tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167208302024-03-08T10:43:38.524+08:00Do Not ResuscitateThe Blog With The Cool Title™Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-25645901539467569862012-01-12T15:22:00.000+08:002015-03-11T12:41:22.836+08:00Ways To Avoid Work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's almost Chinese New Year again and time for the annual spring-cleaning! Just two days ago, my mother broke off her thumbnail whilst scrubbing close to the bathroom outlet. She felt the pain, but figured it wasn't anything because there was no blood. Yup, she has a high threshold for pain. Fact is, she does everything in haste, and that tends to lead to injuries. Don't know what her rush is, but that's always been the way she does things. I was thinking to myself, "I would never get such injuries because: </div>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>I do things slowly</li>
<li>I don't do things if I can help it"</li>
</ol>
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So today, she gave me the task of wiping/cleaning the windows and the grills. Lots of house gecko droppings and dust/grime. It's a lot to do. Want to know how I managed to take 1.5 hours and make her then say, "Continue another day"? Actually, I'll be adding more points (which I didn't need to do) for your benefit.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>When tasked to do the chore, don't complain. Do it 'willingly' without excuses.</li>
<li>Make sure you are seen doing the task in public - if it's cleaning the windows, remove the window/pane and wash it in view of others. Ensure that the person who told you to do the work sees this and feels remorse.</li>
<li>After some time, start grunting and making 'working hard' sounds that would put any porn star to shame.</li>
<li>Go OCD and treat the stain/grime like an enemy. Concentrate on one spot for as long as you can.</li>
<li>Instead of wiping, use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach places.</li>
<li>Yowl in pain/discomfort when bits of soap powder gets flicked into your eye thanks to the toothbrush.</li>
<li>Insist on going to the doctor for proper medical attention or you will go blind.</li>
<li>Failing that, wear goggles/mask after washing eyes.</li>
<li>Take as much time as possible to do the task. When not being watched, take your time changing the water in the pail. Look at flowers, check out the praying mantis on the chilli leaf.</li>
<li>Stop for breaks. After lunch, go back to doing the chore.</li>
<li>What might take other people to finish in an hour, plan to finish in three days.</li>
<li>Bribe neighbour/person who can see you doing the work in public to say, "Wow, I never knew I'd see another Cinderella in my life! Cleaning with a toothbrush!" to the task-giver.</li>
<li>Hurt yourself - nothing major, just enough for blood loss. Do NOT try to break bones, though it will certainly help in avoiding the chores for awhile.</li>
<li>If you have to clean dishes, look for stubborn stains that require industrial strength detergent/cleaner and a lot of elbow grease.</li>
<li>Never, ever complain or break things. Make it the task-giver's choice to stop you while you still want to do it.</li>
</ul>
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While this worked for me, it might backfire if you do such a good job that they start expecting the best from you every time. Don't underestimate the intelligence of the task-giver who may see through your ploy.</div>
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Good luck avoiding the work, and Happy New Year!<br />
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Update 16th Jan 2012: After two days (consisting of 1.5 hour sessions), the task giver did the remainder of the work while I was watching the Golden Globes. ;-)<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 11.0500001907349px; text-align: justify;">mailto:S.Landi@kent.ac.uk mailto:sl241@kent.ac.uk mailto:spartaco.landi.1972@gmail.com</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-25487062503815799192011-06-07T15:29:00.000+08:002011-06-07T15:29:48.301+08:00The Big Bad Wolf Sale<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">There was a crazy booksale last November 2010. It was called the Big Bad Wolf sale and it was quite by accident that I came across it online. As it happened, I was in Kajang and the organisers held it at South City Plaza in Seri Kembangan. Of course, I grabbed the chance! I met up with a friend at the Serdang station and we took a taxi to the venue. There was a loooooong queue waiting and my friend went off to have breakfast while I waited in line.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFpw5nEJpB1b7NRRx-C-IvOTfXvvdElD3pDyQrsGIauddEYQEl5dV-J02yFlHU-mrfKGNG2NtuA-U5jjbWic-YHKla709vqJqYCsc2yUSSq6yqmHOex_gh_Ei3LggclDCSFx3/s1600/DSCF3156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFpw5nEJpB1b7NRRx-C-IvOTfXvvdElD3pDyQrsGIauddEYQEl5dV-J02yFlHU-mrfKGNG2NtuA-U5jjbWic-YHKla709vqJqYCsc2yUSSq6yqmHOex_gh_Ei3LggclDCSFx3/s320/DSCF3156.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Big Bad Wolf</b></div><div class="separator" dir="rtl" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How cheap were the books? Any cheaper and they would have been free! Most went for RM8.00, some were between RM10.00 and RM25.00. They provided plenty of payment counters, and as expected the credit card counters were the busiest. I bought novels and it came to around RM35.00. After a few hours there, my friend treated me to lunch at Chili's KLCC and from there, we went on the train to Bandar Tasik Selatan where we parted ways.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDrVk1DGUM-MlMNf1rBe_pqM2J_ap6NabXZttbazRZTL7miiZYrP2bpl9pa3bTJ_kMXqAh3TMubqcTxc25PjIvHmyiDQAO3d4eaS9HUWpkM8YcDSdJYkpZSLoEVxD6n70IJOY/s1600/DSCF3158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDrVk1DGUM-MlMNf1rBe_pqM2J_ap6NabXZttbazRZTL7miiZYrP2bpl9pa3bTJ_kMXqAh3TMubqcTxc25PjIvHmyiDQAO3d4eaS9HUWpkM8YcDSdJYkpZSLoEVxD6n70IJOY/s320/DSCF3158.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>My friend, pleased with his purchases</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I went on to Putrajaya to meet another friend after her work and we went again to the book sale. By this time, the free bookmarks had run out. There weren't as many books left and they weren't as orderly as compared to that morning. My friend bought a few books herself and we went back happy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I arrived at my sister's, I raved about the cheap books (and the variety!) and so we went on the second last day with my youngest nephew. Sis bought her management and cookery books, I finally spotted the Scrabble-related books for a friend of mine who was a Scrabble fanatic and my nephew bought all the Bionicle books he could find.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXJrFoah1LI/Te3SQLBpI5I/AAAAAAAAAJs/5G3Vz4F8hd0/s1600/DSCF3162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXJrFoah1LI/Te3SQLBpI5I/AAAAAAAAAJs/5G3Vz4F8hd0/s320/DSCF3162.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The damage</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would say that the sale is well worth it if the cost of books these days is simply too exorbitant for your tastes. I went to MPH the other day and spotted the same Scrabble dictionary selling for RM59.90! I saved RM51.90. Isn't that just mind-boggling?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wonder where the sale will be this year, and I hope it'll be close enough for me to attend again. =)</div><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-8948156423587675072011-05-18T17:59:00.000+08:002011-05-18T17:59:05.321+08:00Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hi all,<br />
<br />
My friend who came to visit has come and gone. It was such a joy to have company for a month. We did have our differences, but it was nothing to lose sleep over. It was unbearable for him the first 2-3 weeks as it was unusually rainy for March. We couldn't go out and he couldn't walk as much as he wanted. However, he made do by walking to the public pool with Mum. And when it cleared up, I'd walk to the pool later so we could meet up and walk on the beach or have an A&W Root beer Float. Strange, why did I never bring my A&W VIP card? Oh well, always a next time. Yup, he plans on coming back to visit next March/April. Seems promising, yeah? I hope I don't mess it up.<br />
<br />
In other news, I was at BookXcess at AmCorp Mall and I got A Lion Called Christian for only RM17.90. It was such a good read, I finished it in under a day. I also bought Pearls Sells Out, haven't finished reading that yet, and won't until I go home. That day is yet undetermined.<br />
<br />
The nephews have two rabbits and one of them was sick. We first brought it to the State Vet Services and the assistant gave her a jab and told us to give it something for the fever. Two weeks later, with no improvement (and taking a turn for the worse within 24 hours), we took it to a private vet. That vet was really pissed off at the first vet because the former did everything wrong. Rabbits can't be jabbed like that and aren't supposed to be given fever meds. Poor Bandit's kidney and liver were compromised due to that. It's been 13 days now and Bandit is very much better. No more slobbering. =)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-43121766398789996902010-11-23T21:52:00.000+08:002010-11-23T21:52:58.270+08:00Been awhile, eh?Hi there, I don't even know if anyone actually checks in to this blog anymore. So many things have happened since I last checked in. (When did I last check in, anyway? *grin*)<br />
<br />
I was in a non-relationship for awhile and going nowhere. I finally decided that enough was enough and proceeded to purge him out of my system. I removed him from my contact list on FB (we never communicated there anyway), as well as on YM. In the meantime, I started checking out OKCupid again. I really wasn't expecting any results. I usually say hi and the communication tends to peter out eventually. You can tell from the initial messages how it's going to go anyway. I recall checking out someone's profile, and not impressed by what I read. So I happened to catch a glimpse of similar users listed on the right hand side of the rejected profile. One guy caught my eye. I clicked over to read his profile. He had some nice smiling photos, a very detailed profile not unlike mine and I could tell he was smart. One could be almost intimidated by it. I didn't send him a message then. I decided to write a testimonial instead, applauding him for an interesting profile. He approved it and that was when we started sending messages to each other. I must admit that had he not mentioned an obscure writer, I might not have initiated any contact. Yes, I realize how close I was to not knowing him.<br />
<br />
Skip to two months later (all the while we had been communicating on FB and playing daily Scrabble games) and he decided to visit me. Had I not spent all that time chatting and writing to him plus getting a phone call, that decision of his would have scared me. Normally, I would try convincing anyone to rethink their decision. But he seemed sincere. He even wrote a fairly long message to my parents, asking for permission to visit me (as I live with them and he would naturally be staying under their roof). Just reading his letter to them, in all his honesty, made my walls crumble a little.<br />
<br />
When he went back home to Italy and couldn't spend time getting online, he would make short recordings for me to listen. He'd describe how he had escaped a storm as he cycled the mountains with that cute accent of his. I mean, he rode a bicycle, not his cute accent. Oh, you know what I mean! =P Nobody has ever made the effort as he has in communicating and sharing part of his life with me. No one has ever called me long distance multiple times just to hear my voice! And that quiver in his voice when I attempted to speak in Italian. I doubt that can be faked. He's as genuine as Lingam's Chilli Sauce.<br />
<br />
Just when I think that my feelings for him can't get any more intense, he says something more endearing. Since the very beginning, I have been forthcoming with him. He knows my feelings, my hopes, my dreams. He knows 90% of everything there is to know about me. And he's still here after almost 6 months! He's more than I could ever wish for in a man. He goes swimming every day, cycles, walks, does yoga. He goes for regular health checkups. He's not afraid of going to the doctor at the first sign of trouble. Yes, he seems too good to be true. Yet, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. Being cynical all the time is just too tiring and it does prevent one from enjoying what's left in life to enjoy. I'm giving in to my feelings for now. I'm ready to accept the consequences. The ride has been smooth so far and however it ends, I am so glad he is in my life!<br />
<br />
105 days until we finally meet! And I will get to spend a whole month with him. =)<br />
<br />
Ti voglio bene, S!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-73655711128802658332010-07-28T11:02:00.000+08:002010-07-28T11:03:03.375+08:00Found a site offering cheap electronic alternativesHi all!<div><br /></div><div>Been busy working at the bakery. 6 days a week, so that one day off, you'll find me in bed or taking pix. Blogging has been put on the backburner. Oh yes, you will also find me on Facebook, playing lots and lots of Scrabble.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyways, wanted to add that there's this site I found that offers cheap electronic alternatives. They have a page on FB and a running contest where fans who post products from their site could win US$200 to use at their site.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've posted the links on Twitter, FB, Google Buzz, Yahoo pulse, Friendster and now here. Wish me luck!</div><div><br /></div><div>If I won the US$200, I'd use part of it to buy this:</div><div><a href="http://www.cheap-electronic-store.com/prodDetail.asp?MercID=48&ProdID=713&page=5">http://www.cheap-electronic-store.com/prodDetail.asp?MercID=48&ProdID=713&page=5</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I could do some ghostbusting since I live so near the cemetery. But am I brave enough?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-689809269857491672008-12-12T13:24:00.001+08:002008-12-12T13:24:31.660+08:00Check out KLM - Fill a Plane - Promote your plane<p>Hi,</p><p>I want you to take a look at : <a href="http://tellafriend.socialtwist.com:80/web/redirect.jsp?-42604152774440517221">KLM - Fill a Plane - Promote your plane</a></p><p>If we get to fill the plane, we ALL go to Amsterdam. Return airtickets, FREE! Imagine, your friends will be with you too! Please, please click on the link to join this contest.</p><p>Thank you all!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1041681364648252512008-10-18T18:09:00.001+08:002008-10-18T18:09:30.844+08:00You stay on your side<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharlini/370684136/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/370684136_99499cc1be.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharlini/370684136/">You stay on your side</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/sharlini/">Sharlini</a>.</span></div><p>I took this photo almost two years ago. Wanted to post it to the blog just in case it gets lost in the pile at Flickr.<br /><br />Taken with my first 'real' digicam, the Kodak LS755. I have no doubt that it was picasafied - sharpened, saturated, cropped. Need to remember this shot, because I think it'll make a good greeting card one day. Just need a good caption for it.<br /><br />And that's all for this post.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-15238457569056863962008-10-06T22:06:00.002+08:002008-10-06T22:16:32.008+08:00Free Handbag?Just a little update here.<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.handbagplanet.com/">Handbag Planet</a> will be celebrating the launch of their site on October the 15th. They are offering a free bag each hour on the day of the launch. This means 24 bags to be won in a span of a day! I've read the Contest Rules and they don't state that it's only open to those residing in the US and Canada, so I have taken the chance to enter this contest.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since I am not the kind of person to 'spam' friends about contests, I thought I'd promote the contest on this blog.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've tried adding them to my Facebook Friends List, but I've just looked through 203 profiles and could not find <a href="http://www.handbagplanet.com/">Handbag Plane</a>t among them. Hmmm. And I will NOT join MySpace just to earn more entries to this contest.</div><div><br /></div><div>So go ahead and join, the good people at <a href="http://www.handbagplanet.com/">Handbag Planet</a> have assured on their website that the e-mails gathered will not be used/stored/saved for evil.</div><div><br /></div><div>What is <a href="http://www.handbagplanet.com/">Handbag Planet</a>? From what I've managed to read on the Google Search Results, it's a site offering 'designer-inspired' bags for a fraction of the cost. However, there is no purchase necessary to enter this contest.</div><div><br /></div><div>Good luck!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-77396858197169273662007-08-06T01:10:00.000+08:002007-08-06T01:59:56.291+08:00RIP, Encik RosmanThe very first day I started working at that hypermarket, I met a former hotel colleague who informed me that Encik Rosman (he was the assistant manager during my three-year stint at the hotel - he was the Front Office Manager before his death) was terminally ill with liver cancer. I was truly shocked to hear the news because he was one of the nicest people I knew.<br /><br />Ever since I knew about his worsening health, I had wanted to visit him. But I was unsure when was the best time to visit. For one thing, my day off was on Friday and I wasn't sure if visiting him would disrupt his Friday prayers. And then there was the fact that I didn't know what would be appropriate to bring as a gift.<br /><br />In the end, I decided to call my friend and former receptionist colleague to ask her opinion. She was surprised to hear the news about Encik Rosman's illness, and we then decided to visit him together on my revised day off (the hypermarket restricts days off on Fridays and Saturdays - the busiest days of the week), which was on Wednesday.<br /><br />It was a good thing I went with her, because I did not know Encik Rosman's parents (they were taking care of him while his wife was working) and she did most of the talking. To be honest, I couldn't really hear what she was saying because most of the time, she was whispering while Encik Rosman was having his shower. Add to the fact that she was speaking in a Kelantanese dialect.<br /><br />I saw him when he was done with his shower and he looked so different. He was deathly thin, except for his swollen stomach and legs. His cheeks were hollow and his eyes had a yellow tinge to them. He said that he still had a healthy appetite and on hearing that, I had some confidence that he would hang in there for some time yet. He first knew about his condition in February 2007. He had stomach pains and rushed to the emergency room at the general hospital. The doctor there diagnosed him with 'work stress' and sent him home. When he returned the next day complaining of the same symptoms, the same doctor was there and prescribed pain-killers! He finally found out after visiting a private clinic/hospital.<br /><br />During this visit to see Encik Rosman, I also learnt that Asmadi (he was a bellman during my time there) had passed away after being diagnosed with bone cancer last year. He managed to get six chemotherapy sessions before the cancer killed him four months after his diagnosis. He was around 27 or 28, and he was married. According to my friend, his wife has now remarried.<br /><br />So just after lunch on Sunday, my friend called me and I was shocked to hear that Encik Rosman had passed away on Friday night. He slipped into a coma on Friday morning and never regained consciousness. I am so glad that I managed to visit him before his passed on. He had apologized for any wrong-doings that he may have done to me in the past and I apologized as well. I am still trying to get to grips with the fact that I saw him alive on Wednesday morning and now, he's no longer with us.<br /><br />I don't know how I would have felt if I allowed myself to get closer to people who smoked. I have always maintained that I could never be a good friend to a smoker because good friends would never allow their friends to kill themselves like that. I could never stand by and let someone I care for go down that path to suffering and agonizing death. While Encik Rosman did quit smoking three years prior to his death (he had to stop when he had his tonsils taken out), it was too little too late. Asmadi was a heavy smoker too.<br /><br />It's 2am, time for bed.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-16777812290953965902007-07-23T09:34:00.000+08:002007-07-23T11:45:10.370+08:00I got tagged!<span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tsk, trust me to find out a few months later that I've been tagged by <a href="http://faculty-of-reason.blogspot.com/">Feisal</a>.<br /><br />'7 Reasons Why You Blog'<br /><br />1. Because I had the time.<br />2. Because I started getting too lazy writing e-mail to people.<br />3. Because I didn't want to repeat myself when talking about the same thing (but I haven't really updated, have I?).<br />4. Because I had this idea that my brain was full of interesting thoughts and ideas.<br />5. Because there was that 'I am a blogger, I am cool and great' label attached to bloggers AT THE TIME. I wanted to dispel that. =D<br />6. Because I thought 'Do Not Resuscitate' was a great title.<br />7. Because I could?<br /><br />Hehehe, thank you Feisal. ;-)<br /><br />In other news, working is good, barely three weeks into my stint over there. Handle lots of returns. Word of warning to the people who buy stuff because they're cheap (the item and/or the person being cheap), there is a risk that your item (electrical in all cases) is a fire hazard. I've seen rice cookers with melted heating elements! Just imagine if someone had left it unattended and gone out. There would be nothing but burnt embers when they came home. If it's not the fire risk, then there's the risk of the thing not working at all. Rice uncooked or burnt, water unboiled, channels not changing with the remote control.<br /><br />The brands to look out for: Aspp0r0, Mapp0r0 (the zeroes need to be replaced with 'o's), Ph1lux (replace '1' with 'i').<br /><br />Sometimes, the branded items are better and you don't have to worry about them breaking down as often as the cheap brands. You can't buy cheap items from a communist country and expect Japanese technology, right?<br /><br />I received something in the mail yesterday. I came home around 11:20pm and saw it on my table. At first I thought I won a contest, and then I saw that Simon's gift had arrived. Man, opening that package was like giving birth to a baby (I did not use a pair of scissors)! So much cellophane tape. If tape was made out of trees, the world would look like Easter Island. But at least my present did arrive in one piece.<br /><br />When I got the present out of the shiny red wrapping paper (it was still covered in bubble wrap), I saw a photo frame. I already knew what it was from the Customs declaration form. My first thought was, "Awww, great! A photo frame. I don't even have photos to put in it!" Since getting my digital camera, I don't print the photos I take. They're either in my hdd or on Flickr and Photobucket. As I tore off the bubble wrap, I suddenly noticed the photos in the divided areas of the frame. Simon had printed out some of the photos I had on Flickr. Awww...<br /><br />By the way, while I was opening my present, Dad was standing by to see what I got. Because I took my time, he complained, "Can't you open it any quicker? I'm waiting!"<br /><br />So let this be a forewarning to anyone who wants to send me stuff via mail. Don't send me anything you wouldn't want my father to see. I have no privacy. And yes, I'll be 33 this year. Hmmm, maybe a risque item IS what I need to get some privacy around here. Hehehehe...<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharlini/601314683/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1436/601314683_80a4023e1c_m.jpg" alt="Worm in Raindrop" height="240" width="236" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharlini/696330665/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1291/696330665_f476615fd1_m.jpg" alt="I put my feet up - another angle" height="180" width="240" /></a></center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharlini/432245672/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/432245672_d5986b349f_m.jpg" alt="Daisy" height="226" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharlini/555892960/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/555892960_4b06572a93_m.jpg" alt="My Favourite Kind of Shot" height="240" width="210" /></a><br /></center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharlini/370684136/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/370684136_99499cc1be.jpg" alt="You stay on your side" height="478" width="500" /></a><br /></center><br /><br />I think it's one of the nicest things anybody's ever done for me. Thank you again, Simon. =) See, I don't need battery-operated items. =Þ<br /><br />Time to get out of bed. Bye and thank you for reading, all.<br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-20407601906888762372007-07-08T00:01:00.000+08:002007-07-08T00:03:25.072+08:00First Day At Work<span style="font-family: arial;">I could cut and paste, but I'd rather leave you <a href="http://sharlini.today.com/2007/07/07/first-day-at-work-070707/">the link</a>. =D<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-9427527565075689022007-07-02T12:28:00.000+08:002007-07-02T12:57:01.015+08:00Barely Alive<span style="font-family:verdana;">Hi all! I was supposed to have started work yesterday (1st July 2007), but I woke up to a scratchy throat and a hoarse voice. I haven't been this sick in over two years!! Of all the days to be sick, it had to be yesterday. Boo! Thank goodness, I got them to postpone my first day of work to the 7th (07.07.07!). Incidentally, I first started work at the hotel on the 7th of July 1994. It's been thirteen years! Man, I feel old.<br /><br />Apart from my flu, things are going okay for me. I mean, I no longer have to endure the occasional parental sighs about my lack of a job. Salary-wise, it's not much. I am definitely over-qualified for this Customer Service job (even if they doubled my pay, I wouldn't qualify for a credit card!). Not that I want a credit card, but it would be oh so convenient to buy Air Asia tickets online.<br /><br />Have reconnected with a friend and it's been really nice to be able to chat with him again. Can't help but enjoy the conversation. I'll leave it at that. No expectations, no pressure, no worries. Just enjoy the ride. Read too much into it the first time. I won't make the same mistake again.<br /><br />Oh, I won Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape" CD from Mix.fm on Saturday (30th June)! I heard the courier guy give a shrill whistle before we realized he was there. We are in need of a doorbell. So far, I like the slower paced songs like "4 In The Morning". And of course, there's 'The Sweet Escape', which I first heard on 'American Idol'. And I thought I had been blacklisted from all the Astro radio stations for winning so many contests in the past. I guess my dry spell helped a lot.<br /><br />Will be going to the bank after lunch today to open a new bank account with Allianz Bank. The problem with starting work is that we need to open accounts with specific banks. Had to open a Maybank account when I worked at the hotel, then one at BBMB (now CIMB) for my practical training at KLAS. So this means I have currently four bank accounts under my name. BSN, CIMB, Maybank (currently inactive) and Allianz. Too bad none have a healthy balance right now. Oh well, good things come to those who wait. *hopes for a cheque from ASW2020*<br /><br />I'll leave you with a photo taken of my dog, Tiny. He's seen bullying his younger sibling. Scanned from film. Please excuse the dust.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4a8OUGgSrUCM-p8pZ1hVbgbAYQ0vnyZML-sZg6Ah6Gx4nLG6838MDeSNgO4JHGLh-Awq5vHY2HFHdFe-1u6mACsqjmEYp4rQWk6biPx0YM19leI_bbEVWJrYV9y_xHoVvjug/s1600-h/Tiny2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4a8OUGgSrUCM-p8pZ1hVbgbAYQ0vnyZML-sZg6Ah6Gx4nLG6838MDeSNgO4JHGLh-Awq5vHY2HFHdFe-1u6mACsqjmEYp4rQWk6biPx0YM19leI_bbEVWJrYV9y_xHoVvjug/s320/Tiny2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082458429659852162" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-36403227579450795832007-05-14T17:07:00.000+08:002007-05-14T17:07:50.666+08:00Fungi<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_qXC9a0wUnW7DBc_p2g576uopVUUTAbOTN2R5Jk3nlqNr6WOg68qUMBCRdibm2o7n3MaC3OSytxxVGGHdz3iozmuA9y-09Z06ZgD6fuMHBYn8xkw3QhnsQL76DHqkdZCzj8G/s1600-h/100_1881.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_qXC9a0wUnW7DBc_p2g576uopVUUTAbOTN2R5Jk3nlqNr6WOg68qUMBCRdibm2o7n3MaC3OSytxxVGGHdz3iozmuA9y-09Z06ZgD6fuMHBYn8xkw3QhnsQL76DHqkdZCzj8G/s320/100_1881.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-3182645156499021552007-03-25T19:48:00.000+08:002007-03-25T22:03:55.707+08:00I quit!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hi again all! I am still alive (you'd have known if you checked the other blog).</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After getting a letter to attend an interview for the T3rengganu Graduates' Attachment 5cheme and subsequently passed the 30-second screening process, I quit the Phot0nics and Fiber Opt1cs course. I just couldn't handle the daily walk and climbing of stairs in addition to wracking my brain over calculations. Sure, NOW I know how to convert dBm to milliwatts and vice versa, but would it actually matter? Apparently, the place for women in this industry is in the lab.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The only thing I liked was splicing the two fiber optic cables together and getting 0.00dB fiber loss.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'll be attending the 3-day orientation at TE5DEC starting on the 27th. If all goes well, there will be an employer who will take me in for six months by the end of the orientation. If all goes better, my job application to a university here will be accepted and I can start working again.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On an even better note, I won a Ghost Rider key-chain worth RM120! Yaay for me! I had just decided to check the previous Sunday papers (in the stack under my Dad's table) and was not deterred to see that my Mum had already tied them all up. Usually, I'd figure that it wasn't worth untying and leave it at that, but something spurred me on. I carefully untied the knot using my handy fingernails and went through the papers. The first copy didn't have anything, so I went through the second copy, dated the 18th of March. Lo and behold, my name (albeit misspelt) was first among three set aside to receive the Ghost Rider key-chain! I'm pretty pleased with myself! I don't need the Timex watch worth RM509 (I'm VERY sure it'll be too big for my skinny wrist) and I don't need the t-shirt worth RM200 (it'll probably be too big for my skinny frame and t-shirts DO get dated, especially T-shirts commemorating movies. I don't need a silver notebook, Collar Pin, bandana nor poster. So I couldn't have won a better prize. =)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It sucked that I didn't win the iPod in that Valentine's Day contest. I'll just keep waiting before I actually buy one. Perhaps the price will go down for the older models and I'll be able to get one for under RM100. Yes, I am willing to wait 20 years. Hmmm...I wonder if I'll still have my hearing after being bombarded by loud music by the time I'm 53. hehehe...don't mind me.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Take care all!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1169398598002253122007-01-22T00:52:00.000+08:002007-01-22T00:56:38.026+08:00Off into the unknown<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I will be leaving on a 6-month course on Photonics and Fiber Optics tomorrow (Jan 22nd). My course is scheduled to end on the 26th of July 2007, one day after my birthday. :)<br /><br />I don't think I'll be doing any blogging til then, so you might want to check out my other blog while you are waiting: http://sharlini.today.com/<br /><br />Do take care and wish me the best of luck! I'll need it for 'Mathematics for Engineers'. XD<br /></span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1167593816128151732007-01-01T03:11:00.000+08:002007-01-09T18:43:18.673+08:00Happy New Year 2007!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1303/1595/1600/323605/100_9116.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1303/1595/320/514328/100_9116.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's past midnight, it's officially 2007 here. So, happy new year! To Duncan and Marie, we received your lovely calendar in the mail. Thank you so much, those photos always make me wish I had money to travel to your beautiful country.<br /><br />I received a letter on the 30th informing me of an interview for a course in Photonics and Fiber Optics on the 9th. Please keep fingers crossed that I'll get through the interview. I'm not sure how up to date the information on the TESDEC site is, but if it's current, then the course could be for four months. The latter stated that the course is free and that an allowance would be given.<br /><br />According to a company site (I noticed that the letter was CC-ed to the manager of this company, asking him to give a briefing), they had successfully trained 15 trainees during one stint and 13 of these trainees found jobs at the companies they had undergone their practical training with.<br /><br />So, fingers crossed! I looked at the course outline and there's absolutely NO PROGRAMMING! One 'Mathematics for Engineers' module though. Won't worry about that until I actually am told that I succeeded in the interview. Here's hoping for the best in 2007!<br /><br />"In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want." ~ Irish Toast<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1167252563331803302006-12-28T04:41:00.000+08:002006-12-29T01:57:58.876+08:00Merry Christmas!<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank goodness Christmas isn't just on one day. I still have time to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Since I'm here, Happy New Year 2007, too!<br /><br />I must apologize for my lack of updates. I have to beta-test another blog provider and it can be tedious when one doesn't have anything interesting to write about.<br /><br />No thanks to my extended trip to KL, I was behind in my posting, as well as behind in my depositing my check. Oh well. I guess I'll just have to try harder.<br /><br />Not much rain here, as opposed to the southern parts of Peninsular Malaysia. It is rather weird to be reading about floods and there is no mention of Terengganu.<br /><br />Nothing new on the job front. Still jobless.<br /><br />That's it for now. Bye!<br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1163955828182703022006-11-20T00:26:00.000+08:002006-11-20T01:03:48.403+08:00Psst!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/1600/DSCN0290.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/200/DSCN0290.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yes, yes...I am still alive. Been busy administrating at Challenge You as well as going out into the garden to take photos. Doesn't matter if it's raining, or hot, or teeming with ravenous mosquitoes.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">So, is it just me or does this top view of a mushroom in the garden remind you of a certain body part owned by both men and women alike? Oh don't mind me. My mind works in mysterious ways. I used my sister's Nikon L4 (or was it L3? Well...the cheaper one) to take this shot.<br /><br />In terms of Macro quality, I still prefer my Kodak EasyShare LS755. But I really envy the fact that the Nikon has that Panoramic function and is also able to detect faces for portrait shots! Eeee....never mind, I must endeavour to seek that vivid yellow object to snap and enter that NGC Asia/Nikon Photography contest! I'm not going to share the link. The hint is already there. *eg*<br /><br />In other news, I was also busy with butterfly chrysalides the past month. I discovered the caterpillars in the lime bush during their various instars and realized how dangerous it can be for them, despite looking like bird crap and having malodorous liquid emanating from their osmeteriums. Once, there were 17 caterpillars...and that dwindled to ONE in a span of four days! Eaten by birds and killed by Kerengga ants...what a way to go.<br /><br />I did manage to save three that had begun pupating. Alas, only the first one that I had taken succeeded in becoming a beautiful butterfly.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/1600/100_6981.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/200/100_6981.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/1600/100_7247.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/200/100_7247.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/1600/100_7256.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/200/100_7256.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Beginning to pupate >> A few hours before emerging >> Beautiful Butterfly!!<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I am still so proud that I managed it! The good part about it was that I didn't have to feed it, or clean after it...just occasional sprinkles of water (which made it twitch). The butterfly crawled onto my hand on its way out of the container and it did not feel at all delicate. It had started moving about around 4:35am. I awoke sometime after 6am and there was a horizontal tear along the side. I thought I would aid in its exit by sprinkling water and then it stopped moving. I thought I had drowned it! XD Well, I was too sleepy to care by then, so I went to sleep. Without the aid of an alarm clock, I woke up again at 7:20am. The butterfly had emerged! I feared that if it remained in that juice container, its wings wouldn't fully extend, so I hurriedly took it back to the lime plant.<br /><br />It spent a few hours sunning itself on that branch, and soon the clouds covered the sun. It flew away before the first drops of rain fell.<br /><br />And that will be all for now. Take care, all!<br /></span></span></div></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1159041003440468432006-09-24T03:35:00.000+08:002006-10-10T10:59:11.206+08:00And the unofficial results are...<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">With just ninety vacancies and 1318 shortlisted applicants, it was to be expected that I didn't get the job. I'm fine with it, it's my parents who are driving me batty. I know they want and are hoping for the best for me, but it's not doing me any good to be sighing and saying, "You didn't get the job, tsk..." Hello? I was the one who checked. I KNOW I didn't get the job, no need to remind me.<br /><br />I have this belief that in the long run, everything that happens will eventually be to my benefit/happiness. May not seem like that now, but who knows? Maybe I'll win the lottery some time in the future - because I didn't get the job. Hehe, wishful thinking. It's the only thing keeping me sane. =)<br /><br />I'm not the kind of person to wallow in self-pity. I like to stay calm and mellow (and other people would think that I don't have a care in the world and I should be trying harder to get a job). I've been through enough disappointments to know that it'll all work out in the end. Of course, the ultimate end always ends in death, doesn't it? And by then, who needs to worry?<br /><br />End of very short rant. Have a backup plan B and C. Hopefully, I'll go with plan B (take Unemployed Graduates' Training Scheme course) and not plan C (apply for that HSBC Global something-or-other where you try sounding like you're British or American and receiving calls from those areas).<br /><br />Hmm, wonder when my ASW2020 dividend is going to arrive.<br /><br />That's it from me. Take care, dear reader.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1158752353576936822006-09-20T19:34:00.000+08:002006-09-20T19:39:13.586+08:00And the result of the interview is...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">*drumroll* ... postponed til next week! And if I hadn't asked an ex-coursemate (who had also applied for the job), I would have been checking every day at every hour until my eyes popped out. It pays to scan through the 12,000+ names that were on the list of those shortlisted for the interview (not just for the job I applied for). I know that at least four of my ex-coursemates also applied for the same job.</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1157648587665093562006-09-08T00:48:00.000+08:002006-09-08T01:03:07.680+08:00Still alive<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Yes, I am! I've just been busy helping out as admin in a Flickr Group called '<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/challenge_you/">Challenge You</a>'. It's fun. I'll only use my photos when a challenge is close to expiring or I just want a challenge to begin. *grin* Anyways, I wanted to recap something that happened months ago.<br /><br />Just before going to that Habib Jewels store for the prize-giving ceremony, I spent time at another jewellery store at Ampang Point. Hmmm, I can't quite remember what it was called. Was it Lazio? Whatever...I went there to waste some time and this young salesman attended to me. I did explain to him that I was just browsing because I was going off to Habib Jewels later. So I looked at all the chains, pendants, rings, earrings...and then I came to a display that had cartoon characters, such as Sylvester the Cat, Hello Kitty, etc. "We also have Twisties!" said the enthusiastic salesman. I thought, "Eh? Twisties? Isn't that the snack?" I saw what he meant. But I'll only reveal to you what he was referring to after I tell you that I went to the Kuala Lumpur International Motorshow 2006.<br /><br />As my aunt decided to wait outside, my uncle and I rushed through the exhibits. But not such in a rush that I spotted 'Twisties'. Hehehe...</span><br /></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/400/100_3179t.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">End of my mini post. At least it's something, yeah? Oh, and I won't know the results of my interview until Sept 19th. *fingers crossed*</span> <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> <div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1154944934074779222006-08-07T17:32:00.000+08:002006-08-07T18:02:14.256+08:00Time Waits For No Man<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">And it's not waiting for me either. In 13 hours, I will be up to have breakfast and prepare for the inevitable. My interview with the Malaysia Public Services Commission. In Malay, that would be the Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam Malaysia (SPAM) - but it's commonly known as SPA.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">After days of memorizing names of ministers (please don't ask me which Ministry Datuk Dr. Peter Chin Fah Kui is from!) and thinking, maybe they won't ask me this...maybe I should read something else, the time has come. I don't remember more than half the things I learnt in uni and right now, I don't really care. I either get it or I don't. If I don't get it, I'll take that Graduate's Training Course (Web Publishing and Web Application Development) for 5.5 months at Cosmopoint Kuala Terengganu and I'll be guaranteed a job after that. If I do get the job, well...I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. besides, I have my parents to worry about that. *g*<br /><br />Ugh, I'll have to be aware of what's in the papers tomorrow. Keep abreast with developments. Guess they won't ask me about the Terengganu lad from Marang who won 'Akademi Fantasia' last Saturday. Would they ask about the Prime Minister's son-in-law, Khairy and his problems in his party? Did he really take Maya Karin as his second wife? What about Siti Norhaliza and her impending wedding on the 21st to Datuk K (Datuk Khaled Mohamed Jiwa)? What about the Middle-east conflict? What about Tiger Woods' victory? What about Mel Gibson's drunken anti-Semitic rant?<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">If and when I survive my ordeal tomorrow, I might spill the beans about it in a post. I have read that some people have been attending SPA interviews more than 4 times (interviews are conducted once a year, I think) and they keep trying each year. Maybe I'll just attend this one to see what it's all like and be prepared for the next one if I am so inclined to subject myself to the same experience.<br /><br />Went to my uni yesterday and got my graduation gown. Purple with a silver stripe. Not going for those overpriced 'studio' packages with the frame and waxed over details. I'm going to go crazy with my digital camera. I have blue walls, purple walls, white walls, and a shelf of Encyclopedia Britannica to choose from. I just hope I don't stumble on my way to the Chancellor to get that scroll. That would be something interesting to frame. So, on the 11th is the rehearsal and briefing, and the 12th is my graduation proper. Apparently, I'll be the only one in the family with the mortarboard photo.<br /><br />Below is a pic of a lizard that roams our garden. Go to a pet shop in KL and this would probably cost a few hundred ringgit, and you'd have to purchase a cage, food, appropriate foliage to boot. This lizard comes free and it can take care of itself. Who could ask for a better arrangement?<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharlini/208153078/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/67/208153078_8bdfdf6943.jpg" alt="Here be dragons!" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /></center></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Here Be Dragons!</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Take care all! Have a good week ahead! Wish me luck and think good thoughts for me (because I really am a nice person!). ;)</span></span><br /></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1153650051698522192006-07-23T17:41:00.000+08:002015-03-11T12:39:44.411+08:00Sorry...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">...for the lack of updates. I got a little lazy and the heat wasn't helping matters either. And if it wasn't hot, then there'd be thunderstorms.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two Saturdays ago, I received a call for interview letter from the Public Services Commision (Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam). I had applied online at their site (<a href="http://www.spa.gov.my/">www.spa.gov.my</a>) in April and after the Deputy Prime Minister's call to have the government departments update their vacancies and offer jobs to 30,000 jobless graduates, received word from them. My interview will be on the 08th of August (08/08) and I have to be there by 8am. 08/08 @ 0800. That's got to be auspicious. But I'm not keeping my hopes up. I have googled for information and the details scare me to death. Why do the interviewers want to see me under pressure? I can tell them I don't handle pressure well without them resorting to bombarding me with questions about the Constitution and the Government. Eek!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And here's another scary fact.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Number of applicants:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">10,748</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Passed initial screening:</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1,318</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Number of vacancies:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">90 (yes,</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> NINETY</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">!)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Oh dear me! It's bad enough it's at 8am. My brain doesn't fully wake up until well after noon. And after lunch, it goes back into a dreamy state. *yawn*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maybe if I assume that I don't get the job, my confidence levels will soar. Must think: I arrived without a job, I'll leave without a job...so, what have I got to lose? Hehehe...yeah, crazy logic. What's the post I applied for? They gave 10 choices, but all that was completely relevant to my degree was Information Systems Officer (Pegawai Sistem Maklumat). Let's see if I remember the job description (translated from Malay): Responsible for ascertaining the suitability of the existing computer system(s) and further developing, analyzing, designing, installing/executing, maintaining and reevaluating the data and information processing system to meet with the Dept's needs.<br /><br />Some people commented about their interview experiences in forums and some said that they were NOT asked questions pertaining to their job. Some were.<br /><br />I don't know if I should be the first to go into the interview room or wait til the end, when the interviewers are anxious to get home (and not so eager to pressure the candidate). But the thought of spending all morning there and seeing the other candidates end their suffering after 30 minutes...that might just do me in. And by the time it's my turn, I'll be a blubbering idiot. best to go in there unprepared. "Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed." I think it was Jonathan Swift who said something along those lines.<br /><br />Okay, other than the fact that there's a pension plan after the age of 55, what are the benefits of working with the (Malaysian) government? Dad mentioned healthcare and subsidized housing.<br /><br />I received the two albums I won during the Hitz.tv Album of The Week contest yesterday. Shakira's Oral Fixation Vol 2 and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers' Stadium Arcadium. The packaging for the RHCP album is first class! One side for Jupiter, another for Mars (it's a two-disc set) and the folded end is where the booklet goes. I guess I have to listen to the albums costantly before I like anything other than Dani California and Hips Don't Lie. Nothing beats <a href="http://www.myspace.com/imogenheap/">Imogen Heap</a>'s Speak For Yourself album though. All her tracks are great!<br /><br />Today, I got Simon's present. Two days before my birthday. He toyed with my mind, saying it was another one of his battery operated gifts. The two previous gifts are known as Sparky and Horace. Sparky is a flipping dog that barks. Horace is a hamster in a ball. I suppose with my regular questions about Cauli Cheese and Shepherd's Pie and other English dishes, he got the idea to get me the "Porters English Cookery Bible (Ancient and Modern)" by Richard, Earl of Bradford and Carol Wilson. Gee, nobody's ever bought ME a cookery book before. I usually buy them for my mother.<br /><br />Okay, that's it for now. Take care all!<br /><br />BTW, I WILL eventually continue about my trip details. But this time, I will just append to the previous post. If you subscribe, you'll find out when I have done so.</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: verdana;">mailto:S.Landi@kent.ac.uk mailto:sl241@kent.ac.uk mailto:spartaco.landi.1972@gmail.com</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1150483216647196722006-06-17T02:31:00.000+08:002006-06-17T02:40:16.720+08:00Automotive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/1600/100_3183.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/400/100_3183.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Volvo C70 at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) '06. Submission to the PhotoFriday Challenge.</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16720830.post-1150053002650676002006-06-12T02:11:00.000+08:002006-07-01T01:45:37.760+08:00Day 2: Prize-Giving Ceremony<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I had set my phone alarm to 7am, but the voice and knock of my uncle on my cousin's door next to the room I slept in woke me up around 6:45am. I lazed in bed until the alarm was set off. The plan was for me to accompany my cousin to work, but I had to leave early because he had a meeting with a client around 9:30am. I was dressed by 8:30am.<br /><br />I waited. My aunt stepped down from the stairs just before 9am. Offered to make me breakfast, and I accepted a cup of <a href="http://www.milo.com.my">Milo</a>. Not much of a breakfast person. Still no sign of my cousin by 9.10am. My aunt knocks on his door to wake him up. Cousin appears at 9:25am. He said the client called him and he rescheduled the meeting to 10am. He dropped me off at <a href="http://www.midvalley.com.my">MidValley</a>.<br /><br />Let's see...where did I go first? When I got my bearings, I went right up to Pets Wonderland. I looked at the baby ferrets (imported from Holland) playing. I noted their big pile of poo in the corner of the cage (when they pick a corner, they REALLY pick a corner and stick to it). I saw the many Russian dwarf (little people?) hamsters squished beyond recognition (still alive, bless their little flexible bodies) in the gaps between enclosure and door. Sure, they look cute, but I couldn't get a hamster knowing that its ticker was set to stop after two years.<br /><br />I went to the other side of the entrance, where the lizards were. There was a huge iguana, basking under the heat of the light. It was shedding its skin. And I noted how iguana poo looked. I can't recall now, though. Then, when the staff had opened the store, I went up to see the guinea pigs. The dogs were not in their cages at the time. I love looking at guinea pigs, admiring their various colours (white, red, black) and appearance. I saw hedgehogs too...and then I came to the Giant White Mice cage. In the corner closest to the front of the glass partition, I saw two pink, hairless baby mice suckling close to their mother. Then, as my eyes wandered deeper into the glass enclosure, I noticed a mouse's head. It was attached to a dried up body. Hairless. Don't think it was cannibalism, as the body was intact. No signs of blood around the body. I informed a female staff member and she went, "Oh!" and then disappeared. I didn't see her again and I wasn't going to wait. I only had about 30 mins remaining.<br /><br />Next stop was Why Pay More? to check out on the shoes. The Reeboks in the style that I had bought in the past were all gone. More size selections this time though. But I wasn't planning on buying a pair of shoes, so I didn't.<br /><br />I went to IT World to check on the Mouse prices (what I needed) and saw a Logitech mouse with cool tiger stripes. But I didn't get it because I knew I was headed for Ampang Point and wanted to compare prices first.<br /><br />Then it was down to Watson's. Spotted a promotion where the <a href="http://www.stives.com/products/show_product.cfm?pid=4">St. Ives</a></span></span><a href="http://www.stives.com/products/show_product.cfm?pid=4"></a><a href="http://www.stives.com/products/show_product.cfm?pid=72"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" class="bodyReg" >®</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.stives.com/products/show_product.cfm?pid=4"> Medicated Apricot Scrub</a> came along with a free </span></span><a href="http://www.stives.com/products/show_product.cfm?pid=72"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" class="bodyReg" >St. Ives® Apricot Radiance™ Blemish-Fighting Cream Cleanser</span></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" class="bodyReg" > and it only cost RM18.90. The promoter was saying that the promotion had ended, but they were getting rid of their stock. I asked if there would be any in my town, and she said that she couldn't be sure. But the fact was, they wouldn't be offering this once stocks were sold out. I just had to get it. I've been using it for exactly two weeks now (wow, how quickly time flies!) and the effects have been good. I look better (no more dull skin) and my skin doesn't get dry nor oily. Just after paying for my purchase, my cousin calls and says that he'll be there in 5 mins. I hurry off to the entrance where he had dropped me off earlier.<br /><br />*updated*<br /><br />He was already parked out in the front and I didn't see him until a minute later (when he came out of the car). Took quite awhile to get to Ampang Point from there. It definitely was a long way away and I was glad that my cousin worked at Ampang Point (what were the chances it would be there?) and I didn't have to inconvenience anyone to get there.<br /><br />My cousin parked his car in the underground parking and arranged for his car to be washed. By the time we were out of there, we decided to have an early lunch, as it was already past noon. I had a plate of Chicken Rice and I think that cost RM4.20 (no soup for that price!). They even charged RM0.30 for iced water! My cousin picked up the tab, eventhough I had wanted to pay for my lunch. Bless him.<br /><br />I walked back with him to the shopping centre and loitered around, looking at pointing devices (mouses/mice). There weren't many computer stores there. Only two, if I recall correctly. I loitered some more, and then it was 2:20pm. I went off to the restroom to brush my teeth and look presentable. They only had two sinks there and I don't know what the other woman must have been thinking (toothbrush? toothpaste? homeless?). When I was done, I decided to walk to Habib Jewels at 2:30pm. I went through the side entrance and there were the usual glass displays and attentive sales personnel. I smiled at someone and mentioned that I was there for the prize presentation. She went off to ask someone else and that person told me that I could take the lift to the third floor. I did that and there was nobody there. Just chairs and the backdrop (just like the photo at the bottom - minus the people). I found an open door and walked through that. And saw a cleaning woman scrubbing a little fountain-pool thingy. Made small talk and then somebody approached me and said that they weren't ready and that the floor needed sweeping. Errr, okay. So off I went down to the ground floor and sat on a chair in the lobby area.<br /><br />The security guard was yakking away with the receptionist. And the seconds ticked by slowly. Around 2:50pm, an elderly Indian woman, two women and two little boys came into the lobby. I wasnt planning on being perky, friendly, so I just looked out of the glass windows. And boy was I glad. I saw a smart fortwo driving past. The first time I saw it on the road. The elderly Indian woman asks me if I was there for the prize-giving ceremony and I replied in the affirmative. I said that I was a consolation prize winner and she replied that she was the first prize winner. I think I congratulated her.<br /><br />Then a Chinese couple enters and the woman sits on the chair near me. I divulged that I was from KT and they were surprised that I would travel all the way just to accept the prize. I talked with the Chinese couple and the man replied that he was representing his brother (Teoh), who was in KT too. The brother had won the second prize. He asked me if I knew his brother, and I didn't recognize the name. And then..."You mean the man who always wins contests?" I asked. It was him indeed. The reason he didn't attend the ceremony was that he had just returned from Liverpool - the grand prize of a football-themed contest, and he wasn't up to travelling to KL. Had I known him, perhaps I could have been his representative too. And then absconded with the RM5,000 earring and pendant set. Naah, I'm just kidding. My conscience doesn't allow me to do that. Besides, they had photos of me at the ceremony, and all my details from the contest. I'd be a fool.<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/1600/100_3118.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/320/100_3118.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The boys were very boisterous. One had a Finding Nemo backpack, the other didn't. Together, they made a ruckus. Even during the event, one of them dropped their toy car loudly onto the wooden floor.<br /><br /></span></span></div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/1600/100_3124.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/320/100_3124.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/1600/100_3122.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/320/100_3122.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Before the event started, this was the scene. The photographer is the one on the far left, then the reporter and two Habib Jewels staff. My prize was in one of the smaller paperbags.<br /><br />An Indian man (Kumar) arrived just before the event was to commence and he was the other consolation prize winner. There were supposed to be three consolation prize winners, but the doctor couldn't make it. The third prize winner was caught in traffic and only arrived while we were having refreshments.<br /><br />Anyway, there was a little speech by the manager, and the PR woman. And then the winners went out to the front to receive their prizes. We had to read our winning slogans, and then we all posed for photographs. We were instructed to admire the first prize winner's bracelet, and to talk amongst ourselves. I think I remember saying, "Ooh, what a nice bracelet" twice. How idiotic.<br /><br />We had refreshments and sat around tables that seated four. I sat with Kumar and the Teohs. We were talking about contests and it seemed that we were regular compers. Kumar said that he had won a prize a year or two earlier. And Mr Teoh said that his brother owned a club and had the opportunity to collect bottle caps for entries. He also knocked on his neighbours' doors to ask for entry forms in their copies of the newspaper. In fact, he was the only one who submitted EIGHT entries while the rest of us submitted only one each.<br /><br />Just before leaving, I had mentioned that I was staying with my relatives in Puchong Jaya, and Mr Teoh said that they lived in the same area! I could get a lift back with them, they offered. Well, I tried to text my cousin, but there was no response, and I had to decline their offer. Small world indeed! I walked back to my cousin's shop and it was pretty busy.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/1600/100_3125.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1303/1595/320/100_3125.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">My cousin's shop during a lull in business. He was busy preparing details of the Maxis roadshow. We finally got back around 6pm, I think. The night before, the plan was to catch a movie, 'The da Vinci Code', so after dinner, we went off to the IOI Mall. I watched the movie, but my relatives dozed off during several scenes. I felt bad about that, even more so when my uncle hadn't freshened up after arriving back from work.<br /><br />*to be updated later*<br /></div> </div></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright ©2005-2006 by Tigrrr</div>Tigrrrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11539365524504923911noreply@blogger.com1