Or perhaps 2 burgers are just not enough? So what, now do I have to start on protein diets, drinking protein shakes and stuff? And don’t worry about me guys, I am totally aware of the effects of prolonged consumption of fast foods; I’ve watched Fast Food Nation. The last thing I want to find out is that my little general is not functioning properly. So what now, should I embrace my body as it was intended to be, or should I look for more? Am I vain to say that I wanted a hotter body? Haihhh, the questions we ask in life…sometimes we’re just more concerned about asking the dumb ones…

A Lame Ass Ride Trying Hard On A Highway: Not A Scene To Enjoy On A Bluesy Monday

I have been rather lazy updating my blog after work at 5, so what I’m doing now is sticking to the original plan, aka typing on my laptop while watching TV. Anyway, this writing is about what I saw during my way back to Malacca to work. So, FYI my routine if I’m in KL during the weekends is that, I’ll be heading back to Malacca in the midst of dawn. Yeah, I actually started driving at 6am (Heck, I woke up at 4am just to get my stuffs ready). Anyway, it was a pleasing journey, cruising along the PLUS highway, with less cars hovering around (one thing I like about early morning journeys). Suddenly there it was, a strikingly fierce Gen-2 (it is fierce Ah Beng style). We’re talking humongous exhaust pipes, ridiculous air intakes on top of the bonnet, not to mention it’s…orange (yup, talk about an eye sore).

And you know what the funny thing is? With this so called ‘killer mods’, you would have expect it to go at least 170, 180 right? You are so wrong! That bugger only drove at like 120-ish (not to mention, he’s on the right lane, which is supposed to be the fast lane! D’uhh). The most annoying thing was that, the big exhaust pipes created this loud decibles, it just breaks the morning silence. You can imagine how annoyed and pissed off I was during that time. It was noisy as hell, and for a prolonged period (coz’ he’s driving slow). Riding in my smooth and quiet new City, I just can’t stand the noise. So there I was, switching into S mode and triggered the pedal shifter. I’ve let my iVTEC purred, I mean really purred. After like 30 seconds, he is gone from my rear view mirror, and the silence finally kicks in. Ahhh, what a relief! Luckily I was not driving the Satria Neo that time. I can easily teach him a lesson or two about respecting the road users. What a douche! Yeah I’m talking about you Gen-2 owner with registration no. WMN 1104. Douchebag!

Seen And Heard: Naturally 7 - Wall Of Sound

They are perhaps one of a few underhyped R&B acts; definitely one of a kind. If you've been to Sunburst and have been given a chance checking out their gig, you know that I have stayed true to my statement. I present to you Naturally 7.



p/s: I'm still looking up for the download link of this song. I can't seem to find it at the moment. Watch this space!

I Got Three Words For You...Megan...Denise...Fox

In case you have been traveling into space or have been meditating at the depths of the Himalayas (how else could you not know about Megan Fox?), she is like the chick to be drooled at the moment. Her performance in Transformers (and the upcoming sequel too!) and her stunning looks (not to mention assets too!) captured the hearts of many men out there. If you ask me, the only minus point I have for her is the tattoos. For me, her smokin' hot bod is just as good as it should be, and should not be tempered with some writings or drawings...or anything! Her physique should be appreciated just as how God intends it to be. Check out her latest photoshoot for Esquire here!

Video Link

Diary Of A Blonde...

We just never got tired of blonde jokes. I'm not sure what makes blondes being made fun of, but look at Jessica Simpson and Paris Hilton and you'll see why blondes deserve to be...laughed, haha...Have a good day!

The Not-So-Legitimate World Of Pirated DVDs

So what’s a guy to do when he’s bored to death? Go DVD shopping of course. And I’m not talking about the legitimate variety of discs. That would break the bank. I’m talking about the pirated version. Of course, this is a taboo subject. We’re not supposed to admit they exist, right?

Pirated DVD sales in Malaysia are all about customer service. Anyone who has ever frequented a DVD shop will tell you that these sellers are pretty good businessmen to deal with. Scratch on the disc? No problem. Just bring it back for a no hassle replacement. Crappy movie? No problem. Just bring it back and pick out a new one. Bad copy? No problem. Just bring it back and get a good copy.

So, what’s a good cop? That would be the one with clear audio and a clear picture. Halfway credible subtitles are a bonus, but that’s just asking a little much sometimes. Just ask the DVD guys and they will tell you the exact quality of the disc, even before you buy. Cinema copy? ‘No, this one’s clear’, says Ah Bee confidently. The days of the guys head bobbing up and down in front of the picture appear to be over.

So what’s the going rate for a DVD these days? RM10. You think that’s cheap? Let’s just say that the price is relevant to the Malaysian economy. A DVD cost around RM3 in Vietnam. It still humours me to see some old timers at the DVD shop trying to negotiate a special deal. Patiently the DVD seller explains to him that it doesn’t work like that anymore. Everyone pays the same price. You might get a free one if you buy 5 or 6, but there’s no special rate.

Any DVD consumer will tell you that buying from the brick and mortar shop far and away beats buying from the Ah Beng who comes around while you’re eating your Maggi goreng at the eatery. And the same goes for the shifty guys at the night market. There’s no return policy with these mobile guys because you’ll never see them again.

So what’s the latest trend in DVDs? That would be high quality imports, special boxes and better quality. Those seem to be going for slightly more. And you can find plenty of older titles if the latest Hollywood schmooze doesn’t float your boat. TV your thing? They can do that too. In fact, it seems that box-set TV shows might outstrip even movies as Malaysia’s pirated discs of choice. If porn is more up your alley, most of the sellers seem to have that going on as well. In fact, some of tem even seem to have a special room dedicated to the cause. What often disturbs me is when porn is left out in the open so close to the animation. A lot of things mix well in this world but not porn and cartoons. Let’s try to keep Who Reamed Rosie Rabbit away from the kiddies eh?

The Ultimate Blackberry Guide

I am so considering getting a Blackberry! I don’t know, there something about it which just spells…cool. Plus, it would be a great upgrade for my 4 year old Samsung E900. I’m considering getting it as my birthday present (Haha I know, kinda lame isn’t it, buying yourself a birthday present). I was at the bookstore and I found this; The Ultimate Blackberry Guide, which supposedly be everything that I need to know about this device. I haven’t got the chance to actually flip through it, but since I’ve bought it (the guide, not the device!) I’ll spend sometime reading it later. It's available in leading bookstores, so feel free to check it out. I'll start flipping through the pages amd will update you later on how it went!

Transformers 2 Trailer: Sick Sick Sick One I Tell You

You've got to check out the newest trailer of Revenge of The Fallen. It's...mind blowing over-the- top awesomeness at a whole new level. Damnnn!! I can't even begin to describe how excited I am. I have watched it like 10 times now. Please oh please just watch. Oh btw, the trailer is in HD...droollll (you will, especially at Megan Fox's...emmm, bottom bit)...Put it on full screen! Wahlauwehh, I'm gonna watch it again! Syiokk I tell you!




Here's another trailer (released earlier than above):

Krispy Kreme Is Finally Here In Malaysia!

Forget about JCo, forget about Big Apple, screw Dunkin Donuts. The mother of the real deal is here! My sister informed me that Krispy Kreme is finally here in Malaysia. The very first KK branch is opened in Berjaya Times Square. It is a bit far, I must say, but I thought what the heck, it’s worth the trip! Original Glaze KK’s, here I come! Just make sure you wear some seriously comfy footwear, and I guess...bring along some entertainment. This is gonna be the mother of all the long queues we had to go through to enjoy some donuts!

Update: I just got back from Times Square, and yes I went to KK. The queue was long, but not as long as JCo in Pavillion (I kinda thought that opening the branch here in Times Square is not as strategic as they thought it's going to be). Good marketing strategy though with the free doughnuts for those who have patiently queued. The price? 20 bucks for a dozen of original glazed. That's much cheaper than London's pricing (10 pounds, roughly around RM60). All in all, my cravings are finally over, huhu...

Idol Updates: The Final Four

I've been regularly following the progress of American Idol, but I just happened not to write about it. Anyway, this week is the Rat Pack week, and another Idol was voted off. Yes, based on the above images you will know that Matt Giraud has been voted off Idol. As for me, the final five have been exceptional in their own talents, vocal range, stage presence and performance. And so, it's every man (and woman) for themselves. Unfortunately, as the stake gets higher, someone has got to go, and as it turns out, it was Matt's turn. I kinda expect it to be either Matt of Allison (which is unfortunate, since I love watching the 16 year old rock chick). Anyway, I think this season's final four are tremendously abundant in talent, and I just never get bored of it. We'll see what is in stored for next week. For all I know, it's Rock Week! Till the next post...keep your swagger on peeps!

p/s: speaking of which, I learnt a new word in this season's Idol: swagger. Randy especially, uses the word damn a lot! I don't quite sure what it actually meant, but I think swagger is kinda like adding up personal style and touch. According to Urban Dictionary, swagger means 'How one presents him or her self to the world. Swagger is shown from how the person handles a situation. It can also be shown in the person's walk.' So there you have it! Swagger...