My a330

Well, it's been almost 4 months now since picking up the camera......again! I got myself a Sony DSLR a330 and to my surprise, it's a pretty good and decent camera! It's been almost 15 years since I stopped photography, back then I was on a Pentax SLR. Oh, yes! those SLR camera's that uses film and it was damn bloody expensive to shoot those days. Now, with digital technology, it became very affordable to shoot again! You get to see what you just snapped and if it did not turn out good, just "bin" them and shoot another!

Since then, I have also "accumulated" some new lens to go with the camera and is saving money for another body as my wife is also picking this hobby up, hence she will be using this one and I will need another of my own. I have a Sony 55-200mm tele-zoom lens, a 50mm F1.7(portrait lens) and a Minolta 28-80mm macro lens for general shooting. I am planning for a wide angle lens next, something like a 10-16mm or 11-18mm with a good F stop(eg.F2.8).

I have a lot of pictures now but they will need some trimming before I can load it up here as they are pretty big files! Anyway, I am hoping I will horn my skills better and maybe "shoot" a winning picture one day!

Hitting rock bottom

People always say that when you hit rock bottom and survived, better days are ahead because the logic is, you cannot go any lower, no more bottom. I sincerely hope that is true because I am very sure many Malaysian's are wondering if they have reached rock bottom yet? With the current situation of our economy, where business is very slow and opportunity is scarce, what can a 40+ year old guy do? It is tough for him to look for jobs because he will be competing with younger, probably single and willing to work for lower wages guys out there. Then there is the other option of venturing into his own business but looking around, what businesses can he go into. Everyday we can see all type of businesses and retailers struggling to make end meets, of course we are not talking about MNCs or companies that are established(10 years or more), I am referring to those entrepreneurs that just started their businesses within this 5 years period. The matter gets even more confusing when the government keep coming with figures that tells the people the country is healthy and strong, but go around the root levels and talk to people in coffee shops or business premises, they all will give you the same "shake heard" look. Why is that when the government is saying otherwise?
My conclusion is the figures are not representing the entire spectrum of businesses and industries. There are the odd industries that are performing ultra well, so well that it's performance figures basically represents 70% to 80% of the country's total GDP figure, which gives us the impression that overall, all is well and in the pink of health. By now, if there is anyone reading this must be wondering if the 40+ year old I was referring to earlier is actually me, well no need to burst the bubble lah!
Well on the up side, just read in the Star paper that the government plans to look into people who are blacklisted because they were guarantors for friends or family relatives who defaulted on payments. This blacklisted people can no longer apply for loans or working capital from banks because of being helpful. The government feels it's unfair to fully penalized these people as all financial institutions usually prefer to go after the guarantor and not the principal borrower. How very true! This way, if the government really do amend the law to protect these unfairly blacklisted people, they can still get on with their lives for securing house or cars or business loans. Again, no need to burst the bubble lah!

UMNO and booz

Just want to get this out of my chest. I just saw a short clip of KJ, MP of Rembau been questioned about him and other MP's on booz issue. Instead of answering the question, he went into defensive mode and from his body language, he is definitely hiding something and quickly walked away.
I for one have no issue with MP's drinking booz, even the Muslim MPs, but please don't threat us like we don't know anything! These MP's with their trips to overseas and all the non reported night life, come on, at least have the balls to admit it(like Datuk Zaid) and repent and ask for forgiveness. Don't go into "I dare you kinda attitude"! We might not dare to challenge you MPs coz we are common people with limited resources but that does not mean we tak tahu!
You know we still have the power to vote and when that time comes, you MPs will feel the power of the people!

Babbling.....

It's been a while since my last post coz too many things have been happening and so many things on my mind that blogging was the last thing on the list.....
Anyway, we just celebrated Chinese New Year, a very quiet, non dramatic one and somehow it did not feel like CNY at all. You know back in those days, you will go around friends place visiting and usually it will end up at the table....gambling! But these days, I hardly see this anymore, except for the last day when I found out one of my friend was somewhere gambling the whole day. Another thing missing from CNY these days is the fire crackers. I hardly hear them going off anymore these days......in fact I hear more of this during Hari Raya and Deepavali, so what is going on?
Anyway, I am just babbling away since I have not posted anything for so long, so if anyone is reading this and gets bored.....pls get a life!
Well, just to re-cap after my last post.........been really busy the latter part of 2009, due to the economic downturn and also the weak condition in Malaysia, I have to close off my company. Yes, you heard it right, I am one of the millions that is jobless now. That period was a real intense period for me......but I am okay now.....
Now that CNY is over, I have see what my options are and what I want to do...........
Then last month, one of my uncle passed away, which was also very sudden but I have not seen this uncle for a while now. The last time I saw him was many years back during CNY too, he was his usual self, chatty and happy go lucky type. Who would have thought that he had so many health issues and by the time he passed on, he is just a skeleton of himself.
I have been helping a friend on the side since I lost my job(company)and that is what I am doing to get by every month now. I have tried employments and submitting so many resumes that I lost count, but so far no respond from any of the ads. I think my age is my biggest obstacle now, even if I am experienced and professionally qualified. I am trying not to think too much until it bogs me down but to just go on living by the day now as I really do not know what will happen tomorrow.
Then as usual, CNY is always a busy time for me as well, mainly family matters, so that is good as it takes my mind off my job issue for a while.
My only consolation to myself is I take this as a test from above and all great men goes through this before succeeding.