The West German Gepard Flakpanzer Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun was based on the chassis of the Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank.
The Gepard is a late Cold War era self-propelled anti-aircraft gun of German origin. It was developed in the late 1960's in response to the increased Soviet frontal aviation threat, including the well armored Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter. The Gepard is a very capable anti-aircraft gun with enormous firepower and good fire control equipment. The name Gepard is German for Cheetah.
The Gepard is based on the Leopard 1 chassis, which is lengthened and has less armor. The driver is seated at the front, the two man turret in the middle and the engine and drivetrain at the rear. The turret is unusual since the two 35mm autocannon are mounted on each side of the turret. The search radar is mounted on top of the turret at the rear and the tracking radar is mounted in front of the turret. When on the move the search radar is lowered behind the turret and tracking radar rotates 180 degrees...........
As I and other millions who used this software for work (essential in construction and engineering), the news of the release is exciting.
Introducing AutoCAD 2018: What's New? | AutoCAD
I'm not sure when the software will be here in Malaysia though. I understand from the video that most of the updates is for the integration of x ref and cad files, and the integration to Android equipment, ie tablet. smartphones.
Other new abilities are PDF Import enhancement where PDF writings now can be imported to TXT files in AutoCAD.
B. Books
After completing recent job, I went to Amcorp Mall for window shopping. But as usual, temptation kicks in and I end up buying something.
A compilation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's short stories, for RM15.00
It was my first Pantera album, remembered how I was dumbstruck by the opening song, and enjoying the last 4 songs in the album, which was Shedding Skin, Use My Third Arm, Throes of Rejection and Planet Caravan (a Black Sabbath cover).
I was into tape trading with my classmates, it was 1996, I was in Form 2, back then I already bought all the Metallica's album, ie from Kill Em All up to the Black Album and Load.
I lent Metallica's And Justice For All to a classmate and he lent me Pantera's Far Beyond Driven.
It was difficult to get cassette tapes for this kind of music, I usually have to travel to KL's Sogo, to either Plaza Campbell or Pertama Complex to buy these cassette tapes.
Plaza Campbell, there were few shops, one of the famous shop was Kedai Auntie, where an old Chinese Auntie that did "bootlegging" on most of the metal underground cassette tapes for a fair price.
Photo : Tarquinius Superbus by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, depicting the king receiving a laurel; the poppies in the foreground refer to the "tall poppy" allegory. Copied from : Wikipedia
The tall poppy syndrome is a culture where people of high status
are resented, attacked, cut down or criticised because they have been
classified as better than their peers..........The concept originates from accounts in Herodotus' The Histories (Book 5, 92f), Aristotle's Politics (1284a), and Livy's History of Rome, Book I.
[Periander] had sent a herald to Thrasybulus
and inquired in what way he would best and most safely govern his city.
Thrasybulus led the man who had come from Periander outside the town,
and entered into a sown field. As he walked through the wheat,
continually asking why the messenger had come to him from Cypselus,
he kept cutting off all the tallest ears of wheat which he could see,
and throwing them away, until he had destroyed the best and richest part
of the crop. Then, after passing through the place and speaking no word
of counsel, he sent the herald away. When the herald returned to
Cypselus, Periander desired to hear what counsel he brought, but the man
said that Thrasybulus had given him none. The herald added that it was a
strange man to whom he had been sent, a madman and a destroyer of his
own possessions, telling Periander what he had seen Thrasybulus do.
Periander, however, understood what had been done, and perceived that
Thrasybulus had counselled him to slay those of his townsmen who were
outstanding in influence or ability; with that he began to deal with his
citizens in an evil manner.
— Herodotus, The Histories, Book 5, 92-f
..................Of the Australian definition, Peter Hartcher of the Sydney Morning Herald
writes, "(Australian) citizens know that some among them will have more
power and money than others... But according to the unspoken national
ethos, no Australian is permitted to assume that he or she is better
than any other Australian.
How is this enforced?
By the prompt
corrective of levelling derision. It has a name—The "Tall Poppy
Syndrome".
The tallest flowers in the field will be cut down to the same
size as all the others. This is sometimes misunderstood... It isn't
success that offends Australians. It's the affront committed by anyone
who starts to put on superior airs"
KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 — Malaysian internet users have come to the
defence of Natasha Qisty Mohd Ridzuan who is being criticised for
wearing cosmetics during an interview about her straight-A results in
the 2016 Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) examination.
The student from Kolej Tunku Kurshiah in Negri Sembilan was also
denounced for purportedly speaking with a foreign accent as well as her
attire during the interview with state news agency Bernama.
Most comments expressed either disapproval of her appearance or claimed
that she will rely more on her beauty than her intelligence to succeed.........
“This is why Malaysia finds it so hard to progress, so many uneducated
people yet so powerful when it comes to bashing others,” he wrote.
Jeune Homme triste dans un train, 1911, by Marcel Duchamp
Source : Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Duchamp : During this period Duchamp's fascination with transition, change, movement and distance became manifest, and like many artists of the time, he was intrigued with the concept of depicting the fourth dimension in art.[15] His painting Sad Young Man on a Train embodies this concern:
First, there's the idea of the movement of the train, and then that of the sad young man who is in a corridor and who is moving about; thus there are two parallel movements corresponding to each other. Then, there is the distortion of the young man—I had called this elementary parallelism. It was a formal decomposition; that is, linear elements following each other like parallels and distorting the object. The object is completely stretched out, as if elastic. The lines follow each other in parallels, while changing subtly to form the movement, or the form of the young man in question
So on 2nd and 3rd week of March 2017, I spent quite some time on train, MRT and KTM Komuter.
Since I'm now doing freelance work (CAD drafting), I am busy yet free.
The busy part of it is the deadline. But when the job's done and sent to respective clients, I'm free as a bird.
I think, even if you are working full time on a fixed salary basis, it is good to have a "business-mind", ie. treat your job as if you're doing business. You are giving your effort, and your company pays you a salary, if you look at it in a different perspective, you are indeed doing business with your company.
You are bounded with your company by a contract, and most businesses run by contracts.
The idea behind this is that to focus on what you're delivering is what is required by the Company.
This idea has many advantages:-
a) for employers, the employees with this mind-set seldom slack off for tea or chit chat, just focus on the job's at hand, and settle it.
b) for employees, you just focus your effort and time for the job at hand, and try to complete it as efficient as you can, try to go back early if the job's completed, don't worry much about office politics and gossiping, etc.
Then on weekend, you can decide whether to partake on small business, freelance, or just resting. Remember, your body is your asset. Take care of your body and mind.
It is best to get some kind of upfront. Anyhow it all depends on each person/company, you know best of your trade and yourself.
My way is, I try to complete a portion of the job and send it to Client and see their reply.
Usually a good Client gives a good productive comment, ie to get the job completed to the required specifics, and usually pays a small upfront to get the job going.
Sometimes what happened is, there are some people who want to "squeeze" you and gives unrealistic comments and most of the time, they will say "we can't use your product".
For me, once the Client said that, I will usually decline on the job because for sure, we are not on the same line and it is in the best interest that we parted ways.
C. Business challenges - quality, time and feel good.
The above is true, I think, not only freelance but on every business and every job.
You get work however you get work, but keep people keep working in a freelance world (and more and more of today's world is freelance), because their work is good, because they are easy to get along with and because they deliver the work on time.
And you don't even need all three! Two out of three is fine.
People will tolerate how unpleasant you are if your work is good and you deliver it on time.
People will forgive the lateness of your work if it is good and they like you.
And you don't have to be as good as everyone else if you're on time and it's always a pleasure to hear from you. - Neil Gaiman
But in the same time, I would like to add, that the "easy to get along with".
I observe some people, get mis-guided on this "easy to get along with" part so badly that they became the opposite from what they intended to be.
For example, my brother sent his Kembara for repair at a new workshop, which was proposed by my mother.
My mother told that the service was good.
The fella at the workshop sent my brother home, and during his chit-chat, the fella was trying to friendly intimate that by brother felt some uneasiness.
The fella asked about the family, the house my brother lived in, and other personal things that got nothing to do with the Kembara car.
The next day my brother went to the workshop by motorcycle and saw that the Kembara car is still outside the workshop waiting to be fixed.
For the next 3-4 days My brother went each day checking on the car, but surprisingly, :-
1. the car is still outside waiting to be fixed.
2. each day, different reply on the problem.
What irked my brother was when he found mineral water bottles, candy wrappings, and a plastic of keropok lekor inside the car, that the next day, my brother, my mother and myself asked for the keys and brought the car to a different workshop.
The car was fixed within two hours at the new workshop.
D. The silent nobodies
I thank God for his Mercy and Wisdom.
I remember in 2012 I wanted to be a writer but I didn't. I went back working in the construction line.
Recently I befriended someone whom I respected, because his writings are thought provoking.
Somehow, all that glitters are usually on the surface, you might be surprise sometimes when you peek through the insides and found hollowness, not substance.
First of all, I don't think anyone can achieve success in life if one is plagued with substance abuse.
The so-called 4-20 lifestyle, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_(cannabis_culture), embracing this lifestyle, then somehow writing about how Malaysian should progress, condemning the backward-ness, seems so hollow.
When I look at those who are popular now, I just find it empty even though it is glamour with its colourfully glitters, rhyming, condemning, commenting and preaching about change.
Nowadays I felt God's wisdom for the choice I made is because, the experience humbles me down, looking at the foreign workers, ie Indonesian, Bangladesh guys working their ass off in construction trying to make their lives and their families better.
Anyhow condemning people doesn't make me any better.
I just felt "thank god" for my experience that I do not think about popularity the same way as others. I felt humble when I see those "nobodies" doing their things in life, in silence while the popular ones just being noisy about this and that.
In China old days (I'm not sure whether Malaysian Chinese kids learnt this at Chinese school), the Chinese kids memorised this by heart:-
The farmer tills the land to grow rice under the noon sun.
His perspiration drips continuously on the soil.
Who knows that that rice that feeds,
Is the fruit of hard toil!
Li Shen, with the courtesy name of Gong Zhui (unknown year of birth; died in 846) was highly esteemed for his works. Li Shen, Yuan Zhen, and Li Deyu were altogether given the name of “Three Talents”. The purpose of this poem is revealed clearly in the title. “Min” means to sympathize with, so “Min Nong” means to sympathize with the farmers. The first two verses depict the hard work of the farmers, and the last two aim at reminding people of how hard it is to grow crops. In this sense, nothing should be wasted. The poem is straight forward, but it sends an important message.
The two photos above is the lovely scenery at MRT Kwasa Sentral.
E. Anywhere Is
I thought of my departed father too. I think I cried alone in the Komuter to KL Sentral from Sungai Buloh on one of the mornings when I travel by train.
You go there you're gone forever
I go there I'll lose my way
We stay here we're not together
Anywhere is
The moon upon the ocean
Is swept around in motion
But without ever knowing
The reason for its flowing
In motion on the ocean
The moon still keeps on moving
The waves still keep on waving
And I still keep on going
The photo above is the lovely scenery, I believe to be at MRT Kwasa Damansara.
G. Life and death is unavoidable.
I watched online the Korean movie The Admirals Roaring Currents.
There's one scene when Yi Sun Sin burned his naval base and rallied his troops.
He said,
"It's shameful that you still only consider your own life.
Death....is unavoidable.
Is avoiding combat the path to survival?
Will we be safe on land?
Behold! I am burning this land so that I can die at sea.
This is where we stand and fight.
Do not hold so much into this life.
If you crave life, you will surely die.
If you fight to death, you will live.
One man at the strategic point can fend off a thousand man."
So as was told in the previous post, I went for a ride. The photos were in my phone and here it is.
Took a bus from house to Central Market (Pasar Seni).
Walked to UTC Puduraya.
Renew cars roadtax, renew driving licence for another 5 years and other things possible.
Walked around Central Market, sight seeing.
Then to LRT station Pasar Seni back to KL Sentral.
At KL Sentral, took Komuter to Sg. Buloh station by Tanjung Malim route.
Then from Sg. Buloh station, took MRT to Kwasa Sentral (RM3.20).
Then paid a RM1 bus fare back to my house.
And all the photo I took is of the new MRT as you find above, since there's no one around, and I feel a bit stupid taking photo of the public and in public. <--playing with English Grammar.
Something has changed today Everything is out of place You said we had to go Because you saw the red shadows
You can close your eyes it won't go away You know the end is here today Say goodbye, turn your head The time has come just like you said
Red, red shadows Oh, red shadows
I can feel the electric rains The night won't come again And your face, it has turned so gray You wish it was yesterday, yesterday
Goodbye my love, I'll see you soon I don't know where I don't have a clue Don't look back, don't make the turn They told me that these red shadows burn
Red shadows Oh, red shadows
Tell me now is it true Are these red sky's really blue Tell me well is it a lie Because I don't see any sky at all
Just red shadows Oh, red shadows
I can feel the electric rains The night won't come again And your face, it has turned so gray We all wish it was yesterday, yesterday
Tell me is it true Are these red sky's really blue Tell me is it a lie Because I don't see any sky at all, at all
Aku ke UTC Puduraya untuk update road-tax kereta, lesen dan pelbagai issue.
Pagi tu naik bas dari rumah ke Pasar Seni / Central Market, dan berjalan ke UTC Puduraya.
Selesai urusan, aku ke KL Sentral, mula dengan berjalan ke stesen LRT Pasar Seni ke KL Sentral.
Maka dari KL Sentral aku pun naik Komuter Tanjung Malim dan berhenti di stesen Sungai Buloh.
And so semalam pertama kali aku naik MRT dari komuter Sungai Buloh. .
Untuk sampai ke rumah aku, perhentian yg sesuai ialah Kwasa Sentral dengan cas RM3.20. Bas RM 1 ke perumahan aku.
Dan aku terlupa bawak phone jadi lain kali update
2A) Malas dengan masyarakat
Rumah aku apartment condo ground floor, corner section. Belakang rumah ada badminton court.
Tapi jadi padang permainan bola liga Maghrib yg bermula 6.30 petang.
Tak jadi masalah bagi aku yang mengamalkan cara pikir masyarakat barat yang "lantak kau lah asalkan kita bahagia di ruang lingkup masing2".
Tapi menjadi masalah bila cermin tingkap aku selalu pecah akibat sasaran bola bermomentum tinggi.
Yang terbaik, semua pemain liga Maghrib tak mengaku.
Sebagai pakcik 35 tahun, aku sound supaya tak main bola. Aku sergah sebenarnya.
"Ek eleh nak buat law kat sini pula" <-- reply yang aku dapat.
Aku mendapat lempangan balik setelah aku melempang remaja yang mengeluarkan statement berkenaan.
The next day, Liga Maghrib masih berterusan. Yang paling best, mereka menjerit bising2 "siapa nak halang aku sepak bola di sini?"
Aku hampir nak keluar rumah ber-konfrontasi lagi, secara tiba2 hujan turun lebat.
In the end, aku terpaksa ganti sendiri cermin yang pecah tu dan kali ini aku buat "grille besi".
Moral kes ini : Buang masa kau bising2 ubah masyarakat. Better cari duit banyak2 dan improve diri kau atau surrounding kau.
2B : Malas dengan masyarakat part 2
Di area Subang, aku notice ramai tak pakai helmet waktu bawa motor.
Then aku realised something.
Satu tempat yg terlalu ramai dengan satu bangsa, bukan sesuatu yang bagus. Better it is in a balanced state. So that each people's eccentricity is balanced by other's idiocy or so.
Dan mengapa dulu kedai tempat kerja wife aku pernah orang rompak cashier siang2 buta.
Di sini kawasan middle income, maka banyak penunggang motorcycle. Dan ramai naik motorcycle, dan ramailah yang naik motor tak pakai helmet. (one reason sebab travel dekat2 orang malas pakai helmet). (Aku malas nak ulas bangsa "race" mana, pada aku ini masalah orang middle income).
Jadi bila ramai tak pakai helmet, rasa respect kat undang2 kurang.
Hence orang sini, memang aku observe, pemanduan di area Subang jauh lebih menyakitkan hati compared to Kajang, and even KL.
Rempit pun boleh tahan bermasalah.
Dan masalah budak stay up sampai 3-4 pagi pun rampant di sini, sebab itu area foodcourt yang agak famous di Subang Bestari pun hanya sampai pukul 12 malam lebih.
Aku dan wife, pernah satu kali waktu memandu tengah malam nak ke kedai mamak untuk dinner (bini aku abis keja pukul 11, aku pulak dah tak tentu masa sekarang ni), ada satu budak remaja berlari2 pukul 12 malam nak lintas jalan dengan berlari.
Anyhow, mata aku bernanah tengok social issues di Subang ni maka nanah2 itu telah menyebabkan aku menjadi malas, un-responsive terhadap masyarakat.
Bila orang komen RUU355 dan perlaksanaan hudud, aku diam. Sebab aku malas, kerana masyarakat sembang lebih tapi in actual....(malas nak sambung)
2C : Malas dengan masyarakat part3
Internet dan Media Sosial? Hahhaha <- ketawa sinikal
Philosophy Facebook aku, ialah FB itu alat untuk aku nak fun.
Maka aku pilih family/ relative members, friends and those yang aku rasa her/her being there is worthwhile for warmness.
Tapi ada juga time aku add friends yang suka ber-pendapat dalam FB, but you'll find aku mostly reply in my own funny way sebab malas nak berat kepala.
Seriously, untuk berfikir or those seperti mereka yang suka ber-pendapat itu, it's better done by reading books, or article.
Despite all that,I cannot escape from seeing despair comedy.
Contoh, dalam FB ada satu page The Patriots, which is to me, informative.
Ada satu kali, The Patriots post this.
Which is good. Aku pun pergi cari movie ni.
Ada satu comment yang menyebabkan aku menjadi malas dengan masyarakat.
"Tak sama langsung dengan Khalid Al Walid. Khalid Al Walid berjuang kerana ALLAH. mati syahid kerana ALLAH impiannya. BANGANG!"
Aku malas print screen comment tu. First Khalid Al Walid mati di atas katil akibat luka perang, bukan masa berperang.
Dan, Admiral Yi Sun Sin tu walaupun berbeza agama, dia mempertahankan negara dengan kudrat. Bukan setakat bising2 keyboard warrior.
Anyhow, everybody with their own taste and preference, so well whatever nevermind.
