CEC FDW Test

http://cec.sp.edu.sg

Yes, this must be absolutely a joke. I applied and took the test without even reading the material. Actually, I even did it one eye closed. And I got flying colors. Almost perfect score. That say so much about the value of this test. Do that make me a better employer? I dun know, I am not even the one hiring the FDW.

I, Deathbringer

I do not know what sort of chances is it, but the last few days I seems to be bringing accidents around me. Was 2 days ago, when I had no choice but to take the MRT. Guess what some accident had happened and later on I found out was a fatal MRT accident that killed a old woman in Clementi. Well, but the least I was not affected.

Then I was changing the bus to my client's place. And guess what, just at the junction, a bus bumped into another vehicle in front while crossing the junction. It was an immediate jam there. But luckily again, my bus turned out of the way and was not affected.

After the meeting, I was on my way back. And then the MRT suddenly stop while travelling at high speed, sending some of the people to the ground (flying). I was again lucky because my hand was close to a pole and I grab on it by instinct.

That was someday. I had a break yesterday at the zoo, so I do not forsee major accident there anyway. And I thought it was all over. Was it?

Today on my way to BB, guess what? Near the school, one car by the side, one upside down like scrap metal in the middle of the junction. I guess it has began again. Just what is going on?

Paloh Railway Station

This is the play where the trains brings me for the over the last 30 years. Althought the train station has changed a lot, it hasn't really changed for the better much. Its still the classic look with the classic feel. Anyway, these are 2 of hte pictures I had taken with my Canon 400D.

Buying a 70/75-300mm Lens Canon vs Tamron vs Sigma

I was shopping for a 70-300 or 75-300mm lens for my Canon EOS 400D. In the end, there was only 3 good choices :



1. Canon ORIGINAL EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III












http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=150&modelid=7445



2. Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG MACRO



















http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3303&navigator=3



3. Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2

















http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/70300_di_a017.asp


At first, from the review, I neve thought of buying an original Canon because I was always thinking of the USM which cost like $2000+. Then I was introduced to the normal non-USM lens from canon which roughly is $300+-.


My research from the web has given me 2 choices, Tamron and Sigma. Tamron being $100 cheaper. Its of course rated value for money. Now, you will never believe how I choose the lens. Besides than the negative remark I saw and hear about Tamron not performing at 250mm beyond, I rely on feeling and where it was made.

Sigma - Japan. Cool.
Tamron - China. My friend in USA has warned me about China lens. OK, out of the question.
Canon - Malaysia. Err... Better than China, but its nothing compared to the Japan made ones.

In addition, the canon does not have Macro (which is good for me at this stage since I do not have a macro lens yet). So the choice was simple for me. Sigma is the winner.


I will be collecting it tomorrow. I am so sorry I still have no time to post my photos. I will up them tomorrow before I leave for another short trip to Malaysia this weekend.

Microsoft Hardware Warranty

I wonder how many people actually needed this. J once had a mouse that did not work out of the box. Sent it to the SLS shop for replacement. Took about 10 days. BUT I just realized there was a better way to RMA with Microsoft. And you will never believe this.

It was little known that Microsoft actually has a support number for hardware. Well, its the same number to activate your software actually. So I called, but only after returning the retail shop and realized that I can't return to the shop. But at least they gave me the Microsoft contact number, so I am not going to bad mouth them. :)

I called and asked about hte RMA procedure for the Microsoft Mouse. Well, here is the surprise. I need ot be in front of a computer... where I was not. Anyway, what will happen is actually they will ask you to run some checks to ensure that the software is not the fault... Things like not plugin in the USB properly, driver not installed etc... Anyway, once they confirmed its a hardware issue. They will ship you the NEW hardware via courier. Cool right? How come nobody told me about this?

Anyway, I will post the Singapore Microsoft support number here for future reference. BTW, I had tons of Microsoft keyboards and mouse. And this is the only time I had to RMA.

Microsoft Support (Singapore)
6882 8899
800 852 3543

Achieva vs Acecom

Hard disk bought in Singapore is usually covered 3-5 years by 3rd party instead of the manufacturer. I had been a customer to Acecom (http://www.acecom.com.sg/) for years. I believe I had at least exchanged 10 HDD with them (some of which not my own even...).

Now, the new HDD I bought happens to be from another company Archieva (http://www.archieva.com.sg/). Well, its just another company, maybe a bit further from my place... but thats about it. but wait, if you recalled, I had post about this place before when I was conned to collect the "Executive Desktop"...

Now, I finally had to replace one of my harddisk because it has KO. the motor stops for reasons and bad sectors growing all over. Its a 200 GB Seagate HDD. I was there early in the morning, hoping to exchange the HDD since its barely even 2 years. And according to their terms, they can replace with a different model etc... Standard stuff... Guess what?

They CANT replace it. They claim that its EOL (end of line) product. They will send it back to Seagate... Err... WTF? I should had just asked my friend to exchange it for me since he works in Seagate... Whats the point of having a 1-1 exchange warranty when down the road 2-3 years the HDD will definitely be EOL so to speak? Is this not a con job?

Let me tell you what's the difference at Acecom. A few times, they did not have the stock I needed. Guess what? They upgraded the HDD for me... From 80GB to 120GB or 160GB to 200GB. I had never got to wait. I get my replacement on the spot!

Obviously, Achieva does not provide such standard of warranty! They did not even ask me if I prefer a replacement of a different brand or build? Well, so be it. They say it may need to wait for 7 days or so... Thats mean another day lost , another trip down to collect my harddisk. Well, I feel like taking out all my HDD from achieva and ask the mto RMA on my next trip since it will take 1 week. Better RMA them in advance cos I can't get a replacement in time :P

Next time, I will insist on Acecom warranty. Achieva should really close shop I hope.

Acecom vs Archieva RMA Experience

• 
  
  Acecom sucks! Do not ever buy hardware which they support!


• 
  
  Achieva sucks! I will not buy any hardware supported by them!


• 
  
  Both of them sucks! I hate them all!


• 
  
  Both of them are good. I totally love to RMA!


• 
  
  Whatever. I do not care, both of them are ok.


• 
  
  I never RMA my stuff. I just throw them away.

view results
Free vote poll

仍是深爱你 ~ 魔刀侠情主题曲

Here is my remix for you! Limited period only!

Malaysia - Truly Rape-sia

With the recently rape cases that took place in JB Malaysia, it brought my attention to some stats I read somewhere... Something like having 3 cases of rape per day... Well, it turns out I was so damn wrong... and so outdated... According to the 2006 stats, its 2435 cases which comes to about 6-7 cases per days... assuming they rape on Sat and Sun as well... Thats horrifying shocking... consider Malaysia is Islamic ruled .. OK, maybe it just backfired. Thats a possibility.



Whatever the case, let's take a look at how bad rape and other crimes are in Malaysia. I think its not hard to project this years result...

http://micpohling.wordpress.com/tag/malaysia/

Fake Sandisk SD Card

I promised a friend of mine that I will cover SD cards eventually. This was related to a previous post where I talked about fake Compact Flash Card (not) from Sandisk. So here is it, there are fake SD cards as well.

http://members.shaw.ca/fakesandisk/

Photo Gallery :
http://www.edzcity.com/sandisk/page1/page1.html

Hei, I am not telling you to stop buying from Sandisk. They have pretty good and cheap cards. but that also does not means that ther eis not fake cards from other brands. At least I can think of one now...

仍是深爱你 ~ 魔刀侠情主题曲

演唱：温兆伦

恨 过 始 知 相 爱 滋 味
人 末 到 离 别 哪 懂 伤 悲
流 水 难 断, 不 老 天 地
却 没 有 一 刻 再 给 我 共 你

历 遍 几 多 苦 痛 滋 味
无 奈 这 怀 念 永 久 不 死
人 生 如 渡 客, 偏 有 千 世 恨
红 日 到 斜 落 方 最 美

问 苍 苍 天 地
河 山 中 哪 一 处 给 鸟 飞
恨 情 义 永 在
却 没 一 份 余 地
留 待 我 跟 你 长 依 寄

任 千 秋 写 满 赞 与 罪
无 奈 我 仍 是 深 爱 你

Transformers the Movie Review

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Instead of calling this a review, maybe its more of my thoughts after watching Transformers. As a movie, its great, actions, fighting, special effects... You have it all. I am not sure what is the ratings given to this movie, but the movie was cut, as far as I can see and there is at least 2 sexual references in the movie. 1 after the partents entered the room and another immediately after Optimus Prime first introduce himself. So I presumed its not G...

Being said about the special effects and totally unnecessary carnage just to make the movie looks good, now what I do not like about the movie. soundwave was one of the coolest Decepticon, but has been reduced to a pile of spidery looking metal size of a dog. So is Jazz, but he only appeared less than 10 seconds then being torned apart by Megatron. Despite all that seems to end, there is no accountability for Starscream (which I do not recall being shot down) and Scorpinox who just escaped and disappeared benealth the sands... Sound like a lame loose ends for a sequel.

There is not even close link with the original Transformers cartoon. So, my advice is do not take this as an adaptation. Instead, see it as a totally unrelated piece of work. Thats goes for Beastwars too. The original classic is not much to match up to.

So, is Michael Bay ready to make Mechwarriors?

Changi Boardwalk

I finally get to visit the completed Changi Boardwalk few days back. It was shorter than I thought, but the scenary is good enough in Singapore. I was there on a quiet day and there was not many people, but despite so, I counted 3 wedding couples and 3 dogs along my walk.

Of course, my main reason there was to relax and see if I can get my winner shot on my new Canon D400. I believed I had. The sunset was only 5 minutes and I must had burned at least 30 shots there. I just needed the time to sort it out and enter it into the contest.

Anyway, that will have to wait till I am back from my Malaysia trip. I hope to be able to capture more kampong style of photo along this trip to add to my arsenal for the contest.

My Ex-Office Lift

Would you want to do your office job in a building housed by this lift? Do take note I had "photoshoped" this image to make it looks brighter...

Will you work in a place with this (cargo) lift?

• 
  
  Yes, why not? After all I only used it 2x a day (when people buy me lunch) or 4x...


• 
  
  Maybe, the lift is only 1 of the things to consider...


• 
  
  I am not going into the lift, so its pretty likely I will skip the interview totally.


• 
  
  No way, I am sure hell has better lift than this.

view results
Free vote poll

Bobi play tricks

My favorite is still Bobi who had learned some cool tricks. Unfortuntely I did not manage to capture all of it.

Wini wants you!

After seeing how Chuchu reacts in the playpen, lets take a look how Wini reacted when she was younger then.

Japanese S&B Assorted Chilli Pepper found to contain Marijuana!

Yes, shocking but true. This bottle of S&B powder which is common used with Japanese Ramen, Soba etc is found to contain tetrahydroncannabinol which happens to be a major component in Marijuana. No wonder this has been tasting so good... :P Better throw it away now anyway. This bottle must had been 2 years in my possession... :P

Fake SanDisk Compact Flash CF Ultra II

Its pretty good to take a break now. I had been doing some soul searching about about all the dirty cover-ups in my past jobs.

Meantime, I had pick up a new hobby of photography and it came to my attention that I should finally talk about the fake stuff you can get from Sim Lim Square especially from those Indian shops. Not to sound racist, but unfortunately thats where most of the cases happened and they also are hte cheapest around.

I would like you to take a look at this 1 year old article :
http://martybugs.net/articles/fakesandisk.cgi

I will follow up on other similar reports and media later, meanwhile, its CF Ultra II.

Quicktime must die!

The recent release of K-Lite Mega Codec Pack has removed Quicktime Alternative as a result of the threaten law suit. So big apple think they can push people around ha? There are other QT lite packages around anyway, but seriously, I think F*ck Quicktime. Who in the world would use it anyway other than people who cannot play rmvb or divx (goodness know who these people are).

For web, flash beats quicktime anyday. Despite Apple site keep forcing people to visit it to view movies trailer, I had never been a fan of it. Why not just download the divx version somewhere else? And for serious encoding, I seriously do not even see Quicktime there. Which encoder group who does release movie in Quicktime really deserved to be nuked. Divx or Xvid is cool for the west, the rmvb is good for the east. I am sure they do not use Quicktime in Russia either. :)

So, the world can be a better place without Quicktime. Trust me, its true. IF you are a mac user and somehow you just swear by your Quicktime, I suggest you take a walk outside and see the world for a while. There are other choices for Mac in case you do not know.

W40: Dawn of War Dark Crusade Mod - Inqusition : Demonhunt

A movie says a million words :
http://www.tv.com/uservideos/?action=video_player&id=cXwzxTOr5bkPsjbY

Resignation Counter Bug

Apparently, I thought I was free at 15 June 2007 at 0000, which was so wrong...
J has pointed out that obvious and I just have to fix this even though this is the last day coming...

Now, when this hits 0, I am going to be partying.