A DeZemBer's Blog

  picture source: BBC The tennis world was shaken to its core when the news broke that Rafael Nadal, the legendary Spanish player and one of the most beloved figures in the sport, would not be participating in the 2023 Roland Garros French Open. To make matters worse, Nadal also revealed his intention to retire from professional tennis in 2024. This unexpected double announcement has sent shockwaves through the tennis community and left fans in a state of disappointment and sadness. Nadal's Dominance at the French Open:  To understand the magnitude of Nadal's absence from the French Open, one must first recognize his extraordinary record at this prestigious tournament. Known as the "King of Clay," Nadal has reigned supreme at Roland Garros, winning a remarkable 13 titles over the course of his illustrious career. His unparalleled success on the clay courts of Paris has made him synonymous with the tournament itself. Fans from around the world eagerly anticipated witne...

  A bit of a long post on a Sunday and the 10th day of the Ox Lunar Year. But the TLDR version of it is very simple. If you have been offered the vaccination, JUST DO IT.  Got a text some time last week and thought it was a hoax or a scam initially. But turns out that I’m one of the luckier group of people to have been offered the Covid vaccination. An early group of people after they have vaccinated all the over age 65 and front liners.  I think the reason why I am sharing this is not to gloat or to tell everyone that I’m safe to be approached in case you want to :) But more so to spread the message that the Covid-19 vaccination IS SAFE. I’ve heard friends and families doubting the reliability and the risk of this vaccine. From the comprehensivity of the testing since it’s being developed and rolled out at a record speed, to the possibility of it having the purpose to “control and track” human mankind. #Nanomites!! So let’s break this down my chain of thoughts right befo...

I can't believe myself stop blogging for more than 2 years came back writing about Women tennis. But hear me out. Serena Williams - Queen of Tennis First of all, I'm a massive fans of Serena Williams. At the top where Federer, Sampras and Nadal were. She has changed the landscape of women tennis like how Nadal brought power and Federer introduced style and "class" to men tennis. Along the way all of them brought in new and reinvigorate existing tennis players like me to keep on playing and loving the game.  And 23 Grand Slams are not a mean feat at all. If you look at the closest rivals of whom have won a grand slam that are still playing today, the closest are Venus (7) and Sharapova (5)!! She is the greatest current and almost certainly ever women tennis player in history. Maybe, and I say maybe that might have drove her to do what she did last Saturday during the Finals of US Open 2018. So let's break it down. The US Open Finals - the crucia...

First thing first. I do not work with Apple Inc or in any of it's subsidiaries or affiliated with them in any way or form. I do work in a major consumer electronic manufacturer company in the UK and my opinion piece below in no way or form represent what I do professionally for a living but merely just my frank and personal opinion. All encounter below is being described at it's truest form that I can remember and describe. Alright... with the legal bit out of the way, let me start with brief experience sharing working in a typical marketing team in a multinational consumer electronic company. Often enough we will be stuck in a team meeting discussing plans and strategy on how to market our upcoming products to the market. And I can bet you with all my working experience that the word "Apple" will come up in one way or form during these meetings. Hence we are either bench-marking what Apple does, or simply try to replicate what they have done.  But based on ...

If you are like me the many fortunate ones who grew up in an era where the Malaysian politics hasn't "still"  amended history books or re-written what's black and white into grey, then you must have read a lot about Mr Lee Kuan Yew in your history lesson at school. Yes.. Indeed in Malaysia you might not heard who is Tan Siew Sin or Lee San Choon or the matter of fact Onn Jaafar. But you must have heard about a guy who live just across the river and almost become a Malaysian. He is of course the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew who has recently pass away at the age of 91. Who is he? Well, in my increasingly vague memory of my history lessons almost 30 years ago, he is Singapore. Yup... Anything we read about him, good or bad, right or wrong, true or otherwise it's always about Singapore. Remember the great "MRT"? Remember the ban on chewing gum? Even the crooked bridge has his "name" on it as well! But way before all these, obviously what we re...

Welcome to 2015! I think I must have said this before. Every year, I told myself to write more, but it seems that every year I have failed that simple resolution. Let’s hope this won’t happen in 2015. It’s probably good to start with a resolution for 2015 and instead of writing and describing in a post, let’s describe it with a picture… I just can’t see how 2015 won’t better 2014, especially in the work front. But let’s hope a better 2015 for me, and for all.

With the recent conclusion of consumer tech product launches from new smartphones to smartwatches, from phone as big as tablets to tablets as large as laptops, the usual argument since probably 2010 still split the views of many. Apple vs the Rest . Source: wikipedia.org #Personal Computer Believe it or not. Apple has been fighting this "litigation" almost ever since their inception. They started off with the "Big Blue" (IBM) and they have tackled the space where some thought as impossible as landing a man on the moon then, “Personal Computer” which today we just simply call it as PC. Then with Microsoft. Based on my limited understanding of what really happen then, I have to say "innovation" probably dominates the era when PC started penetrating our household. Some define innovation as a new word of creative piracy or photocopying. Others may argue that without innovation, technological advancement might takes much longer than what we wo...

It has been a while that I have not wrote anything here. More often than before when I have something in mind to write, I don't have a chance to do it. And when I am near the laptop, I have nothing in my mind at all! Then came today. For those who doesn't know, 16th Sept 1963 was the day when the current state of "Malaysia" was formed combining Malaya and 2 Borneo states (Sabah & Sarawak) as well and Singapore. Yup... Singapore was part of Malaysia back then before they were "expelled" (apparently) and become an independent country in 1965. So, Happy Malaysia Day to all Malaysian!! :) This has lead me thinking. If Singapore didn't become an independent country (or forced to do then), will they became what they are now? And if the answer is "NO", will Scotland be a better country if more than 50% of Scots vote "YES" this Thursday? Let me caveat myself from the beginning. I am not a Scot nor a citizen of the UK. Whateve...

Malaysia & Hong Kong!!! Perhaps the most surprising one would be iPad prices. Hope this helps :) *Disclaimer: Please don't sue me for any error :) Model US ($) SG ($) MY (RM) UK (£) HK ($) DE (€) MBA 11' 128GB 1.4GHz 100% 106% 100% 141% 96% 135% MBA 11' 256GB 1.4GHz 100% 108% 99% 139% 96% 135% MBA 13' 128GB 1.4GHz 100% 106% 99% 144% 97% 135% MBA 13' 256GB 1.4GHz 100% 108% 98% 141% 97% 135% MBP 13' 2.5GHz 100% 106% 96% 141% 99% 135% MBP 13' 128GB 2.4GHz (Retina) 100% 110% 100% 143% 99% 135% MBP 13' 256GB 2.4GHz (Retina) 100% 111% 101% 141% 99% 135% MBP 13' 512GB 2.6GHz (Retina) 100% 111% 102% 141% 100% 135% MBP 15' 256GB 2.0GHz (Retina) 100% 112% 101% 144% 99% 135% MBP 15' 512GB 2.3GHz (Retina) 100% 110% 102% 143% 99% 135% iPad mini 16GB 100% 109% 99% 141% 99% 131% iPad mini 16GB (3G) 100% 110% 100% 138% 99% 129% iPad mini Retina 16GB 100% 110% 100% 136% 100% 132% iPad mini Retina 32GB 100% 110% 100% 136% 101% 1...

First of all, congrats and good luck to both nominees for the upcoming by-election, Mr Mah Siew Keong and Ms Dyana Sofya. Being a local boy in this wonderful town of Teluk Intan, I thought it's probably right for me to say a few words :) I have a hunch... Didn't come through a dream or wasn't told by any guru or what so ever. I think BN might win the Teluk Intan by-election. Maybe not by a big margin, but sufficient for BN to show face to the rest that they are still "relevant". This is why... 1) In the last election, we all hate BN. That's not changed. But at that time we also love Mr Seah (RIP). He is a local boy, in and out. He attended the school next to mine. And most importantly, the whole Teluk Intan has a hope. The hope of tumbling the government and or at least winning back the State. 2) Then we have Mr Mah Siew Keong. The son of a well known local millionaire, charity organisation and also frankly quite a nice guy, as I was told. And hi...

In this "small" World of just over 6,000,000,000 people, there are occasional coincidences that amaze me. Like what happened today. There's a long old friend of mine from Bangsar has a husband that for whatever reason has parents who are from my small hometown and for whatever "wind" ended up in a shop that I grew up in selling shoes ;) (Chan Wei Chee... I am talking about you!!! :) Then I started flashing back some memories I had back then selling shoes. Since young. It was really long time ago. But feels like not many "days" ago... In a small town, gossips are imminent. "... these fellar son or daughter or wife or mistress have this or that and that happen because of this and that..." Then we gossips diminished and slowly transformed into a more serious conversation, I vividly remember some words that keeps on flashing in my head... Loh ket... Kat Cheong... Yuet Kong... Ching Tau... Kapar sing... Obviously I have no idea what are...

All the prayers and thoughts for the families. So far, no news yet. It may be good news. Fingers crossed. https://www.facebook.com/uk.malaysiaairlines/posts/278844715607001

Let me be naive and ask some childish questions. Are Muslims in Malaysia really threading in such a fine thread that a single word can change and alter one’s beliefs? 2) And if Catholics can proof that single word has been used 100s years ago in Malaysia and Muslims are claiming it now (note 1), how different are they compare to their claims that Israelis occupy “their” lands in Palestine? Hmmm.... 3) I think the way this can be solved in Malaysia (fairly) is to either allow every religion and human beings to use that word. I am sure one's beliefs are not on a single word but on the teachings and inspiration one gets from that religion. Or to ban it all together for everyone all of us call our Almighty, Tuhan/God or whatever it is except that word. 4) Politics aside, I hope both sides of the Political party should make a bi-partisan decision for the sake of future generation in Malaysia. We do not want our children to use my favourite word when I was growing up, "...yah...

By the time this is published, Aukland has just celebrated the end of 2013!! ;) Writing this entry this year maybe is slightly easier than other years as I look back the entire 2013 probably one (maybe 2) thing happened that dominated my 2013, the year of the Snake. The year this dude came into the World... Something is fishy... Wooot? Enter the Parenthood. You can imagine all you want, read all you can, listen everything possible. Nothing is going to be able to describe "that feeling" when you heard his first cry, in my case shout!. His first movement. His first feed. My first feed. His everything... In fact he is going to be our everything for the time being... Not forgetting... :) She has been wonderful, marvelous, tremendous, extraordinary and perfect mum from the beginning, even before he was born ;) Browsing through my picture collection, found some previously unpublished pictures to loosely reminds me next time when I read this...

Alrite... It has been many years that I have that privilege call "time" to drive out on a "senyap Sunyi" (quiet and lonely) street of London to take some nice peaceful shots of the London Eye... 2012 2011 2010 NOT ANYMORE!!! And definitely never Senyap anymore and definitely not Sunyi ;) (find the baby;) Anyway, had a great Christmas party yesterday thanks to Wynn and Ken and hope we can organize the next Christmas gathering next year with our kid running around :) P/S: Did we forget to take a group picture?

(Source: http://gallifreyan.tumblr.com/image/36143314933  (this is a fake img fyi...and has nothing to do with Warners)) Believe it or not, I only started watching FRIENDS (the sitcom) when I first came to London, 2 years after the last episode has been broadcasted and 12 years from it's first! But since then, I have to admit that I have watched it so many times, over and over again until I can recall what that episode is all about just by watching the first minute of that episode :) This is of course thanks to E4 in the UK had it played from 8pm everynight before they stop renewing their license :) And it all makes sense to me why some of my friends in college behave certain ways and how they said certain words then, like the popular word "eeeewwwwwww...." or relation status = "complicated"... I am a big fan of this show now and obviously when I first heard of a Friends Reunion (movie or season doesn't matter), I am as excited as Ross when he...

Updated with the latest price... http://15dezember.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/the-cheapest-place-to-buy-apples.html Obviously... USA! :) Normally I wouldn't track the price of a Mac PRO but because of it's price tag and the fact that it looks good/ weird/ innovative/ pretentious/ like rubbish bin, let's have a look at where to buy this at the lowest price. However, price compared are without any sales tax. So depending on where you are, maybe MALAYSIA is still the place to buy all your Apple products :) And chances are, you won't see this in store. Of course, the weight starts from 5kg (11 pounds) and not sure if it's cover under Mobile internation warranty :) I have to say, max it out at 10 grand is not even close to how much I've spent on ALL computing hardwares since my first ever VGA monitor computer... Model US ($) SG MY UK HK DE (€) 4 Core Dual CPU 3.7 GHz 100% 113% 100% 137% 101% 137% 6 Core Dual CPU 3.5 GHz 100% 113% 100% 135% 101% 137% ...

Update: With the latest exchange rate... http://15dezember.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/the-cheapest-place-to-buy-apples.html Malaysia!! Apparently... Of course, exchange rate dependent and types of Apple product that you are looking for.... Model US ($) SG ($) MY (RM) UK (£) HK ($) DE (€) MBA 11' 128GB 1.3GHz 100% 109% 95% 137% 99% 137% MBA 11' 256GB 1.3GHz 100% 107% 95% 138% 99% 137% MBA 13' 128GB 1.3GHz 100% 109% 95% 125% 100% 137% MBA 13' 256GB 1.3GHz 100% 111% 95% 140% 99% 137% MBP 13' 2.5GHz 100% 107% 98% 134% 99% 137% MBP 13' 128GB 2.4GHz (Retina) 100% 111% 102% 136% 99% 137% MBP 13' 256GB 2.6GHz (Retina) 100% 112% 103% 134% 99% 137% MBP 13' 512GB 2.6GHz (Retina) 100% 112% 104% 134% 100% 137% MBP 15' 256GB 2.0GHz (Retina) 100% 112% 103% 137% 99% 137% MBP 15' 512GB 2.3GHz (Retina) 100% 111% 103% 136% 99% 137% iPad mini 2 16GB 100% 110% 98% 134% 99% 132% iPad mini 2 16GB (3G) 100% 111% 99% 131% 99% 131% iPad mini Retina 16G...

New iPad Air, iPad mini with retina display and Macbook Pro pricing comparison. Forex as of 23rd Oct 2013 and the source from Google. And obviously, I would like to discharge myself from any liabilities by telling everybody up front that I shall accept NO LIABILITY or whatsoever from the chart below or any mistakes made both in description or in the pricing.. It's merely drafted out out of personal interest. Previous pricing comparison: - 14 Oct 2013 - 25 Oct 2012 - 15 June 2012 Model US ($) SG ($) MY (RM) UK (£) HK ($) DE (€) MBA 11' 128GB 1.3GHz 100% 109% 95% 137% 99% 137% MBA 11' 256GB 1.3GHz 100% 107% 95% 138% 99% 137% MBA 13' 128GB 1.3GHz 100% 109% 95% 125% 100% 137% MBA 13' 256GB 1.3GHz 100% 111% 95% 140% 99% 137% MBP 13' 2.5GHz 100% 107% 98% 134% 99% 137% MBP 13' 128GB 2.4GHz (Retina) 100% 111% 102% 136% 99% 137% MBP 13' 256GB 2.6GHz (Retina) 100% 112% 103% 134% 99% 137% MBP 13' 512GB 2.6GHz (Retina) 100% 112% 104% 134% ...