I'm so in love with TWICE

Since year 2015 started, there has been births of several K-pop groups and artists to the point it's not possible to keep track of them. So many in such a short span of time! What's more, the rookie groups are really awesome! They have to be that good, because K-pop is becoming a saturated and competitive market.

It has also come to the point that Koreans themselves are not so interested in their own artists anymore because there's so much of them. When I asked my Korean friends about rookie groups, most of them just answered don't know but I'm in my home watching their artists on music shows almost everyday. Here comes the age that we know Korean artists better than the Koreans themselves!

And, if you assume that I know Malaysian artists because I'm Malaysian, I have to say that I look at my local Chinese artists. I have little interest in Malay artists. (Why? The answer is so obvious!!!) The fact is, entertainment in Malaysia is divided along racial lines. Not that I can't support artists of another race, it's really the issue of interest. Also, not that I'm racist.

There's a recent debut that caught my attention lately. It's this girl group by JYP Entertainment called TWICE.

TWICE is a nine membered girl group. It's a big group. The last time I've ever heard of nine member group was Girls' Generation and After School. Let's hope the members stay together forever.

photo cr: JYP Entertainment

Members of TWICE are selected through a survival show called Sixteen. Actually, I didn't follow the show but I heard there's a Taiwanese who made it to the lineup. Hence, the group got my attention.

When the group debuted, I watched the group for the Taiwanese member called Tzuyu 周子瑜. Being a member of the same ethnicity creates a bond. Otherwise, TWICE will just be another K-pop idol group for me.

A plus point is, Tzuyu is known for her visual appeal.

photo source, cr: Skoolooks

TWICE debuted with Like Ooh-Ahh. After watching them on music shows a few times, I begin to develop liking for other members.

photo source

I look at Jihyo for her voluminous body awesome vocal presence. I look at the Japanese members Sana, Mina and Momo. Sana look like the typical sweet girl, like my lovely daughter, hahaha.

When I first listened to TWICE's debut track, I immediately feel the song was like a mash up of lyrics, and vocals wasn't the main thing. But I kept coming back for the song. Slowly, I like it. You can hear the words sung so clearly. The members danced so well, and I can tell they are well trained in all aspects of being entertainers - after all, this is what you should expect from JYP Entertainment right?

You can follow TWICE through a few accounts here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JYPETWICE/
Twitter: @JYPETWICE, https://twitter.com/JYPETWICE
Instagram: @twicetagram, https://www.instagram.com/twicetagram/

Apart from that, do you know there are Malaysian fanclubs for TWICE? Here're two Chinese (link)(link) and an English (link) ones. Here's the chance for you ONCE to contribute. They're now recruiting staff members, give it a shot, why not?

My new toy, the Xiaomi Mi 4i

I have got myself a new phone, the Xiaomi Mi 4i! After upgrading my phone, I got to browse faster with 4G, and battery life has become manageable.



It began with my status update on my former Samsung Galaxy S3. I bought it way back in 2012, after I completed my Honours year. I posted some status updates on Facebook describing how sluggish my S3 has become and the short battery life. My friends urged me to upgrade my phone. So I know it's time already.

I made the decision to purchase a Xiaomi Mi 4i under a Digi contract at Digi Specialised Store @ Low Yat Plaza. I have been a loyal prepaid customer with Digi, and the shopkeeper transfer me seamlessly to postpaid. To top it off, I got a rebate for my remaining prepaid balance!

When you buy handphones, it's best to buy it at reputable stores. As a matter of fact, it's better to buy from big stores at established locations. Digi flagship store don't dare to cheat customers one, everyone should know right? My dad bought his Lenovo from small shops in seemingly dodgy places, and turned out he got imitate (fake) phones and of course faced minor problems in his everyday usage.



My first impression: its display is brilliant! It’s a 5-inch 1920 x 1080p panel. I can view Youtube videos in high definition.



The Mi 4i has 4G LTE, which means faster mobile Internet. It's one of reason why I made the leap to Mi 4i. Viewing Facebook feed, downloading Instagram photos and watching Youtube is blazingly fast. Coupled with Digi's LTE network, I have no problem keeping connected with my friends and social media followings.

Digi has 4G coverage in major urban centres like Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam (& most of Klang Valley), Penang, Johor Bahru, Malacca as well as minor population centres Muar, Batu Pahat, Taiping and Langkawi island. Considered very good already.

Dual SIM is cool but I'm only putting one SIM for now.



The Xiaomi Mi 4i comes with the largest capacity found in Xiaomi phones so far, 3120 miliAmpere hours (mAh). Speaking about battery life, it lasts longer thanks to battery saving features built into its MIUI, lasting up to 1.5 days on a single charge. I can say goodbye to battery running out of juice the next day and affecting my communication with fellow colleagues, since they update on important matters relating to work on Whatsapp group.



After talking about its impressive features, the only complaint I have on the gadget is its small memory. Its 2 GB RAM is not much, considering the memory intensive nature of apps and the habit of multitasking on smartphones. On the Mi 4i, I have experienced apps shutting down due to insufficient memory. The issues will become bigger as I install more apps to meet my growing needs.

Overall, I am impressed with the Xiaomi Mi 4i for its features. Indeed, Xiaomi needs to pull up its socks over some performance issue as time passes, as SoyaCincau and GizChina has mentioned, otherwise it struggles to live up to its flagship status. For now, it delivered a seemingly stellar performance without breaking the bank.

** the Xiaomi Mi 4i photos are taken elsewhere around the net

Personality - Chenellewen

As a guy, one of my favourite pastime is looking at pretty girls on social media be it Facebook or Instagram! The following feature on both networks made it simple to
stalkkeep track of my favourite beautiful girls. I am no longer limited to seeing pretty faces in my everyday circles. Web 2.0 is making it feels like... a huge galaxy, where people are like stars!

I have been a fan of Blogger Hotties post on Eric Yong's. Sadly, they're no longer on his blog. I'm now looking at Generation Y bloggers now, so it's a way to continue his legacy. One thing I promise: I won't delete these after I am married!

In my inaugural feature of pretty personalities, I am starting with Chenellewen!



Who is she? She's a beauty/fashion blogger, also active on Facebook and Instagram. Links will be given at the end of this post, no need so rush!



A listicle (written in Chinese) described her as a classy girl 气质美女. She's recognised immediately for her doll like features. At the same time, you can tell that you're looking at a real person.

She's also described as having the face of a K-pop star (source)! Wondering which Korean celebrities she resembles? The notion came as no surprise. In fact, I have found two K-pop idols having features similar to Chenellewen: Minx's JiU and MyB's U-Jung. Proven fact!

As for height, she stands at 135 cm, which is my best guess.



I discovered her blog from PovyTeng. She normally blogs about fashion, cosmetic products, and also travelling to overseas destinations.



I met her for the first time at a party event for a men's product held at Zouk Club. She really have a beautiful personality.

She's active in fashion bazaars, selling her pre-loved clothing.

More photos of her!









You want to follow her liao? She can be found at

Blog: http://www.chenellewen.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/chenellewen/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chenellewen
Facebook (personal profile): https://www.facebook.com/chenellewen?fref=ts
Facebook (fan page): https://www.facebook.com/chenellewen121/?fref=ts

Smart toys from Sphero

Disclaimer: This is not a paid review. I am writing this out of my own discovery, and also because I think it's cool!

I was looking for some good morning materials before work, and logged onto RadioShack Malaysia website (link). Never would I know I stumbled upon some hidden gems!

image source: link

RadioShack is a chain store that caters for technology needs, where you can find cables, batteries, power banks, headphones and speakers. Apart from everyday products, DIY electronic kits are available from them to try at your own too.

If you frequent shopping centres around Klang Valley, I guess you must have seen one of RadioShack Malaysia store. There's one in Berjaya Times Square. Other locations include Sunway Pyramid, The Curve and Mid Valley. The full list of locations can be found here.

The hidden gem I've found is Sphero.

I guess most of you are new to this company! The company has been around for a few years, coupling smart technology with seamless fun.

I was up for an eye opener when I watched the videos.

Sphero 2.0

Sphero 2.0 is a smart ball that I've never thought possible. Now that I'm living in the 21st century, smart items are the in thing now! Basically it's a remote controlled ball that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. The ball is controlled by an app. Or you can do it the other way round: Use the ball to control an app!

Watch the video below to see how cool it is! I was fascinated with remote controlled cars earlier, this is way more interesting!

Sphero Ollie

It looks like a two wheeled car, but where's the engine? If you show this to your friend, they'd think you come from the future!

You don't see the engine from the outside. In fact, the engine is housed inside the casing. The guys at Sphero definitely knows what they're doing with marvellous craftsmanship.

The Ollie can handle any terrain.

Sphero BB-8

You're going to see BB-8 in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The robots seen in Star Wars has always lived on screen and our imaginations. Thanks to advancements in knowledge and technology, the team at Sphero has brought our imaginations to life!

The movie is going to be out on Christmas, and here's your chance to have fun with it now! I feel like I'm in the future now. It works exactly the same way as Sphero 2.0, with the addition of a magnet that holds its head.

When I wrote this, this toy is so popular that it has run out of stock at RadioShack Malaysia!

One final question: There's no charging port for the toys, so how do I charge my Spheros? All toys use inductive charging (go and nerd on physics now!). Just place the toys on a charging base, and let science do the job for you :)

That's all and thanks for reading!

Before I forget, you are not limited to controlling Sphero from your smartphone. For the more adventurous, you can program your Sphero to work in other ways, or dismantle the toy and made it into new stuff.

If you'd like to read more, Engadget has news coverage about Sphero (link). You can check out their official website at

http://www.sphero.com/

Credits:
** product images taken from RadioShack Malaysia

What truly makes me happy?

I always have the thought that no one reads my blog, plus I'm occupied in everyday life, so I hardly update. TianChad asked me about my lack of blog updates when I bumped into him at Mid Valley. It seems that he's interested to hear from me. Awwww thanks, at least someone cares about my blog.

The title may sound a little depressing but hey, it's time to have a conversation with myself.

I have been through a few unhappy episodes during the past few months. They happened during events I attended, but those episodes really bothered me to the point that my performance for PhD was affected. Diabetes patients, I'm so sorry for this.

I talked to friends on Facebook, and it really helped. You know who you are :)

People always share good things over the web, and I admit that I do feel jealous. I was always like, "How on earth does he/she get to try out all these new things/attend these events?" That was me since high school/college. I knew I'd crave to try these new things or meet those bunch of people, as if I'm entitled to those things?

When I started to get my income, I feel that things do become a bit better. I explored during my free time by myself, and it really helped. I could buy some things from my friends. I did most of the things on my own accord, and fortunately, most people I met have a beautiful personality :)

I've take the bold step of creating a fanbase for an underrated K-pop group and led me to a few nice people too. I think I've found my niche, and I'm glad for it.

Speaking about romantic relationship, I myself have yet to get into one. I know some of you may have gotten into relationships in high school/college/university or in the workplace.

Until now I've yet to meet The One. I've tried in the past, but no success. The fact is, you can't make someone to like you.

There was once I had the thought of looking at Malay girls to get my easy way out with a high price. Thank god someone saved me from heading that path.

My coursemate had once lamented that it's hard to find romance in the lab.

I'm still waiting for a compatible person when my circumstances change, and meanwhile I've read a lot of articles on relationships and being a person. They really help in getting myself to have better understandings.

I've finished talking about things that bothered me. Now, what about the one thing that keeps me happy?

This South Korean idol singer:

She's A Pink's Son Na Eun, beautiful on the inside and outside.

She's an epitome of the woman I want to find. I've been asked on the type of woman I'd like, before her debut I find it hard to answer the question. Now, I can say Naeun is my type of girl.

When she was casted in We Got Married, I followed all her episodes, and imagined myself in the male idol's place. What a way to watch the show!

Whenever I watch her in broadcast, she puts a smile on my face, because she's the most beautiful thing to see in the world. Her smile is just mesmerizing. I don't need her to have a powerful voice, but her's is the sweetest thing to hear.

The closest I could get to her was during MTV World Stage in Malaysia, while she was performing on stage. I desire to see her up close and be starstruck. That will make me the happiest person in the world.

Given the chance, I'd fall hard for her.

For now, Naeun gives me life.

How a foreign worker caused my most embarrassing episode in Low Yat Plaza

I am a tech lover, it's natural that Low Yat Plaza is my favourite hang out place when I'm free. I had fond memories of working there, and sometimes I come to visit my friends in the IT shops.

Despite her stellar reputation as an IT hub, I had an embarrassing episode of using the toilet all but no thanks to gross incompetence of a foreign labourer. The incident has been a while now. I decided to write it down before it slipped from my memory.

On a visit, I had a bad stomach ache. I rushed for the toilet only to find that all male toilets were in the process of cleaning and maintenance. I checked out toilets on other floors only to find the same.

The urgency of my circumstance prompted me to make use of toilet for the disabled. The toilet entrance was manned by a Bangladeshi worker. I told him that I was going to use the special toilet, paid the usage fee and grabbed some pieces of tissues. Off I went to take care of my business.

I was sitting on the stool, and without warning

A [MALAY] FEMALE JANITOR ENTERED THE TOILET!!! She wasn't a pervert, just that she needed to change her water for cleaning.

How freaked out I was the moment someone invaded my privacy in the toilet.

She immediately made her way out and I continued my business to completion.

The moment I stepped out, I heard her yelling at the Bangladeshi foreign worker [in Malay], "Just now I asked you about whether someone is in the toilet, and you didn't respond to my question!!!! See what happened because of you!!!"

I was taken aback that the Bangladeshi couldn't understand a very simple question, let alone answer it!!! He was completely ignorant that I was in the toilet for the disabled. He ignored the scolding and acted like he didn't know anything at all. How can he be so careless??!! Such negligence cannot be tolerated on the job!!! I was completely pissed that he cost me my modesty!!!!!

I was unhappy but decided not to bother about bringing up the matter to Low Yat Plaza management.

I don't like it when employers resorted to hiring cheap foreign labours as an easy way out. Foreign workers -

• Don't represent the country's image well
• Have little understanding of the culture of the country
• Can be very incompetent on the job
• Faces language barriers and make communication difficult
• Drain our money away to their home countries

On that day, my image of Low Yat Plaza went down the drain. Don't get me started on other problems posed by foreign workers.

Some simple rules I follow for Parking

Having a car to get around town is a necessity for Kuala Lumpur dwellers like me. My car gives me the convenience I need to travel to work and of course let me hang out at my favourite places.

When I was going out with my father as a kid, I noticed him parking his car illegally and caused inconvenience to both of us. Once I missed my music class because his car got towed away. At other times he brought home parking tickets worth RM 200 - 300. My mom has been rebuking him a number of times already.

It's no fun losing your money to offences like that. I can eat at luxurious restaurants with RM 200 - 300! The choice is always yours! When I grew up, I decide not be like that.

Whenever I arrive at my destination, the first thing to do is to find a parking spot. I follow a few simple rules when it comes to parking my car.

1. Park at legitimate parking bays. In the city, it is very hard to find free parking spots so don't expect one. Unless I am familiar with the place, I'd rather pay a few bucks for peace of mind rather than parking illegally. Parking illegally not only incurs hefty fines when caught, what more imagine the hassle if your car get clamped or towed away. 
2. Consider getting a season pass if you come to a place regularly. For a monthly fee, you get to park as long as you want, and it's cheaper than parking on an hourly basis.
3. Don't skip paying for parking! This applies to parking spots at business areas under jurisdiction of local governments. You'll never know when officers are on duty. There was once I saw an MBPJ officer issuing fines [to cars without ticket] right after I got out of my car. Don't give them any reason to issue you summonses.
4. Take a look at the fee structure before you press for a ticket. If you are not happy with the fee structure, you have the right to backtrack. Once I reversed my car out of the car park; cars behind me gave their way to let me go.
5. If you must double park, make sure you leave your mobile phone number on the dashboard. But even that is not fail safe - once I had people unable to contact me due to my dad switching telco [my number is a supplementary line], the other time I didn't receive calls when I was in an area with poor cellphone coverage.

So, I shared with you 5 pointers on parking. It's not hard to follow, right? By being law abiding citizens, I can enjoy all I can without causing unnecessary incovenience to others. The peace of mind to me and others is priceless. No one wants to be angry over parking issues right?

If you don't follow, you might end up like this:

Feeling the heat of falling Ringgit

These days, Malaysian Ringgit is falling day by day. I talked to people around me on how the falling Ringgit is affecting them.



A confectionery vendor lamented how prices of kiwi and strawberries have gone up and increasing their cost. However, they dared not to increase their price for fear that customers will stop buying.

For me, I am badly affected. As a PhD student myself, I buy chemicals and other lab consumables for my experiments. Most of them are sourced from the US/UK and have prices quoted in US Dollars. Since the Ringgit began to weaken when I started my PhD, I have seen prices doubled or tripled for the same item. To add salt to the wound, my research grant is quoted in Ringgit Malaysia and does not get topped up under all circumstances. It is possible to manoeuvre here and there I am very sure that everyone in the research community feels the same. To be honest, I actually envy those who hold grants in US Dollars and having access to good facilities.

Whatever it is, no one is going to compromise on standards and merits whatever the circumstances is. I'll still have to complete my PhD under the stipulated time frame despite waiting weeks for my order to arrive.

This is the type of stuff I have to buy for my lab work. They're not cheap I mind you.



None of us academic foresee the worsening economic circumstances when we submitted grant applications. While my supervisor is taking all the steps to mitigate the economic situation, I am taking steps to reduce the cost of doing my experiments.

All of us want the Ringgit to go back up, aren't we? That means regaining investor confidence in our economy. I am no expert, but what I can say is, when we start to get our economy right, many issues will find their solutions. It's time that we treat people fairly and make everyone more productive.

For me... money is hard to come by. Is anyone keen to sponsor my experiments? #shameless #bold #Askandyouwillgetit