I hooked up my 1.5 TB hard drive to back up some anime and it wasn't working.
I tried a different connection and it still doesn't work.
I have contacted Seagate for support.
I really don't want to lose my almost 900 GB of anime.
*sigh*
November 29, 2009
November 28, 2009
Googlites unite!
I wonder if we all should stop worshiping our personal gods and become Googlites.
As a Googlite you will have access to power tools, media, utilities and other things that you can't possibly try to understand. And, of course, if you need answers you can always pray to the mighty Google gods as I do on a daily basis.
Why, even just today I discovered a new power of my new god. I found THIS! All behold my new coding power-tool!
I use my own personally built church to view whatever content I want, all on one page.
For those of you with RSS inspirations you can use Google's clairvoyancy tool.
Thank you so much Google gods!
As a Googlite you will have access to power tools, media, utilities and other things that you can't possibly try to understand. And, of course, if you need answers you can always pray to the mighty Google gods as I do on a daily basis.
Why, even just today I discovered a new power of my new god. I found THIS! All behold my new coding power-tool!
I use my own personally built church to view whatever content I want, all on one page.
For those of you with RSS inspirations you can use Google's clairvoyancy tool.
Thank you so much Google gods!
A good song
The other day we ate dinner with one of Siew's friends at a place in the Curve called the Apartment. The food was not bad, but the price was more than we usually pay for food. We're cheap people normally.
Anyway, I heard an old song playing there that I really like.
I couldn't quite remember the name, I had to check to make sure I was correct. Lo and behold, I was correct. The song I heard that I liked was Love Fool by the Cardigans.
Siew, I want you to listen to this song so I am posting from a video on Youtube that has the song.
I love you Siew!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuQ0AQ7YWS8
Anyway, I heard an old song playing there that I really like.
I couldn't quite remember the name, I had to check to make sure I was correct. Lo and behold, I was correct. The song I heard that I liked was Love Fool by the Cardigans.
Siew, I want you to listen to this song so I am posting from a video on Youtube that has the song.
I love you Siew!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuQ0AQ7YWS8
November 27, 2009
A fan without blades
Dyson has made a fan without blades.
http://www.dyson.com/fans/
It is an interesting idea. I think it has appeal to me simply for safety with children.
It pushes a thin, but strong, blast out from the edge of its ring. This, in theory, causes more air to join its flow outward. This should have something to do with high pressure always going towards low-pressure. This is the same type of thing the keeps an airplane from crashing to the ground.
There's no such thing as "suction" but instead a difference in pressure where high pressure goes toward low pressure. Read here for more.
Anyway, neat idea. . . the price is not so neat. 299.99-329.99 for a fan?!
http://www.dyson.com/fans/
It is an interesting idea. I think it has appeal to me simply for safety with children.
It pushes a thin, but strong, blast out from the edge of its ring. This, in theory, causes more air to join its flow outward. This should have something to do with high pressure always going towards low-pressure. This is the same type of thing the keeps an airplane from crashing to the ground.
There's no such thing as "suction" but instead a difference in pressure where high pressure goes toward low pressure. Read here for more.
Anyway, neat idea. . . the price is not so neat. 299.99-329.99 for a fan?!
November 21, 2009
Short Trip
This week we took off for Penang. I took 2 and a half days off from work to make the trip.
We wanted to meet with Siew's cousin about the parts deals.
That was interesting, I learned more about what they want so I can try to find more things and they were surprised that I know so much about circuit boards, plastics, and manufacturing processes.
We went to a private hospital here this week to have an ultra-sound scan done. According to the doctor the risk of the child having down-syndrome or other health problems, in our case, is about 1 in 6285. Those odds are not bad, but I would do with a 100%, but I'll have to accept what is as it is.
Here is a picture of the baby:
I have the picture in bmp to maintain loss-less image quality. Normally I use jpg, but in this case the image is scanned in and is already not clear because of the ultra-sound. Sorry about the large file.
I also obtained my Malaysian driver's license. I am now legal, without having to take a test at all, to drive in Malaysia. Scary isn't it?
On the way to Penang I drove for about 1.5 hours. I am not used to the lack of cruise control, nor to using those particular leg and foot muscles. My foot in particular began to cramp quite a lot. Siew drove the rest of the trip.
We'll be heading back to KL tomorrow. I have to go back to work on Monday. I hope that I can start getting some things arranged and make some trips to finalize things. I really want to work with Siew's cousin, I think that has a lot more potential than teaching, ultimately.
We wanted to meet with Siew's cousin about the parts deals.
That was interesting, I learned more about what they want so I can try to find more things and they were surprised that I know so much about circuit boards, plastics, and manufacturing processes.
We went to a private hospital here this week to have an ultra-sound scan done. According to the doctor the risk of the child having down-syndrome or other health problems, in our case, is about 1 in 6285. Those odds are not bad, but I would do with a 100%, but I'll have to accept what is as it is.
Here is a picture of the baby:
I have the picture in bmp to maintain loss-less image quality. Normally I use jpg, but in this case the image is scanned in and is already not clear because of the ultra-sound. Sorry about the large file.
I also obtained my Malaysian driver's license. I am now legal, without having to take a test at all, to drive in Malaysia. Scary isn't it?
On the way to Penang I drove for about 1.5 hours. I am not used to the lack of cruise control, nor to using those particular leg and foot muscles. My foot in particular began to cramp quite a lot. Siew drove the rest of the trip.
We'll be heading back to KL tomorrow. I have to go back to work on Monday. I hope that I can start getting some things arranged and make some trips to finalize things. I really want to work with Siew's cousin, I think that has a lot more potential than teaching, ultimately.
November 17, 2009
Secrets of Korea
I have some strange employers.
Maybe it is Korean culture. I am not sure.
Take today as an example. I was talking to the boss's sister (she's kind of the co-owner). She said she had just exercised. In order to continue the conversation, I asked her what kind of exercise. She refused to respond. She really didn't want to tell me what kind of exercise she'd been doing.
This makes me wonder. This is the lady who moved to Malaysia, owns a restaurant in Korea that her husband manages. She's been married for 16 years, but lives apart from her husband.
I know this means I have a dirty mind. However, I suspect that she didn't want to tell me what exercise she was doing because she didn't mean exercise of the normal type. . but of a more intimate type.
She's over 40 and has been in Malaysia with only her son for company for at least 2 years. She claims she doesn't miss her husband. This really makes me suspect her faithfulness to her marriage. Perhaps this is something they both have agreed to, I do not know, of course.
Sorry, just random thoughts.
There have been other things that both of the sisters have said or done that really make me question Korean culture sometimes.
Maybe I'll give more examples later.
Maybe it is Korean culture. I am not sure.
Take today as an example. I was talking to the boss's sister (she's kind of the co-owner). She said she had just exercised. In order to continue the conversation, I asked her what kind of exercise. She refused to respond. She really didn't want to tell me what kind of exercise she'd been doing.
This makes me wonder. This is the lady who moved to Malaysia, owns a restaurant in Korea that her husband manages. She's been married for 16 years, but lives apart from her husband.
I know this means I have a dirty mind. However, I suspect that she didn't want to tell me what exercise she was doing because she didn't mean exercise of the normal type. . but of a more intimate type.
She's over 40 and has been in Malaysia with only her son for company for at least 2 years. She claims she doesn't miss her husband. This really makes me suspect her faithfulness to her marriage. Perhaps this is something they both have agreed to, I do not know, of course.
Sorry, just random thoughts.
There have been other things that both of the sisters have said or done that really make me question Korean culture sometimes.
Maybe I'll give more examples later.
November 13, 2009
Crazy Taxi
Yesterday, when Siew was driving me to work, a taxi driver abruptly cut in front of us.
He didn't indicate his wish to change lanes with a turn signal (not an uncommon event here in Malaysia, or in Kentucky). This is something that happens a lot and isn't a big deal.
When he changed lanes, he slowed down! This is a big deal. You do not get in front of someone, cutting it close at that, and slow down.
Siew did the normal thing, she honked the car's horn. The response was that the driver of the taxi immediately stomped on his brakes. Siew's response was to use the horn again. The driver did the same thing, again! This happened several times before Siew was able to get around this asshole.
When we drove by him he was gesticulating in a way I have never seen before. He had his hand palm-down and was pushing his hand in an upward diagonal repeatedly, while pointedly looking at us.
Neither of us knows what this gesture meant. I have the feeling it was akin to giving someone the middle finger.
We wrote down his plate number and the taxi's phone number so we can complain about him.
We observed his driving further until we turned off the road going to where I work. He is a terrible driver, perhaps he was intoxicated.
I think intoxication is likely, I have never heard of stupidity making someone drive so terribly. But, there is a first time for everything.
If you see taxi HWC 1362. Do not get in!
He didn't indicate his wish to change lanes with a turn signal (not an uncommon event here in Malaysia, or in Kentucky). This is something that happens a lot and isn't a big deal.
When he changed lanes, he slowed down! This is a big deal. You do not get in front of someone, cutting it close at that, and slow down.
Siew did the normal thing, she honked the car's horn. The response was that the driver of the taxi immediately stomped on his brakes. Siew's response was to use the horn again. The driver did the same thing, again! This happened several times before Siew was able to get around this asshole.
When we drove by him he was gesticulating in a way I have never seen before. He had his hand palm-down and was pushing his hand in an upward diagonal repeatedly, while pointedly looking at us.
Neither of us knows what this gesture meant. I have the feeling it was akin to giving someone the middle finger.
We wrote down his plate number and the taxi's phone number so we can complain about him.
We observed his driving further until we turned off the road going to where I work. He is a terrible driver, perhaps he was intoxicated.
I think intoxication is likely, I have never heard of stupidity making someone drive so terribly. But, there is a first time for everything.
If you see taxi HWC 1362. Do not get in!
November 9, 2009
Pain in the Ass
I'm still trying to get the things sorted out for the deal in the States.
The guy we're dealing with is a moron. I really would prefer not to deal with this kind of person, and am still looking for other people.
He's creating tons of delays. I don't understand the problem. Why is it so hard to get it setup. He's the fucking SELLER. He's supposed to kiss our asses because we're the customers.
The american way of thinking is that the customer is always right. In this case it's almost as though we're the seller. He really treats us like that. I have chewed him out for this behavior already. I'm tired of it.
His response to my chewing out was very timid. I hope that it lasts. I want to get it to work.
This could be a way for me to make a lot more money. I'd rather have another source of income.
I make decent money, actually very good money, but I want to have more sources. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" and all that.
Anyway. Wish me luck, it seems like I'll need it!
The guy we're dealing with is a moron. I really would prefer not to deal with this kind of person, and am still looking for other people.
He's creating tons of delays. I don't understand the problem. Why is it so hard to get it setup. He's the fucking SELLER. He's supposed to kiss our asses because we're the customers.
The american way of thinking is that the customer is always right. In this case it's almost as though we're the seller. He really treats us like that. I have chewed him out for this behavior already. I'm tired of it.
His response to my chewing out was very timid. I hope that it lasts. I want to get it to work.
This could be a way for me to make a lot more money. I'd rather have another source of income.
I make decent money, actually very good money, but I want to have more sources. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" and all that.
Anyway. Wish me luck, it seems like I'll need it!
November 8, 2009
Ninja
I previously said that I want to see Ninja. So, last night I watched it.
Ok. . . This is a typical ninja movie, if you live in the 1988!
The plot was really non-existent, the acting mediocre, the special effects were nothing special, the fighting was highly acrobatic and completely NOT ninjitsu or taijitsu.
Casey is an orphan raised in a dojo. He loves the daughter of the Soke(head) of the dojo. Another guy loves the daughter, and wants the position of Soke for himself.
Casey and that guy, Masazuka, end up fighting because of Masazuka's anger. End result, Masazuka is expelled from the dojo.
Years later revenge begins. Masazuka is a successul assassin. He wants the position of Soke still.
The dojo has an item of great importance, a trunk of heirlooms from their ninja ancestors. Apparently holding these items makes you the Soke. . . doesn't make much sense.
Masazuka kilsl everyone in the dojo, but not before Casey, the daughter of the Soke and the trunk of items are taken to New York.
In New York there is a sort of masonite lodge group who wants to get mroe power. They have hired Masazuka to great effect in the past.
Masazuka asks this group to help him get the trunk.
Enter groups of thugs who shoot wildly, apparently are good at fighting (they manage to give a hard time to 2 people, who've spent their entire lives training for combat, a very hard time) and have endless numbers, AND are immune to police investigation.
Lots of fighting ensues, but the fighting is acrobatic and nothing like real ninjitsu.
End the end Casey dons the heirloom items in order to save the girl. A good cop realizes that they're not the trouble makers and they get away without any punishment for murders or damages.
All in all. . . there wasn't much that was good about this movie and a LOT that was bad.
A ninja movie has so much potential, and has seldom been made right.
Masazuka's modern ninja costume was actually pretty cool and there were some scenes that looked like their were taken out of a video game when he was in this costume. Those parts were really interesting.
The actor that played Masazuka was very good with a sword. I need to find out who he is and read more about him. His movements were better than that of an actor who trained solely for this role. I think he is a modern practioner of swordsmanship.
Ok. . . 3 out of 10 for this movie.
Ok. . . This is a typical ninja movie, if you live in the 1988!
The plot was really non-existent, the acting mediocre, the special effects were nothing special, the fighting was highly acrobatic and completely NOT ninjitsu or taijitsu.
Casey is an orphan raised in a dojo. He loves the daughter of the Soke(head) of the dojo. Another guy loves the daughter, and wants the position of Soke for himself.
Casey and that guy, Masazuka, end up fighting because of Masazuka's anger. End result, Masazuka is expelled from the dojo.
Years later revenge begins. Masazuka is a successul assassin. He wants the position of Soke still.
The dojo has an item of great importance, a trunk of heirlooms from their ninja ancestors. Apparently holding these items makes you the Soke. . . doesn't make much sense.
Masazuka kilsl everyone in the dojo, but not before Casey, the daughter of the Soke and the trunk of items are taken to New York.
In New York there is a sort of masonite lodge group who wants to get mroe power. They have hired Masazuka to great effect in the past.
Masazuka asks this group to help him get the trunk.
Enter groups of thugs who shoot wildly, apparently are good at fighting (they manage to give a hard time to 2 people, who've spent their entire lives training for combat, a very hard time) and have endless numbers, AND are immune to police investigation.
Lots of fighting ensues, but the fighting is acrobatic and nothing like real ninjitsu.
End the end Casey dons the heirloom items in order to save the girl. A good cop realizes that they're not the trouble makers and they get away without any punishment for murders or damages.
All in all. . . there wasn't much that was good about this movie and a LOT that was bad.
A ninja movie has so much potential, and has seldom been made right.
Masazuka's modern ninja costume was actually pretty cool and there were some scenes that looked like their were taken out of a video game when he was in this costume. Those parts were really interesting.
The actor that played Masazuka was very good with a sword. I need to find out who he is and read more about him. His movements were better than that of an actor who trained solely for this role. I think he is a modern practioner of swordsmanship.
Ok. . . 3 out of 10 for this movie.
Pancakes
I have been wanting pancakes.
Here in Malaysia pancakes are expensive and tiny. They're not the cheap things that we have in the States.
I loved going to a couple of different truck stops and eating the giant pancakes that filled the entire plate. One or two of those is enough to feed a family.
Here, though, you can pay 13-20 ringgit and get 2 TINY pancakes. We're talking smaller than 10cm (4 inches). That kind of money should get you a stack of pancakes.
I do not have a skillet, yet. I've been making everything with a soup pot and a wok.
I decided that enough is enough. I want pancakes, so I'll make them. I looked up a recipe, bought the ingredients and made pancakes this morning. I modified the recipe by adding a little sugar to the mix.
I used a wok to make the pancakes. The first pancake was a failure, a little burned on one side, a little under cooked on the other. After that I figured out that the best thing to do is pour in the batter, wait a few seconds, then swirl the wok slowly to move the batter out to the edges so that the entire thing can cook evenly. That did the trick.
So, this morning, for 4 ringgit or less, I made a stack of 7 pancakes. We don't have syrup, so I added a little bit of honey to 1 of my pancakes. The rest, because of the small amount of sugar I added, were fine as they were.
So, wokcakes it is from now on.
Here in Malaysia pancakes are expensive and tiny. They're not the cheap things that we have in the States.
I loved going to a couple of different truck stops and eating the giant pancakes that filled the entire plate. One or two of those is enough to feed a family.
Here, though, you can pay 13-20 ringgit and get 2 TINY pancakes. We're talking smaller than 10cm (4 inches). That kind of money should get you a stack of pancakes.
I do not have a skillet, yet. I've been making everything with a soup pot and a wok.
I decided that enough is enough. I want pancakes, so I'll make them. I looked up a recipe, bought the ingredients and made pancakes this morning. I modified the recipe by adding a little sugar to the mix.
I used a wok to make the pancakes. The first pancake was a failure, a little burned on one side, a little under cooked on the other. After that I figured out that the best thing to do is pour in the batter, wait a few seconds, then swirl the wok slowly to move the batter out to the edges so that the entire thing can cook evenly. That did the trick.
So, this morning, for 4 ringgit or less, I made a stack of 7 pancakes. We don't have syrup, so I added a little bit of honey to 1 of my pancakes. The rest, because of the small amount of sugar I added, were fine as they were.
So, wokcakes it is from now on.
November 6, 2009
Movies of recent
I have recently watched several movies:
Wanted
Cloverfield
G.I. Joe
Transformers 2
District 9
Wanted I initially did not wish to see. However I read the comic that it was based on before leaving the States. The comic was quite good.
The movie is good, not as good as the comic though. I like the end of both the comic and the movie in that it makes fun of EVERYONE. Basically saying "Your life sucks, why aren't you DOING something about it?"
Cloverfield looked like it could be a really good movie. A giant monster attacks New York City. What could be better? A lot. The movie was filmed to make it seem like a recovered video tape from someone's camera who died from the bombing of the city by the government in effort to destroy the monster.
There was a lot of potential for a good movie, but at the end of the movie I felt something lacking.
G.I. Joe was a movie that was not high on my list to see. I just didn't think it would be all that great. I was very surprised. I actually really enjoyed the movie. If they had not have made the scene with the accelerator suits it could have been much better. The rest of the movie was really good!
Transformers 2. . . SUCKED. I won't even waste time to explain that piece of shit.
District 9 was wonderful! I really liked this movie! There were some things that I didn't like. But it had many great points and the story really crept up on you. I really recommend this movie.
I want to see the movie Ninja. Hopefully it is good.
I'm not giving links today, sorry, I'm being lazy. Be glad I wrote at all :-P
Wanted
Cloverfield
G.I. Joe
Transformers 2
District 9
Wanted I initially did not wish to see. However I read the comic that it was based on before leaving the States. The comic was quite good.
The movie is good, not as good as the comic though. I like the end of both the comic and the movie in that it makes fun of EVERYONE. Basically saying "Your life sucks, why aren't you DOING something about it?"
Cloverfield looked like it could be a really good movie. A giant monster attacks New York City. What could be better? A lot. The movie was filmed to make it seem like a recovered video tape from someone's camera who died from the bombing of the city by the government in effort to destroy the monster.
There was a lot of potential for a good movie, but at the end of the movie I felt something lacking.
G.I. Joe was a movie that was not high on my list to see. I just didn't think it would be all that great. I was very surprised. I actually really enjoyed the movie. If they had not have made the scene with the accelerator suits it could have been much better. The rest of the movie was really good!
Transformers 2. . . SUCKED. I won't even waste time to explain that piece of shit.
District 9 was wonderful! I really liked this movie! There were some things that I didn't like. But it had many great points and the story really crept up on you. I really recommend this movie.
I want to see the movie Ninja. Hopefully it is good.
I'm not giving links today, sorry, I'm being lazy. Be glad I wrote at all :-P
November 5, 2009
Maybe not
Well, I thought I was going to make a trip the US to settle some business.
Apparently the guy in the US doesn't want to make any money. His loss.
I'm currently searching for new leads for the things we need. I want to get this going soon.
I've been teaching more at the center because the other morning teacher has been told to stay home. She is pregnant and the long drive each day is causing her problems so she has been ordered by the doctor to stay home.
I hope that she is ok. On the flip side, I get more hours, so more money. I have only 2 kids to teach each day though.
One is a very big pain in the ass. He has too much energy, is spoiled at home, and has no focus. I'm slowing gaining ground on controlling him though. He's not a bad kid, he just needs discipline.
His mom has complimented the center on the improvements to his English. This compliment came after I'd taken over teaching him completely. ;-)
The other boy has a difficult time with speaking. He came into the center at nearly a zero level of English. Now he has improved a lot. Even the owner of the place has mentioned how much better he is doing. He speaks louder. Speaks more clearly and tries really hard to get his points across. I'm pleased with him. He's doing a great job!
Apparently the guy in the US doesn't want to make any money. His loss.
I'm currently searching for new leads for the things we need. I want to get this going soon.
I've been teaching more at the center because the other morning teacher has been told to stay home. She is pregnant and the long drive each day is causing her problems so she has been ordered by the doctor to stay home.
I hope that she is ok. On the flip side, I get more hours, so more money. I have only 2 kids to teach each day though.
One is a very big pain in the ass. He has too much energy, is spoiled at home, and has no focus. I'm slowing gaining ground on controlling him though. He's not a bad kid, he just needs discipline.
His mom has complimented the center on the improvements to his English. This compliment came after I'd taken over teaching him completely. ;-)
The other boy has a difficult time with speaking. He came into the center at nearly a zero level of English. Now he has improved a lot. Even the owner of the place has mentioned how much better he is doing. He speaks louder. Speaks more clearly and tries really hard to get his points across. I'm pleased with him. He's doing a great job!
November 4, 2009
Driving
So, I've started driving once in awhile in Malaysia.
It is very strange to drive on the opposite side of the road. The flow of things, and my reflexes, are completely different.
I need to go to Penang so I can get my Malaysia Driver's License. It has been approved. I don't even have to take a test to get it!
I'm starting to feel more comfortable with driving, but still not at ease. I haven't driven manual in a very long time, and never have driven a manual that I have to shift gears with my left hand. Since I'm starting to get more comfortable, I have to be even more cautious. This is the point that I can't relax. If I get over-confident then I'll end up having an accident!
It is very strange to drive on the opposite side of the road. The flow of things, and my reflexes, are completely different.
I need to go to Penang so I can get my Malaysia Driver's License. It has been approved. I don't even have to take a test to get it!
I'm starting to feel more comfortable with driving, but still not at ease. I haven't driven manual in a very long time, and never have driven a manual that I have to shift gears with my left hand. Since I'm starting to get more comfortable, I have to be even more cautious. This is the point that I can't relax. If I get over-confident then I'll end up having an accident!
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