Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Perks - 30th Sept

MODERN WARFARE 2 OUT NOW! HERE

Well, here's a new video for Call of Duty 6 which reveals the perks available. The video also shows some of the new functions compared to Modern Warfare (COD4) which I think would lead to a more varied gameplay. This I think would be the first game that I plan to buy original!





And for Cod:Modern Warfare 2 (COD6) fans out there, here are a couple of gameplay videos to whet your appetite before the arrival of the game! Enjoy and leave some comments! The videos in my opinion is really great, showing the actual gameplay and thank God I'm not being rick-rolled here!

Favela Map - CTF



Afghan Map -TDM


Highrise - TDM (SNIPER)

 

FLAC vs Mp3 quality - 29th Sept

Recently, I've got audio files of the System of A Down: Mesmerize album in FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) format which suppposedly is of higher quality than the common Mp3 format. I've also got the same album in the Mp3 format. In which, I compare a couple of songs alternatively, meaning that, after listening to the mp3 version, I would then listen to the FLAC version to compare the quality of both versions. In terms of bitrate, the FLAC version has undoubtedly higher value, and the file size is approximately double of the mp3 version. After several listening sessions, my verdict:- I couldn't hear even slightest difference?

Conditions:-
Platform = Desktop Win XP, Winamp 5.50
Headphones = Philips (Don't remember the model)
Songs:- Questions, Lost in Hollywood,
Soldier Side (Intro), Radio / Video

And I thought, maybe there are a couple of factors leading to this:-
1> I don't have trained hearing or that my hearing isn't that sensitive.
2> The audio port isn't plugged in directly into the back of the computer but to the mini-compo which is connected to the desktop audio out.
3> Winamp is not a good player for audio playing?
4> The platform used is not suitable to test audio files.
5> The headphone isn't that high quality.

I wonder if any of these factors have caused me to have not detect much difference? With the smaller file size and if my ears cant detect the difference, I would say that I might as well use the mp3 format for the music. Furthermore, mp3 is more universally accepted while not all players / phones support the FLAC format. Perhaps someone else has other opinions on this on how to improve my music listening experience?

"jwgkwsq.vmx" virus wipe-out - 28th Sept

Recently I had to format my computer as it was infected by viruses so badly that even going online seems to be a problem. This virus ( jwgkwsq.vmx ) I would consider to be a dangerous threat as it is a trojan and liable to steal any of your personal information. The thing is that, during the first format, I did not bother anymore as it was a clean format which is total cleaning of the hard disk, but later, after sometime, the virus was spread again by my own pendrive! I did not even click or access it but the virus was run by the autorun.inf file in the pendrive which spawned the virus into my hard drive which caused me further agony of having to reformat again. I decided that I don't have to do this and therefore, I decided to search for the elusive solution to this virus.

As taken from Techie Bubble.Com

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The jwgkvsq.vmx is a worm-type virus, which spreads via USB/portable drives and through the network. It also makes autorun.inf file on your USB device as well as a hidden system folder called RECYCLER which contains the jwgkvsq.vmx file. I’m not sure if this is an old virus, but it seems it’s been spreading a lot lately. And most anti-virus doesn’t detect this, but for those who does, it can’t remove it.
It is also known as:

• W32/Confi
• W32/Conficker.worm!inf
• Win32/Conficker.B – CA

It exploits Microsoft Windows vulnerability:
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067 – Critical
Vulnerability in Server Service Could Allow Remote Code Execution (958644)
Published: October 23, 2008

Symptoms:

• ‘Show hidden files and folders’ doesn’t work. You can check this by going to a folder, then click Tools, then Folder Options, then View tab. Select the ‘Show hidden files and folders’ then click Apply, then Ok. Open Folder Options again, if it reverted back to ‘Do not show hidden files and folders’ then you have this virus.
• Evey time you plug in a USB device on your computer, it creates an autorun.inf file, and a RECYCLER folder with the jwgkvsq.vmx virus file.
• You can’t access anti-virus websites an other popular websites like microsoft.com or yahoo.com
• Windows won’t boot into Safe Mode. This happens on extreme cases. When you try to boot into Safe Mode, your computer restarts/shuts down

Side-effects

• Since this is a worm, system slowdown may (or may not) happen.
• Quickly spreads through networked computers and USB devices. Which includes flash drives, portable external hard drives, mobile phones, mp3 players, and anything that can be plugged into a USB port.
• Won’t let you access some websites.

========================================

So, if you think you have the above symptoms, it is possible that you may have got this virus or maybe another virus and not this, but what's the harm in trying right? Anyways, to remove this virus, you would just need to download a little program from BitDefender and run it. The process is automatic but would just requitre some restarting of the computer at the end of the process.

The removal tool can be found HERE. Run it and Voila! all your problems solved!

Far Cry 2 - 27th Sept

I've just recently finished the game Far Cry 2. It took me about a couple of weeks to finish with on and off playing spread over the few weeks. Well. it is about a mercenary in Africa, doing missions for various parties to gain money, and to stop the character, "Jackal" from providing arsenals to the warlords fighting in the country of Africa.. The thing is about this game is that is what I thought the story is about. There was no clear indication of the story and up to now, there are a couple of questions unanswered such as:-

1> Why did the main character come to Africa in the first place?
2> How did the main character get to know about "Jackal"?
3> Who is the "Jackal" and why is he providing guns to the warlords?
4> What happens to the main character in the end?
5> What happened that lead to the war?

Maybe I didn't get all "Jackal"'s tapes which might provide some story that answers the questions but I'm not so sure about that. I've discovered some of the tapes but from what I can discern, it's all gibberish and nonsense which doesn't make much sense.This and several other factors lead me to give a low score for the story. In fact, if anyone tries to play it, try to grasp the story, it seems like it doesn't even exist. All you do is just kill and more killing without even understanding why.

In terms of game-play, there's nothing more than killing and more killing besides the occasional blowing up stuffs.  Although, the explosion effects look great and the fire propagation is somewhat quite interesting. The reputation aspect sounds quite interesting but somewhat, to me, it doesn't add any form of extras to the gameplay. The reputation description says that people would run in my presence, but in gameplay wise, all I know, they're still shooting at me as they would in the lowest reputation. The AI is rather erratic, sometimes really smart by flanking you in directions which you're not aware of and sometimes not even reacting to shots form far-distances. They don't use grenades which is a good thing. Although, I'm not sure why some of them survives a shot from a .50 caliber sniper rifle (which is used to be able to shoot through tanks). Oh, and I wonder why, they have so many vehicles around and all of them , even a lowly buggy has a GPS? They must be really rich to leave all these lying around. The check-points are one of the more annoying aspects of the game, I mean, after some distances, you'll have to stop, come down from your vehicle, start shooting the crap out of everyone in which after that you continue on either until you find another check-point or you reach your destination. Where's the fun in that you keep doing that for a single mission? Sounds like they're delaying you from finishing the game too fast.

Graphics wise, my computer isn't the best of the best so, putting all settings medium is  playable, with a minimum of 20+ FPS at certain points, including scenes with fire. In-game depiction of Africa looks somewhat like Africa. It awes you due to the sheer scale of it at first but playing the game for a couple of hours takes of that awe as most places look the same after a while. I really like the day / night cycle action and the occasional rain which is quite realistically done.

Overall, I would say that this is a playable game although not too much of my favorite choice as the missions are too much repetitive. They would be nice to also add some motorcycles in the game. And the particularly "suprising" part towards the end of the story sure makes a good twist, and it's really unexpected, so try the game to see for yourself. So, the scores for the game:-

Story:- 2/10 (Where's the story?)
Graphics:- 8/10 (Although I can't enjoy it to the full)
Gameplay:- 6/10 (Interesting, but gets old after a while with all the repeating)

Overall:- 7/10

Mom's Birthday - 25th Sept

Today is my Mom's Birthday!
Happy Birthday Mom and All The Best Wishes!

Well, we wanted to buy her a cake but she said it is too fattening with all the creams and sugars so we subsituted it with a virtual cake! Anyways, there wasn't any celebration, just a small dinner within the family as usual. We don't celebrate our birthdays much anyways. Thinking of her birthday reminds me that without her birthday, there will be no birthday for me nor my brother! So, a big THANK YOU to Mom for all you've done these years. We love you a lots!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Old Readers Digest (1969-8 and 1963-2) - 24th Sept

Recently, I went out to eat and passed by a shop selling books. I thought I might as well drop-in and see what do they have for sale since I don't really have much to do as it is a holiday. I was snooping around and suddenly my eye caught sight of the word "Reader's" on a shelf but strangely, it is not as colorful as it should have been. When I picked it up and scrutinized it, then I realized that it is an old / classic version of Readers Digest and it is only priced RM2.00, which lead me to buy it instantly. There was an August 1969 and February 1963 edition of both books, with extensive magazine spine damage. Well, although the damage is quite horrible, the articles inside did not lose its readability. After reading both issues for some time, I realise that the WTC towers were still under construction and the press still has a lot of questions on the space race. This sure is a piece of history here I have bought there I think. I'm sure someone would say: Another man's trash is another man's treasure. I wonder if the books I have is of any worth to anyone?

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri - 23rd Sept

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all Muslims around the world! 

Maaf Zahir dan Batin!

The past threee days was a public holiday in the country, being 21st Sept as 1st Syawal or the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri. For those who are not sure what Hari Raya is can refer the Wikipedia entry found HERE. It is during this time of the year that all tensions, quarrels, sins, misdoings, squaballings are forgiven with a sincere heart. And this is the celebration after one month of fasting and repentance. Well, I hope that I will be forgiven for any negative things in my blog that may have offended anybody and it is not on purpose.

Hari Raya reminds me of all the lemang (baked glutinuous rice in bamboo), rendang (malay style meat curry) and also the ketupat (compressed rice wrapped in bamboo leaves) besides the actual celebration after fasting for a whole month. These are among the delicacies to expect in a 'rumah terbuka' (open house) of a Muslim during this festival. And also, during this day, regardless of whether do they know you, the concept of the open house invites anyone to come to the house to join in together in the celebration. So, if you would like to know more on Hari Raya and its customs, the best way would be to visit a Muslim house on this very day, but of course, mind your manners!

In Malaysia, the racial diversity results in multiple public holidays for various races which is celebrated, regardless of religion or race. This sometimes has caused envy among foreigners seeing that they celebrate the holidays for the majority religion in the country, such as holidays for Christianity in the United States. While holidays for other religions are somewhat relative, depending on the individual. Well, that what makes Malaysia unique compared to other countries with racial diversities. In the country, a Muslim still can celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri by visiting his Muslim friends, a non Chinese learns to say Gong Xi Fa Cai by visiting his Chinese friends and also celebrate Deepavali by visiting Indian friends. Same goes with Hari Gawai and the same with other festivals or big day for the religion. Well, this is what we call a total respect for the racial diversity, for all of us are Malaysians!

Especially dedicated to: Na'am, Shikin Hambali, Syazwani Rahim, Nurfaizah,  Jamal, Lidiawati, Mohsen, Mahdi, Ahmad Abd. Rahman, Zhafran, Faiz, Nurul, Nurul Huda, Rosni, Siti, Noraini and many others which I did not mention your names here!

Century Egg - 17th Sept

I've actually longed to know how century egg is made and is it only until recently that I'm able to find this piece of information online. Old grandmother's stories is that century egg is made with mercury, which is the explanation for it's jelly like texture and it's dark black-brown color. It said that the duck egg is soaked in mercury for a few days which then the egg would absorb some of the mercury and thus preserving it. The thing is, mercury is poisonous, why would anyone eat poison directly? Well, I guess that's not true.

Century egg is produced in a couple of ways, either the modern or traditional way. In both ways, alkaline is introduced into the egg, by using natural ingredients such as wrapping clay around the egg traditionally or chemicals such as calcium hyroxide in teh modern form. Although this, I'm still not sure what causes for it to turn into the texture it is now. But well, at least I'm relieved that it is not made of mercury as previously assumed and there isn't much harm in consuming it. But, there's no point if it is consumed often as it would lose the appeal of it as a delicacy.