:: manga, manwha and comics ::

another random post! this time is about my love for reading manga, manwha and comics.

I have a collection of comic books, especially the ones with the manga-style drawings. Most of my books are either from Gempak Artists, Japanese Mangaka, or Korean Manwha Artists.

My taste in comic plots and stories are action, fiction, drama and romance. Lets just say that most of my Gempak comics book are drawn by Kaoru and Ben (their pen names! XD). Japanese manga I usually read online but i do have some books with me too. I like to read up Aizawa Yui's manga. Korean Manwha, hm, I'm a fan for the folklore type of stories. And usually i go for random manwha artists. :P

On another note, sometimes I read doujinshi as a fresh break from all the manga. Btw, doujinshi are are self-published Japanese works, usually manga or novels. :)

Comics! Ah! I like reading comics! The comics I grew up reading was "Calvin & Hobbes," "Garfield," "Asterix & the Gauls," "Tintin Adventures," and "Charlie Brown." I used to sneak into my sister's collection of DC and Marvel comic books and marvel at the inking work. (nice!!) Oh Michael Turner! Your artwork is truly like no other! *sobs*

Ah, whenever I go to Kuala Lumpur, especially at Kinokuniya/Borders, I'll splurge on books until i max out my hundred bills (or until I can no longer carry/handle the weigth of the books)! =_= augh! i should learn more dicipline and self-restraint when i enter bookshops. (but books are so niceee! *_*) Hence, the picture below is an example of what I usually end up with in my hands after spending 2-3 hours in a bookshop. T_T

- Jan 2009 Trip - Manga Books -

Huhuhu.. Its so nice to stack all my books into my bookcases. But when my bookcase is filled, and I start piling up the books on the floor, I know that its a sure sign for me to get rid of books that I haven't touched in a year (donates books to other people with a twinge of hesitant fingers). :P

If you think I don't read novels, think again. I DO read novels, but i'd like to keep that information to myself. :P I especially like paperback books more than hard cover books.

Oh ya, another thing I almost forgot. I developed this "respect" for books over the years, especially during college. If I accidently stepped on a book, I'll quickly apoligise to the book. Hahaha! Its because I regard books as a source of knowledge. :P

Mood: Tired
Muse: Vanilla Love - Lee Hyun Ji ft. Onew (SHINee)

:: do not use internet explorer (by yahoo!tech) ::

Yahoo!Tech news announced that users should switch away from IE because there's a major flaw that compromise your passwords and security.

In my opinion, ITS ABOUT TIME MICROSOFT ADMITS IT!

Anyways, here's the official article:
Source from Yahoo!Tech = http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/111811

Major flaw revealed in Internet Explorer; users urged to switch
Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:49AM EST

The major press outlets are abuzz this morning with news of a major new security flaw that affects all versions of Internet Explorer from IE5 to the latest beta of IE8. The attack has serious and far-reaching ramifications -- and they're not just theoretical attacks. In fact, the flaw is already in wide use as a tool to steal online game passwords, with some 10,000 websites infected with the code needed to take advantage of the hole in IE.

Virtually all security experts (as well as myself) are counseling users to switch to any other web browser -- none of the others are affected, including Firefox, Chrome, and Opera -- at least for the time being, though Microsoft has stubbornly said it "cannot recommend people switch due to this one flaw." Microsoft adds that it is working on a fix but has offered no ETA on when that might happen. Meanwhile it offers some suggestions for a temporary patch, including setting your Internet security zone settings to "high" and offering some complicated workarounds. (Some reports state, however, that the fixes do not actually work.)

Expedient patching or switching are essential. Security pros fear that the attack will soon spread beyond the theft of gaming passwords and into more criminal arenas, as the malicious code can be placed on any website and can be adapted to steal any password stored or entered using the browser. It's now down to the issue of time: Will Microsoft repair the problem and distribute a patch quickly enough to head off the tsunami of fraud that's about to hit or will it come too late to do any good?

Meanwhile, I'll reiterate my recommendation: Switch from Internet Explorer as soon as you can. You can always switch back once the threat is eliminated.

You can choose the following alternative browsers:
1. Mozilla Firefox
2. Opera
3. Google Chrome
4. Apple Safari

Its been years since I ever use IE. I usually use Mozilla Firefox or Opera. They're much better and safer. ^_^ Which browsers are you using?

Mood: serves them right! hah!
Muse: Light Song - Hatsune Miku

:: european english ::

I was cleaning out some junk mail out of my yahoo email just now when i stumbled into this article. hehe~ this was a forwarded joke-email that I received from a friend last year. ^_^ enjoy reading.

The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".

In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.

Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.

By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as
replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".

During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensi bl riten styl.

Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.

Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas.

If zis mad you smil, pleas pas on to oza pepl.

Mood: amused
Muse: Okaeri - Ayaka

:: tagged again ::

Okies! I got tagged again. Actually kan, i saw this tag at Fara's blog ody. But didn't have time to blog yesterday. Now Marissa tagged me also. =_= so, i guess i'll with Marissa as the one who tagged me the latest. ^^;;

The last person to tag you is?
Marissa oneesan~ ^^

What relationship of you with him/her?
I like to play with her hair and sometimes randomly tease her.. hohohoh

Your 5 impressions towards him/her.
1) She totally loves Vampires! o_O
2) She has a wardrobe of black clothing and shoes!
3) We both love Japanese culture and sushi!
4) I can watch horror flicks with her! *yay*
5) She a one-of-a-kind gal and totally cute!! Kyaa~ XDDD

The most memorable thing that he/she had done for you.
She helped drive me to work a few weeks ago. *terharu*

If he/she becomes your lover, you will…
*evil smirks* hm, i'll start with giving her a bouquet of dark red roses..

If he/she becomes your enemy, you will...
I'll give her a bouquet of white roses... XD

If he/she becomes your lover , he/she has to improve on..
Hmm... *thinks hard* um.. i think i'm the one who needs to improve on something.. =P

If he/she becomes your enemy , the reason is...
I accidentally dropped all her figurines on her computer monitor? *yikes! knocks on wood*

How do you think the people around you will feel about you?
Hm, somehow most of the comments i get is "Serena! Your real-self does not fit your name and appearance!" =_=""

The character for you for yourself is?
Spontaneous, clumsy, gets embarrassed easliy

The most ideal person you want to be is?
A courageous blade-wielding woman with quick wit and quick reflexes! *yay!*

For the person who cares and likes you, say something about them.
*glompshugskisses*

Ten people to tag;
Me thinks that's too many people to tag.. So i'll follow Fara and Marissa's style..

1. Joanne
2. Nadia
3. Sara
4. Talissa
5. Rina

Who is no.2 having relationship with?
Azman! ^^

Is no.3 a female or a male?
Female

If no.7 and no.10 be together would it be a good thing?
*ignores*

How about no.5 and 8?
Hm, number 8 should be a hot babe who likes femme slash! XD

What is number 1 studying ?
She's studying Media i think... *looks at Jo-N*

When was the last time you have chat with them?
I managed to chat with all if them this month, except Talissa

Is number 4 a single?
Nope, she's taken.

Talk something about no.2.
She's the one woman who will beat Queen Elizabeth's woman-in-power legacy and transcends all humanity with the gift of elven culture. *fantasy over* Haha! She is a wonderful friend who loves to read about elves and fiction. She very, very cute and a faithful friend. *hugs* Oh! She's getting engaged next month!!

Mood: accomplished
Muse: Perfume - Polyrhythm

:: pink ribbon month ::

woohoo!! i got tagged by Fara with the "Pink Sisterhood" tag. XDD

With this badge, i tag Talissa, Nadia, Joanne, Marissa, Rina, Massy and Sara.

Yeps, its that month ladies.. where we strain ourselves nekkid in our rooms in front of our mirrors to check if there's any bumps and changes on our boobies. Be sure to check out the Pink October blog if you want to get more information about breast cancer awareness.

^_^ As of the tags, gals, you must follow the following:

1. Put the logo on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who started it with you
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Add links to these blogs on your blog
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog

OKAY! Fara spiced up her PINK October post with a little "BOOBIES" Contest in her blog. Check out her post about it. @_@
Mood: pink-ish
Muse: Shwayze - Corona and Lime

:: the poverty of Sabahans ::

I received an email from my friend Philicica, and i feel the need to share this story in my blog.. ^_^ this is a really important and heartbreaking but true story.. i myself have seen with my own two eyes, the conditions of poverty here while growing up in Sabah..

This letter/story was a response to a MalaysiaKini Article, titled "Kota Marudu needs more than wireless Internet" in Sept 5th, 2008.

A story by a West Malaysian doctor, posted in Kota Marudu, Sabah.

I read Dr Hams letter and cannot help but agree with many of his observations. I worked in Sabah for over seven years as a house officer and medical officer. After my housemanship, I was sent to Ranau to serve in the district hospital. What Dr Hams described in Kota Marudu is not something isolated to that district alone in Sabah. It is an often repeated story in the whole of Sabah.

My first introduction to the poverty in Sabah came during my first months there, when a sweet 70- year-old lady from Kota Marudu was sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with deep jaundice. She lived alone in a small village off Kota Marudu and noticed the jaundice about a month before.

She had no money for the taxi fare and so waited a month to sell off her chickens to have enough money to pay RM50 for the transport to Kota Marudu Hospital. She had to walk two miles to get to the road to get to the taxi.

Having been born, bred and educated in Peninsular Malaysia, I was shocked. When she arrived, she was septic and had a gallstone lodged in her common bile duct. The stone was duly removed but she was found to have a heart problem that required a pacemaker. We arranged for her to get a permanent pacemaker but she refused.

When I pressed her for her reason, she told me that she couldn't afford to buy batteries for the pacemaker, having sold off her chickens. Once I explained to her that the batteries would last for years and we would provide them, she agreed to the pacemaker.

Ranau town itself has roads and is on the main highway between Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu. It developed primarily as a result of the Mamut Copper Mines in the district. However, highway in this context means a two lane road with frequent landslides and potholes, with a two-hour drive to Kota Kinabalu.

Outside Ranau, transportation becomes a problem as tarred roads disappear to become gravel or crudely marked logging trails. Anyone who has worked in Sabah would have the same stories to tell, of extreme poverty and poor transportation.

During my 2 years in Ranau, I've heard and seen it all, patients with cerebral malaria, a condition unheard of in Peninsular Malaysia, coming in after 48 hours to the hospital from places like Kaingaran and Karagasan, with relatives having to push the 'pirate taxi' through the mud, spending RM50 on fare during the monsoon season, the equivalent of 2 months income, this too when petrol was only around RM1.20 a litre in Ranau.

Patients having to delay treatment for life threatening conditions because a bridge washed away along the trail (I won't even call it a road) to Tambunan. Emergency surgery such as caesarian sections, appendectomies and even ectopic pregnancies had to be performed in our little district hospitals by Medical Officers with little more than 4 months housemanship experience.

Medical emergencies such as myocardial infractions, which in Peninsular Malaysia would be managed in a Coronary Care Unit setting, had to be managed in the district hospital level. I'm grateful however, that my staff in that hospital were the best I've ever had the pleasure of working with and were dedicated enough to want to make a difference in their patients' lives.

But poor transportation does not only affect the access to health care. Having no roads to be able to transport their agricultural produce for sale means that these people are stuck in a never ending cycle of poverty.

At most, some of them get RM20 to RM50 by selling their produce to middlemen to be sold at the monthly tamu or market at prices that are perhaps only 10 percent of the value of the goods. These innocent people are also preyed upon by traveling cloth merchants, mostly foreigners, who offer them 'easy payment schemes' to buy cloth for clothes, and when they cannot pay for the cloth and the interest accumulates, they end up having to marry their daughters to these men, who often have wives back home in Pakistan.

One of the cases I could never forget was of the family who came to Ranau Hospital just as I was leaving, a family who had failed crops, were hungry and unable to get food. The father collected some toad eggs and fed them to the whole family in a desperate attempt to stave off hunger. When they arrived at our little emergency room, one of the children were dead and two passed away within 10 minutes of arrival in our casualty unit due to poisoning.

Education is a problem in parts of Sabah outside major towns like Kota Kinabalu at the moment. Many children would be lucky to be able to get to a school or even afford to get to one. Most of my patients outside Ranau were lucky to even have a primary school education and a vast number of women marry in their teens.

I've had 14 year olds delivering babies in Ranau, most of them have never ever stepped foot in a school. The education level is so poor that many women feed their children condensed milk thinking that it's better than breast milk.

But at the heart of it all, these mothers want the best for their children but are not empowered with the knowledge to help them. Major towns in Sabah have electricity courtesy of the Sabah Electricity Board, but smaller villages have either diesel generators or rely on candles or lamps when night falls.

How can children study in these conditions? Like many doctors in the districts, I had to learn Dusun to communicate better with these patients who could speak little else.

Forty five years after the formation of Malaysia, the promise of a better life for these poor Dusun, Murut and Rungus patients in the districts of Sabah is a pipe dream at best. How can our politicians claim to have brought development to the state and have neglected these poor people, many of whom still wear the cheap t-shirts and caps given free by political parties from many elections ago.

How can I claim to be proud of Putrajaya with it's beautiful bridges and lamp posts and the Petronas twin Towers when our fellow Malaysians in Sabah are so neglected?

The cycle of poverty and illiteracy one sees in the districts in Sabah brings despair to the heart. Eradication of poverty must tackle the real issues of education and transport and not just handouts to poor people.

By all means, declare Sept 16th a public holiday, but remember it in it's real context, where we made a promise to our brethren in Sabah and Sarawak to treat them as equals in Malaysia, and give them the development they've been long denied.

Mood: complacent
Muse: paper planes - m.i.a