Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Copy protected audio CDs...bleh...

I finally can use Internet, just great! My roommate forgets to pay the net fee because she going home being rushing celebrating Chinese New Year, I had two weeks can not get on the Internet wholly at home...
I have something to share...Ok, as a software developer I have a lot of respect for people that want to get paid for their work. That is completely understandable. But when I purchase( I say again PURCHASE ) an audio CD and pay full freaking' price in Chinese new year holiday at a mall, I would like to be able to at least put that on any device I have that plays music. I don't sell CDs, don't normally trade CDs, and don't open up my mp3s for file sharing.
I bought the Charlie Wilson CD a while back but finally got around to ripping it. It is copy protected and launched its own player when I inserted it into my CD Rom. In addition, the utility that came with it only rips to wma format and even that requires a license to play (i.e. you can put it on an mp3 player or use it on a CD with a collection of songs). Now, if this stuff did everything it was supposed to and still let me use legally purchased music for my own benefit, I would have no complaints.
To get around the copy protection, I had to set my CD Rom so that it would not auto play. After that I launched Music Match and ripped them directly to mp3. I had to do the same with John Legend. The copy protection doesn't work and only gives headaches to those that legally purchased the music. If I had downloaded from a file sharing network like Grokster, it would have been free and I wouldn't have had to jump through hoops.
One other way (I have read) to get around the copy protection is to use the utility on the discs to rip to your hard drive in WMA format. Then use Windows Media Player to download the licenses and burn a CD. You can then rip your burned CD back to your hard drive as mp3s. What a pain...
It looks like Music Match version 8.0 or higher (basic free version) will enable you to rip a protected CD. Actually, Music Match is a pretty good program for both playing and ripping.

posted by Bear Bear World @ 9:22 PM 0 comments

Britney Spears Shaved hair in Feb 16,2007

Britney Spears bald? That’s right. In a fit of anxiety, Britney Spears has shaved her own head completely bald. Will this start a new trend of teenage girls shaving their head? This is totally out of character. I felt Britney Spears did the stupidest thing. maby the sad and pathethic Britney was so helpless and was said to have suffered from amphetamine psychosis. After so much fuss about her break with Kevin Federline, her crazy antics with Paris Hilton, her “Britney Crotch Shot” controversy, Britney again did the stupidest thing. She’s totally out of control. Everybody is beginning to think that she’s a dumbest loser, definitely she will not be our kids’ icon anymore. While at it, Britney also gets herself a tattoo. Unlike the other shenanigans, this incident really scares me. It makes me wonder if this girl is going to hurt herself one of these days. Hollywood, be on your guard. Will it be another U-Nee, Xu Wei Lun or even Anna Nicole Smith story that we are going to have next?

posted by Bear Bear World @ 8:59 PM 0 comments

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Do you agree extending the retirement age?

Tuesday, 06-February-2007, Prime Minister Abdullah pointed out the government will study extending the retirement age of civil servants to 60 years old at the annual dinner of the Association of Administrative and Diplomatic Service (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/6/nation/16795622&sec=nation). He felt that 40 used to be the age of maturity but now people were at the prime of their life when they were in their 50s. And also he said that civil servants who reached the age of 56 would possess a wealth of experience, and they could still contribute to the government.

I think that Malaysian national constitution and administration system are always base on UK as chief source during 50 years became independent. Much legislation now ought to be based on current national conditions but revise or adjust.

Now national education is already popularizes, healthy consciousness of the people have more strengths gradually, also the corresponding factor has rise such as society economy and per capita life-span.

Along with the sustained development of Malaysia, ultimately, extending retirement age must put in practice. The government will consider canceling the retirement age compellingly, allow the employees to work until they consider retiring.

However, the more important thing is when the government decides to extend retirement age, also ought to reinforce to manage the efficiency and quality of human resources further, may ensure that the plan of extending retirement age and will not derive some negative consequence.

posted by Bear Bear World @ 7:48 AM 0 comments

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Deepest condolences for Beatrice Xu

Taiwan entertainment star Beatrice Xu （Xu Wei Lun）and her assistant was involved in a serious car accident last week Friday night, their car crashed onto the highway safety barrier and was knocked by a truck behind them. According to reports she is in coma deeply, and in critical condition because of internal bleeding in her skull. Her assistant was also injured but not critical. She was confirmed to have passed away at 19:37pm last Sunday (Jan 28) after emergency rescue for almost 2 days. Tuesday her parents and friends went send back to Taipei for the funeral process.


I was so shocked and sad when I heard the news from my friends…TOTALLY UNBELIEVABLE!!! I saw this news on cable TV, newspaper and Internet. The accident of the famous star becomes “hot news” pursued by the media in Asia entertainment circle this week.
Heartbreaking, she is so beautiful and young; I felt she is a talented actress when first I saw her on TV she gave me a special feeling that I get attracted by her. Although she is gone but through her success of bringing entertainment to all the people I know everyone will remember her, no matter how long it is and rest in peace…life is really so unpredictable still a shock to me, she is becoming hot like cake, the next moment she is gone… Life is short. Hope her will find peace in heaven. RIP...

posted by Bear Bear World @ 7:40 AM 0 comments

In Loving Memories of Beatrice Xu

Xu Wei Lun Profile
Name: Xu Wei Lun (Hsu Wei Lun, Hui Wei Lun, Beatrice Xu)
Nickname: Lun Lun 伦伦
Chinese name: 许玮伦 (許瑋倫)
Birthdate: November 13, 1978
Birth place: Taipei, Taiwan
Height: 168 cm
Blood Type: A
Family: Parents and a younger brother
Education: Tamkang University, Taiwan (French Study)
Spoken Languages: Mandarin, English, French and 台語
Profession: Actress and model
Favorite Color: Black and white
Favorite Fruit: Blackberries
Favorite Music: Classical, Jazz and R&B
Favorite Actress: Julia Roberts
Favorite Singer: Mariah Carey


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUzlpCL03ks

posted by Bear Bear World @ 7:14 AM 0 comments