Initial D and Me

Well..How many of you really watch anime these days? 6 years ago..it was very hard to get a comic book or even a VCD/DVD collection any of your favourite anime..but not these days huh.. I first read the Initial D translated comic book was in 1997.. .at one of my friend's house in Sandakan..I felt in love to this so called "Drifting" technique instantly… it took me a year to read its story again...one of my friend during Matriculation (Lester) bought its comic book...and I then began to have a desire to look for its cartoon (that was what it was called back there)..In 1999, I found its VCD...Probably I wasn't aware of it but it does not matter anymore… it was only an episode from its First Stage series...I didn't stop there though…just for the record…I love motor sports...my favourite programmes back there were Motor Grand Prix (Mick Doohan), Formula 1 (Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakinen) and other motor sports programmes as well… I’m still with F1 until today...since I was still a student back then, I didn't have PC or Laptop or enough budget to have my own collection...I think it was in 2002 when I first found the Initial D First Stage collection VCD in a yellow box (probably earlier than that) Finally, I managed to get it my own in the same year and have been continuesly watching them..over and over..I can't remember how many times I've watched it and I couldn't help my self wishing that I wish to have such nice car like Fujiwara Takumi in Initial D (Toyota Trueno or mostly known as AE86).. even most "drifter" would opt for that car..including our own Drift King..read more..

4 years have passed..now I have all its collection..from the First Stage to the Fourth Stage of Project D..I have the Initial D Movie as well although I was a little disappointed by the fact that they changed the stories and characters in that movie...I'm still hoping that they would continue its story to another length..perhaps a Fifth Stage? What exactly I love about this anime? Well..am not a mechanic to know most of the technical stuff in a car..but since watching this anime..slowly I get the idea on how to do the "drift" driving. If we look at the "drift" history, it was first developed back in 80s and founded by Japanese... Today, it has became one of the must see sport in US where they have a World Drift tournament…Not only the US. we, Malaysia has its own D1 Grand Prix every year...am sure those who love the "drift" technique would knew that we have our own "Drift King", Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel which was placed 5^th in the D1 Grand Prix’s 2006 then 4th place in D1 Grand Prix’s 2007 of “World-All Star” tournament at Irwin dale Speedway....for the record Keiichi Tsuchiya is the world re-known Drift King... When drifting was still unknown in the motor sport world… it was called as skidding… The Japanese came up with this method to control their car as a counter attack when tackling a conner…Normal driver would slow down when tackling a corner but to some "drift" drivers.…They would maintain the car's pace and speed…at the same time take full control when entering as well as exiting every corner...

Tenku Djan showing off

Tsuchiya in the making of Tokyo Drift

I've had my own personal attempts and sometimes they worked but sometimes they didn’t… am not even an amateur "drifter”... I’m only a beginner...I wish I have lots of money to invest for this skill… I even have my own dream that someday I'd go to Japan to master this "cool" driving skill...I might conquer the Ranau/Tambunan - KK road at night...he.he..I wouldn't do that…I did once actually… I was pissed due to a personal matter and I drove crazily at dawn to reach KK asap....detail of story is kept secret… to tell how great "drifting" is, I need to tell my story first… the incident happened in June 2003..at around 3:++am I drove a car through the mountain pass of Ranau - KK without thinking of my own safety...When I first got into the car…I checked its fuel was already 1/3 but nothing can be done at that time… fuel stations already closed by then… No 24 hours in Ranau!!!!!! I don't think that amount of fuel would get me to the nearest fuel station in Tamparuli... perhaps "the power of love" took control of my mind and body… I drove uphill until I reached Kundasang...and I began pushing the car capability on down-hill. You all knew kan from Ranau - Kundasang is up hill...then Kundasang - KK is mostly mixed with up-down hill… I started pushing the car's capability… with its heavy body and fitted with rotary engine (carburetor)… I managed to maintain its pace over 90 kph..with the help of Initial D, I even used the gutter several times...and if I didn't the car would skid… thanks to the car’s suspension though... if it wasn't good, the car must have turned up side down... Un-intentionally I made the car "drift" along the corner then I just controlled the steering and speed by playing with the clutch and rev pedal…then suddenly I felt the car lost its traction when I reached Ranau-KK border...shit happens huh...yeah!!...the right rear tire was punctured…damn it!!...amazingly when I checked the time on my mobile... It was just over 30 minutes since I left Ranau...wow!! That fast?? I changed the tire and began to worry that I may not able to reach Tamparuli with the spare tire so I headed back to Ranau...the next day, I bought a new tubeless tire replacing the punctured one…Damn it!! That was something and still… one of the craziest incident I have ever done due to "the power of love"

Initial D is really fun to watch… you’ll gain lot of knowledge which you'd be able to get a proper explanation of several sports car advantage and disadvantage. Logically how can an AE86 beats the EVO...that’s how interesting the anime is... and it actually changed my view on car… years ago I thought that new model car is better than old model. well at some point they're but if we think in a way of avoiding accident… old car is better as it uses our own judgment and ability to control the car progression… new model car is well equipped with modern technology that causes carelessness or weakness in driving skill. Wouldn’t you agree more?

You'll be awed by Fujiwara Takumi and his father, Fujiwara Bunta the shitty old man..I watched the First Stage again yesterday evening when I suddenly felt asleep due to tiredness...Initial D would be my best and favourite anime of all time..especially their 3D graphic..

Bunta doing a test spin

Laughter is the best medicine

Sorry...this should have been posted earlier (2 weeks ago) but I have always forgotten that I have this book..well I actually brought it to the office and I don't really have time to read it... Today, I had a little time free..whilst I was waiting our developers to develop/amend/fix 2 works orders...As usual, I'd briefed them on their requirements and spec etc..Once done, continued on monitoring their work, testing/QA'ing....I think due to the pressure of meeting the due date..I gave in and pressured my mind too much I guess...it made my mind tired..perah and perah when tesing/QA'ing..perah and perah lagi when giving better solution/ideas/explanation to developers.. then I decided I need a little break here to refresh..I then grabbed this book out of my locker..and start reading..I went through several pages and these were some jokes that made me laugh...would you??

"I dialed a wrong number and got the following recording: "I am not available rigth now, but I thank you for caring enough to call. I am making some changes in my life. Please leave a message after the beep. If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes" - Antonio Curtis

"Some of my co-workers and I decided to remove the small, wooden suggestion box from our office because it had received so few entries. We stuck the box on top of a seven-foot-high metal storage cabinet and then promptly forgot about it. Months later, when the box was moved during remodeling, we found a single slip of paper inside. The suggestion read "lower the box!" - Frank J.Monaco

As you can see from the picture, I bought the book from Reader's Digest's catalog..I don't really like to read or even buying..I just had this short term desire that I want to own the book..who knows later in future I may read and enjoy it...that was it..I signed the order slip and sent it over to RD..I received it a week later..I'm going to take my time to finish up reading the book and am no hurry to do so....

I'm tired..I need a rest..

I'm so so so and so tired today....I've just woke up from a quick nap..I suddenly fell a sleep whilst watching my favourite anime few hours ago..I wasn't really busy at the office today but I had to give it all I've got to work things around with 2 works orders to meet the date line..we're going to release a new version (official release) by the end of today (5pm UK time)...these 2 works orders needed fixing and amendment to be in this latest release...we were successful and I had to spent 2 hours extra without lunch break..at the end of the day..I ordered 3 regular size pizzas to celebrate with my team..thanks guys! and you guys deserve my treat....

Now I really need a rest....Enjoy your Friday night and happy weekend guys!

PAKU: Fete De La Musique 2008 at New World Park

What is exactly Fete De La Musique? It started in France so its name..also known as World Music Day is a music festival taking place on every 21st June..not exactly on 21st but usually in the Summer Solstice....the festival spread to over a hundred cities like Australia, UK, Argentina, Romania, Germany, Philippines...many more...as well as Malaysia..history tells that, it was first started in 1982...an all-night music celebration..now it is held simultaneously at each of the cities involved..KL was on 21st June though..my other friend's band, Gazzo played there..my first was in 2006..then last year and again this year...I came not only to support Mr. Jew's band, PAKU but also I wanted to enjoy the music of our local band...when I was still in secondary school..I used to go to underground gig in Sandakan, Sabah....those black metal musics...punk..thrash...those were my kind and I was once them..below were some pictures taken during my 1 hour visit to the festival..taken by my friend..click on the picture to enlarge..

Whilst waiting for PAKU to perform we were entertained by these ladies (a dance show)..although their steps didn't really storm the yard but their 'show' did a great job for the crowd..pandai banyak tiba-tiba..ha.ha..

New Colleague - Part 2

3nd June was her 2nd day working...today...could be her last day...yesterday evening, I received a call from her saying she was not feeling alright..she had a stomach pain..before I left office...she looked fine and healthy...so I joked with her asking if she were pregnant..then reminded her to come to office tomorrow with doctor's medical leave form...then later at night, my other colleague who trains her and to work with her, sent couple of texts..asking me to do something as she couldn't stand at the new lady's attitude anymore...last week she told me that the new lady came late over 10 minutes..that was still acceptable but what the new lady did afterwards was unacceptable..she came in and directly went to the meeting room..read newspaper..dreaming/thinking of something whilst facing the sea..playing with her mobile...then after about 15 minutes she then came to her table and login to her pc...she doesn't even care checking her e-mail...or at least switching her PC on...what kind of attitude was that?..want more? she actually hasn't talked to the manager in the UK asking for a verbal approval yesterday..she knew she can just call him instead of sending an email..my other colleague said..it looked like as if she had planned the act earlier...she send email to the manager in UK..call me to let me know and get my approval..then leave the office...my manager then called several minutes after..but the new lady has already left..what was that?

I've received lots of complaints from my other colleague of the new lady's lackadaisical and effort or even her initiative to learn..before her interview in May, she had actually cancelled her interview..I was the one who she spoke to, asking me to let the manager knows about it..after a week..she came back..my manager said he gave a second chance...when I was given the task to train her..I was willing to train her..but after several days..day by day..I realised she had learned nothing..I taught her ABC the day before and the next day when I asked her about B she answered me C..WTF!!! thankfully I'm a very patient person...I didn't give up though but I can't manage to train her..to guide developers..to consult customers..to do QA and testing...since training wasn't my job requirement..so I suggested the task to be given to my other colleague....I know that my colleague is quite fierce sometimes when she trains her..but that's all good for her...at the same time..her performance and progress does not going positively as expected..what went wrong..I observed her training process and what she was trained on daily basis..she should have gotten better instead..

After 4 weeks..after she's got her 1st salary...I received a call from her today..telling me she wanted to resign..said she can't come to office anymore today...as she would start working at her new company today...so I told him..you must come to the office today, write a formal letter and talk to the manager in UK..you still need to come to return all the keys provided to you...at least say sorry and a good farewell..instead of leaving a bad remark..she kept quiet and replied OK..conversation ended....I had asked how long she would gonna last in my previous post of New Colleague...well..this is good than later kan..hehe...most of us does not really like her also...one thing I really hate about her was her attitude to produce the sound of "tsk".."tsk"..this only occurred whenever I asked questions...if the answers she gave were correct OK..but they were wrong...the "tsk" sounds was likely representing her mind trying to tell me that "malas la...mahu juga tanya soalan.."you all knew and of course sometimes insulted when people use that "tsk" whilst you're talking to them..its a way of showing off your tense mind...your disagreement..etc..What ever it was....I just wanted to say...Good luck to you lady...wish you all the success in your next career..

UPDATED on 1st July 2008, 22:43
She had planned her get away!!! she left all the keys provided to her in her locker....and emptied her locker..the manager tried to call her mobile several times but failed..it seems that she turned off her mobile..pity the manager as he needs to explain to the management...