Stryker's Pix

My Essays Immortalised (BIO1022: Biology 2)

2009-11-06T21:51:00.000-08:00

Question 4:

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of sexual reproduction in animals.

Almost every organism in the animal kingdom reproduces by sexual reproduction. Hence, it should have a significant advantage in terms of reproductive success and survivability of the organism over asexual reproduction, for it to be such a popular form of reproduction. If it does not, it would have been phased out over the course of evolution. However, the advantage of sexual reproduction is not immediately obvious and sexual reproduction presents its own sets of disadvantage as well. This essay will discuss the disadvantages of sexual reproduction and various theories about the advantages of sexual reproduction.

Disadvantages of sexual reproduction

The most commonly cited disadvantage of sexual reproduction is the “two-fold” cost of males. Both male and female is needed for sexual reproduction whereas in asexual reproduction any individual is capable of reproducing. To understand the two-fold cost of males, one must assume that a sexual pair and a single asexual individual can only produce the same amount of young. The population size of asexual organisms would be double of the previous generation, because each individual can produce, whereas in sexual reproduction, males do not reproduce. Thus, there is a 50% cost of having males (Bernstein, Byers & Michod 1981; Campbell et al. 2008; Crow 1994; Daly 1978). Moreover, recombination in meiosis also disallows cytological changes like triploidy and other complex chromosomal arrangements that would lead to aneuploidy in sexual organisms, not a problem for asexual organisms (Crow 1992; Crow 1994).

Another disadvantage of sexual reproduction is that it requires more energy and resources. The process of meiosis and syngamy, both not present in asexual, require energy (Crow 1992). In animals, sexual reproduction brings about some maladaptive traits. Some animals develop physical structures that serve no purpose but to advertise its fitness to potential mates (e.g. peacock tails) and some animals have courtship rituals that are elaborate and arduous. Both of these traits are maladapted as they expend resources and may attract unwanted attention from predators instead of mates (Crow 1992; Daly 1978). Animals that do not live in a pack would also need to spend energy to travel to look for mates (Crow 1992; Daly 1978). Female individuals of some animals must also expend energy to escape avoid unwanted sexual attention from males and/or recover from injuries inflicted by aggressive males (Daly 1978). Males of many sexual species would also need to compete and some cases fight with other males and get injured in the process (Crow 1992; Daly 1978).

Animals that reproduce sexually also risk the transmittance of sexually transmitted disease (Crow 1992; Daly 1978). Most sexually transmitted disease is lethal and can be inherited to offspring. This can be especially disadvantageous in times of plague (Daly 1978). Asexual species do not risk catching parasites from close proximity.

Advantages of sexual reproduction

Sexual reproduction is advantageous because it produces genetic variability through meiotic recombination, random fertilisation and mutation whereas asexual reproduction only gets variability through mutation (Campbell et al. 2008). Variability is important in changing environments as the certain phenotypes can be advantageous in a changed environment and change is unpredictable, thus having multiple alleles in preparation for change is beneficial (Crow 1994).

When a changed environment reverts back to its previous state, the direction of selection is reversed. Individuals with higher fitness in the changed environment now have a lower fitness. In such a situation, sexual reproduction is more advantageous than asexual reproduction (Crow 1992). This is so because asexual populations continue to produce offspring that has adapted to the changed environment; its variability continues to decrease. Conversely sexual populations have an increased variability because the population is selected towards the direction of equilibrium and are able to respond to the situation much readily than asexual populations (Crow 1992).

Sexual reproduction is also more efficient in incorporating multiple advantageous alleles. Through recombination, advantageous mutations from two different individuals can be brought together. Asexual reproduction can incorporate two different beneficial mutations if only the first mutation is previously developed in the same lineage (Bernstein, Byers & Michod 1981; Crow & Kimura1965; Crow 1994). This would take a long time to occur since mutations are rare. The speed of incorporation in sexual reproduction is faster because two mutations could have occurred in two different individuals at the same time and brought together by recombination (Bernstein, Byers & Michod 1981; Crow & Kimura1965). Sexual species generally has a faster rate of change in variable conditions than asexual species.

Besides that, sexual populations are also better at eliminating harmful mutations. Assuming all mutations are slightly deleterious in nature and the build up of deleterious mutations decreases the organism’s fitness, recombination will act by rearranging the genotype, creating more lethal mutations (Bernstein, Byers & Michod 1981; Crow 1992; Crow 1994). In essence, recombination will decrease the number of mutations and at the same time making it more deleterious, thus allowing those individuals to be selected against and die out and benefiting the population (Crow 1992; Crow 1994).

Conclusion

In conclusion, while there are numerous disadvantages of sexual reproduction, the advantages may cancel out or even outweigh the disadvantage. As a caveat, most of the advantages are theories created by leading biologists that are highly probable and explainable with calculations but near impossible to experiment. There is still plenty of research on the evolution of sexual reproduction.

(794 words)

Reference

Bernstein, H, Byers, G.S, & Michod, R.E 1981, ‘Evolution of sexual reproduction: importance of DNA repair, complementation, and variation’, The American Naturalist, vol. 117, no. 4, pp. 537- 549.

Campbell, N.A, Reece, J.B, Urry, L.A, Cain, M.L, Wasserman, S.A, Minorsky, P.V & Jackson, R.B 2008, Biology, 8^th edn, Pearson Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco.

Crow, J.F & Kimura, M 1965, ‘Evolution in sexual and asexual populations’, The American Naturalist, vol. 99, no. 909, pp. 839-450.

Crow, J.F 1992, ‘An advantage of sexual reproduction in a rapidly changing environment’, Journal of Heredity, vol. 83, no. 3, pp. 169-173.

Crow, J.F 1994, ‘Advantages of sexual reproduction’, Developmental genetics, vol. 15, pp. 205-213.

Daly, M 1978, ‘The cost of mating’, The American Naturalist, vol. 122, no. 986, pp. 771-774.

Mark: 8 /10

Remarks: -

My Essays Immortalised (ENV1800: Environmental Science)

2009-11-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

Question 2: The Decline of Frogs

Introduction

Since the last decade a global decline in frog populations has been detected. The rate in which some frog populations disappear or even go extinct is increasingly worrying. This loss has been described by some as the greatest lost of vertebrae species in recorded history. It is important to halt this great decline, as frogs represent a unique evolutionary branch of organisms that not only have vital ecological niches, but also act as an important environmental stress indicator. To stop these declines from continuing, the causal factor of this problem must be determined. This essay discusses the main factors that decrease frog populations, namely, disease, invasive species, habitat destruction, climate change and pollution. With these problems recognized, a wise and well thought plan must be made and acted upon quickly to save as many frogs species as possible from extinction.

Factors of Decline

Disease

One of the most greatly discussed factors that attribute to amphibian decline is disease, particularly chytridiomycosis; a fungal infection caused by a fungus relatively new to science, Batchochytrium dendrobatidis (Skerratt et al., 2007). Chytrid fungus infection has become a pandemic, infecting frog populations in almost every continent where frogs exist (Holland, 2009). B. dendrobatidis is believed to have originated from Africa, as a preserved African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) kept in an African museum dating back from 1938 was tested chytrid positive (Skerratt et al., 2007; Holland, 2009). The spread may have been caused by the export of this animal for lab research and as pets. Chytrid fungus infections are lethal to most adult frogs. It attacks keratin, a protein found on the skin of adult frogs only. Hence, tadpoles can be carriers of the fungus, dying after it transforms into an adult frog (Holland, 2009). Chytrid fungus kills by overwhelming a frog’s skin with zoospores. Hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis, or the thickening of epidermal tissue then ensues (Schloegal et al., 2006; Muths et al., 2003). Infected frogs exhibit weird behaviours; they are lethargic, they have a slower reaction to threats, their sitting posture is abnormal and their skin becomes reddish. This increases the probability to being predated upon, another way in which frogs can die if not killed by the disease itself (Schloegal et al., 2006). The vectors of chytrid fungus include introduced frogs, fish, birds and even human boots and vehicles (Laurance et al., 1996; Holland, 2009). Chytridiomycosis often work synergistically with other factors, making it a lethal mix to frogs everywhere (Blaustein & Kiesecker, 2002; Holland, 2009).

Introduced Species

The decline of frog species is also attributed to the introduction of invasive species. An example of this happening is the introduction of trout to the once fishless ponds of Sierra Nevada. Trout was introduced by the US Department Fish and Game in parks for sport fishing (Holland, 2009). Trout fry compete with tadpoles of mountain yellow-legged frogs (Rana mucosa) for food and shelter; both prefer shallower waters as breeding sites and deeper waters as overwinter sites. Adult trout predate upon tadpoles and young frogs (Holland, 2009; Knapp & Matthews, 2000). This directly influences the frog population, nearly pushing R. Mucosa to extinction. Another devastating invasive species is Rana catesbeiana, the bullfrog. Bullfrog tadpoles compete with and even predate upon tadpoles of other frog species, like the native, northen red-legged frog (Rana aurora) (Blaustein & Kiesecker, 2002). Adult bullfrogs are voracious predators that feed on anything that can fit in its gape, including other frogs (Corn & Fogleman, 1984). By competing and predating upon other frogs, the introduction of bullfrogs lowers the populations of native frog species and has even driven some frog species to extinction, hence lowering the diversity of frog species.

Habitat Destruction

An obvious and ongoing cause of frog population decline is habitat destruction and alteration. Forests are continually being cleared, wetlands drained, lakes filled and ponds converted for agricultural use (Blaustein & Kiesecker, 2002; Corn & Fogleman, 1984). Road construction also decimates frog habitats, as rocks, branches and dirt clog streams (Holland, 2009; Corn & Fogleman, 1984). Land clearing also indirectly affect frog populations that are in protected areas, as these areas are fragmented, prohibiting frogs from different populations from mating (Corn & Fogleman, 1984).

Global Climate Change and UV-B Exposure

Global warming is dying up wetlands and ponds; the nesting sites of tadpoles. This directly affects the global frog populace. Reduced precipitation in the cloud forests of Costa Rica has also caused a corresponding reduction in frog numbers there (Blaustein & Kiesecker, 2002). CFCs released by anthropogenic sources have caused a long-term ozone depletion which leads to increased UV-B (280-315nm) transmittance (Blaustein & Kiesecker, 2002). Global warming also lowers the depth of lakes, increasing the transmittance of UV-B radiation (Blaustein & Kiesecker, 2002). It has been experimentally proven that frog eggs exposed to UV-B radiation has a lower hatching success rate (Blaustein & Kiesecker, 2002). If effects are not immediately lethal, sublethal dosages of UV-B exposure to embryos will cause mutations, cell death and lower growth rates of hatched tadpoles (Blaustein & Kiesecker, 2002). This lowers the fitness of tadpoles, increasing the probability of being predated.

Pollution and Toxic Contaminants

Pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers are constantly being applied in agricultural lands. DDT and PCBs are immediately lethal to frogs at high dosages, but unknown to many, even at low dosages, it can cause frogs to be more susceptible to diseases, lower growth rate and affect mobility and predator avoidance (Blaustein & Kiesecker, 2002; Withgot, 2002; Carey & Bryant, 1995). In experiments, a mixture of nitrogenous fertilizers and low pH has been proven to cause tadpoles to swim less vigorously and develop malformations which lower the tadpole’s predator avoidance (Blaustein & Kiesecker, 2002). In a recent study, frog disappearances in protected areas of USA parks have been found to be caused by atrazine, a pesticide applied to crops (Withgot, 2002; Carey & Bryant, 1995). Trace amounts of atrazine, about 1 -10 ppb, levels way lower that EPA’s safe drinking level is discovered to be an endocrine disruptor to frogs (Withgot, 2002). Extreme low levels of atrazine can mimic hormones; causing frogs reduce or increase the production of sex hormones. This causes some frogs to develop extra gonads or even develop both sex gonads (Withgot, 2002). However, these gonads are mostly non-functional and are followed with absence of sexual behaviour, affecting the ability of many frog populations to multiply.

Conclusion

In conclusion, multiple factors have been found to affect frog populations around the world. Some of these causes have been determined long ago (habitat destruction and invasive species) and is an ongoing event that ought to be stopped completely, but some have just recently surfaced (discovery of chytridiomycosis). These factors, working synergistically, have proven to be extremely potent and have caused the rapid decline of frogs. Quick and well thought action must be taken to prevent frogs from going extinct before it’s too late.

(995 words)

References

Blaustein, AR & Kiesecker, JM 2002, ‘Complexity in conservation: lessons from the global decline of amphibian populations’, Blackwell Science, vol. 5, pp. 597-608.

Carey, C & Bryant, CJ 1995, ‘Possible interrelations among environmental toxicants, amphibian development, and decline of amphibian populations’, Environmental Science Perspectives, vol. 103, no. 4, pp. 13-17.

Corn, PS & Fogleman, JC 1984, ‘Extinction of montane populations of the northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) in Colorado’, Journal of Herpetology, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 147-152.

Holland, JS 2009, ‘Vanishing Amphibians’, National Geographic, vol. 215, no. 4, pp. 138-153

Knapp, RA & Matthews, KR 2000, ‘Non-native fish introductions and the decline of the mountain yellow-legged frog from within protected areas’, Conservation Biology, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 428-438.

Laurance, WF, McDonald, KR & Speare, R 1996, ‘Epidemic disease and the catastrophic decline of Australian rain forest frogs’, Conservation Biology, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 406-413.

Muths, E, Corn, PS, Pessier, AP, & Green, DE 2003, ‘Evidence for disease-related amphibian decline in Colorado’, Biological Conservation, vol. 110, pp. 357-365.

Schloegel, LM, Hero JM, Berger, L, Speare, R, McDonald, K & Daszak, P 2006, ‘The decline of the sharp-snouted day frog (Taudactylus acutirostris): the first documented case of extinction by infection in a free-ranging wildlife species?’, EcoHealth Journal, vol. 3, pp. 35-40.

Skerratt LK, Berger, L, Speare, R, Cashins, S, McDonald, KR, Phillott, AD, Hines, HB & Kenyon, N 2007, ‘Spread of chytridiomycosis has caused the rapid global decline and extinction of frogs’, EcoHealth Journal, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 125-134.

Withgot, J 2002, ‘Ubiquitous herbicide emasculates frogs’, Science, vol. 296, pp. 447-448.

Mark: 34 / 40

Remarks: V.G. (very good?)

My Essays Immortalised (FTV1010: Contemporary Television Studies)

2009-11-06T19:37:00.000-08:00

Question 2:

Analyse the narrative structure and style of one of the screened episodes of one of the series studied in weeks 2-7 (or any other) and discuss how this particular structure and style positions the viewer and how this positioning helps to construct the meanings of this episode and the series as a whole.

Lately, the original HBO mini-series Generation Kill has been screen on Malaysian television. The miniseries is comprised of seven episodes, each one hour long. This war drama was based on a book of the same title, written by Evan Wright, a Rolling Stones magazine reporter embedded with a Marine Corps reconnaissance unit during the Iraq War’s first phase. The series documents the experiences that the marines had since they left the training camps in Kuwait, till the occupation of Baghdad. This essay discusses the narrative structure and style that this series has and how it positions the viewer to helps viewers develop an understanding about the series.

Wright was embedded with the United States Marine Corps 1^st Reconnaissance Battalion, an elite unit that was regarded as the ‘tip of the spear’ for the invasive force in Iraq (HBO a, b). Wright was placed under the care of Brad “Iceman” Colbert, a Sergeant that highly respected by his fellow marines and even some superiors (HBO b; Wright a). Most of the series revolves around the crew that was in Sergeant Colbert’s Humvee, the first in Bravo 2 platoon’s convoy. Essentially, this series is like a road trip movie, filled with absurdity, filthy jokes, sarcasm and darkly funny elements (HBO a, Poniewozik). Through a grunt’s point of view, we experience the imprecision of war, civilian casualties, incompetent leaders, insufficient supplies and see how the journey affects the Recon Marines as human beings (HBO a, b).

The narrative structure of Generation Kill is notably different from traditional war films. It is not heavy on fast paced action, firefights end fast and killing is not glorified (Stanley). The series tells a story about a young generation of American warriors that grew up with violence saturated media and how they discover the facts of life in war (ABC Australia; Poniezowik). Thus, Generation Kill is not an action or thriller film but a war drama. However, unlike traditional war dramas, it is non-emotional. There are neither sentimental scores nor emotional scenes that drag tears (Leonard; Stanley). It’s a war drama that is flat, matter-of-fact, accurate, yet interesting.

Generation Kill, like many other HBO series [The Sopranos, The Wire, Six Feet Under, etc.] can be classed in the super-genre of quality television. Generation Kill bears all the hallmarks of a quality television series. It breaks away from traditional war genre films, being non-judgemental and non-emotive (Stanley). The production has pedigree – Ed Burns and David Simon produced the critically acclaimed series “The Wire” (Ryan; Hughes; Stanley). The series has multiple viewpoints and storylines accompanying each character. The series is also writer based; it’s wholly based on Evan Wright’s account of the war, originally written for Rolling Stone magazine, now it’s a bestselling book with the same title (Poniewozik; Stanley). Allusions were made to both high and low culture - Sgt. Colbert was reciting lines from Julius Caesar (“Stay Frosty”), while in a different episode, his driver, Corporal Joshua Ray Person was quoting Ice Cube the rapper (“Screwby”). Pop-culture icons like South Park, Grand Theft Auto and Avril Lavigne are also cited (Leonard; Poniewozik). Like most quality television series, Generation Kill also approaches controversial subject matters. No subject matter can be as controversial as war and the justification of killing. Most of all, the series aspires realism. The producers put a lot of emphasis on realism, even to the point of having a marine act as himself in the series (HBO a). The series received good reviews from many television critics and has obtained critical acclaim in a time where television is thick with original, high quality television shows (Woods; Hughes).

The emphasis of realism and faithful story telling makes this series a somewhat journalistic documentary of what occurred in Iraq (HBO a, b). The narrative structure of the series is obviously drama-like, but the happenings really did occur. Told from Wright’s honest reportorial and can be backed by the marines that were there with him. Wright’s account is regarded by some, as the best military journalism the Iraq War (HBO b). Moreover, realism in the series is made with the intent of not only immersing viewers into the realm of combat in Iraq (Shales; Ryan), but also to impress and pay tribute to the Marines – even the 1st Recon Marines – that has been there and done that (HBO a; Woods). Thus, you may call it a docudrama rather than a regular war drama (Shales).

Realism in the series begins with Wright’s truthful writing about the war. The relationship that he, Sgt. Colbert and Lieutenant Nathan Fick has allows that Wright to be accepted into their world and write about them with great detail (HBO a; Wright a). Lt. Fick even has a line in the series that says, “Write these as you see it, we are not here to stop you” (“Get Some”). Riding with Sgt. Colbert gives Wright the privilege of being in one of the first vehicles in the assault on Iraq (HBO a). Wright was also able to bond with Sgt. Colbert’s crew and the rest of the enlisted men in Bravo 2 Platoon and get a grunt’s view of things (HBO b). Individuals and opinions that he wouldn’t have met and listen to if he was riding with an officer. David Simon and Ed Burns, the producers of the series, loyally follow the book, and successfully emulated the realism of the book into the television screen (Poniewozik).

To retain realism in the miniseries, the producers brought in Evan Wright to be their co-writer, and several marines from First Recon that was with Wright to be their military advisors (HBO a, Shales). Staff Sergeant Eric Kocher and Staff Sergeant Rudy Reyes were in charge to give military training to the actors (HBO a). They also teach military jargon, gear maintenance and weapons handling techniques. SSgt. Reyes plays himself in the movie (HBO a ;Ryan) and SSgt. Kocher goes on to play Gunnery Sergeant Rich Barrett, from Alpha Company, instead of himself (HBO a ;Woods). There are always actual marines on set to ensure that the details are as true to life as possible (Woods). Other marines from First Recon also came into set to talk to and share experiences with the actors that are going portray them (HBO a). Photographs and personal account from these marines are used to capture other marines as realistically as possible (HBO a).

The issues and themes discussed are also realistic and believable. The marines are always ill-equipped to go to war. There is always a shortage of maps, food or even batteries to run their night vision gear and thermal optics vital to their combat effectiveness (“Get Some”). Their Humvees also break down constantly and spare parts are hard to come by. Sgt. Colbert and Cpl. Person had to spend their own money ordering parts to upgrade their vehicle (HBO a; “Get Some”). Logistics in the Marine Corps is less than perfect, Cpl. Person is quoted in the series, saying “See, the Marine Corps is like America’s little pit bull. They beat us, starve us, and once in a while they let us out to attack somebody” (“Get Some”; Stanley).

The imprecision of war is an ominous theme in the story. We see a generation of young marines who discover that war is nothing like the violent video games and movies they grow up with and nothing goes according to plan (ABC Australia). We see the humanity in marines, normally perceived as highly efficient cold-blooded warriors. In one incident, the imprecision of war is shown in the episode titled “Combat Jack”. The Recon Marines had set up a roadblock at night, the rules of engagement are simple; Shoot down any vehicles that ignore warning shots. A car soon appears on the road. Warning shots were fired, but the car accelerated towards the road block, horns blaring. The Recon Marines open fire and the car screeched to a halt. Two men came out with hands in the air. The Recon Marines check the men and the car for weapons, only to discover a young Iraqi girl in the backseat with her brains pouring out. The marine who saw it could not speak for a minute, blatantly shocked. When asked why they didn’t stop at the warning shots, the Iraqi men apologised and the father asked if he could take his daughter’s body. It becomes apparent that some Iraqi civilians don’t understand warning shots. They think that they are being attacked and panic. Nothing ever goes to plan in war especially in a country with different cultures and mindsets.

From a grunts point of view, we see the incompetence of superior personnel, another common theme that Generation Kill has (Ryan; Leonard). Several officers in the series like Captain Dave ‘Captain America’ McGraw, Captain Craig 'Encino Man' Schwetje and the commander of First Recon, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen 'Godfather' Ferrando makes decisions that are deemed unwise by the enlisted men. A good example of this is where in the episode “Screwby” Encino Man endanger the lives of his men by trying to order a danger close (within 200 meters) artillery strike on a RPG team that does not exist. Then men immediately recognise this as a ploy to acquire a promotion. Luckily the sheer incompetence of Captain Schwetje saves the men, as he designated their coordinates wrongly (Stanley). Another unpopular leader in the series is Captain America. He is constantly in hysteria, jamming up the radios with nervous blabbers and has a habit of collecting souvenirs [Republican Guard beanies, AK-47 rifles] from fallen enemy troops (Stanley). In two instances in the series, he tries to bayonet captured war prisoners. He was reported for mistreating war prisoners once and was placed off duty for only 30 minutes, whereas the team leader under his command, Sergeant Eric Kocher, faces a full formal investigation (“Stay Frosty”; Wright b, c).

Another style often employed by the producers in this miniseries is the existential condition. The characters often question the moral rightness their actions and that of their superiors. Like the roadblocks and warning shots mentioned earlier. The rules of engagement are constantly changing, making the decision to open fire difficult. In one instance, a change in the rules of engagement harmed innocent Iraqi civilians. During an attack on an air field shown in the episode titled ”Screwby”, Lt. Col. Ferrando makes the rash decision to lower the bar of the rules of engagement; Any Iraqi was declared hostile. This effectively removes the rules of engagement. While racing towards the airfield, Lance Corporal Harold James Trombley reports to Sgt. Colbert that sees running Iraqis, unsure of whether they are armed. Sgt. Colbert, following orders from the commander, allows LCpl. Trombley to open fire. Later in the day, Iraqi shepherds brought two Iraqi boys that were shot to the marine camp for help. It is revealed that they were shot with 5.56mm rounds, bullets used in American rifles and machine guns. The company corpsman, Robert Timothy 'Doc' Bryan deduces that LCpl. Trombley was the one that shot them and was angry because the children were unarmed shepherds. Sgt. Colbert takes the blame saying that he gave out the order (Poniewozik; Wright b). This incident makes LCpl. Trombley unpopular among the Recon Marines, but nobody seems to remember that Lt. Col. Ferrando was the one who declared every Iraqi hostile. Later in the series, ‘Doc’ Bryan kills two terrorist by shooting them in the head and is troubled because he does not feel remorse doing so. How the marines justify a kill involves their morality and beliefs.

The narrative structure and style used by the producers of Generation Kill are used to position the viewer into a certain mind-set; constructing meaning from the series into one that is in line with what the writer, Evan Wright, wishes to tell. The storyline in the series is often confusing at times (Shales; Stanley; Tucker). It’s hard to pick up what’s going with all the military jargon and abbreviation going about (Ryan). In fact, even some of the characters look the same (Shales; Leonard; Tucker). In is hard to tell apart Captain Bryan Patterson from Alpha Company and Captain Schwetje from Bravo Company (Ryan). Perhaps the producers wish to emulate the confusion and the uncertainties that a fresh marine has going into combat (Tucker).

Wright’s character, played by Lee Tergersen, is often referred to as “Scribe”, “Rolling Stones” or “Reporter”, and never by his own name, Evan Wright (Ryan). Tergersen’s character has very little lines and only speaks to ask questions. Perhaps the producers, or Wright himself, wants the centre of the story to be the Recon Marines, not the writer (Ryan; Stanley). The “Reporter” offer a means for the viewers to clear some doubts with the story, like why LCpl. Trombley is called Whopper Junior. Tergersen’s character finds out that LCpl. Trombley is referred to as that because it’s sold in Burger King. In military phonetic alphabet that is BK, which also stands for Baby Killer. Trombley has been called that ever since he shot those shepherds (“Stay Frosty”; Wright).

The miniseries is above all things, realistic and highly believable. This immerses the viewer into the world of the Recon Marines and lives their memories for 68 minutes per episode. The comradery that each of the characters have makes the viewers feel as though they are a part of their ‘pack’, brothers that will take a bullet for any other Marine and trust the other to do the same for him. It is also aimed to make American viewers appreciate and support their troops (Shales).

The series is non-judgemental and non-emotional (Stanley). It shows the issues faced by the Recon Marines but it does not give a one sided opinion of the issue, there seems to be two sides to each issue. It allows viewers to make their own judgements and have their opinion (Hughes; Tucker). Furthermore, the agenda of the story is not clear (Shales; Stanley). The purpose of the mission is always changing, there is no clear storyline. This is so because the real world is not a story, the battlefield is fluid and ever changing. Generation Kill documents this well. Instead of telling a story the writer shows to us what is really happening. This is their jobs, this is how it’s like in Iraq and this is how they act under such a situation (Hughes).

The most obvious and definite statement that Generation Kill makes to the public is the incompetence and sheer stupidity that superior officers (Leonard; Ryan; Stanley; Shales). Maybe this theme is intended to transverse up the hierarchical structure all the way to President George W. Bush’s administration, noting how futile and stupid the war on Iraq is (Shales).

In conclusion, Generation Kill is a quality war drama that aspire realism above anything else. It documents the complicated, frustrating, and numbingly revolting jobs that this new generation of American Marines carry out in the Iraq War. Several prominent narrative structures and styles have been utilized by the producers to make this miniseries realistic, different yet interesting. The series positions viewers to discover the hardship that American armed forces face in Iraq and have viewers make their own conclusions about issues faced by the Recon Marines.

(2460 Words)

Bibliography

ABC Australia. “Generation Kill – Iraq.” 16 August 2007. Online video clip. YouTube. Accessed on 18 Sept. 2009.

“Get Some.” Generation Kill. Prod. David Simon & Ed Burns. HBO. New York. 13 July 2008.

“Screwby.” Generation Kill. Prod. David Simon & Ed Burns. HBO. New York. 3 August 2008.

“Combat Jack.” Generation Kill. Prod. David Simon & Ed Burns. HBO. New York. 10 August 2008.

“Stay Fosty.” Generation Kill. Prod. David Simon & Ed Burns. HBO. New York. 17 August 2008.

HBO (a). “Generation Kill: Making of Generation Kill.” 10 July 2008. Online video clip. YouTube. Accessed on 18 Sept. 2009.

HBO (b). “Generation Kill: About the Story.” 11 July 2008. Online video clip. YouTube. Accessed on 18 Sept. 2009.

Hughes, Sarah. Generation Kill: An Iraq drama with a difference from the makers of The Wire 23 July 2008. guardian.co.uk. 19 Sept. 2009

Lane, P.J. “The existential condition of television crime drama” Journal of Popular Culture, 34.4 (2001): 137-153.

Leonard, John. HBO’s Terrific Summer Buzz Kill 6 July 2008. New York Magazine. 19 Sept. 2009 <http://nymag.com/arts/tv/reviews/48312/>

Poniewozik, James. Theatre of the Absurd 10 July 2008. Time Magazine. 19 Sept. 2009

Ryan, Maureen. The unflinching and affecting ‘Generation Kill’: Not your father’s war movie. Chicago Tribune. 19 Sept. 2009

Shales, Tom. On HBO, The Fierce Tug of War 13 July 2008. The Washington Post. 19 Sept. 2009

Stanley, Alessandra. Comrades in Chaos, Invading Iraq 11 July 2008. The New York Times. 19 Sept. 2009

Thompson, Robert J. "From 'The Golden Age of Television' to 'Quality TV' [Preface]." Television’s second golden age : From Hill Street Blues to ER : Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, Cagney & Lacey, Moonlighting, L.A. Law, Thirtysomething, China Beach, Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure, Picket Fences, with brief reflections on Homicide, NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope, and other quality dramas, New York: Continuum, 1996. 11-17.

Tucker, Ken. TV Review Generation Kill 4 July 2008. Entertainment Weekly. 20 Sept. 2009. <>

Woods, Sean. Best Miniseries Generation Kill. Rolling Stone. 17 Sept. 2009

Wright (a), Evan. The Killer Elite 26 June 2003, Rolling Stone. 17 Sept. 2009

Wright (b), Evan. The Killer Elite, Part Two: From Hell to Baghdad 10 July 2003, Rolling Stone. 17 Sept. 2009

Wright (c), Evan. The Killer Elite, Part Three: The Battle for Baghdad, 26 June 2003, Rolling Stone. 17 Sept. 2009

Mark: 39 / 50

Remarks: "You have clearly done your research although perhaps you could've cued more widely in[-]text. Your observations are sound and are interesting, but i feel your conclusion is simply a summary rather than a closure to some sort of thesis statement. But overall, well done!"

The Dying Photographer

2009-11-01T01:12:00.000-07:00

If a person knows that he will very soon leave this world

sooner than he would hope

What will he do in his end days?

If he is a photographer

the answer need not be said

its taken.

But

what will he see?

Will he see the world in lines, shapes and colours

Will he see the world in perfect symmetry or biased portions

Will he see the world in black and white or colours in harmony

Will he see the world in thirds and points that cross

Will he see the world that is huge and explored by little

Will he see the world that is small and forgotten by most

Will he see the world that is inhabited by creatures among humans

Will he see the world that is inhabited by creatures so called humans

Will he see faces that smiles yet frowns in the eyes

Will he see faces that smiles because its reflected by glass and ink

Will he see faces that are true to thought and emotion

Will he see faces that are indifferent by style and not emotion

Will he see faces that are perfectly lit and arranged in a manner

Will he see faces that are in groups of young and old

Will he see faces that he will never meet in their daily commute

Will he see faces that he always have loved but never dared to say

Will he capture a moment that needs to be remembered

Will he capture a moment that happens so quick that others have missed

Will he capture a moment that tells a great story

Will he capture a moment that makes history

What will he find in that viewfinder?

Will he find that the view he wishes to find is a view of ideals, not image

before glass, mirror and film

Will he find that the view he wishes to find was in front of him all along but was too blind to see

because time and space are to be lived not cropped and seen

Will he find nothing at all and live and not view.

Steven Wong

The day that was too WTF to not blog about

2009-07-06T01:43:00.000-07:00

Yo guys... haven't hear from me for quite awhile right? Well not really, I've been leaving comments here and there and all over, just to show that I'm not dead. Yeah... I haven't been blogging a whole lot these days. Just lost the mood. I don't feel the need to tell what I've been doing any more. Perhaps its because its just too boring to write about. LOL. Yeah, that might be it. If something really messed up happens to me, I'll tell you. That's what I'm doing right now dogg.

Yesterday. July 5th, 2009. Went out to Pekeliling Heights too shoot some documentary/street shots with Chai (a photographer friend I met in Monash). The damned place (its due for demolitions soon) is at the end of the Monorail station, so I decided to drive over to Time Square, park the car there and take a Monorail to Titiwangsa. When I parked, I placed a steering lock on. Just in case. Then I had a sudden urge to reposition the steering lock, stick the key in and twist.... wouldn't open... "Wha"? Realizing than I am in a hurry, I just left it and went to the station.

Pekeliling Heights is rather spooky. There is a constant banging reverberating in that area, most probably from scrap metal thieves. There is also several people with with questionable intents appearing silently here and there like ghosts. Mosquitoes there were as thick as fog and the funk from rotting insulation was kinda worrying, i don't want fungus growing in my lungs. Me and Chai choose a block that wasn't "inhabited" and entered.

These are the shots that I was there to take... moody moddy documentary/street stuff. I am not really into that genre, but its good to try new stuff. I had a good time, got a few wonderful shots.

The roof is a must go if you are in an abandoned building with no elevators. Where else would you wanna go? So after exploring and trekking 14 floors we reached the top.

Me: "What a view! Wooo-aoa-aoa-oh *legs going flimsy*"
Chai: "I don't know how to explain to your parents if you fall over."

Well, the first thing that we saw on the roof wasn't the view... it was this

Major WTF right? Yeah... we conclude that its a skull of a dog... that might have got lost on the way up, didn't know how to go down, and died. I still think it may be some squatter's dinner, lol, who knows?

The dude, picks up everything! (Awesome view huh?)

So after a few rolls of film (for him) and a memory card filled to the brim with RAW images, we decided to call it a day and got down. I stopped to do a few macros in a "flower patch" near the entrance where we came from.

Even in an outing to do street(-ish) shots, I still have the urge to do macro. LOL! I have to get it out of my system!

*dumbass monologues start here

On the way back I suddenly remembered about the stupid steering lock. "Oh shit, that better be unjammed when I get back". I got Chai (a 3rd year engineering student in Monash) to help me out. We went to my car, stick the key in, twist and turned it in all sort of manner, but it still wouldn't fucking open. Spent 1/2 and hour trying to budge it open. "Alright this lock is seriously fucked up." So, I went to the help desk for help. Help desk told me to go to the parking office, parking office told me to go to maintenance, maintenance was closed so I went to the security office. Filed a report, and got a maintenance guy who was supposed to be on his Sunday day off to help me. I told him my ordeal and he gave me the WTF look. Apparently nothing like this ever happened. Caught some security guards was giggling at the back when I gave them a sit rep of the situation.

The maintenance guy wasn't expecting something like that... he asked me how I'd like him to help me. I requested for a bolt cutter after having Generation Kill replay in my head several times. "Sure... a bolt cutter would cut through that RM30 piece of trash with a little muscle" Boy was I wrong. Motorbiked with the Mat Maintenance back to my car, opened the door and gave the freakin steering lock the pinch of its life... just a nick. "Shit, how am I gonna drive outta here". Mat Maintenance suggested that we get a grinder and luckily there was a power point nearby and so after a call to dad and 20 minutes later...

"YEAH! GET SOME! Shit ass lock!!"

Hahahhaahahah! I still have the pieces now. Mat Maintenance left before dad came (he said he'd be back in 30 mins), kinda regret not leaving a piece as a souvenir for him and his effort, he did came to work on a Sunday. LOL.

*Big Thank You to Mat Maintenance, Dad and the security cheif .

Chrismas on April!

2009-04-13T06:38:00.000-07:00

I actually wanted to blog abit about my experience in Monash University.... but then i lost the mood, because there are somethings that i rather not say, and by not saying it, would make the post dry. So... i'd be just writing to show off some of my new stuff, cheh..... XD

AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.4G

Finally! I brought my AF-S 50mm f1.4! I've been waiting for this lens since before they announced it's existence. Last year I wondered if they'd come up with an AF-S 50 prime... and bout 2-3 months later... they announced it! Then, Nikon released it to the market round Chrismas week last year... i had to wait for another 4 months to collect enough money to buy it.

Then, on the very next day...

HP dv3500

My very own laptop! I wanted one since i got out of school... finally got it. This one cant run any of the games i really like, but i still like it. Though i have some issues with its keys.... its hard to see the letters on them.... its black on brown, glossy and not back lit. Everything else is fine though.

and i got a Razer DeathAdder to go with also! Wooooo! Thats 3 things off my wanted list! Got all of it on the same weekend! Haha!

Gosh... i'm so materialistic.... my life is about owning stuff.

???

2009-03-16T04:05:00.001-07:00

Took this with my 2.0 megapixel, no focus cameraphone around the shops near my house longtime ago. Mind the bad quality.

Cool bike eh. Real creative. Tell me what do you think of it?

Check out the brakes. And the seat! And the 'custom' paintjob!

25 random things about me

2009-02-21T19:23:00.001-08:00

Tagged by Rita

I love photography.
I enjoy playing Call of Duty 4.
I would like to go to Mount Roraima in Guyana before I die.
I made a COD4 Guide blog. Check it out > http://atkr.blogspot.com/
I have a Flickr Pro account. But that doesn't mean I'm a pro in photography, just access to more features.
I enjoy fishing.... when i catch something. Big.
I made a list of everything I wish to own. It sums up to RM300 000. Everybody is materialistic. Right?
I honour modesty and honesty. I do not respect arrogant bastards who lie about their success. What a loser.
I have a weird obssesion with guns and firearms. Not the killing... just the weapon. How it looks. The sounds it makes. The power it gives you. The smell of gunpowder...
I **********, but you do not need to know that.
Ooh... I love reptiles... snakes, lizards, tortoises I want to be a herpentologist one day.
I'm afraid of getting lost.
I'm a fan of Coldplay and Moby.
I enjoy listening to classical music like the ones in my music box.
I don't like using Facebook, Friendster, Twitter and other 'social networking' sites.
I can't play any instrument. I can't read music.
I HATE anything mainstream (hip-hop culture, the Facebook phenomenon, la-la stuff)
I HATE chainmails. Don't send any to me. I'll delete them straight.
I wrote a post which is almost like this stupid tag. http://strykerspix.blogspot.com/2008/04/facts-that-you-would-or-would-not-know.html
I procastinate a LOT.
I dream about not finishing homework and getting scolded alot during the holidays.
Good nude art is not erotic.
People say I'm creative, but I really am not.
I'm **********, but you don't really need to know that as well.
Random dosen't mean revealing. No secrets here. Muahhahahhaahhahhh!

I tag.......... nobody. Feel free to do this tag if you feel like it.

My Labour.

2009-02-20T04:50:00.000-08:00

After many many many sessions of COD4 and plenty plenty plenty of restless nights thinking of strategies and perks packages, I have finished my labours.

Sneaking behind people and popping their heads is not easy. You have to stealthy, quick and accurate. Numerous failed attempts have made me patient and cunning. In the end, after much small victories and humiliations, I have prevailed. Behold....

My Gold Uzi.

I have unlocked gold weapons for every weapon category and complete every challenge, except Carpet Bomb, which have eluded me for long. I am tired, but satisfied, to know that i have unlocked everything that can be unlocked in COD4. It isn't easy you know.

Guns that are not, but sould, be in COD4

2009-02-11T22:19:00.000-08:00

Here we go, another utterly useless blog post about guns. For obvious reasons, pictures here are not mine and grabbed from various websites.

First off...

SA-80

The SA-80 is the standard issue rifle for the British Royal Army. Attached with the SUSAT sight seen above its allegedly the most accurate infantry rifle today. So why wouldn't the S.A.S be using this but the American M4? No idea...

Ooh... this gun also appears in '28 weeks later'... Brit army... remember?

LSW (Light Support Weapon)

This is just an accurized version of the SA-80. Made for medium-far range sniper support. Soap should be using this instead of the M21 in that mission where he rescues Nikolai.

M24

This weapon, which has appeared in Battefiled 2 as you can see here, is just as accurate as the M40 but is magazine loaded. They should have included this instead of the R700 (which is just a civilian version of the M40) in Multiplayer. Reload times would be faster.

M2 .50 cal

This big brute is mounted on almost all HUMVEEs in service today. And since HUMVEEs are a primary mode of transport for the USMC, Activision should have made a level in which the player mans a M2 on a HUMVEE fagging Ultranationalist Al Asad scum.

Steyr AUG

Activison should have included this guy in Multiplayer just because of its popularity. I mean... who can't remember this guy if you've played CS. Plus... the Malaysian Army and many other notable military units uses this, but thats besides the point.

Glock

One of the most iconic handguns after the Beretta is of course the Glock. I am not sure about the others, but i think COD4 Multiplayer needs a bit more handguns for the sake of variability. Perhaps they could have included this Glock bestseller or the Glock 18 which can fire 3 round burst. (seen in CS)

Browning High Power

This 50 year old (ok, i'm not sure if its 50 years old, but it should be around there), 13 round 9mm handgun is trusted by personnel all around the world because of its reliability and simplicity in design. Rivaling the Colt 1911 in history, this weapon should be there.

Sub-Machine Guns

No pictures here, because i have just too many to suggest and only 1 should make it. Instead of the Skropion (which i don't think any military unit in the world uses), Activision should have included an SMG that fires the .45 ACP so that it could match ammo with the USP .45 and the M1911. The first .45 SMG that comes to my mind is the Ingram Mac-10, but that boxy thing, like the Skropion, is not used by many military units... its more fitting to be in a gangster game like GTA4 (which it is in). Another SMG that comes to my mind is the Heckler & Koch UMP .45, at this point you might say i get all my ideas form Counter-Strike, which i guess is partially true because its just such an iconic game! Its like an FPS staple. So... if Activision minds copying the hugely successful Counter-Strike and would like something different, they should either get the super mordern not-even-out yet KRISS SMG or... hehehehe bring back da Thompson!!!

And since its a little too late to put these guns in COD4, i would like to see the old cast in COD4 plus my suggestions in COD6!!!

Gold Plumbing

2009-02-06T21:21:00.000-08:00

After much help from iKill ( Weii Joon) i am finally able to unlock.... the Gold M1014 *aaaaaaaaaaaaah* [chants]

Wha... so reflective... the flare from it hampers my accuracy...

Looks like some gold plated piping glue together.

Taiwan

2009-01-25T00:03:00.000-08:00

I made this post because i feel that these shots deserve more. I have posted these shots and more on Flickr and put its story in the caption. Here are my 'best pics' from Taiwan.

Vista

I don't know the name of that hill, but its taken on the road to Chewfen which is a market (imagine pasar pagi) for tourist. Thrinkets, clothes and snacks).

Green Frog

This shot it not that good, lighting is terrible and composition is out. However, what happen after i took this i worth talking about. My camera broke. The pictures I take is all underexposed. So i had to up the exposure compensation by 3 stops, which means slower shutter speeds. I did bring my tripod, so landscapes and night shots was not a problem but i can't shoot anything thats moving. After the trip, I sent my D40x to Nikon, good thing its still under warranty. Hah, but the shots i missed while its being fixed..... argh!!

Injured Pidgeon

'Birding' would be almost impossible with my camera's condidtion, but this guy was pretty still, it dropped out of the sky literaly!!! I was walking to the canteen for breakfast when all of the sudden this bird fell from the roof and landed on the floor with a thud! Poor guy must be sick or sumthing.

Grass

I love how this grass looks when the sun hits it! Its almost golden! This grass (called 'Mang Chow' there) is everywhere! It covered the hill on the first picture. Its this grass that giving it the goldeny look.

To the heavens

Of all the shots I took in Fuo Guag Shan Monastery, i like this the most. The buddha idols look as if they are going to blast off to space! I also like how the gold contrasts with the blue winter skies. Though this shot only got two views on Flickr.

Stork

This picture speaks for itself. I really like it. 8 views only though.

Lights

I like all the nightshot i took there, near the Dragon Tiger Pagoda. But this one is special, cause it follows this blog's colour scheme!

City Pulse

Light painting! I didn't shake my SLR around though for this shot, the van did! I planted the tripod on the van's floor and let the camera do its thing.

Liuho Night Market

My camera's disability turned into a plus in this shot! With a long shutter speed I can get all the people to become nothing but blurs leaving behind the essence of this street. This is also the most enjoyable of the 6 night markets i have been to in Taiwan. The street is wide, there are lots of things to see and buy, and the shooting games were so easy and fun! (the video below was taken there)

Taiwanese Honour Guard

Ok, anyone can take this, but the thing i wanna point out from this shot is the bayonet attached to the M1 Springfield. Look closely, its attached with NYLON STRINGS! LOL!!

101 at night

What would a trip to Taiwan mean if I didn't visit or take a shot of the 101! I like this shot because of the light trails left by a bus that went by.

Mystery

I purposely included the trees in this shot to block out the street and the other buildings. I like how the 101 look like a sentinel's tower from a sci-fi movie!

24 Carat Killa

2009-01-20T23:18:00.000-08:00

At last... me Gold AK-47!!

Side view. (Note the silencer)

Amber-ish look indoors.

Elite challenges: Complete

Carpet Bomb, the only challenge left.

Now that I have three gold weapons (the SVD, M60 and now, the AK-47) and that I have completed 98% of the challenges... I am begining to get lazy. I haven't been playing for 3 days now... lost the motivation! LOL!

I heard that CoD6, or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is going to be out soon... i wonder what guns will be in it... hmm...

What i want but probably won't get, for Chrismas

2008-12-23T00:33:00.000-08:00

Actually, my family don't celebrate Chrismas, so we don't get presents... boo-hoo
here is the list anyway.

Manfrotto 190XPROB tripod with 488RC4 ball head
Razer Deathadder, blue, 5 button mouse - its old, i don't ask for much, seeeee
Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.4 - this will never happen, not released yet
Tamron 17-50 f2.8
Sigma 70-200 f2.8

And for New Years, i just want my D40x back from Nikon... buggers take forever to do anything.

Back from Taiwan

2008-12-10T06:43:00.000-08:00

After painstakingly uploading my pictures in chronological order in Flickr, i have lost all the mood i previously had to blog about it... hahahaha, that was total BS. Never had the mood to blog about it. Anyways read about my adventures in Taiwan on Flickr here:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/steven_wong

and comment here =============================================>

Make sure to click on the pictures to see the notes i left. Will write more if anything comes up. Here's a short video of me shooting ...

Behold...

2008-11-29T06:35:00.000-08:00

Feast you eyes on my Gold M60!

SHINY! Fast eh.. it just took me two days to get it.

This is how it looks indoors. Thats 450 headshots... I am a certified MG Sniper now... hohoho!

......................................................................................

Come Play With Me!

If you play COD4 and use Garena... join me-

Server name: All Welcomed
Time: Around 8pm - 12am
Hardcore mode, Friendly Fire is on
Game: Team Deathmatch
Duration per map: 20 mins
Max Points: 1500
Max players: 10
Max Ping: 200

RULES!!!

No tubes (Grenade launchers... M203, GP-30... RPGs allowed)
No Martyrdom
Apologize if you team kill, its common courtesy...

LOL segment - How to tell if a player is a noob

Uses the tube, under rifle grenade launcher
Picks up guns
Blocks entrances
Stand up in otherwise good camping spots
Team kills because he can't tell the difference between Spetsnaz and SAS
Stuns/Flash team mates
Throws a grenade, nade bounce off a wall/signboard/ceiling back to himself... killing him and possibly a team mate as well
Uses Juggernaut + Martyrdom, gets killed.. frags his own team mates
Sprays like mad and knife air
Waste UAVs and launch blind Airstrikes... possibly killing some team mates
Swears after every death. Blames deaths on lag or a broken mouse.

Don't worry... everyone is a newbie in the begining... one that does not admit he is... thats a noob.

Favorite Maps: Wet Work, Backlot, Crossfire, Bloc, Strike, Crash, Winter-Crash, Killhouse

Leaast Favorite Maps: Countdown, Showdown, Downpour, Shipment

My gun isn't Shiny!

2008-11-28T08:17:00.000-08:00

That what I thought when I first wipped out my Golden SVD. Don't get what i mean? Have a look.

Looks like its made out of chocolate huh. Apparently, you have to switch on Specular Maps to see it shine. Thats Options>Graphics>Specular Map>On. After that, you'd get...

Bling! Yeah. I have unlocked Red Camo for every sniper rifle in COD4. Thats 750 headshots. Woo!

More BLING! BLING!

See! 100% all the way! Woo! Call of Duty 4 Sniper pro I am!

And this is what I do when there is no heads to pop. (Note: Red Tiger Camo on M249)

Challanges yet to be completed...

Search and Destroy Victor II & III.
Sabotage Victor III
Counter Claymore II & III (13 more)
Carpet Bomb
Hot Potato (11 more)
Invincible
thats it!

Next: Golden M60

I've already got Red camo for M249 and PRD, just M60 now.

Duty Calls

2008-11-22T19:08:00.000-08:00

As some of you might know, SAM is over! I took the final tests and went for the prom. Now you'd might expect me to write about the prom... but i feel an obligation to tell you what I've been doing during the holidays now. I've got Garena to work and have been playing Call of Duty 4 on LAN non stop! I've reached the final level, which is level 55, Commander and unlocked all guns and digital camouflage for them. I've become quite good in the art of sniping! LOL!

I prefer to play in hardcore mode, as bullets do more damage and there is no HUD, making the whole experience more realistic. I make full use of this mode by finding out which weapons will result in a on shot kill (AK-47, PRD...) that would not have been possible in normal mode.

Now I am planning to unlock Golden SVD by unlocking Red Tiger Camouflage for all sniper rifles and to complete all my challenges.

Challenges i've not completed... yet

Counter Claymore II & III - Kill enemies by shooting a claymore.
Airbourne - Kill 2 enemies with bullets in mid-air.
Carpet Bomb - Kill 5 enemies with a single air strike.
Hot Potato II & III - Kill enemies by throwing back a live grenade.
The Brink - Get 3 kill streak while near death.
Dominos - Kill enemies by staring a chain reaction of explosions.
Invincible - Get 5 health regenerations from enemy damage without dying.

Screenshot Time!

Lvl 55 Commander. (Look! My kills is higher than my deaths!)

Extremely difficult challenges.

My M21 in Fireman Red

My R700 in Boy's Scout Blue (now also in red)

Barret .50 cal. No red camo for this guy yet.

Now... back to COD4. Semper Fi!

An update

2008-10-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

Today will be the last time I play Call of Duty 4, well at least in FTZ. I am stopping to focus on my studies for the finals coming November. Its was difficult thinking about stopping. I really hope i can continue playing after the test by getting GArena to work, i have no idea how it works... I wonder how the online comunity is like compared to the crowd in FTZ (bye The Durians, The Professors and the noobs that helped me so much to gain experice pts and unlocks.)

Top 10 Most Wanted Unlocks

Overkill (dual primary weapon)

P90 (red dot + silencer + ACOG, for all guns listed here)

G36C

Barret

Desert Eagle

Frag x 3

Humuliation Challanges

-wtf, just reallised that there isn't 10 worthy unlocks... oh well...

Screenshot Time!

Boot Camp Challanges: Complete!

Next rank.. Lieutenant Colonel (silver leaf)

My Heckler & Koch G3 assault rifle in pixel camoflage

(next camo unlock Blue Tiger [75 headshots] and Red Tiger [150 headshots], both totally unpractical and silly, just for showing off)

Isn't it beautiful? G3, pixel camo, ACOG scope.

My favorite Class: ATKR (read as Attacker [don't copy, its my trademark])

G3, ACOG scope, pixel camo
USP .45 silenced (no Deagle ma..)
Bandoiler (more ammo)
Sleight of Hand (faster reaload)
Last Stand

The M40A3 looks great with default woodland camo. My R700 look like rubbish with woodland camo, so i put pixel on it, still looks bad.. but can showoff ma.

Thanks to Yee Hon, Chih Ping and the guys who let me farm you. Also special, thanks to all the noobs which I totally owned in FTZ today.

New

2008-10-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

I've got a new phone. Had enough of the jammy joystick on my old one.
No its not an N85, just a Sony Ericsson K630i.

What I like about my new phone.

It looks good.

Its cheap. (RM580)

NO JOYSTICK! (or Painstick!)

Its louder.

Comes with a nice pair of earphones and a 1Gb M2 card.

What I don't like about my new phone.

The camera sucks. (2mp, no autofocus)

The keypad is too cramped.
No dedicated music button.
The shell creaks, feels plasticy.

The new interface is complicated.

No torchlight. (unlike my K750i that got traded away)

Has a few bugs.

Conclusion?

I like it. The bad point is nothing I can't live with. I take more pics with my D40x anyways. Miss the tochlight though... Saving money to get the new AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens... ooh prime lens..

Call of Duty.

2008-09-14T02:40:00.000-07:00

I have recently discovered that i can save my profile when playing COD4 (Call of duty 4) in a CC. Ever since then i am so hopelessly addicted to it that its affecting my studies (bye-bye Trials). Every time i try to study i'll end up thinking about what to unlock next and what Perks (abilities) i would put on my custom classes.

I am currently a Master Sargent III, the next rank i'd get would be Master Gunnery Sargent (lvl 22). I have unlocked the M21 (currently ma favorite sniper rifle), M4 (automatic version of M16), a Mini-Uzi (retared sub-machine gun), M1911 (retared Vietnam era handgun) and a M60E4 (fat ass Vietnam era machine gun [accuracy sucks, bad.]). Next would be a SVD (a Soviet made AK-like retared sniper rifle).

The most useful Perks i have unlocked is Last Stand (shoot ur enemy with your sidearm before dying), Martyrdom (drop a frag nade [grenade] with a 2.5 sec fuse after u r killed). Martyrdom is bloody useful against backstabbers and chargers. (F U superNinja Hahahahaha!). My most recent Perk unlock is Sleight of Hand, which doubles ur reloaded time, i used it on my shotgun class. The reload speed was insane! Woo! Its like.. shckshckshckshckshckshckshck, shck-shak!! Done. Ready to blow brains. I am really exicted about unlocking Claymores (anti-personnel mines that explodes when you walk past it). hehehhehhehehhe, imagine how many idiots i can frag while i snipe-camp.

I have red-dot sights on my MP5, M16, M4, M1200 shotgun, and M249 light machine gun. The retarted thing about COD is that i can't put 2 attachment together, its either red-dot (25 kill to unlock), silencer (75 kill to unlock) or an ACOG (150 kill to unlock).

Another fun thing to unlock are Challenges. When you unlock a challenge and complete one, the game rewards you with experince points. I have almost finished my Bootcamp challenges. 1 more prone kill and i'll complete Prone Shot III, 250pts, yeah. I am 4 shanks away from completing Knife Vereran III. I would really like to play Humiliation Challenges, but i can only unlock them at lvl 44. Ma-de. One challenge is called Misery Loves Company, where i have to kill myself and 1 enemy by cooking a grenade but not throwing it. LOL! Another is Cruelty, where i'd kill an enemy, pick up his weapon, and kill the enemy with his weapon when he respawn. ROLFMAO!

Screenshot Time!!

COD4 multiplayer main page

One of my custom classes, Big Stick. And, if anyone is asking, i hate camo on my guns, desert camo look like baby crap... and how is Red Tiger camo supposed to conseal anything?!

Generals would probably go, pfft lame... now.

I love knifing, 4 more shanks! I changed Q to my melee button, so chargers, beware, hahahhahahahhahahahh!

Knifing air just for fun, i like the knife in CS more, but this one kill in just one slash.

Top 10 most anticipated upgrades

Claymore
Overkill (dual primary weapon)
Iron Lungs (hold breath 10sec while sniping)
Humiliation Challenges
M14
P90
G3
G36c
Bandoiler
Barret M82 .50cal

Obscenities

2008-08-06T05:28:00.000-07:00

Bird Nest Stadium?

Think again.

Cockerel?

Think again.

Don't get what i mean?

Don't bother thinking.

Still got lots of pictures to edit. Cherrio...

List of camera accessories that i want

2008-06-25T05:47:00.000-07:00

Image sensor blower
PT-o4
Diffusion Dome for SB-600
AA Battery charger
120 medium format film, (B&W or colour)
Remote shutter release trigger (bulb capable)
Good tripod
New camera bag

Yup another totally useless and uninformative blog post.

What i did in my two week worth of holidays...

2008-06-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Because i am too lazy to blog in detail and because i don't have to, i'll just summarize what i did into this chonological list..

One day before holiday- Shot (shot as in shooting pictures) law school students with CS, for kiamsap Taylor's Law prospectus
Ate at a stupid restaurant in the middle of nowhere and went to Lookout Point
Went to Nikon center to get my CCD cleaned
Shoot pics of my Hotwheels
Attended a relative's wedding
Lepak with Jerry
Bought my AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm macro lens and a SB-600 Speedlight flash
Tried out my new equipment in Semenyih
Flickred those pictures
Installed and finished Call of Duty 4: Modern warfare in 2 days
Replay COD4 in arcade mode, found 20 enemy intels and unlocked every cheat except the last one, infinite ammo
Whatched Ironman
Caught a fever
Packed for my trip to Belum
Went to Belum, took photos, fed leaches, slept on hard floor,
After holidays, procastinate bout blogging Belum, editted and burned pictures into CD
Distribution
Blogged this, Flickring Belum pics to Strike Freedom account

If you wanna see what i did in Belum, go here, Take the slideshow and comment here!!

Semenyih Campsite

2008-05-14T06:08:00.000-07:00

Ahh.. first time this year going to this site. My dad found this place, its his favorite campsite because its the closest to home. Nothing much to write, just went there last last weekend with my D40x, did a lot of shots that i've been dying to do with it...

Road to the site, 4WD only..

Campsite

Green Guy (not an etomologist of anykind, don't know the name of these)

Camoflaged with skin

Black Dude

Waterfall ..finally..

Jungle Coils

Weird Fern

MSN charging for its services!! Forward this to all your contacts!!

2008-05-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

I have received countless e-mails form my friend with a similar title to the one above. The most recent one being this one...

Subject: FW: All msn / hotmail usersDate: Tue, 6 May 2008 13:09:52 +0000
Good afternoon all msn / hotmail users, I am Tara and together with all the directors of MSN, we apologized for the interruption.

Please be informed that msn is closing down due to the increasing numbers of inconsideration. In our current report, it has clearly showed that there is an overflowing percentage of population using one name to sign up for lots of new and different accounts. This draws us to a shortage of new username accounts. Report shave shown that we are left with only FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT names. So this actually forced us to close down as many wasted accounts as possible for our company sake.

To do so, our company has decided to use this idea. If you would like to keep this existing account, please kindly follow the instructions given below.

01: Copy this entire email.
02: Go back to inbox, and click on new
03: Right click paste
04: Sent this to all the names / emails address in your contact

(*To help you to ensure that you have followed to given instructions, once you sent this email to all your names / emails address in your contact , your msn will turn blue) ** Closing date: 30 JUNE 2008 If you would like to close your existing msn / hotmail account, ignore the FOUR (04)steps given above. Any new account that is being signed up for will be charged at the cost of US$10.00 a month.

Please go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1189119.stm more details. Thank you for your understanding. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/

Oh my gosh! MSN is gonna charge for its service?? TOTAL BOLLOCKS!!

First of all, MSN makes MILLIONS in just from its ads, anyone of those annoying animation ad that you see bellow your MSN Messanger costs a bomb!

Secondly, why would MSN staff BOTHER to send this kinda personally to their contacts? They can just freakin send a MASS MESSAGE to all its users, thats isn't that difficult! They do it all the time whenever there is a new version of Messanger out!

Thirdly, if you'd actually read the TERMS AND CONDITIONS before singning up, you'd know that if your account is inactive for 9 months it will be AUTOMATICALLY DELETED.

Furthermore, your 'MSN guy' wouldn't change blue even if you did senD this to all your contacts? Have you seen it turn blue?

Need more convincing? I had received at LEAST 20 similar e-mails and did absolute-ly nothing! And i can still use MSN FREE!

Need more proof? Try these sites... (just copy and paste in your address bar, don't worry, I personally guarantee there you can't get any virus thingy this way.)

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/msn-shutdown.html

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/msn-18-contacts.html

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/msn-petition.html

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/m/msn.htm

http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=002257;p=0

http://www.f-secure.com/hoaxes/msn_hoax.shtml

This is a HOAX its just a CHAINMAIL, probably started by some lonely bastard that doesn't receive enough e-mails from his/her contacts. If whoever started this kinda crap is reading this, read on... GET A LIFE.

Don't bother sending this sorta crap, don't worry about being charged or getting your MSN or Yahoo or Friendster account being delete, it won't happen, IT'S A HOAX.

I am so sick of getting chainmails, and you know whats worst? Those "Pity this girl" chainmails, the ones with pictures of deformed babies or children with ugly burns, that get you to forward the e-mail to all your contacts to get "support" for them.
I actually pity the poor baby, and i know too well that sending e-mails don't do any difference, if some billionaire actually wanted to donate to this he'd just freakin do so! Why'd he bother to ask people for signatures and support. And some idiot actually used the poor girl's picture to get more e-mails!!! F_cking @$$#01e!

Batu Caves Photography Trip

2008-05-03T04:11:00.000-07:00

Today i went to Batu Caves for a photograpic trip organized by TPS. I got to meet some 'semi-pros' and mess with their cameras, expensive hardware... Umm.. generally fun.. first time going to batu caves and actually remembering it.. (i went there once when i was really really young). Took 510 pictures today, and only this 10 is lookable at... I wasn't thinking when shooting today... what the hell happend to me? I just stick my camera in Programme mode and shoot like crazy...

Who's counting?

Chicken Run, haha!

Inside the cave; practically everybody that came took this scene

Hole in the cave

Innocent look..

A monkey did this..

Plasticbags are not toys, Suffocation Hazard

Monkeys are more or less the main attractin here in Batu Caves

Pidgeon

Group photo

I call this guy Scarface, big male, wasn't afraid of me one bit..

These are some portrait shots i've taken there, i'm not really good with portraits, so don't laugh!..

Beefy Keane (he says he's fat, hah..)

The adorable Su Zhen

Battlefield Gun sounds

2008-04-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Pure respect to serpento99, great video dude..

http://www.youtube.com/v/QCq-sgihxfg&hl=en">

Facts that you would or would not know about me... (no secrets here)

2008-04-06T06:12:00.000-07:00

I...

am a "firearm fanatic". I can tell the difference between an M16A1 and an M16A2. You show me a picture of a gun, i can tell you what shell it fires, unless its pre WW2
actually enjoy fishing, when i catch something...
would really want to go to Mt Roraima before i die
think WW3 comes in the next 50 years
procrastinate in anything that is considered work, even things i like, like, drawing...
predict that one day an underwater earthquake will happen in the Straits of Malacca and cause a giant tsunami to hit our shores
hate people taking bad about me behind my back, whispering [yeah I'm paranoid, sue me]
don't smoke, don't plan to smoke, don't want to smoke and would only smoke when i am getting cremated, and i really hate under aged smokers too..
am not doing any kind of sports now
have problems communicating in Malay or Mandarin
need a conscious effort to stop swearing or talk without foul words (the swears complement every sentence i say when i am talking crap or am sleep talking)
don't listen to Chinese music, but i don't think its crap, well some of them...
think the concept of burning "offerings" to our ancestors is polluting earth
am not afraid of any animals but would not grab any or go near to ones that are dangerous unless i have to
sometimes have sudden flashbacks of embarrassing memories [I'll shrudder or scream "d'oh!" all of the sudden, i hate it when that happens]
would want to produce my own FPS video game
have split personalities, maybe...
have problems in spelling, which is why i hate writing
think i have slight dysgraphia, i write letters that are from the words that comes next (thecy camte together in pcaks, instead of, they came together in packs)
paint or draw quite well, but only when i am in the mood for it
am a member of MENSA (google it if you do not know what that is..), have an IQ of 164, which i think is not very high, now i think i have lower..
wish to have a working lightsaber and Jedi powers
would like to live like Wilson in Lotus Eater, of course with all the modern conveniences that we have today, his life is beautiful, to me
don't belive in horoscopes
don't belive and totally hate chainmails, send one to me and get 7 years of bad luck may all chainmail starters die (e.g send this e-mail to 10 of your contacts or hotmail/yahoo/friendster will bar you... HAH! They MAKE MONEY from you the moment you signed up! I've never sent chainmails around, and guess what!? I still have my account no bad luck too!)
my current favorite TV shows are Dirty Jobs, Mythbusters, Future Weapons and Man vs. Wild, which is all on Discovery, Ohh! I like Dogfights on the History channel as well..
am losing my faith in religion
need to see a shink, cos i think there is something wrong with me...

My Quotes

2008-03-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, some are not really mine, its adapted but, wtf...

"Man made God to explain what he can't..." - not trying to be an atheist

"A car is only as smart as it's driver" - sounds stupid

"Without losers they won't be any winners" - very true

"The mouse is mightier than the pen" - i think this is an original, by me...

"Good offence is great defence" - from "Great Defence is good offence"

"If your enemy is in range, so are you" - total rip off, but i like it

"Freedom is only sweet till it gets boring" - remember those holidays wasted infront of the idiotbox?

"Math, illogical logic..."

Top 10 Counter-Strike guns according to me.. (another rubbish post)

2008-03-09T07:46:00.000-07:00

IMI Galil (Terrorist 4-1, 35 round mag, accurate, hits relatively hard, great for spraying)

Colt M4 Carbine (CT 4-3, accurate, stealthy, cool firing sound, low recoil with silencer on)

SIG SG 552 Commando (Terrorist 4-4, cool looks and sound, semi-scope = accuracy)

G3-SG1 (Terrorist 4-6, 2 shot kill, accurate, Yee Hon's favorite)

AK-47 (Terrorist 4-2, Classic, Great sound, 3 shot kill, good for charging)

Accuracy International AWP (T & CT, 4-5 & 4-6 respectively, long range, most accurate, one shot kill)

MP5 Navy (T & CT, 3-2 both, high rate of fire, stuns vic [can't move])

IMI Desert Eagle (T & CT 1-4, high powered, great sound)

FN P90 (T & CT 3-4, 50 round mag, great for charging, sideways recoil [if u know how to use it, its quite useful])

Benelli XM 1014 (T & CT 2-2, pure charging n ambush weapon, shoot while reloading)

Ok, here are the retards in CS, (i won't concider picking this up)

Ingram Mac-10 (Terrorist 3-1, freakin high recoil, mag out in 2.5 seconds flat)

Styers TMP (CT 3-1, high recoil, stupid sound, mag finishes faster than Ingram)

Benelli Super M3 (Both 2-1, nothing super bout it, same strenght with 2-2, hv 2 pump before firing next round)

FN Five-seveN (CT 1-5, lousy handgun, freakin weak, 20 rounds so what, so does Glock, Glock hits harder + got burst fire, this one got nothin, long reload sequence, stupid look)

SIG SG 552 Commando (pic not mine)

Sam Fiesta aka 'Disco Night'...

2008-03-08T07:15:00.000-08:00

was a waste of time. The food suck, the main singer dosen't sings, he screams (you ain't Chester Bennigton, man, no offence). At least i got to see my Math teacher dance and kill a whole bunch of brain cells with my flash, hahaha! I did dance, but don't like it. I feel embarrased when i dance, eventhough everybody is (some with even more 'rad' moves than anything i can think up), prob due to some latent memories...

Ok, blogger here is your second chance don't screw up

I saw this squrriel in Taylors

Laser light show, cool!

Dance train!

My extreme Math teacher (rock on ma'am!)

Retart!

2008-03-08T07:09:00.000-08:00

For some stupid reason, the spacing on this fu_king blog just wouldn't get right. I just want my picture titles a space under the picture, and the next picture a space after the title, IS IT THAT DIFFICULT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!! If someone from blogger is seeing this, please tell me how to fix it, i am getting really annoyed, i dunno whether i messed up the controls or you all made it like that, i m considering to boycott you'se real soon

Hey, I'm 18...

2008-03-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

That's the first thought that came to me when i woke up on the 4th. Do i feel any taller, more mature? No. Just tired. College was exactly the same as any otherday. Nothing special, life goes on. I hap a chemistry practical today, fermentation, it was kinda fun, handing expensive and fragile, lab apparatus. We (G12) celebrated, during break at AC (Asia Cafe), it was a simple affair nothing fancy.

Steam Boat!! Nah, just warming ethanol + dichromate solution, no results...

My cake

CP, KW n WC watching football, ballheads!!

A lorry flipped over on the KESAS, caused a major jam, it was carrying goat lard.

My 18-year old self

Before dinner, i reallised that hey, I AM 18, why ain't i celebrating it? I didn't in anyway made the day more interesting for myself, so after dinner (at home) i opened a bottle of red wine and drank it with dad. It tastes like shit, sour n bitter at the same time, its expensive and potentialy dangereous, why would anybody drink this stuff!! At that moment i had no respect for winemakers at all, but then again, they sold this stuff to the entire globe. There must be someway of apperciating this putrid red liquid that gave me rashes. Dad says people drink it to get high, no other reason. Mom says expensive wine taste better. Pn Mahani says its an aquired taste, i quess thats true, but i ain't drinkin that stuff again... unless my life is at stake.

Yes it worked! The spacing worked!

2008-03-02T08:15:00.000-08:00

This post is made just to celebrate the last post not being screwd up with spacing problems. Yea!

Tagged myself, to test spacing...

2008-03-02T07:32:00.000-08:00

Part 1 : On the Outside

Name: Steven Wong Siew Por
Date of Birth: 4 March 1990
Current Status: Stressed up
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Dark Brownish
Righty or Lefty: Righty
Zodiac sign: Pieces
Interest (added on my own): Photography, Fishing, Firearms, FPS Games, Hot Chicks (which guy isn’t) and Visual Art (I like the Expressionism Movement and Surrealism)
Music (added on my own): Relaxing stuff, trance, techno, classics, metal (only in the morning, to keep me awake in the car), NO POP SHIT

Part 2: On the Inside

Your heritage: Chinese
Your fear: Being lost
Your weakness: Social Skills

Part 3: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Your Thoughts First Waking Up: I want more sleep!!
Your Bedtime: 11p.m - 1 a.m
Your Most Missed Memory: Catching a really big fish

Part 4: Your Pick

Pepsi or Coke: Pepsi
McD's or Burger King: McD's
Single or Group Dates: Never been to any, so won’t know the difference
Adidas or Nike: Neither, I oppose brand bias, I take whichever that’s cheap, comfortable and durable
Lipton Tea or Nestea: Neither
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
Cappucino or Coffee: Neither, caffeine addicts!!

Part 5: Do You...

Smoke: No, may all underage smokers rot in hell!
Curse: All the time, with a good reason
Drink: Wouldn't live after 3 days without H2O

Part 6: In the Past Month

Drank alcohol: No
To the Mall: For supplies, yes
Been on Stage: No
Eaten sushi: No
Dyed Your Hair: That’s last year, regretted it. I prefer natural colour

Part 7: Have You Ever...

Played a Stripping Game: I wouldn’t want to lose to a girl, worst still a gay…
Changed Who You Were to Fit In: I would be a deranged psychopath if I didn’t, nah just kidding, people change all the time, most of the time without being conscious about it

Part 8: AgeYou're Hoping to

Be Married: Before 32
Get laid: As soon as possible...
Die: After i see my grandson

Part 9: In a Guy/Girl

Best Eye Colour: Any
Hair Colour: Blonde? Brunette? But naturally so, not dyed…
Short or Long Hair: Depends on the look.

Part 10: What Were You Doing

1 Minute Ago: Typing what else? CS-ing? Maybe, 15 mins ago yes la!
1 Hour Ago: Working on my Social Relevant Task, Physics
1 Month Ago: Now, or one month ago anytime?
1 Year Ago: If I had a diary, I would know…

Part 11: Finish the Sentences

I Love: Photography
I Feel: Tired of living
I Miss: My friends
I Need: A girlfriend (i suck in flirting)

Part 12: Tag 5 People

One: You
Two: Your friend
Three: Your neighbor
Four: Your dad
Five: Your grandma, (if still alive and likes to blog)

Part 12: List Out Five Presents You Wish For

1) Nikkor VR 70-300 Super zoom lens for my D40x
2) Tamron SP 90mm 1:1 Macro lens
3) A laptop that performs well, (Asus G1, Acer sumthin with good stats)
4) Nokia N96
5) iPod Touch 8 Gb

My birthday is around the corner, get one of these for me!! :P

SAD day

2008-02-15T07:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was SAD day, yup Single-Awareness Day!! (thought up by the Hitz Morning Crew), the day that you are most aware that, you, are single, and happy bout it! Well not for me, it was really a SAD day, i felt like shit all day, i wan't to have someone but i am hopeless when it comes to flirting, sighs.

That night, was the 8th day of CNY, apparently there was some sort of prayer going on that involes burning money, my freakin neighbourhood was filled with competitive rich bastards that somehow got fireworks. Booms and bangs went on untill 2 a.m. i got my D40x went up to the roof and enjoyed the free show. Pix on Flickr => http://www.flickr.com/photos/steven_wong/

A Bad day that started Great

2008-02-01T06:48:00.000-08:00

There was no bio class today so, the G12 guys (+ Hannah) and I went to FTZ Asia Cafe CC. We played CS, its so long since i played with real players, damn syiok, i was shouting like i was on high with Coke, LOL.

Highlights of the CS game: DE_Dust

I killed 4 guys with one clip from a Galil (35 rounds per clip), 2 headshots, WOO!!
Bunnyreaper got blown to bits while trying to defuse the bomb i planted
Win 1-on-1 with chuanshinn (this guy is freakin good, smoked me so many times)
Galil out of ammo, pull out the Glock and do 2 kills with it
Use smoke as distraction, (it worked!!)
Tea Bagged someone

Things i tried to do during the game

Use actual sniping (not walking around shooting with a scope attached like what HOn does with a G3SG1, [he ruled the game, top score, 64 kills, i did 57])
Stab someone
Multiple granade kill

Soon, it was time for us to crawl out of the comfy CC and get to English class, it was raining cows and sheeps, from here on the day started to suck...

First, i had to get wet to attend English. I was really looking forward to playing CS again with Yik Jun as planned yesterday during break. English class over, when i got out n called YJ, we found out that we actually have different break times (yeah, bad eyesight looking at the time table).

After having break with Tay n guys it was Math class. As soon as i got in, Ms Yeap reminded us that we will have a test after the CNY holidays and its gonna be 'not easy'. Did calculus and the i started to have headache. Chem class was next, it was okay cept for the fact that my head felt like it was gonna explode. Physics class made the headache worst, damn projectile questions.

After school, i went to the library to get some books for the English assingment due after CNY holidays (jees some holiday), met Yik Jun on the way. He convinced me to 'teman' him to attend a Jijitsu Club meeting, interesting but my head hurt too much too care. I left the ECA building at 4 and went into my car and drove off.

In the middle of a f-ing traffic jam in KESAS, i realised i left something important in campus, my bag filled with expensive books, a 400 buck calculator and 2 recently borrowed books. GD it!! Got home, called YJ, told him to put my bag in a locker n started driving BACK to campus (the library dosent open in weekends and i have homework, lots of it), then called mum just to tell her i m heading off, she told me that dad will bring me (he is more patient in jams), did an abrupt U-turn and head back. Later in the evening i returned home with my bag.

Now that i am have writen on it, it dosen't seem so bad anymore, could have been worst. Its an Ok day after all. 1st Feb 2008, Stryker W@SP , out.

Flame test

2008-01-29T06:48:00.001-08:00

Today, i did my first chem parctical! The flame test is damned fun!

My Nikon D40x!!

Copper ions produce green flame! Cool!

Contaminated with Sodium ions, damn difficult to remove!!

I GOT A D40X AT LAST HAHA!!

2008-01-25T04:34:00.000-08:00

Hu hu hu hu ha!!! After 1 year of waiting i finally decided it was the right time to get the D40x!! Used the money i saved for a N95 (i know handphone enthusiast will go What?! now). The Nikon D40x DSLR redefines picture sharpness for me!! Yeah! Bye-bye Chroma Noise! Bye-bye lousy exposures!!

The Nikon D40x DSLR with me (slow shutter rocks!!)

Sharp redefined.

(try going this close with ur lousy point-shoot cam! Haha!)

No more noise!! Background blurring with large aperture!!

Hi Teacher!!!

2008-01-21T04:50:00.000-08:00

Hi teacher do you like my blog? Nice colour scheme right? Cool hantu music right!! Eh teacher you got blog ah? Put the URL in the cbox la!!

To those of you that have no idea what just happened, my class mentor Pn. Mahani found my blog [yeah, damn paiseh man...]. Ya know how she did it without me mentioning the URL to anyone in class? Apparently you can search blogs with Google...

Using Google to find blogs...

Even so it isn't very easy to find someone's blog using this (wha teacher, damn rajin to find my blog ah, tech savvy also, RESPECT!!). Other than me, my classmate Joo Ling also recived the same fate (no hard feelings ah teacher, but not sure about Joo Ling oh..)

The point is anonymity online is not easy, its not difficult also, just use another name entirely la...but the thing is, who really needs it...

College Life

2008-01-08T05:25:00.000-08:00

I have entered Taylor's College for four days now, taking SAM (South Australian Matriculation), in class G12. Nothing much to report... i take five subjects not including the LAN subjects (Moral ed and Malaysian Studies), they are Chem, Physics, English, Math and Bio.

These four days seem surprisingly like school to me, cept that you get to wear whatever you please and you have to walk around to get to different classes. Believe me,, you'll get used to it.

Our mentor (class teacher) Pn Mahani who teaches Chem, speaks faster than characters in Speed Racer. She is the no-nonsense type of teacher, which is kinda good. Her teaching method is, different but effective to me (she doesn't teaches chapter by chapter, but by relevance[carbon cycle to green house effect instead of nitrogen cycle])

Math seems like Add math (i am already having problems) and Physics feels like Math. Gosh, I miss Ms Geetha and Mr Khoo.

Bio was a great though. Pn Param (yes Param) is way better than Pn Jamaliah, she teaches in real detail and makes sure everybody understands. I attended my first LAN class today, Mr William's assignments are reaallly interesting, we get to make documentaries and classes are supposed to be very interactive to him, we'll have to see eh. Our first assingment was to make a documentary on Moral Values. Nice.

SAM is coined Self-Abuse Matriculation here, hmmm, i wonder why... nah, i expect SAM to be 10x more stressful than SPM, expected but not prepared for.

Ok, thats all, if there is anything interesting that happened, i'll keep you ppl posted, my very small group of viewers.

Steven Wong, bored Class Rep of G12, out. God, i miss you guys.

Wow, what a week!

2007-12-14T06:18:00.000-08:00

December 8 - Party at Sean Su's

December 9 - Semenyih Campsite (One day visit)

December 10 - Alor Gajah Fishing Trip (Day 1)

December 11 - Alor Gajah Fishing Trip (Day 2)

December 12 - Prom Night

December 13 - Semenyih Campsite (this time there was an Eco Youth Camp there [not participating, heck my dad found the site!])

December 14 - Blogging & Gaming

Most Useful Websites (According to me)

2007-12-01T04:25:00.000-08:00

Google (who doesn't search with Google?)
Wikipedia (great for research for projects and finding out stuff)
Flickr (Photography, my current obsession, go figure)
Red vs Blue (RVB makes HALO machinimas, and funny comics too!)
Download.com (where i download tunes that never plays in the radio, [got sick of the stupid stuff they call POP played over and over again])
This site, Blogger (allows me to list stuff and rant on shit)
GSMarena (keeps me informed)
IMDB (check all your favorite movie facts and trivia + Sountrack Listing!!)
Youtube (wondering why its so low in the list, I am not obsessed with music videos!!)
illwillpress (stupid squrriel that sings and swears, how is that funny? Dunno its just is!)

And the listing continues!

2007-11-27T20:27:00.000-08:00

Top 10 best Rifles according to me.

AK-47
M16 A2
FN FNC
HK G36C
HK G3
FN FAL
Styers AUG
SIG SG 552
FAMAS
LSW

Listing Madness

2007-11-26T02:49:00.000-08:00

List of Lists (done)
Top 10 Most wanted gadget list (done)
Top 10 Games i want to play before i die (done)
Top 10 Best games i have played (done)
Top 1o Best way to die in Battlefield 2
Frequently used quotes
Top 10 Best Rifles
Best war machines
Most usefull websites
Places to visit with a DSLR

Next: Top 1o Best way to die in Battlefield 2

Shot while Tea-bagging, (turkey slapping)
Get blown to bits by artillery fire when capturing flag.
Get shelled by artillery while sniping.
Runned over by enemy after getting out of your own tank.
Get stabbed by enemy, revived by medic, stabbed by enemy, revived again (repeat 10x)
Friendly grenade. Stupid bots.
Enemy granade. Damn tiny, barely can see, makes a tiny clink when it lands. Stupid bots.
Run over friendly mine.
Ramming your F-15 to enemy MiG. (Only way i know how to kill with an Aviator, damn hard to control)
Didn't open parachute in time after jumping from a REALLY high building.

Science Club T-shirts

2007-11-24T07:24:00.000-08:00

Finished design.

Earlier idea.

How it looks when its done. (retaining anonymity, lol)

Top 10 Best games i have played

2007-11-24T07:08:00.000-08:00

Half-Life 2
HALO
Far Cry
Battlefield 2
Couter-Strike (for casual gaming, nice, play a few round just to burn time)
Half-Life
GTA San Andreas (few hours at cousin's house)
Ghost Recon Advance Warfighter (works for 10 minutes, damn anti-piracy software)
Flat Out
Doom 3 (monsters jump out at you and scratch your health away, thats it, yeah REAL fun)

Top 10 Games i want to play before i die

2007-11-24T06:51:00.000-08:00

Ok, here goes...

HALO 3
Half-Life 2 sequels (HL2 Episode 2 and so on)
F.E.A.R
Crysis
God! That's it! I gotta watch more game review shows!!

Steven's Gadget Wishlist

2007-10-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

I'll be real happy if i can get any of the two in the list...

Nikon D40x -tie- Canon EOS 400D
ASUS G1 Gaming Laptop
iPod Touch
Plantronics Voyager 855 (Stereo Bluetooth headphone)
Sony Ericsson K850i -tie- Nokia N95
Xbox 360 Elite
Sony HDR-SR8E -tie- DCR-SR42E video recorders
iPod Video 80Gb -tie- Microsoft Zune 80Gb
Better compact cam
External Hard Disk (>100GB)

Nice day for a ride.

2007-10-14T03:32:00.000-07:00

Whew! I just came back from Mr. Khoo's place on bicycle!

I found out where he lived last month so i decided to drop by his house today. Unfortunately, i have no pictures for this escapade; my mom wouldn't allow me to bring my K750i. I got robbed once, although nothing was taken from me because i didn't bring my phone and wallet, it still happened. (reminds me of KY who got 'molested' [frisked]). Crime rate is high and teenagers can't even take their iPod or phone out.

At around 4:30, i got my bike out, pumped some air into the tires, grease it a little, and did all the usual safety checks. I left my house at 5:05 p.m and head towards the Alam Damai park. 5:30 i reached the park did a lap a round the 1km track, there was a pond there with lots of tilapia in it and childred feeding them with bread. Cycled uphill and took the exit there to Alam Damai. 5:37 i reached Mr. Khoo's place and hollared his name. After getting no reaction what so ever, i hollered again. Then i noticed a black fish like object a few feet from his fence.

It was a fish. I puyu in fact, hardy species, this one about 12 cm long, adult. I head back to Mr. Khoo's house and rang the bell this time. He came bewilderd to see me infront of his house. I greeted him with a smile and told him about the fish. He took out a plastic bag, put the fish in it and filled it with water. We concluded that i must have escaped form on of the neighbours tank when it rained in the afternoon.

We started chatting about his Semi-D, termite problems, and robberies. He was the same old man that teached me physics in school, friendly guy. His grass need abit stepping on. Soon it was alreaded 6 and i promised my mum to be back by 6:30. I bid Mr. Khoo goodbye, but not before reciving a 100 Plus from him. I cycled towards where i came from and released the fish into the pond in the park. The fish practically jumped out of the bag and swimmed into the murky depths of the pool. I feel so glad to relese a fish stranded in the middle of the road being attcked by ants, back into the wild well sort of.

I then headed back home from the way i came and reached my house at exactly 6:30. There was a woman walking a husky near my house, it had a missing eye. I got in and started blogging straight away.

I think this is my longest post ever.

Try 2

2007-10-11T22:50:00.000-07:00

I am bad at html stuff, maybe its not blogger fault with all the spacing faults, lets see...

Hi, i am testing the spacing

Double space

Tripple space

Space, picture, space, title, double space

My Phone

So?......

Bye Stryker's Videos

2007-10-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

I have just deleted my other blog on blogger, Stryker's videos no time to update. So this will be my only blog on blogger, less hassle easier to remember. All the sudden i feel like making a whole bunch of lists... hmmm...

List of Lists that i want to make

List of Lists (done)
Top 10 Most wanted gadget list
Top 10 Games i want to play before i die
Top 10 Best games i have played
Top 1o Best way to die in Battlefield 2
Frequently used quotes
Top 10 Best Rifles
Best war machines
Most usefull websites
Places to visit with a DSLR

Hua Liao so long din update

2007-08-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

What is it? 3, 4 months? Busy like crap, these days, plus i hate the damn spacing prob this place has, haiz.

STRYKERCLAN member list

2007-07-04T21:01:00.000-07:00

Here are the members of my clan, the STRYKERCLAN, which do nothing but hangout and talk crap

Wong Siewpor [Stryker W@SP]
Luther Tan
Jeevan
Zuhdi [ZERO]
Sean Su
Liew Chin Meng
Daryl Goh (sorry)
Joshua Lau
Ng Kar Wai
Qayyum
Loh Yik Jun
Ng Yon Xiang

Posting pictures is easy on Flickr!

2007-06-04T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, no i m not advertising Flickr, its just that i need real world contacts on Flickr! You dont have to be a real pro to pictureblog, just put whatever pictures that you took that you think is artistic on it. It can be blurred or full of noise, just say that u like it that way! You don't have to be really active with it too! I've seen members with 6 pictures only! So join now and add me as ur contact right away!

True Friend test thing

2007-05-02T08:20:00.001-07:00

http://www.truefriendtest.com/friendtest/324407

Try it, if you are willing to be a member of this thing to get ur scores.....

A little bit of China

2007-04-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

Crossing Paths

Pre-winter silence

Blue Dragon

The Great Wall

Azure

Bridge

Boat

Forbiden City Gate

Inside Forbiden City

The Throne

Sunset at Summerplace.

Perspective of trees

Random Stuff 2

2007-04-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

Loha, i have to add some thing here to keep this blog alive, so here is another post of....

RANDOM STUFF 2

I miss Fishing.

Goliath Jambu

Mr Bones, Picking

Korean rice wine, some guys i know got dunk with this and got a ride from the police, hee hee hee...

Funky Shoe

Why does polluted water look so nice?

Flickr

2007-04-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

If you noticed my newer posts (taylors - morioka) the spacing of the pictures is all off. I am using Flickr now for picture posting, its much easier and more picture focused. So now this will just be an ordinary blog. I don't know why i didn't use Flickr ealier! Maybe its because Luther said it exclusively for Nokia users (screw u TER!)

Go now to see my never befor seen photos at:-

www.filckr.com/photos/steven_wong

RASHES!!

2007-04-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

This morning was unbearable. I had to take a lift. Its like venom in my veins. The dreaded rash engulfs my skin with its red.

All in all i attended school for <30 minutes. But hey i passed up my Tugasan 7 and Ms. Vashinti too advised me to go home. So I made the call. And a few minutes later I was leaving school. It seems so unreal. I had breakfast and headed to the infamous Dr. Ting's place (skin specialist). It was like the thing could sense it enemy near, the rash retreated, leaving nothing behind for the doctor to see. Prescribed a medicine i was and it proved to be useful.

To march or not to march is the question now,
since the medicine proved to be so well,
but the uniform that i had is with Tian Guan now,
for i had promised Pn. Munap to be a helper,

Sports Day is tomorrow. I should be maching and helping Pn Munap be lines men in full Pengakap uniform. But i lent the uniform (which i borrowed from Zuhdi) to Tian Guan because he dosen't have one too. PC Fair is right after that.

Morioka Chuo

2007-03-29T22:42:00.000-07:00

Right, SSG just had its second Malaysia-Japan Student exchange programme. This time its with Morioka High School. 3 Japanese girls and 2 jap teachers came. Here's th pics form the hall event we held for them. Pictures not arranged in cronology.

Chinese Yin-Yang dance.

Indian dance. Deja Vu?

Some band, singing some song....

Here's the girls, (forgot their name)

The girs watching a slide by Piau.

The school's Vice Principal (Camera Guy)

They were only here for 3 days. they attended classes in 4sc1 so we didn't get to interact with them much. I don't know why but the spacing for this post just wouldn't get right!

International Food Fiesta (IFF)

2007-03-29T22:36:00.002-07:00

SSG just had its International Food Fiesta (IFF) something more or less like canteen day just that clubs sell stuff (food or whatnots) instead of the canteen. The Science Club had a dart game, a fish catching game (both organized by me) and a PS2 game. We made RM 2144 worth in cupons and have a net profit of about 1.3 k, not bad for a new club. Over all it was kinda fun, and i got to see Yon Xiang and Yik Jun again.

Yon Xiang came!

Darts anyone?

PS2 game.

8 members of STRYKERCLAN is in this photo. Chin Meng is behind Kar Wai.

Darly and Yik Jun on The tree.

This guy spent over a 100 in our games. Best Customer.

He won the mp3!

Taylors

2007-03-29T22:36:00.001-07:00

We went on a compulsory trip to Taylors College Subang Jaya to listen to a talk on vortexes. Without a doubt this is another gimmick thought up by the board to bring us in (as if they don't have enough of our money already). It was kinda fun and hey, its a day less spent being bored at school!

'Entrance only posing adi ah?'

This is how Taylors looks like.

Campus view.

Having Nasi Lemak in campus.

Talk on Vortexes. Quite interesting.

We met Ms. Doh at Taylors. (ex add math teacher)

'Soldiers' marching back from Starbucks.

Back to school.

Paintball

2007-03-10T06:43:00.000-08:00

Daryl, Sean, his friends from CHS and I. Went for a paintball match organised by Max. It was kinda fun but i wasn't too satisfied with my game. (He he, you were a great shot Max, no grudges on you). Its just that the mask i got was so badly scratched that i can't even aim right, even with a better gun (I was given a better gun because i was team leader). The marker (gun) had MP5 type sights and prove to be useful in the shooting ground. The thing i hated most was not being able to confirm hits and getting killed in almost every round. I wish every player get different coloured balls, but that couldn't happen.

I can't blame the equipment for having a suckky game. Its my first time playing and i am kinda short-sighted. My team did win most of the time though. They are good at surviving and Daryl actually executed flanking, REAL FLANKING (good job D), he definitely enjoyed his game. It was good experience, and i look forward to playing again in the jungle map. Next time, I'll be back with experience and moves i didn't execute during the game. I rather be sniper that team capt now.

The entrance to the jungle map. A tree fell in it, so we can't use it.

Marshal watching over some mat salleh kids playing.

Mat salleh kids were pretty good.

There is a freakin pond next to the Paintball place.

I like how the tree bends over the water.

I wish I bought my rod here. This guy caught a whole bunch of Sembilang

Daryl.

Me acting cool with the gun.

Darn mask are scratched to hell.

Gas canisters filled with CO2. Cold.

Practicing shots in the shooting ground.

Daryl and Victor.

I am leader of Red Team. (aka Stryker-clan)
-Charles, Sean, KH, Kesvick, Daryl, Me & Cy-
KH and Cy please report in (post a comment with ur name and address) if you see this.

I hate this map.

Listening to the safety talk. Guy with my orange cap is Kesvick.
He is supposed to be annoying but he seem alright to me.
('The Gay' is worst)

Who's the coolest?

"Riflemen in the battlefield never get to know who they
kill or did they even kill at all, Snipers always know"
-Saito, Ghost in the Shell 2nd Gig, Poker face-

Gundam

2007-03-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of my gundam collection. Note: Everything here is 1:144 scale except for Strike Freedom which is in 1:100 scale.

Destiny Gundam ZGMF-X42s

Strike Freedom Gundam ZGMF-X20A

I have two!!

Picasaed this pic.

Henie Westenfluss Custom Gouf ZGMF-X2000

Infinite Justice Gundam ZGMF-X19A

Check out the lining.

End up, didn't delete blog.

2007-03-10T06:26:00.000-08:00

I ended up not deleting 'Boring life brought to you by Stryker'. Instead, i just changed the name to 'Stryker's Videos and Tall Tales' and the URL to justsoyouremember.blogspot.com so it more rememberable.

Deleting Strykerwsp

2007-03-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

I am deleting my first blog 'Boring life brought to you by Stryker', cause its more or less dead and its URL is kinda hard for "some people" to remember. I hate writing, I only like it if other people appriciate my work. I prefer to let my photos do the talking (mentioned that in the last post), so this will me my only blog, unless i make a new one (thinking of making Strykersvedios, hmm...). This is also my first post on Stryker's Pix whitout a pix. Expect more. Not a lot though. Out.

Student Exchange Programme

2007-02-21T05:25:00.000-08:00

On the 9th-11th of february, my school, Sekolah Sri Garden had our 4th Malaysia-Japan Cultural and Educational Exchange programme. Since its my last year in this school I figured I might just as well get involed. So I hosted 15 year old, Junpei Yamawaki form Hukuryo High School. You know what, I'll just let the pictures do the telling, I am not good at writing anyways...

They came.

We met.

They showed.

We played.

He bowled.

We bowled.

He smelt.

He saw.

He shopped.

He ate dim sum.

He 'wowed'.

He met his friend.

He looked.

He 'wowed', again.

I drew (for him, seriously, as a souvenir)

He ate Roti Canai.

What the! How'd that get in here?

We move.

He choked, on cili.

We posed.

They danced...

...with grace.

He byed. (Dang post!)

They left.

Collage

2007-02-21T04:52:00.000-08:00

Hey check out these collages i made with Picasa.

Picture Pile.

Last Day 2006. Crazy, crazy Year.

Yon Xiang, Yon Xiang, Kinda miss him.

Picture Grid

Picasa is a great fun to use, its a basic picture editor, with some basic functions like colour adjustment, contrast, some effects, and collage making. You can't wipe blemishes with it and its a far cry from Photoshop, but heck, its FREE!! and it dosen't reguire much juice.

Here is a screenshot i took.

(pictures of Yon Xiang is not taken by me, and sorry KF!)

Flora

2007-02-03T06:17:00.000-08:00

My dad loves gardening. Stuff with produce, like vegies and fruits trees. I don't share the love, but i like trees, and photograping them. Check these out.

I love this one, its in my dad's teak wood plantation in Alor Gajah.
Its the only tree they didn't cut down to make space for the teak trees.

Check out the bend on this one. This one is in my school field.
Its so low to the ground i can walk up it, literally.

This one looks kinda like sakura. This one is in my neighbourhood.

The leaves are almost gone. Pretty eh.

Boy this guy got lotsa cleaning to do cause of this tree,
its a fair price i guess for its beauty.

This is my dad Longan tree in my garden.

It fruits so much that i am kinda tired of eating Longan....

This is my dad's Jambu tree.
Note: thats my dad wrapping up the bunch, bats, pesky.

Closer look.

Check out the harvest! Whoa!

For those of you that thought grapes are impossble in kl,
I have it in my backyard, hah.

These are wine grapes, the flesh slips out of the skin when you bite them.

I even have Dragon fruit (Pitaya) in my house.

The Dargon fruit flower only blooms at midnight.

This is Brazilian Longan, so they say.

Here is the tree. My brother calls it 'Beanstalk'.
My dad on the stairs.

Each is about ping-poing size, taste a bit like vanilla.

Thats about it. If you are still asking why I still haven't post my China photos yeat, 7 megapixel photos take forever to load. A little bit of advise, higher megapixels dosen't mean better photos, 80% of the photos you see here is taken with my phone, 2 megapixels. I WANT A NIKON D40!!!

Hot Wheels

2007-02-03T05:56:00.000-08:00

I know its kinda childish but I collect Hot Wheels. Not to race about and make vrooming nosies with. I just like the designs. Its so intricate. I mean how the f they print the flames on such a small area? Anyways, here are the pix of my favorites. (I only collect ones with flames)

Here's the lot.

Ford Lo-Boy

Whip Creamer II

2002 Autonomy Concept

Phantom Racer

Sling Shot

Vairy 8

I don't really like this car's design, but i like the flames.

Negativity

2007-02-01T01:27:00.000-08:00

Since i am in the mood now, here are some pictires taken with my Sony Ericsson K750i in negative mode.

My bottle colection, nice eh.

(' . ')

Note: the marbles inside, they are shiny.

I love this pix.

Note: the reflection of my window and the
scratches on the screen.

Gundam Destiny in nagative, kinda surreal.

~.~

Next on Stryker's Pix:- Flora, Gundam, Skies.

Random Stuff

2007-02-01T00:37:00.000-08:00

It has been a month or more since I came back from China. I have plenty of pictures to show u guys, but... I got kinda lazy. Expecialy after the underwater cable incident. Sorting pictures from a vacation is hard work! I mean u got so much, and all of them are valuable memories, which to keep, which to delete, which to print, which to blog! Heck.

Right, here is some random stuff to keep u entertained.

Castrol Umbrella, Colourful.

I drew that, seriously.

My books in a niche.

Toothpick star.

My fishing lure.

'Pens.'

Wilderness 1

2006-12-05T00:18:00.000-08:00

These are pictures taken from Semenyih Campsite, its from different visits so f the dates.

Thats how i camp. Tent in a tent.

Thats got to be at least 50m tall.

Never camp far from water.

Thats the waterfall, the water is deep enongh to swim in.

Aaa... i can't resist the halo call when i see this, lol.

Bamboo, a rather common sight.

Cute plant.

Mr. Toad a local resident.

Yabbies and fishes are a pleny here.

Rather peculiar looking rocks, they are standing on their sharp edge, weird.

Nice fern. Its metalic, it shines purplish when sunlight hits it.

~o~

And perhaps my favorite picture taken by me....

Note how small this frog is, its on my fingertips.

First post on my picture blog

2006-12-05T00:10:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, this will be my picture blog. This will sorta be my photo ablum. My real blog is www.strykerwsp.blogspot.com for those who din't know. It kinda empty but wtf. This is a test to see how it turns out. This pix is taken in solarize mode with my phons thats why its kinda patchy.

Steven, me lol!