Thursday, December 23, 2010

Building ultimate Macbook Pro within tight budget


Almost ultimate configuration for Macbook Pro 2.4GHx


So you want a macbook pro, and you want your macbook pro screams, but you have limited budget, how?

First, you need to determine what you need to do with your macbook pro. For example, I run a dozen of apps simultaneously, and running occasionally Windows XP and Ubuntu side by side using VirtualBox. Both are moderately disk intensive, and requires more memory to make them work smoothly.

In most instances, I need to compile my codes on Snow Leopard, Ubuntu, and occasionally Windows XP, which is very heavy disk-bound tasks.

But I do not want to spend more that I should be, i.e. I wanted to spend the retail price of Macbook Pro 13 inch 2.4GHz, i.e. I wanted to spend just RM3899 at most, but wanted to squeeze the best out from the MacBook Pro.

Here's what I do:

Identify the model. I picked MacBook Pro 13 inch 2.4GHz for its portability, price, and expandability. MacBook Pro allows up to 8GB of RAM, and user upgradable as opposed to MacBook Air which requires factory upgrade upon purchase.

First, I look around for people who recently bought MacBook Pro of the model I wanted, make sure that it is as new, and warranty is still available (in order for me to extend warranty for another 2 years, aka AppleCare).

I found one who bought one but virtually not using since his company gave him a notebook for his work. Battery charge cycle is low, i.e. around 18 times in 3 months time, which is pretty low usage, and the MacBook Pro looks new, complete with box and receipt from the shop he purchased.

It is important to make sure that the selling party is the first person or else you may be in trouble if it is stolen goods (complete box reduce the risk of being stolen goods, often thief will want to sell off quick instead of dressing the notebook up).

I bought this unit for RM3,200, which is around RM700 lower than the retail price.

Next, identify RAM module.

There's a lot of people complaining about after market RAM module for Apple notebook is hard to find as it uses special type of RAM.

This is not true since the day I use my iBook G3. However, you should get your RAM module from reputable store instead of simply walking to any computer shop who will only want to sell you what they have.


Original 2GB X 2 RAM Module


I surfed the net, look for a reputable Mac after market upgrade seller, and bought 8GB (2 X 4GB RAM) from them.

4GB X 2 RAM Module in its packaging

Total 8GB RAM Module installed on Macbook Pro


The price, including freight (I use Priority Mail, cheapest delivery) RM367.15

8GB RAM tested OK in Snow Leopard


Next, identify the hard drive.

Apple supplied 5,400RPM 250GB hard drive which is sufficient for those who have patience to wait, not me.

I have 3 options,

1. SSD (Solid State Drive, expensive, low capacity); or
2. 7200RPM or above hard drive with higher capacity (cheap, but power consumption is higher, means shorter battery life); or
3. Hybrid drive from Seagate, high capacity (500GB), fast mechanical drive (7,200RPM), and intelligent 4GB flash acts as SSD for the mechanical drive.

Seagate Momentus XT (near camera), and Apple supplied Hitachi 250GB 5,400RPM drive


I picked Seagate Momentus XT for its price and speed. Although many complaint that this drive is causing a few issues such as shorter battery life and noisy as compare to the original factory fitted drive, I have confident that Seagate will rectify this fast, as this is a killer product for those who wanted speed at affordable price.

So I paid RM 430 for this.

Snow Leopard recognizes Seagate Momentus XT without glitch


In total, I spent RM3,200 + RM 367.15 + RM430 = RM3,997.15 for the upgrade, and I have now spare 250GB hard drive, and 2GB X 2 RAM module.

I can sell off the RAM module for RM200, which reduce my total investment to RM 3,797.15. Further to this, I sold off my old MacBook for RM700, although far lower than expected, but in total, I actually came out with only RM3,097.15.

And I have a MacBook Pro that screams, virtually no waiting for anything I wanted to do, from booting up to shutting down, from app to app, from Snow Leopard to Ubuntu to Windows XP all running side by side.

Friday, November 26, 2010

古文今用:李斯《谏逐客书》

昔日秦王嬴政下逐客令,要把非秦部族的外人,不管已经住了多少代,统统赶出秦国。

这恰好跟那些动不动就叫非我族类的回祖家一样。

当时李斯呈下文与秦王政,秦王收回逐客令,大用外邦人士,终于一统天下。

当今跳梁小丑,一面向外求商求才,一面要把非我族类逼回祖家,终其一生守在椰壳下寸土称王,没有胸襟,不能百川汇海,国岂能强?民焉能富?

“昔穆公求士,西取由余於戎,东得百里奚於宛,迎蹇叔於宋,求丕豹、公孙支於晋,此五子者,不产於秦,而穆公用之,并国二十,遂霸西戎。孝公用商鞅之法,移风易俗,民以殷盛,国以富强,百姓乐用,诸侯亲服,获楚、魏之师,举地千里,至今治强。惠王用张仪之计,拔三川之地,西并巴、蜀,北收上郡,南取汉中,包九夷,制鄢、郢,东据成皋之险,割膏腴之壤,遂散六国之纵,使之西面事秦,功施到今。昭王得范雎,废穰侯,逐华阳,强公室,杜私门,蚕食诸侯,使秦成帝业。此四君者,皆以客之功。由此观之,客何负於秦哉!向使四君却客而不纳,疏士而不用,是使国无富利之实,而秦无强大之名也。

“今陛下致昆山之玉,有随、和之宝,垂明月之珠,服太阿之剑,乘纤离之马,建翠凤之旗,树灵鼍之鼓。此数宝者,秦不生一焉,而陛下悦之,何也?必秦国之所生而然后可,则是夜光之璧不饰朝廷,犀象之器不为玩好,郑、卫之女不充后宫,而骏马抉提〖“抉提”二字俱应为“马”旁〗不实外厩,江南金锡不为用,西蜀丹青不为采。所以饰后宫、充下陈、娱心意、悦耳目者,必出於秦然后可,则是宛珠之簪、傅玑之珥、阿缟之衣、锦绣之饰不进於前,而随俗雅化、佳冶窈窕赵女不立於侧也。夫击瓮叩缶、弹筝搏髀①而歌呼呜呜快耳者,真秦之声也。郑、卫、桑间,韶虞、武象者,异国之乐也。今弃击瓮而就郑、卫,退弹筝而取韶虞,若是者何也?快意当前,适观而已矣。今取人则不然,不问可否,不论曲直,非秦者去,为客者逐。然则是所重者在乎色乐珠玉,而所轻者在乎人民也。此非所以跨海内、制诸侯之术也。

“臣闻地广者粟多,国大者人众,兵强则士勇。是以泰山不让土壤,故能成其大;河海不择细流,故能就其深;王者不却众庶,故能明其德。是以地无四方,民无异国,四时充美,鬼神降福,此五帝、三王之所以无敌也。今乃弃黔首以资敌国,却宾客以业诸侯,使天下之士,退而不敢向西,裹足不入秦,此所谓藉寇兵而赍盗粮者也。

“夫物不产於秦,可宝者多;士不产於秦,而愿忠者众。今逐客以资敌国,损民以仇,内自虚而外树怨於诸侯,求国之无危,不可得也。”

Monday, November 8, 2010

Replace file extension with PHP

Sometimes we need to read a file from user upload, then save the file in specific file extension after processing, but retain its filename.

Most of the Googled examples assumed that the upload file name adhered to XXXXXX.YYY format, of which a period "." separates file name (XXXXXX) from extension (YYY).

In the event where there are more than one Period "." in the filename, these examples break.

Of course you may use the conventional string function to determine the last Period in the given filename, then strip it with yet a couple of string functions.

One of the way is to use array to achieve the goal, and here is how:

$filenamearray=explode(".",$filename);

array_pop($filenamearray);

array_push($filenamearray,'csv');

$filename=implode(".",$filenamearray);




Monday, November 1, 2010

分裂?





连花姐姐如晤:

姐姐您好,最近报章上看到您风采依旧,甚为欣慰。

姐姐为民政栋梁,日理万机,呕心沥血,亲民勤政,乃民政之光,国阵之光,民族之光,国家之光,妇女之光!

最近补选,姐姐不辞劳苦,穿山越岭,远征荒蛮,宣扬国阵之大德,德化疆民,为人所不能,巾帼英雄也!

姐姐纵横政坛数十年,过关斩将,所向披靡,敌酋闻之丧胆。如今教化疆民,句句珠玑,千锤百炼,疆民焉能不化?

姐姐深受分裂之苦,当年官拜新闻部副部长,受国阵同僚围剿,姐姐忍辱负重,以和为先,无视跳梁,依旧读稿,颇有精卫之风,弟所不能及也!

之后民政倒丁,姐姐沉默是金,盖倒丁倒许,事不关己,明哲保身,官运依然亨通。

今论分裂,乃姐姐穷数十年修行为官之精华。华族不能分裂,乃姐姐固本之肺腑。

姐姐甘冒陷民政不义,令马华蒙羞之骂名,独钟华族,为华族指点迷津,实乃华族救星也。

然姐姐有所不知,分而治之,乃国阵治国金科玉律,国阵以种族为界,华巫印本是一家,奈何国阵设下楚河汉界,诸多事端因此而起。

话说当今各大民族分为两派,或支持国阵,或拥护民联,三大民族化为朝野两派,种族分界日渐模糊,暗合民政创党理念,可喜可贺,何来分裂?

姐姐为民政大款,理应能倒背民政党章如流,如此现象,乃民政先贤期待,姐姐何以定为分裂?

弟愚钝,盼姐姐拨亢指正,为弟不胜感激。



顿首





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday, October 29, 2010

Construction project: the economy locomotive?

Many countries have, during the economy downturn, trying to stimulate its economy by ways of funding large construction projects.

The theory is relatively simple:

Construction projects involves many aspects of economy and therefore funding construction projects will help to create jobs and tickle down money to eventually everyone, hence helping to accelerate economy activities.

In the 80s when the Malaysia Government started massive construction projects such and North South Expressway, building new townships like Putrajaya and erecting towers like the Twin Towers and KL Towers, the Government was planning with the same intention, ie to fuel economy with public spending.

In the 90s, editor of economic desk of several print media of whom i know shared the same view, ie to reverse economy downturn, massive construction projects are inevitable and often produce desirable results.

This have generally 2 fundamental flaws as of our economic structure:

1. For these projects to be beneficial, it must be carried out by these people, and not relying on foreigners;

2. Even if it has to rely on foreigners for some part of work, it needs to ensure that money earned from this country by the foreigners are also spend here, atleast most part of it should be retained somehow.

The example in the past did not have these 2 factors, or these are insignificant as compare to nowadays, thus it can be relatively successful in the past but it is no longer the magical formula.

Even I other countries, for example, China. Public funded projects work as expected just because the fund is not leaked to the outside world. It is the government who are releasing its reserve back to the economy and these projects can really be economic multiplier since fund is not leaked out.

The Obama administration initiated mega construction projects such as railway, bridge, and highway constructions with intention to both create jobs and channeling funding back to the economy, hopefully it can be the pusher to revive the already weak US economy.

In Malaysia, projects are generally awarded to foreign companies with local partners, and down to the very bottom, the workers or laborer are generally foreigners.

What does this implies? This means the Malaysia government is putting its taxpayers' money into the foreign hand. This
Money will eventually be shipped back to their respective countries, and we are left with just infrastructure and nothing else.

Mega projects no longer serve as planned: stimulating economy, what we have is no different than buying luxury goods from overseas and stuck with the goods.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, October 28, 2010

无奈

十多年前,一个朋友带他的父母到吉隆坡游玩。

他家在登嘉楼,父亲是渔夫,妈妈是全职的家庭主妇。他是老大。

当老人家第一次站在双峰塔外面,昂头看那两座高楼时,父亲是一脸的骄傲,妈妈看到连嘴巴张得大大,一句话也说不出来。

看了一阵,他就带老人家踏上回登嘉楼的路上。

在车上,过了好一会,爸爸开口了:

"真高!一定花了不少钱哪!"

妈妈一时回不过神,呐呐的,不知道要说什么。

爸爸也不理会,自顾自的说:"你还念小学的时候,我出外打渔挣钱,每个月收入400元。北风来时3个月不能下海,就得靠你妈养的鸡卖来过活。"

"今天你已经长大了,有一份工,刚刚够用。我还需要出海打渔,家里一切的开销都大了,但是我的收入还是400元。"

"看到双峰塔,我很骄傲,我们马来人终于站起来了!"

"可是,这高塔除了让我感到骄傲以外,还觉得伤心。"

"为什么我们要盖这样的高塔?为什么不能把盖高塔的钱用来改进我们的生活?"

"我的收入几十年不变,赚的刚刚够糊口,这样的高塔如果用来改进我们的生计,我们的生活就不需要这么困难。"

"为什么我们的政府要花这样的钱来做这些好看而对我们都没帮助的计划?或许我没知识没见识,大官的看法或许是对的,这些年来说为人民服务,我们的日子一样难过啊!"

后记:

这是fandi那次送老人家回乡后告诉我的故事,我一直都忘不了老人家看双峰塔时的神情,更忘不了Fandi转述的那一番话。





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday, October 25, 2010

User experience vs User expectation

Tech companies tends to produce highly sophisticated devices, with all sorts of control one can ever imagine.

Yes, high tech, but, how's the user experience?

Many tech companies tilt towards listening to tech geeks, implementing functions only tech freak understands, and hope that the whole world will buy in.

Is this correct?

No! Most people, people like you and me, wanted something simple yet powerful. Something that will serve as claimed without complicated learning curve and procedures.

That's why powerful yet simple devices addressing one's need is often sellable than those designed and created by tech geeks.

Back to politics, it is the same.

When politicians talk about big plans, projects, future, and so fort, people on the street cares about whether policies will make them earn their living easier.

Who really cares about you wanted to protect the rights of certain quarters? Even the specific group of people that you strive to protect and uphold their rights would not care less about your mission. They care about their stomach, they care about money in their pocket.

Your can have bells and whistlers, but do you really addressed the needs?

I don't really care about who's in power, I care about how much money I have in my pocket.

So don't tell me how you strive to defend me, or my community, tell me how can you make my life easier, I will give you my vote.

Just like tech companies selling me products addressing my needs rather than asking me to struggle from trying to learn and master its products.

Back to the basics, please

Sunday, October 17, 2010

败家!

有了88层高的双峰塔,还要建造百层高的鸡楼。前些时候还说国家不久就要破产,现在又大开水喉洒钱。

下面捧大脚的旅游部长,还说可以吸引游客。。

要吸引的是那些游客?本国的?还是东南亚的?还是中国、日本的?中东的?欧美的?旅游部长没说,我们这些小民当然不懂。

原来吸引游客靠一栋高楼就行了,百层高楼耸地而起,咱们就财源滚滚来吗?

要是还吸引不到游客应该怎么办?




是不是让天字一号扮King Kong,旅游部长当King Kong的爱人,在那新的百层高楼来个King Kong救美,在让国防部长出动无引擎战斗机,肯定会好卖过911。

这样,咱们才会财源滚滚,大吉大利!



Tuesday, September 7, 2010

咖啡馆鸡婆二三事

咖啡店一男一女

男咳嗽,无言。

女:你到底顾不顾身体?!你不为自己也该顾小孩啊!

男无言。

女:怎么?不说话?

男还是无言。上厕所。未几,回来。

女:刚才你叫什么吃的?

男咳嗽,还是无言。

女:我问你你当着听不到?你聋了啊你?!(@#*)*@#¥)@¥

男又上厕所,未几,回座。

女:喂!我在问你啊!你干吗不答?!胆生毛啊?!¥@#(¥⋯⋯—@*¥@

男:我…

女:我什么你!讲不出?吃什么也讲不出?@(#@*#@(#@¥

男:我…我叫鸡…

女的柳眉倒竖:你好啊你!你以为你是鸡王啊你?!@#(¥)*@!(#

男的脸红得连耳根象樱桃,头低低的,含糊的:鸡…扒。

女的头发突然膨胀起来,音调提高八度:什么鸡巴鸡巴的!一家大小去家乡鸡,你独个儿就去马杀鸡,上网只会找网鸡,跟你的猪朋狗友喝酒谈鸡,跟我吃饭还要叫鸡!你以为你鸡巴大啊你!

这时全场肃静,雀鸦无声,男的起身就走,女的还在高声喊。

侍者一时情急:先生!先生!你的鸡巴不要了?

Saturday, September 4, 2010

低俗•无赖

最近红的不得了的两个人,一个是人称“颠马”的伽马,一个是“不爱国”的黄明志。

他们出了事,大家都在议论纷纷,其中一些人的言论让人觉得写的人是圣人。

伽马,为人如何,平时言论如何,是不是擦鞋上位,或者是妖言惑众都不关我事。他可以做他要做的,只要法律允许。至于所作所为和他的宗教有没有冲突就让真主跟他算账,也不关我们事。

那为什么有那么多的人要批判他?

要是人人都不喜欢他,他怎么搞也搞不出什么花样。

黄明志写的歌,好不好听,文雅或者粗俗,你爱听就听,不喜欢吗?为何又要听?听了又要骂?

他的歌粗俗?器官满场飞?你不喜欢那你又听?你没听过的话,又怎么知道粗俗?

要是人人写歌唱歌都要“高雅端庄”,这世界还有什么乐趣可言?

他的歌粗俗,那我们这些写白话、口语话的人,岂不也是粗俗?是不是个个都要之乎者也才能发表己见?

若是如此,十年前和十年后的今天,教导我们这一代和我们下一代什么是“肛交”Sodomy就差没有图文并茂的媒体、大官们,为何没人说他们粗俗?为什么不用优雅的“断袖之癖”来取代粗俗的“肛交”?

这些批判的人,为何没有为文批判??

原来批判也得看对象、看地位、看对方口袋有没有钱、手上有没有权?

Friday, September 3, 2010

你能不能帮忙?


今天收到人事部主管的信,说一位槟城的前同事的女儿急需筹款进行手术。

希望读到这贴文的,有钱出钱,将消息散播出去。

先在这里谢了。




----
以下是信的内容:

Dear All,
Our ex-colleague from PST-Penang, Ms Pamela Tan's daughter has "Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia" and she needs S$500,000 more to do the double cord blood transplant in Singapore. She needs help to raise fund for the transplant.
Kindly assist if you can on "personal or company" and you can also forward it to your friends or relatives. All donations can be given via her link or direct to her bank account highlighted in red.
Thanks & Rgds
Catherine


From: pamtbl@hotmail.com
To:
Subject: Help Needed
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:16:06 +0000

Help Needed

by Lyn Si on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 4:01pm

Dear friends,
Please come forward to save a life.
I am Quah Lyn Si, currently living in Penang, Malaysia. In December 2008 we learned from our doctor with total shock and utter surprise that I am diagnosed of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, T cell. I had been on aggressive chemotherapy until now and transplant is my best and possibly only chance of cure. I am 18 years old.

Dr Koh Liang Pui from National University Hospital, Singapore has agreed to do double cord blood transplant for me. A double cord blood transplant is the only option that can cure me. But only a small number of fortunate people who have the ability can be treated using this approach. Cost for double cord blood transplant in the Singapore is estimated to cost SP$1,000,000 for pre and post transplant care. The expenses for transplant are too high to be borne by us. My dad's company is willing to pay SP$500,000. We are now raising funds for the other SP$500,000.

We kindly seek your assistance to help save my life to live a normal life in the world. We sincerely hope that you will be able to help raise some funds for us to cover the cost of treatment and transplant in Singapore. All donation can be made through Pay Pal – Donation section at my blog,
Link
or you can donate to us through this account:
Quah Teik Huat/ Quah Lyn Si
Malayan Banking BHD
acc no:
107135-148912

Regards,

Pamela

"Nam myoho renge kyo is like the roar of a lion, what illness can therefore be an obstacle"

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Merdeka celebration - I have a dream


Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I Have a Dream"



delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.






[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio. (2)]

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."2

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!3

Friday, August 27, 2010

I'm Razak, Abdul Razak the Great!

In case you've forgotten the way James Bond introduces himself:

I'm Bond, James Bond..

And now, we have, well, not quite James Bond, he is not as handsome and fit. Not quite a high profile spy but certainly spent plenty of our taxpayer's ringgit as James Bond for his awesome appearance and performance.

His is none other then........ ABDUL RAZAK, the Abdul Razak who strangled himself in the open court with video footage which AG Chamber delayed to put online.

Ladies and gentlemen, can we please welcome the new Super Comedy Star from our esteem AG Chamber, Encik Abdul Razak.......

(A friendly reminder: Please do not eat or drink during the entire video as you may be choked to death and we may need to have a Royal Commission to investigate your sudden pass away)

Sit tight, have a good time



Wednesday, August 25, 2010

雪人怎么不见了?

雪人怎麼不見了
雪人怎麼不見了
雪人只有手 沒有腳
讓他怎麼跑
雪人只怕太陽照
太陽一出雪就消
雪人不會喊呀不會叫呀
太陽出來它就自己融化掉
雪人原來不堅牢
只怕太陽照
太陽一出雪就消
雪人不見了
雪人怎麼不見了
雪人原來不堅牢
雖然他也有頭呀也有腦呀
那太陽出來他就自己不能保

Sunday, August 22, 2010

A Good Sunday reading

Perhaps you may have your weekend planned.

But if you can spare some 15 minutes to read the following article, and spend a little while to digest, I bet you'll be a better person, trust me.

Let's waste no time:



Friday, August 20, 2010

贪污课题敏感,那还办什么媒体?

如果媒体不能揭发贪污, 如果媒体不能谈论贪污课题,如果贪污课题必须在“大原则”下被消音,不如把媒体关掉算了!

你们要是不敢,那就让贤吧!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Tightening the Net

Incident 1
-------
Jamaluddin Ibrahim, a famous Mandarin talk show host, and writer, was shut off today by his employer 988 FM, which is the subsidiary of The Star Publications.

According to Jamal, 988 received letter from MCMC (Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission) stating that Jamal has "threatening national security", and "provoke racial sentiment", of which Jamal has strongly denied both counts.
-----

Incident 2
-----
A well-known Chinese political weekly magazine terminated its Editor. The management claimed termination was acted according to instruction from the Ministry of Home Affair.
-----

Incident 3
-----
The Government is said to revived the much criticised "Green-dam"-like Internet content filtering. The project was once on hold is now revived with KPMG leading the visibility study on behalf of the Government.
-----

What do all these meant to you?

If all three incidents are originated from the Government, it means the Government is going to tighten the Net, not just the Internet, but your freedom of speech and your freedom of acquiring information.

What will all these affects you?
Just turn your eyes on Myanmar, North Korea, Vietnam, China, and Iran. Restricting access to information by the ruling regime will certainly created 2 camps of divided people:

1. the Elite, whom is blessed with the wealth of the entire Nation;

2. the rest of us, whom can never be one of the Elite no matter how hard you try.

Don't ever have the impression that you are rich therefore you are one of the Elite. You can be rich man this moment, but can be ripped away by the Elite and makes you poorest of all the next moment.

Elite, does not mean should be from a specific race, following a specific religion, etc. Elite means Elite and not the rest of us.

So for those wayang kulit fighting for their race and/or religion are merely to disguise themselves to fool you that they will fight for your rights.

They are just a group of Elite who need your support to maintain their status as Elite, not fighter for race or religion.

It is then up to you whether you want to be the stepping-stone for "ELITE", or to eliminate "ELITE" altogether.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

七月鬼上身

祖宗有灵,律师乱语

鬼上身经典名句:

他随即更提问,赵明福会否扼自己的颈项?

全场顿时因为这个问题哄笑起来,这样的论点也让赵家律师哥宾星感到不可思议,立即站起来挑战阿都拉萨示范,一个人要如何扼死自己。

不料,阿都拉萨不按牌理的出牌,神色若定地立即即席表演自扼起来,瞬间引爆哄堂大笑。

----
阿都拉萨的另一个“妙论”是,声称赵明福在第14楼,即距离地面99尺时,会否因为不清醒,而导致身体比较重?

----
阿都拉萨更质问普缇,既然她说赵明福的落地点离开大楼的距离,比一般的跳楼自杀案例要来的远,那么她本身是否有从高楼跳下来的经验?
----



Sunday, August 15, 2010

谐街交警总部游记

一天中午, 接到短讯:

有三万,车子路税不能更新

马上到陆路交通局网站查询:网站挂免战牌,查不到。

再到大马皇家警察网站去:还是查不到,网站出问题。

最后到一家私人公司网站,查到了:

共有五张三万,日期由2006年到2008年。

硬下心,决定还,到谐街交警总部去还。

星期五下午,到谐街交警总部时3:40分。到了还三万的柜台,没人睬,一支公的不知道应该做什么。

观察了2分钟,提起勇气问柜台的官小姐应当如何:

"请问要如何还三万?"

"你到那边的柜台就行了。不过你必须要有三万清单。"

"要怎样拿三万清单? "

"我这里可以印给你,不过你要先拿编号。"

"编号如何拿?"

"哦!我们把编号机收了起来,下班时间快到了。"

"你们外面贴着办公时间,现在离下班还有45分钟哪"

"真不巧,今天有开斋晚餐,所以我们会准时下班"

"看看其实都没有多少人在等,不如你就高抬贵手,帮我一个忙吧!"

"对不起,我们只是照章办事,或者明天一早你再来吧!"

---第二天

到警局时上午8:45分。

柜台9点开门,我一马当先,拿到第4号。

5分钟,我拿到清单,接着去付罚款的柜台。

坐在里面的仁兄看着我:"要缴罚款你得给我详细的罚单啊!"

"我应该到那里要?"

"你回去刚才的柜台,向他要。"

回去第一个柜台,要了详细罚单,再回到付罚款的柜台,这次总算解决了。

原来
1 Malaysia
rakyat didahulukan
pencapaian diutamakan
是如此的服务方式。

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, August 12, 2010

很好!很好!以后就用梵文写遗书!

各位,

原来伟大的皇家警察看不懂中文,所以要超过500,000分钟后才敢拿出怀疑是“赵明福遗书”的纸条。

以此类推,您阁下要是一个不小心给皇家能人志士请去喝咖啡时,切记随身带着梵文版的遗书。

你要是喝咖啡后自己了结的话,我敢写保单那些吃皇家饭的会因为看不懂梵文而将你的遗书永不录用。

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

iPhone quick tips : Google Maps

You can find a location from your iPhone using Google maps.

In most cases we are searching a street name, or name of the building, for example:

Jalan universiti, petaling jaya

However, you can use Google Maps to look for say cafe within the area instead of trying to look for the street then try to look for a cafe, like this:




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, August 5, 2010

适耕庄图记

七掌八手

渔村之夜

鱼米之乡的热情,我的童年记忆

超大的葡萄冰

回家

悠闲

寻找


天边一片云

一朵小花

风调雨顺

威武

夕阳•黄昏

Monday, August 2, 2010

行动党与李自成

最近又看了金庸的碧血剑。

碧血剑的历史背景是明朝崇祯末年,也是李自成造反,一路攻下北京,逼得昏庸但却自以为英主的崇祯在煤山上吊的年代。

明朝末年,有点象我们这个年代。只是当时造反靠拳头,现在造反靠选票。

李自成,自封为闯王,有一批出生入死的弟兄打天下。闯军原是乌合之众的人民,造反只因为被当时的官逼到没饭吃。官场贪污、滥权不在话下,官商相护、牛鬼蛇神登上神台呼风唤雨,苛稅更是猛于虎。老百姓铁了心,被逼得造反。

崇祯吗,他以为他为国为民,可是就是耳朵喜欢听围绕在他身边的小人歌功颂德。自以为英明的他,被他身边的小人蒙蔽了还不自知,以为他自己当这个皇帝做的非常棒,那些造反的家伙全都头壳派了,不懂得如何感恩。

当时闯军作了不少歌谣,其中一首唱说:

朝求升,暮求合,近来贫汉难存活,早早开门拜闯王,管教大小都欢悦!

吃他娘,着他娘,吃着不尽有闯王,不当差,不纳粮!

李闯攻下了北京时,下令全军不得违法乱纪,不得骚扰百姓。北京城人人都摆香案迎接闯军,人人都认为苦日子已经过去了。

可是不到几天,闯军上下也认为他们替百姓做了好事,开始时要求百姓进贡,到后来却越来越猖狂,奸杀民女、抢劫百姓,就像斗官兵那么凶悍。

北京城里的百姓才明白,原来当官的,当权的,当兵的,全都是一个模样,一朝得势就向人民开刀,而百姓只有被人人鱼肉的份。

要知道接下来发生什么事,去买本碧血剑,或去读明史,你就会清楚。

现在的民联/行动党,就像是闯军。

原来天下乌鸦的确是一般的黑,白色的鸦,就会被同类当成异种。当官的要是不贪,就当不了官,不管他们是国阵还是民联。

一旦东窗事发,就快刀斩掉鱼虾蟹,弃车保帅,理由是堂而皇之的“维护州政权的稳定”。原来护短是为了要保卫政权,不是以人民利益为先。这样的政府我们人人都做得,为何要肥水流他人田?

我们投给他们的票,都被认为是理所当然,谁叫我们要国阵倒?

可是,为什么我们不可以有国阵和民联以外的选择?

为什么我们都爱给这些政棍骑在头上?

诚恳希望大家投我一票:
我保证我会比黑乌鸦还黑,从头发黑到心里去。
我保证我会比别人跑得快,你死你的事关我屁事。
我保证我黑线黑得比人多,有机会才漏一点面包削。
我保证你死在扣留所后我替你呐喊,如果死不去算你命大关我屁事?
我保证我也会一招“弃车保帅”,反正替死鬼你们爱当。

附送某行政议员逃难记 - 此乃本人亲体验,看官要看仔细,不好漏了后面的逃难路线图

Sunday, July 25, 2010

石缝中的小花




今早在花园外无意中见到这朵黄花,昂起头来,享受朝阳的沐浴。

在这么恶劣的环境下,它竟然没有放弃生存的机会。可能明天来一场狂风暴雨,就可以把它给连根拔起。

可是今天,它依旧迎着朝阳,明天的事,就让明天才去烦吧!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Apple gives me new casing with new keyboard, again


I have my MacBook casing changed again, yes, again.

I noticed a small crack on my right hand palm rest, below the trackpad about a month ago. I called Apple, and glad to know that I am still entitled for free replacement, even the notebook is almost 3 years old, and only covered by 1 year warranty.

I sent my Macbook for technical inspection 3 days ago, and got the case replaced today.

This is probably why I am sticking to Apple products no matter how. Interaction with Apple call centre, Apple technical staff is always pleasure to me unlike other BIG tech names, such as Acer, NEC, Samsung, HP.

Now my macbook is like a new one, and it was done in 40 minutes. You can never get this kind of service from any other vendor, trust me.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

谁叫你穷

百物腾涨,汽油涨价,白糖大起。

你,谁叫你穷?

For those who died in custody

RIP. We shall never forget how they died.

Justice is not just by word of mouth, it should be by action, and be seen.

We shall pray for those who took their lives away, that the same will happen to them one day.

And we shall make it happen, We will.


Wednesday, July 14, 2010

鹿鼎记

重温鹿鼎记,读到这一段,想要是领导都有此心思,百姓怎能不安居?天下怎会不太平?




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday, July 9, 2010

看看四月会不会败家!




红色的是书签,黄色的是笔记



可以在任何时候加入笔记



在书本目录,书签和笔记一目了然



Thursday, July 8, 2010

妈的!我又开始看书鸟!

整理了书架,每一本都是金庸。。。。

When Twitter meets World Cup


When Twitter meets World Cup, I surrender..... Not football fan, no nuts about football, and my twitter status update can skip just because:

World Cup is everywhere on Twitter!!!


Sunday, July 4, 2010

Why use Word, when you have better alternative

Many of us was brought up with Microsoft Word on Windows or Mac. But MS Word, besides its price, it in many occasion an overkill to most of us.

If we look carefully of those documents we created using Word, I would say almost 90% of them are simple documents, i.e. letters, short articles, etc. that most features on Word are not used at all.

There are also compatibility problem that forces almost everyone using Word instead of alternatives, i.e. if you have Word, you are almost certain that you will be able to open any documents created using Word.

This is a wrong perception however. Documents created using later versions of Word does not necessarily open in earlier version of Word. To maintain compatibility, most of us will fallback to saving Word documents in Word 97-2001 format, instead of the later xml or docx (Word 2007) formats.

Word is also a bulky monster that will eat up your memory without realising, if you open Word and not closing it for long hours, it will eventually freeze and render your PC/Mac slow like turtle, a common symptom for Microsoft products.

But how are we avoid using Word while maintaining compatibility with other Word users?

Look for alternative.

There are a few alternatives one can choose from, and I will concentrate on Mac instead of on Windows.

First, determine your needs, ask yourself what kind of documents you created most, and do you need to share editable documents you created with others, or receiving editable documents from others.

Ask also whether you often write lengthly documents with fancy features like Table of Contents, footnotes, and applying style sheets to your documents.

If the above is alien to you, likely you need a simple word processor to do your job than Microsoft Word.

On Mac OSX, there are a couple of alternatives, one of them is Bean.

The name BEAN looks funny at first, BEAN is an Open Source word processor so simple that you can start working with immediately with no training. The advantage of Open Source allowing you to add features on top of what is already provided, if you are OSX/Objective-C programmer. It provides a solid foundation for you to customize word processor for your own needs.

If you are not a programmer, the core features of Bean covers daily needs on word processor.

Bean is also fast, efficient, able to open and save Word documents. As other Mac applications, saving to PDF is readily available, unlike Windows where you have to rely on 3rd party PDF printing utilities.

Bean gives you an uncluttered view of editing screen, simple, and easy to use toolbar (yes, only one toolbar instead of zillion toolbar or ribbon that occupies half of your screen in the case of Word).


Once open, just type as you would on Word. It is lightning fast, and smooth. In addition, you can type any character as long as OSX supports, means from Tamil to Arabic to Chinese to Japanese.

Bean needs no tutorial, it is not a monster like Word. Go explore yourself, and you will soon fall in love with.



Friday, July 2, 2010

Better than expected - MacBook Air





I was skeptical about MacBook Air. Although it's appearance, size, and weight makes it a must have gadget, I was still doubt about its performance after reading a string of bad press.

Until recently, I have a chance to play around the lower end model, ie 1.86GHz with 120GB conventional hard drive. My doubt disappeared.

It is really a wonderful machine, I would say yet another well thought machine from Apple.

Unlike criticism that most reviewers written, MacBook Air is certainly the machine to carry around, with good keyboard, and large screen as compare to the netbooks in the market.

Yes, I admit that it is far too expensive when comparing with netbook, the point is: you use a tool to ensure that you are productive and not counter productive with all sorts of physical limitation. And the biggest limitation as far as netbook is concern is its compromised quality for cheap selling price, crammed keyboard, and screen that hardly fits your work.

I am doing a lot of typing, a lot of internetting, and a lot of emails. I believe most road warriors are using their on the move gadget as me.

MacBook Air doesn't squeeze your shoulder when typing, you can type as fast as you can with comfort found only on high end, heavy notebook or desktop.

MacBook Air allows you to view from a distance, unlike notebook that you will have to touch your nose to the screen to read.

Overall, the performance is satisfactory. Compare to full blown notebook like MacBook, I hardly notice any speed difference when I do my daily stuff.

The only noticeable lag is from the 1.8inch 4200rpm 120GB hard drive. I believe a SSD will definitely solve the issue, and consume less power.

Battery life? Some of you may ask. I got a full 5 hours + before I need to recharge. Our Samsung netbook N310 claimed 10 hours battery life but actually draw much faster, effectively around 4 hours for the same productivity work, not because Samsung battery does not last, but time spent to look back and forth, time spent to correct typo on miniature keyboard is something that one will want to avoid especially they have flow of thought to pen down.

And MacBook Air makes it a perfect companion for those who write a lot, without scarifying your eyesight and strain your arms and shoulders.

Some of you may argue that I am not comparing apple to apple as Netbook are far cheaper than the MacBook Air.

Let's be realistic. If you can afford, you would like to measure performance of your gadget based on productivity, not its price.

If you are price sensitive, then MacBook Air is not for you, but if you are goal oriented and productivity oriented, I would strongly recommend MacBook Air.

Contradict to people who had bad experience with Apple support, I never had the problem with all my Apple gears. Apple support is far superior than any other brand that I dealt with.

In short, if you have some cash to dispose, MacBook Air is the choice, else you may have to confine yourself with tiny netbook that productivity is in doubt.

Try working on netbook for a good 3 hours, you will know what I mean.

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