Jumping yellow and black

In case you ever want to jump rope in style, here is a yellow and black skipping rope. They had dumbbells too but I think I'll save that for another time. Guesstimate pricing RM20.

Reebok balls

I thought my yellow and black nike basketball would be the only yellow and black basketball I'd ever see but here is one from Reebok. Don't know the price but it would be the same as most other basketballs - RM40.

Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar

This is a short (192 pages) but interesting book about how we view, interpret, and strive for happiness. It tells us that happiness is the ultimate currency. We search for money, because we think money can buy us happiness. Sometimes our search for money is at the expense of the very thing we want money to buy - happiness. But in reality, the happiness level of rich and middle-class and poor people are roughly the same - with the exception of people in extreme poverty. We adapt to our situation and find happiness regardless of how much money we have. So it's misguided to strive for a good career and wealth just for the sake of money - because money.... can't buy ... everlasting happiness. It buys happiness that is fleeting. It lasts as long as your money does. Read this book!

Faster by James Gleick

It's been a week since my last update. This just shows that I am NOT obsessed with updating this blog with yellow and black things. I also don't read books just because they are yellow and black. They just happen to have yellow and black covers. This one I read several years ago. It's about how in the modern times, things seem to happen faster. We have so many modern conveniences. We have cars that shorten the time taken to travel from one place to another. But paradoxically, the faster we do things, the less time we have to do them. Compare how much leisure time people 100 years ago had versus how much leisure time we have? What use are our time saving devices, if we only use the time we save to do more work? Sure we are productive but are we happy. As books usually do, this one costs about RM60 - GBP8.99. Bought it from MPH in Midvalley.

Unflyable bat

I tried to fly this bat last year but was unsuccessful. This kite cost RM5 from the dollar store. The string cost another RM5.

Towels

Fresh towels are soft and luxurious. I used to pull my warm towels out of the dryer and just sink into them on cold days. This is a pair of hand towels from Ikea RM12.90 each. I bought the yellow one for Sunbeam.

Ikea colour coordinates

The yellow and black combination is a real winner. You see it practically anywhere. These are Ikea pillows and tables. Not sure how much - probably RM9.90 for the pillows and RM199 for the side table.

Double scoops

Ice cream scoops, from Ikea - RM12.90. You won't find these in the catalog.

Viking breast cups

A trip to ikea always delivers great yellow and black things. So much so that it deserves its own category. Observe these viking breast cups also known as funnels for RM4.90.

Skater shoes

Just to round off today's collection, a pair of skater shoes from Vans. I'm not a skater myself. There were lots more yellow and black shoes in the store and even more online. I should have done better to get the model number and price. But I'm feeling a sense of Will I ever stop searching for yellow and black things. To be honest, I don't actually LOOK for yellow and black things. They just happen to be there. But the feeling is that I don't want to be defined by this obsession.

So, I'm opening up the site for guest contributors. But I'm not going to just let people contribute without some moderation. So if you can send me 5 yellow and black items which gets posted on the site, I'll create an account for you. It's not a job offer. People with jobs get paid. If you think a website about yellow and black things is worthwhile, contribute.

Nike basketball shoes

Nike never used to have yellow and black shoes until recently. I saw a couple basketball shoes. They would look great with my yellow and black basketball. Nike shoes are expensive - about RM300-RM600 a pair.

Puma

Every manufacturer has a yellow and black offering. Here is one by PUMA. Not sure about the price - I'd estimate RM200.

Themed Tuesday

Cataloging yellow and black things can be too easy. Yesterday I walked into a sporting goods store and found many many pairs of yellow and black shoes. So just for this Tuesday, I will post a collection of yellow and black shoes. I wish I can value add and give you the model name and price but I'm too lazy. I know this one is made by Adidas. It's quite an old model because its no longer on the Adidas website. Plus its on sale for about RM150.

Will I look cool in these?

Your eyes do not deceive you. Not all yellow and black things are beautiful or cool. This one, in my opinion definitely isn't. It's hard to quantity what makes something cool and another thing not. Perhaps it was the price - RM2 for a pair of sunglasses. But without focusing on the cost of things too much, I should say that there is a limit on how yellow and black things should be.

Flower bookmark

I can find yellow and black things anywhere. This is a bookmark I found at a dollar store. Yes, the bookmark costs RM1. I bought it because I read books but never finish them. So I need a bookmark to tell me where I am in case I do decide to finish them.

I used to be a baller

I used to shoot hoops in college. I wasn't great but I played hard. So I saw this basketball in Manila which is big on basketball. It cost PHP500 (RM35). It came home with me - but I've never used it.

Not an expensive obsession

Collecting yellow and black things is not a expensive hobby. There are lots of cheap yellow and black things around. For example I got a pair of these sandwich boxes for RM1 each at Carrefour. I think they were on sale. Usual price RM4. They fit 2 thing sandwiches, or 1 thick one.

Lego giga thumbs

When I was shopping for a thumbdrive I saw this and I knew it would be mine. It's made by Kingston and it happened that the size I was looking for (1 GB) was in yellow. It cost RM70 when I got it early this year. The price has now come down to RM40 and it will probably keep dropping. But you might not be able to get it after its phased out. The cover comes off revealing the USB plug and snaps back to the bottom in lego-like fashion. You could even stack a few of these together.

Bean bag extreme

I'm a fan of bean bags. Its a good thing my cousin saw this bean bag first, or else I'd be the one to own it. She said, they went to a closing out sale of a 'concept' furniture store and got the huge bag really cheap - RM60. But they eventually spent over RM200 on the beans. I'd still buy it. It can fold into a sofa or a mattress and its yellow and black and its full of polystyrene beans. Too bad the store closed down.

Fish anyone?

I don't scuba dive but if I did it would be using these yellow and black mask and flippers. Actually I've snorkeled a few times but Cressi stuff is really expensive. I'm guessing RM300 for a simple snorkel mask and tube. Another RM200 for the flippers.

I'm not grasping

So I left the least interesting item last. I have no more yellow and black items except for a few things in the office. But I will be taking more photos of things and posting them here. This petrol pedal came as a three piece set. Unfortunately Sunbeam is an automatic car and the brake pedal came off. That's why I only have the petrol pedal attached. Having the brake pedal coming off is not good so I decided not to reattach it to the car. The set cost RM15 and I've been using it ever since I got the car.

This is why I'm not hot

It gets hot in Malaysia. Especially if you leave the air-conditioned comfort of your car. Which is why I carry this portable battery-operated fan available at the local Pasar Malam (night market) for RM8. It has a cute little creature playing badminton on it and accept 2 AA batteries. The fan blades are made of soft plastic, so there is little risk of serious injury if you happen to touch it while its moving. However I wouldn't jam it into my eye if I were you. Its avery handy. Unfortunately I always forget to take it out of the car, thus negating any usefulness of the device.

It sticks to your dashboard

One of the first yellow things I put in my car is this sticky mat, designed to keep stuff stuck on your dashboard as Sunbeam takes corners at high speeds. I found a roll of it at the local ACE Hardware for about RM20.

Yet another mini cooper

This car actually got me in trouble with my girlfriend. Along with a RM2,000 server which is black, but not yellow... yet. Having one RC Mini Cooper might be fun but two is bordering on a collection. Especially considering I don't have the batteries to run both of them at once. I was attracted by the level of detail in this RC car. It's marketed as a high-end cheapo RC car by Audley. There are other very detailed models such as the Subaru and Mitsubishi Evolution. Of course there is one car and one color combination that catches my eye. Cost? RM69.90 at most major department stores and toy stores.

Yellow and black for a rainy day

Every car needs an umbrella. Some like to match their umbrella to their car. I do. I had a nicer one from the Dummies Guide book series but the handle broke. I replaced it with this little umbrella which fits one comfortably and two in a pinch. It cost only RM5 from Jukebox, Malaysia.

Rollbag

This is an original Sëmk Fruit Rollbag designed to fit a roll of toilet paper which is dispensed through the opening at the top. A zipper at the bottom allows insertion of the toilet paper roll which must have its center cardboard roll removed as the toilet paper is released from the inside out. I got this at Metrojaya Mid Valley on sale along with the Bolster at 50% off. I paid about RM15 for it.

Another mini cooper

One of the things I regret was buying myself a Christmas present. It was a stupid thing to do because who gives themselves Christmas presents? And which 30 year old guy plays with toys? (The answer to both questions is all of us.)

This diecast-metal body Mini Cooper has working lights and takes 6 AA batteries. The remote takes another 3 AA batteries. It's heavy and moves rather slowly. Not something that could race on dirt tracks. It cost about RM130. Sigh.

Namaste (I bow to you)

After practicing yoga for a year, my regular blue mat was getting a little worn. So for my birthday, my girlfriend (yes I have one) bought me a yellow and black Nike yoga mat. This is terrific! Amazing! Incredible! Now I can affirm my obsession with yellow and black things while I downward-dog my way to nirvana. Does that sound a little perverted? Nike yoga mats in yellow and black are available in Nike stores for RM79.90. A note however, the yellow isn't a bright yellow. It's more of a pale yellow which may offend some yellow and black purists, but I say - its a friggin' yellow and black yoga mat.

I need a vanilla hug

Most people have seen the great yellow and black icon - the have a nice day smiley face. This one has arms, and feet and an outstretched tongue and reeks of vanilla. I would've preferred lemon but yellow and black collectors can't be too picky. This too was a gift and you can get 3 for RM10 from any Watson's pharmacy.

Little sunbeam

Sunbeam has a little baby 1:32 scale model made from diecast metal. The doors open and there's a mounting platform. Malaysia has come a long way if children can by models of Malaysian made cars in the toy store. This was a gift by the way. Although I might seem insane, I'm not so crazy as to buy things just because they are yellow and black. I might WANT them very much but I wouldn't buy them. If they were gifts, I'd accept them of course. This one costs RM19.90 in the toy store.

Original big brother

This is the big brother to the original yellow and black garbage bin which started me on my journey of collecting yellow and black things. My mom got this recently at the local Carrefour for RM14.90.

Luxurious car accessories

One evening, while waiting for a movie at the cinema, I happened across several Sëmk items on sale at 50% off. I think I got this at RM25. It's a soft fleece like material around with vinyl lemon print on the sides.

Thanks but....

Once people know you have an insane obsession with yellow and black things they start to make their gifts yellow and black as well. This is all well and good except I don't really use toothpicks all that much. Nevertheless, I have a toothpick dispenser. Just lift the yellow part over the smiling man and a toothpick will appear in his hands when the box comes down. It's sold in novelty shops for RM15.

I like the smell of lemon

A lot of the yellow and black things I collect actually find their place in Sunbeam - my yellow and black car. Particularly lemon scented air freshners. This one is by Tokyo 828. You can get it for sale 3 pieces for RM10.

The original yellow and black

This little rubbish bin was the first yellow and black thing I ever owned. It goes back to the year 1992 when I left home to study for 1 year at Sunway College in Subang Jaya. I was going to stay at the dormitories and I needed a rubbish bin to put bits of trash from my room. It has survived with me for 15 years, although it spent most of that time unused. I still use it to this day. I think in 1992 it probably cost RM9.90.

I made this one of a kind

Have you ever seen a yellow and black phone? Some people think it would be ugly. Yes in fact the first time I started using my new yellow and black phone I was afraid to show it to others. Not because it was yellow and black but because the workmanship on the coloring was terrible. I spent several hours spraying and waiting for paint to dry. I did this over a few months but the result wasn't what I expected. Still its a good first try and the phone IS yellow and black. The phone is a Sony Ericsson k610i which retails for about RM1,300. The paint and other stuff would add about RM50 of materials.

Environmentally friendly mode of transport

This is an electric bicycle. It's used to police the offices where I work at Plaza Damas. It has zero emissions, a lead acid battery and a motor. Did you know that cycling is the most energy efficient mode of transport known? The 508 calories burned during an hour of cycling could take you around 22 kilometers (14 miles) based on moderate effort [source]. What does an electrical bike cost? I am guessing RM2,000.

Bedding at IKEA

Sorry for the blurriness of the photo. I don't keep cats but if I did I would put her in this cat bed found at IKEA Damansara. Check out the yellow eyes. Forgot the price but being IKEA I am guessing it would be around RM80.

Update: Just checked at Ikea - they are closer to RM300.

Bargain sandals

The same place i got the yellow and black sling pouch featured earlier, I found these sandals at a bargain price of RM8. Without a second thought I bought them. If you go to Tearproof in MidValley City you might be able to get one too.

The sandals that got away

I saw these sandals in a market place in Bangkok. It has spikes all around the sides. I really liked it but I wondered if I dared to wear such a thing. So I didn't buy it. Thinking back, I should have got it. If I see it again I will. Its only THB200 ~ RM20.

Timberland rain jacket

Here I am wearing a Timberland jacket surrounded by 2 Danish beauties. I bought the jacket in Montreal in 1998. It cost about CAD200 ~ RM600. Not sure why I bought it - I had just handed in my BSc Honours thesis and taking a backpack trip around Canada. Maybe it was a graduation present?

This picture was taken in 2001 on my backpacking trip around Europe. I was out there for about 3 weeks. It was quite cold in Denmark in October the rain jacket helped but not much. Its a beautiful jacket with a front zipper pouch for your valuables. Its a slip on which makes it hard to take off and over the years its lost its rain repelling qualities. I still have it in my closet.

Dancing on the Vatican steps

A lot of signs are in yellow and black. This one was kind of interesting given the context of where it was taken - in the Vatican. The person, seems to be dancing - techno-style - on the steps of the Vatican. Careful. You might fall.

It's not a fanny pack

Tired of using the much misaligned fanny pack I opted for a sling pack for my traveling needs. It can be used to store passports, wallets, phones, loose change, mints, boarding passes. It can't be pulled off the body by snatch thieves unless they wield a knife to cut the shoulder straps. It has to be pulled over the arm and head to be released. The drawback is that I tend to keep checking to see if my stuff is still inside. Its traveled with me to 3 destinations so far Bangkok, Lumut and Bali. Price RM29.90.

Overpriced water bottle

Here is a sheet of plastic molded by Adidas into a yellow and black drinking bottle. It was a gift from my brother to my nephews. I wish I had one. Approximate price RM40. Other sporting goods company make these water bottles too. I will try to add those to my collection... in time.

Bear from the past

It's a yellow and black teddy bear. What deranged child would want such a cute teddy bear if only to satisfy his crazy obsession with yellow and black things. Approximate price RM40.

mmmmm yellow and black gaming console

I love watching the Simpsons. The Simpsons Movie was the best movie I watched in 2007. So here is a VERY LIMITED edition (100 units) Simpsons Movie branded XBox 360. Unfortunately this magical piece of technology is not for sale - except on ebay. It sold for USD4,050.11 ~ RM14,000. Oh... I would likely have a 7-day continuous orgasm be very happy if this magically appeared at my doorstep in mint condition. Of course I would never play it.

The object of my desire

The similarity between the Mini Cooper and Sunbeam was why I bought Sunbeam. I wasn't and still am not able to afford a Mini Cooper no matter how much I want it. No matter I went to the Mini site and spec'ed a Mini Cooper D (D stands for Diesel) for GBP22,000. Thats equal to RM154,000. That's not too bad except for a 150% tax on imported vehicles in Malaysia which would make that Mini worth RM380,000. But it gets 60 mpg!

Sunbeam

The first thing that started me on the road to collecting yellow and black things is the most expensive yellow and black item I own but its not the oldest. Its my car which I have named Sunbeam. Sunbeam and I met on May 3, 2003. We've been together 4 and a half years? That's quite a long time to be collecting yellow and black things. When new, Sunbeam cost RM40,000. For the record Sunbeam is a Perodua Kelisa Limited Edition, a car only sold in Malaysia, Singapore and parts of the UK. It's a close copy of the Daihatsu Cuore. If you play Grand Turismo, buy it and drive it. That's what Sunbeam is.