Archive | PermalinkWhat 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 to find out, then read on here to find out what Hisham is in D&D.

(Read more at your own risk)

Keywords: rpg,the_internets

Archive | PermalinkAsian 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.

(Read more at your own risk)

Keywords: travel,work_excursion

Archive | PermalinkStuttgart 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.

(Read more at your own risk)

Keywords: travel,work_excursion

Archive | PermalinkChewbacca's Blog

No, really.

A fantastic weblog by Chewbacca himself.

Here's an excerpt:

Monday, February 20, 2006
aarrrrr 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.

Keywords: funny,star_wars,the_internets

Archive | PermalinkSouth 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:

Keywords: travel,vacation

Archive | PermalinkOutbreak

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.

Keywords: medical,travel,work_excursion

Archive | PermalinkHotel 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.

(Read more at your own risk)

Keywords: travel,work_excursion

Archive | PermalinkIt'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.

Keywords: travel,work_excursion

Archive | Permalink2005: A Bread Retrospective

You got it! Another bread entry. In my one and only entry on this topic, I was waxing poetic about My New Hobby, and showed the breads I had been able to produce. That was about early August, last year. For the last one-third of the year, I have been hard at work baking bread and learning more and more about it. Vin no longer buys any bread, and I have experimented with a variety of breads in my bread book.

This entry shows a selection of the different breads that I baked August through December of 2005.

(Read more at your own risk)

Keywords: bread

Archive | PermalinkLike 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.

Keywords: movie

Archive | PermalinkReturning 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.

Keywords: exhibitions,work_excursion

Archive | PermalinkThe 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.

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. On the other side of Kara, clockwise from top left: Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Blok, Wildfire, Timber Wolf, Bouncing Boy, Chameleon Boy and Lightning Lad.

Shrinking Violet and Invisible Kid could well be in that picture and we wouldn't have any idea.

The Fatal Five, clockwise from left: Tharok, the Emerald Empress (with the Eye of Ekron), Validus, Persuader (with his Atomic Axe) and Mano.

Great script throughout:
Kara: "What power do you have? Super strength? Speed?"
Brainiac 5: "I have a 12th level intelligence."
Kara: "Great. You can hit him with your diploma."

With JLU ending this season, I hope we get a Legion of Super-Heroes series. Anything by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini would be a series not to be underestimated.

Keywords: comics,tv

Archive | PermalinkHey, It's Still February 1st here!

Just a quick little entry to wish my yope (a.k.a. Hisham) a happy happpy haaaaapppy birthday!

I realize it's already going on 5 AM February 2nd in Malaysia, but it is now almost 4 PM February 1st here! So technically, I'm not late! Well... maybe a little...

Happy birthday to the best brother ever, from both Ayah Cik and Wan Cik Dik. Love y'alls..

Keywords: birthday

Archive | PermalinkMidnight 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.

(Read more at your own risk)

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,balik_kampung,friends