Let the music heal your soul

After a period of considering to purchase an Mp3 player+External HDD or to get a very very good Mp4 player, I've decided to choose the latter. I guess an Mp4 player suits my needs better, because I know I won't want a usual mp3 player that has very limited storage space.

Ipod is way too expensive for me to afford, so I've opted for the Creative Zen Vision M for its value for money and its functionality.




Here are a few lines of reviews from Cnet.com (Compared head to head to Ipod Classic)

- Of course, one could argue that the screen matters more than the container, and here the Vision:M definitely has the iPod beat. Although both devices have 2.5-inch, 320x240-pixel LCDs, the Vision:M's displays a whopping 262,000 colors to the iPod's 65,000. Video and photos positively pop off the screen, which exhibits excellent viewing angles and much better brightness and color than the iPod's

- Creative's best innovation is the Shortcut button, which you can configure to perform a commonly used function: for example, randomly playing all your tracks, starting and stopping recording, adding a track to an on-the-fly playlist, and so on.

- On top of its superior screen, the 30GB Creative Vision:M has an FM radio tuner and recorder, a voice recorder, and sync tools for carrying around your Outlook data.

- Vision:M supports a much wider variety of video formats than the iPod: DivX, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV, and XviD among them. Users who already have a library of videos will find it relatively easy to copy them to the player: Creative's software automatically converts the files that require it.

- Its lightning-fast FM tuner, for instance, fills as many of the 32 available preset slots as possible. You can also manually add presets, assign names to the stations

- The Vision:M does, however, let you listen to your tunes while viewing a slide show of your photos. You can also browse and view photos individually, even marking favorites for a custom slide show. However, when selecting the My Slideshows option, the Vision:M refers you to Creative's Media Explorer utility for creating slide shows on your PC. Problem is, there's no such option in that software. You have to delve into the help file to find out how to create custom slide shows (which, thankfully, is drag-and-drop easy).

The Creative MP4 player is now retailing at around RM650-750, but I've seen offers coming in at about RM450-550 (brand new!!) but not very attractive rate for second hand (RM450-550).
I'm still looking around so any of you who knows any great deals please let me know. I'm on a very tight budget for this little gem (hope to get RM450 brand new or RM430 max for a second hand one).

I've contacted on seller via sms, asking him/her this:


And this is what I got from him/her..


Ok first of all,.. I'm Julian not Julie.. and secondly I don't want a PSP!

Buying Replica Watches lesson no.2

Buying Replica Watches Lesson no.2: Bell & Ross BR01 Grand Complication


I have been a very big fan of Bell & Ross long time ago, even before they were officially launched in Malaysia by FJ Benjamin. Bell & Ross became famous after the release of the BR01 series, that takes its distinctive look from the cockpit of an airplane, in which, became their trademark. BR01 has a few series, and has recently started to build grand complication watches.

Just a simple lesson on Grand complication watches. A "grand complication" is a watch that contains at least three "complications", coming from each of the groups listed below.

Group 1: Complications using visual indications
a. Simple chronograph
b. Counter chronograph
c. Split-second flyback chronograph
d. Independent second hand chronograph
e. Jumping second hand chronograph

Group 2: Complications using visual astronomical indications
f. Simple calendar
g. Perpetual calendar
h. Moon phases
i. Time equation

Group 3: Complications using acoustical indications
j. Alarm
k. Quarter repeater
l. Half-quarter repeater
m. Five-minute repeater
n. Minute repeater
o. Passing strike

BR01 Grand complication is the latest model to be released by BR and is not available in Malaysia due to its exclusivity and its priciness. My friend's father had asked the suppliers (FJ Benjamin) regarding the price and was told it would cost around RM200,000 if it were to be brought in to Malaysia.

Being a frequent visitor to BR's website, (www.bellross.com) I was immediately amazed by the BR01 GC when the teaser website was launch mid last year. It has always been my dream watch and I knew that it would never make it to the replica market due to its complications and also its exclusivity. These watchmakers proved me wrong and they came up with a replica that I would reckoned to be less than amazing.

I would rate this replica 3 out of 5.

A few things to look into before buying this high tech replica is to note that, the complications do not work here. Note that the original has 3 complications, which is the tourbillon, trust indicator and also the power reserve function.

The replica version only has its tourbillon working.

Other than that, the usual mistake, the replica has the inner second/minute indicator very slanted compared to the original which is almost 90 degrees. One subtle difference is the hour hand's shape, but that is not much of a concern. The genuine watch has black numbers (in this case are lines) and if you notice all versions of the replica did not replicate the tourbillon properly. Also take note that the genuine watch case is made totally out of carbon, while the replica is made of steel, that is one big difference. You can see that the replica version is very glossy due to the material of the casing, which is steel.

This is another version of the BR01, but although they are selling it at a same rate, this is definitely worse than the one shown above. This one has an orange accent, with orang hands. There are several versions available in the market so check properly as to get the one which has less differences. Also take note of the hands in the 9'oclock and 3'oclock subdials, which are different from the genuine version. Also, the tourbillon is not the BR01 tourbillon.

The crown is not imitated properly, and also look out for the part of the bezel near the screws, are not made with the correct angles.

Please beware of this replica before buying as there are many version with different variants.

This replica sells for RM230 - RM250 at the moment, due to its distinctiveness, new design and not many are sold in the market now.

Buying Replica Watches lesson no.1

Dear friends, for some of you who wants to buy replica watches (which I have, time and time again conned my friends into believing they are real), here are somethings that you won't really notice.

Lesson no.1 is: How to identify between a normal grade Tag Heuer carrera to a real carrera. As in Tachymeter Automatic Chronograph models.


Sorry for the small image, im currently using MS Paint that sucks big time cos I do not have Adobe Photoshop now.

Anyway if any of you are planning to buy this model, you'll get 5 obvious differences that sets it apart from the original.

The price of this watch varies from sellers, averaging from RM80 - RM 130 roughly.

I. The tachymeter bezel is made up of glossy metal (original one is shiny), and another thing, i'll illustrate:

the Bezel for the original version is not curved at the side (right)

Bezel difference between original (top) and replica (below)

II. 12 o'clock subdial indicates minutes while the replica version indicates months.
III. if you notice, the gap between the bezel and the dial is smaller, as the original watch is thicker, while the replica has a longer gap between the bezel and the dial.
IV. 9 o'clock subdial should be seconds, while replica version indicates the 7 days numerically.
V. Original version indicates hours while replica version indicates 24 hour time.

The original version's buttons are for chronograph functions (stopwatch) while the replica one is meant for adjusting date and month.

Basically if you buy replicas (across all brands) with chronograph functions, you will get the date and month version. This only applies for automatic replica watches. Unless you are willing to spend more than 700 bucks for a replica, this is what you'll get.

My input about mass replicas are, for brands like tag heuer, the replicas are not made to perfection. In terms of quality of the casing, and also the design.

Please check carefully before you buy this watch.

If Not Now, Then When?

What's a blog post without some pictures huh? Anyway here are some images that have been deprived of attention for some couple of months, so I've finally decided to transfer from my phone to my blog now, for no reasons at all, umm.. well, actually, since I've started working, I'm becoming more retarded, doing stupid things, that actually gives me more value to my "already-not-sure-where-Im-heading" life.

Some stacking I did before valentines when my GF was shopping for something
*mine was 100000 x nicer than the one beside*

What's a post without some cam whore photo huh?
faux hawk!

The world's largest bum a frog can have.
Also the bum with the most cellulite

My future extension visualization put into ball point ink

The signage I saw near Niuzexui. Well maybe they're there to help? :D


Who dares to try? look at the three ambassadors!


Saw this in my hometown. There's writings on it that says
"We did not have to pay RMxxx to go to space"

To My Friends

Seriously, buying those "The Starbucks' success" or "Donald Trump's success story" or "Rich Dad Poor Dad" won't help you become rich. Trust me. Those books are just so full of shit. Seriously.

I read Rich Dad Poor Dad and I just couldn't stand it anymore. The first half of the book tells you to invest in Real Estate. Thats all. But of course, with some long winded story to give a visualization of his idea.

The fact is, rich people don't get rich because they read other people's book. They get rich because they made a mistake and they move on. So quit buying these stupid books cos you're making the authors richer. That's all you're doing and you're not helping yourselves.

The sad and obvious truth is. You can only get rich if you know how to make money out of nothing at all, or you work your as out for money and you make money with money after that.
If I could print this statement 1000x and make it into a book, it will be more helpful than buying "sFUCKcess stOFFries".

***

I came across this online..

The Monkey Trap.

Before long a monkey comes by, sees the banana, reaches his hand into the bottle, and grabs it. But then, the monkey discovers that he can't get his hand out of the bottle while holding onto the banana. There is loud chattering and squealing as the person who set the trap walks up to the monkey and places a burlap sack over him. In the darkness the monkey releases the banana and is captured.

The monkey could, of course, let go of the banana and run before getting caught. Some do. But most of the monkeys hang on to the banana until the sack goes over their head. Why? Because the banana has value to the monkey and the monkey is unwilling to let go of that value. So unwilling that he gives up his life for it. People do the same thing.

Well, the difference between the monkey trap andddd the human trap is.. Around the bottle is a phrase "Social Obligations". So we are reluctant to reach for the money in the bottle.. but its the words surrounding the bottle that attracted us actually... So people... Ultimately, we're not chasing for money. Its our family, friends, colleagues, bosses, enemies, rivals who will give us the half closed eye staring at us with the thought "I knew he couldn't reach for that money".

***

DAILY EXPRESS NEWS

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Theft victim in a coma
18 March, 2008

Kota Kinabalu: A 23-year-old local is in a coma after being knocked down by a car, whose passengers included the person who supposedly stole his mobile phone earlier.

Chong Chen Bon, a salesman, is presently being warded for a serious head injury following the 10.30pm incident at Foh Sang, Sunday.

According to his elder brother, Chong Chau Shen, they had just picked up Chen Bon's girlfriend from work at City Mall and went to Foh Sang for a late dinner, when it happened.

When they reached there, he said, Chen Bon suddenly pointed to a gold-coloured Proton Wira car, claiming the person who stole his mobile phone, when he was at the City Mall area, was in the vehicle.

After they pulled over, Chen Bon alighted from the car and blocked the Wira's path, he said.

"The car suddenly sped off and crashed into my brother," he said, adding Chen Bon was thrown onto the bonnet and fell on the road.

Chau Shen said they immediately called the hospital. A police report was lodged. He appealed to those who saw the Wira's registration plate number to inform the police immediately.

I would like to take this opportunity to pay my last respect for my friend, who has passed away after suffering from a comatose. Anyone who reads my blog, if you come from Sabah, please help to help in passing this news in order to do justice to the deceased.

May you rest in peace.

***

There are scientists who say life has no real purpose. It's an accident we exist at all, and if we want purpose and meaning in our lives we need to decide that for ourselves. On the other hand, there are religious leaders who say life is for obeying and worshipping a Supreme Being usually called "God." Neither are correct.

In the physical world we learn the alphabet, so we can put letters together to form words. Those who master large numbers of words can communicate quickly and efficiently with others. Research has shown the bigger the vocabulary, the better the chance one has to become "successful."

In the spirit world it is our thoughts we learn about. The physical world provides a classroom for us. Here we see our thoughts in action, our hopes and desires, as well as our fears unfolding before us even as we think about them. Thought translates into reality, in the physical world, how fast this happens depends on the intensity and frequency of the thought. "We reap what we sow." is truth.

I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining

Last weekend has been a very hectic week for me. Been working like a dog and there was totally no room to breathe last week. In any case, peak periods do not last that long so i persevered. At the end of the day I felt great, cos I've managed to pull it thru with a little hard work and some help from colleagues and friends. The weekend was a great one, unfortunately weekends being weekends, didn't even feel like they lasted 48hours.

This week is a more quiet one, but sad unfortunately I've dragged my peak period a little too late now I only have about a week to rest before things get a little more crazy again. But I've never really liked quiet days so much, feels like you've got nothing to do ain't so good either. A balanced workload is what I'm looking for so to speak.

Throughout my 8 months stint in this company, I've already seen the departure of about 10 colleagues or more, and recently it has been a monthly affair, and the trend seems to be gaining frequency, of about twice a month. I believe the turnover rate for other companies are also high, but in my company, people are leaving as if we're having a downsizing.

While some are leaving this company as to progress to the next phase of their career, some are fresh graduates, that think this isn't their cup of tea. I'm not someone really experienced or an expert, but there's really one thing I've been thinking about that I'd like to share and advice to those who have just/almost graduated or are looking for a job.

Please bear in mind that, this is not my dream job, and neither did I really picked this particular job. This job came to me at a time when I was desperate and pressured to look for a job. I was hasty in my decision, but nevertheless I did not go into the wrong company or the wrong job. Well, to be honest my company does not pay well to freshies but we are not the lowest paying either. To put things clearly, we are not the highest paying MNC.

How much you wanna be paid is all about how good you are and how you sell yourself. Obviously the ability to boast helps. Its a shame that I do not how to shine.

To all you fresh grads, based on my experience working for close to a year already, if you don't know what you want, chances are you'll never know what you want until a year or you'll find something else to like. And you'll never know what something is like until you've given it a try. Metaphorically, some jobs are like acquired taste. I did not like bitter gourd until 15 years later (I know 15 years is too late to realize what job you wanna do). But what I'm telling you guys here is that you don't get KFC everyday. Sometimes you just gotta learn to eat that bitter gourd and get the hang of it.

So all you fresh graduates, stop demotivating me and other potential demotivated people already! What you see may not be what you get, so just stick to it for awhile and you never know, it might just be your cup of tea!

***

We're soon to establish a new state government, for the first time in 50 years, its actually the end of an era. This is a mark of history that will be remembered for the rest of the Malaysian history. For the first time 5 states will be governed by the opposition. I believe that all of us know that this is inevitable. I guess all this while it has been a give and take situation but it has finally came to an end.

Its only logical for the opposition to take a certain amount of control after more than 2 decade of strive, and this time around is the turning point for them. The fact that the rakyat has had enough of the political turmoils within Barisan, strengthened the will to have a better government.

Whether it is good news that the opposition has won the important states in Malaysia is a good news or not, is another issue. While it is true that everything has its begining, we are letting a new body of governance to take charge of our capital state, in which it bears a higher risk of not delivering its job.

While the rakyat has always have doubts on corruption and racial issues within the governance of BN, it is of no question that they will be a better ruler to our country. Rest assure that corruption does not only happen in Malaysia, but many other countries. Bear in mind we are an emerging country and problems like that are inevitable.

People always say that Singapore are better than Malaysia in everyway, and that they are much 'cleaner' compared to us, and that they do not have resources like us but they are able to sustain with better economy and social status than us. Well in this case, size does not matter because some might say if we let Malaysian government to take over singapore, we still may not prosper like how the singaporeans are.

Please bear in mind that places like the United States also have scarce resources but they have managed to position themselves as the centre of exchange, and I believe that is why they have managed to be the leader of the world. The same goes for Singapore, a land that does not have resources, however due to clever positioning and also the fact that they are one of Asia's point of exchange, being a port situated in the middle of southeast asia. And that is also how Hong Kong prosper much more than their mainland China. (This is, of course, only my opinion and POV).

I have mixed emotions when I found out about the wins from the opposition. I feel happy that now we as the rakyat is finally practicing our rights for democracy. I am happy that now our voice matter to the country and that we are going back on the right track. However, I also have doubt in the newly formed coalition government, the fact that they have no experience in governing a state. Nevertheless I am anxious to see what is going to happen and how much it would change our lives as the rakyat.



***

Some random photos! :D