It’s Wednesday.
It’s the last day of Chinese New Year for 4072 (2005).
I’m not doing much work today because I don’t feel like it.
Been printing my book, a bit upset that the printer misfed last night, wasting four pages. Also upset that it consumes expensive ink quickly. Still have about 10 pages to print. Oh well, gotta go home early anyways tonight for more feasting.

In addition, I still receive a ton of spam, even with SpamAssasin. Why would anyone help some former dictator’s [insert some relative, spouse, distant kin] with some untold millions? Or buy something from a spammer that will increase your [insert the appropriate male or female organ]? Utter crap and a blinking waste of time and bandwidth!

Just heard over at DP Review that Leica is in financial trouble. Not surprising considering everything’s moving to digital and they [Leica] has had their heads buried in the sand so long, they’ve become irrelevant. Same thing with other companies like Mamiya, etc.

Shameless plug: Join WebAperture today! It’s free and it’s the world’s friendliest Photo Forum! (Now with double the disk space!)

Coffee and love taste best when hot
~Ethiopian proverb

p.s. sorry no photos this time

Been busy this entire year it seems. It’s like when I’ve completed one task or objective, another appears. There’s CNY cards, then there’s the China planning then the actual trip, then it’s photos, sorting, Chinese New Year feasting. It’s no wonder I’m having trouble getting enough sleep as well as sleeping properly! Well, commuting 45km one way to Cyberjaya to a particular logistics and shipping company is more tiring than it seems. Can’t wait for the weekend. However, something fun is about to happen but I’ve mixed feelings about it. Oh well, can’t win everything can you?

Well, the layouts done, the photos are in place and the occasional comment has been typed out. It’s now a matter of finalizing and then printing it. The printing part is becoming expensive as I now add up the cost of ink. I think in the 14 months I’ve owned this printer, the ink usage has totaled over RM1600! I think it’s time to look for a printer with a lower cost of printing!!! RM1600 printed my four “photo-album” books (Burma 2003, WA 2004, Burma 2004 and now my China 2005), three dozen or so CNY cards, about seventy 4R prints, a dozen 5R prints and another 20-30 A4 pages of assorted photos (not full sized). Currently, I actually would like the Canon i9950 which is an A3 printer but it’s double the cost of the i990 which it’s probably what I’d be getting. Alternatively, the Pixma 8500 may be a good choice. I’m ruling out Epson for now because I don’t print often enough and ink nozzle clogging is something I rather not deal with.

It’s been two weeks exactly since I got the sudden news. Only now however, do I feel up to writing this. I’ve known Kenny since 1997 when I started work in what was probably the best technology company in the world, Digital Equipment Corp (DEC). All the best IT people I know worked with DEC at least once. Throughout the years of friendship, you have good times and you have arguments. Friends may come and go but good friends are always with you no matter what happens. That’s because they leave footprints on your heart and invariably change you, even if it’s in a subtle way.

1971-2005

His fight with cancer took two years but even though it was a losing battle without even a chance of sucess, he never lost hope. Most people gave him months but the courage, strength that he had came from God and he could live a normal life as any one of us. From the monthly phone conversations I had with him, it was clear to me that he faced each new day with certainty and the confidence that he knew where he was going. He made plans like the rest of us, went on our hikes and climbs, volunteered at the Turtle sanctuary. He did not make it to the pre-CNY coffee meet he’d planned on Feb 7th. He also will not be able to make it to the next Datoh Climb, or Gunung Nuang or even the next Chiling hike. I wondered over the past few days about why God took him home so early but then again with the pain and suffering he’s been going through, I’m sure God in his abundant mercy decided to set him free and take him to a far, far better place.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.
~John 14:1-4

So, to the late nights fixing server problems, the days trying to install linux on a VMS box, fragging into the early hours of dawn, the Counter-Strike evenings, the days at work, the miles of hikes to the meters of elevation, the muddy rivers of Malaysia to the clear white beaches and red sand of Western Australia, the clear waters of Lang Tengah, the BBQ nights, the mindless chatter, the endless “jimmy” jokes, the tears and the joys, the gallons of coffee at Starbucks and Gloria Jeans, the countless jokes and emails; Kenny, you’ve lived a full life in 33 years as many people do in 66. You’ll be missed but never forgotten.

Happy Chinese New Year to Everyone!!!

Year of the Rooster