To dissolve my assumptions that I will enjoy cheaper gas in Malaysia, I have done some calculations.

Given that

1 liter = 0.264172052 US gallons
1.00 MYR = 0.276028 USD (From xe.com at 3:40PM EST)

Current gas price in Malaysia = RM2.00 per liter Source

Current gas price in USA = USD2.047 per gallon Source

We then convert liter to gallon

RM2/liter = RM7.57/gallon

Next, convert RM to USD

RM7.57/gallon = USD2.089/gallon

USD2.089/gallon - Malaysia
USD2.047/gallon - USA

Save for the few pennies’ difference, Malaysians are paying just as much as Americans for a gallon of gas.

Did I make a mistake? Any opinions?

This page will be updated every now and then, until January 13.

Massey High Velocity 4 inch Table fan: $5
Table lamp (no brand): $3
Floor lamp (no brand): $5*SOLD*
Andis Micro Turbo 1600 Hair dryer: $5
Epson stylus R200 Printer + 3xBlack Ink Catridges: $50
Casio Exilim EX-Z40 Camera: $35*SOLD*
Scrabble set: $2*SOLD*
High stool with blue cushion (no brand): $5
Kensington 72219 Optical Wireless USB/PS2 Mouse: $5*RESERVED*
Toledo Enterprises Butterfly Chair black: $5 Product Info*SOLD*
Black & Decker Handheld vacuum cleaner: $5*SOLD*
Playstation2 + 2 controllers: $15*RESERVED*
Canvas guitar case (no brand): $5*RESERVED*
SpecResearch Dynapoint Black Keyboard: $2*RESERVED*
Sterilite small countertop drawer: $2
Foldable chair (no brand): $2
Belkin SurgeMaster Six Outlet Protector: $2*SOLD*
Ginormous luggage (30×13.5×12″): $5
Tabletop ironing board (13×30″): $3
Mirror (23×31″): $5
Rubbermaid Roughneck storage box

Read this for context.

The instructions I found on Apple’s support pages were missing a few points, so I decided to write it myself. This tutorial will show you how to read and write files stored in your Mac (running OSX 10.5 Leopard) Public Folder from your PC (running Windows XP SP3) on the same network.

Note: This tutorial will show you how to do it via FTP instead of SMB, because the latter does not work for me for some reason.

1. On your Mac, open System preferences. Click on Sharing.

2. On the list of services, check ‘File Sharing’. Click on Options, and check “Share Files and Folders via FTP. Also, check your account in the account box. Click Done.

3. Back to the Sharing Window, ensure that it says “FTP Access: On” next to a green light. Take note of the address stated below. It will normally look like “192.168.0.X”

4. Now turn on your PC and make sure its on the same network as your Mac. If you do not know what that means, just make sure that both your PC and Mac are connected to the same router/modem/switch, even if one of your computers connect via wireless.

5. Open My Computer. On the Address bar, type “ftp://192.168.0.X” (The same address you noted on the Sharing window).

6. You might encounter an error message. Ignore it. With your blank window and the correct address on the address bar, right click on the blank space and choose “Login As…”

7. Type your Mac admin user name and password, with “Log on anonymously” unchecked.

8. You can now view all your files on your Mac from your PC!

If you want to share only the files on your Public Folder to a guest, then go back to the Sharing window and add a user. You can set a username and password there. Enjoy!

I wanted to publish this as it took considerable amounts of literary prowess to carry the deliberately flamboyant dialogue. Unfortunately the first part is not available so we will start off mid-conversation, one that took place September 22 2008.

Burn after Justin the Wan have i uttered these words? 
the Wan Burn after Justin once in your writings, I believe
Burn after Justin the Wan is that so
Burn after Justin the Wan it appears that the tides of political turmoil hath relinquished my well-being in my own home, though I desire it
Burn after Justin the Wan but the state in which the land opportunity is presently in is in the pits, hence diminishing my chances for my pursuit of happyness here
Burn after Justin the Wan therefore, come what may, I shall return home once more in the coming spring, though not triumphant, but a man anew
Burn after Justin the Wan i now have writers block
the Wan Burn after Justin loads of laughter
the Wan Burn after Justin aye, we shall await your return with baited breath
Burn after Justin the Wan we should totally publish this conversation
the Wan Burn after Justin true

Then, we side-stepped the topic to briefly discuss Li-Ann Tan’s recent wedding.

Burn after Justin the Wan anyways, i take it li ann tied the knot
the Wan Burn after Justin yeaaa
the Wan Burn after Justin i did not witnes any part of it, sadly
Burn after Justin the Wan kenapa
the Wan Burn after Justin tak di-ajak

For those of you who are Bahasa-illiterate, tak diajak is an informal expression that means “I was not invited”.

Burn after Justin the Wan gasp!
Burn after Justin the Wan what travesty is this
the Wan Burn after Justin aye, i must say i felt like a dry leaf left on the porch on a chilly evening when the world is having a warm tea party inside
the Wan Burn after Justin such was the fate for a few of us that night
Burn after Justin the Wan well, if its any consolation, I have been absent from many a tea party for several moons
Burn after Justin the Wan suffice to say, mine is a dry leaf distant from the porch itself
the Wan Burn after Justin ahaha, aye, but once you blow nearer to our porches..
Burn after Justin the Wan ah, someday, perchance
Burn after Justin the Wan we must visit tomyam again

Tomyam: Thai soup. In this case, the term was affectionately used to refer to a specific roadside eatery and chill-out spot.

the Wan Burn after Justin ahahah indeed!
the Wan Burn after Justin hurry home soon
the Wan Burn after Justin how are classes faring though?
Burn after Justin the Wan my classes, you ask?
Burn after Justin the Wan it feels like I alone am bearing the burden of all sorrowful men
the Wan Burn after Justin how so?
the Wan Burn after Justin is it exam season?
Burn after Justin the Wan it is not
Burn after Justin the Wan ordinary day is enough to make my limbs heavy
the Wan Burn after Justin aye yie yie
the Wan Burn after Justin perhaps a holiday is what you need soon
Burn after Justin the Wan i need a year long holiday in KL

Yes indeed. I grow weary of my scholarly pursuits and wish to retire indefinitely in my home town. This next portion took place in October 10 2008.

Justigulous the Wan hello
Justigulous the Wan thou art at work?
the Wan Justigulous aye, i am
the Wan Justigulous what news doth the north wind bring?
Justigulous the Wan news of affliction and despair, I’m afraid
the Wan Justigulous aye aye
Justigulous the Wan i am henceforth making my grand return home at winter’s end
the Wan Justigulous oh me oh my
the Wan Justigulous what gives?
Justigulous the Wan despair and affliction
the Wan Justigulous $$?
the Wan Justigulous or simply the winter chill
Justigulous the Wan also, im graduating
the Wan Justigulous oh me oh my
the Wan Justigulous has it been that many moons already?
the Wan Justigulous :-O
Justigulous the Wan that it has
Justigulous the Wan i have but three left in the western land
the Wan Justigulous oooo
the Wan Justigulous how do you feel about it?
Justigulous the Wan a swirl of both vigor and loss
Justigulous the Wan alas, the night darkens
Justigulous the Wan a lad must rest
the Wan Justigulous aye aye, tis true
the Wan Justigulous i must say i do look forward to your return
the Wan Justigulous but rest now you shall
Justigulous the Wan we will speak again
Justigulous the Wan until then, milady
the Wan Justigulous my lord

And so it came to be that I hath purchathe my plane tickets home, and will leaveth the United States of America and its unforgiving immigration laws.

Farewell, land of the West. It was a good run.

The growing giant that is Apple has launched a new line of laptops. I own a Macbook myself and I must say that although I’m quite happy with it, the new version looks pretty enticing. Let’s stack them up against each other and Dell’s counterpart of the same specs.

My Macbook (bought January 2007 for USD999 w/ student discount)
Mac OSX 10.4 Tiger
1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (bought separately for USD89)
60GB HDD
Graphics: Intel GM 950 64MB VRAM
13.3″ screen

The New Macbook (launched 10/14/2008 priced at USD1299 w/o discount)
Mac OSX 10.5 Leopard
2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB 1066MHz DDR3 Memory
160GB HDD
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
13.3″ screen

Dell Inspiron 13 (currently priced at USD649)
Windows Vista Home Premium
1.86Mhz Pentium Dual Core
1GB DDR2 RAM
160GB HDD
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
13.3″ screen

To summarize the specs, Dell’s Inspiron 13 easily beats Apple in the price combat; add $100 to it and you get even better specs.

As for my Macbook, it is only lacking in a good graphics card and HDD space. What about the operating system? To tell you the truth, I really like OSX. If Leopard has not been made available yet, I’m completely satisfied and content with Tiger.

So what is exactly that you are paying for if you buy the new Macbook? Aside from Leopard, which is currently the undisputed champion in the OS world (in terms of functionality), you have an array of new features.

An Aluminum body enclosure
LED Backlit display
Advanced NVIDIA graphics
New glass trackpad
Environmentally friendly aspects
And lets not forget: an awesome design

Perhaps I have missed out some other brand new features, but these are the highlights. It seems to me that you are forking out cash for bells and whistles that you can certainly live without. As for putting up with the bloated Windows Vista if you buy a Dell, there is a remedy.

So what is my final verdict? If you currently own a Macbook, don’t by the new one unless yours is really old (think OSX 10.2 or 10.3). If you live in a shoebox and don’t have a laptop yet, get the Dell. If you light cigars with dollar bills, then you’ll be fine with the latest lowest-end Macbook Pro for USD1999 as your only computer.

Additional note: I don’t care who you are, I recommend you try a Mac. Its operating system alone is enough to turn the other cheek. The learning curve is not as steep as many would think. Don’t take my word for it, Google reviews of Vista and Leopard.

The first three Ians in the search results seem to have company in their profile pictures. Coincidence?

Meet George Lucas, the 33-year-old visionary film-maker about to embark on history’s most prolific science fantasy movie.

If you notice, his build is somewhere between skinny and normal. Watch some Star Wars documentaries or buy the book to see his figure in other angles.

This is how he looks like today.

Its not like he threw himself into an eating disorder due to depression. It seems like nature just took a toll on him.

Speaking of Star Wars, let me throw in a before-after picture of Carrie Fisher. (Ignore Jabba the Hut, I’m not that cruel)

Now take a look at young Benjamin Franklin.

And now old Benjamin Franklin

Check out his celestial belly. He may be a founding father of a great nation, but it seems he needed to spend more time running around with kites.

Here’s a video that depicts my possible reaction should I one day wake up and realize I became fat.

You want scientific proof? Here it is.

Its tragic, but is it inevitable? Will I eventually gain weight no matter how healthy I eat? Am I doomed to a figure that resembles an integer less than 1? Will I see my toes again?

Only time will tell. But sometimes, time needs to shut up.

By the 1970s, American films had overall become faster in pace and contain more action. Such can be found in two hit films: The French Connection and the first Star Wars.

In The French Connection, most scenes do not stretch for too long. The protagonist finds himself in the thick of one situation after another as he tirelessly hunts down a foreign drugdealer. hough the film was adapted from a non-fictional book, The French Connection narrates the events of the story through the actions of the protagonist. Dialogue is not abundant in this movie; there is more emphasis on driving the plot forward than the thoughts and feelings of the characters. This is notable in the scene where the protagonist almost catches the mastermind at the subway station. The actions of the main character speaks for itself, it is his undying resolve that brings him ever closer to his goal. His resolve resonates with the audience in the prominent train-car chase scene, the protagonist pressing on where the average person would have easily given up. Though the film is almost devoid of rapid, engaging music, the fast pace is enough to keep audiences at their seats. The movie climaxes just about where it ends: when the protagonist comes extremely close to finally catching the drugdealer honcho. That scene ends with a distant gunshot, leaving the startled audiences wondering what had happened. With that, the element of suspense carries itself all the way to the end.

The Star Wars movies have distinct evidence of the action-oriented nature of films of the decade. In fact, the very first two scenes of Star Wars: A New Hope contained battles between good and evil. Jumping right into physical conflict, the film opens on a high note and consistently delivers action scenes through the end. Most of the action scenes are the manifestations of hi-tech special effects at the time. The first shots of the film are of spaceships flying across space, giving a hint to the audience that they are in for a visual spectacle. This follows with a futuristic gunfight which results in casualties, though negligible. Adding to the grandeur of the opening sequence, the villain openly steps into the scene, revealing his place as the antagonist of the story. As the film unfolds the origins of the protagonist, every other scene contains some amount of action: from discovering his would-be mentor to getting off his home planet. To make things even more exciting, our hero and his companions find themselves in the very heart of enemy territory when they expected the safety of a friendly planet. While fighting to survive, the hero’s party undertakes a more dangerous challenge by choosing to rescue an imprisoned damsel in distress. Before escaping, the inevitable involvement of the main antagonist results in the loss of the hero’s mentor. This series of events is a one the plain displays of the fast-paced story inherent of Star Wars.

To many viewers, an action-packed film may usually be shallow in terms of plot and character development. Much of its screen time is filled with physical encounters, battles between the good and the bad, and explosions and wreckage along the way. That often means less time devoted to revealing the thoughts and feelings of the characters, and sometimes the protagonists remain same individuals from beginning to end. They learn little or nothing from their experiences as portrayed on screen, or even have no influence on anybody at all, except perhaps saving many innocent lives or putting criminals behind bars. This can be the case in the French Connection, where the plot is mainly concerned with the pursuing of the foreign drug dealers.

As for Star Wars, there is some amount of character development within the protagonists, but in the most part stretched across the two sequels. Aside from the main hero who, by the end of the movie, manages to implement what his mentor have been teaching him, the most notable character development is found in Han Solo. While being the hero’s companion, he, at one point, did not concern himself with the plight to destroy the said enemy territory. However, at the very climax of the elaborate space battle sequence at the end of the movie, Han Solo shows up and sees the battle through.

In a nutshell, having many action scenes and fast pace can mean less dialogue, a simple plot, and an easily understood storyline. Thought the French Connection and Star Wars are two different movies in their own right, they do share similar characteristics and mainly it strives to keep the audiences glued to their seats.

My laptop: purchased January 2007. New Macbooks run on Leopard but mine runs on Tiger.

My phone: purchased January 2007. It needs recharging every two days. Also, it sucks.

My clothes: I am wearing a shirt I bought at a street market in Penang years ago. 75% of my T-shirts were free; read: low quality. My black collared shirt is faded, and I somehow lost my other one. All my jeans are hand-me-downs.

My bicycle: purchased May 2008. It was the cheapest one in Walmart that wasn’t meant for kids. Now, it wouldn’t go to first gear even though the shifter indicates ‘1′. I replaced the brakes when the old ones gave out, now it squeaks on every rotation. And whenever I brake, the squeaks are as loud as car horns. I stopped locking it up whenever I park it outside my apartment. Just take it.

My camera: its about five years old now. I managed to clean out the dust that somehow went inside the screen. But that does not make my shots any better, and neither does my self-esteem for that matter.

My alarm clock: almost two years old now. The backlight is giving way, it has a limited number of snoozes, and I want one with an inbuilt FM radio anyway.

My bag: I’m still using the very same school bag from high school. Dunlop is not even a brand for bags.

My shoes: My left shoe is retarded.

My shaving cream: Everytime I shave, it just keeps growing back. It’s annoying.

Life sucks when you’re on a nylon string budget; you keep wanting stuff and you’re stuck with shit.