The stupid way of replying to a support request


This is why I hate it when requesting help in American support forum. The people there may be very helpful but most of them are jerks.

The other day I was requesting for a way to reset Akismet stat, of which is now irrelevant to me that I have implemented an automated way to discard spam comments in this blog, but that CAPTCHA-based method still relies on Akismet’s AI and Bayesian filter to recognize the spam. However Akismet is required in that method only if the spambot passed the CAPTCHA test, of which none of them succeed since the past few months.

In my request in that support forum I politely asking if it’s possible to reset the Akismet stat. I did mention something like “if you have something that you know then share, but if you don’t know anything then don’t bother to reply” without giving any specific reason of why I wanted to do that in the first place though, because for me it doesn’t matter. I was just expecting as many answer/method to get the job done, regardless of the reason. Then the first reply I got is from a jerk who keep insisting to know exactly my reason of doing it.

Man why does that relevant? Not only that I even got replies saying “why bother?” and “the stat doesn’t hurt so why don’t you just keep it there?” as well as “the stat is something helpful to you as the admin so it’s pointless to reset it”.

That is what I call a stupid reply to a help request. I clearly stated that if you know something then tell me but if you don’t then just keep quiet. Heh! I guess those idiots will never listen and understand. They replied because they want to look cool or supportive although the fact is they only show their stupidity. The answer to a “yes/no” question is either “yes” or “no”, not something else, you idiot.

1Malaysia Email Project? The hell?


Malaysia government will be rolling out national email service called… (you guessed it) 1Malaysia Email (beta) to all Malaysian adults 18 and above. Starting 2nd half of this year, Malaysian adults will be able to activate their personal 1Malaysia email account using their MyKad (Malaysia’s Smart ID card). Features are quite awesome (25GB ‘cloud’ inbox, doubles as online storage, built-in office suite) but if it comes from the government, I can’t help but to think of something fishy is happening behind.

I wonder why the government bother to put it up actually. Seriously I have no idea of the motive behind it but I guess the government just want something that they have control in it, in contrast to third-party email service providers (especially those from outside of the country like Gmail, Yahoo, etc,) of which the government have no control at all. With this I suspect they’d be able to track online movements of its citizens to certain extent. It may be not much but knowing my government for a long time, they have no hesitation in alleging you for crimes (read: being politically harmful to them) that you may or may not commit. They could charge you for anything that you said, be it intentionally or unintentionally.

Alright I may forget about it and start using it like what I’m doing with GMail, Yahoo and the likes but I wonder, if the government care so much in making citizen becoming more IT literate why not start regulating the telcos/ISPs as well to help boosting it by ‘forcing’ them to offer super reliable internet connection? And, er, email only? With that enormous online storage I personally think the government should make it double as a blog as well (other than just personal online storage), and I don’t think that one as something that is too much to ask for.

Does hating iPhone iPad iPod automatically makes me…


Does hating iPhone/iPad/iPod automatically makes me an Android fan? No, that kind of logic is FAIL. In fact I’d still hate iXXX even if Android wasn’t there. The truth is I have issues with Android too like it’s not fit to carry the Linux label and incapable of running Linux apps (despite the much bragged point of being based on Linux, open source, etc), as well as some other stuff. However I have greater issues with iXXX. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not just Apple but also all other elite brands that claim to be the best, keep talking big and refused to admit/recognize/acknowledge it when ‘cheaper’ brands surpassed them (in a better way) in many terms.

So what would I do if there was no Android? Of course I’d root for Symbian. No, I won’t go for WinMobile (or WP7 for that matter) as I have similar issues with WinMobile as I do with iXXX. If there was no Android and people don’t like iXXX of course Symbian would be the king as those people would go for it, boosting its development and sales, unlike the current situation.

So if I care so much about Symbian then why do I hypocritically root for Android today? No, it’s not about being hypocrite, it’s about which one has a brighter future. I’m a practical person. I know iXXX has a bright future too but for it to force its users into a closed ecosystem is not something that I can live with. At least BlackBerry doesn’t have similar ecosystem, which is why I’m more compatible with BB than iXXX.

BTW I might have liked iPhone if it was a classic-iPodish looking phone rather than the touchscreen one. I understand Apple want to make it more than just a phone, hence the smartphone moniker but I think it was overkill on that time. I hope the rumor about Apple making a budget iPhone is true, and I hope it will have physical keypad just like a normal phone. After all I have a hard time to call a phone without keypad as a phone, even if it’s Android/Symbian.

The good thing about iPhone is it has only 2,3 form factor that 3rd party manufacturers have no problem in designing complementary devices/accessories for it. Well, it can be a good or bad thing, just like how the availability of different models/specs of Android phone becomes a good thing for different target groups. Anyways, I think for Linux (the real one, not Android) to conquer tablets as well, the software (apps) need to be touch optimized too. In other words, Linux needs to be less dependent on CLI and improve the GUI into touch interface.

So the question is not about what I love when I hate another.

Poem: Down By The Salley Gardens


Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;
She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;
But I, being young and foolish, with her did not agree.

In a field by the river my love and I did stand,
And on my leaning shoulder she placed her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs;
But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.

(by William Butler Yeats)

This poem was featured as an ending theme song (sung by Hitomi Azuma) for the anime Fractale.

My Greatest Accomplishment of 2010


Since Q4 2009 I have plenty of "missions" planned for 2010. Some of them were "accomplished", some of them were dropped (halfway or canceled) and the rest were brought into 2011. Yes, I have many "accomplished missions" in 2010 alone, though the number is small if compared to my "failed missions". Some of them are just small things not worth talking about and some other are "really big things". Anyways for this post I'll choose what I think is the single most important thing I accomplished last year (2010).

Alive

That "single most important thing" is actually survived another year. 2010 has been the "unhealthiest" year for me. It's the year where had RSI on my right wrist, undergone a surgery, coughed blood, hospitalized, got in a road accident and stuff. I even thought "would I survive this year?". Thank goodness luck is still on my side and I managed to reach 2011 with me still breathing and alive.

It may not sound like a big thing to most people but for me it's important to stay alive, even if it's just for a year. Being alive itself is already the biggest pleasure I've ever had. Being thankful alone is not enough. Last year has taught me to appreciate life better. That said, I wish I will survive this year too.

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What I Want to be Remembered For…


Let's accept it, every living thing will face death regardless we want it or not. Of course if there's a choice not to die I'd opt for that but that's just impossible. Having high interest in history myself, I've learned about many ways people would be remembered for. Some are good and some are bad. Now it's time for me to think about that too.

Small bronze statue of a medieval knight

Should I leave this world anytime in the future, I'd like to be remembered as somebody useful for the world. I want to be remembered for my contributions, even if it's only as big as a mustard seed. I don't mind if I left this world not as a rich or famous person. What I really want is I left as a person who bring happiness to somebody. If possible I'd like my name to be recognized as an exemplary historical figure in local history too (surely in a good way).

Well, of course everybody would like to be remembered in a good way. However, knowing my self are really into right now, I'm pretty sure people will remember me as somebody who spent (almost) 1/3 of my life for anime/manga/games/figma. For some people it's not a bad thing but not everybody thinks that way. Other than that, at this rate people might also remember me as a gadget freak who had spent more than half of my income for gadgets and tech magazines. I hope it's not a bad thing too ;P

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Three Countries I’d Like to Visit (and why)


I'm not really a travel and adventurous type of a person but believe me deep within myself I still have some desire to visit foreign countries. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I hate my own country or I love some other country more but think of it like visiting your neighbors. Throughout my life I've been dreaming of visiting other countries, especially the European countries. However things changed as I grow up. As of now I've included Asian countries too.

CeBIT WEBCIETY I find it good.

The first country I'd like to visit someday is Germany. This has nothing to do with my dream of visiting European country but mainly because I'd like to pay a visit to the world's biggest IT trade show, CeBIT at Hanover. I'm a gadget freak and CeBIT is the mecca for all gadget freaks. I also would like to visit the Fraunhofer Institute, the birthplace of mp3. Yes, it's all about the technological stuff.

Next I'd like to visit Japan, particularly Akihabara, Tokyo, which is the mecca for anime otaku. Unlike Germany (where many people are fluent in English) visiting Japan would be a problem for me, especially when it comes to communication. Let's hope I'll have a good guide then. Anyways, for all the love I have for anime/manga/games/figma I should not let that to stop me. Although I can't imagine I'd be visiting Japan anytime soon I think I should start learning some Japanese now. It would be useful too even if I'd never visit Japan.

Last but not least, I'd like to visit Israel/Palestine/Iran (either one will do). No particular reason but strangely I'm so attached to those Middle-East countries. It's probably because my ancestors came from there. Yes, I'd like to track my ancestry line someday. Just hope that peace will come to the Holy Land soon.

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What I’m Looking Forward to in 2011


This is not the first time I'm saying this. There were many things I was looking forward to do in 2010 but many of them didn't make it in the end. Some of them are dropped and the remaining will be brought to 2011, together with a few additions. Here I present you things that I'm looking forward in 2011. Keep reading.

Ore no Imouto

1. Finish my OreImo-parody artwork

I know it's been months already but I have very little time to spend with producing artwork these days. My health has been deteriorating lately and I'm not sure if I could finish it this year (2011). However I'll try my best and update about it from time to time. Just hope that I'll get myself a graphic tablet before the year ends.

2. Do blogging more often (brought from 2010)

I've been blogging since 2005. I admit that I had a few peak moments in blogging where I posted more than one article in a day. Some other times I was too lazy that I only post one article a month. This year I'm thinking of changing that and thanks to Plinky I think I'll make it happen this year.

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I’ve decided, the Part 2 of my blog art…


I’ve decided, the Part 2 of my blog article “Halfey’s Most Influential Anime Girls of All Time” will be published next year. I still need more sources and need to do more research too before I can publish it. I want the article to have as little flaw as I could.

You are who you are, but only to certain extent


It doesn’t matter who you really are underneath, but it’s what you do that defines you. You may say your actions does not imply your personality but if that’s the case then why do something that shows otherwise? Something that contradicts yourself? Even if you’re forced to do something beyond your will you should have at least try to escape even if you’re going to lose in the process. Your effort is what matters.