i've a feeling of deja vu. i'm on sick leave today, on the last day of july and the first mc after a week with S. it happened in the past. whenever i moved to a new location, i would fall sick within the first week or two. i think i'm jinxed. i caught a flu or influenza. the common symptoms of influenza infection are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue.
i woke up the usual time. only this time, i had to drag my body out of bed. immediately, i knew i was sick. however, i told myself it was just the usual morning hangover. it would be gone after a warm shower.
it didn't.
after shower and breakfast, i felt weaker. my feeble legs are fighting to keep the body straight and from falling.
damn. the words 'dr wong' kept reciting in my head. damn shit, i had spent thirty five bucks on medication.
obviously, i need a change my lifestyle, i.e. to exercise and have a healthy diet.
out.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
mon - fri, 16 - 20
that week, i was at tanjong gul camp for re-service. honestly, every in-camp training is a waste of time. never will i ever say in-camp is fun. the negativity stems from the fact that the personnel from my camp isn't co-operative, spontaneous and most importantly, love to exercise favoritism.
every in-camp, everyone is expected to be working on something. true, everyone plays his role or duty in accordance to his vocation or appointment. there are some, like me, who does not have any appointment. without an appointment, there is no role to play. it is as if i am a spirit floating around camp, aimlessly.
how to survive (not getting caught)? well, one has to be very very spontaneous and helpful. even if you are sick of wearing the uniform or hate national service for whatever reasons, you have to be seen doing something. it's purely for survival.
for all in-camps, except the first where i was with my boss for the exercise, i was the helpful soul. following the survival rule, i volunteered to help with the armskote. that would be my 'role'. then, i helped at the store, then for the exercise with the s1 guys and then helped s4 with his stuff. still, some big shot thinks that by doing all those is just to avoid going to field. why would i avoid going to field? it isn't tiring and not punishing at all. i would go. really. if you haven't know, i agreed to go but my 'boss' didn't allow. so you guys went field, i stayed to help with the armskote.
there are far more things needed to be sorted out than just finger-pointing anyone for not working cohesively (me, in this case). check with my boss, not direct to me. if you can tell us to go up the channel, why can't you go down the channel? respect, please.
every in-camp, everyone is expected to be working on something. true, everyone plays his role or duty in accordance to his vocation or appointment. there are some, like me, who does not have any appointment. without an appointment, there is no role to play. it is as if i am a spirit floating around camp, aimlessly.
how to survive (not getting caught)? well, one has to be very very spontaneous and helpful. even if you are sick of wearing the uniform or hate national service for whatever reasons, you have to be seen doing something. it's purely for survival.
for all in-camps, except the first where i was with my boss for the exercise, i was the helpful soul. following the survival rule, i volunteered to help with the armskote. that would be my 'role'. then, i helped at the store, then for the exercise with the s1 guys and then helped s4 with his stuff. still, some big shot thinks that by doing all those is just to avoid going to field. why would i avoid going to field? it isn't tiring and not punishing at all. i would go. really. if you haven't know, i agreed to go but my 'boss' didn't allow. so you guys went field, i stayed to help with the armskote.
there are far more things needed to be sorted out than just finger-pointing anyone for not working cohesively (me, in this case). check with my boss, not direct to me. if you can tell us to go up the channel, why can't you go down the channel? respect, please.
Friday, July 13, 2007
april fool's on friday, the thirteen?
i reckon my sis would have agreed. in a nutshell, someone called her and told her that she has won two hundred grand from the recent lucky draw!
breaking the shell: my sis told me about the mystery call and asked me to help verify the details. she said the call was from hong kong and the caller was a lady by the name of 'miss zhang'. miss zhang had told my sis she had won the second prize from a lucky draw and that she could check the details from the given website. miss zhang gave my sis a login details, saying my sis could check. although from the start, my sis was dubious about it, she went ahead to check. the login was successful but her name wasn't on the list. miss zhang explained that my sis wasn't at the scene of the lucky draw (she couldn't be because it was held in hong kong), so her name wasn't included in the list. miss zhang then gave my sis an address, telling her to meet a lawyer at the given address, to make a deposit of four thousand eight hundred dollars as an insurance before she could claim the prize money. miss zhang did not give the lawyer's name nor his/her contact. miss zhang also told my sis that the place was 'wesermiuom'.
although both of us were skeptical about the whole thing (anyone would be, for that matter), we decided to check based on the information we had on hand, just for the fun of it.
the address: 211 new bridge road #01-08. name: wesermiuom.
being sherlock holmes, i was determined to get to the bottom of this. first, i checked google for the given address. at first, it directed me to a jewellery shop name 'Your Jewellery and Goldsmith Pte Ltd'. i felt it didn't make any sense, therefore, i checked its roc profile. the search returned 'status in registrar: struck off'. weird. next, i checked yellowpages. no luck. then, i checked google again. this time, it return the correct company name.
the address: 211 new bridge road #01-08. name: western union. bingo!
pressing further, i called western union to clarify. i was immediately told that another person had called in to verify. same story. the only difference was that person only had to pay four thousand dollars.. i was told that management from western union had already been looking into the matter. great, this would confirm the hoax!
you are a smart ass, miss zhang. and, a dumb ass too. if you think you could get money this way, try harder.
ok folks, never pick up any call starting with these numbers: 008 526527*******.
needless to say, look at their cars (copied from brands like bmw and lexus), look at how they used chemically processed cardboard boxes as filling for buns and many many other scandals. sad to say, but the chinese are really a disgrace...
breaking the shell: my sis told me about the mystery call and asked me to help verify the details. she said the call was from hong kong and the caller was a lady by the name of 'miss zhang'. miss zhang had told my sis she had won the second prize from a lucky draw and that she could check the details from the given website. miss zhang gave my sis a login details, saying my sis could check. although from the start, my sis was dubious about it, she went ahead to check. the login was successful but her name wasn't on the list. miss zhang explained that my sis wasn't at the scene of the lucky draw (she couldn't be because it was held in hong kong), so her name wasn't included in the list. miss zhang then gave my sis an address, telling her to meet a lawyer at the given address, to make a deposit of four thousand eight hundred dollars as an insurance before she could claim the prize money. miss zhang did not give the lawyer's name nor his/her contact. miss zhang also told my sis that the place was 'wesermiuom'.
although both of us were skeptical about the whole thing (anyone would be, for that matter), we decided to check based on the information we had on hand, just for the fun of it.
the address: 211 new bridge road #01-08. name: wesermiuom.
being sherlock holmes, i was determined to get to the bottom of this. first, i checked google for the given address. at first, it directed me to a jewellery shop name 'Your Jewellery and Goldsmith Pte Ltd'. i felt it didn't make any sense, therefore, i checked its roc profile. the search returned 'status in registrar: struck off'. weird. next, i checked yellowpages. no luck. then, i checked google again. this time, it return the correct company name.
the address: 211 new bridge road #01-08. name: western union. bingo!
pressing further, i called western union to clarify. i was immediately told that another person had called in to verify. same story. the only difference was that person only had to pay four thousand dollars.. i was told that management from western union had already been looking into the matter. great, this would confirm the hoax!
you are a smart ass, miss zhang. and, a dumb ass too. if you think you could get money this way, try harder.
ok folks, never pick up any call starting with these numbers: 008 526527*******.
needless to say, look at their cars (copied from brands like bmw and lexus), look at how they used chemically processed cardboard boxes as filling for buns and many many other scandals. sad to say, but the chinese are really a disgrace...
the next days
today is friday, the thirteen. so far, has it been a bad day for you? it hasn't been for me.
*laughter*
today also marks a week since i left that 'pile of shit'. it would be better to leave a good impression on someone after leaving. that is true and everyone will agree with it. the main reason i guess is about not spoiling your own personal record and the image you portrait to others. to me, it depends on circumstances. take for example, an artist. usually, an art piece will be remembered when the artist no longer paints for many reasons. the artist could have passed away or simply stop painting.
ok. i've to admit i'm finding excuses to cover my deeds. anyhow, situation is this: i got acceptance from S (after many many meetings), their package is way better and there are growth prospects. here, increments or bonus is considered a can-do-without thing and the people are full of crap (except for one or two). here's what they had to say on the many many talks with each of them:
crap 1: go and update the project schedule. divide into different sections a day. for those work that needs research, kiv them and then slot into the 'free' sections to do it. do those which the sales feel are important.
fact: impossible. what i do is simple. spend the morning clearing ad hoc things before moving to projects. research usually takes about two to three days and sometimes i would use the weekends to do research. get this, sales are a bunch of selfish people.
crap 2: i've have screwed many people here, including the biggest f**k.
fact: not important at all but what's your point?
crap 3: we sell in packages or bundles. need to be fast if not customers run away
fact: a case has already happened before (i handled it). customer backed out after the service was registered. you told me it's alright to trace back and you would answer for everything. i say it's a waste of our time.
crap 4: use the easiest method. if there is a need for improvements, we come back to it again. some of the things can be opted out.
fact: you tell me for the newsletter stuff, let customers copy email addresses to outlook/outlook express or any other mail agent one by one before they can send out the newsletter. you say it's time saving. if you are the customer, would you accept lousy product developed by someone as sloppy as you?
crap 5: yes, i know your point of view, they are true but the other side is also true. we will have a meeting with everyone to sort it out.
crap 6: we agree with you there should be some standards.
fact (5 & 6): none. no meeting.
i never trust local smes anymore. everything is weighed against cost. i consider myself the unlucky chap to have joined them. with the recent updates, it seems like you guys are falling apart. i can only say "your story touches my heart".
*heaved a sign of relief*
i am just happy that the transition is smooth. thank you, S.
come monday, i'm going for i-c-t. will start at S after that. if not for that time-wasting i-c-t, i would have moved on to S on the ninth. i guess two weeks of rest is more than enough before i move on.
*laughter*
today also marks a week since i left that 'pile of shit'. it would be better to leave a good impression on someone after leaving. that is true and everyone will agree with it. the main reason i guess is about not spoiling your own personal record and the image you portrait to others. to me, it depends on circumstances. take for example, an artist. usually, an art piece will be remembered when the artist no longer paints for many reasons. the artist could have passed away or simply stop painting.
ok. i've to admit i'm finding excuses to cover my deeds. anyhow, situation is this: i got acceptance from S (after many many meetings), their package is way better and there are growth prospects. here, increments or bonus is considered a can-do-without thing and the people are full of crap (except for one or two). here's what they had to say on the many many talks with each of them:
crap 1: go and update the project schedule. divide into different sections a day. for those work that needs research, kiv them and then slot into the 'free' sections to do it. do those which the sales feel are important.
fact: impossible. what i do is simple. spend the morning clearing ad hoc things before moving to projects. research usually takes about two to three days and sometimes i would use the weekends to do research. get this, sales are a bunch of selfish people.
crap 2: i've have screwed many people here, including the biggest f**k.
fact: not important at all but what's your point?
crap 3: we sell in packages or bundles. need to be fast if not customers run away
fact: a case has already happened before (i handled it). customer backed out after the service was registered. you told me it's alright to trace back and you would answer for everything. i say it's a waste of our time.
crap 4: use the easiest method. if there is a need for improvements, we come back to it again. some of the things can be opted out.
fact: you tell me for the newsletter stuff, let customers copy email addresses to outlook/outlook express or any other mail agent one by one before they can send out the newsletter. you say it's time saving. if you are the customer, would you accept lousy product developed by someone as sloppy as you?
crap 5: yes, i know your point of view, they are true but the other side is also true. we will have a meeting with everyone to sort it out.
crap 6: we agree with you there should be some standards.
fact (5 & 6): none. no meeting.
i never trust local smes anymore. everything is weighed against cost. i consider myself the unlucky chap to have joined them. with the recent updates, it seems like you guys are falling apart. i can only say "your story touches my heart".
*heaved a sign of relief*
i am just happy that the transition is smooth. thank you, S.
come monday, i'm going for i-c-t. will start at S after that. if not for that time-wasting i-c-t, i would have moved on to S on the ninth. i guess two weeks of rest is more than enough before i move on.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
@ tao's restaurant
monday 9 july
tao's restaurant @ paradiz centre
starter. forgot its name but it's mushroom based with cheese
free-flow bread. comes in a basket of four
jasmine hot tea and chilled peach juice. you are supposed to drink this before you start eating. the jasmine tea is free-flow too
a closer look at it
let's start!
you are supposed to eat bread with the mushroom-cum-cheese starter. i wonder why they serve their bread in such big chunk. just two of them make me feel full already..
up next: fruit salad. it consists of mixed fruits of apple, peach, cucumber & unknown topped with minced crab meat. not bad!
next: chicken salad. i felt the vinegar tasted a little too strong for my liking
this dish is made up of deep-fried mushrooms (shitake?), sweet potato, a long strand of vegetable (kang kong?) and unknown. nothing special about it but i like the fried mushrooms. tempura!
creme of mushrooms. we were put off by the strong hundred-year-old mushroom stench.
chicken herbal soup. it's a very home-made dish but it's nice and refreshing.
close-up: rich soup, red date and ginseng
one and only in singapore: ice peach tea and..
ice apple tea. i highly recommend these. mr tao, you've done a wonderful job!
main course: lamb cutlet. juicy and tender with very very mild 'goaty' taste
grilled fish. this is nice as well
desserts! this is called the xxx brulee. pardon me, i can't remember the exact name.. anyway, this tastes like portuguese egg tart so nothing to shout about
a closer look
green tea ice-cream. nothing special. i would prefer addition of peppermint while dear prefers adding of chocolate chips
...at the end of it
the most valued guest card!
i wanted to bring dear to miss clarity cafe for dinner but due to the lack of information about the location of the cafe, we had to settle for something else. anyhow, i've gotten the information here: missclaritycafe.com. your turn is next, miss clarity! we window-shopped at some hobbist shops in sunshine plaza for glass cabinets but couldn't find any. so we have to check out other places, most probably ikea.
we ended up at selegie so dinner was at tao's restaurant. we were greeted by jeremy, a punk-looking waiter. i was put off by the cost of the set dinner initially, but went in as i thought we could spend lavishly on dinner on the ninth.
ok, dinner was priced at $28.80++ per pax with 7 courses. here they are:
tao's restaurant @ paradiz centre
starter. forgot its name but it's mushroom based with cheese
free-flow bread. comes in a basket of four
jasmine hot tea and chilled peach juice. you are supposed to drink this before you start eating. the jasmine tea is free-flow too
a closer look at it
let's start!
you are supposed to eat bread with the mushroom-cum-cheese starter. i wonder why they serve their bread in such big chunk. just two of them make me feel full already..
up next: fruit salad. it consists of mixed fruits of apple, peach, cucumber & unknown topped with minced crab meat. not bad!
next: chicken salad. i felt the vinegar tasted a little too strong for my liking
this dish is made up of deep-fried mushrooms (shitake?), sweet potato, a long strand of vegetable (kang kong?) and unknown. nothing special about it but i like the fried mushrooms. tempura!
creme of mushrooms. we were put off by the strong hundred-year-old mushroom stench.
chicken herbal soup. it's a very home-made dish but it's nice and refreshing.
close-up: rich soup, red date and ginseng
one and only in singapore: ice peach tea and..
ice apple tea. i highly recommend these. mr tao, you've done a wonderful job!
main course: lamb cutlet. juicy and tender with very very mild 'goaty' taste
grilled fish. this is nice as well
desserts! this is called the xxx brulee. pardon me, i can't remember the exact name.. anyway, this tastes like portuguese egg tart so nothing to shout about
a closer look
green tea ice-cream. nothing special. i would prefer addition of peppermint while dear prefers adding of chocolate chips
...at the end of it
overall, i give it a rating of 7/10. i felt the dinning experience could be fine-tuned a little. they could reduce the number of dishes to five or six because it's simply too much! you may say both of us shared our food but still, if you were to dine alone for the seven-course dinner, it would be over-whelming unless of course, you have a big stomach.. oh, and not forgetting, i got this (not sure if every patron gets it):
the most valued guest card!
it's my first time dinning at mr tao's restaurant and got the card.. would i visit again? yeah, i would but not for the next few months...
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Life's Good
let me introduce you to my sony ericsson k800i cybershot phone. i bought her home from m1 because nokia 6280 has died of old age after just serving for fourteen months.. ever since, cyberworld has become more lively. here's why: | ||
 my introduction |  dear's introduction | |
 macro shot of my acer travelmate | ||
 shot with dale. chip got in the action but i felt dale wasn't her mischievous self that day so i let her join in the shoot |  becoming elvis presley | |
dinner at sake sushi | ||
 $1.90 only. attack! |  yum yum. nice nice steam egg a.k.a chuwamushi | |
 salmon sashimi! attack! |  wasabi soaked in soy sauce. attack! | |
 sepia shot. am i right? | ||
at jy's place | ||
 this poor kitten was picked up by lw in ntu. a lot of attention given to it but to ensure it's survival, the spca was called in to take care of it. | ||
lunch @ nydc borders | ||
 when pigs fly |  deliciously mine! | |
 when 2 becomes 1 |  deliciously hers! | |
 another look |  and... another | |
 grandma goes nuts mudpie! ...did she? |  somemore look at it | |
 picture frames and more frames...duh. |  thank you. do come again | |
@ borders we decided to shop for dear's adidas jacket at border. we had a little misadventure while shopping for it. nevertheless, the salesperson managed to get us the jacket we wanted but we had to wait for about thirty minutes. while waiting... | ||
 so many of them! |  yeah! got one! | |
 i call it miniature-cum-candyball-cum-replica |  let's get started! | |
 the manual... |  started. tick... tick... tick... | |
 did i drop something? |  still at it... almost done | |
 it's done! |  yeah! two thumbs up! just timely for us to go collect the jacket which we have reserved | |
 oh, as we were walking around, we caught this. she is stuck! |  another look... she desperately needs help! | |
@ premier cab - we had to go back to my place after dinner at jurong point to get tools needed to make the s15 toy model. we took train back to sembawang but decided to take a cab since it was already late. sorry to cabbies out there, it's a fact that we have the rights to choose say a mercedes cab over a toyota, even when there are five cabs zooming pass us. we chose to sit a skoda octavia. it's way better than those three litres toyota crowns. my k800i reported this: | ||
 it isn't obvious in this shot, but there's actually dim light coming out from the door handle. cool. | ||
nissan silvia s15 @ dear's | ||
 the mess - as you can see, the car body has already been spray painted blue the night before. cobalt blue actually. the chassis had been done up too. in the background is the evo which we had made. |  the manual - mainly in japanese | |
 fixing the exhaust pipe |  exhaust pipe installed and the chassis. i've set the while balance for this image effect. looks like transformers. "autobots, attack!" | |
 the rim on potenza tyre! cool! |  the interior of autobots | |
 done! evo vs silvia! let's race! oh, not chip and dale... | ||
wooh... didn't realised i had spent the last three hours putting up this post... ok... these are all the activities for the past one week or so, as seen thru the eyes of my k800i cybershot phone. cheers! | ||
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