WWW, A Mouthful?

Ah, "W", the most mouthful letter of the English alphabets.

After the term World Wide Web came to public acceptance, the acronymn WWW was then introduced. I wouldn't really blame anyone hesitating in pronouncing the acronym itself. Isn't it mouthful? It have more syllabus that the original than the phrase it stands for, six syllabuses (or syllabi) more to be precise. That's thrice more!

With some odd twist of fate, the WWWs are now embedded in all our webpage URLs. If my memory serves me correctly, which I constantly doubt, we used to read aloud web addresses as "The World Wide Web dot [Bla Bla] dot com".

Then, we actually started to call it "Triple Double-Yoo", which cut down from nine to five syllabi. (Hooray!)

When I was in Sydney, I overheard over fm103.2 (a great radio station in Sydney by the way. I still stream them live!), which their announcers address it as "The Double-Yoos" which personally I think it's kinda cute. Well done lads. Now we are down to four.

The breakthrough for me finally came during my last trip to Germany. When I heard over the airwaves, that went something like, "Vee Vee Vee Punkt [Bla Bla] Punkt Dee Ee". Okay, I can't really remember how they pronounced "dot", which I think is "punkt", again don't trust a guy that needs his head examined. But that's immaterial. What matters to this discussion is that at least for the Germans, the "Ws" are pronounced as "Vee" as in VIVA. Finally we are down to THREE!

Now, I’m sure that there are other languages out there that have mono-syllabic letter "W", this is just an example that it can get better. Just in case you are wondering, in German, "V" is pronounced as "fee" as in FIFA.

So, it came with no surprises that we now completely ignore them in web addresses.

kuancheen|kuala.lumpur|20060308
... www.kuancheen.blogspot.com

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Does My Credit Card Goes To Heaven?

I couldn't resist myself from posting this. This came into my mailbox today, from, could you believe it a friend that worked for the financial institution before. Though this was not information was not verified, but sure make a fun read imagining that this could really happen.

Note: Name of the financial institution have been altered to protect the parties involved

It's all about money for CitieBank Credit Cards when you die......

This is too funny! It takes all kinds to make the world go round. Be sure and cancel your credit cards before you die. This is easy to see happening, customer service being what it is....

My Aunt died this past January. CitieBank billed her for February and March for their monthly service charge on her credit card, and then added late fees and interest on the monthly charge... the balance had been $0.00... Now it was somewhere around $60.00. I placed the following phone call to CitieBank:

Me: "I am calling to tell you that she died in January."

CitieBank: "The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply."

Me: "Maybe, you should ! turn it over to collections"

CitieBank: "Since it is 2 months past due, it already has been."

Me: "So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?"

CitieBank: "Either report her account to the frauds division, or report her to the credit bureau maybe both!"

Me: "Do you think God will be mad at her?"

CitieBank: "...excuse me...?"

Me: "Did you just get what I was telling you... the part about her being dead?"

CitieBank: "Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor!"

(Supervisor gets on the phone)

Me: "I'm calling to tell you, she died in January."

CitieBank: "The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply."

Me: "You mean you want to collect from her estate?"

CitieBank: ".....(stammer)" ".... Are you her lawyer?"

Me: "No, I'm her great nephew." (Lawyer info given... )

CitieBank: "Could you fax us a certificate of death?"

Me: "Sure."

(Fax number is given)
....................
(After they get the fax.)

CitieBank: "Our system just isn't setup for death"

Me: "Oh..."

CitieBank: "I don't know what more I can do to help.."

Me: "Well...if you figure it out,great! If not, you could just keep billing her...I suppose... Don't really think she will care...."

CitieBank: "Well...the late fees and charges do still apply."

Me: "Would you like her new billing address?"

CitieBank: "That might help."

Me: "Nilai Memorial Park Cemetery" (North South Highway and plot number given.)

CitieBank: "Sir, that's a cemetery!"

Me: "What do you do with dead people on your planet?"

kuancheen|kuala.lumpur|20060329.2340
... ALLO, Nilai Memorial Park ah? There's a delivery for ...

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Live Octopus, Yummy, Eat, Eat

Live octopus is a delicacy in Korea. Though not every Korean digs it, it's quite a popular dish (or maybe not). At least it's popular among the tourist who wants some thrill. Just like 'balut' from the Philippines.

The octopus, I was told are being chopped alive and still moving and will even 'climb' out of the plate they are placed in. You then attempt to pick them up with chopsticks, which is an easy feat since their live tentacles will stick on your chopsticks. Depending on your preferences, dip some sauce and swallow them. The thrill of it is when those tiny suckers stick tight to your tongue, mouth and throat! Wanna try to eat balut instead? Here's how.

These two are taken when I happened to pass by a road side van in Seoul, Korea. Always wanted to try out the live octopus but didn't get the chance. My friends that supposed to bring me didn't have the stomach time for it. Maybe next time la. These are the octopus that will be minced and eaten fresh!

Live Octopus Part 1

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Live Octopus Part 2

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And this is how you eat it!!!



kuancheen|kuala.lumpur|20060318.1515
... if stucked in the tummy how?

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New Word: Angkated, Angkating

Happen to bumped into this on ENCARTA!!!

ang·kat [ áng kàt ] (past and past participle ang·kat·ted, present participle ang·kat·ting, 3rd person present singular ang·kats)

intransitive verb

Definitions:

Malaysia curry favor: to try to gain favor with somebody by means of flattery or excessive deference ( informal )

[< Malay angkat bodek "lift testicles"]

encarta.com

kuancheen|kuala.lumpur|20060316
... ter'angkat-bola'ed

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My First Video Blog!!

I finally uploaded my first video(s) onto YouTube. You will definitely notice the 'rawness' as some of these are purely experimental shots.

These are the videos I took during my last trip to Seoul in December 2005.

The Three Trees
Captured this on the first snow in Seoul 2005 right outside my service apartment and the three potted CHRISTmas trees are happened to be right outside 'basking' the snow.

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My First Snow Fight!!!
This was the second time I experienced winter in Seoul (man, how I love winter!) and this is my FIRST REAL snow fight! ^^

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Took this after the snow fight. +_="

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The Day After
This scene is taken right outside SeJong Hotel (Myu-dong) while I was waiting for my airport bus to fly back home.

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This is another shot.

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kuancheen|kuala.lumpur|20060314
... me tubed

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I REALLY need my head examined ...

This was a conversation between my ex-uni mate ([ft]) and i ([me]) that took place last few days ago after i have met up with her and another friend ([dt]) in a local church with "their" baby ...

[me]: hey [ft]

[ft]: yes..
[ft]: how are you? okay liao

[me]: yea ...
[me]: no more crutches ..
[me]: eh .. was surprise to see you ler ...
[me]: very cute baby ^^

[ft]: when?
[ft]: why surprised? you know i attend (a local church) right?
[ft]: hey by the way, not my baby ar..

[me]: huh?
[me]: wait .. confused now ..

[ft]: waht confused?
[ft]: you thot i got married and with baby?

[me]: think i confuse liao with which [ft] ler ..
[me]: i tot you from (the local church) ...
[me]: heheh
[me]: which you are

[ft]: got so many [ft] meh?

[me]: but apparently not the mom

[ft]: (from a local uni) one

[me]: man .. i'm so pai sei la
[me]: very bad with names

[ft]: now i am confused

[me]: yes ...
[me]: from (the local uni)
[me]: in acts
[me]: you know [dt] from (the local uni) ah?

[ft]: aiyohhh..
[ft]: so am i the one you thought you were talking to?
[ft]: he is my brother lah..
[ft]: aiyoh,., you real blur

[me]: k ...
[me]: lagi blur now
[me]: [dt] married or not ah?
[me]: heheheh
[me]: this is getting worse and worse by the minute
[me]: hahahah

[ft]: aiyohhh..
[ft]: okay, so you thot the baby was mine?

[me]: wait .. you mean your are [dt]'s brother ... who got married with a daughter .. and i saw you holding the baby?
[me]: wait .. which [ft] are you ah .. you are the one .. in business .. one .. last time was in spb for a while one right
[me]: man ... i gonna have to kill my self
[me]: hehehe

[ft]: i mean.. my brother is = [dt], i am SISTER...
[ft]: yes..
[ft]: i am gonna kill you

[me]: you elder sister?

[ft]: you saw me the other day with [dt]'s baby..
[ft]: yes.. i am elder

[me]: how come din see his wife one
[me]: man ...
[me]: die die
[me]: hahahha
[me]: wa liao eh ...
[me]: this is soo sooo embrassing ...
[me]: haha .. k ..
[me]: at least i got the right [ft]
[me]: just got the relationship with [dt], the baby and you wrong only

[ft]: you very bad lah

[me]: sry sry .. told you mah .. my memory really bad one
[me]: so how come din see your sis in law?

[ft]: she is (name withheld) lah.. the one beside [dt]
[ft]: from (the local uni) also

[me]: errr ....
[me]: k
[me]: before i make more a fool of myself ...

[ft]: you din notice meh?

[me]: how many ppl travelling with you .. when i met you twice in acts

[ft]: the pregnant lady with us

[me]: think i might have notice . .but was playing with the baby more then noticing another lady ...
[me]: there were 4 of you guys right
[me]: eh . .your bro was in cf was he?

[ft]: yes.. including baby is 4
[ft]: yes he was

[me]: wait ... wait .. k .. i dun mean to be rude or something ... eventhough i think i have sounded quite bad lioa ...
[me]: i actually tot the fourth person was .. err .. your helper

[ft]: ohhh.. you mean [dt]'s mother in law?
[ft]: i cannot remember if she was with us the day you met us

[me]: actually dunno
[me]: looks quite tanned

DUH!

Okay, let's stop here. You got the point.
I've a problem with my short term memory.
Need any more prove? :P

So if I ever forgotten your name. Sorry Sorry Sorry. You are not the first one. :P


kuancheen|kuala.lumpur|20060303
... neuro surgeons apply here

Guilt of Neglecting and Feeling of Neglected

Hi People,

Before I start my rant, I just want you all to know how sorry I felt about neglecting you all.

I do have my reason for it, primary for the past few months I have been side line in footballing term since the World Cup is right round the corner and recuperating from the operation to have my right anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed, the same injury suffered by Gabriel Heinze (not that I am comparing myself to him). More on that experience in my next post.

Some of you all may have known that I have moved in to my new place some time in September, in between my trips to Munich. And being a new residential area, there was a certain lack of service because the area was deemed under populated the time we moved. The internet service provider refused to have the service extended to my area, although their infrastructure was ready up to like the previous block.

No Internet = No Blog

So, my apologies for the long silence. Now still without connection at home, though loaded down with work at the office, I feel obliged to drop a few words.

There you have it, hope that you all been fine. Those of you that had drop a message or two during my AWOL, I'll try my best to get back to you ASAP.


kuancheen|kualalumpur|20060303.1330
... now back to work