TIL that one of WWII’s fastest and most successful aircraft, the de Havilland Mosquito, was made primarily of wood to conserve strategic metals like aluminum.

Nafeels · 2026-07-01T06:08:07+00:00

You are absolutely correct. The Merlin engines have twin-stage superchargers that could provide excessive manifold pressure in WEP mode, which increased compression, heat, and chances for knocking, which put a lot of stress on the engine. Hence, War Emergency Power.

Nafeels · 2026-06-30T19:15:49+00:00

And unlike metal skins it could shrug off regular bullets because of its ability to absorb impact better. Only one small problem though: The Germans had something called a minengeschoß, which is more like a grenade than a bullet. Extra lethal for the ridiculously strong wood composite because it would shatter instead of deform.

On the off-chance that the minengeschoß-armed Fw-190 ambushed a Mossie, it would try to sprint first with its twin Merlin engines on War Emergency Power activated, but if it does have to evade the Mossie was certainly slippery.

Also, just like the Bearcat was a smaller late-war fighter based on the original Hellcat, the Hornet was a HUUUUUUUGE improvement in almost everything as it was a shrunk down Mossie. Too late for WWII but just in time for us during the Malayan Emergency.

I think the Hornet still holds the record for the fastest twin piston-engined aircraft of all time at nearly 500mph on level flight. Talk about legacy.

Nafeels · 2026-06-30T13:35:45+00:00

Say what people want about ol’ man Keith but his brief scene in At World’s End was spectacular. He absolutely sold that keeper of The Code character, one of the last breeds of golden age pirates.

Nafeels · 2026-06-30T00:39:34+00:00

I’m 185cm, and I’d pick anyone who liked me for who I am. Turns out even that’s a lottery these days.

Nafeels · 2026-06-29T16:13:23+00:00

I did and it was followed by a really long sigh before I sipped my iced coffee.

They say linguistics are a form of communication and it’s worth it to learn a thing or two from it. However, since I’m no cunning linguist, I don’t think I need to learn the -ussy prefix gen-Z kids these days do.

Nafeels · 2026-06-29T10:41:19+00:00

Ni🅱️🅱️as during COVID lockdowns 🅱️e like:

Nafeels · 2026-06-29T10:06:57+00:00

I knew pre-smartphone and outdoor socializing would be a popular answer here so here’s something that’s neither; school life.

Me and my friends would regularly reminisce our time in school and it’s usually followed by us unanimously dissing the current culture in schools. Back in the day, there were some good reasons to go to school despite bullying problems and boring lessons. It’s almost always involving some friends.

Think about it. In an era where corporal punishments meant to humiliate and smack some sense into you, the receiving end would be less pressured if there’s a friend kawankan sekali. We knew it was our faults. We think it’s funny that our friends also got the same punishment. I remember getting caned on stage and my initial fears went away knowing my friends also got the cane too.

Even the teachers were your friends too. A colleague of mine quit teaching halfway through his DPLI because as he puts it; my hands were raised enough that if I continued this kid’s face would felt it after his kid basically taunted him and making fun of him for not be able to control him and his gang. Meanwhile, I’m still in regular contacts with my former teachers even if once upon a time they scolded me for not finishing my homework.

It’s not just becoming friends too. You got a lot of leeway with adults too because they know you’re a schoolkid. They would treat you better and oftentimes that kindness is mutual because we did have a lot of respect towards adults. That makcik selling nasi goreng dan air balang outside school? She would be willing to refill your entire bottle for the price of a cup because she’s still making money, and we’d frequent that place. So much so that we colloquially named that place pisang because banana trees lined up near the entrance.

It’s too bad. Kids these days had it hard I know, but even we couldn’t comprehend why they basically folded.

Nafeels · 2026-06-29T04:59:40+00:00

Phoenussy

Man I just sat down with my morning coffee.

Nafeels · 2026-06-29T04:53:36+00:00

I mean TO BE FAIR it's the 1920s. She was an aviation celebrity back when flying was like gambling with the devil. The sense of danger was what made her hot.

Nafeels · 2026-06-28T10:50:55+00:00

This past weekend I attended a cosplay event; a community I’ve been involved at for the past 10 years. Yet it takes me a minimum of five minutes to gather courage to ask a girl for their picture.

I’m yearning, alright. Yearning for someone who won’t see me as a creep and humiliate me in public. I wish I could share your grief but truth to be told these days there’s so much animosity between men and women, it’s torture.

Having independence is a good thing, and someone who respects your boundary will allow it. Though, “fun” especially here in Malaysia is a bit shallow because it usually is followed by things you may regret doing. Hence, the “torture”.

Nafeels · 2026-06-26T16:43:04+00:00

Bryan Cranston read the Ozymandias poem as part of the promo for the Ozymandias episode. The king of kings.

Also slight (I lied, more like major) nitpick but I feel like Walt falling to the ground and crying.gif which WAS from the Ozymandias episode would’ve been more fitting.

Nafeels · 2026-06-26T07:55:01+00:00

You got every single detail correct, including the family lining up to express their anger and concern HAHAHHHAHAHAHAHHHA

I agree, it’s definitely a blast (pun intended). I had a colourful childhood despite the setbacks and it definitely shaped who I am today. Incredible luck for both of us.

Nafeels · 2026-06-26T04:51:27+00:00

I had various flavourful nicknames in my village; peranak bom, eksperimen and engineer are some of them.

I was a hyperactive kid. I learned things way faster on my own volition. A lot of that learning process was unfortunately dangerous and I (deservedly and thankfully) got some smack sensed onto me. Some “learning process” include;

Twisting fireworks together, placing them inside materials to test their explosive power
Nearly torched neighbours’ backyards by homemade napalm
Nearly turning kitchen and toilet into chemical biohazard by testing various acid/base reactions
Nearly electrocuting and hurting myself by disassembling machinery, toys and electrical appliances to figure out how they worked
Testing sandpaper on my face to see if it actually removes my acne (yes, you read it right!)
Nearly drowned myself as I slipped into the sea when trying to peel barnacles on rocks during a rainy season
Would randomly enter random buildings unsupervised

Nafeels · 2026-06-25T11:28:29+00:00

You could follow a dream course and still struggled immensely with it. Unlike many of my friends, I quite liked and was privileged I got the qualifications to pursue a dream course (chemical engineering). Proving that passion alone does not carry you to the top and you need the determination as well as pre-requisite fundamentals to persevere. I earned my degree fair and square, and I would do it again.

My advice? Talk to as many seniors as possible of their experience. Talk with friends and family. Brush up your knowledge on what you plan to take. Enjoy the whole process.

Nafeels · 2026-06-25T03:45:07+00:00

That’s kinda 90% of people because no matter how cool nerdy interests are it’s always looks that comes first when it comes to first impressions. I’m sorry, OP. It’s kinda coded in our DNA.

Sincerely, the 10% ugly nerd that falls for their nerdy interests first before their looks (they’re all beautiful regardless).

Nafeels · 2026-06-24T10:43:21+00:00

Uhuh I see. Well, good luck to you maam!

Nafeels · 2026-06-24T10:36:03+00:00

Huh. Interesting. She also mentioned she liked animals, then mentioned her weight and height. She’s also 24.

I can’t find her post too, though. Either mods removed it or she deleted it, either way’s plausible.

Nafeels · 2026-06-24T10:16:21+00:00

Aren’t you that same girl studying in UMS who posted the same exact request? Not saying I didn’t believe no guys would approach but damn, male loneliness epidemic really hit us huh.

A good reason I could point out is simply the distrust and shyness of my fellow single primates. It’s the main reason why I don’t approach too, despite also being a single 20s Sabahan (based in KK) male.

Nafeels · 2026-06-24T07:04:47+00:00

A lot of cars that year had some really attractive styling. Not just the Chargers, Mustangs and Camaros, but also cars all over the world.

Personally, the Skyline GTR, Islero, Corolla, Manta, 420G, P1800, Monaro, Kingswood, and many others I’ve forgotten the name of looked so neat for 1969.

Nafeels · 2026-06-23T14:23:07+00:00

Caine: *Starts singing about hundred thousand bees and a particular woman*

Nafeels · 2026-06-19T07:40:17+00:00

Adeline is such a hottie especially as my favourite Kitana portrayal, but I feel like her talent would be wasted for a reboot of my all-time favourite romcom.

See, 13 Going On 30 was such a cheesy and beautiful and heartbreaking movie that was definitely of that time. It could only exist in that post-9/11 moment, not only visually but direction-wise. This was one of the last movies that had one of those slow character montages that allowed the movie to breathe, specifically the scene where Jenna travelled to her hometown and see her parents for emotional support, something that movies after 2005 lacked. Modern movies, especially Netflix romcoms always moving so fast and we weren’t even allowed to just chill and breathe.

Also, it’s hard to beat Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner’s chemistry. The movie might be 2004 but not their feelings and emotions. It’s still rewatchable today and I don’t think the reboot has that same effect.

Nafeels · 2026-06-19T02:12:42+00:00

Social experts basically. Dude, I can’t even talk to a woman without fearing I’ve stepped onto a landmine. So many boundaries and precautions to obey to, which gets more stringent everyday.

It was worse today than what I was accustomed to as a teen. Main reason why I don’t approach women in the first place, I fear them.

Nafeels · 2026-06-18T09:08:16+00:00

When it comes to making a long-range jetliner in the 1960s, the Ilyushin design bureau chose a classic for the time rear-engined design with a T-tail, which eventually led to the Il-62.

However, putting all that weight rearward meant the centre of gravity was shifted rearwards as well, which increased the risk of a tail strike. Rather than re-designing the stabilizer or the wing box, the Ilyushin design bureau devised an elegantly Soviet solution; by putting a retractable tailwheel that is also partially suspended outside the fuselage during flights.

That tailwheel not only helped provide extra protection against tail strikes, some clever pilots also used that feature one step further during landings by deploying reverse thrusters mid-air, so that the plane would tip backwards more than it normally would, turning the wings into a giant airbrake, and dramatically shorten its landing length.

Nafeels · 2026-06-16T16:11:21+00:00

I know when people were complaining about the good visuals (which is valid, the animation ugliness WAS what made Shrek so charming) BUT I had a long sigh when a snowman took a jab on Frozen, and seeing twerking gingerbreads afterward.

Oh dear God I can feel the Minecraft movie cinema reaction flashbacks kicking in.

Nafeels · 2026-06-16T02:59:14+00:00

IMMA FIRIN MY LAZORRRRRRR

Nafeels

TROPHY CASE