21 Guns Salute

JHYC: "Now you can do illegal things haha"

I welcome myself to the 21st Club. Well this marks the end of my innocence and the beginning of 'real life'. Now that I'm no longer protected by minority law etc, I gotta be more careful with what I do. Thanks all for the birthday wishes & have a blessed month of October as well. I lived up my month of September to the max and enjoyed the successes & outcomes :)

This also specifically goes to my boss who gave me not 21 guns, but 108 guns salute on my pre-birthday celebration dinner. Thanks for the tiger paw :)

Konfrontasi II: Malaysia-Indonesia Conflict

It's been 43 years since the first Konfrontasi which saw victory on our side after Indonesia accepted the formation of Malaysia. Now in 2009, claims of invading Boleh Land by land, sea and air on October 8 seems silly but must not be taken lightly. We are at war.

Apparently everyone is downplaying the invasion due to the silliness of the plan to invade Malaysia in such a short notice. This is further supported by the tactics used by the jihadist guerrilla group participating in the invasion (read Malaysia Today quote below to see why).

On the Malaysian side:
The Star: KJ downplays ‘invasion’ threat ‘

PETALING JAYA: The safety of Malaysian citizens in Indonesia is of more concern than the scheduled “invasion” of Malaysia on Oct 8.

On Friday, the Jakarta Globe published an article about Indonesian nationalist group Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat’s (Bendera) plans to invade Malaysia by “air, land and sea” next Thursday.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said they were monitoring developments with moderate concern and a tinge of amusement.

“We are confident the fringe group will not be able to carry out any of its ridiculous threats,” he said in response to the story about the supposed “invasion” that was posted on dailychilli.com yesterday.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/

On the non-participating Indonesian side:
Malaysia Today: Indonesia Embassy dismisses claims that BENDERA movement planning to ‘invade’ Malaysia

According to the counselor of information of the Indonesian Embassy, there are no such thing as vigilantes in Jakarta who are waging war on Malaysia come 8 October. Widyarka Ryananta, the counselor dismissed claims that BENDERA (Bentang Demokrasi Rakyat) is planning to invade Malaysia as reported in the Jakarta Globe.

In another publication, The Daily Chilli claims that BENDERA are ready to invade Malaysia as they have already collected bows, arrows, bamboo spears and samurai swords in preparation.

Source: http://www.malaysiatoday.com/

On the invaders' side:
Sekilas Indonesia: Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) Latih 40 Relawan “Jihad” ke Malaysia

Sebanyak 40 orang telah mendaftarkan diri sebagai relawan perang melawan Malaysia di posko yang dibuka oleh aktivis Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) di Jalan Diponegoro 58, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat.

Menurut keterangan Koordinator Bendera, Muchtar Bonaventura, pihaknya akan membuka posko relawan perang hingga Lebaran pada 21 Septermber mendatang. Hal ini dilakukan guna memberi kesempatan kepada relawan untuk pulang kampung bertemu keluarga mereka.

“Siapa tahu setelah perang tidak bisa pulang dalam keadaan hidup,” katanya kepada okezone di Jakarta.

Setelah direkrut, kata Muchtar, para relawan tersebut akan mendapatakan pelatihan khusus mengenai taktik dan strategi perang gerilya oleh anggota legiun veteran Indonesia.

Translation: Briefly, 40 volunteers have signed up to join BENDERA's campaign to invade Malaysia. They are being trained in all necessary skills needed. They are allowed to go back to their hometowns to see their parents for one last time before the October 8th invasion.

Source: http://sekilasindonesia.com/

Get ready for war?

AK-47s for Everyone!

I was so effing bored during the 5 day-offs per week...

With classes only on Wednesdays and Thursdays for a duration of 12 weeks, I had to do something to kill the time. So I hand-made an AK-47 from scratch. With a 1:1 scale, its cost me 4 1/2 days (slacking off inclusive), materials worth RM26.40 and a lot of referencing. This is the first 1:1 hand-made replica I made and also the biggest, toppling last year's 1:50 T-Rex replica.

Attention to detail was given to both sides. Since I'm a lefty, I removed the rifle sling slots (left side) and made it into a hands-free assault rifle.

With a butt stock attached the recoil is reduced but the sight is one arms length away from the eye.

Getting some classic Counter-Strike view... with left-handed option box checked

Something you can't miss in my room. An I forgot to throw away those Derek bottles. Spray paints used: flat black & anti-rust primer.

Without the butt stock. I prefer it this way since it is more comfortable to handle.

What's a socialist without his Kalashnikov.

Sayonarra Yoshito Usui

We will miss you Yoshito Usui (April 21 1958 - September 11 2009)

Famous Japanese manga artist falls to death in mountains
The popular Japanese manga artist of “Crayon Shin-chan,” Yoshito Usui, was found dead in the mountains of Gunma prefecture after apparently falling to his death off a cliff. Usui had reportedly gone missing on the 11th of the month after telling his family he was going for a day-hike in the mountains.

The body of 51 year old Yoshito Usui was discovered by a hiker yesterday, September 19th (JST), at the bottom of one of the steep cliffs of Mt. Arafune, about 90 miles northwest of Tokyo. The incident appears to have happened on the north face of the mountain just off a popular hiking trail on a part of the cliff that is about about 100 meters (330 feet) tall . Mt. Arafune is famous locally for its colored cliffs which run between 200 to 300 meters tall (about 650 to 1,000 feet) in some areas, and is considered to be one of the top 200 mountains in Japan. While there are no guard rails along the cliff edges, accidents on the mountain are reportedly rare.

Rescue workers yesterday were unable to retrieve the body, which was already believed to be lifeless. Today, September 20th, around 17 police officials hiked up to the body’s location and had it airlifted out by helicopter in the late afternoon. Although descriptions of the body’s clothing matched Usui’s, identification was not officially determined until late this evening after matching dental records. A broken digital camera and a beige bag were also found in the same vicinity.

Usui, who enjoyed hiking, left his home early in the morning of the 11th after telling his family that he was going to Mt.Arafune and would be back by the evening. However, when he didn’t return home or answer his cell phone on the 12th, his wife went to the police. A faint signal from the phone was located in the Mt. Arafune area on the 13th, but could not be pinpointed. The signal disappeared on the 15th according to reports.

The cause of the incident is still being investigated, but his family did not believe Usui to be suicidal.

5 First Days of Eid

DAY 1

Woke up as early as 6:00am. Surprisingly the takbir was not on until I was showering at 6:30am. Went to the optional Eid prayers with my dad at Bandong, and meeting some elders. By 9am I visited my brother's grave in town and then headed home.

Friends of parents were amongst the pioneers, but by noon all my relatives of my mother's side from Miri came over. Dodged a few questions about my relationship (har har). Later in the evening I barricaded myself in my room to do my assignment.

DAY 2

Assignment. Later at night had a fireworks war with the whole village. Utilized fireworks ranged from the cheap RM2 6-shot flaming sticks, RM25 36-shot ground cakes and possibly RM3,000 15-minutes "big red ones". 0 casualties, 0 wounded and estimated RM159 worth of damage to properties.

DAY 3

Assignment. Dick King & Little Ron came over. Then headed to Dick King's crib to talk more crap. Assignment.

DAY 4
Assignment. Visited assignment Sibu relatives. Dodged more assignment relationship inquires, gosh I was expecting them yet still feel awkward. Assignment.

DAY 5
Assignment. Assignment.

Happy Eid to all, and assignment happy holidays :)

Smuggled Goods Have Arrived :)

My heart goes boom boom boom~

Yea it's not as dangerous as C-4 so no worries :P

Hey hey, all is cheap and easy in Kampua Town. A box of "ground cakes" from the peeps from the Mainland arrived upon order within 4 hours. Reasonably cheap, they sold it off for RM25 per cake. More shipments are en route so that means Sibu won't be too quiet and dull during this festive season. Looks like this year's Eid will be a blast :)

They are all cheap and abundant. Too bad the 'big ones' are sold out too soon. Now no one will be left behind during the 'war for the skies' for the next few nights. Har har har...

Breaking Fast 10 Feet in the Air

I've broke my fast at many locations away from a proper dining table for this year's Ramadhan. Sometimes I get to break with fries while being stuck in a major Miri traffic jam. Sometimes breaking at the counter of the fast food joint while waiting for the staff to prep the food. Sometimes it's 5M away from the dining table because I arrived home late and there's no time to unlock the door etc. I adhere strictly to the rules saying one must not delay a breaking of fast.
The 27th day was a bit extreme, being stuck in a traffic I completed the whole fast breaking on the Pujut-Lutong bridge. The 28th day was the sheet. Moments before takeoff the captain announced it's time to break, and I did so while chugging down a bottle of Frost root beer during taxiing. Thanks to the Fokker's turbulence during take off, I stained my favorite white t-shirt during a transition from 0 - 500 feet in the air.

It was a unique experience, and now I have safely returned home to Kampua Town with a blood-stained t-shirt. Wish you all a jolly good holiday and Salam Eid.

What's in Your Fillet-O-Fish?

Finally we are exposed to what kind of fish McDonald's have been using in their fishy burgers...

Fillet-O-Fish
Juicy fish fillet in a golden cracker crumb coating, smothered in tangy tartar sauce and rounded out with cheese between a freshly steamed bun
RM5.80

For the past 20++ years of my life I have never thought of what fish McDonald's been using in their tasty Fillet-O-Fish. Well, after 20++ years on Earth, I discovered I've been paying RM5.80 to eat these not so attractive aquatic friends:

This is the Hoki fish or whiptail or Macruronus novaezelandiae that thrives south of New Zealand. Somehow it reminds me of the salted jerk fish in a jar a.k.a. 100 years-old super salty fish I always get from Mukah.

And I thought we were paying for top quality fish like salmon or tuna or something instead of these sad chaps who are now at the brink of extinction. Since you are what you eat, I'm not touching McD's burgers for a while.

Source: The Ledger

Burglar enters Myanmar women’s dormitory but fails to rape them

"Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death!" - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Clearly this dude didn't listen to Sun Tzu. I'm not sure what hurts him the most after he fled; unable to stand up on his own in a room with 7 nude young women OR his new found discovery that he could be homosexual. Read the full article here.

KFC - It's Kentucky Fried Chicken Again

Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kitchen Fresh Chicken, Kentucky Fried Chicken. Colonel, makeup your mind!

Thanks to a tip-off by Anonymous in an older post, I found out KFC have reverted back to their original acronym meaning. A visit to their website lately clearly shows that they are now Kentucky Fried Chicken and not Kitchen Fresh Chicken.

The new packaging retains the same red corporate color but got a new propaganda design. I see KFC, but not what it means. All I see are vaguely fade texts spamming the box like FRESH and CRISPY. Mmm subliminal messages...

However fresh visits to the local Boulevard KFC lately does not show this move. At the back of the french fries box are only random confetti and patterns where the word Kitchen Fresh Chicken used to be. I'm kinda getting confused with their tactics. But if it's a re-rebranding they are aiming to get, it's just confusing a veteran consumer like me. Now which name should I use to explain to the younger generation should they ask what KFC stands for? Kung Foo Chow?

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown Review

Rating:

The 8th album from Green Day, 21st Century Breakdown has been playing in my radio, my laptop and my head for the past 1 week. It's just that awesome. Of course it took me 2 days to comprehend the theme of the album, which is about a couple named Christian and Gloria in chaotic and turbulent political times of the 21st century. The usage of static at certain points of the album adds up the mood that I'm listening to the songs at different frequencies during war times where broadcasting is limited.

And just like the previous album American Idiot, 21st presents itself in multiple acts. This time they are split into Heroes and Cons, Charlatans & Saints and Horseshoes and Handgrenades. The full listing of the songs under each Acts are as below:

Indicates my personal favs
Intro:
01. Song of the Century

Act I: Heroes and Cons
02. 21 Century Breakdown
03. Know Your Enemy
04. ¡Viva la Gloria!
05. Before the Lobotomy
06. Christian's Inferno
07. Last Night on Earth

Act II: Charlatans & Saints
08. East Jesus Nowhere
09. Peacemaker
10. Last of the American Girls
11. Murder City
12. ¿Viva la Gloria?
13. Restless Heart Syndrome

Act III: Horseshoes & Handgrenades
14. Horseshoes & Handgrenades
15. The Static Age
16. 21 Guns
17. American Eulogy (Mass Hysteria/Modern World)
18. See the Light

A must buy for Green Day fans. Contains political sentiments, religion fundamentalist chiding and some postpartum depression.

Security Guards' Stories: Tsunamiri

This afternoon the campus security guards brought up a good possible scenario. We were discussing about how bad the jam is in key areas such as Lutong-Pujut, Pujut-Permyjaya , Taman Tungku et. al. Then one guard mentioned that all the roads in Miri is flat. So in case *touch wood* a tsunami happens this town is fucked.

We didn't go to the point of "what if" but more to what to do if a tsunami did come crashing into Miri *touch wood*. The most obvious place to go was Canada Hill. But I beg to differ as Canada Hill's foundation is not strong. Landslide cases along the hill this year is proof that the hill is fragile.

So the best option was Taman Tungku. Reason being is it is located 3.25KM inland and located on the other side of the hill. In addition the airport would break any incoming water.
So hopefully you know where to run when someone SMSes the tsunami warning. And do have your own contingency plan when such natural disaster occurs e.g. stock up on fresh boxes of Derek drinking water, canned food and a broadband to give the world updates through Facebook, Blogger, Twitter and MSN.

Cuci Kereta Day

Today I'm eng enough to throw away the accumulating Derek bottles and air-out my room. It started to look and smell like mid-sem. Since it's a sunny Saturday, I decided to send my car to the wash.

Driving to e-Mart was not pleasurable due to the high quality roads. But that is where I can find one of the best car-wash in Oil Town. Good business as usual with most people taking the advantage of the hot weather to make their vehicle shine again.

Yea I know it's not as cheap as the ones back in Sibu. In Kampua Town I can get my Hyundai done at RM10 cuci luar dalam. Here it's RM15.

And while I was waiting for the Getz to get its direly-needed shower, another chap in the black V6 Nissan above sat with me at the open hot air waiting area. Apparently a CID from Brunei, we get to talk stuff to kill the time. Hey how often can you talk about underground road police cases with a Bruneian CID?

Male-to-male chat transcends age and nationality, but not slang. I guess it's been too long since I last conversed in a Bruneian Malay slang. It was like watching a conversation between a Hokkien speaking Hokkien and a Foochow speaking Foochow. In this case it was Sarawakian-Bruneian. Owhh the awkwardness and paisehness.

To all fellow Sarawakian especially Mirian friends, do polish up your slang so that we can show how courteous we are when our Neighbors are in town. Do make them feel like they are at home.

"Malu mena juak eh XD"

15Malaysia - Slovak Sling

The 9th video released in 15Malaysia. Learn how to bribe. Contains nudity :D

Road Taxed

Took I was 1/2 starting up from hibernation and 1/2 digesting the info of my colleague Hartanto in Ethics class at 8aaaaaa.m. Then after 30 seconds into his explanation about the practice of tax avoidance in Singapore,t hit me. I haven't replaced my road tax sticker that has expired on the 1th September. That was another thing I listed in my to-do list besides the assignments after the seminar. Gosh I can't believe I'm paying around RM60 to the government to drive on the potholes, lumps and sinkhole-riddled roads of Senadin. Anywho here is how the capitalist road tax looks like.

Okay la, just a proof that I abide by the law. But the whole thing feels fragile though, like a washing-machined RM5.

Okay this is new, it's blue in color. It used to be green. Complete with ads of insurers and colorful kaleidoscopic logos.

Took me a good 5 minutes to peel off the older road tax sticker. And the best thing is it left some irremovable leftover glue. Took me another 5 minutes to use soap and water to clean it off my windshield, but I forgot it's irremovable. So I just slapped the new sucker on the gluey outlines (honestly easier too stick it on as no more need to estimate where to stick). Um, thanks for reminding me subliminally H.

Then I realized, it's only the 3rd of September.

15Malaysia - One Future

The 8th video released in 15Malaysia. This is creepy. Watch and comprehend.