Went out to eat last night at “Asia Cafe'’ in SS15 and had some Dim Sum, satay, soup, and fruit drinks.  Desert was honeydew fruit and mango.

Check out the size of the drink!

I’m on a roll commenting about news bites today… this one sounded odd but I have a problem with some of the “features”.

“To guard against forgetful drivers not filling its AdBlue tank, the Mazda CX-7 diesel will cut its maximum speed if the level of AdBlue falls below a certain level.

The car will not start if the AdBlue tank is empty. The 15.5-litre tank is mounted under the rear-floor of the CX-7 and Mazda recommends the task is undertaken by an authorised dealer as part of scheduled servicing.

A gauge and warning lamp warn the driver as the level drops. The AdBlue tank requires refilling every 20,000km and costs about $140 a refill, which works out to roughly $7 per 1000km”

So, you want one?  This sounds like an expensive pain in the rear.  Just what is “AdBlue”?

“special man-made liquid similar to human urine to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The compound, called AdBlue, is a mixture of roughly one-third pure urea and two-thirds demineralised water.”

Mazda CX-7

The car that uses urine to save the planet

Not much of a comment really but I found the title funny…

 

 

OCTOBER 14--A South Carolina teenager is facing a felony charge for throwing a "deadly missile" at a moving vehicle. The armament in question was a burrito.

Link:
Armed With A Deadly Burrito - October 14, 2009

This thing was the size of a small car!  Ok, not really.  It was certainly big though.  Spotted outside my office taking a nice stroll through the lot… til we yelled and screamed while chasing after it.

Not sure if that was dumb or not, but it ran away so I’m just going to call that a “win” for our team.

A little before and after shot here.  Scrambling to try and have this done by Aug 16 for a large event.  Running out of cash!  Actually, didnt have a lot of cash to start with. :)

This is just a preview pic… the detailing isnt done and the wheel lip polish hasnt been started.

About an hour after this pic was taken the car headed to the upholstry shop

Not sure about what bumper to use yet.

I have no ideas what these are.  Looks like a barnacle to me.  Crazy.

Found a new food place near the house.  Its called “Domdal’s Bakery” and is run by a Matt Salleh married to an Malaysian Indian.  But its not me! heh.

This is the entrance.  Not much for seating but I think the main idea is for takout.  Primary product is “bread” and other baked goodies.

That doesnt mean the seating was bad… just not good for large groups.  Inside looks kinda like some of the other bakery outlets in town – you know hot dog in bread type stuff but when I asked about it those items are not the main interest but that customers tend to expect them.  So they are avialable but their pride is in the specialty breads.

Anyway… I didnt sample any of the breads and maybe I should have and this could actually be a review… as it is, all I can really do is describe what we had for Sunday lunch…

We both ordered a grilled chicken sandwich.  I forget the proper name from the menu but nevermind that… its the BREAD that is the focus here.

I found the bread used to be very good!  The chicken was also good but the amount of meat was too little.  The drink chioces were limited but I had no issue with that as orange juice sounded good.

Note the branded tissues! heh.

The main issue of course is price.  For the RM6.50 I found the sandwich pricing “ok”.  Not bad but not a bargain either.  Would have paid an extra RM1 to get more chicken.

The juice was waaaay high though.  It might be fresh squeezed or plucked from a tree out back but the RM6 is above the price point I want – I would rather have just regular juice from a can for less $.  Overall?  I give this a thumbs up, just order a different drink and you will be pleased.

Edit:  Tried the breakfast set… not bad…  Came with a free coffee added on.

Sad day kinda.  Spotted this car recently and noticed it was similar to the Buick I had.  Reading up on the 222E the specs are not as different – like one might expect.

It has two turbos but the way the ducting is done looks similar as does the intake.  Even the climate controls were very similar!

Not sure how it drives or how quick it is but it could be a fun car and probably accepts modifications easily enough.  cool.  Sad because I dont have anything like it anymore… which has always been true because they are also a lot different.  Enough similar for memory lane though.

Anyway, I have no idea if this one is modified already and too lazy to search the net.  I suspect some things in the engine compartment are different than OEM but thats a small thing… the overall impression I get wouldnt change.

Odd that with all the cool things it still has a distributor.  Go Buick!  :)

Maserati link #1
Maserati link #2

Buick link #1 (GNX)
Buick link #2

Fun link #1
Fun link #2

Got my hands on this recently to try out.  Cool interface and attractive build.  Outstanding box construction.

Problem?  Its a CLONE!  And didn’t work!

Could not make calls because the mic was stuck in hands-free mode but hands free didnt work either.  Oh well.

Using the template at http://freeantennas.com I made a parabolic reflector for the office access point.  It works!  Not a huge gain but noticeable change in signal as reported by Vista/XP.  Hard to prove benefits but it was an interesting project.

Not sure what is going on but just check out these stacked computer cases and monitors at one of the police stations!  Why else have them unless from a raid?  Cyber cafe or computer brothel? hehe.

Went out with friends recently to Madam Kwan’s and for desert I had the “Banana Junk”.

What is in it?  Three flavors of ice-cream: Mango, Vanilla, & Strawberry.  Add in some split banana and toppings and you get an interesting mix.  Top it off with an umbrella and arrange everything juuuust so and I can see where the name comes from.  Like this.

Had a look at this toy recently.  Its a “floating” shark that when plugged into a special base holder thing, looks like its swimming.  Problem?  No base to test.

Being inquisitive myself and MiniMoke decided to check further…. how does it work?  Can we apply voltage and make it move?  Our initial tests failed

So we pulled the cover and found there is NO connectivity!  Thats right, zip for connections.  China made scam!  Check out the board and the empty slot it came from…

Then we realized it must be wireless and that WE are the dumb ones.  It was funnier to think this didn’t work but still funny how we were fooled.  Or were we…? 

 

“…I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. — I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. — Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not…”

- John Adams

Decided to go to BK the other day and noticed this sign outside…. advert for the “BEEFACON”.  Me being me I took a picture being SURE this was a funny typo.  I was wrong.

ALL media and promo materials were spelled as “BEEFACON”.  Trying to be funny I sounded it out… “Be Fakin”, “Beef Achin(g)” and so on.  I’m the only one laughing.  I STILL dont really get it… normally these things are a play on words but this one just doesn’t ding a bell but best guess is that its pointing out the bacon isnt pork…. and they think *I’M* not funny? 

How was it?  The picture makes it not looks so nice but IT WAS REALLY GOOD.  Look out Carl’s Jr.!  I would think this is the Malaysian answer to the “meat with cheese and more meat” adverts in USA.  There was NO filler but also no quad option.

Ok, there is this story in the tech section of online BBC about how 30% or so of the population in UK is not online.  It starts like this:

Free broadband won't entice all

Some people access the internet at public centres

Some 43% of adults who currently do not have internet access would remain disconnected even if they were given a free PC and broadband connection. <snip>

Then after you finish the long report you see a form at the bottom.  See if you can spot the issue:

---

Are you one of the 30% of adults who do not have internet access at home? Would a free PC and broadband access persuade you to go online? Send us your views using the form below:

It’s kinda like asking anyone absent to raise their hand!  Harharhar

Source: BBC

Well its been several days already but I needed to write a little something about recent events.  The wife and I went for a simple exam Monday due to some spotting and learned that we had lost the baby.  What terrible terrible news that was completely unexpected.

WE made it to nearly 10 weeks and had started warming up to making plans and things and had already told several people.  I mean “why not”?  We had already seen the heartbeat and although we didnt make a lot of announcements we were not secretive about it.  Not sure what the message is or what we are supposed to learn exactly but I figure there is some purpose through God that I just don’t know about yet. 

The  development stopped at approx 8 weeks or so.  No indications or symptoms other than a barely noticeable spotting nearly two weeks later.  :(

This being the SECOND time losing a baby and after failed IVF we wanted to revisit the idea of planting a tree… a memorial tree.

This applies a bit of  a positive thought to a sad time.  Not a cure but it felt good.  It also adds a bit of improved “landscaping”.  I put that in quotes because my thumb isnt green. :)

Below pics show the spot in front of the house… not sure what I would find in the dirt!  Hoping no water or power lines would be found under the surface.  heh.

Picking out our tree!  I wanted something that didnt have a lot of low branches and warmed up to this palm tree looking thing pretty quickly.  Unable to communicate to know exactly what it is though.

Done!  Or nearly so.  Still have some cleanup to do and maybe add a small border or other decorative bits.  Found lots of broken glass and pottery parts in the ground along with a large brick and many many rocks.  Looking at the pics now I’m half tempted to paint the empty house next door!

Just in case you actually read my cryptic post earlier showing “hCG” levels but did not figure it out yet, we are pregnant.  Well not ME actually but I hope you figured that out on your own.  Anyone reading?  Moving on to a picture:

What yer lookin above is a scan taken today.  If the measurement is accurate ( starting to doubt), then this is a big baby.  Thus the “or so” part since maybe its actually 7 weeks 4 days? 6 days?

Until today we thought 8 weeks + !  Go figure.

Below is a nice 3Dish representation of the above.  No, this is not a Geico advert or a recasting of “V” but is instead just how a baby will look at this stage.  Neat eh?  I thought so.

 

So we wait now for a while until the next series of checks…

Check the wiring!  This isn’t the first time I’ve seen phone wiring look so bad but holy crap this is one of two boxes in an office building I visit sometimes.  Both look like this.

Since, YES, the internet sucks one starts to wonder if wiring in this state could be partly to blame?  I doubt it as it pretty much sucks everywhere.  ;)

So is it a Trumpet snail?  Found a couple of large shells recently in the park nearby but this is the first to be occupied.

It was pretty big.  All stretched out it would be nearly as long as my hand. 

Didnt get a chance to check further as I was walking Rio