New Toy

I finally got tired of carrying two cellphones everyday.

Two phones? Yes, one for business calls (an SE-S500i) and one for personal calls/SMSs (SE-K800i). I do a lot of personal SMSs, close to about 1000 a month and I don't think my boss will appreciate that if I do it on company account. Morever, I finally has finished with my phase of playing with the latest cell phones.

So I went and bought a Samsung SGH-D880 DuoS. It is the only cellphone currently available that can hold two SIM cards. Yes I know you can buy such dual SIM phones in China but I just couldn't see myself using a phone with a brand name like "Bird" or "Red Flower".

Basically the D880 can hold two SIM cards thus enabling me to make/receive calls and SMSs on either of the two phone numbers, without having to swap SIM cards manually. Switching SIM cards involves pressing a button on the side of the phone and there is no need to reboot the phone to the sim card you wanted. I discovered this undocumented feature tonight after reading some reviews of the D880 on the 'Net. You only need to reboot if you want to specify which sim card to be the primary line. I am not surprised about this undocumented feature because the Samsung phone manual that came with the phone is hopelessly small and thin. 

The phone is a slider and has a large screen which is very handy for browsing the 'Net. It is not a 3G phone (up to 2.5G) but has most of the features commonly found in phones today except for wifi and infrared.

The menu system is almost the same as Sony-Ericsson's but require a bit of retraining. Sound is okay but will never be able to beat SE's. The only beef I have is that the four preset midi SMS alert tones cannot be replaced at all.

The T9 predictive text input is not as good as SE's but miles better as Motorola's crap T9 system. 

I have been using this phone for the past two weeks and so far I would say I am happy with it. I just need a phone to make calls and do SMSs. I don't need it to play music, make a epic movie, tell me where I am on planet Earth or cook me fish and chips.

I think the D880 will suit me just fine. For now.

Until Apple releases the next new model of the iPhone.

Astro Gold-coloured Stupid Card

Tonight, 7.45pm...

Okay, Astro sent me this new gold-coloured smart card to replace the old one in my living room decoder. Says here in the printed instruction that it is going to be an easy four steps.

Right. Remove old smart card. Insert new smart card. Decoder auto updated itself within a minute. Switch on decoder again. TV shows "Please insert smart card" message. No channels can be viewed. All displayed same message. 

Ok. Repeat above steps again. Same result. The time is now 8.00pm. Liverpool is scheduled to kick-off at Anfield in 25 minutes time. Picks up phone and called Astro hot line.

Me : (Yada yada yada explained problem)

Astro lady : Okay sir, now you try this : Switch off your main plug for the TV and Astro and wait for 3 minutes. Then switch it back on, and press 880 and you will see a screen containing "Please insert your new smart card yada yada yada and then press OK". Do not press OK, just let the screen alone for 10 to 15 minutes. The decoder will then reboot and display the time. You then turn it on and you should be able to view the channels.

Me : Are you absolutely sure? I have a football match kicking off in 20 minutes and no self respecting Liverpool fan will ever miss a match except for funerals. We are not Chelsea fans.

Astro lady : It will be ok.

Me : Fine. (and proceed to wait 20 minutes and still nothing happened).

At 8.25pm...

Me : Stuff this. I am watching the match up stairs on the second decoder and the 14" TV. 

At half time....

TV downstairs still showing the stupid screen and nothing happened. Proceed to call Astro again.

Astro : Good evening sir. How can I assist you?

Me : I want to speak to someone about your Astro gold-coloured STUPID card!

Astro : Err... you mean the new smart card sir?

Me : No. I mean the new STUPID card.

Astro : Ok ok, I get the message. What's the problem?

Me : *sigh* (Explains problem again while vomiting batteries)

Astro : Ok sir, now listen to me please. Follow these instructions.

Me : *sigh* Yes, I know. Off the power to TV and the Astro decoder.

Astro : Yes. Then please hold until I get back to you.

Me : Make it fast. Liverpool is kicking off second half in 10 minutes. I miss a goal and you will die.

Astro : Now switch on the power. On the Astro with your remote. Insert the old smart card back. What do you see?

Me : I see Steve McMahon trying to be a football expert and failing miserably at it.

Astro : *Laughs* Ok. Now remove the old card and insert the new card. Then press 880.

Me : Ok.

Astro : Now press OK. What do you see?

Me : The screen says the new smart card will update my decoder yada yada yada and got another OK button at the bottom.

Astro : Ok. Press OK again. What do you see now?

Me : The TV goes blank and the decoder is showing AUTO UPDATE in its display.

Astro : Yes. That will go on for the next 15 minutes or so and you should be able to view your channels when it is over.

Me : Really? Looks like the lady earlier gave me the wrong instructions totally. You guys did not train them properly meh?

Astro : Well, sometimes we can get it wrong. Anything else I can help you with?

Me : Err... no. Look, you have been a great help. Sorry for being rough just now.

Astro : No problem sir. And I hope Liverpool will beat Blackburn too.

Me : You a Reds fan too?

Astro : Dyed in the wool Anfield Red all the way sir. Good night.

Me : Good night. *click*

What a nice morning at Anfield

Before the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final between Arsenal - Liverpool at Emirates Stadium a week ago...

Pundits : Arsenal will win this one. They have too much talent and playing so well not to win it.

Arsenal 1 - Liverpool 1

--------------------------------------

Before last Saturday's EPL match between Arsenal - Liverpool at Emirates Stadium...

Pundits : Arsenal will win this one. They have to win it if they want to have the slimmest hope left to win the EPL tile. Liverpool will obviously field a weakened side in order to rest their main players for the UEFA Champions League quater-final return leg.

Arsenal 1 - Liverpool Reserve Team 1

--------------------------------------

Before last night's second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final between Arsenal - Liverpool at Anfield Stadium...

Pundits : Arsenal will win this one for sure. After the disappointing results of the last 2 matches, they will be very motivated and fired up to win this match in order to salvage their season.

Liverpool 4 - Arsenal 2. (Liverpool won on 5-3 aggregate and progress to Semi Final against Chelsea)

Wombie : Okay pundits, who wants the crow with tomato sauce first?

Arsenal 1 - Liverpool Reserve Team 1

EPL on Saturday 5-4-2008.

It was a match that Liverpool can afford to lose but Arsenal can't.

The second match in the so called Arsenal-Liverpool Trilogy/Trinity, this match is a distraction from the other two UEFA Champions League quarter final matches involving both teams within a week.

If Liverpool loses this one, no big deal. If Arsenal loses or even draw, they can kiss their EPL title hopes or whatever's left of it goodbye.

So what did Rafa Benetez do in a situation like this? Rotation! He fielded eight non-regular players such as Crouch, Pennant, Benayoun, Riise, Lucas, Plessi (who?), and even Voronin the Potato had a go as a sub.

Arsene Wenger rested some of his regulars too, for what reason I do not know. I thought he still wanted to win the EPL title. 

Liverpool totally dominated the first half and had a goal by Crouch to show as well. Suddenly the prospect of this back-up team actually winning the match became very real. Unfortunately Arsenal got one goal back to equalize in the second half.

Later on in the second half Wenger started to field his regulars when he realized his dream of an EPL title is fading by the minute, but it is already too late even though Arsenal threw everything including the kitchen sink at the Liverpool goal.

To further aggravate Wenger's pain, Rafa threw on Torres and Gerrard with 15 minutes to go, trying to steal a win from under Wenger's nose, and would have done so had Voronin did not miss a big chance at goal. Now you know why I call him The Potato. He's that clumsy!

The match ended a 1-1 draw, but it might as well has been a defeat in Arsenal's eyes. Their prospect of winning the second leg of the Champions League match at Liverpool's Anfield this Tuesday may be in doubt, since they could not even beat a Liverpool Reserve team in their own backyard.

Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917 - 2008)

Sir Arthur C. Clarke died in Sri Lanka on 19th March 2008.

Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917 - 2008)

I first started reading science fiction (Sci-Fi) when I was fifteen, and my first sci-fi author was the late Isaac Asimov and his first book I read was the "Foundation" series. It introduced me to the amazing world of sci-fi. I then moved on to the "Robots" series and his other works.

The second sci-fi author I read was Arthur C. Clarke and his book "2001 - A Space Odyssey". I even saw the movie version directed by the late Stanley Kubrick. I found the book and the movie real deep stuff and it took me quite some time to understand its real significance. Clarke then wrote three more sequels to "2001" and I read them all, along with his other works.

During the late '80s, my friend B.C. Yap further broadened my sci-fi horizons by introducing me to other sci-fi authors such as Fred Saberhagen and Larry Niven/Jerry Pournell, and also the Fantasy genre with authors like Anne McCaffrey and Piers Anthony and I bought Sci-Fi/Fantasy books by the truck loads.

I haven't bought a sci-fi novel for a while now as I am getting on in age and my taste in reading has moved on to other things such as "Ten ways to discipline your children effectively".

However, Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov will remain in my heart as the two greatest sci-fi writer ever lived, IMHO.

Asimov's works tend to be easier reading compared to Clarke's, and Asimov's effort in tying up the last chapter of the Foundation series to the Robots series is nothing short of genius. No spoilers here, you will have to read both series yourself if you don't already know the story but the ending is worth the wait. There are probably 10 to 12 books involved.

Clarke's works are deeper, in my view. The "2001" series was one, and then the "Rama" series plus many others.

Clarke also predicted the synchronously positioned satellite and worked out the mathematics for it. However he did not take out a patent for it, and the satellite industry is a multi billion dollar business today. All he got was a 15 dollars payment for writing the paper.

So now both my fave sci-fi authors are gone. There will never be writers like these two, me thinks. I thank them for filling me with awe and wonder during my growing-up phase and they still do whenever I re-read their books in my library.

Rest in peace, Arthur C. Clarke. You are approaching Star Gate. A new journey begins.

45 not out.

I am 45 years old today.

Even though I am now 45 :

1) I have not retired yet. When I was 24 I told myself I will retire at 40 and go fish for trout in Australia.

2) I am still not yet a politician so that I can plunder the state's money.

3) I still do not own a Porsche 911, which I once swore I will before I die.

4) I do not have an Istana Wombat, with 25 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms.

5) I still work for other people.

But :

1) I am happy I am still in good health.

2) I have a wonderful wife and kids.

3) I am happy at work.

4) I am glad that I have a lot of friends both near and afar.

Life, is how you want it to be.

Now onto that half-century.

Wind Of Change

I am sure a lot of members of a certain political coalition woke up this morning saying "Did a freight train just ran over us?".

Yes, it was a freight train long time coming, it is just that these people were too blind to see it due to lots of reasons.

To the opposing forces I say congratulations, and I hope they can show the people how things can be done differently without resorting to immature concepts of the past. They have 5 years to do it, and if they screw up, they have only themselves to blame.

To the ruling forces I say it is time to wake up, take stock of your defeats and do what that needs to be done to make things right. You know what the people want. Politics of punishment will not work anymore, because if you try, in 5 years time the freight train will be even larger and you will be out of a job.

We are no longer lambs to the slaughter. Wake up now.

Good on yer', Malaysia.

Tagged again *sigh*

Haven't been tagged by anyone for a while and what did I get when I visit The Dude's blog? I have been tagged! Aaaaaaarrgh!

Well, here goes.

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night?
Ryan Seacrest with his "Dresses" jokes during American Idol Ladies Top-10 night.

2. What were you doing at 0800?
Having noodles and Nescafe black with two Equal tablets for breakfast.

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Looking through American Express' reward points redemption catalogue. I will be able to redeem that 42" LCD TV in the year 3008.

4. What happened to you in 2006?
I am getting old. I could not recall a darn thing from 2006. I couldn't even remember what I ate last Friday.

5. What was the last thing you said out loud?
"What the fark you call this? You call this work? My son can work better than you!"

6. How many beverages did you have today?
Nescafe black and a Pepsi at KFC. A Mr. Brown Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee at home.

7. What color is your hairbrush?
For obvious reason, I don't have one.

8. What was the last thing you paid for?
RM 14.75 for my KFC lunch.

9. Where were you last night?
At home.

10. What color is your front door?
Mistral blue.

11. Where do you keep your change?
My coin pocket in my pants.

12. What’s the weather like today?
Warm and humid. I was hoping for a meteorite to hit.

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor?
Chocolate rum.

14. What excites you?
Anything Mac/Apple. Lingerie. Liverpool matches.

15. Do you want to cut your hair?
In about a week.

16. Are you over the age of 25?
Yes, I am 44. I will be 45 in 16 days' time.

17. Do you talk a lot?
I used to, but then I got cynical so nowadays I listen more.

18. Do you watch the O.C.?
WTF's that?

No?

Like I said, WTF--- oh never mind.

19. Do you know anyone named Steven?
Steven.... oh yes. In 1981 in Bangsar. Weird guy. I wonder where he is now.

20. Do you make up your own words?
Nope.

21. Are you a jealous person?
Once, when a guy tried to hit on MrsW before we got married. I could have tore out his heart and ate it raw.

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’.
The first thing that came to mind is Rkaru cos his last name starts with 'A'.

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’
Again, Rkaru, cos his middle name starts with 'K'.

24. Who’s the first person on your received call list?
My daughter. She called from camp today.

25. What does the last text message you received say?
"Chuck Yaeger I know. The rest have to see face, then I know. Pity about Chuck though. He can sing but lacks charisma." from Rkaru.

26. Do you chew on your straw?
Nope.

27. Do you have curly hair?
My hair migrated south a longgggg time ago.

28. Where’s the next place you’re going to?
A coffee shop to listen to my informer about news of an impending Ewok rebellion.

29.Who’s the rudest person in your life?
Every single god damned driver that drive on the emergency lane while I am stuck in the morning traffic jam. I hope they all die soon.

30. What was the last thing you ate?
Two Colonel burgers. One Cheesy Wedges. One regular coleslaw.

31. Will you get married in the future?
Mrs Wombat : You just try.

32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks?
Happy Feet. Honest!

33. Is there anyone you like right now?
Yes.

34. When was the last time you did the dishes?
I don't do dishes. I got married and also have a daughter for a reason.

35. Are you currently depressed?
Yes, because my candidate for the state assembly seat of Gum Gum withdrew from the general election at the last minute. He claimed he does not have his father's blessings to run. I say check his lifestyle for drastic changes over the next 6 months. Now I don't even have a chance to vote. Traitor!

36. Did you cry today?
No. I haven't cry since that day in October 1996.

37. Why did you answer and post this?
I haven't done a tagged posting for a long time.

38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey
1- dSaint
2- Doc
3- OrangUtan
4- Kay Kastum
5- Rkaru

American Idol : Ladies Top-10

Last night was the turn of the ladies to show their stuff on American Idol Top-10.

Honestly the last 12 of this season's female singers did not impress me much but after last night, I have found two or three to cheer for.

First up is the Irish rock chick, Carly Smithson. From the day she auditioned for A-Idol, I knew she can sing. Rumour has it that Carly has actually signed for a major label before and recorded an album which bombed. She's very good with songs by Heart, and last night's "Crazy For You" was very good. Problem is she cannot go on relying on Heart to pull her through. I wonder how she will do when the theme is disco.

Next is Brooke White. Earlier I said she looked like a Julia Roberts wannabe but last night she chose the perfect song to sing : Carly Simon's "You're So Vain". It suited her voice and Simon probably think the song is about him too.


Finally there's Ramiele Malubay. MrsW perked up her ears when she heard Ramiele said something in Tagalog. She asked me if Ramiele is Filipino. I said well she looks like one, sounds like one, so must be one. Ramiele sang Thelma Houston "Don't Leave Me This Way". Not bad, but she could have bettered it with more movement and more oomph in her voice. It is a song that deserves to be sing out loud. I heard Anita Sarawak sang it in the 1970s, and man, did she make it funky. I would like to believe she sang it better than Thelma Houston.


As with a lot of Filipina ladies, Ramiele has a very good voice. The only thing she needs now is to make sure she choose the right song week after week.

There you have it, my three ladies to cheer for this season plus Michael Johns and David Archuleta for the guys.


Now who screwed up big time last night? Amanda Overmyer. If there's one song you don't ever sing on A-Idol, it's Kansas' "Carry On Wayward Son". Yes it is a 70s rock song but it has too much instrumental breaks. Not a song to win votes. Kansas' "Play The Game Tonight" or "Crossfire" would have suited Amanda better, but too bad they were 80s songs.

American Idol - Season 7

Yes, American Idol is back, and is in its seventh season.

This season's finalists appear to be the most talented bunch by far, and there're no jokes like Shanjaya et. al. of seasons' past.

Last night was the men's Top-10 (70s Night) and already I have found my pet hates and potential talents to root for.

For talent, first up is Michael Johns. When this guy sang Bohemian Rhapsody during Hollywood week, my ears perked up and I said "I think I have found Constantin Murales No.2". Michael has a good voice, and his performance of "Light My Fire" last week showed he has the right stuff. However he can be weak in song selection as in last night's "Go your own way", a Fleetwood Mac classic. The vocal did not suit him. He later commented that he has always wanted to sing a Fleetwood Mac song on live TV, that's why he sang that.


Hasn't everyone learnt by now that at this stage of the competition you don't go and sing songs that you've always wanted to sing or your grandmother wanted you to sing, because you can get voted out if you end up screwing the song. You don't hear me sing Unchained Melody in karaokes, even though I have always wanted to sing it in public. If Michael is more careful with his song choices, he will go far.

Next, my Shanjaya for this season : Danny Noriega. I have developed a dislike for him because of what he did last week when he sang Elvis' "Jail House Rock" and Simon Cowell panned him as grotesque. He talked back like a smart-alec which is a no-no on this show, no matter how wrong one may think Simon's comments may be. Anyway, his Elvis performance is badddd and last night's "Superstar" was no better. He killed himself by trying too hard with all the vibrato effects and forgot to sing naturally.


And Danny has a very irritating obnoxious expression, which can turn a lot of people off. His talent is so so, so I expect him to last maybe a week more. My buddy Rkaru said it best in an sms : "Danny will be real popular in any prison." Go figure.

A rocker, David Cook, who played the guitar last night, sang Free's "All right now" and was quite good really, until he cut Simon off during Simon's comments by saying something that it is not Simon's vote that he needed but the viewers'. When I heard this I told the missus "This guy is dead. He should not have said that, and especially not by cutting the judge off mid sentence."


Yes, David Cook may not need Simon's vote, but Simon can weaken one's prospects by a few well placed scathing remarks. For David's information, no A-Idol contestant has ever went to the Finale by pissing Simon Cowell off and by being extremely smart-alec and obnoxious. Not a single one.

Which brings us to David Archuleta.

My bro Rkaru saw his performance during the live show earlier and sms-ed me to say that this is not to be missed. When David came on, and sang John Lennon's "Imagine", my jaw dropped onto the floor. This kid is only 17, man, and his voice defies belief! HE IS GOOD.


The judges went gaga, including Simon. David Archuleta will go very very far this season, and I dare even predict the Finale.

Best of all, David is neither smart-alec nor obnoxious, and has humility by the truck loads.