…on Sunday the 11th of October 2009. My computer already misses me – it went into a blue screen of death and upon restarting, I found my Kingston 1GB DDR400 wouldn’t work in any of the slots, my motherboard beeping away. So now I have one third the memory, and hopefully this is only temporary!
Fam-Lay welcomes the crowd for what is to be…
N*E*R*D! Pharrell Williams, one half of superstar producer group The Neptunes (Chad Hugo could not make it.) This was down at the Sunburst Music Festival, 21st March 2009.
I have to admit, I was already very excited to see this band on the original Sunburst 2009 setlist. I’ve been digging their funk-rock-meets-hip-hop-meets-crunk tunes since Fly Or Die (and the voracious Lapdance.)
Shae Haley, one third of N*E*R*D (short for No One Ever Really Dies).
Shae finds Malaysia a bit hot!
Time For Some Action!
They played a good mix of songs from all three albums, starting with the crunky stuff (Anti-Matter was the first song.)
N*E*R*D called some dudes up on stage to boogie down with them. This was obviously to the crunkier stuff (Killjoy, Rockstar, new song Thrasher, Popcorn, new song Soldier, and Spaz if I remember correctly…)
Well hold up! yeah you.
Pharrell interrupted the show to scold a photographer who was pushing people (I’ve been elbowed by such inconsiderate photographers before.)
“Now I apologize for bringing attention to you, and, and maybe if I embarrass you I didn’t mean to do that but I’m just saying like, there’s one of you, and there’s like 30 people and you’re pushing them off like they can’t have a good time. These people paid to have a good time! You must not know what an N*E*R*D show is about. It’s about the people!”
Transcribed from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F4BeMP93bM.
And then they cut to Don’t Worry About It.
Everybody wants to flash Pharrell.
N*E*R*D called the girls up on stage too, for the sexier songs (Everybody Nose, She Wants To Move, Lapdance, Sooner Or Later, and a cover of Take Me Out if I remember correctly).
This is all before their new stage buddy Rhea, though.
Then, it was time for another 4-letter major international act – KoRn!
If you spot the Adidas you know they gotta play A.D.I.D.A.S. (which does not stand for Adi Dassler, the founder…)
Here’s Fieldy with his signature Ibanez K-5!
Yes, the left-and-right two-beat headbang is part of KoRn’s music. Meet Ray Luzier!
Munky laying some chunky rhythm.
And, of course, the man in a kilt, Jon Davis!
No H.R. Giger microphone stand, unfortunately, but enough growl to teleport you back to the 90’s when KoRn hit the airwaves. They played the classics, mostly – in fact, I was surprised I recognized so many of them!
I don’t remember what they played, but roughly – Blind, Shoots And Ladders, Clown, Coming Undone, Falling Away From Me, Got The Life, Helmet In The Bush, Freak On A Leash, A.D.I.D.A.S., Here To Stay, Right Now… I think.
“Aye, if I got my kilt on I might as well bring out me bagpipes!”
In between songs, he would go to the back to his oxygen pipe – quite a necessity for vocalists with demanding vocals.
And that’s all from the Sunburst Music Festival 2009!
More here:
Korn, N.E.R.D Cornered?
Some Burst Of Pictures, Part 4!
Some Burst Of Pictures, Part 3!
Some Burst Of Pictures, Part 2!
Some Burst Of Pictures!
Time travelling. Guess what year this was taken!
With the benefit of Fujifilm Superia ASA400, this was in 2009, through a Vivitar 75-205mm F3.5-4.5 in K-mount which I sold a while back. Most likely shot at 75mm F8.
The lens does pretty well at 205mm F4.5 (or was it F5.6?) This is a 100% crop from a 1908×1269 pixel scan, though…
Flare, mainstay of older optics.
Should be shot around F8. The light leak is from when I tried to check if the film was properly loaded by opening the back (and I forgot that I could just look at the winder!)
75mm at F5.6. And that’s all from the Cosina CT1EX K-mount body!
One 24th of April 2009, I was in Desa Sri Hartamas when I bumped into Ziel performing at Lepaq Cafe!
(And so that answers the mystery in my previous blog entry about this wonderful place – yes, Lepaq Cafe survived!)
Ziel is what I would describe to be some kind of modern angry metal.
Darn purple lights!
Random dude on stage – that is the theme of Lepaq. Get up and play if you want to!
I see this dude all the time, but I have no idea who he is, either.
However, if you’re still looking for Lepaq down a street in Desa Sri Hartamas, it’s not there anymore – it has moved to Kelana Mall. I still haven’t gotten round to visiting it! That, and the MCPA, are two gig venues I have never been to.
Hit their Myspace to see when their latest gigs are!
16th April 2009 was Obscuradio down at Laundry Bar. Pictures have undergone random level tweaks for that typical wannabe-cross-processed-film look. I haven’t done this in a while!
Gregory Ramanado, of The Ramanados!
He is not a Ramanado.
He is a Ramanado. They play songs in the key of hard rock and funk.
Apparently, he brought his black tie to Laundry.
Steve the shredder.
That usual cross-processed-from-digital-look has a bit of green in the shadows. Ironically, I like it that way too!
My Moroccan friend Sarah! This was the last gig we went to. We met by me blocking her view at gigs! (You kinda have to get in front with a fisheye.)
After the show Greg is surrounded by fans of attractive persuasion!
Right after is Darren Ashley Thomas of Two Hand Band, who is a musical wizard! This crazily talented dude even rapped and sung in Chinese for a short bit.
He’d either be playing by himself and accompanied by a backing track on his Mac…
…or with a human keyboardist.
Samuel Oh of Bus Company joins in with a most cool guitar.
Obligatory ambient-light ISO6400 shot.
Greg is still talking to fans. Dang, dawg!
Bo of Seven, a very funky, jazzy, laid back band.
Rohnie (who also played with Darren for a bit.) This night was full of band slutdom.
Darren then comes on to do his beatboxing!
Emir (of Throne Away) comes on to sing and play harmonica! This was a very satisfying jam session to watch.
Another fisheye shot!
Sam inspects the fish.
I bumped into an old acquaintance, who interestingly had a sketchbook and pen. Her friends were all doodling in, and they passed it to me. “Just draw whatever randomly comes to your hands.”
And so, this dude came about.
These pictures were taken on the last day I had my Sony Alpha 700 and Sony 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT kit lens. Ah, what a lightweight, wonderful combo!
18mm F8. Mmm chlorophyll!
18mm F3.5. Stripey!
70mm F8. Classic!
26mm F9. My first time!
35mm F5.6. That is all.
At 7:50am, 28th September 2009, somewhere in Petaling Jaya, I looked at my phone and found this!
Yes, that’s right, DiGi is allowing certain customers to use their yet-to-be-officially-launched 3G UMTS (and 3.5G HSDPA) mobile service!
I tried video calling a few people but realized that all these people who used to use the video call function, had iPhones! (The iPhone 3Gs does not support video calls, and when you buy one, you have to sign a “iPhone Purchase Checklist” where you check that it has included SIM Eject Tool, Charger, LCD Display, User Guide, Handsfree, USB Cable, Service Card, a demonstration on how to insert SIM tray, and No video call.)
The turtlenecked man might announce it in 2010. Or 2011. Who cares, they have your money! Where do all the previous iPhones go? iDunno.
Anyway, on to phones with a front camera.
Later that day, I made a video call to Jenifur! She is on Maxis though. I found 3G reception all over the North court of Midvalley Megamall, and on the top floor of the South court. Gotta say it is a new experience, nearly walking into pillars and trashcans, and finding that the front camera is not wide enough, and that my head blocks most of the background unless I hold the phone far away from me.
Unfortunately, at home, and at the office, there is no 3G, yet. I’m guessing that October 2009 is when they launch it and enable fuller coverage.
Who are these certain customers?
I am guessing that they, like me, have subscribed to the Data Unlimited plan. I’ve always found EDGE to be handy, and very stable. However, it is not terribly fast – Google Maps takes a while to load maps. When 3G was on however, I would say it appeared just 2-3 seconds later! I don’t download lots of stuff on my phone, so Google Maps is my only benchmark. Even when I was no longer within 3G range, I found Google Maps to be a lot faster than before today.
So how about some concrete speeds?
The people at lowyat.net found a rather impressive speed when connected.
On the 2nd April 2009 I was down in Laundry Bar for Moonshine: A Homemade Music Show! Here’s Eleanor! (Regretfully, I missed Matematik due to The Curve doing electrical maintenance, forcing the gig to start much earlier than expected.)
Plus points for the very energetic frontman…
…who sings screamo.
I find a good way to bring dynamics into the scene is to have the right white balance that helps distinguish subjects.
I used this method to extract tones from the previously, apparently washed-out pink on his hand.
Screamo vocalists are the most fun to shoot – they go into all sorts of shapes and positions. I am not sure how you scream in a fetal position (Chicosci did so years ago in Laundry Bar.)
And then, it was hard-rockin’ Pitbull Inc.! They certainly seem to have had a change in flavor, from a variety including doing a funky Michael Jackson cover, to straight out hard rock.
Not to complain, they do it really well!
Solo! Burn up that paint!
Bang them skins!
Chicks dig it!
(Shot at 135mm F1.8 1/5s ISO6400!)
Whose flighty legs are these?
None other than Zack Yusof, of Deserters!
These guys have been playing Brit-eeesh pop/indie for yonks. Zack has always had that accent.
Interesting how the decals change from the fretboard to the guitar body.
That’s all folks, says Reza the organizer who wears cool shirts. It was indeed odd that Laundry closed so early (11pm to be exact) that I even took a bus home!
The classic Rubik’s Cube. I have loads of 25th Anniversary Rubik’s Cube which have peeling stickers. Anybody wants to buy them for custom sticker jobs?
I take anywhere from 37 to 50 seconds on average. I prefer starting by building a 2x2x2, expanding to 2x2x3 and so on. I don’t have space in my head for lots of formulas so I still use the basic beginner formulas – flip edges, permutate edges, permutate corners, rotate corners. I do know how to flip edges and permutate edges without messing with the corners but I don’t do it by habit, unless I am doing limited-look cubing.
Limited-look cubing?
As in, I take a look, solve a 2x2x2, take another look, attempt to solve a 2x2x3, take another look, attempt to solve 2 layers, take another look and solve the top layer. On good days I can take 4 looks but it usually goes from 5 to 8 looks. Blindfolded cubing is basically limited-look cubing, limited to 1 look!
Pocket Cube. Takes me 43 seconds.
It solves like a Rubik’s Cube but with the occasional corner parity error (which is solved by a edge flipper like L’U’F’UFL.)
Rubik’s Revenge. I’d solve the center 2×2 on each face, then check with the corners to see if each 2×2 is on the right face (since there is no center cube). Then there is a formula to assemble the edges (3 at a time), as well as a formula if you have 2 edges to swap. Finally you solve it like a regular Rubik’s Cube. However there are two kinds of parity errors that might happen, both needing their specific formulas.
Because I never really remembered one of those two formulas, I eventually forgot both formulas! So I’d say generally that even-numbered cubes are not something I enjoy solving, and so I didn’t time myself on these.
Top row is the Eastsheen 5x5x5; bottom row is the Professor’s Cube. I am thinking of selling the Professor’s Cube to whoever will give it a good sticker job because the Eastsheen, while a bit loose, is a lot smoother and quicker to solve. The Professor’s Cube is more geary, and I don’t intend to lubricate it.
It takes me 4 minutes 57 seconds (297 seconds). Solving odd-numbered cubes are easy – you work on the center 3×3 on each face, and learn one formula to assemble the edges (3 at a time), and one more formula in case you end up with 2 edges to swap. Finally you end up with a regular 3x3x3 format and solve that.
Yong Jun 6x6x6. I call it the Devil’s Cube. I love how the color scheme is – the much lighter green versus deep blue, and lighter orange versus dark red, and yellow versus black, make this cube solvable in tungsten orange lighting. You won’t end up mixing up the white/yellow, red/orange or green/blue pairs in tungsten lighting!
It solves just like a Rubik’s Revenge. The same parity error formulas are used. It tends to lock up internally – you can often rotate in say UD/RL but not FB. Only way to solve this is to rotate UD/RL until FB faces can be rotated (you have to hear the internal pieces click on place.)
Yong Jun 7x7x7. I’ve tried the V-Cube 7, and that one was too smooth and yet more prone to locking up. This Yong Jun copy however is physically perfect – no locking, and smooth, smooth action!
I solve this by making a 3×3 on each face, then expanding this to 5×5 in a very fun algorithm. Then I assemble edges (3 at a time) and use another formula for 2 last edges. This process needs to be done twice due to twice the number of edges. Finally I solve it like a regular Rubik’s Cube.
The fastest I ever did this was 20 minutes 11 seconds (1211 seconds). I have only had this for less than a week! It can take from 22 to 28 minutes on average. However, this is my most favorite cube yet – building the 5×5 faces are really fun!
Also, it shares the same color scheme as the Yongjun 6x6x6, very handy!
Megaminx copy. Dodecahedron; does not change shape. Algorithms used are all the same as the Rubik’s Cube – in fact, I learnt a few more methods from the instruction book on this one, to solve the Rubik’s Cube!
Fastest time 6 minutes 9 seconds (369 seconds). It’s easy but tedious due to the 50 cubies needed to be moved!
Rubik’s Cube keychain and Siamese Pocket Cube keychain. Didn’t bother timing myself on these – the Siamese variants all just take twice as long as a regular cube.
Void Cube copy. Takes 1 minute 19 seconds (79 seconds). Solves just like a Rubik’s Cube, with a possibility of a parity error (due to misaligned, invisible center!) So I do a UD’ and realign the edges in the middle layer.
Rubik’s Mirror Blocks. Looks complex but is really a Rubik’s Cube with shifted, variable layer thicknesses. Each layer has a distinct height, so you can solve this blindfolded without memorizing. You just need to touch and align the cube heights. It’s fun to solve, but often so much better to look at unsolved.
This takes me 2 minutes 25 seconds (145 seconds). Blindfolded, this takes 5 minutes 26 seconds (326 seconds).
I can’t find my Sudoku Cube for this photoshoot; it’s hiding somewhere in my house. This picture is taken from Thinking Inside The Cube. I didn’t solve this much because it was quite tedious!
Smiley Cube copy. Just a stickered version of the Rubik’s Cube. Real tight though. The center cubes have orientation, making it slightly harder.
Giant Siamese Rubik’s Cube copy. I made them Siamese myself, using a penknife and superglue! These giant cubes were from a time when original Rubik’s Cubes were not found anywhere in Malaysia and I had to buy all these cheap plastic cubes that would either lock up or fall apart. These giant cubes never locked up but their center faces would fall out (the plastic would break, thus making it unrepairable!)
Rubik’s World. Solves like the Pocket Cube.
Master Pyramorphix copy. Looks complex, but is really a Rubik’s Cube in disguise.
Takes me 3 minutes 43 seconds (223 seconds) to solve. It takes a while to figure out what is what!
Skewb copy. Takes me 1 minute 6 seconds (66 seconds). I just need 2 formulas to solve this, which I figured out in under an hour with a paper and pen! Supposing the UFR and UFL corners were shortened to R and L, I’d do either L’RLR’ or L’R’LR to permutate centers and rotate corners. I’d do either formula twice to rotate only corners, leaving centers intact, or do the formulas thrice to swap centers but leave corners intact.
Meffert’s Pyraminx. It uses ball bearings and tends to pop edges easily so I prefer to play with my plasticky Pyraminx copy. I forgot the formula I came up with for permutating edges but I remember taking under 1 minute to solve this.
Square 1 copy. I had the original Square 1 but it’s hiding somewhere in the house. This is friction-ful plastic. I used to remember the formulas for swapping 2 corners and swapping edges, but not anymore. 🙁
I think I used to take 3 minutes to solve it.
Super Square 1. Takes forever to fix the center 2 layers. However this works very much like the Square 1. Fortunately it is way smoother, but the seashell shape in the Square 1 picture (bottom-right) is impossible to make, for some strange reason – the pieces won’t budge once that many edges are next to each other.
Rubik’s 360. I haven’t gotten round to really playing with this, but I’ve already gotten 2 balls in their correct containers.
Rubik’s Twist. Used to be called the Rubik’s Snake. You can’t mess it up per se so I never bothered timing how long it takes to get into ball form.
Rubik’s Shells. There are two buttons on the axis that, when pressed, lock the two wheels (there are four, two on each side) and this makes the puzzle permanently harder. I couldn’t bear with such a puzzle that had such a ultimatum so once I Googled the formula I solved it and kept it away.
Rubik’s Magic. Never timed myself on this. It’s quite a fragile puzzle – I’ve seen kids snap this, so I handle mine slowly and with care.
I like how it changes shape.
I think I solved this a few times many years back and never bothered timing. It’s not even a twisty puzzle!
I have the Magic Ball too, which is just a spherical Rubik’s Cube. Can’t find it though.
I also had the Atomic Chaos (Kaos) and loved it – I figured out my own solution entirely. Don’t know where that noisemaker is, either!
Here’s what it looks like:
http://www.jaapsch.net/puzzles/chaos.htm
Heck I even made a QBASIC game out of this.
I also have the Walt Disney puzzle (spot the Lion King!) To its left is an old iQ-branded Megaminx, and the original Square 1 (how I miss you.) Then there’s that load of fake plastic Rubik’s Cubes around it. Picture taken from Rubik Cubism.
Oh yes, I’ve won a Guitar Hero II guitar + game for the Xbox 360 before… quite a fluke that was.
And here are more links to help you identify puzzles:
Wikipedia’s entry on combination puzzles
Inside Polyhedra puzzles – patent designs and how they do it!
Here’s more cube pr0n:
Cube Cube Cubed! (Part 1)
Today is a different kind of pr0n – the twisty puzzle kind!
Clockwise from top: Megaminx copy, Rubik’s Cube, Void Cube copy, Pocket Cube, Master Pyramorphix copy, Eastsheen 5x5x5, and Rubik’s Mirror Blocks in the middle.
My passions; there’s my Minolta Dynax 7 with Minolta 70-210mm F4 beercan with Sony HVL-F58AM flash and orange flash gel; there’s the Rubik’s line from 2x2x2 to 5x5x5; there’s the Olympus Zuiko 50mm F1.8 on my DIY infrared-modded Fujifilm Q1 Digital; on my Yamaha F-210 acoustic folk guitar. Yes, I play guitar (and not just Guitar Hero/Rock Band/Frets On Fire.)
This is a Rubik’s Cube, taken apart, to spray with silicone lubricant (to make it real smooth and fast to solve.)
Funky patterns!
Clockwise from left: Eastsheen 5x5x5, Professor’s Cube, Rubik’s Revenge, Rubik’s Cube, Pocket Cube, Siamese Pocket Cube keychain, Meffert’s Pyraminx. Lying flat is the Rubik’s Magic.
Top to bottom: Master Pyramorphix copy, Void Cube copy, Rubik’s Mirror Blocks. The Mirror Blocks grips onto the Void Cube’s… void tightly.
The Rubik’s Revolution. I wish I didn’t buy this gimmicky electronic game – it talks, lights up, but it does not rotate at all! You play 6 games like Light Speed, Rapid Recharge, Pattern Panic, Code Cracker, MultiPlayer Madness, and Cube Catcher. Not what I expected at all, and probably more fun for someone who is not able to solve the real thing. Yes I wouldn’t mind selling this!
Here it is, next to a 25th Anniversary Rubik’s Cube. I would not recommend the 25th Anniversary one to anybody – it has an extra layer of protective film which peels off quickly and easily resulting in an ugly cube.
Here’s a Japanese DIY Speedcube. They include lubricant in the package, as well as some advanced algorithms. I honestly haven’t had the time to learn them.
At Toys’R’Us Suria KLCC, there was a Rubik’s Cube competition – solve it under 100 seconds and win a free Rubik’s Cube T-shirt. Yes, I won one!
At Sony Style there was a Sony Rubik’s Cube. Cool skin!
The Master Pyramorphix copy is cute – it can transform shape. Here it is, being a Koopa turtle (primarily red or green, with a yellow underside.)
It’s even pretty with corner permutations! I love the reverse N scheme and X scheme.
Here it is, next to the Meffert’s Pyraminx.
Reggae time!
Left to right: Rubik’s Cube, Eastsheen 5x5x5, Yong Jun 7x7x7.
And finally, for a nice big group shot.
Left to right: Meffert’s Pyraminx, Siamese Pocket Cube keychain, Rubik’s Cube, Rubik’s Revenge, Professor’s Cube, Yong Jun 6x6x6, Yong Jun 7x7x7.
Top row left to right: Skewb copy, Super Square 1. Behind: Rubik’s 360.
More about each individual cube in my next blog entry!