C3 AFA Singapore - Bandai Booth #2

The Tamashii toys display booth located behind. Dragon Balls, Naruto, One Piece, Ultraman and few more Gundam figures were shown over there. No exclusive event Tamashii toys spotted there.

C3 AFA Singapore - Bandai Booth #1

Pff…can’t believe my two weeks relaxation and vacation just over like that. My mind is now more refreshing so let’s get into the AFA event detail. For starter, AFA is known as Anime Festival Asia and held at Singapore on 24th to 26th November 2017. Sadly, I can only attend the opening day because my flight to Cairns in Australia was tomorrow.

When There Is Crime, There is Con.

Took me a while to hold this post. I was waiting and making sure my new official receipt with warranty was received before I start saying anything. Nightmare? No, like a stupid joke. I really like this local computer shop and usually get quite a lot of stuffs from them for both personal and for company. After the bad warranty experience, I am now had to be extra careful dealing with them and reconsider new way to counter the problem.

What happen? My home wireless router two LAN ports suddenly went kaput last month and I couldn’t get it work again. The LAN ports is important because I have headless PC running taking advantage of the gigabit speed feature for file sharing. Since the wireless router cover three years warranty, I search for the receipt and send for replacement the next day.

The technician need to inspect confirming the problem before he could arrange the replacement. After few days, no news which is strange for the delay. I decided to call up for an update. The technician confirmed the problem, but then he told me the wireless router no longer cover with warranty. Excuse me? I asked him did you looked at the official receipt I gave to you? It says 36 months. He said yes but their system only register one year. My answer to him that’s not my problem. As long, I am holding the original receipt, you guys must honor it. Then he say they will investigate and get back to me soon the next day which btw already one week. The technician call up and gave me bad news they unable to find any replacement and similar model. Well, what are you guys going to do about it? You guys have to provide options and solutions.

Now, this is where they started to piss me off. First of all, I do not want to blame the technician. Apparently it was the mystery's idiot known as purchaser gave him the instruction. The offer here was forcing me topping up $60 to get different model. The stupid part, the warranty will continue up to May 2018. You can’t even provide me the replacement or refurbish device, even they don’t intend to send for repair. Why the fuck should I take that garbage deal that doesn’t make sense? The answer is no.

The only condition I will accept if they provide me new warranty deal for another two years by continuing the existing then we will call it even. I gave the purchase another week to reconsider. However, the answer say no after the PC technician told me and insist to pay for the top up. I told him I am giving one last chance to that idiot to think twice, if he/she can’t even offer me better options then I have no choice but to bring this to the consumer affairs department and let them deal with all these nonsense. As long, the official printed receipt is with me. My case against the computer shop are very strong and confidence that the official will agree that this was ridiculous deal when they were supposed to honor warranty replacement at no cost. Do the purchaser really want to fight with me and risk damage the shop reputation over $128.00 BND replacement? Nonetheless, the idiot think smart and the problem was settle with new warranty deal. Am I happy? Not really.

The way how the local computer shop handle the customers register purchase information has become clear to me they can replace the information anytime they want or likely where employee's may made mistake inputting wrong data. My strong advise was scan and keep your purchase receipts in good condition especially three years warranty devices. Make sure you keep one of their brochures (and promotions) with warranty information printed the better. These guys can simply say my device only cover with one year when the receipt printed three years. Can you imagine what happen if you lose it or the printed fonts fated in the receipts? Probably I will let you think the outcome yourself.

Should I Get OEM Gaming PC or Back with Build Your Own?

Building your own gaming PC usually is the most recommended route to take. But after MOF slap 5% tax in Brunei, my mindset have to change if I want to continue bringing parts from Singapore. The airport and the post office customs are becoming more active inspecting the stuffs coming into the country. So it’s not a joke if you get caught sneaking in and I’m sorry, 5% tax (reported more) is a fucking big deal to me right now.

I’m currently considered getting from the local computer shops. But who is the best should I source the parts from? Few of my friends recommend me Chong Hock computer and told me their price are quite reasonable. In order to find out whether its true or not, I went to their FB and PM for the quotation for CPU, motherboard, graphic card, their recommendation memory ram and power supply unit last week. What do you know, I was surprised the price they quote me.

They are unimaginable very competitive even I admit it was acceptable price you can get locally. Chong Hock also confirmed me their warranty follows the original manufacturer so it's a double plus. In case, you wonder what kind of hardware am I asking for. It’s the AMD Ryzen 1700X, MSI X370 Gaming Pro Carbon, MSI RX580 Gaming 8GB, lastly their recommendation Corsair 2666 (not sure which model) memory ram and Cooler Master V850 (modular type) power supply unit. All of these total cost around $1950.00 (BND). If I choose AMD Ryzen 1600X, the total cost would be 1,774.00.

Now, let’s compare to OEM gaming system everyone now could get in Brunei. With this money you can get an OEM Acer Aspire GX-281-1700 for $1,838.00. When you purchase from Netcom Computer House (September 2017 brochure), the bundle comes with 24” Gaming LED LCD monitor and Kingston Hyper X Cloud Stinger Gaming headset including free speaker (selected model). You are basically paying with all in one package deal.

Acer Aspire GX 281-1700 is an interesting and likely the most affordable gaming PC compare to Predator series. Not without sacrificing the performance and features. Yes, it has AMD Ryzen 1700X but the rest are basically downgraded and assemble with the cheapest hardware's Acer could put together. The AMD RX480 graphic card 4GB is okay, the motherboard reported using B350 model and chassis design only able to house two 3.5” (2.5”) HDD from what I see from the reviewer photos. The HDD expansion slots will be a future issue not unless I plan to buy dedicated NAS machine to host my files. I am environment friendly person and will continue to use existing PC for custom NAS running so nope.

I felt a bit surprise about the additional 24” Gaming Led LCD monitor. I deal quite a bit with Acer Aspire product and never failed to amaze me with the extra they willing to throw at. While the Acer Aspire GX 281-1700 hardware cannot really compete with the spec I plan to build (incomplete) above, the price and the stuffs you get really just unbeatable.

As for right now, I haven’t decided yet which path to choose. My aim are seeking the right PC gaming hardware able to last around 4-5 years. Yes, Acer Aspire GX 281-1700 does met the requirement and I can loan using credit card payment. Chong Hock computer require in cash payment. It just that I want to keep my spending minimum without regrets especially how do I going to reusing the existing good old Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 (I got two, mind yuo). There is no reason for me to get another chassis when you can’t even sell it off and recycle for money. I know my chassis are classic especially without or upgrade any USB 3.0 ports. Since I am flying to Singapore coming November, I will be heading to Cybermind hunt for DIY parts. From there onward, I may already have an answer for my need.

Its Time to Wear Sunglasses

Man, the global warming really no longer a joke, which is why the sun is really fucking killing my eye these days. I always told myself to get a pair but those sunglasses are freaking expensive and those cheap one in the street are not suitable for my eyes. Of course, I am aware those cheap brand lenses could be fake or something because it can cause your eyes and brain every uncomfortable. Whenever I look at the sunglasses, it remind me the CBS 60 minute cover story about the scambag company control the price worldwide. Seriously, fuck them.

One thing usually bother me a lot is my face. I have quite a big fat looking round face so it is kind of challenging finding match up sunglasses. Well, I actually took the risk going to any local shops to find and brought two pair Zerpico MOO:D sunglasses at crowdfunding websites instead. The price is indeed affordable and has the design quality in it.

HELO Wellness Band is the Technology Pyramid Schemes

Its being a while I start writing a post. But because Brunei now facing economics and high numbers of jobless problem. A lot of locals now desperate finding ideas, sell and startup business. What many do not know, the multi-level marketing are now taking advantages of such situation especially on health and make its way to technology category. The HELO Wellness Band is one of them.

I was at first curious about these band when I heard from my colleague asking me if I am programmer and then introduce me about this HELO Wellness Band thingy. It advertises as health and fitness technology product that have many features you don’t find by most current wrist band in the today market. Like measuring breathing rate, heart rate and able to send emergency SOS alert to your family or friends members if detect abnormal health activities. All this great stuff will cost you US$199.00. Not only that, Germanium Kit US$180.00, the band kit US$150.00 and lastly, the Helo LX Charger Adapter cost only US$10.00! OMG! The cheapest one!

Indeed, the technology these days without doubt able to perform such futuristic function. Sadly, I see Helo wrist band is nothing a more overpriced band trying to categories itself as luxury brand and trying to advertise its superior health monitoring features. The price of the separate kits are already a joke. The more I research this, the more shit shows up. First, let the Helo App speak for itself.

There you go, for entertainment purpose only and measurements are based on estimate calculation. So you are spending either US$199.00 or bundles that cost you from US$744-$1999.00 based on entertainment for an estimate measurements gadgets that may not be accurate? Don’t forget, you have to pay for Helo Pro plan for US$12.00 monthly to unlock bio analysis (*upcoming and not available, mind you). FISHY!!!

Obviously, Helo wrist band is just a piece of same fitness hardware sold in the market. You can even buy less than US$100 that possible come with same features if you look hard. Seriously guys, stop falling into the MLMs. Their pyramid structure will never disappear no matter how hard they try to cover. If you are so desperately for money, just be careful not to lose family and friends going that route.

Getting Plus One-Year-Old!

Getting more toys too! To be honest, I don’t really feel much joy about celebrating birthday anymore. Cake or no cake, life still goes on and my wish is to get through smoothly settling the remaining car loan until next year then I can start planning to invest affordable house or apartment. Of course, managing own healthy lifestyle should be first in line. Few more years, I am going to be forty.

Yeah, people (family members too!) do ask me occasionally why not making time for relationship. As much I wanted to, I probably would choose to travel and focus something I missed for so long. The timing and self financial still an issue. But the personality of mine are being terrible asking girl out and kinda screw up big time on conversation. Not sure how myself can fix the flaws. It just a habit to be true to myself and speak directly that comes into the mind rather choose to fake it. Not to mention, I'm free thinker. The words and ignorance does the effect.

Now what kind of birthday reward I got for myself? Since the timing is great when Ramandan and summer sales crash together at the same month, the first present was getting new running shoe because the old one is beat up and bad for the foot. I also grab Philip steam iron for dirt cheap $29.00 that comes with 2 years warranty. Normally, I am lazy type of person who doesn’t iron the clothes and just roll putting straight to the clothing storage. But a lot of clothes now winkle and time to straighten it out.

Next, buying toys. Basically is unavoidable. However, because I have remaining Toy R Us $20 voucher to be expire soon. It would be a waste not to use. I drive up and brought two Lego Nexo Knights and Transformers Titan Return Diac & Optimus Prime. Still, a good day to know there are numbers of good discount and surprise to get free Lego City Tractor pack. It's a shame I missed out the Nexo Knights goodies pack few months ago and the sudden 20% sales on later week. Fuck me.

For the online shopping, Hobby Link Japan currently celebrating their 20^th anniversary sales. Sad to say, there aren’t a lot attractive items to get. I feel like the additional or more bonus store credits for use in the next purchase kinda eyesore. While the offers last until end of this month, I will wait until the remaining lists will be reveal final week.

Brunet SMTP Server Under Global Blacklist?

Based on my finding, yes it is. I already started noticing this issue starting last year December when my users starting to complain about their email messages not reaching several existing contacts. Slowly things get even uglier between February and March, the messages would deliver into junk in Outlook automatically. The 3^rd party email like Gmail services follow, sending them into SPAM folder. Even the Barracuda Spam Firewall sees as threat and start rejecting.

As far I know, my company experiences the worst when the email messages almost completely go AWOL in 3^rd week last month. The 4^th week, the messages all stuck in the queue for unknown reason and getting relay messages. We found out the local domain name suddenly no longer working and tried using smtp.brunet.bn as temporary solution. It didn’t work either. In the end, we had to convince the management to purchase 3^rd party SMTP service to get the whole thing running.

It’s not like we did not investigate the physical server, Microsoft Exchange and check for possible domain name being blacklisted. But if our local domain names are found healthy in numbers known global blacklisted database and the spam firewall had no technical issue. So what did we miss here then? I thought could be one of the users infected by virus. Still didn’t find any infected PC in the office and high rate spam activities report by Barracuda. I decided to turn to MX Toolbox to find out.

MX Toolbox has numbers good range of useful tools to test your exchange for any issue in the configurations especially newly deployed server. Their new Email Deliverability tool is one of them. It basically allows you to send a test message into their systems to analyze the blacklist reputation of your outbound IP address. This way, I am able to know whether the domain name has problem after the messages goes out from the SPAM firewall. The results return and reveal the truth. The outbound address actually is non-other manage by one of the Brunet SMTP server. Ta-da!

That’s not all, the current outbound IP address was reported blacklisted. I verify the Brunet SMTP IP address I know of through different known blacklist check website were indeed listed. This clearly explains a lot why the email messages would flag as SPAM and never reached to the clients. The question is, do the Brunet teams know about this? I don’t know. One of them doesn’t seem to interest listened when I made a phone call yesterday report what I find. Politely sound denial there are any issue with Brunet SMTP and keep insisting that our domain is blacklisted (which is not). In the end I was told to send the report with test screenshots by email messages so they will look into it. I did and hope they will investigate.

The facts here are the problem above is not new. I can say this time we faced are quite serious. I still remember someone who worked in Brunet support predicted this few years ago and warned us not to used either own domain name or smtp.brunet.bn as outbound in the exchange. He is right on this. My boss also never listen to the advice and ours to stop hosting new clients email at Brunet server grain of salt for so many years. Hopefully this time a good wake up call.

Hunt for the Missing Manga Volumes

Finding missing volumes in your ongoing favorite manga collections are quite risky especially if you plan to sell your Manga off in the future. Buyers expect complete volumes with same publication and languages. To be honest, I don’t even know selling off the books is possible since I collect Chinese instead English translate version. No matter, my current ongoing missing volumes are Shingeki no Kyojin, Arslan Senki , Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt and MSV-R The Return of Johnny Raiden.

Chinese translate Manga are hardly available in Brunei shops so I have turn to online book stores to get them which I usually buy from YesAsia almost every months. However, their available stocks and release update system in the comic section starting to piss me off. I do not know if there are listing bugs on both Hong Kong and Taiwan version quick link categories. Most of the latest didn’t shows up any in the search results which fool me thinking the Manga haven’t release yet. After month and another month again, I started growing suspicious finding the page showing the same results. Instead using quick links, I use normal search to find the title one by one. What do you know? It was already translated, released and out of stock!

Another issue with YesAsia is, don’t expect to wait for possible restock. I subscribe their notify email and hardly received any words about restocking from publishers. The only hopes are start off searching for other online sources carry Chinese translate manga. Books Kinokuniya is a good place to start. I actually didn’t know they provide online orders and shipping to Brunei. After knowing that, I immediately order all the missing volumes.

It was really a close call. If I continue to wait, for sure all my current collections will be all for nothing and weird slapping English translate version together. Not only that, I just realize the manga sold at Books Kinokuniya are much more affordable rate. Sure, YesAsia offer free international shipping for purchase above US$39.00 (no tracking). But I feel safer ordering from Singapore that comes with tracking and an hour flight to Brunei.

Slowly Call for the Passes to Attend a Citizenship Presentation Ceremony. (Update!)

March 2017 Update!!!

Congratulation to those including my friends who passed the examination previously are now getting phone call to resubmit their documents! Please take note the reason requiring resubmitting the documents again to make sure your information are up-to-date.

BTW! For those of you living in Kuala Belait or Seria, you DO NOT need to go all the way to the capital submitting the documents. Apparently the folks who work in KB got blasted by the top, well for being... Okay, just submit to nearby Government building. That it!


*Old post:-
Not an official news, mind you. This is just a rumor head up for those who already pass their citizenship's examination previously. Chances the letter (or phone call) might be coming requesting the applicant to take up an oath to renounce all former nationalities and date attending citizenship presentation ceremony. It is unknown for now which year’s batches we are looking at, so don’t get too excited yet. You won’t know they might skip and choose those who had more promising background.

Don’t ask where I got the news from. It just happens reaching my ears when someone gets so cocky making ‘Baju Cara Melayu’ ready for the ceremony. =) As always, make sure none of your phone numbers and addresses change. Don’t forget, the Governments also need background checks on your activities again staying in Brunei. If you frequent travel, let your families knows to help you follow up.

I will wait and see if my step-sister receives official call as well since she took the test quite way back. For the examination news, there is NAHTHING to report.

Never Dying Toyota Old Car

When it comes to maintaining an old car, Toyota is the easiest to repair. I am now struggling on the decision, to sell or not to sell moment. My Toyota Corolla Wagon has been often breaking and almost suffer engine burn down incidents these days.

The parts in the car are getting rusty and the damage can be discovering one by one. I just recently experience two breakdown incidents within three months. One with the water hose pumps leakage and now the water tank sudden burst while on the road. I just got it replaced last week and another problem pops up which by the way already told by the mechanic that the water level might decrease and sign of water bubble.

The engine confirm needs to get major overhaul or something to replace damage parts inside the engine. Otherwise, the engine will keep sucking the water dry and burned again if not careful. Since the mechanic are busy this month and had to booked with their time next two weeks because my car need to stay at least 2-3 days at the workshop. I am okay with that but my biggest concern is how much the repair going to cost me this time.

Excise Duty on Electrical Goods

If you don’t know yet, starting next month onward some electrical goods and video games will start seeing price hike. Thanks to my friend who informed and forward the full PDF tax document from Ministry of Finance for me to view. I just caught wind of this news last week. After Brunei Times shutdown, I don’t feel like reading the only local news site anymore.

However, what I am surprise seeing the new excise duty for video games and consoles increase from 5% to 20% which is the highest among the electrical good's category. Apparently, the Government wants us to focus more on healthy lifestyle rather sitting at home playing video games all days. But is this part of the daily problem? For me, mobile phone gamers are far worst. Anyway since the Nintendo Switch is very expensive with few new games at launched. I’m okay with that and decide to delay buying next year if the price is right in Brunei.

Mobile phones and digital camera tax increase from 5% to 10%. For sure this is going to happen due to the increase numbers of new release models every year and there aren’t good methods for proper recycling. Photographers who plan to upgrade their digital cameras and accessories probably decide to wait during Hari Raya promotion. With additional 5%, I wonder...

The third and first time electrical goods for computer use such as cables, speakers etc will now include 5% tax. So every each hard disk, memory ram, CPU etc are included from now on if I am right. Can you imagine if I were to sell WIFI card for computer, which means I needed to pay AITI license (per year for each brand) and plus additional 5% tax. I think it’s official we are the most expensive wireless devices seller in Brunei.

Maybe for some of you thinking 5% doesn’t add much. I disagree and this is simply too early made decision that could hurt the smaller IT business owners. I feel they need more time. How are they going to make adjustment in their business strategy will be quite tricky ahead in noncompetitive market. We don’t have strong local produce skills in IT industry and now we are facing economics issue including facing layoff every month.

Gundam Front Tokyo Goodies!

Nope I didn’t fly to Japan, my sister does. I give her money to help me loot some goodies there since she also interested visiting Gundam Front Tokyo (GFT) last year before the place closing down on March. I do feel a bit regret buying few of the stuffs because when it comes to buying directly in Japan, you need to be careful and check the website for tax-free zone details.

The First Step Sorting Lego Bricks

The increase on the Lego collections starting to pile up and harder to search if I put the parts in the same containers. It also had taken the space on my room so I had to find ways separating all the bricks and sort out in order for easier access to unique parts. During the first week of new year I already spend at least $100.00 on the plastic boxes where I found some good deals at both Hua Ho and Soon Lee department stores. Hopefully the stocks continue to be available because I try not to over spend during difficulty start of new year and watching out for the damn car insurance.

 

While it’s not surprising unable to store all the parts in the plastic storage’s, but I just can’t believe spending almost the whole day just on sorting and dismantling the Lego. I can only remove the small to mid size finished build sets. The larger sets have to wait until I find larger and better plastic storage's because the current sets doesn’t seem to be even enough to accommodate all the different types of Lego parts.

I Want Nintendo Switch!

Not an awesome start for new year but after seeing the Nintendo switch introduction on the hardware and features. I am going to get one but not on the first day release on March this year. I am going to wait and see if there are more interesting unannounced game going to release this year. Also, making sure that the console first release in the market doesn’t have any issue. So better wait little longer rather rushing it.