Happy Birthday, Malaysia!

Big hugs and kisses to my biggest darling, Malaysia. May you continue to bless us with peace, love, economic sucess and stability, creative freedom and free-flow of warm, frothy ‘teh tarik’. Cheers, Malaysia!

Don’t have a fancy banner to dedicate to you, my friend, but you know how much you mean to me!

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

Neck transplant needed

I have been living with a stiff neck for the past week. Absolutely painful, uncomfortable and annoying. Painful to the extent that it has spread to my shoulders. They feel like they’ve been bruised, the pain bone-deep. Uncomfortable because I cannot turn my head or sleep properly no matter how I adjust my pillow(s). And annoying because it has lasted so bloody long.

The metholated Japanese plasters and Yoko-yoko heated rubs has helped somewhat to relieve the pain temporarily, but what do you know, the discomfort is still there.

I feel like a walking, talking Batman. Without the suit. My whole body needs to turn together with my head when I cross the road. Wierd. Mom, where’s my neck? Maybe I’m the sequel to “I, Robot”, except that I’m a primitive version (alpha v.00.02) with lousy hydraulics and limited motor-movement.

Finally paid a visit to a physiotherapist this morning, one recommended by my aunt. Dr. Chong, I believe his name was. (Speak like Yoda, I suddenly do). He’s sort of a traditional yet modern doctor, and has quite a reputation. Using pressure points, he relieved clogged nerves and tension in my neck and shoulders. Even giving me a nice ‘crack’ at the end. The pain was quite unbearable, tears almost falling as I grimaced.

He told me that it was due to lack of sleep, and/or bad sitting posture. Makes sense. I’ve been consistently going home at 4am from the office for the whole of last week. Insufficient sleep has caused the nerve between the 4th and 5th vertebrae to constrict and narrow, causing stress around the back, neck and shoulders.

Feel slightly better now, somewhat ‘looser’. However, was asked to pay him a visit again if the tightness does not improve by Friday.

Fellas, whatever you do, make sure you get plenty of rest, deadlines or otherwise!

RIP, Jes

Jessie, my uncle’s and aunt’s beloved dog in England, passed away yesterday. She was always my object of affection when I visited. Always glutton and attention-seeking, Jessie was a darling. I could spend hours patting and stroking her long manes. I am deeply saddened by her passing, and my aunt and uncle are obviously shattered by the event. They have lost a faithful companion, who has been with them for more than 15 years.

RIP, Jes. Know that we love you. *sniff*

Top ten real reasons Rob Glaser is going after Apple

This is really good. Published by Bill Palmer of iPodGarage, this pokes fun at the current fiasco between Real Networks and Apple, and obvious ramblings over the ‘opening’ of the iPod and iTunes. Check out the list of top ten Real reasons below:

10. Didn’t think that ten years of crappy versions of RealPlayer had generated enough badwill for the “RealNetworks” brand name.

9. Felt bad about Steve Jobs being in the hospital, wanted to cheer him up by giving him something to laugh about.

8. Took at a look at the value of all that RNWK stock he’s holding, realized he couldn’t afford 99 cents per song.

7. Pulled the whole stunt just to help launch the comeback of Devo.

6. Actually thought he was signing up for a free VIP Pass for the South Beach Party.

5. Figured why steal music, when you can just steal the whole iPod?

4. Secretly planning to launch iPod-padlock accessory, as pictured here.

3. It was all just a plot to get this “Real vs. Apple” logo created.

2. Really just wanted to see his name on the iPod Garage Front Page.

and the number one real reason Rob Glaser is going after Apple…

1. It’s a complex strategy (buffering…) that involved many hours of (buffering…) intense discussion regarding (buffering…) various aspects of (download has failed).

Lucy Luckless

I do not have a friend named Lucy. Not yet anyways. But I do have a luckless one. My best friend in fact. Since acquiring his Proton Wira 1.3GLi barely 2 years back, he has never failed to be jinxed with bad luck. It’s bad karma I tell you. Something about the car that just doesn’t emit good vibes.

But anyways, back to the story. Since the early days, he has crashed into his sister’s rear end (the other car’s rear end, that is. No fault of his by the way, she jammed brakes). Had it broken into, then had the stereo stolen. Lost the car in Mid Valley for 3 weeks before it was eventually found.

These were the major events, not counting the numerous bumps and scratches from incompetent drivers.

And yesterday pretty proves that the car just not compatible with him, if that is even possible. Parking in a housing area, not far from Euro-RSG, his client’s office, for just 2 hours, his car was broken into. In broad daylight, between 2 to 4.30pm. Imagine that?

Rear windscreen was smashed to access the cabin. Whoever the bastard(s) were, they amateurishly stole the stereo whilst succeedingly messing up the dashboard console and wiring. Forcing the rather expensive amplifier under the driver’s seat, they also dispossessed my friend off his gym bag, shoes and get this, spare starter cables!

Not good, not good.

I curse them. Whoever they are. May something happen to their hands. May they somehow lose them in an ‘accident’. I despise thieves. I think they are losers, the lowest of the low, just slightly above rapists and murderers. I believe the universe is fair, and they will be judged soon enough.

We could only laugh about it last night when he told me about it. And laugh hard we did. Little we could do really. I advised him to sell the car. An alternative would be have it blessed by a priest, monk, bomoh, witch doctor. Whichever is more effective. Or perhaps altogether might do the trick.

One things for sure, we can’t take things for granted these days. Nothing’s for certain. And in this uncertainty, we can only do our humanly best to protect ourselves and our possessions.

Out With The Old, In With The New

A snake sheds its skin. A caterpillar metamorphoses into a butterfly. Vernon gets bored. I kind of got tired of the old green look. Hands were slightly itchy. Until I truly redesign the page from scratch, I’m gonna stick to this for now. Hope you like it!