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Lost Ducklings

2010-01-16T11:12:00.008+13:00

It was an ordinary morning and I was only planning to make breakfast for us.

But a distressed cry of a mother duck interrupted my journey to the kitchen. And I don't have to be a freak of nature to tell that it's panicking - she lost her ducklings, and I can hear their cries, except I have no idea how it got that way.

Turns out that they fell into my neighbour's covered pool.... great.... So I basically spend the whole morning trying to catch some ducklings which are ducking, diving, and dodging my every effort to rescue 'em, ARGHHHHHHHH!

Anyway, I caught them in the end after I exhaust 'em, stupid things, and to avoid them jetting off in a panic I managed to keep one in a bucket so it can first, calm down, second, lure the mother back to find them.

This little one that I kept was so scared and cold, so I left it in the sun until it feels better. It worked... it relaxes and started stretching its legs and then started chirping.

It was quite a grand moment, as I brought myself a cup of coffee at the balcony while the little one chirps away in the bucket. The cry of the duckling started to draw its mother closer and closer and closer through a symphony of big quacks and small chirps..

She finally came to the front port, and it seemed little duckling can't wait to see its mother so it started bopping out of the bucket.. I let it out. It was a beautiful moment; despite my sore body, dirty clothes... and missed breakfast.. Three ducklings and its mother are finally united ^^

Could be Worst

2010-01-11T21:25:00.007+13:00

Yesh, sometimes things happen, and you know what, it could be worst.

Life in 4 Bottles

2010-01-11T20:14:00.003+13:00

Received this today, and I think it's awesome.

Life summarised in 4 bottles.

And yep shit am onto the 3rd too.

Apparent Good Coffee

2010-01-10T14:57:00.002+13:00

How far would you go to make a good cuppa?

For me, definitely not this far, for money can sometime buy better things.

How to Brew a Good Cup of Coffee from Ben Helfen on Vimeo.

Yep, Bad Donuts.

2010-01-10T14:46:00.003+13:00

First day of work tomorrow after the new year holidays, and it's kinda depressing because I no longer have anything to procrastinate about.

One Republic - Secrets

2010-01-09T22:12:00.000+13:00

A beautiful facet of eventually becoming a grown up.

Work, Money.

2010-01-08T10:27:00.004+13:00

Sometimes work, is nothing more than a constructive feast on an opportunity, a problem, or both.

I am keenly aware of every dollar that I gain on my investments, represents a dollar gain from other people's pocket whether if they like it or not.

Just Be Yourself

2010-01-08T10:17:00.003+13:00

How do you live?

2010-01-07T11:51:00.001+13:00

The Distance between Us.

2010-01-06T12:26:00.005+13:00

There's silence.

Because you are only hearing the distance between us.

You feel alone.

Because there's the depth that you think no one can reach, thus no one did.

You feel empty.

Because you crave the very things that makes you hollow.

You are closed.

Because you no longer trust anyone to understand.

Coconut Crab.

2010-01-06T12:13:00.002+13:00

Because you're worth it.

No I am not kidding.

Just Silly.

2010-01-06T12:09:00.002+13:00

What do you call a "fish" that behaves like a fish, comes with legs and tail of a tadpole?

Silly Fish.

Creative, Flexible.

2010-01-06T11:56:00.007+13:00

Life Puzzles

2010-01-05T21:19:00.004+13:00

United we stand, divided we fall.

So simple, yet so hard to understand..

China's Raw Power

2010-01-05T19:10:00.005+13:00

I used to train, then walk miles to work (which I claimed as the only form of exercise that am getting at the time, which is true. Despite the parties and the alcohol, I was relatively fit).

So a bike like so would naturally appeal to me which folds away nicely in a train or at work; and as required, help avoid wet socks in meetings because of rain, or turning up to work on time because of a hangover.

Except it used to cost $200 pounds at the time which isn't cheap, really, until China turns up, now for a mere $20 pounds, it's yours. Ain't that impressive.

Suicide Logos

2010-01-05T17:33:00.001+13:00

Sugardada

2010-01-05T12:47:00.003+13:00

Understanding sugar dadies on a whole new level through Cowboy Caleb.

Or the 'alpha' butches equivalent, except they're usually not that rich.

See talent, Spot talent.

2010-01-05T12:35:00.004+13:00

Looks like James Cameron's movie Avatar is going to make it.

"His first feature since "Titanic," the box-office smash "Avatar," could well be on pace to beat the $1.84 billion in worldwide revenue that the earlier film set during its run in late 1997 and early 1998.

Distributed by Twentieth-Century Fox, "Avatar" hit the vaunted $1 billion mark in combined domestic and overseas revenue in just 17 days, a pace believed to be unprecedented, even for "Titanic." (Fox is owned by News Corp.(NWS 16.29, -0.02, -0.12%), which also is the parent of MarketWatch, publisher of this report.)"

Source.

Pendulum Swing

2010-01-04T18:28:00.001+13:00

Does the pendulum always swings further to the left before it reaches a happy medium?

The Price of Change.

2010-01-04T18:00:00.001+13:00

Mediocre

2010-01-03T16:55:00.001+13:00

Being mediocre sometimes feel as gray as the wall of a prison cell.

When you crave the up..

2010-01-03T16:51:00.002+13:00

.. the down then makes you feel like a wounded cat with an oversized ego - betrayed, alone, and hurt.

New Years.. II

2010-01-03T15:47:00.001+13:00

I suppose in a way it doesn't matter about the crap start, so long as it ends in a bang, and I have a whole year to do it.

Boredom breeds boredom.

2010-01-03T15:44:00.001+13:00

The problem being uninspired is that, the feeling will go away, but it will not change your perspective.

New Years...

2010-01-03T15:33:00.002+13:00

When the new year is as uninspiring as the day before, you might as well go and wash your car.

Unsocial Yourself

2009-12-29T20:12:00.003+13:00

I find this fascinating. But I suppose you do go through the cycle of wanting friends badly and frantically and then realizing that you have probably added more pest in your life than friends. So here's the solution.

What did I miss?!

2009-12-29T20:03:00.003+13:00

I would die to work for Intel, except I don't remember it being this exciting back then.

How do you live.

2009-12-29T17:06:00.005+13:00

There are those who question but will not seek the answer,

There are those who question and will seek the answer,

Then there are those who just don't question.

How do you live.

New Year Resolutions - II

2009-12-28T21:33:00.007+13:00

As I grow up, I realised that my new year resolutions is less and less about "myself", and more and more about someone/something else.

It used to be - rock climbing, surfing, snow boarding, kayaking, drums, round the world trips, diving etc etc.

Now it's more like - volunteering, mentoring, picking up some sentimental skills/things that I left out as a child, ie. piano etc.

New Year Resolutions - I

2009-12-28T21:28:00.004+13:00

A few years back I started the habit of having new year resolutions for myself, it's less because I wanted to, but mostly because I have all these goals and little intentions to achieve them. But according to some motivational books I read back then, it said, "writing down your goals motivates you to do 'em".

I have started writing them down since then, and in a way the book was right. In fact it has gone so far into making into my daily work task list, where I made a point that if it isn't on my task list on the day, it won't be done. If it is, it will be.

Merry Xmas ^^

2009-12-24T23:01:00.002+13:00

Conflicts

2009-12-22T21:32:00.007+13:00

I hate conflicts, I really do.

Sometimes I don't understand myself, why, I hate conflicts,

It could be because the fact that;

I am born the year of the goat,

or the month of Aquarius,

or the fact that I am different, brought up, history, or probably both.

I came from a small town, a really small town. A town that has it's own credentials, but small, which justifiably fades into the background, because nowaday everything is almost about power.

And my home town has no power, or status, anymore. Economics has justifiably export all that is worth. Nowadays, there's actually little left, but our roots, and dignity. Asked why we would sell everything? To the name of economics. Which is probably debatable as a separate topic.

But people from a small town, at times still do appreciate different things; like the ability to fish, toy through rivers, experiment with mud, trees, and probably everything thing else that in a way that the city kids were deprived of.

In the sense that all that is lost, there's actually a history that is not hard to understand. We actually don't want to let go easily of what we know, because we don't want to.

Life's saying,

2009-12-22T20:41:00.004+13:00

"Pick your battles,"

But I am not your war.

The road to wherever..

2009-12-21T18:22:00.002+13:00

Eventually when you get tired of reacting, you just stop reacting.

It's a choice isn't?

2009-12-21T18:21:00.004+13:00

Some people would go all the way to Heaven even though Hell is just down the road.

Manager who?

2009-12-20T17:09:00.005+13:00

I think being a manager is a bit like being a parent sometime; when you can no longer pick your favourites, and you start to recognise that you're actually personally responsible for the wellbeing of the people less authoritative than you.

And you should no longer ask, "hey how's going", and ignore the response.

And you might just be ready, when you no longer ask, "hey how's going", just because you have to, you ask, because you wanted to.

I see you - Leona Lewis

2009-12-17T23:27:00.001+13:00

The Copenhagen Problem

2009-12-17T22:27:00.005+13:00

" If the surge in greenhouse gas emissions is not halted, Earth will be on course within the next decade for warming that will inflict hunger, misery, disease and homelessness on many millions of people, say experts."

Link.

Avatar Afterthoughts

2009-12-17T21:52:00.008+13:00

I don't think earthlings are necessarily all evil, when sense gets beat into them as they mature, they do tend to mellow and become a little less self centered; however *generally* still amazingly short sighted, unfortunately.

p/s Avatar does have an important message to deliver, even though it should already be obvious. Do watch it if you like.

Leading

2009-12-15T20:54:00.003+13:00

Leading isn't that hard, most of the time involves caring about other people more than yourself, or at least good at faking that you do care about other people more than yourself.

Globalization

2009-12-15T18:55:00.003+13:00

Globalization is a double edge knife. The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer, someone who's from a country of stronger currency could deserve a much better life from your resources, even though you both worked just as hard in life - you're just not as lucky.

No Pork Chops for you.

2009-12-15T18:29:00.007+13:00

Sometimes I wonder how much we care about our young, next generation. I know we give them *most of the time* direct support, love, care, but indirectly, do we?

You know that as individual, people, countries; we borrow money right?

The simple concept of borrowing money means you're essentially trying to afford/enjoy something NOW which you haven't yet earn, in another words - cannot afford.

The concept of lending, printing money and issuing bonds would do just that and we do that everyday day; as a nation, earthlings, we are essentially borrowing "resource" from the future in the form of money so we can afford what we cannot afford now.

Yes you can argue that besides the overeating, over-indulgence, and over explorations are all part of the process of building the infrastructure and systems for our future generation. But imagine this:

" Dear unborn, when you read this I will no longer be here, we love you which is why we have built you sky scrapers, buildings, and banking systems! But we regret to have left you no porkchops, no more seafood, no green forrest, oh and here're some 100 year bond bills that mature.. probably about now, don't forget to pay okay or they may charge interest on top. Love, Past generation."

Better Days.

2009-12-15T07:19:00.001+13:00

There are better days, such as Tuesdays. Yup.

Old Time Classics

2009-12-14T21:46:00.004+13:00

*try pulling the corner of your eyes, brilliant isn't ^^*

One of those days.

2009-12-14T21:38:00.005+13:00

Today would be one of those days where I got very annoyed with people who took pleasure in tricking me in doing things I don't have to be doing.

Cats..

2009-12-12T09:06:00.002+13:00

Point Blank

2009-12-11T21:39:00.003+13:00

Yes, most of the time, I wish you were on my side.

Because I am tired of taking sides.

In fact, I wished we were one.

Xmas Drinkies

2009-12-11T21:11:00.008+13:00

Xmas Drinkies, as much as you like to think that it's different, it's all the same.

Tonight I ran into this old-ish guy at work drinkies today, he asked what I do at work, rather than saying I work for my company, I was bluntly honest, "yes I work here, I manage the supply chain, and at the end of the day, it's not what products I look after, I make the process work", somehow he was utterly impressed, and said I got it sussed.

He's in the same industry as me, he admits he's in the business of managing people - be it his past role in Manufacturing, Mining, Finance, and then support and then Account Manager.

To him, it's all the same, to him, it's the people.

To me, I still fix things.

I Do - Gin Wigmore

2009-12-11T21:03:00.000+13:00

I Click - Adam Lambert

2009-12-11T21:02:00.001+13:00

Turn it Down.

2009-12-10T19:43:00.003+13:00

Sometimes I need to shut the door, especially when I turn up the music.

Roadmap

2009-12-10T19:30:00.005+13:00

Life's like a roadmap isn't? There are many reasons as to why there are many ways to get to the same point, and on the same token there are also many ways to get there or not get there, because it's your choice.

Lion's Lair

2009-12-10T18:35:00.006+13:00

Today I figured one of the only ways to get the cub is to walk into the Lion's lair - I think it wasn't a matter of desperation, I just did, the cub purred.

Likeness

2009-12-09T20:15:00.008+13:00

War make people fall like soldiers.

Awareness

2009-12-09T18:58:00.003+13:00

I think it's sad for someone to live an extremely logical life: when you can predict what your bosses want, which project is gonna stuff up (and thus you actually secretly fix it in the backend), when you can answer almost everything your bosses and colleagues are trying to find fault on, when you can clearly distinguish between the desire to have stir fry or pasta that day, or your thirst for a glass of port vs a red wine to go with it, and clearly see what it means to be human like how a cat couldn't resist a swaying string.

When little actually surprises you, but the illogical side of you that you hide.

Today

2009-12-09T18:44:00.004+13:00

" Although today is always the first day of the rest of your life, you can't hope to change everything, forever, in an instant. You are a product of all your yesterdays and if you try to cut yourself adrift from these, you may find that the boat of good intention soon sinks in the ocean of habit and tradition. " - Cainer

Coffee Conspiracy Theory

2009-12-08T18:39:00.004+13:00

There's sometime this conspiracy theory at work that management will switch coffee supplies into the worst brand of coffees so that no one would drink it - How much do you think management will save?

I dunno how much companies can save, but I know how much people can spend otherwise out of pockets.

1. Instant coffee - freeze dry/plunger coffees. Average $0.50 a day.

2. Sometimes espressos from the coffee guy $4 a pop.

That's an average of $130 a year up to $1040 per annum, per person.

Like a Pill

2009-12-07T18:29:00.002+13:00

I hate to think of myself like a pill even though work sometimes treat me like one - one that people hate to take, but cannot do without.

Today I got sucked into finding lost money - why me.

Desires vs Antidote

2009-12-05T18:58:00.005+13:00

Cigarettes: I am your desires.
Nicotine Patch: I am the antidote to your desires.

Bad Hair Day

2009-12-05T14:59:00.011+13:00

How do you live.

2009-12-05T12:53:00.003+13:00

When I go somewhere, most of the time I will choose the long way, or the "wrong" way, because that's when I will learn something, or least learn something about myself.

When the stars fell..

2009-12-05T12:42:00.001+13:00

State of Perfection

2009-12-04T22:39:00.002+13:00

So why is everything isn't perfect, yet.

Because we have not learnt to compromise properly, yet.

Acting, Reacting

2009-12-04T18:54:00.004+13:00

You can pay $1,200 to attend a management course and they will tell you one thing - manage the distractions so you don't have to firefight each day.

When I was younger "firefighting" used to be challenging, exciting. As I mellow, I got tired of reacting.

The Gray Area

2009-12-03T17:56:00.006+13:00

And so we can't always win, we can't have it all, we're not always right, and we're definitely not perfect - so we must be somewhere in between, right?

So it's possible that we're, life is, a constant flux of affairs.
Because we are a bit of everything that make up the way that we're.
We're not perfect, we may defy change, but we're unique.

Today's Thought

2009-12-03T17:55:00.002+13:00

I realised that as much as I enjoy talking, I actually don't like to repeat myself.

Xers & Nexters Autisticism

2009-12-01T19:45:00.009+13:00

My dad calls me an autistic child the other day due to my inability to respect widely recognized authorities - I said from a personal perspective respect should be earned, and he said I am just autistic.

Autistic:

• a mental condition in which fantasy dominates over reality, as a symptom of schizophrenia and other disorders.

I still disagree.

No kidding I just think we're different.

If you want to employ a traditionalist you tell them job security, and if you want to employ generation X or Y for goodness sake tell 'em it's an opportunity.

Soul's Little Thoughts

2009-12-01T19:01:00.013+13:00

Soul-less Moments:

Monday mornings, especially one without a coffee
An empty bottle when you need it the most
Very Hungover
When we collide, where we then travel in parallel like a track that never meets
Times in life - when you feel like you'd everything, but you'd nothing

Soulful Moments:

A big cup of coffee on Monday mornings, especially one you don't have to pick up and pay for
When I can fall so far yet miss the ground
When your palm glide across my skin telling me that you will always be there
Things like the fact that I probably do dance like a wiggly worm, or finger
Knowing that we can still hold on

New Year

2009-12-01T18:56:00.006+13:00

As I was having dinner tonight my mum mentioned that she read about my horoscope fortune for next year and she said it's very me - I was surprised that she even read that stuff.

Aquarius 2010:

It's easy for you to make big money if you work hard, and there are also times when you're so broke that it's not even funny, but not as if it bothers you either way because money to you is just a mean to an end.

(wow.. what an exciting year to look fw to.. zzzz)

All will be Forgotten

2009-11-25T21:00:00.003+13:00

I think as beings we will eventually and conveniently brush aside all the glory, pains and tribulations that we'd been through, whether if its the pain of giving birth, or the market crash of 1929, 1987-9, 1997, or 2008, or the wars.

It's either an intrinsic desire to make peace so we can continue on as a race, or we are simply forgetful, either way, it's a mean to an end so that life indeed goes on - like it or not.

Nothing Personal

2009-11-25T20:37:00.004+13:00

I was watching discovery channel the other day, and the "rocket scientists" in the show claim that it's possible that there're 7 plans/dimensions in our universe, contrary to the 3-dimensions which we are accustomed to. Interesting huh. And it's possible that the other extra plans are IN FACT, heaven and hell. Well well. I wonder if there's a different door price to those plans.

Undeniably. There are great people who discovered and invented amazing things in our lives, and also some who're not so great and like air heads who somehow managed to propel to the top with god knows what.

Starfish

2009-11-25T19:35:00.003+13:00

I picked up a startfish while visiting Davenport the other day.

Starfish said: yes let me back down please I do enjoy being on the bottom thanks.

Just for Fun

2009-11-25T19:16:00.006+13:00

If you read and believe in Chinese Horoscopes,

Well... I would be this,

But according to Chinese Tarot...

Deep down I wanted to be this,

But currently end up being this,

And in time I will eventually become this,

New Respect - F&*^$ You.

2009-11-23T21:06:00.002+13:00

Learning to Believe

2009-11-23T18:51:00.005+13:00

In life there are some people who end up with things they either don't deserve or didn't work hard enough for, but the majority of us ain't that lucky, unfortunately.

So most of us logically end up with things that we do work hard for.
In other words, we also start losing the things we'd given up on.

I have managed to hit the bulls eye miraculously when I focus.
I have also managed to dodge every kid on the snow field by looking away.
I have learnt to believe.

Life's Unfair

2009-11-22T13:28:00.002+13:00

Ever wonder why the heros in any movies tend to live forever while the insignificant ones barely make it past the first bullet attack?

Such is life actually. We all think that we're great and without that self esteem there would be no civilization, but the reality is no one makes it out alive, so really, one way or another it's actually not a big deal being great or not and for a couple of grand I can buy myself into a castle visit that would have me beheaded a few hundred years ago, "king who?".

Life's been Good.

2009-11-22T13:21:00.005+13:00

Life's been rather good lately..

1. I'd spend hours trying to wax every bit of my leather car bits. I love my car. It took me many wrong decisions to arrive to this car, it's not perfect, but it's what I wanted. If some bastard happen to steal my car, chances are I'll probably try buy the same one again.

2. My of my thumbed sized cichlid fish is sick, and I tried to make it better by rubbing iodine solution on it's wound, I still hope it'll live.

3. I handmade special food for my axolotls which consist of a special blend of salmon pellets and axolotl tuckers, it's perfect and they're getting fatter.

4. I realised that if you can get paid just as much being a president and a baker, it's probably more satisfying being a baker.

Communication

2009-11-22T13:18:00.002+13:00

Communication communication communication.

Well I haven't been, partly because of my internet's been down for a month and life being thrown slightly out of orbit as a result..

Brilliant

2009-10-16T19:28:00.000+13:00

Talent

2009-10-10T23:20:00.005+13:00

How I'd love to play piano - I'd come to believe that other than snowboarding which I have some talent for, I have little talent for everything else including piano.

Besides the point, I really like the song 'Colours of the Wind' featured in Pocahontas. It is indeed some kids fairy tales, but there's much depth to what the story is trying to tell people, and you wonder if it's really possible for anyone to be able to "paint with all the colours of the wind" - as in live life to the fullest.

Collide.

2009-10-10T19:04:00.005+13:00

Ever get the feeling.. when even a fortune cookie tells you sorrowful things.

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

- Howie Day

What will be will be

2009-10-10T09:41:00.003+13:00

There's this love song which I like by Sammi, it's a love song (like any others) but they wrote a part of the lyrics so beautifully to reflect the reality of what will be will be.

" if it's not meant for me, it doesn't matter how close your shoulder is to mine, what's not mine will still slip through between us.... these scattered lines within my palm, please let me extend them for you, and our scattered lines... even if they've mistakenly crossed path, how would I want them to separate... "

nb. Translated from Cantonese.

Truth is.. The Whys.

2009-10-09T19:09:00.009+13:00

My manager also thought that it'll take me 3 months to settle into the role and 1 year to fix whatever I need to fix. The reality is (I think) it took me less than that - a few weeks into the role, I ged-it. Not perfect, but I get it enough to work with it.

Truth is. Instead of learning what I need to do, and the steps to do it - I also enquire the underlying reasons behind it. Very probing and uncomfortable to the person who's handing over the skills, but by knowing the "whys", I am learning instead how the system is driven and designed, and by knowing that, I can maneuver around it without learning the steps to do it.

I didn't just walk, I learnt to skip.

Life of Mute.

2009-10-09T18:33:00.004+13:00

My manager (whom I reported to for 3 weeks so far) has been seconded to a project role for the next 6 months, he doesn't sound too pleased with it, and the reason that he got seconded was because he got recognised through his feedback on a significant project - mainly to ensure that the project was done right, and already he can see the many things that could go wrong.

He said that he may have been better off keeping his mouth zip - like a life of muteness, when you're not suppose to question things.

Habitat, What?

2009-10-08T23:13:00.005+13:00

My concience is actually a blessing and a curse in the sense of business acumen - when I see a run over hedgehog of some sort, I would think of both a destroyed natural habitat and also a fast rising property investment opportunity.

But because of my conflicting conscience, I often do nothing.

Time

2009-10-08T23:11:00.001+13:00

As I age, I feel more aware of the preciousness of time, arguebly it's the first hour after I wake up where I either have a very satisfying cup of coffee or a good 10 min catch up with my family before I leave for work.

Flatout.. however...

2009-09-22T21:35:00.003+12:00

I am going snowboarding soon, wheeeee~~

I can't seem to recall the last time my snowboard *rented* glide freely through the snow.

Okay the sensation is different from riding a bike, but I love this song.

Being Flatout

2009-09-22T20:56:00.004+12:00

Work's been absolutely flat out. I can't remember the last time I continuously put almost 12 solid hours into a work day (unfortunately salaried staff seldom get time in lieu or over time anymore - so why bother), but now I did.

I wanted to drop by to see D today. Because I can't seem to recall what happened between the time D called till the time I was able to call back.

Lost moments, traded as time, but no longer a commodity to me.

Chanting

2009-09-19T23:51:00.003+12:00

Ever wonder why religious practices often involve some sort of chanting?

I'll be interested to know, but seems like there's no straight forward answers.

But I believe that chanting and its rhythms probably mimic the conditions in our fetal development stages, you know that silent sound when you close your ears/being under water; a place where our mind, body and 'soul' slowly develops, and is probably the time where we are most receptive.

And chanting could well be a way to reignite that receptivity and assist in developing beliefs.

That's my theory anyway - words from an unreligious person.

Engineering vs Management

2009-09-19T09:39:00.004+12:00

Sometimes people wonder why am not on the production floor designing chemical reactors or process designs.

The answer is simple. It's just not my thang. Initially I thought I was gonna end up as a biochemical mad scientist who will find cure to any diseases possible. I realised that's just plain idiotic naiveness through the process of slowly 'growing-up'. Given the chance, I don't even give two rats about going into space anymore. In fact, I hate flying.

Anyways. As for the similarity between designing a process workflow and a management system?

Probably very similar, garbage in = garbage out. Think about it, it's not that difficult.

Life like Arcade Games

2009-09-17T21:33:00.004+12:00

Sometimes I think the career ladder is a bit like an arcade game, you survive one stage to another, collecting experiences and tools along the way, while seldom knowing what might come up next or what collection/tools may help you onto the next stage. Life is like so, but unlike games, you only get to have one go at it.

Silence is Gold

2009-09-17T21:30:00.003+12:00

Silence is Gold only when you're having a fight with your partner/spouse..

The Alchemist

2009-09-16T21:11:00.005+12:00

I read this book - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho a few years ago now, it used to be one of my favourite books. Many years later I am actually very surprised that it still sit in the top 20 book list at Whitcoulls, and Boaders Bookshops etc.

Pity those lost souls. But anyways.

If you can't be bothered reading this book which you'll probably end up loving or hating. Well, it's about finding oneself in the journey, growing up in the process, and ultimately discovering what you're looking for (which probably has always been there - one of the painful realities about life).

Such is life

2009-09-16T20:23:00.005+12:00

Sometimes my latest job reminds me of my first job, something like the beginning of my career. I was discontent with my first job, because basically... I thought I can do a lot more than that - typical frustration of being a 20-something, despite being in a company with everything to offer.

Nowadays, I call that frustration, well.. probably plain ungratefulness.

Because after my first job, I've then changed a few jobs in a few countries, and I think I start to realise that it's not what's on the outside which you're craving, it's driven from within.. nothing wrong with that, except...

You start to realise that you're probably not the smartest thing since Einstein, even if you're, Einstein didn't live a filthy rich life so there you have it, and while the company may lack of everything you can think of, but at least it still makes more money than your talk-only-no-action approach, and even if you get more hot potatoes than flowers in life, such is life; you learnt to deal with it.

But I think I am finally grateful.

Mind Boggling

2009-09-12T22:42:00.002+12:00

Rather mind boggling don't you think?

I call it a type of creativity beyond usual reasons.

From here.

Bill Gates's..

2009-09-12T22:28:00.002+12:00

.. words of wisdom. Am sure you've read it somewhere somehow, if not, here it is.

Rule 1 : Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world doesn't care about your
Self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6 : If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault , so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7 : Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8 : Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9 : Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10 : Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11 : Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

The 'Stupid' Theory

2009-09-12T21:41:00.005+12:00

I long thought about the many reasons why a selective of people are less educated and stupid relative to other countries sometime.

1. Cost of reading materials, ie. relative to the living standard of that country, a typical American pays $10 for a book compared to a cost of at least three times that amount elsewhere, more like $30. Which means, by the time you can afford a book, a typical American would have probably bought three. Sux huh.

2. Most libraries don't stock anything proper for whatever reasons - it's either that the books are too old for my generation, or it'll take 3 months for me to waitlist the book that I want, or they just DON'T HAVE THE BOOK that I want altogether.

3. The transport system sucks, so everyone drives. Instead of the average 20 - 60mins time catching public transport where you can read/catch sleep, you concentrate on driving instead and try not to kill anyone.

I think if we can resolve the above three points, not only the people will become smarter, their disposable income will also increase, plus the additional time and money saved will definitely contribute positively to the country's GDP somehow. Win-win-win.

" People who think they're too smart for politics shall be managed by people dumber instead" - Unknown, or TBC.

2 Degrees Mobile

2009-09-12T21:35:00.004+12:00

New Zealand has recently launched a new mobile network called 2 Degrees. I must say that they did a VERY good job at it (am in the stage of switching over), it is irresistible, because they did their homework in finding probably all the answers to the silent questions as to why anyone would say no.

Welldone 2 Degrees.

What you don't have

2009-09-12T21:25:00.005+12:00

What you don't have, you want.

When I have a job, I would kill for a day off.

When I quit last year with the opportunity to do whatever I like to make a living, I was bored to the core, and I swear I'll never quit work again.

It's hard to admit, but the time off has allowed me to again miss those stupid people, frantic phone calls at 8am in the morning, the so call "important meetings", or only having time to much two biscuits for the whole day because I was so busy.

This week, even a pack of minties from work seemed to have make it all worth it.

Compromise

2009-09-12T21:17:00.004+12:00

I find myself getting more excited about the new car than the new job.. is it a problem? Maybe.

You know, after years of working, I realised that it's all the same - eventually you learn to compromise. People are seldom satisfy with what they have, and if they do, the world would come to a grinding halt and we would all still be living in caves. Obviously not the case.

There's always something not good enough about where you work and what you're doing - too much politics, too little opportunities, people talk too much about rugby, people talk too much about computer games.. the list goes on, and you're interested in none of them. Even not having a job is a boring mission on its on.

But eventually you will, because you will learn to compromise.

" You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both." - Bill Gates