Weeding Operation

I really abuse my fingertips.

It's the Operasi Lalang in my parents' house that is to blame.

But the operation was worth it. I mean, really.

It's an awful lot of weed that accumulate within 14 years. And I got it all out in 3 1-hour sessions. 2 of the sessions I do by myself.

And then, I washed the jagged brick tiles, or mostly half of it. Washing the mosses in between the bricks.

Next time, weeding the flower pots. This one may not take that many sessions, I think.

Acer Back

My Acer is back.

I lost all data, by the way.

It's good though. I just probably need a new start. Though with the same laptop.

Acer Acts

OK now my Acer acts up.

It won't boot up.

Probably a good time too, since it's still under warranty.

May head to the service center today.

Music Duration Test

I have thought about doing a duration test to the Sony Ericsson Z530i under my custody (it's my mum's actually) to prove whether its worthy enough for a long haul trip. Entertainment is a necessity you see.

The battery, meanwhile, is not its original, but comes from a donor W300i damaged by the flickering WSOD (white screen of Death) courtesy of my youngest brother. This will also mean I will do another test using the original battery as well soon.

This test involves playing music from its fullest battery down to some percentage left, which may be necessary to do calls. It involves using the biggest available headphone, the bulky yet worthy Sony MDR-85 I bought in 1997, which still tops all my mobile entertainment stock in terms of sound and clarity. The volume used a majority of the time is 75 percent, which varies plus minus 8 percent mean.

Battery status starts at 96 percent, and ends around 20-ish percent.

By the way, I don't really listen in most of the time. I just start the test and put it aside.

The official result: 9 hours.

After the battery stabilizes, several minutes after music is turned off, the battery capacity is around 23 percent.

I can safely say I could bring the whole entertainment gear to a remote site anywhere within Malaysia West.

I may test a 100 percent volume duration test next.

WM To CM

I feel so bored waiting for the LRT, I suddenly thought about this impromptu test I had wanted to do since long ago, but forgot.

I wanted to see how long is the whole trip from Wangsa Maju to Central Market LRT.

I even counted how long the doors opened for all stations.

These are the results.

Stopwatch starts when the doors slam shut at Wangsa Maju, till the door opens in Central Market.

Total time: 21 minutes and some seconds.

Duration of door longest: 45 seconds at Masjid Jamik

Duration of door shortest: 14 seconds at all stations from Setiawangsa to Damai, and Kg Baru

Duration of door others: 40 seconds for KLCC, 35 seconds for Ampang Park, 20 seconds Dang Wangi

Thank you and good night.

Decaffeinating

I have to admit, I am addicted to coffee.

I drank quite a lot of that stuff.

Sometimes I see myself downing 4 mugs per day.

That's excessive.

So my first resolution for next year, less caffeine. Other than, less monetary expenses that is.

I have cut down quite a lot lately. Strictly one cup per day. Regardless of how healthy the coffee is.

Maybe in a week or two, I will have it every other day.

In time, once every three days.

Coffee's bad I know. But like Maya Karin said...

The Replacement

Since Nik's absence, I have been contemplating on a replacement, albeit a much cheaper one.

And I have really considered a film SLR instead.

So a few weeks ago, I got me a Nikon F90.

This will mean that I have to be more careful everytime I shoot. No more playful snaps, only costly exposed rolls.

I even have processed my first film 2 weeks ago. I guess I will try to scan them whenever I have access to a scanner (like, at my parents' home).

But, I have to admit, I have hiccups at first, just like I used to back in 1997. But, lesson learnt.

Living Easy

I am currently slowly getting rid of my hobbies, one by one.

The first to go will most probably be my Tamiya Mini.

Then the Shell Ferrari cars.

Then the car books.

And maybe my CDs and cassettes.

But I will still keep some. My Mini (yep it's quite a hobby), my Nikon.

But really, I have to ease off so much. I simply can't afford it anymore. I have to shed the excess baggages.

I guess it's just about time I start over.

Umrah Hair Still

I can't wait for my hair to grow to its normal again.

But that's probably it.

It will remind me about my umrah session.

And I guess I will always..

Cult Favorites

Lately I'm so into The Cult.

Ian and Billy did a great job. Though Britisher, they convey the Native American theme very well in their music.

And Billy's playing is very anthemic, it reminds me of Andy LaRocque sometimes.

So here's my The Cult playlist, and it's very suitable as a driving music.

Spiritwalker
She Sells Sanctuary
Love
Rain
Nirvana
Love Removal Machine
Wild Flower
Big Neon Glitter
Edie
Sweet Soul Sister
Soldier Blue

Yes I am still the hard rock type like I used to.

M Vitamin

I don't update much anymore.

I guess mood changes. Obviously.

This needs some impetus. And I don't have any at the moment.

Or is this a lack of the M Vitamin? Maybe...

Old Habits Die Hard

Two things I have yet to change.

Procrastination..

Impatience..


Hopefully I'll get over both by the time this posting is published.

Yearly Shave?

It's been exactly a month, I think, since I shaved my head.

I probably liked the feeling, if a bit.

Maybe I will make it my yearly hair rejuvenation session.

It's also a way to check my bald spots, which thankfully, I don't currently have.

Tiny Likes To Drive

Muzfirah, just like her siblings, loves car rides.

She's really relaxed while in the car, and in her bassinet. Yes, we had mostly no problem during Raya excursions. Except for some minors regarding his brothers.

Just like her brothers.

Lovely kids.

Yes, them investments..

Nik Is Gone

I have sold Nik the D40.

And now I miss the mirror slaps.

I guess in no time, I will get another Nik.

For now, I am sticking to my Z my sister borrowed.

Salam AidilfITRI everybody!

Miss The Holy Land

What I miss most during my umrah, are these few things.

• Shaikh Sudais' emotional recital of the Quran during prayers
  
• Being able to guzzle (yep) the Zamzam water anytime
• Madinah's friendlier and less hectic life compared to Makkah
• The masjid being full everytime
• The cheap shopping costs
  

Maybe if AirAsia offers anything like a RM1000 per round trip, I will go again.

I think I am having jetlag. Hopefully this won't last.

Back From Umrah

I am back.

And I brought a few things too. Including a Makkah flu. Heheh..

All in all, it was a very interesting trip, historical and very spiritual in nature.

I only wish I can go again.

But if ever I am allowed to choose, I'll definitely choose Madinah.

Umrah

Will head for Arab Saudi tomorrow.

First stop, Madinah, for at most five days.

Then, to Makkah for probably a week.

Let's see how it goes.

Wow!

Briefs

Siblings sleeping together. Note sheer size difference.




Up close, personal, and awaken..

Exciting New Beginning

Been a while since I last updated.

So here I am, a father of three!

Muzfirah was born exactly 10 days ago.

She weighs 3.08kg, I would love to just say 3.1kg.

And we got ourselves a new house. We moved probably three weeks ago, if I remembered correctly.

Thus some changes needs making.

I am selling my gear. I already sold my long lens. And I feel like selling my Nikon D40 now. The remote control Mini will have to go as well.

Maybe my life will start over once again, but for the moment, I will have to let my daughter live her life first.

It's a sad end I know, but it's an exciting new beginning as well.

About To Move It Move It

It's a worthwhile wait.

Finally we are living in our own home.

But first, grilles and cabinets are to live there first.

And hopefully before the end of the month we will be living there already.

Field Day?

Finally, the wait is almost over.

We can almost step into our new house very proudly, and with the keys..

Now to think about, yes, the kitchen cabinet. And then the grills and metalwork.

Then, the rest.

Yes, kitchen cabinets are THAT IMPORTANT... with a capital T and I.

Missing HIM

Still waiting for my big bro, to come home.

We miss you STELLAR!

Corded Life

That's like life itself.

Lots of entanglement.

But we have to soldier on anyway.

And untangle it slowly.

And then you can enjoy the music inserted into your ears.

Lots Of Stuffs

I have not blogged for five to six weeks already. It's just I am lazy to log in, that's all. One small but nice reason.

Lots of things happened lately.

Dad in law is hospitalized in IJN, and already had bypass surgery, and just discharged a few days ago. A total of close to 2 weeks of ward time.

My wife had two checkups. About three weeks ago, and we got to see our baby's face, and our baby even did a small stunt, by yawning.

I went to site, countless times.

We are awarded a new project, refitting a ship. And the shoulders are suddenly seemingly heavy.

The communication racks are assembled. Only a few things to slot in.

The Mini engine is slotted in and awaits one full week of leak test, in preparation of our new home. No oil to smear the driveway tiles hopefully.

And our home is near finished. Might get the keys next month.

That's all I guess.

OK need to prepare for Maghrib.

Tag The Screen

Tagged by my dear wife.

Wallpaper of my office desktop PC

1. Click Print Screen so that the PC captures your desktop wallpaper
   
   
   
   
2. Do tell or write the reason you love this wallpaper.
   
   I love my Nikon. And I wish to get that long lens someday, a-la Ken Rockwell.
   
   
   
3. Tag 10 people.
   I tag my friends Azuhuri, Aisyah, Bastian. Three is enough lah... Hehehh..
   

It Costs More Than Two Bread Loaves

Think this.

One rice and fish, cost me 4.5 ringgit.

Hmmm. What do you think?

I should be buying bread again.

But then again, I have always relied on bread.

I should just have coffee at that shop the next time I go there. The price is still fixed.

MeCD Not McD

Been having this thought for a while already.

While I am not really sure about it, I'll just try it out.

I will go to The Mall sometimes this week. Probably when I visit the AutoMex exhibition in PWTC later this week or something. And register for a business.

It's not big. It's nothing, really. But here goes.

It's just a small start. But a start nonetheless.

Now I gotta warm up for my jam session.

Just Like In The Safety Ads

Muzzammil did a stunt that nearly costs him his life today.

Yes, the inevitable dashing across the road.

He's so lucky to be alive. He's saved by my inlaws neighbour.

More description at my wife's blog entry.

We tremble at the thoughts.

Taxi In Calcutta

Declared my tax filing today.

I should be paying about 80RM of tax money. Not much I know.

Lucky I stayed with the 11% EPF bandwagon.

Insomniac Me

I cannot sleep after watching Hall & Oates live just now.

And then I opened up a folder of saved TV themes. That started it.

As a kid growing up in the 80s, those era still had a great influence to me.

When I reminiscent those years, especially when watching themes of old tv series, I began to remember those dreams I once had.

Watching the BJ And The Bear theme, especially, made me dream of living life as such. In a truck that is.

And I still remember a childish vow I made, of never to get married. Heh heh. Just living life as a lone ranger, I guess, and obviously, driving mammoth trailer trucks. Albeit probably with my brother as a companion rather than "Bear" the monkey.

BJ And The Bear, and the 1978 movie Convoy has so much influence in me, followed closely by, probably, Roy Scheider's Blue Thunder and Hardcastle & Mccormick. Ahhh those days rule.

Knight Rider, Streethawk, Airwolf, The 'A' Team and other more commercial releases don't stand a chance at all for me.

Another one, is the survivalist series Macgyver, and the alien favorite V. Marc Singer and Jane Badler were the stuff.

I can talk all day regarding my 80s heroes. Mike Hammer, Johnny Bukowski, Spenser,

Mark Thomas Miller in The Misfits is the coolest too. He shoots electrical bolts and runs like lightning.

And the guns and its toter in The Equalizer still make me want to be a justice seeker, like him, one of these days, especially in these complicated times.

Moonlighting, Hunter, Fall Guy, CHiPs, Buck Rogers, what else?

Oh yeah, the haunting theme of Robin Of Sherwood and Tom Baker version of Doctor Who made me think of living in hideouts too, as well as the character Sasuka in The Ninja.

And then there's the Perlman Hamilton love story, that so nostalgic Beauty and The Beast. I do think I fell in love, though with no one in particular, back then in 1986.

The heroes, Michael Praed, Greg Evigan, Erik Estrada, Will Shatner, Desi Arnaz, etc...

The heroines, Erin Gray, Mariska Hargitay, Emma Samms, Heather Locklear, Vic Principal, Cybill Shepherd, endless...

The decade closes, I think, with the father and son flick Starman, starring Robert Hays and his glowing marble. The first and the final episode has such an impact on me.

I can relax anytime watching these again.


Those were the days...

My Day

A small happy birthday to me.

And yes, I still don't celebrate. It's just well, another day for me.

Into The Spillway It Goes

Sometimes too much information leads to overflow.

And overflow drains thought.

A 9 hour meeting is one such occurence.

From 9.30am to 6.00pm. Imagine that.

And he talks too much too.

Yes, too much information.

It's so tiring that I gotta catch a few winks before I head home.

Time Worth Spending

We had our own life.

But then again, we always had our own life.

We just had more time to see each other between classes.

But that's friends. Companions that used to have more time to meet up together.

Sometimes we have more time together. When we sat next to each other.

So having own lives may not leave you with more time with your friends.

But that little time you had left, is time worth spent.



Dedicated to Kudin, Asri, Amar, Mash, Bas.

Blissful Normal

After quite a period of serious daily driving, I finally hopped on a bus tonight

And this is because I am just back from two almost straight weeks of working at site. And I dare not leave my car at the office, for fears such as parking fine, and the rest you all can imagine yourself.

But leaving it unstarted for a long while can be troublesome too. Lucky my mechanic swapped my mechanical fuel pump with an electric unit. Thus no fear of petrol starvation.

And it started the first time, though the cranking needs about 5 seconds.

Tomorrow it shall be another long 43km ride to the office, and another one at noon. Yes, it's half day tomorrow. All thanks to the company family day starting in the evening.

Their Future

I am worried about my kids.

Here I am in Malaysia, where widespread gangsterism among kids are more and more exposed.

Kids gang-beating up each other doesn't need any excuse anymore. They can claim they are doing this purely for fun.

Then, the drugs. The smoking. The harassments. The sexual crimes. The biking gang.

That sadistic.. the world nowadays.

This too, is a catch-22 situation.

Other kids may know about violence, while my kids doesn't.

Should I expose them with violence, so they can be ready for it? I am not so sure, but part of myself tells me I should at least talk to them about it, just for the sake of preparing them to such situation.

But I know it's not right. More violence is not the solution to end violence.

First, I don't want my kids to be like them.

And then, I don't want my kids to be terrorized by them.

What can I as a parent do?

This has to stop, right here, right now.

I will think of a way, and contribute to whatever commitment to make this work.

Still Aching

Ever since my suspected dengue/chikungunya scare last November, my whole body ached, even months later.

Obviously I don't feel like fasting at all. I didn't even manage to do the six day fasting. I just don't feel like it. It's that bad, the feeling.

So, after several month of not fasting, I finally feel I should try it out.

I didn't wake up for the sahur though.

Let's see how it goes then.

Speechlessness

Is this somehow what I should regard as "rezeki anak"? Is there even such a word in English?

I don't know if I can even think of such a thing, let alone do it.

Well, here goes...

Got Tag?

It is about time somebody tagged me. Even though it's only my sister.

1. Apakah benda yang paling penting dalam hidup kamu? (I will assume these are material things)

In order of appearance,

• a Quran and a copy of the translation
  
• a camera (ex), Minolta X-700
• a Mini (ex), SYCLONE,
  
• a collection of Mini magazines
• a desktop PC at office
• a collection of Konsumer newspaper
  
• a desktop PC at home
• a car, Proton Wira, I call it Warrior
  
• a pair of Pro-Mark drum sticks
• a car, Mini Clubman called STELLAR
  
• an RC car, Rover Mini
• a camera, Nikon 4600
• a camera, Panasonic FZ5
• a camera, Nikon D40 called Nik
• a tiny student size guitar
  
• a house we bought in Dengkil
  
• an ultramobile netbook, yet unnamed.
  

2. Apakah benda terakhir yang kamu beli dengan wang sendiri? (anything goes)

• papprika rice (a seemingly steep RM6)


3. Di manakah tempat impian perkahwinan kamu?

• the masjid

4. Berapa lama anda rasa hubungan kamu berkekalan?

• I hope it lasts forever

5. Adakah anda dilamun cinta?

• still do

6. Di manakah restoran terakhir kamu makan malam?

• Restoran Raene's

7. Namakan buku terakhir yang kamu beli?

• Two children's books for Muzaffar, Adab Dan Doa, and Sayang Muslim
  

8. Apakah nama penuh kamu?

• Muaz Che Kamarrudin

9. Kamu lebih senang dengan mak atau ayah?

• always my Mum

10. Namakan seseorang yang kamu ingin jumpa untuk pertama kalinya dalam hidup anda?

• Bruce Lee

11. Sebutkan 8 nama sahabat yang paling rapat dengan kamu?

In order of appearance

• Mohd Azammi M
  
• Kamarudin I
• Ahmad Nizam MA
• Mohd Shukri Z
  
• Mashuri M
• Arman HAM
  
• Intan SH
• Bastian AM
  


12. Adakah kamu mencuci pakaian anda sendiri?

• under necessity (for purification, as an example)
  

13. Tempat yang paling seronok kamu mahu pegi?

• England (the wealth of Mini spare parts available!)
  

14. Pelukan atau ciuman?

• I am so into both

15. Butirkan 5 perkara tentang orang yang tag kamu.

• the only girl
• tiny-ish
• jual jual jual jual
  
• garfield hello garfield
  
• kepakkkk
  

16. 8 perkara yang amat saya gilai.

Too many of them, had to choose what I can recall

• Hudud
• Jihad
• Gold Dinar
  
• Camera
• Mini
  
• My kids
• My gadgets
• this particular thing husband and wife do together (!)

17. 8 perkataan yang sering di ucapkan.

• Ya Allahu Ta'ala!
• As Salaamu Alaikum!
  
• Power Man Five Thousand!
• Huiyoooo!
• Elo!
  
• Opapa Omeme
• Wee Hee!
• Yaiyo!
  

18. 8 buah buku yang paling terbaru dibaca.

I seldom read book, thus the inclusion of webpages

• Quran
• Solat-Solat Sunat
• Nikkor Lenses Brochure
• Nikon D3 Brochure
• Unexplained Mysteries
  
• Why Things Are, Why Things Aren't
• Ken Rockwell (web)
  
• Thom Hogan (web)
  

19. 8 lagu yang saya boleh dengar berulang kali.

• Def Leppard - Don't Shoot Shotgun
• Bryan Adams - Thought I Died And Gone To Heaven
• Mister Big - Never Say Never
• Journey - Hopelessly In Love
• Journey - Stone In Love
  
• Lynch Mob - Sweet Sister Mercy
• Hall and Oates - One On One
• Peter Cetera and Amy Grant - The Next Time I Fall (In Love)
  

20. 8 perkara yang saya pelajari tahun lalu

• About Diet and Exercise
• About Budget
• About Government Transition
• About PTD Exam Studies
• About Mini Fixing
• About PBX
• About ICX
• About Gold
  

21. Mari men'tag' 8 orang lain.

In alphabetical order, I hereby TAGGED these people..

• Aisyah D
• Azrul Irwan AR
• Azuhuri Mustakim MR
• Engku Iskandar EZ
• Mazlyda AR
• Salman AW
• Siti Haliza J
  
• Suhaida S

Nice And Slow

I do slow drives nowadays.

Like, very slow.

Like, 50. In an 80 zone.

Like, 60. In a 90 zone.

Like, constantly.

Not to worry too much though. I concentrate on the left lane, and even do it way before rush hour.

Like, around Subuh time.

You see, I was inspired by a series of fuel efficiency contests. First by the Isuzu D-Max. Then the Nissan Grand Livina. The latest was the new Proton Saga.

Thus I am only emulating what the contestants did.

I don't dare to dream of achieving such figures like the Livina or the D-Max's outrageous results of more than 50km per liter of fuel.

I am optimistic of only doing at least half that, though. Especially using STELLAR.

And while doing it using the Proton Warrior, I only hoped everybody are sleeping soundly the whole duration I cruised slowly, to avoid complains and the iconic "Are we there yet?!" questions.

If ever I get 25km per liter for both cars, I'll be happy to drive everyday.

New Gear

I have long imagined owning a true portable machine, ever since I saw the tiny Toshiba Libretto way back in 1996.

I imagined using such a gadget as a true road-warrior, for usage such as web use on the go, while thinking I might do a bit of photo selection from my seemingly endless collection. Movies, music or games will also come in handy once in a while, for me or the family. Nothing heavy really.

I was made aware of such a genre of ultraportable notebook back in late 2007 or early 2008, with the InkMedia. Then OLPC, UMPC, EEE PC came out. The EEE PC was particularly successful, covering both world with attractive package and low price, albeit a bit restricted initially.

The genre then basically was altered to the simple term Netbook.

After contemplating for a while (read: a year), I finally settled on a Netbook after all.

It is one Acer Aspire One, in blankish white. The lucky shop is East Computech near the Air Kelantan site I work at.

I chose it primarily because Acer accepted Easy Payment Plan with zero percent interest for 12 months. The rest are primarily the storage, the easy OS itself.

Using it till the last drop of the battery, I was particularly amazed by the elongated duration I saw. 6 to 7 hours to be exact. And I did use it but still do feel too conscious about exhausting the battery anyway. Only thing about the battery is, it protrudes out a bit.

I actually expected it to be much lighter, but I guess such a thing will not be available just yet. A kilo still seems many.

Halcyon Days

The Minolta X-700 was my first SLR.

I do miss using it. It's feel. The solid built. The smallish package. The aura.

And I miss the old photography days too.

I guess it's almost time to revert back, or something.

Me going to get a cheap enough film camera.

Here's my short list, a Minolta X-700 or the XD, or maybe a Nikon FM or F3.



The Minolta X-700

My Father's Namesake

He was my best friend.

I was his too.

We lost contact way back since UPSR days.

I have been looking out for him for what seemed like forever. I even thought I got a glimpse of him way back in 1995. And I did call out to him, but him not turning around makes me think it's someone else, and didn't retry.

We have not met in 19 years. I had to see him.

And that we did. I guess we missed each other so much, we hugged.

Apart from his basically superior current height, I think I am so lucky he stayed true to his roots.

He is still a good friend, and I positively think he will always be.

Effin Buckle Up Will Ya!

Anyone who does not buckle up, front or rear side of the car, is plain stupid!

I have buckled up rear side ever since I saw the first accident photo on the Internet, though sporadically, and I cannot remember when is that. And I went serious when I frequently went to site in 2003, and having to sit at the back.

Regardless of what position you are sitting in, you will get thrown out, and a merciless one at that. You may not crush somebody in front, but you may crush a pedestrian, another car's occupant, a biker, a toddler.

Just watch the vids. Warning, the first one have quite a squeamish content.

Muzzammil Is Two

Happy birthday Muzzammil.

With his birthday, I resolute to treat them the best of my ability. To shower them with lots of love. To give tender loving care.

Them, including the soon-to-come baby.

Stay tuned. August this year, yeahh!!!

Boycott Till They TOTALLY STOP

To my brothers and sisters in Gaza. My utmost prayers goes for you.

I have boycotted almost everything I should. And everything else I already bought, I will finish up and replace with something else.

And I wholeheartedly support the Halal Movement by PPIM and CAP.

Let's boycott to stop their invasion. Let's boycott to stop their colonization. Let's boycott to stop their attacks to Islam.

I am doing whatever that I could do now.

AND PLEASE READ THIS! Sorry for the cap letters, just trying to get yer attention.

Muzaffar Is Five

Ultimately one high-FIVE!

I thought time runs fast! And I think I stayed the same. Still the same size, weight, height, car, bla bla..

Yeah, some thing's different too. Different house, extra kid, more house furnishing, longer hair, receding hairline, bla bla..

And my God he grew already!

I am thinking of the day he was born as I wrote this.