Ooohkay. After using the S3IS for quite a while, I’ve finally decided to put up a personal review on this this thing. Before I proceed, allow me to do a bit of introduction.

The Canon Powershot S3IS is the third in the line of Canon’s S-series prosumer digicams [hence, S3]. The key feature that sets the S-series apart from other Canon prosumers is the fact that the they are equipped with Ultrasonic Motors [USM] and Image Stabiliser [IS] mechanisms [hence the IS in the name].

[image taken from dpreview.com]

What’s so special about that kind of lens, you ask? Okay, here’s a simple explanation. How many times have you shot at a slow shutter speed [1/20 of a second and slower] and get pictures that have undesirable motion blur, which are due to camera shake? If you’re an avid photographer, I’m sure you’ve been there PLENTY of times. Now, what an IS does is that it’s a mechanism that counters this shaking movement i.e. it stabilises the image, hence the name. [I shall not go into the mechanics and physics, I'm too lazy]

And what about USM? Well, as the name implies, USM provides you with ultra silent focusing. When you half-press the shutter, a lens without USM will go wee-wee-wee as it focuses. A lens with USM, doesn’t make a sound. Whether or not it’s faster at focusing than a non-USM lens, I have yet to conclude [I highly doubt so, btw].

Now, let us move on to camera details and highlights! I’m not too interested to look at the entire set of specs, but if you really want to, see it here. Once you’re done with that, let’s jump on to the review!

Read the rest of this entry »

MMU students definitely pass around the most interesting messages. Here’s one of the more recent ones;

“I am offering a reward of RM350 or more for any information about LIM CHUIN VERN - a MMU student. His IC number is 850523-01-6775 and the contact number is 0167828523. This guy cheat me for RM3000. A.S.A.P. Please foward around. YOU’RE FUCKED!”

AHAHAHAHA. That last line really made me keel over. I was laughing so hard I almost fell out of my chair. But man, that’s one hell of an idiot. Cheating a HUGE amount of cash, and then leaving behind your IC and phone number, no less.

I’m still laughing. I mean, I could already picture the orignal sender of this message. His face burning red with anger, steam escaping his ears and nostrils, and with a finger pointed to the dumbass’s face declaring “YOU’RE FUCKED!”.

There’s no way around it, dude. You really are fucked, or at least, you’re bound to get fucked. Your ass is as good as gone. Either you go kill yourself, or run away to Thailand [yeah, right]. You can’t possibly get away, now. Especially if this matter escalates to the police and by that time, buckets of shit would have hit the fan and you won’t have an umbrella.

Sheesh.

Oh, and speaking of forwarded messages, that message about library usage has apparently reached the desktop of a very proactive lecturer. He passed on the message and highlighted the issue to the MMU Head of Security and the library authorities.

From what I gathered from reading the bulletin posted on the library notice board, it seems that the security officers have ‘misinterpreted’ the order of not letting student bring in books. Apparently, they claim that the protocol was to “check the students’ bags” should they bring it into the library.

This, however, is pointless. You see, students know well enough to put their bags OUTSIDE the fucking library, and keep them in the allocated shelves and lockers. Hence, there aren’t any bag checkings done, since no bags entered the library in the first place! Which part of the fucking protocol did the sescurity officers misinterpret?

I can hardly believe what’s going on here. Beating around the bush, pasing the blame-ball around. Some people just refuse to accept their fucking mistakes.

Oh, and here’s another forward if you’re ever so interested :p

I’m a bit slow on finding information, but looking around, I found an interesting piece of news. I believe this marks a great start to the openness of Muslims in Malaysia. Some excerpts are as follows;

“Between Dec 15 and 18, 2005 a survey of over 1,000 randomly selected Muslims was conducted across Peninsular Malaysia. The telephone survey sought to obtain information about identity, issues and concerns, as well as what Muslims thought about suicide bombing and the countries that are often described as constituting “the West”, namely the United States, Europe and Australia.

The survey questionnaire, in Bahasa Malaysia, was devised through three focus groups in consultation with academics, policy-makers and civil society.”
- PATRICIA MARTINEZ, New Straits Times.

So, this survey seeks out the truth of what Muslims think of curent affairs in the country. A much needed move, I say. I wonder why nobody taught of this earlier :p It’s a brilliant plan! I quote here some of the findings.

Read the rest of this entry »

Unlike that loose cannon who yells, curses and puts other muslims to shame with his antics, Hidayat is a guy who speaks with lots of common sense and humble honesty.

I just came across his ping at PPS today, and I thought it’s a good pointer that should be shared by everyone. Since that other twerp has banned Malaysian IP’s [who cares, anyway?] let’s let him have his way. He doesn’t want a Malaysian audience, let him be. We don’t need a flaming temper when we’ve got lots of issues to solve.

[update: MENJ has stated that he has lifted the ban on Malaysians. I doubt it means anything much, but for the sake of not putting out false information, here's the correction statement :p]

Do read up on this, this and this.

With the rise of so many issues including debates of Article 11, Malay-Muslim idealism, and all that racial/religious friction, we need less temper and more sensibility. There’s a dire need to maintain stability if we’re to reach a solution.

You know the best way to shut up a loudmouth? It’s to pretend that his voice doesn’t reach you. When the speaker doesn’t have an audience that listens to him.. do you think he will keep talking?