2008

Maybe things will turn out for the better this year. I still don't see any flying cars though :(.

Happy 2008 everyone!

Batch Download Scripts

Here's a pair of scripts I keep for batch downloading. The first is to download a list of stuff that is passed to it, called grab.sh:

#!/bin/bash

while read i; do wget -c --tries=0 $i; done

The next script called downloadlist.sh calls the first and sends an email when done:

#!/bin/bash

cat $1 | grab.sh
echo "Your downloads are done" | mail -s "Download notifier" myname@myemail.com

Just invoke it by passing it a file that contains a list of URLs to download, like so:

$ ./downloadlist.sh listofurls


It's brain-dead simple, but since I'm lousy at remembering stuff I am writing it here for my own reference.

Going Home From KL

Though this wasn't a pleasure trip, I did get to wander around KL for a bit. I am now waiting for the bus home amidst poisonous exhaust fumes.

In KL

I have arrived! A long day of walking awaits.

On The Road To Kuala Lumpur Part 4

The bus has crossed the KL city limits. I can see urban landscapes out the window. It shouldn't be long now till we get to the bus station.

On The Road To Kuala Lumpur Part 3

I am near Tanjung Malim in Perak. There are oil palm plantations all around. I can see huge raptors overhead. It's a pity I can't get a clear shot of them from inside the bus.

On The Road To Kuala Lumpur Part 2

We're going through mountains and clouds now, with trees on either side. Swallows dart overhead, catching insects for breakfast. I am surprised I still get internet access here.

On The Road To Kuala Lumpur Part 1

I'm on the bus to Kuala Lumpur again. I'm going there for some business which will hopefully be short, so I can enjoy the rest of the trip. I am typing this out on my cellphone and posting via GPRS. Thanks to modern tech I can fill the web with pointlessness even on the go.

Peter Jackson Will Be Executive Producer For Hobbit Movies

I think everyone knows this by now. The news hit the wire yesterday that Peter Jackson is set to be the executive producer for the Hobbit movie, and an unnecessary sequel to it that takes place before LOTR. No word yet on who will direct it though. Peter Jackson said he was "too busy" to direct it, so we'll see what happens.

Farewell Little Kitties

I don't think Minnie and Mungo are ever coming back. I fear they may also be deceased. The cats in our neighbourhood are disappearing one by one.

Farewell, Minnie and Mungo, wherever you are. Farewell, Riffraff. I'll miss you all.

Farewell My Little Friend

I found my little grey tabby cat dead in the drain today. It was heartbreaking to see him like that.

When he and his sisters were just little stray kittens outside my house, they would hide from me all the time. The little grey one was the one who was most adventurous, and thus he was the first to become close to us.

He used to wait for me to come home from work every day and then nuzzle my feet or hop onto the sofa and asked to be pet. I'm really going to miss him. The above picture was taken on the last day I saw him alive.

His name was Riffraff. He was a sweet, friendly and loyal little cat. I'll never forget him.

His sisters (Minnie and Mungo) are now missing. I fear they may be dead too.