December 31, 2005
Going Bananas
This is the third name change for this year alone. Honestly speaking, I’m quite envious at Nigel and Shah for coming up with creative names for their blogs. After scrapping my uber generic name “My POV”, it’s “Banana Talk” time. Yet another generic name.
If you are Malaysian Chinese, you’d probably know the origin of the term “banana”. There are many definitions for bananas and the most common one is not-Chinese educated, meaning banana’s don’t know how to read write Chinese. However, I feel that the ability to read write Chinese is not accurate. Delinquent from Chinese medium school fail their Chinese, heck, they fail everything. Can’t stereotype them in there.
How I’d categorize a banana? First you have to be born Chinese. Then your paradigm, outlook, worldview, principles are less oriental and more influenced by western values. Generally Malaysian, in some extreme case, arrogance and a sense of western superiority is added into the mix. However I’d like to argue on that point as well. Since arrogance is just a “state or quality of being arrogant; overbearing pride,” (dictionary.com) is still too board to be used in the said classification (read: stereotype). Firstly, NOT every one is arrogant. Secondly if you do come across an arrogant banana, that’s because he/she is upholding to his principals. Likewise, if I find a Chinese discriminating banana’s for being Chinese illiterate, I’d say the Chinese fellow is arrogant and think inferiorly of bananas.
I cannot deny that the China Effect is growing. Being a major influence on the global market, it’s about time that more technologically developed country grab this opportunity to make quick bucks of their expanding consumer market. Is this a set back for bananas? Currently, not yet. Some Mainland Chinese companies are quite accommodating by providing translator but in the long run, Chinese language is still important.
December 27, 2005
Cold start
Contrary to the title, my first day of the semester went quite well (except for the part where I forgot to bring my student card along.)to my surprise, I woke up five minutes before my alarm clock ring. The best thing is, I was fresh and ready for the day ahead, unlike every other day where I’d have to drag my lifeless limb off the bed. Driving to UM was exceptionally
well due to the light traffic. Sadistically, I’m actually happy that others take some time to warm up for a days work, leaving me with a nice semi empty street to race on. It took only five minutes to reach the gates of UM.
Thankfully that the Science Faculty canteen has porridge, since I’m not a breakfast person, so I don’t need much to fuel me through out the day.
The first lesson of the day. Integrated Pest Management, thought by Azidah. Quite a cheerful and outgoing lady. But the best part is, Grace is taking the course too. Yup, the future model is there. Didn’t get a chance to talk to her though. I was actually on a hurry to the library until I just remembered that I forgot my student card. All was not lost though, I used the extra time I had to read up on the latest announcement from the admin, find the classes for my upcoming lessons and look up the results for the previous semester. Speaking of which, I aced
EMS
I was very surprised since all my friends who took the paper before me complained how though it was. What’s my secret? 3 weeks study leave dedicated just for that paper alone. Bear in mind that I didn’t memorized the ENTIRE subject. I only focused on key topics highlighted by Dr. Azarae, the ever lovable lecturer for that course and also the facilitator for this year’s project paper.
The next lesson was thought by Ismail Mat and knowing this guy, it’s practically stress free around him. So stress free that he didn’t even show up for the first lesson. Thus leaving me with more time to burn.
What other better use of time other than to apologize to two beautiful girls whom I’ve broken my promises to. Only so much can be amend by the word “sorry”, which I think isn’t enough. I really meant it, and it’s symbolized by crystal pendants on a chain plated with white gold. Though I didn’t spend much time there (I didn’t want to disturb them working actually) I was quite reluctant to leave. Really missed the old days when all of us were still undergrads.
That practically concluded my day. Looking forward to a bright semester.
December 20, 2005
Savylicious – aftertaste
Here’s the second part of the review that I had promised since two months ago. The reason for the long delay is because I wasn’t immediately allowed to test drive the car on the highway. Knowing that I was still green to the car and I’m quite a heavy footed person, it’s definitely a potent combination that spells disaster. (In fact I do plan to test the Savy’s drag capability on that day) Anyway, after spending months with the car and getting used to it, I think it’s time to complete the review. Besides, there’s another new car that I’m going to review soon.
Highway run,
I’ve tested this car on 3 different highways. The NKVE (to Klang and back), PLUS (North Selangor – Damansara) and LDP (BU – Kepong and back) the reason why I split the highway category into three because I’ve noticed that all three has different characteristics.
NKVE
Mostly straight and has long curves (high speed corner) road is quite wavy (think: oscilloscope) towards Klang though it’s very straight, it’s not suitable for any drag events. Traffic is generally medium during non peek hours which is suitable for driving at speed above 100km/h.
PLUS
Long distance driving. Since it’s one of the oldest highway in Malaysia, most section of the highway are still concrete and very noisy to drive on. Furthermore, these old sections are rather bumpy especially nearing Rawang. Built wide and straight, it’s ideal to race the car here.
LDP
Daily route to work. New highway provide smooth tar road. Tighter corners and relatively high volume of traffic, daredevil’s playground.
During the initial testing on the PLUS highway, the front left tire was over inflated which caused a rather bumpy and unbalanced feel during the test. This error was later corrected the day after the PLUS highway run and was properly tuned for the NKVE lap. Throughout high speed test of the car, it still handles like a dream. Its narrow tires has surprisingly strong grip even at high speed and there’s no under steering. One thing though, there’s strong wind sound coming from the side mirrors.
Performance wise, the 1150cc Renault engine is very very powerful. While cruising at 120km/h it didn’t take much to propel faster reaching speed of 140km/h on the straight. During drag from standstill, the tachometer rise fast when it’s gassed properly at the right gear and gearshift. Within no time I’m already screaming down the highway at speeds of 140km/h from the toll booth. Do note that due to poor insulation and sound damping the engine roar can be clearly heard at the driver seat. It takes loud thumping music to drown the engine sound.
Test of time
In just 2 months the dark side of Proton has started to show. The gear stick squeaks! And to make matter worse, it’s not your regular un-oiled door squeak but a rather short rapid squeaks like how a Geiger-miller would sound in a nuke plant. I’ve no idea how to get rid of it. Even when I place my hand on the gear knob it still squeaks. Take it off and it still squeaks. I couldn’t open the synthetic leather cover to examine the insides because it’s built tough and so well designed that regular users like me can never temper with it. It’s back to the service center for a small, petty annoying matter. I’m not going to waste an entire day waiting for my car over something so small so I guess that whoever that drives with it have to live with the small annoyance.
Not my cup of tea.
Don’t get me wrong, the Savvy is a good car and definitely a fun car to drive. But due to my tall built, and the oddly positioned steering wheel, I cannot see the signal indicator and the 4, 5, 6 of the tachometer. I’d have to sit lower in order to have a clear view of the dashboard. Furthermore, I’m still an old school type and much prefer the much simpler analog fuel gauge, water temp gauge, odometer and trip meter. Number of times I accidentally reset the trip meter when I wanted to switch to odometer to check its mileage.
On the plus point, I like the seats. It’s quite bucket and beats the stock seats in my Kembara (planning to change to bucket real soon). Furthermore, it’s rather roomy above the dash. Definitely a good place to place aftermarket gauges. But since it’s not my car and my sister likes it in it’s original form, you won’t be seeing any 5” Auto Gauge tachometer on this Green Melon (a nick name given my by sister)
December 2, 2005
After so long
If blogs can accumulate dust and cobwebs, my blog will be no different than those artifacts on display at our National Museum.
I’d like to place blame on my finals for my month long absent in Friendster. Firstly, it’s the EMS paper that I spent the entire 3 weeks on. Okay, NOT the entire 3 weeks, more like 1-2 hours daily revision on that sole subject. I know that ISO was though, but I didn’t know that it’s going to be THAT tough. The result from it? I got the points all in my mind, but I just can’t present it properly in a professional and mature manner. Yes, it’s one of the post exam blues that have caught me now.
Moving on to something more cheerful, are 2 open house that I visited last week. First one was Prof Halim’s at Bukit Gasing and the other one was Hajar’s at TTDI. I’m so grateful to be in a multiracial country and get to experience other different culture and especially food. Lemang, rendang, and many other food that I’m not too sure what its name is. It’s a good thing that I have a high metabolic rate or I’ll be fat in no time. Still, that’s no excuse not to exercise to keep in shape.
Now, for the main course, “PDRM in hot soup”.
More information here
China protests over police video
Malaysia minister defends police
Five-member independent panel to probe ear squat video incident named
Nude woman in ear squat video identified
Nude woman ordered to ear squat
What I think about this situation? Well, it’s a no brainer that the public fear the police. After all, it is they who have a gun. But having something as hot and sensational like an ear squat in the buff being exposed, all I can say is, “PDRM, you got PWNED!” Thanks to the lack of transparency and ridiculous amount of red tapes, many matters are left “unreported” or simply fell into deft ears if it’s even reported. I guess the authority need some foreign nation to poke their nose into our incompetent administration to get things going. Yes, I’m frustrated at first, but at the same time, I’m quite happy that something like this got exposed and gained media attention. Malaysians forget easily, so a major event like this tend to set everything back to track, for the time being. Now I’m just waiting for another hill top apartment to collapse due no EIA performed before the project being approved.
Foot notes:
PDRM = Polis Di Raja Malaysia (Malaysian Royal Police)
EIA = Environmental Impact Assesment
PWNED = owned misspelled ~ internet slang
TTDI = Taman Tun Dr Ismail
Updated 14 Dec 2005,
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According to the latest update, the nude woman in the MMS footage is a Malay. That statement itself has baffled many people and discussions on that issue has gotten weirder and not consistent (LYN forums).
Personally speaking, it should NOT be a racial issue because the topic at hand is that a woman’s modesty has been violated by some crocked police who get his kicks by filming woman detainees doing ear squats in the buff. I do agree that the circulation of the grainy MMS was untimely since there was a case of police corruption and abuse of power over three Chinese nationals. Funny how people jump into conclusion and blow things out of proportion. Below are links to news sites. I’d like to reserve my comment on this issue when the case closes.
Nude woman in ear squats video clip is a local Malay
Malaysia’s No. 2 police chief defends strip-search procedures at nude video inquiry
