I had protection - so why o why!

I feel dirty and violated. I can't do anything normal anymore. And now im paranoid that things will get worse, much worse.

I hate computer viruses!!

Note: I apologise if you thought that this post is about something else! :P

When I got my computer a year ago I told myself - never shall my baby be infected with the wrongs that are viruses, adwares and spywares. I’ve had so much trouble with them in the past, I told myself never again! NEVER again! So abstinence from internet was my solution for my PC. Without internet, she should be fine (the older PCs I’ll use for internet). So I didn’t bother with virus protection. She was virus free until about six months later. It was a dark stormy night.

A friend called me up and asked if I wanted to try multiplayer DoTA. Curious if my machine could handle such a task, I opted to try it. "But you have to connect to the internet.." Oh do I? Oh ok… I was reluctant. I knew I had no protection, but surely If I was smart about this I shouldn’t get virused.

So for the first time ever, I listened to the computer’s modem sing to a 56k connection. Connected. Ok. As long as I stay away from dodgy sites, I should be fine. Hmm I haven’t checked my email yet. Let me try hotmail. Www dot hotmail dot com. A message box pops up. What’s this?

"An applications is trying to change your registry. We recommend you visit our website for the latest anti virus protection tools…. "

The hotmail log-on page hadn’t even finished loading and I was already hacked! I quickly searched the Symantec Website to figure out what was going on. But I was just digging a hole for myself. In a matter of minutes my homepage was kidnapped, five new processes have mushroomed in Task Manager and a few trojans have nestled their way into my Windows registry. A few short cuts have even popped up on my desktop.

I desperately installed my antivirus programs to maybe clean up the mess. They found some worms, but the connection to update the definition files probably downloaded more baddies. I was still being redirected and ads still popped up. I tried other softwares but it was too late, she was gone. Even scans during safe mode always discovered something new.

It happened so quickly! And just like that, my baby was gone.
She was reformatted the next day. May her bits and bytes rest in peace.

It’s been about seven months since that dreaded incident. Since then my computer has been upgraded with a plethora of internet security tools. It has three firewalls (one hardware and two software), virus scanners, spyware, malware, adware and tupperware protection. Updates are downloaded regularly. And even though I sometimes download overnight, I feel secure. Life is good.

Was good.

Last night my mom asked me "Will, can I borrow your PC, I want to write an email.." My mom has recently figured out how to use Hotmail and wanted to email my cousin. My PC was running on my administrator user account.

"Sure, whatever…"
I was sleepy and I wasn’t thinking right.

"Will, I was going through my email, but how come this message keeps popping up?"

Again, just like that.

Sad but Beautiful

I think there are songs that move you (physically - like doof doof!) and there are songs that move you. Here are five songs that are awfully depressing but are amazingly beautiful. The way they've been composed - the lyrics, the tempo and melody, all perfectly combine to tell short tales of sadness. These songs never fail to stir my thoughts. If you ever get the chance, listen to these and hear the stories they sing.

..look for the girl with the broken smile..

She Will Be Loved (Maroon 5) - everytime I hear this song, I see the mtv. The rich husband, the swimming pool, the lipstick, the quarrel and the woman not loved.

..I won't be held responsible, she fell in love in the first place..

Freshmen (The verve pipe) - this song is terribly depressing. A song about two guys who feel in love with a girl they later dumped. "Guilt stricken sobbin' with our heads on the floor", they now cry for her suicide after the abortion. Sad.

..but its time to face the truth, ill never be with you..

You're beautiful (James Blunt) - James wrote this song about an ex girlfriend he saw in an underground train. If we could only be with the one we love.

..I will not let myself cause my heart so much misery..

Because of you (Kelly clarkson) - heartbreak heartache. To have been hurt so terribly that your afraid to love again. I know this all too well.

..I just want you to know who I am..

Iris (Goo Goo Dolls) - writen for the City of Angels soundtrack. He knows he's different and thats why he hides from the world. But he's fallen for her. We wants to tell her, but is afraid of the consequences. A song for all the Quasimodos (Hunchback of Notre Dame) out there.

Fishbowl Blog: Freemantle

Once in a while my friends and I find time to cater for our primitive hunting instincts. We go fishing!!

The usual suspects: Will, Thuan and Ben

Perth has many fishing spots - one of the most popular is Freemantle. Freemantle is Western Australia's major shipping port. The city is a touristy place popular for its heritage, cafe strip and Fish n Chips! We went to Freemantle on a late afternoon to find a lot of other people with fish in their minds

One fish I REALLY want to catch. Honda Integra Type R. Sweeeet!

Thuan ponders on a fishy thought

Because there were so many people, it was difficult to find a place to set up. We tried some spots but the results were disastrous! Thuan caught a:

..orange buoy!! and a..

.. a seagull!! What are the chances of that!!

Things started to look bad. I didn't like the thought of going home empty handed and having dinner at Macdonalds again. We needed a spot and we needed it badly! Lucky for us a few fishermen left early.

Tools of the trade:
1) 10 Foot fishing rod - equiped with 30lbs fishing line
2) Tackle box - holds a cache of hooks, swivels, sinkers. Has a knife, pliers and mosquito repellant
3) Head lamp - EXTREMELY GEEKY looking when put on, but lights up the darkness

This was our bait - Mullies. I think they'd be good enough to eat if they weren't so mushy

One of the things I love about fishing is the 'hanging out' there by the sea. The view is awesome and the breeze is really calming. Helps me de-stress from the hustle and bustle of everyday chores.

Handsome fishermen do exist! Heheheh :P

Once it started getting dark, we attached glow sticks to our lines. Some say it attracts fish. I put it to help me see where my line is! Can also be used for clubbing! *electronica music - doof doof doof *

Its like kryptonite for Superfishies - its their weakness!

And sure enough, I caught a Taylor (aka Milkfish) moments later !!! Yay!Note all the saltspray on my glasses. I refuse to see how geeky I am with that headlamp!

The unpleasantries of fishing.

Bait, fish blood n guts and the long-lasting fishy smell on your hands.

After a long wait - I scored another fish!!

A skippy! Undersized, so I had to throw it back or I'll get arresed for being a pedophile.

Thuan with his first ever Taylor catch! He's not a Taylor virgin anymore! Now he's a fisherMAN hehehe.

So after a few hours out there on the rocks, this was our bounty:

Five pieces of fish! Boh! Not even enough to feed us three!
I guess no fish for dinner. But at least we didnt' go home empty handed :)

Endings and Beginnings

A popular saying goes,

All good things come to an end

Must all good things always come to an end? Like a tray of TimTams, a season of 24. Why do awesome things never last! And yet the annoying crappy things in life seem to keep on going! Like taxes and pimples and dishwashing.

Two of my buddies are leaving at the end of the month. They’re flying overseas to seek greater fame and glory. They haven’t gone yet, but I’m already starting to miss them. They are the catalysts to non-stop partying. They are my sports, my comic and my perving buddies. They are channels of useless trivia wisdom and will always be an inspiration. They are the coolest friends.

They’ll be back they say, but somehow I feel an era is ending.

Surrendering to the notion that life has cycles makes me a bit sad. Something that starts off wonderful will surely end in sadness. Life then death. Full bottle of CC’s then empty bottle. I wish things can start off wonderful, then get sad somewhere in the middle, then end happily.

Hang on!

Oh now I get it. I guess I was thinking about this the wrong way.
Things always start of sad. And something comes along and makes it great.
Then THAT's how it ends.

Silly me.

Coffee break

I dont drink coffee. Yes. I know I'm weird.

Lattes, long, short, white, strong black, Brazilian, Morrocan, babycinos, and orange mango frappocinos. Doesn't matter if it’s from Starbucks, Gloria Jeans, Dome, Central Perk or a bottle of Nescafe blend 43/45. If it’s got coffee - I don't want

I know it smells awesome and that it helps u get up in the morning and blah blah blah.
But due to my psychological scaring to coffee breath, I've long avoided this drink.

During my younger years, I had a teacher who smoked and loved drinking coffee. The result was a breath so bad - it made vomit smell like the new J-Lo perfume. I told myself there and then - never shall I touch something that causes so much pain and suffering to others. So this is the underlying reason why I don't smoke nor drink coffee.

But I have giant coffee mug though! Check it out!Its about the size of the Central Perk mugs they use in Friends. Plus it doubles as a bowl when cooking maggi noodles at work. Shame it doesn't do anything else.

Weird Item #203

For clothes there is Gucci, Bvlgari, Versaci and Prada. If your looking at watches there is Tag Heuer, Rolex and Omega. For cars there is Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Bentleys.

But if your looking for toilet brushes, this is your only choice.

Toilet brush at its luxurious best.

A Special day in February

Last Monday was a special day in New Zealand. It was Waitangi Day. This coming Saturday is also a special day. It’s national Foundation Day in Japan. More importantly its poker night with the boys.

But next Tuesday, the 14th of Feb, is going to be an even more special day.

Its Spam day!

Thats right! Spam - the complete meal in a can! Its that time of the week when it’s my turn to cook and when I cook I go all out. Even Spam!

Check out my menu:
Entree - Turkish bread with Spam dip
Main - Spam steak with onion sauce served with potato spam salad
Dessert - Spam creme brule`

Of course this is served with a glass of 1992 Hormel Spamignon Blanc. It will definitely be a meal to remember!

But spam day is not the only day to look out for! There’s Movie day on Friday, Walk the dog Wednesdays, Spaghetti Thursdays and Sleep-in Sundays! So maaany things happening this month! :)

I guess what I’m trying to say is everyday is a special day! Not just birthdays, Christmas and anniversaries. Or the upcoming Valentines Day.

Everyone is special – everyday!
Not just one or twice a year.

So lets do that.
Lets celebrate everyday.

Because I dunno about you, but I'm 'on special' all year round.

Zoom zoomy - 06 Mazda Cruise

What do all of these people have in common?

Thats right! Its a swingers club! hahah j/k Thats the other club im affiliated with *wink *wink :P
These are the members of the WA branch of the OzMazda Club. We're a bunch of Mazda drivers who spend lots of time in forums discussing important car matters like "how many kilometres do you get with your full tank?" and "which air freshener smells better - strawberry hills or minty forrest?" :)

These are our toys. Nice ay?

Hang on.. this ain't a Mazda! Traitor!!!

We'll let him join coz he's got some serious audio going on. Ala Fast n da Furious!

I nearly fainted when I heard the custom audio system above cost over $10k (P420k)! Thats a lot of mulla for 'doof doof'!!

After the group introductions we were finally off to York!

Our convoy consisted of seven Mazda3, one Mx-5 and the traitor Honda Euro Accord.

This Toyota Corolla driver tries to pose as a Mazda driver. Its so fake!

After an hour of driving around (and getting lost a bit.. ) we've finally made it to York!

Lets just say York was a blinding contrast to the bustling city of Perth. It did have its charming buildings though.

The only gas station in town only had one pump! Good thing none of us needed 98 octane

The town Mazda 2 was seriously bugged! It must have killed a thousand bugs just on the bonnet alone

Agent M and I checked out the town bus. We needed someone to yank our crank to get it movin`

Meeting place before we headed back to Perth was a nearby park.

All the asian drivers drove Titanium coloured Mazdas. Weird ay?

Bridge of Death! Actually it wasn't called that, but it was still scary.

Talking to the other Mazda drivers I knew we had only cars in our mind

We talked about car stuff. Mods and dyno runs and other car events. We were even analysing the other 'rides'

After the discussions, we were all off again!

Ahhh. Back to civilisation!

The forums were cluttered with posts and pics that night. Everyone had a great zoom zoomy drive :)