I’ve been using a camera for about two years. I dont treat it good. Coz it kinda goes everywhere with me. All sorts of messy parties, events, travels n gigs. It’s taken a whole lotta shit, like a pro.
For 600 bucks, i dont expect miracles, but it’s compact n fits very comfortably in my rear pocket. Also if i lose it, no big deal.
Anyway, it started to screw up after abt a year. The LCD screen started to zap, and got smaller every month. After a while, i had a one-inch screen. Still could use it.
Eventually, i landed on my ass with d camera in it, and d screen wiped out for good.
I still used it. There was no screen, no viewfinder. I shot blind, for almost the entire 2011. Haha. So all d pix from 2011 were fired at random. Like the Bentong Falls trip, and the cachaça cocktail session on the roof @ View Bar.
But they turned out well. What can i say, i got skills. I think some of my friends picked up a new skill too.
So there’s no preview/playback, which is great esp when some busybody wanna see how they look in d picture. They cant. Awesome. Problem is the only time u can check what u shot, is when ur home at the PC.
And there’s no adjusting settings, like flash, exposure, macro, etc.
Its a real bitch when u ask someone to take a picture for u. Can be tough for them.
A normal view (left), and the special view (right)
It’s pretty easy once u get d hang of it. Now, i got a new camera, and the screen is like a damn bonus. (But new guy took a hit recently – battery / SD card cover blew off.)
Thing is, when the ol camera got messed up, i continued using it, assuming i’d lose it anyday, like i’d had done to previous cameras – so i could have an excuse to buy a new one. I did manage to ‘lose’ it a few times but the fucker always came back.
I named it Boomerang.
Ol Boomy caught some hell
Anyway, Boomer has served me well. It’s still usable i guess, tho it hasnt seen action in a while.
Have been wanting to write about personal safety for awhile now, especially since many of us are out at night. And when you’re high, you’re extremely open as your situational awareness is close to zero.
Anyway, an incident involving a friend’s girl prompted me to do this.
I have written about it on my FB page as a note, but will reproduce it here:
Staying safe is up to you – Situational Awareness
Incidences of crime happen everywhere, at anytime. Unfortunately, women are more vulnerable.
Instead of relying on security guards, cops, or others, and crap like CCTV (which doesn’t usually help till after), the best bet is to rely on you.
I’m surprised that many women would voluntarily step out of the vehicle when they’re in accident. It’s best to stay in, especially if it’s not a busy area, or after dark. All you need to do is wind down your window enough to communicate, and arrange to meet at a police station or a friend’s place or sumtin.
Take down each other’s license plate numbers or take a picture/video, and move on. If you’re suspicious / nervous, then dont exchange your driver’s license details, coz your home address is on it.
When i was a writer with The Star, we had a weekly column called Survival Smarts, which i usually wrote, until i quit. It covered various things – escaping a fire, first aid, getting out of a jungle / self-rescue, personal safety, etc.
With personal safety, I met an expert many years ago, Julian Lim. He da man. We devised a series of articles on safety, specifically women’s personal safety. They’re good stuff.
I realize most people don’t have Situational Awareness, or know what it means. It’s basically knowing what’s goin on around u, and was originally an Air Force term. It involves gathering information (visual, etc), analyzing it, and making projections (reacting, etc) based on that analysis.
Blur or wat (pix by Star)
An example would be knowing if you, or your vehicle, are being followed, knowing exactly where your car is parked and the possible threats there, ensuring there is no one in your garage before you exit the vehicle, etc.
Would u know where’s the nearest Police station in these areas? – D’sara Heights, Kiara, Bangsar, Puchong, SS2, Ampang, etc? Do you care? In times of emergency, would you be able to instinctively get there fast? Or do u have to turn on your GPS first?
There’s an app called My Distress, specifically for emergencies in Selangor, as it’s by the state police. Get it –
My Distress app - technology could save your ass someday
From what i understand, this is for smartphones, and for the app to inform the cops of your exact location, your GPS needs to be on. So instead of trying to turn it on in emergency (that wd be quite silly), it’s best to turn on your GPS and put your app on-screen, on standby, when you’re driving alone at night or something.
When shit happens, u can immediately hit d panic button. Hide d device somewhere on your body in case you’re taken. Cops are usually on you in minutes.
Most girls don’t even have pepper spray! U shd keep one in your car (within quick reach with your seatbelt on) and one in your handbag side pocket. (U shd also keep one in your room, but dats home safety, which is another story.) When ur walking alone, eg in a carpark, one hand should hold the keys ready, and the other should hold the spray. It’s not like a big stick or anything; not like everyone will stare if you’re carrying that little kicka in your palm.
A pump into a threatening guy’s face will fuck him up, real good. (Once fired, get away quick.) The most effective short to medium-range weapon around.
Anyway you can read the stuff we (mainly Julian) worked on.
Start with Part 1, linked here, which i feel is the most important one – Surveillance and Evasion.
The best advise from all this is – when you’re unsure, just fucking run. It’s ok to look uncool. The perpetrator wouldn’t expect you to run. He would expect you to wonder what is it that he wants, etc. That’s how the operate – on your uncertainty, your ‘trust’, and your lack of time to react.
Just run fast in the other direction. Forget about your fancy handbag, or that your damn car door is still open, or your shopping is on the floor. Screw dat shit. Your life’s infinitely more valuable that dat.
So remember this three-letter word when you’re nervous or your instincts are unsure. R-U-N. It’s simple but effective.
If really nothing’s goin on, u can just cooly walk back right? Sall good.
“Obviously, if we miss spotting the danger until it confronts us, we have lost the main tool to avoid it.” – Julian.
Anyway, when you’re done reading Part 1, Part 2 is regarding getting away – Reaction & Escape.
Simple thing like throwing your handbag or keys into the person’s face before scooting off can work. A split second of distraction would enable you to kick your heels off and run.
Fighting back is a last resort. But if you do, you could poke the guy’s eyes. Have no mercy. Other vulnerable points – throat, nose and balls (the best).
and here; http://thestar.com.my/fightcrime/resources/story.asp?file=/2006/3/11/resources/13815293&sec=resources
Nah, ambik (pix by Star)
We shot evasion/defence videos too, but the links seem down. Will check with my ex-editor and update here.
Anyway, I think Part 1 & 2 are the most handy.
If u wanna know how to escape a fire (could be useful), it’s here.
There’s a series of crime safety articles by The Star on this page, including on theft and robbery. Check it out.
That’s it for now. Share this info your friends pls, especially girls.
Remember that awareness and avoidance is still the best way. As we learnt in the Eagle Scouts, something i apply till today, our simple motto goes a long way – ‘BE PREPARED’
Headed into the city Saturday morning to make a point, with a light hangover.
Unlike the last protest, we didnt have to go in a night earlier, as there was no city lockdown. Cops finally realized how futile and dumb dat is.
Trains were packed
Walked in from Central Market station via back streets. A bunch of Greenies were coming from the opposite direction
Dined on pork n beers for d long day
While we were eating in Chinatown, as we were early, there was a huge roar outside, along Jln Bandar.
To the right...
To the left
The Chinatown sector had started their march to the rendezvous. And they kept pouring. For about 15 minutes. Probably 15,000 or more in this group i reckon.
We (a group of 7) walked out soon after, and made our way through some back roads, headed to Merdeka Square.
Full n ready
We went from Chinatown, to CM, to Tun Perak by Masjid Jamek
There was a huge crowd on Tun Perak. From the junction of Merdeka Square all the way to Puduraya and beyond, all 4 lanes were choked with people. Maybe 50,000 here. Further than the eye could see.
This turned out to be the biggest, and quite a hardcore group later.
Everyone just chilled, listened to speeches, chanted, and some sat. We found some space to chill on Jln Melayu, n put on some reggae tunes.
After about an hour, we stood up and our small group were discussing our next course of action, such as happy hours, when i felt a familiar taste in my eyes.
“I think it’s gas.” i said. Weird, cos there was no sign of trouble, and bored people were about to leave. In fact, some had left as we were told to do so about 10 minutes beforehand.
The music stopped.
I moved up to locate the source, as everybody was still chillin n there was no gas visible, nor were there any sounds. A few seconds later, the crowd rushed in our direction, coughing and crying. The gas had kicked in, and from where we weren’t sure.
Anyway, many were first timers n panicked, squeezing into Jln Melayu. It got messy. They were trying to get away, but it was too congested. They panicked even more. The gas really started to kick-in.
Then we heard there was no exit on Jln Melayu! Some climbed over the railing and jumped onto the riverbank. Which was risky.
Stretcher crew n medics from Civil Defence. There were many ambulances in action from Red Crescent speeding around. Good job guys
I rounded d crew n decided d safest option was to head against d crowd, towards d gas, back to Tun Perak. Just before we got there, several gas canisters landed in front of us. Dat was a surprise, coz we never saw any riot police / FRU.
We decided to dash thru them anyway, and got onto Tun Perak, rejoining the main group at Jamek . It was a relief.
Some so-called protestors disappeared and went home crying after the first taste of gas. Haha. Amateurs. But at least they showed.
Mask helped a little, but its d eyes that get hit
From then, it was non-stop gas. The FRU would fire, we would suffer / throw canisters back / wash-out the eyes, then regroup. Many times. The Tun Perak group still stretched all d way to Pudu, but where we hung was d frontline at Jamek.
Everyone helped each other by providing water, salt or antacid-water mix. They gassed us for an hour, but we were goin nowhere. Then they sent in d water gun. Bad news.
Good news? A guy who got drenched shouted “Air biasa!!”. We laughed at the ‘fire truck’ and moved forward again. They were outta chemicals.
We weren’t really doing anything when we were attacked, hence we had no reason to leave when ordered by the cops.
Anyway they probably broke the law by attacking places other than Merdeka Square.
Squeezed in one posed shot, with BBQ goin on @ the Jamek LRT
After countless canisters, they sent in a large arresting team, which came charging with cable-ties. We dispersed.
A few hardcore guys again regrouped at Jamek, battling till 6pm.
Back to Chinatown, and we spotted a guys selling ice cold beers. Grabbed a few. Soon, i spotted gas. A small group were being harassed by the FRU. We joined them. Some tourists too. Showed the FRU countless ‘affectionate’ signs after they fired horizontally at us.
Satisfied, we finally got d train back.
There were quite a few posers at d event, posing n taking pictures at every opportunity, like it was some sorta fuckin bloggers event or sumtin.
Home. And thirsty!
Anway, hit 42 East for drinks around 6pm. Got gassed so much my eyes were still tearing a little, 2 hours later. The other souvenir i got was a gas canister. Its quite retarded to fire one of those directly at people. Someone who found the shell said it was made in Israel. Great.
Trample all over us, why dont u
All in all, an exciting day.
Somehow had beers on three separate occasions that day.
Problem was, many SB (Special Branch) were disguised as protestors (as seen via many photographic evidence), and they were the main trouble-makers, trashing stuff, beating uniformed cops n shit.
D cop on d right sure looks like d protestor on d left
D Bangla cop sure looks like d protestor who's kickin a traffic cop. Real scumbags eh
Awww, cant take your own gas? The macho pig from the first picture is actually a little babyyy. Wail away boy
Checkit - there were even phone jammers to disable our communication. Where are we, Libya??
Crowd this year were younger and older. Also, in wheelchairs, one-legged, blind, makciks, grandpas, etc
The police also beat-up many Press photographers – who were clearly on the job. Dats as ridiculous as riot police beating regular cops coz they were there. They also deleted photos / stole Press cameras.
When the law enforcers regularly break d law, dont expect regular citizens to respect the law. The cops also removed their badge numbers!
If there was a little ‘rioting’, my guess its by the crazy cops, not the cool protestors.
