Reading is Good (Mar 09)

Read 3 novels and 42 comic books since previous review.

Not going to write about the Dragon Balls comic, just going to say it's wicked! =)

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First novel was ruthless.com by Tom Clancy and Martin Greenberg. It's one of the novels from Tom Clancy's Power Plays series.


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The story is about the dark side of business, where the competitor of Roger Gordian went with whatever it takes to bring down Gordian's company, and more. Including but not limited to, corporate takeover, pirate operation, smuggle, kidnap, murder, et cetera.

The story involves high tech communication and sophisticated encryption system. The flow is gripping, the pace fast and often violent.

It's an action-filled novel and there's icing on the cake in the form of Chinese dialect and Malay language since Malaysia and Singapore are among the few countries involved in the storyline.

The authors did their homework well enough, while not getting everything correct, they did fairly well when they tried to include conversations in Chinese dialect and Malay, words like mata puteh, rotan, ah beng, and even the Malaysian/Singaporean beloved lah can be seen in the novel, plus some other.

Tom Clancy delivered another great read.

Quotes from the novel:

"sometimes it's a matter of recognizing when you've gotten a genuine inspiration"

"power itself is never to be feared. Its uses are determined by the hands into which it falls. With passion and intelligence anything is truly possible."

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The second book is only 230 pages long, but it took me forever just to struggle through it.

The Hours by Michael Cunnigham is simply not my cup of tea, being adopted into a movie or what not.


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I finished the novel through sheer stubbornness, my perseverance was sorely tested, I assure you. Took me quite long to finish the book since I could only take so much of it everytime.

The story, what I could understand of it anyway, was of three stories of three women in three different time, throw in AIDS, homosexuality (both lesbian and gay), insanity, suicide, and just mash them together whichever way you like, the results would be the novel.

Definately not a pleasure read for me. I felt like pulling my hair out (what's left of it anyway) and go crazy if I read the novel for too long.

Maybe some artsy-fartsy people would like this book, and maybe Nelson/Nancy too since it has homosexuality, but for me, it's just...

*Urk!*

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I flew through the 468 pages of the third novel though, it was a blast!

The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is about a psycho killer, the Night Walker, who walked the corridor of hospitals to commit murder by giving the wrong and lethal medication to the patients, and watched them die.


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The storyline was fantastic, one plot after another, pacing so well and written in that short chapter style that I love. It's simply a page turner.

I will probably be scared if I ever had to be hospitalised, thanks to the novel.

A fantastic read!

Quotes from the novel:

"You make peace with the fact that love doesn't conquer all, or that life can be unfair... And somehow you move on. You move on."

Dreaming in the Dark

Heads up: Canon Penang is having a warehouse sales today and tomorrow, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Since they are not giving me any freebies or give me special discount for their products, that's all I am going to advertise for them. =P

I went there today to check out the price of my dream camera, Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

Didn't get to see the real camera, not even photo of the camera, only a listing in the price list. Shame on you Canon Penang, for not displaying any camera better than EOS 50D at your region office, go stand at the corner facing the wall!

I didn't hear from any generous soul since my request for sponsor September last year. My birthday came and gone without a surprise gift. Santa didn't show up last Christmas with my camera either despite me being a good person all my life, I think the lack of chimney at where I stay might have been the problem.

So, the camera will remain a dream for me, especially since it has a dreamy price tag of RM8607 body only, that's cash sales price by the way, credit card purchase incurred another 2%. The 24-105 lens kit version costs slightly shy of RM12.2k, cash sales.

So... Any sponsor? =P



(and then there is silence)



*Sigh...*

Guess I have to watch the How to Rob a Bank movie tonight in the dark while I observed the Earth Hour.

Anyone want in?

Turning off the lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time that is, not robbing the bank.

Oh Man!

Does our career have anything to do with what we like to do when we are young?

Say, when we are really, really young?

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.

.

.

.

baby at work, do not disturb!

I hope not.

"Baby, how old are you?"

"wan" *showing his index finger*

why use one screwdriver when you can use TWO?

"Boy ah boy, engineer earns kacang puteh one . You want to be poor like papa meh?"

"Oh man!"

Yea, His Royal Highness King Baby Hsiang has learned a new phrase and uses it whenever he has the chance.

"Oh man!"

...

We are Deadly... Sweet!

There will be a series of games starting pretty soon, a mini Olympic for my department.

I am heavily involved in the planning and executing of this mini Olympic, for I am a true believer of making the work place a fun place so going to work is not such a drag.

It's fair to say that I am pulling my fair share of weight (and more) in this mini Olympic with the help of a scant few committee members (whom I truely appreciate), most of the others are just committee in name. Mr Chairperson is... oh well, he is Mr Chairperson.

Trust me, that's explanation enough. =P

With the help of those handful of colleagues, all three of them, we are going to make this happen.

Since this is not meant to be a rant, let's not talk about those who only complain and provide no constructive suggestion, those not only do not appreciate what the committee is doing for the better of the department, but think it's a nuisance to their oh-so-happening-work-life, and those who simply do not give a damn and make you wish you haven't put in the time and effort.

Yea, let's not talk about those.

Let's talk instead of my team name! =)

There are eight teams in total and the captains go round robin picking their members. It's a department wide event so everyone is involved, even the committees (real or in name). I was picked by Captain Lee, or more affectionately known as Captain Thing Thing, during team formation.

Basically, I am in a team with my closest colleagues, my lunch buddies, my friends. The good is that we probably will work like a team seamlessly. The bad is, the committee in me is protesting that we should really encourage mixing of the colleagues and not stay within our comfort zone.

Well, shut up committee in me! =P

It's not for me to decide anyway, the captains did the selection.

Okay okay, team name. If I got my way, we would be called...

Task Force, with the team slogan being "may the force be with you!", or

Tee Bee Dee, TBD = to be determine, or

Ten plus One, since my team is unique in having ten members, one of us being a pregnant lady, hence the 'plus one'

But since I am hired as a Meeting Engineer and was stuck in another meeting the first half of my first team meeting, the team name was already voted on before I got any say.

So, behold the team name that will strike fear and leave you with awe!

*drum roll*

.

.

.

Big Donut!

Erm... yea... like, er... we are the chocolate coated version with sugar on top and just thinking about the calories will strike you with fear, and er... a big donut is just like, erm... awesome.

Our strategy is to try to win while you roll on the floor laughing, something like that. =P

So, fear the Big Donut!



For some reason Homer Simpson and his "D'OH!" came to mind whenever I think of donuts...

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Name and Shame

Warning: if you are allergic to brainless behaviour, stop reading now. Consider yourself warned and proceed at your own risk of possible stupidity infection.

No, really.

After an early meeting from home I was about to head to the office, mom needed a ride to a nearby hospital for her check-up, no problemo.

The problemo, was to get out of the parking lot.

No thanks to an inconsiderate selfish retard who idiotically parked a piece of crap, with hand brake engaged. See images below.

Behold! The piece of crap offending vehicle

Did you see the problem there? No? Look closer...

now kids, this is NOT the way to park your car

That person with single brain cell, wait, that would imply said person has a brain, hmm...

Okay, that bugger parked his car with the tail of his vehicle blocking almost half of a parking lot, and my car was in that parking lot. >.<

The bugger is a he, and apparently he has a reputation of doing this kind of dumb-arse stuff. I found out about this piece of information from a passer-by, whom I assumed has also been a victim.

Obviously the image was taken after I painfully inched my MyVi out of that parking lot, good thing the adjacent car was parked slightly off. Yea, the arrow shows the gap I had to reverse my car out. Let me tell you, it's very close on both sides.

After 20 minutes during which the apartment security and management tried to get hold of the moron, I gave up waiting and did the reverse out stunt. So I didn't get to see the fool and gave him a piece of my mind.

But I am going to name and shame the jerk, so here's the number plate:

watch out for this vehicle, scratch it, release the tyres' air stay clear!

In the extremely-unlikely chance of the car owner seeing this entry, this is for you:

"Grow a brain and stop wasting people's time!"

Vocabulary Lesson with CK (March 09)

Overheard in the lift a few days ago, I was in the lift with a lady who was talking loudly on her mobile phone.

"What? You think I am your secretary ah?

*brief pause*

I am your SEXitary!"

*awkward silence when lady realised she has spoken out loud*

*more awkward silence while lady pretended to concentrate on listening, acting a bit too intently*

To spare her I looked down at my shoes and avoided any eye contact until she reached her floor and hurried out of the lift.

So there you go ladies and gentlemen, a new vocabulary: sexitary noun.

Since a secretary is one who keeps records, takes notes and handles general clerical work, I suppose a sexitary is either a sexy secretary, or one who keeps your bed warm, takes you in, and handles general shafting and rubbing work.

Or both.

Gibberish?

Mission statement:

completion of thermal model for a module, in a week's time

I'm not familiar with that module, so it's

going to be a challenge

to learn all about that module, to

have sufficient knowledge to generate an accurate model,

second guessing the contact and boundary conditions,

kid myself not, I will have to work through the weekend

!!

I am dead tired but I just have to write and post this today, it is an important record.

If you get it, kindly keep to yourself, for the time being.

I hope you are thrilled, for I am.

Networking Woes

My social networking is nothing to write about, I am a boring person.

This doesn't really bother me since I know myself, what bothers me though, is my home internet and local area network (LAN) issues that have been bugging me for around two weeks now.

It started with my router snuffing out. No problem, I have a spare router lying around, a bribe gift my department gave us for the impending move to ulu town.

Thanks to my supa-craptasitic-computa-skillz, it took a me a few days just to get the new router (wireless!) and my existing modem to talk to each other without all the nastiness of a quarrelling couple.

Should have registered the sign when it took me a few attempts just to get the modem to reset to its default settings, I thought it's just the modem being a typical woman throwing tantrum and being difficult.

I was just glad when the modem and the router finally kissed and made up and I get to go online again, and I didn't think much of the oddity of the modem reset button taking so many attempts to actually work.

My internet went down again on Friday, and no matter what I do the modem simply refused to work. Even with my limited computer knowledge, I know that the modem has gone bonkers, showing me LAN connection when I have unplugged the network cable, and not showing me the ASDL connection when I have the phone line jacked in.

And the reset button simply refused to work, no matter how many times I rebooted the modem and no matter for how long I pressed on the button.

So, I got myself a new modem and that solved my internet and LAN problem (at least so far so good, I am keeping my fingers crossed). If only there was something that I could buy for my social networking...

The old modem must have gone crazy after the death of the old router, I guess thay are just inseparable. For that imaginary love, I spare the old modem and let it rest in peace instead of the "rest in pieces" I had in mind.

Sorry hammer, maybe next time.

Hope the brand new router and modem will not give me anymore problem, enough networking issues already!

I am not holding my breath.

Random Musing

Why want a "more-than-just-friend" friend, otherwise known as boyfriend or girlfriend, when you always prefer to spend time with your "just-friend" friends instead of boyfriend/girlfriend?


Why want a "special one" when you do not care how he/she feels, do not care what he/she is concerned with?


Why tie up someone and waste his/her prime period when you don't commit him/her high in your priority list?


Is it some kind of status thing, or is it just for sex? (the former is just sad, the later plain sick)


I don't know. It baffles me.


Call me old fashion, boring, or whatever else you like, but isn't having the "special one" about someone to care for and being cared by? Having someone to bring the best out of you and vice versa? Someone to complete you and brighten the world? Someone to share all the ups and downs in life? The good old love and being loved, and that 'they live happily ever after'?


If being with the "special one" is just constant heartaches, with no way out of the vicious cycle even when you have tried your best to make it work but your efforts not reciprocated, isn't it time to stop and ponder if this is really the "special one"?


Do you really want to spend the rest of your life with this person and 'live happily ever after'?


If not, isn't it time to cut loose while you are still in your prime, move on, and actually be happy?


It's like having a bad tooth, you can choose to leave it and prolong the relatively lesser pain (until it gets out of control, that is), or you can choose to have it extracted bearing that short period of sharper pain, and move on to the healing process.


I believe in choices. Happiness is a choice.

Oops...

Erm...

Turned out that my router and modem have a love/hate relationship, the later doesn't like the former poking insistently when it's not up to it.

I gotta manually stop the router trying to connect when the modem is in bad mood.

Reboot the modem, let it calm down a bit, then only manually ask the router to connect (gently).

Troublesome, but works.

Now that they have kissed and made up, I can go online again, yay!

Good thing I haven't called tmnet. =P

Okay okay, it's my bad, I will go stand in the corner facing the wall now...

Arghhh!

Got the hardware bit sorted and was able to surf the net during the weekend. The instability of my favorite game server meant I didn't get to play any online game during the weekend though.

Oh well, at least there was internet.

However since yesterday, something has gone bonkers again. No matter what I do the modem simply refused to get a connection.

Arghhh, me no likey! >.<

Since even the unsecured wireless network that some neighbour of mine has was also down this morning, I missed the 07:00 hours meeting. Was thinking to go online and attend the meeting from home, you see.

Initially I thought it must be the *sarcasm on* oh-so-reliable-Streamyx *sarcasm off* went down for my area, judging purely from the unsecured wireless network that also couldn't get me online this morning.

But I am now writing this through the unsecured wireless network, and yet my home line still refuses to get me online.

Me is not happy. =(

Gotta give the *sarcasm on* oh-so-reliable-tmnet *sarcasm off* a call tomorrow.

Have to go learn some mad scolding skills from Hum Lee first.

Yes, I am assuming it's their fault even though I have no proof whatsoever! =P

No, my modem is not dead, at least I don't think it is...