Twisted Theories

Lag

2010-11-20T21:31:00.000+08:00

To those that actually read this blog, one may notice the lack of new articles. First off, I am sorry if I have disappointed anyone and I am quite honoured that this blog is a frequent place of visit. But, the author, i.e. me, have been quite busy with his life.

Jumping to the excuses part, I am swamped with various assignments due on the same date. Any free time I have now goes into training for a dance performance that is going to happen soon somewhere. Hopefully, I can write about it once I am free (and if the performance goes according to plan). The performance is...... not looking good. So far. However, like always, the crew I'm in works best during the last-est of minutes.

Try not to expect too much from me. It may lead to disappointment.

New Page and Category - "Rantings"

2010-11-08T19:39:00.002+08:00

I have decided to add a new category as well as a page entitled "Categories" for ease of navigation around this blog. The thing is that blogs have horrible navigation. Hopefully, making use of the category system would make moving around here somewhat easier. Check out the tab next to the "Home" button above.

The new category would be call "Rantings". Here's the definition, taken from the Oxford Dictionary:

a long, angry, and impassioned speech

That should explain enough. I am human. And as all humans do, I have certain disagreements about certain things in life. Do not expect everyone agrees with everything that is out there in the world. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion as I am entitled to mine. And that is what it just is; opinions.

Articles here may clash with the reader's views and opinions. Have a open mind when treading into this section. As much as I do not want to hurt people's feelings, it might happen anyway.

Readers have been warned. Happy reading.

ICT Student

2010-11-06T18:30:00.001+08:00

Yet another "life" section article. Well, I guess it is the most easy to relate personally and to digest as compared to those technical articles labeled "cars" and "computers". But I'm hoping that the next post will be about something technical instead of me sharing my view of life.

So, I am at this time and moment, writing this article (obviously) and doing my business essay (which I put on hold to write this). It got me thinking. I am doing a business essay but I am actually studying computers. Definitely not what I signed up for. That got me thinking some more. To the actual meaning of ICT.

ICT is the acronym for Information & Communications Technology. Formerly known as IT. Same meaning, minus the communications. No difference in terms definition. A true tech-geek would know this. I won't be giving a text-book definition and explanation of what is ICT, rather, I will be talking about what people think when they hear the phrase "ICT".

I dread the times when people ask what I am studying. Not because I'm ashamed of it. But because of the majority of people asking me that question possessing little or no knowledge on the subject. I do not have the looks of wonder and astonishment as compared to studying engineering or medicine when I tell them what I am studying computers. In fact, most of the time I tell them half-truths to what I am studying. I just say I am studying computers which, technically, I am but...... I am not.

Confused? Let me clarify and shed some light into the dark gaping space of the reader's pool of knowledge regarding computers and ICT.

Simply, ICT is the application of computer and communication devices into other working sectors. For example, the management of a database in a company. Computer studies or computing deals with the nitty-gritty of how a computer works, in terms of software. Computer engineering deals with the hardware part. That is the difference.

If one really wants to know, I am the second explanation. I am going to studying computing, hoping to pursue a degree in Software Engineering. However, I am still in the first part, ICT. Only in my second year will I be transferred to computing. So, it quite makes sense as to why I am doing a business essay in my ICT course.

In my defense, computing and computer engineering is every bit as hard as "conventional" engineering but the majority of society seems to think otherwise. When telling people what I am studying, I just cannot help but to think that the person asking me thinks that I am not as good as "real" engineers or doctors. And that my future would not be as glamorous and profitable as them.

So, in my defense again, read up and go in-depth on how the personal computer's processing unit enables users to do what they usually do on their personal computers. Do that, study it carefully, and tell me that it is not as hard as what "conventional" engineers and doctors study.

Chances are, if I must put it so arrogantly, you can't.

Lack Of Commitment

2010-11-02T20:01:00.000+08:00

Lack of commitment: the reason we are never good in anything.

Why I'm saying this is that it sort of applies to me. I can say the same for the people around me too. Take this case, I wanted to actually be serious in managing this blog (posting regularly, keeping it informative, finding content, discussing issues, etc.). Which I still do, by the way. However, as I am writing this, I just don't feel the joy anymore of writing these articles. In fact, before actually starting this blog, I was thinking of how great it would be. But now that I have actually started this, I just, in a sense, could not care less about it.

Here's another case. Before the high-school major examinations, students were focusing on studies, parents were like wardens, and any form of entertainment were cut out of students' lives in order to do well in it and score. Sadly, that is the basic mentality of Malaysian Chinese which, sadly again, still occurs in cases of few of my friends, in college!

Back on track, before the examinations, students (including me) used to say what they want to do after the last paper. It can be from learning how to bake a cake to taking sky-diving lessons, saying how they look forward to it, looking for places to learn, and such.

But once the examinations are over, every one is at home complaining how boring it is. Another truly unique Malaysian youths' trait. No one actually commit to what they say. We stare at successful people such as, singers, actors, dancers, our idols, and we always say that it is because of their skills that they can be successful. We then compare ourselves to them, feel inferior, and give up.

The only differences between us "normal" people and our idols is their commitment to what they do and using their own idols as motivation.

Motivation. Another thing we lack.

Maybe It Is Just Me......

2010-10-26T13:31:00.002+08:00

So, I am back to this "owning a blog" thingy, and I have been reading some other people's blog. I mean, if you want people to read your blog, you would read other people's blog too, wouldn't you? Karma? No? Not familiar? Never mind.

Okay, so I understand that a blog is a person's very own personal space on the Internet, cool, nothing wrong with that. However, some blogs is (maybe just to me) going overboard with the personal aspects? I mean, sure, write about how your day went and what you feel, but having a personal shrine of yourself? That is just...... different.

I'm sorry to say this but it is true, girls' blogs, especially (No, I'm not cyber-stalking, I'm doing research on blogs for the benefit of my readers). Upon entering the blog, it is hard to not to notice who the owner of the blog is. The sides (top and bottom included) will be strung with photos of the author. It is funny that happens, since most girls I know claim to be so "ugly and fat" in pictures.

Another thing is that the pictures usually would be more or less the same. Example, the angle of the camera angle would be 45 degrees on top of the subject with some kind of funny lighting and the same kind of "look" from the subject. So, the impression I gets is that a whole bunch of (same) people are looking at me when I'm in the blog. Uncomfortable, if I must say. Maybe it'll be a different case if the person was my girlfriend?

Stalking. Now you know why it is happening, girls. Try not to rant in your blogs saying some weird and creepy guy is bugging you on the Internet. Remember what you choose to show to the world. But, hey, maybe that is just me.

SpeedyFox

2010-10-19T14:52:00.001+08:00

Today's post is going to be a tech entry. As much as I like to write about the automotive world, I still consider myself more of an IT guy since I used to study IT and will (most likely) be pursuing a career in the IT field. Not to mention, I have more experience handling computers and its components (hardware and software) compared to cars. So, here goes:

Every power-user of the Internet and most casual web-surfers should now be aware of Mozilla Firefox. I am not going to give a boring explanation on what it is. Basically, it is a web browser. For Firefox users, read on. Any other web browser users that have a closed mindset can stop reading.

Firefox is famous for it's fast Internet-browsing speed and infamous for its slow system speed, memory and resource hogging, slow start ups, and crashes. Some will notice that every time Firefox is turned on, it just gets slower and slower. Giving the impression of a sluggish heavy program.

There are many ways to solve that. Some ways involving clearing the cache, temporary folders, and cookies. Well, here is an easier way:

SpeedyFox (version 1.5 at the date of this post) is a Firefox optimizing tool created by Crystalidea. What more can I say? Personally, I have used it and will continue using it from time to time, and I would like to say it is good. All you need to do is download the software, turn off Firefox, run the .exe (no installation is required, thus making it light and portable), and press on the button that claims to speed up Firefox. Simple.

Mozilla Firefox: http://www.getfirefox.net/

SpeedyFox: http://www.crystalidea.com/speedyfox

Note: I'll be posting the link of SpeedyFox and any other software that I review and recommend in the future by the side of this blog.

The Story of the Tail and Gate

2010-10-18T19:29:00.003+08:00

Driving. An activity that, nowadays, most youths have the luxury of doing. Okay, maybe its not a luxury for some. A person might say it is a chore. I mean, everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

Personally, I love driving, though it might not be the same 20 years down the line. For me, the perfect way to relax is to find a long straight highway and just drive. Other conditions should meet too. The car should be one with a manual transmission and...... that is about just it. Perfect way of relaxation: maxed out on the gears, air-conditioning temperature just right, and radio playing the right song. Driving towards the horizon.

My idea of an exciting adventure? Driving as fast as I can on a mountainous B-road and the other is getting a proper 4x4 and go off-road. As you can see, my idea of relaxation and excitement is, basically, just driving.

I was rambling. Now to what I want to write about; today's driving experience. Today is different because I was nearly involved in an accident. Before picturing heavy braking with tyre squeals and sudden tugs of the steering, I want to burst the bubble by saying that it was not that dramatic. Ok, I admit, I am exaggerating a bit. But at the time, I was damn sure that something is going to happen. I was sandwiched by 2 lady drivers.

And again, before the sexist remarks start formulating in one's head, I would like to say that men have their annoying habits when driving too. The reason I felt like I was going to be involved, somehow, in an accident may not be because of the gender of the drivers.

The car in front of me had its brake lights on all the time. I repeat, ALL THE TIME. It is the equivalent of not having brake lights because as you may know, there is no indication whatsoever on whether the car is slowing down or not. I solved this by keeping a healthy distance in between. But then there is another problem. The car, at the back, was tailgating me. Tailgates don't usually worry me, but the thing is, the driver was on the phone! Just to point out, that is illegal. And, I still don't know whether the driver was tailgating me and was on the phone, or, tailgating me because of the phone.

So, the problem presents itself, if the front does an emergency brake (which I would notice it too late) and I do one in response, I doubt the car at the back can react in time. I couldn't switch lanes either because of the traffic during pre-rush hour.

There I was, breaking cold sweat and glancing my rear-view mirror from time to time, hoping that the driver gets of the phone, which at the time was highly unlikely, what with the happy expression of the driver talking to whoever that was on the phone. Fortunately, the mental torture lasted only for a few minutes and nothing actually happened. If it did, would I be writing this today?

Getting tailgated by a driver on the phone. Nerve-wrecking and certainly not one of the reasons I like to drive.

Induction

2010-10-17T17:19:00.006+08:00

So, I've decided to revive and completely revamp this blog as the old one did not turn out to be how I want it to be. Just picture emotional and irrelevant stuff (that no one is interested in).

Another reason could be that I currently have a lot of time to spare and too many things to say. Or maybe I just want to improve my communication skills through writing, or rather, typing.

Also, I have this idea where rather than having a blog catered for one specific group of people, I can have a blog where I cater to people that share similar interests with me. What I'm trying to say is that rather than having a blog specifically about reviewing food, why not have one that talks about food, fashion, lifestyles, and cars?

You may ask: what is the difference to that of a normal personal blog? Well, I'll try to keep the "personal" aspect to the minimum and focus more on the informative content.