HTNet - A Notepad of Tech, Business, Science and Self Improvement

Warning to Windows users (especially those using IE), do not click the links in the second paragraph, especially if you don’t have up to date anti-virus software installed. You have been warned.

It seems that the New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad’s AdTimes archive hosting server is having a virus problem. Almost every article linked from this page is infected with the HTML.Redlof.A virus.

I was made aware of this issue through this post by Lainie. Hopefully, with more coverage on this issue, NST will take actions to clean up their archives. I would love to email the guys at NST about this issue, but unfortunately, their contact page doesn’t have an email address listed, and I couldn’t be arsed to call long distance

Update: I emailed Ms Brenda Marshall, the Senior Manager of Advertising (if I’m not mistaken) via an email address from the contacts page found here. This was at 9:30 am (a few minutes after this post).

I’m using a prepaid mobile service myself, and frankly, I don’t find this issue of “compulsory registration“ to be troublesome at all. Heck, most operators have some sort of “club” available for users of their prepaid service, and many people register for the perks or just for being part of some “community”. Being a member of the Hotlink Club, I know for a fact that my personal details are already known to my operator.

However, what I find disturbing is the main reason why the Malaysian government is suddenly very keen on prepaid mobile service user registration. While the “official” reason given is for “security”; ie. to avoid prepaid lines to be used as anonymous bomb triggers… many Malaysians know that the probable “real” reason is to stop, or more likely, reduce the number of SMS “rumour-mongering“ that is becoming more popular in Malaysian politics. Understandable choice of action, ulterior motives.

However, what I do like about this move by the government, is that it could probably stem the usage of prepaid service by loan sharks, or more lovingly known as Ah Longs by the Malaysian public. The Ah Longs are known to operate using multiple mobile phone lines (and virtually all are prepaid lines) and using different pseudonyms which they publicise using “name cards” that their “promoters” place in our mailboxes or stick between our car’s windshield and wipers. I guess now we can really know whether Jacky, Ah Leong, Mr. Wong, Alfred and Kok Chen are really the same guy

It seems that this issue is so big, that even the BBC is covering it as well

Every fsckin’ year, them stupid Indons keep doing the same shit: clearing forests by burning them. Consequentially, the whole region is enveloped by thick haze, but this year’s haze is the worse ever. You can read more Malaysian haze related news from Google News.

I hate to over-generalise, but it’s hard to see it any other way… most Indonesians are idiots (especially their government, no, strike that… Indonesians voted them morons into power, so yeah… most Indonesians are fsckin’ idiots). It’s fine and dandy if you want to burn your fskin’ forests to make way for whatever “development” (congratulations on graduating on to farming… we had a good time with that since a few hundred years ago), but for God’s sake, can’t you keep it under control? If you can’t manage things as simple as this, how the hell are you ever going to be a civilised society (not that there’s any chance of it happening in this millenium anyway).

If I sound bigoted, let me just clarify that I’m merely pissed by the irresponsible attitude of the Indonesians with regards to the cause of this haze. I don’t really have any problems with Indonesians in general… heck, my maid is Indonesian. Just as moronic as the Indonesians are Malaysians who are also contributing to the haze by committing open burning. Heck, I’ve seen a lot of these idiots when I as travelling up to Kedah a few months ago.

It seems that the haze has suddenly became a hot blogging topic by Malaysians. Well, it’s unsuprising… that’s the very nature of the blogosphere. And almost every haze related blog posting I’ve seen links to Haze Haters in KL, so I will too… by the way, us Johoreans hate the fsckin’ haze too… thankfully we’re not as severely affected as you KL and Klang Valley people.

It is truly a sad day when a good samaritan is tragically killed when he’s trying to help others. 19 year old Mohd Noor Afifi Mohamad Rosli was spending his third semester break at his parents’ house in Kampung Paya Jeras Hilir. He was also doing his practical training and was due to return to College Negri in Seremban this week. Here’s an excerpt from a The Star article highlighting the incident:

Yesterday, the 19-year-old automotive diploma student went to the aid of an accident victim trapped in a car but his humanitarian deed was dealt a tragic blow when another car rammed into him and two others.

Mohd Noor Afifi and wireman Koo Tian Foo, 24, were killed in a horrific incident in Jalan Sungai Buloh that wrecked four cars and also had one victim in a coma.

My deepest condolences go to the families and friends of Mohd Noor Afifi and others who perished or are receiving treatment for their injuries. It is unfortunate that a life of a hero ends in such tragic circumstances.

It seems that there has been updates to the PageRank calculations. First and foremost, I noticed that HTNet itself now has a PR of 5… Yay! I then checked some of the other blogs I frequently visit, and made some interesting discoveries.

• • Suanie’s blog:
  • Previous PR: 3. Current PR: 4
• • LcF’s Tech Gadgets Blog:
  • Previous PR: 4. Current PR: 5
• • The Hustler Diaries:
  • Previous PR: 4. Current PR: 5
• • Blogs for Firefox:
  • Previous PR: 4. Current PR: 6
• • TVSMITH’s Dua Sen:
  • Previous PR: 4. Current PR: 5
• • Yasmin The Storyteller:
  • Previous PR: 4. Current PR: 5

Congratulations to all the above bloggers on your PR achievements.