The Local Ugly Economy Truth???

This is an interesting article that readers might wanted to get a good view at...
I'm not sure how true it will be...
... but it worth a look since my money was depreciating every time I wanted to go travel
...goods pricing were hiking, meal potion is shrinking and my salary was fucked up stagnant ...

... a short part ... here

Economists brushed aside rosy comments by Prime Minister Najib Razak that economic growth in the fourth quarter of last year had exceeded expectations, saying they were more worried about the massive amount of reverse foreign direct investments and the consequent loss of job creations.

Already, Malaysia has seen the third-biggest drop in foreign exchange reserves of any emerging market country in 2009. Scared by the global financial crisis and uncertain politics after the 2008 election, both foreign and local investors withdrew US$35 billion between Q2 2008 and Q2 2009.

“Bank Negara has been trying to hush the banks and put the blame on short-term portfolio funds,” a senior economist at a bank-backed research house told Harakahdaily on the condition of anonymity.

“But what really caused the huge pullout was reverse FDI, which are Malaysians taking out their money to invest in other countries because they view these places as offering better stability and economic returns. ....


for more reading on this article please click this -  LINK


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i hate this being buried deep and away from the public ....
what do you call this ya????
geeee.... i need a Thesaurus to get this a proper name ....
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Broga Hill Sunrise Journey

We got up really early that day ...

geeee...  some even had just took a few hours sleep.. or none at all

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we gathered at Taman Connaught's Mc'Donald outlet at 4AM morning!
...and to our surprise, there was another big group beside who was in their whole
big attire to Broga Hill too (I suspect lahhh~ but I got it Bingo ^^ )
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from left to right - Eugene, Sherney, Anthony, Chin and Fei

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it was actually not far away from our starting point, it only takes about 20mins drive since
the road was very smooth due to very early morning.
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If you, wanted to go there. Do be observant after the Northingham University. You are
almost there and the road was dark. Slow down and spot for Rabbit Farm. The access
path to Broga Hill was just opposite the Rabbit Farm, yup - it was inside the palm oil
plantation~!!!
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Saturday will be the best time to go since many other groups
will go up there as well. Park your car at roadside, if you park your car inside the
palm tree plantation, the owner would charge you(while picking up your car) Parking Fees as it was
private property compound~!!!

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*Please Click HERE to Enlarge the MAP (courtesy from manmeng.net/blog)
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the damn thing was, we took a wrong short cut and we had to U Turn back to this signboard
... and climb uphill (the only way)

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be prepared to bring a bottle of water
you will be exhausted along the way and when reaching up there.
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bring a sunglass as well, you will need it ^^
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by the time we reached up there, it was already 6.10am 
there was a lot people keep coming up, as you can see those torch lights
this pic looks a bit bad since it was in ISO 6400

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lots of shutter bugs~!!!
6/10 were having some camera device or handphone
80% were Canon kaki

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the dawn before the sun comes out to the horizon

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better not to waste time and shoot some pics 1st

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spotted a lady .. I had no idea what she is doing there...
...but we did noticed that she was using a Mamiya camera leh~

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now the glory of the sunrise had emerged~!

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my buddies of Canon 

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Why I Need to Glue My Camera EyeCup!?

Here are reasons why I need to glue my camera eyecup...

1) it was super duper seldom local camera shop will keep this accessories!

So, it was hard to replace if the eye piece was lost ...and it had happened to ME!!!

YOU BETTER jaga(take care) yours one ya~

2) I don't think I would change it or take it off for long exposure photography..

(frankly speaking how often will I do such task? if I do, I would use a cloth to cover it)

3) Is not cheap either ....

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the eyecup before attach

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it was actually not easy to slips off ... but probably it happens for a reason...

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now it was fitted nicely n glued by Super Glue

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I just can't wait for Shashinki.com

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i found it here though it was expensive and had taught me a lesson.

* some said it can be bought at RM45 ... haiz... what to do ...
not easy to find it as many shops didn't have it.
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I lost it at Broga Hill Sunrise Journey
probably as the Chinese saying goes - "破财挡灾/broke one's fortune to save one's disaster"
(will post up Broga Hill series soon)
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so, will you glue your eyecup???
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Lame Things About Putrajaya - City of Display?

It was quite a disappointed trip to say ...

We(me & baby) went there last nite.

The road signboards wasn't that helpful to us.

It would only be helpful to those who got use to the place~!!!

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1st timer to the Putrajaya Mosque Square would usually end up

ASKing people for direction...

yes...

pls have a good look on this Google Map below...

* The fucking thin RED Line indicates the bloody chi bai narrow road which would lead you to the Mosque ... I was so SHOCKED!!! HOW THE ENGINEERs implement such small road??? most 1st timer tourist would probably end up, stopping at the Guard house and asking the guards on how to reach the Mosque Square.

*Perhaps the guards were hired to this job as well (cum tourist information attendants)

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If you missed this tiny junction, you will gonna take a big round and RE-DO again!!!

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* courtesy from Google pics

I really doubt about their plan, and I guess they would admit this FLAW, wouldn't they???

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...and another thing that I notice ...

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*courtesy from Google pics

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*it was quite a lifeless city at night which is good a news to photographers.

...but was it worth to spend so much tax payers money for this kind of ...display???

and you would find some places here were poor in maintainability 

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*Helpful tips on roads - Use back the Puchong exit to go North South Highway, especially going South or else you will spend almost 20km(a big merry go round) just to reach where you wanted to go. I kena kow kow d ....    T__T  what a bad evening..

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New Lenses means New Hope?

This gonna be a real great news to most DSLR enthusiasts who are looking for some competitive good lenses without burning a BIG Hole on their pocket.

The latest news from http://dpreview.com/ , that the SIGMA had made a significant active moves of upgrading their line of lenses recently. However the price has not been set yet....

The usual lust on lenses are:

1)   17-50mm f/2.8 with Stabilizer (landscape to portrait)
    Canon        - EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM = RM3,870 *expensive
    Nikon         - DX17-55mm F2.8G = RM4,950 *expensive
    TAMRON   - SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Aspherical (IF) = RM2,000 *no motor 
                          drive means SLOW~
    SIGMA        - 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM = RM ????


2)  70-200mm f/2.8 with Stabilizer (portrait to sports/wild life) 
     Canon         - EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM = RM7,350 *expensive
     Nikon          - 70-200mm II F2.8G = RM7,550 *expensive
     TAMRON    - AF70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro = RM2970 *no motor drive means SLOW
                            and no VC (vibration compensation)~
     SIGMA        - APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG OS HSM = RM ????


Here are those specs on the new lenses:

SIGMA APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM

February 21, 2010: The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG OS HSM.This large aperture telephoto zoom lens incorporates Sigma’s original Optical Stabilizer function.

The lens covers a medium telephoto range of focal lengths from 70mm to 200mm and has a large maximum aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. The OS (Optical Stabilizer) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible.  For Sony and Pentax mount, the built-in OS function of this lens can be used even if the camera body is equipped with an image sensor shift anti-shake system. 

As compensation for camera shake is visible in the view finder, the photographer can easily check for accurate focus and ensure there is no subject movement.  Two FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, which have the performance equal to fluorite glass, and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction of color aberration.

High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range and an optimum optical power layout provides superior optical quality in all shooting ranges from close-up to infinity. Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghost.  This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), ensuring a quiet and high speed AF as well as full-time manual focus capability. 

The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 140cm (55.1”) throughout the entire zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:8.  The rounded 9 blade diaphragm creates an attractive blur to the out of focus images.  This lens is equipped with a Petal-type hood.  For digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, a dedicated hood adapter, which expands the length of the lens hood, is supplied.

SIGMA 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM

February 21, 2010: The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM. This large aperture standard zoom lens is designed for digital SLR cameras and incorporates Sigma’s efficient OS function. It is a compact lens with an overall length of just 91.8mm (3.6”).

This lens covers a focal length from 17mm wide angle and offers a large aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range, making it ideal for many types of photography such as portraiture and landscapes.  The OS (Optical Stabilizer) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible. 

For Sony and Pentax mount, the built-in OS function of this lens can be used even if the camera body is equipped with an image sensor shift anti-shake system. As compensation for camera shake is visible in the viewfinder, the photographer can easily check for accurate focus and ensure there is no subject movement.

Two FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, which have performance equal to fluorite glass, plus two glass mold and one hybrid aspherical lens, provide excellent correction for all type of aberrations.  The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghost.  This lens has superior peripheral brightness and provides sharp, high contrast images even at the maximum apertures.

High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range.  Incorporating HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), the lens provides fast and quiet AF.  The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 28cm (11”) throughout the entire zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.  The rounded 7 blade diaphragm creates an attractive blur to the out of focus images.  The inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens particularly suitable for use with the supplied petal-type lens hood and circular polarizing filters.



** Hopefully their quality will be more consistent this time. Still we need to wait for others independent labs report on the lenses; and not least on the feedbacks from the comsumers.
Till then, all we can do is to just wait and see ....
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True But Sad - Malaysia SUCKS?!!!

I bumped into this forum which say something insightful about Malaysia and lets have a look on how
sucks our Malaysia can be.....

*the article below was from this site - Expat's Opinion(link)  ...and other Google's resources...
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Hi what do you expect from a third world country like Malaysia?

Most have a policy (like Thailand) of "f off foreigners just leave you cash and go"

Its called pride. "Doing it all ourselves"

Malaysia even tried to build its own car industry and came up with the "National Joke" Proton. That's pride gone mad. Thais build cars but other people designs and brands so they bring in jobs but don't make fooks of themselves. But they have more self-pride as never colonized

As for job hunting though you know how it is. No serious job is given "at random" to those that apply

Order in which "senior" or good jobs given too

- directors children
- royal family
- ministers families
- children/in-laws of Tan Sris
- children/in-laws of directors of other companies
- children/in-laws of Datuks

etc etc.....

Even lower jobs
are given not on merit. Secretarial jobs are given to wives of managers/directors. Usulaly they come in for 2 hours a day to strut around and shout and "lower people"

Malaysisa is a feudal society which until relatively recently was all Kampungs with the local tribal leaders and a hierarchy going up to the Sultan.

After all these VIP's are given "good" jobs whats left for bright locals without connections? not much!

CNY Dinner before CNY

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新年收工酒的Dinner 又来了~！

shhhhh~  normal only lah~ not that Si Beh Hoh Jiak(Hokkien) one ...
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my co-shutter bug bro Amos with his Sony Alpha A350 + F58(aka cobra head flash)

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Celeste and Steven Cheng, ahemmmm ... they were not couple lah~

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Steven was a hardcore Maple Story playa ... he can sleep & play ..current level some where 160???
indeed my very close church member

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kakaka~ mahai lah~ after snapping photos, all Salmon meat gone d lah ... also not much left ...
cibai liao lah~   never mind lahhh... guess they don't know about that - sushi post i posted up earlier
LoL~

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he is Stephen Chew and this look makes him looks like MCA taikoh f***king someone..  kakaka
he is our church member

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our church brada - also our youngest big boss - Gelbert Eng  ^^  He is running a small company somewhere Klang ...

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now you see ... later ... all gone lah~!

Your DSLR Brands!

It might be a good reference to compact camera users as they might plan to upgrade to DSLR camera( Digital Single Lens Reflex). We often heard how good or great about brand A or brand B performed but we really seldom hear how these brands lack of ...or certain short coming that they have.

Frankly speaking, there is very seldom to come across a bad camera in today's technology advancement when comparing to the past. Will your LCD TV image quality looks more inferior than your 80's TV? ...or will your iPhone/BlackBerry performs more terrible than those 1st generation cell phone in the 90's? Same goes to camera and lens.

We all love feed backs, especially on the things we like or love to buy/invest.
Now lets us take a closer look on usual feed backs on those famous DSLR brands, namely -  Olympus, Sony, Nikon & Canon 

* below comments & feedbacks are based on users experience on specific brands..

OLYMPUS

- the Olympus lens system was a bit expensive when compare to other offering and it has no 3rd party lens around to support the system. Making users have to pay a premium for the lens. Fix Aperture fast lens in their line will make your wallet bleeds to death ...

- No doubt, it was one of the fastest AF(Auto Focus) lens around. Once you got hooked with the DSLR, the major concern will be the long term investment with the system which means that you will further extend your lens collection into your arsenal.

- they had shifted their attention more to EP1 and EP2 models the true 4/3 system. Mainly target on those who wants to look different(if not weird with a big lens and over size flash attached) with the camera they own. Small size which also means lighter weight for ladies to carry~


SONY

- Sony offers a great deal of pricing on their DSLR & lens but it was a bit disappointing when in low light performance. The high ISO1600 or 3200 shots were unable to get as clean as the Nikon & Canon's offering. However, many believes that Sony is catching up real fast especially with their affordable top grade glass - namely Carl Zeiss. Rumors - they even had a plan to produce Full Frame camera in dirt cheap pricing,

Why Not Do it Later in Photoshop?

* an article from KenRockwell.com

What Are We Trying to Achieve?

I'm creating art. I'm not trying to duplicate reality. Photography has never been able to duplicate reality, and if it could, it's not art. See What is Art?
This isn't about trying to get the photo to match what we see while we stand there, although these same techniques apply. Default camera settings rarely duplicate what we see.
The results I want are what I'm seeing in my mind's eye. I'm taking something from my imagination and fixing it in tangible form. Under optimum conditions I want what I see, but in crappy conditions, I want to make my photo better than reality.
I start with what I've got at the scene. The difference between what I've got and what I see in my imagination are the adjustments and filters I apply.
What I've got  +  Adjustments  =  What I Want. 

Why Not Do it Later in Photoshop? 

*This is why I love shooting my pics in JPEG*
* Master your in camera Setting to produce stunning Color & Exposure* 

1.) It's too much work. I make many shots at the same settings, resulting in photos ready to publish straight from my camera.

2.) You can lighten and change color later in Photoshop, but overexposure loses information in blank highlights and washed-out colors. These are difficult or impossible to repair. Unfortunately many current Nikon and Canon cameras overexpose in contrasty light, which is irreparable if you don't set the correct exposure compensation in-camera.

3.) Mathematically it's more elegant to create the image properly in-camera, even if it's not visibly different from tweaking it later. Every camera starts with raw data from which it creates JPGs. Photoshopping later causes no visible degradation, but some people still worry about resaving JPGs from the scare stories that circulated back in the 1990s. Color issues are best set in-camera.

Examples

Here's what I get straight out of a camera. In this case, it's a $199 Canon A550.

Manly Beacon, Death Valley, California. Default settings.

Most people would be perfectly happy with this. I think it's dull and washed out. It's too light and loses color in the highlights.

OK, this bad shot isn't that bad. The light here is pretty soft, and would work OK at the default exposure, but would clip the reds in the highlights once I get done pumping up the color further down this page. One day I'll get better examples of bad shots.

Many Nikon and Canon cameras tend to overexpose right out of the box, which gives better results for backlit faces in bad, contrasty lighting often used by the inexperienced, but looks awful if you are paying attention.

Let's make it a little darker. I set -2/3 stop exposure compensation as my personal default on all my Canon cameras, and on my Nikon D40 and D80. I leave it at zero on my other Nikons.

I set this on Canon Compacts by pressing FUNC/SET, clicking up or down if I need to to get to the 0, and click two left to -2/3. On DSLRs press the +/- button and spin a dial, or you may need to find a menu on other than Canon and Nikon. Search my site to see if I mentioned it for your camera, or call Canon at (800) OK-CANON or Nikon at (800) NIKON-UX if you can't find it.

Manly Beacon, Death Valley, California. -2/3 stop exposure compensation.

This looks better to me, although maybe too dark. No big deal; this article is to show you what big differences in real picture quality come from moving the settings. We'll pump things up soon.

It's still dull. Let's pump up the contrast and color saturation.

On Canon compacts you do this by hitting FUNC/SET, click down to the little icon of a tube of paint marked OFF (between AWB and [ * ]) and click one to the right to get V, Vivid. I've used this setting on every compact Canon I've used for about the past four years. Every Canon compact has this.

On DSLRs you'll find this hidden in other menus. I explain it for each

Their Chef Fuck Up MY B'day Dinner~!!!

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This place was quite well known to the local people and it was called

BERT , Melaka.

A restaurant which had a nice ambiance

a place facing the sea

*fcuk .. beware of mosquitoes and it was very annoying 

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it was very fine mood at 1st ...

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until the the dishes were being served

Shot Our Whole Big Load @ Thaipusam Batu Cave

Will post up pics 1st before telling the story

 and the pics were Unedited~!

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here the full report goes lahhh~
we were stuck in the mahai cibai traffic jam for more than 45 minutes and it was not even move
for 80meter .. 

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then, we changed our direction and parked our car somewhere else

even after the nite supper "Kong Fu Chao Yin Yong"

and after some chat and washroom ...and after some walk

those the same bus was still STUCKED there

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they were JALAT liao lah~~~   XD

..
oi yoh~ mahai ..si beh orang ramai leh
人山人海，看到你都会怕怕~！！！

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ok lah, already here ...
my buddies - Yi Lek, Edwin & Christine(from left)

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me, Christine & Yi Lek

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come come come ... shave you bald bald~! only RM15/per head
I think they made a great business during this festival
I have no idea how many they had shaved d lah~~  

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