Distant Sound

While driving at 100kph along the Puchong-Dengkil expressway, I noticed something.

The engine sound was not that loud anymore. Or was it just a feeling I have? It seems to grow distant.

I guess I won't need the air box after all. But we'll never know. Maybe it's just me being deafened and desensitized.

And driving the Mini barefoot is something that I just did today. It takes some getting used to, but I think I can handle it. Just needs to familiarize with the feeling while braking, when different pressure force is applied. Maybe I'll even try to execute controlled emergency braking while at speeds.

I cannot better the gas mileage just yet. I need a needle changeover, something I have said for a long time, since 2006 I think, but have not done at all.

Comparo Ep1

Been a while since I last updated something.

So I'll re-start the blogging fever again, by just making a comparison between two cars.

This will be the comparison between Warrior and Stellar's top gear speed at certain rpm.

At 1000rpm, Warrior = 30kph, Stellar = 28kph

At 2000rpm, Warrior = 60kph, Stellar = 56kph

3000, 90, 84

4000, 120, 112

5000, 150, 140

RPMs of 6000 and above are purely theoretical. Haven't reached those speeds.

6000, 180, 168

7000, 210, 196

8000, you wishhh...

That's all folks..

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Please RTFM

For those owners of anything, like, anything at all, it pays to read your user manual.

Or at least, read about the page mentioning about optional accessories.

It works for me to know exactly what I wanted when I buy.

In my case, my handphone. I happen to go to Uda Ocean near Jalan Petaling last week, and I thought about buying a handsfree kit.

At that time, I don't know a thing about the suitable one for my phone.

Neither do the shop owner! He seems to be clueless about the right type or model of the kit for my 1200 Nokia. He simply attempted to plug in one unit that I know was for phones from 4 years ago, labeled HS-7.

When the phone displayed "Enhancement not supported" I simply said, this one won't work. He said it will.

I just knew it won't because I have just that model for my old 2300. And it is not recognized by the 1200.

When I said it won't work, once again, he just dismissed me. Never mind then...

When I came back home, I went through the manual, for the first time. Hehe... And it should have been, a HS-47 instead.

I simply will not believe anybody so easily anymore.

Arriving In Style

I finally did it!!

I got the first bus today, after more than a month of trying.

Since my car is still under repairs, I use my bike, as usual, and departs from home at around 5.45am.

At 6.05am, I arrived at the bus stop, and just waited for the bus, which arrived at 6.11am.

Phew!

The LRT ride was very relaxing too.

And I arrived in style, just like in those days within this years' fasting month, at 7.40am.

Let's do it again already!

Open Offices, Houses, Surau And A Wedding

There will be lots of Raya invitations these few days.

I endured two Open Offices today.

There will be one tomorrow. The one our office will organize.

And then, several open houses the day after.

A wedding and an Open Surau on Sunday.

I just hoped I stayed at 58kg on Monday.

My Visual DNA

Perfected Ways

After going halfway through, here's what I can more or less talk about the perfect sahur and fast break.

The perfect sahur, for me, is waking up 2 hours before Subuh, and having a small drink of water. Then go straight to the bathroom.

10 minutes after bathtime, I will have some snack or two, anything that I like. Things that makes me crave for more, like a nice warm biscuit or two, or more. Or some bits of chocolate. Hmmm! After the initial taste shock the mouth waters and I think it's around 10 minutes before actual mealtime.

As the stomach warms up and all the blood flows normally, then you eat. Usually this is done 1 hour before Subuh.

As the Subuh nearly arrived, I will sip some warm water. Yes, plain sipping, one or two swallows only.

Then, off to work! Yes, it's barely 6am. The road will fill up in no time nowadays.

.
.
.

OK, now about the perfect fast break.

The perfect break is with water. A cup or less is good enough. Then I took my bath, and do my prayers. By the way, I prefer sugar cane juice. Or grass jelly (cincau). Very rarely, I start with the tamar.

As the stomach warms up again for the main course, I will start eating. Slowly at first. This is usually within 40 minutes after the break. I will eat the best part first. Like, the very enticing hot and spicy anchovies (sambal bilis) my wife sometimes cook, or the simple fried fish, whatever I think I should take first. Eat slowly. Steadily. While watching the news.

If any sugar cane drink this is available, I will drink more. And probably delay eating for an extra 20 minutes.

Then it's Isha. Finish whatever I can, and go pray.

I will probably sleep early during fasting months but this is not always the case. It's the nighttime things people do that renders me unable to sleep. ;)

Permission To Eat Less

Like last year, we have decided that we must minimize our visits to the Pasar Ramadhan.

And I stopped breaking fast at hotels, unless invited. If I do, I will only eat the things that matters, like, crabs. I love!

I am already used to eating less when eating sahur, and even lesser come maghrib.

I think my stomach already shrunk in size for more than a year or two ago.

Besides, it's a way to save. Obviously...

Missing Her...

Feel so nostalgic today.

Sometimes I feel like going back to Kalamazoo.

I somehow missed those days there.

Those chills and greyish climate color in winter, those fallen leaves in fall, the university life, the friends, the classes, the MSO, the long walks, the Kalamazoo Islamic Center, the trips to Chicago, the town Kalamazoo, Meijer, Crossroads, Norman Camera, North Kendall Ave, the Dearborn Masjid, the Sears Tower at night, the CDs, the interstate flight, the Islamic Society, the bus rides, the train rides, the peaceful sleep, Hale-Bopp comet, the cameras at Norman, Waldo library...

I don't know. Sometimes I'm just like this..

Deep Sleep

At first I didn't believe in it.

I only need an hour, and then some, of deep sleep.

And then I can spring up and start over again.

It is evident now, after the 17 hours of works at Navy finished at 10 this morning.

Yes I had no night's sleep.

And a sleep session near to noon in the car is all I need.

I can drive another 450km after just that sleep.

So guys, all you need is a short but deep enough sleep. Never ignore the signs that you need one.

My Nokia History

Here's my small Nokia timeline. Believe it or not, I'm quite an afficionado for classic Nokia units. Simply because, they are cheap, and I thought they stood the test of time quite well.

First of all the Nokias was the 3310, bought from my sister in law, it was sold to friend.

Then there was the 3120, my first buy from new. And obviously, it's my most expensive purchase, being 440rm. It went to my brother in law, who's N-type Nokia was broken (ow!)

Then its the 6510, again from sister-in-law, and still going strong.

My second tiny type was the 8310, from brother in law who took the 3120. This phone was regrettably pickpocketed early 2008 at Klang Bus Stand.

To replace the 8310, I got me a 6820, second hand buy. I bought it simply for its cool flip-upward-and turn-90-degree-anticlockwise keyboard. Thinking about selling this one.

The latest was a 2300, which is a damaged unit from my wife. It's repaired just recently, and then given back to her, because her Sony Ericsson was missing in action. Back to square one, eh dear?

Now, the future is yet to come. Which future? The Nokia 9300i or 9500 Communicator. I have been longing for either one. But as usual, no enough dough.




My current collection.

What Now?

Just when I thought of giving up Nescafe...

They now introduced this new product called Body Partner, complete with Dayang Nurfaizah as the ambassador for it.

And while I am not really attracted to Dayang, (or not at all), I think I am more seduced by this new coffee.

From the TV ad, I assume it will be much healthier. So I might try it out.

But I must make a mental note to only do coffee once a week.