Mah Bro

Since mah younger bro just got his back fixed, read here, here's some thoughts I just had when I was in the loo. Yes, the loo is where ideas foment. Anyway back to my thought. I actually learn a lot from my bro. Ever since I was small I had these strict thought patterns that are akin to a set of boxes that interlock with each other. So this rigid thinking makes it really tough for me since some shapes don't fit into the pattern and there are also a lot of other vague forms that aren't even shapes. So this is where my bro came in. He would happily say something or explain something to me in such a way that shapes didn't matter anymore and it the thoughts, ideas, opinions just slip in.

So what got me just now is that these random non-pattern thingies that got into my regimented form and substance thought world actually helped reduce the importance of patterns. So by late teen-age my mind was more open, things dind't need to fit for me to accept and understand. Understand anything so far?

What I'm saying here, wrapped concisely is, my brother played a big part in me having the unique way of thinking that I have now. My basis was a left brained based thinking. My bro helped me utilise right brain thinking. That's why I could relate to people easily and empathise with them. Throughout school and later university I always was the person people talk to about their problems. Some aren't even actually my friends, more like acquaintances. It's simply how I think and how I really listen to everything they say.

Note there's an exception to the listening without judgement. The closer the person is to me, emotionally speaking, the more prone I am to revert to my older more primitive way of thinking. I've been working more than 4 years on this particular issue. The fact that I get upset at family members and loved ones easily. There had been a lot of progress but this touches the core. I believe, my emotions are formed during childhood and as such it doesn't link with the improvements I developed later.

Ok, meeting now so I'll wrap off this post then.

Kucing

Huwaaaaah~ Internet....

I've been out of the office even longer these few weeks (in fact I didn't even go to the office Thursday and Friday) so that means less internet. Seriously thinking of maxis's wireless service tho it won't be that fast since my place only got 3G and not HSPDA. Anyways too laaazay to write nything much.

Got The Witcher tho. Lovely game. No time to play it much. So sad. Oh Hana chan, if you read this... You'll drooooool over The Witcher. Think Neverwinter Night but nicer graphics and Planescape quality (not type) storyline :D

Buat Kerja!

Went to Putrajaya for berbuka the other day. Was the Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan's majlis berbuka. One thing. The food sucks and I mean really sucks. How do I describe it? It's like majlis berbuka when I was in high school. Not normal everyday food lah but a real majlis. Still, considering that it's one whole ministerial division of the government.... I spoke with the pakcik next to me and he said it was a major disappointment. He worked there for three years and the least two times it they was grand. Everyone received expensive gifts and all.... Note that that's taxpayers money and I'm glad they cut the gifts out but what's with the bad food?

A picture from Putrajaya. Please click it so you can see what the banner there says~
On my trip to Australia the other day. I'll post updates bit by bit. Here are some pictures of the Singapore budget terminal. It's smaller than our LCCT here in Malaysia but has much better ambience. Everything looks slick and spiffy. Anyway the place I put my laptop on is their surfing terminal. You could also register and surf wireless for free.

Telur Mistake?

What do you think of the title? Is it a chicken accidentally laying a goose egg? I've no idea myself but I read it on a restaurant menu here where I had lunch (before the fasting month!!)
Well, actually the kang kong (king kong?) belanca is also a grammatical + spelling mistake.

On another note, I'm getting a Gen2 CPS. Manual of course. I'd have to change gears a lot in town but I'd have the option of zoom zooming when I drive out of town. As I said to the sales guy, I'd get an auto Gen2 only if Proton comes up with a model with paddle shifts haha.

So anyways here's my lovely old car sandwiched between 2 younger (newer) siblings.

It's still a good car (with some rattles, clanks and holes). One thing I love about this car is the power. The thing I hate is fuel consumption. I'd roughly halve my petrol bills (hey company doesn't pay I still for balik kampung or jalan2 cari makan!) since the gen2 should have something around 6.5l-7.5l/100km whereas the volvo uses 12l - 18l/100km.

Oh, I'd have to change my driving style. Right now I depend on power surges to overtake and shift lanes. My out of town driving is also a rear wheel drive style which really doesn't suit a front wheel drive car. I know this from driving my bro's Gen2 before this and also my dad's Perdana. Normally I half drift my car through fast corners since the volvo really doesn't take corners that well. I've to learn how to take corners fast with fwd car now.

So okay. Back to work now. I'm driving to meet clients~

New Car?

A new blog entry after how many months? Well, I've moved somewhere near KL and working in KL (thankfully not in the city centre). So anyway now I'm thinking of a new car for various reasons. The two main ones are simply maintenance and petrol.

Actually my boss also told me to get a smaller car since this company actually pays all my petrol bills except weekend fill-ups of course. A 1989 Volvo 740 Turbo isn't exactly a petrol sipper by any means. It's a gulper especially when I drive to the city to meet with clients. Traffic jams = thirsty volvo.

Right now I've two cars shortlisted. There were three but the Bestari 206 (Peugot 206) got crossed off the list courtesy of the small space for rear passengers. The two contenders are the updated Proton Gen2 Hi-line and Suzuki Swift 1.5. Both cars are in different price ranges and handle differently. I'm only test driving the Gen2 this afternoon. I know Gen2s have excellent control and balance but what I want to know now is whether the new Campro CPS engine has the power to match. The old Gen2 is simply a terrible low rev car. I keep stalling the engine in traffic jams. It only turns alive once you push it beyond 150km/h. Ridiculous but that's how the old campro engine works. Power only after 4500 rpm.

Well anyway, if the Gen2 doesn't deliver, I'd get the Swift which is also an excellent car. Only one reason is putting me off the swift for now. The price. I could afford to get it but I won't have much spending money if I get it.

Going to the car dealer now for a test drive~~

Father's Day!!

I forgot it was Father's Day yesterday.. Anyway Here's an interesting tidbit from www.apples4theteacher.com.

In the USA, Fathers' Day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in June since being made a national holiday in 1966. In Australia and New Zealand, fathers are honored the first Sunday in September. Other countries celebrate fathers throughout the year.

Nice aye? ^__^ By the way Father's Day in Malaysia is also on the 3rd Sunday of June.

Procrastination

Hmm... a topic that is indeed close to my heart. Well, I feel somethign akin to a dull stab everytime someone says this word so it is figuratively correct. Anyway a psychotherapist who also practices EFT, Gloria Arensen has written a book called Procrastination-Nation. I've yet to find it here and a search on Kinokuniya's website shows it's not yet available and not just here in Malaysia; It turned out completely blank which means Kinokuniya haven't had a whiff of it yet. Anyway head out to Gloria Arensen's website to learn more of this interesting book. Her blog is procrastination blog isn't updated much tho, she was more into writing the book than blogging. It still has great information in it so definitely worth a check.

Exp books?

Well, it has come to my attention that the book with the offending price tag was from a publisher that the author herself is unhappy with. So let's hope it's just the publisher that caused the price increase rather than a general book price hike. Anyway it'll take some more months since bookstores generally raise the price of newer books when a price increase happens. At least that was how it was when our currency depreciated massively last time.

Oh the publisher is HarperCollinsUK and the RM50+ paperback is The Spirit Stone, Book Two of the Silver Wyrm or as HarperCollinsUK printed on the cover that I have here, Book 5 of the Dragon Mage which is most definitely wrong. Can't say I'm fond of this publisher right now.

Malaysian Book Lovers Shafted!

Oh man, it's been so long since I last updated. This I have to write. Book lovers in Malaysia. Mourn the easy days. I just got a message from an avid book reader that new mass paperback books are now RM50++.

I'll be buying everything online then it seems. A few books plus bulk postage... It'll be cheaper. I can't believe this is happening. Am dreading my next trip to a bookstore. If it's true then no more bookstores for me. Say NO to unfair prices. Don't let whoever it is responsible extort you. We have alternatives! Books are for life~~~

Sadly,Post Options
A book lover