It’s been a while since I submitted something for Illustration Friday. So here’s the first for 2006, I believe. I came up with it quick and dirty, taking only about 45 minutes to whip this up. Apologies to all rhinoceros beetles worldwide for any discrepancies in anatomy.
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Another of Irfan’s Uncles A-visiting
Tonight was the first time Irfan met his Uncle Kok Soon, my former schoolmate from way back when Knight Rider was on TV, and perhaps even before. Irfan immediately took a liking to him, trying to impress him with his dinosaur book, his toy cars and his familiarity to the lyrics of the Firefly theme. We had light meal at mamak shop before that, then headed back to our house for a chat. It was great having Kok Soon as a guest for the night, talking about trials and tribulation of life, perseverance, spirituality, xenomorph facehuggers and such. Before midnight, he had to go home back to Bukit Antarabangsa.
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What D&D Character Are You?
Check out what Dungeons and Dragons character you are. Are you a… Fighter? Monk? Rogue? Wizard? Ranger? Good? Neutral? Evil? Lawful? Chaotic? Human? Dwarf? Elf? Halfling? Click on this link (dead link) to find out, then read on here to find out what Hisham is in D&D. Hisham is apparently a…. Chaotic Good Elf Bard Alignment: Chaotic Good characters are independent types with a strong belief in the value of goodness. They have little use for governments and other forces of order, and will generally do their own things, without heed to such groups. Race: Elves are the eldest of all races, although they are generally a bit smaller than humans. They are generally well-cultured, artistic, easy-going, and because of their long lives, unconcerned with day-to-day activities that other races frequently concern themselves with. Elves are, effectively, immortal, although they can be killed. After a thousand years or so, they […]
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Asian Aerospace 2006
While I was at work at the Asian Aerospace 2006 exhibition way down in Singapore, I took photos of some of the exhibits. Walking around the corridors, I realised that I needed a better camera. Preferably one with at least 4 megapixel doohickey. Oh, and also one without a broken battery cover panel.
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Stuttgart Pics
As promised here are some images from my weekend walkabout in Stuttgart. I thought I didn’t take a lot of good photos there because of my need to walk quickly to cover a lot of ground, and searching for internet cafes so I could communicate with Malaysia 7 time zones away. Flughafen Stuttgart, interior shot of the check in area, in the departure hall level. The parking lot and main entrance into Flughafen Stuttgart. Hotel Am Wilhelmsplatz, where I stayed for two nights. Cozy, but I prefer the charm of the Ochsen Post Hotel myself. Wilhelmsplatz, looking towards the direction of Holzstraße, immediately in front of the Hotel Am Wilhelmsplatz. I took this when I wasn’t really familiar with the city streets so I can’t remember where this was. Two shots of Theodor-Heuss-Straße early Saturday morning. I’m really disappointed I didn’t get a couple of pictures of the weekend crowd […]
Continue readingChewbacca’s Blog
No, really. A fantastic weblog by Chewbacca himself. Here’s an excerpt: Monday, February 20, 2006aarrrrr rrrrrrrr rrnnnn nn nnhhhh Aaaa aaaaarrrrr rrrrrrrr rrnnnn nn nnhhhh, aaaa aaaaa aaaa aaa uh aaa uh-aaaaaa aaaaRRRRRR HHH. Aaaa guhaaaa aaaaa uhaa aar rrrrnnn uhnnnn nnn uhnhh.aaaaa aaaa aaaa aaaaarrn nnhhhh, hurrnhhhh. UUUHHHGGG-rrrr! It’s a blog to watch out for. Very informative and covers a broad range of topics by Chewie. Check it out here. Updated: The blog seems to be dead now. So I’ve disabled the link.
Continue readingSouth of the Border
And I don’t mean down Mexico way, amigo. I’m now in Singapore attending the Asian Aerospace 2006. It’s tiring. I’ve been sweating by the bucketloads all day. My legs are just about to pop out of their sockets. Especially after taking the MRT to various parts of the city sending off my colleagues, having dinner and trying to purchase bus tickets back to Kuala Lumpur for Friday morning. But the best part was seeing the brand new Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 strutting its stuff for the onlookers in an all-encompassing deafening roar above us. Although I did not get pictures of it in flight, witness the monster’s image from its Wikipedia page: [[image:a380.jpg:Superjumbo:center:0]]
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Outbreak
It was all over the news when I was in Germany. The H5N1 had been detected in dead wild swans at the northern coast of the country. The H5N1 virus, as all but those hiding incommunicado in underground bunkers since 1962 would know, is the strain of bird flu virus that can and has infected humans if they consume avians. Now, less than 24 hours back in Malaysia, what do I hear? Gombak chickens within, of all places, the capital city of Malaysia have been detected with the deadly strain of virus, and more have been culled in the immediate vicinity. And I would like to stress about the infection of the Malaysian chickens: It’s not my fault. 😉
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Hotel Ochsen Post
I got back from the airport today from a training in Germany. While there I stayed at Ochsen Post Hotel in the village of Tiefenbronn not too far from Hausen, where I had my training. The hotel is right in the middle of town, where dozens of dummies are placed on trees, walls, lamposts and roofs, which heralds the oncoming Carnival. One thing the hotel has an abundance of is atmosphere. You have to be there to experience it. Here’s the lobby area, with its green walls and old decoration. According to the person at the front desk the building was constructed in 1630. An upright piano in a corner of the lobby, close to the front desk. The door and hallway into my hotel room (14), at the third floor of the building. The mirror on the left there kind of said I need to lose some weight. On […]
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It’s Been Awhile Since I Saw…
…SNOW! Thirteen years. Here we are again. Damn it’s cold. And the Autobahn is jammed up. And Hausen seems to be a really nice, quaint litle hamlet. Pictures will be up when I have the chance.
Continue readingLike a Leaf On The Wind
I’ve been waiting to see Serenity since last September. When I checked the schedule at the time, they said it would be shown February 2006. Yesterday, there I was on the ground floor across the brightly-lit hallway from the video store at One Utama mall, ignoring the school of people wending their way past me. There, with the rest of the new releases on the front shelf, was the Serenity DVD. Which sadly means, I wont be watching it in the theaters any time soon. Or ever./me shakes fist at local movie theaters.
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Returning to Form, but Slowly
I still can’t believe it. I’m getting my passport renewed. I’m buying cold weather gear and one of those new-fangled bags with wheels and a retractable handle (which is pretty neat). I’m brushing up on things like “planetary gear”, “autorotation”, “rotor profile drag” and “combining gear box”. I’m planning how best to absorb the teaching techniques of the course so I can teach others how to operate the avionics hardware effectively. I’m trying my best to figure out how to get the test model installed in time for the Defense Services Asia exhibition in April. And I’m reading the online version of Rotor and Wing magazine. If I can pull this off, I believe I can start buying trade paperbacks again every month.
Continue readingThe Legion on JLU
No, not the French Foreign Legion. The DC Universe’s 30th century team the Legion of Super-Heroes finally get to shine in an episode of Justice League Unlimited titled “Far From Home”. Sure, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy and Chameleon Boy travelled back in time in Superman the Animated Series before, but this episode features a busload of Legionnaires, all in the 30th century. Additionally, their arch-villain teams, the Fatal Five, also appear (with the Emerald Empress voice by Joanne Whalley). Both Legion HQs were also shown! Unfortunately, only Brainiac 5, Bouncing Boy and Phantom Girl have speaking roles. There is a good reason, however, why the others don’t speak for most of the episode. Click on the thumbnails below for a who’s who picture. [[popup:lsh01.jpg:(thumbnail):The Animated Legion:center:1]]Apart from John Stewart and Kara in the foreground, we also see between them from top to bottom: Shadow Lass, Colossal Boy and Ultra Boy. […]
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Midnight Jaunt to Lumut
At midnight we went for drinks at the Lumut Waterfront cafe, on the newly reclaimed land on Dindings River opposite of Kampung Acheh. At nearly midnight the well-lit playground of the place was filled with kids and even babies in prams (pushed by parents, and not moving on their own accord, duh). Irfan was of course fast asleep with his grandparents. After drinks and telling of old campfire tales, we all went round the place, scoping it out. With the blatant “under the sea” motif and theme running on all the structures of the place, I’ve now come to rename it Bikini Bottom. Here are some photos from the night. Edit: Woon Seong’s Photos Added (Feb 2 2006)
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CNY at Teik Sing’s House
This afternoon, Ain, Irfan and I went to Teik Sing’s house to celebrate New Year. The last time the former ACS students of SPM 1990 gathered together was during Independence Day 2005 in 1 Utama. I almost missed the gate into Teik Sing’s house, which Warren and I remembered to be bigger. 15 years of memory can play tricks on a person. Later tonight, after Teik Sing and Michelle are finished with Fearless with Jet Li at Arasu theatre, we might meet up for a drink at the Lumut seafront stalls. Irfan is asleep, so he’ll be staying home. More pictures then. Here are the photos from today’s gathering: And Mrs. Ting and Ivy broke out the old Masters of the Universe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toys for Irfan. Shortly before leaving, as usual, Irfan dumped his load and stunk up the entire neighbourhood as he usually does when […]
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Squiddies!
The best fried calamari (sotong celup tepung) on this planet, as well as several other planets and moons (including the seafood industry on Europa), is located at the Medan Ikan Bakar FELCRA at Simpang Dua, Sitiawan. The taste and the texture is just right. And saying that the price is very affordable there is an understatement. In Sitiawan, this is where we’d like to engorge ourselves on seafood on special occasions. Last night we went there to celebrate Irfan’s grandparents 34th anniversary. Here are four of the photos from the dinner. …strangely enough, there were no pictures of Atok and Opah.
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