Sixth sense technology

Blackout in Masai

A blackout hit my neighborhood on Christmas night. The lights dimmed for half a minute and then it was all black. Fortunately the lights are back in my apartment in an hour or so. But it seems that till afternoon the next day, some parts of Megah Ria, Kota Putri etc. were still not having any power supply.

Apparently, the Kota Putri substation caught fire causing the blackout which affected Masai, Seri Alam and Permas too. I could still see TNB workers working hard to repair the damages. There were several trucks of diesel generators providing supply. Today morning, I could see a few badly burnt switchgear panels lying outside the substation - must have been quite a bad fire. And for the first time, I saw a mobile GIS substation. Something interesting for electrical people like me!

Well... unlike the moronic Namewee, I would not be cursing at TNB just because of a power outage. I'm sure they have been working hard to restore power as soon as they were informed. But I wonder whether anyone is gonna get into trouble for poor maintenance or defective protection in the first place???

Red Ocean vs Blue Ocean

Am thinking of getting a new laptop as mine is becoming quite slow lately. Anyway, I'll perhaps only do it next year as I need to make good use of the relief in income tax.

Anyway, I went to the PC Fair at Persada Johor today to scout around. I almost thought I walked into the wrong venue when I was swarmed by broadband promoters. It could have been a Broadband Fair rather. The sea of green, blue, orange and black was incredibly overhelming. Promoters packed the entire entrance into the hall until the fair organizers had to draw a line where these guys can go or the fair itself would be jam-packed with broadband promoters (it is anyway already packed with visitors). I thought it was a bit too intimidating and annoying. Hey, stop pushing into my face (provider after provider) the latest best deals in town.

The aggressive fight for market share by Streamyx, Celcom, Maxis and P1 is indeed intensified. It really gives a new dimension to the red ocean theory. These guys are really pitting against each other, swimming in the red ocean. Blood may flow soon! And the damn thing is broadband in Malaysia is plain shit and if these guys don't get serious in providing quality service, they might as well all drown in the red ocean.

As for me, I am waiting for YTL's Wimax which is claimed to be distinct from the rest in Malaysia (read: blue ocean). Let's see what they will have in-store for us when it is launched mid-2010.

Flowery Cantonese

Profanities are quite common in all cultures. Being in a multi-cultural and multi-linguistic society that is Malaysia, we are blessed with the knowledge of multi-profanities as well! Most Malaysians will have some knowledge of swearing in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil! This can be pretty useful when frustrations overseas make it necessary to swear without offending.

As much as it is offensive, profanity is a form of culture as well. And some learned people have devoted some time studying it. Found a pretty interesting website on Cantonese profanity which some may like to check out (after all don't most of you swear in Cantonese now and then??)... Have fun (but you need to be able to read Chinese)

廣州話粗口研究網

宮心計 插曲 《風車》佘詩曼主唱

A soothing song... good for the kids. Maybe it's time to update the children music in schools. Rather than the horrific tales of London Bridge falling down, Georgie Porgie breaking his crown and Humpty Dumpty falling off the wall.

紅風車、轉一轉吧，福來我家
求豐收，雨點降下，花兒別怕
紅花開，笑一笑吧，福來我家
雲飄飄，聽風說話，娃兒別怕
月缺月滿順時
下雨下雪聽天
念卦像風箏不見面，有着綫牵
紅風車，轉一轉吧，福來我家
如分開，雨點降下，娃兒別怕

路近路遠未明，念挂着我看星
愿帶着你路，風似靜，變幻看清
紅風車、轉一轉吧，福來我家
如分開，雨點降下，娃兒別怕
爹娘念挂

紅風車、轉一轉吧，福來我家
如分開，雨點降下，娃兒別怕