England's True Saviour

What joy to see Englang finally winning a football match. The media hails Steven Gerrard as England's (and their manager's) saviour, with headlines like "Gerrard rescues England from brink of disaster". It's easy to come onto conclusions like that, after all, the man did score 2 goals. Some (i think very few, if one considers his track record thus far) would give credit to Steve Mclaren for restoring Gerrard to his favourite position, something I would have done a long time ago. But further investigation would provide more hints & a clearer picture as to who is truly the mastermind behind England's 3-0 win over Andorra.

no, definitely not him...

The only reason why Gerrard was in that position was because Lampard was out of the England qualifier with an wrist injury.

"my wrist... it hurts so bad..."

And how was he injured? Reports say that Lampard suffered the injury when he was struck by a full-power shot by Wayne Rooney in training on Monday... Wayne Rooney?? Hmm, that makes perfect sense... My guess is that Rooney had a conversation with Steven Gerrard before training that day...

Rooney: Hey Steve. Lampard really sucked the other day...

Gerrard: Yea, tell me about it... I can't believe that the gaffer is still picking him.

Rooney: At least Beckham could cross a ball.

Gerrard: Yea, Beckham should play on the right wing. Then I should...

Rooney: Play at the centre, right?

Gerrard: Exactly.

Rooney: I have a plan to get you there, Stevie.

Gerrard: You're going to overthrow the queen?

Rooney: NO!! I'm going to do something to Lampard, but you'll have to play along.

Gerrard: Hmm... go on....

Rooney: First of all, get Lampard into position like this...

Gerrard: Uhuh...

Rooney: Then once you see me in this motion...

Gerrard: That's a really nice picture of you.

Rooney: Why thank you.

Gerrard: So what do I do next?

Rooney: Actually, if you haven't say it, I wouldn't notice how nice this picture really is...

Gerrard: yea yea, and then what do I do?

Rooney: Oh sorry mate. When you see me like that, you move away...

Gerrard: And...??

Rooney: And then this!!

Gerrard: That's a nice picture too.

Rooney: I'm good at choosing photos, ain't I?

Wayne Rooney, England's True Saviour.

Laptop Woes

There were actually people who send me their 'condolences' upon reading my blog entry, It Pays To Be Smart, in which I talk about how I fixed my 7-year-old company laptop & therefore ruining my chance to get a new laptop. A few days later, I told my manager that the laptop is still useable, and that it's still entirely up to him if he wants to give me a new laptop. I was surprised to hear him say that the original arrangement will stay and I'll be getting a brand new DELL laptop.

The specifications were meant for a programmer, so I assume it'll be quite a powerful machine. I got really excited. I can't upload my videos to Youtube or Google Videos (and now, blip.tv too) with this 7-year-old company laptop. I believe it's associated with the Trojan Horse virus that my company's anti virus software is unable to completely remove. And since the OS will be Windows XP, I'll be able to actually do video-editting with Windows Movie Maker. Not as awesome as using Nokia N series for instant video blogging, but that will do for the next 3 months or so. I was so happy, I was even willing to endure the occasionaly pink screens I get...




Last week the new laptops finally arrived. The new colleague got a hand-me-down from the manager while the manager gets the new one. I remained calm & did not show any excitement, even though I knew that one of my colleagues was configuring my new laptop at the other side of the office. But I couldn't hold my enthusiasm for long, and once I saw my colleague during lunch hour I asked him where's my new laptop. Then he gave me bad news:

"You won't get the new laptop, cause boss wants it."

I don't know how you would feel, but I was really ticked off. My manager promised me a brand new laptop, had he say otherwise earlier I would still be able to accept it. I also found out that the boss has previously lost his laptop only last year and got a new one. And now he dares to rob me of what's promised to me? I know he's the country general manager and all, but the payment for the laptop came out from the project budget, in which he does nothing!!

The new laptop is right now under my colleague's desk. It's been there for a week now. I can't have it, because my boss wants it. But I'm not getting my bosses' laptop either, cause he has not been in office long enough for the exchange to happen. I really need those super powers now, God...

GIVE ME MY NEW LAPTOP!! ARGHH!!

Public Transport - Trains (9)

My colleague from Singapore was discussing about the public transport system in our country. He made a point when he said that actually the train routes have covered many places. I don't know what the people living in Subang would think, as the LRT routes has yet to be implemented over there. But I'll still say that I can't comprehend the reason why Sentul can't be part of the route to Rawang. Sentul trains serve so few people, yet there are so many trains servicing the Sentul route & they always come on time. Unlike the Rawang trains, where you would have to wait an hour to go on a train like this...

This picture was taken only yesterday (26/3/2007), and I dare say that such sights can be seen on a weekly basis (at least). And it's in such situations that the idiots in us surface and make things worse. Sometimes I can't blame them for forcing their way into the crowded trains and thus causing more discomfort to everyone. If you ever had a bad way at work, surely you know how desperate we all can be to go home, even if it's just 5 minutes earlier.

Yet there are certain things that certain people do that make you wish you had super powers...

I have no problem with people resting during working hours. In fact, I believe it's necessary. I mean, you would at least have to consider toilet breaks, right? Why did this guy have to create his own "REHAT" sign? Is KTM abusing their workers? And why isn't there another person standing by the ticket counter?

Sometimes I like to lean against the pole too. BUT NOT WHEN THE PLACE IS PACKED & EVERYONE'S STRUGGLING TO BALANCE THEMSELVES!! You think they're just ignorant and stupid, so you say "Excuse Me" and hope they would get the message. But don't be shocked when the only thing that they move is their head to look at your direction and their eye balls to stare at you...

BlogLinks of Mine

warning: this post is labelled "Lame".

Finally made a decision today to participate in NuffNang. And since I would have to be perform some HTML editting, I decided to finally upgrade my Blogger template.

I became indecisive when it came to categorizing the bloglinks at the sidebar. Initially I was thinking about putting the title "Blogroll" and then list down every blog I read. But it seemed unsuitable & rather untruthful, because there are blogs that I don't visit on a daily basis - like my friends' blogs. They don't update frequently, so I only drop by once in a while, just to be up to speed with their lives. So that can't be seen as "blogrolling", right? It's more like... "blogdroppingby"s or something...

Maybe I'm taking this too seriously, but I think the blogs that one blogrolls really reflects one's personality. What they like, what they are passionate about, what makes them.... tick. Ok I am taking this too seriously. But just recently I was blamed by someone who watched a lousy movie. I previously linked Yasmin Ahmad. I use to link her writings, and furthermore she's a movie maker. So my friend assumes that I recommend every Yasmin Ahmad movie, and was terribly disappointed by Mukhsin. Gosh, I've never even watched a Yasmin Ahmad film before!! Anyway, since I've not been reading her blog for such a long time now, her link is removed.

So I figured that perhaps it was best to categorized the blogs I read into "Friends' Blog" and "Blogroll". But then the other problem surfaced - how does one define "Friends"? Where do Cely, Earl, and Daniel fit in? They have my number, we chat online, they've invited me for outings (not that I've attended any. YET)... So are they friends? Will they get offended if I don't call them as friends? Would they despise the notion of being friends with someone like me? I dare not assume anything.

Finally I've decided that under the "Friends' Blog" section will be the people that I've actually met before. I've seen Cely a few times, so she'll be there. And I believe I'm the only one who accurately translate the name of her blog (from mandarin to english) too. So yea...

And just so that there would no longer be any misunderstandings and people blaming me for bad material/products/movies on other sites, the other category would be "Blogs I Frequent". I don't always agree with them, but I like reading their blogs as they are thought-provoking and sometimes entertaining. If Daniel says he likes a song, it doesn't mean I like that same song. It also doesn't mean that I read/see everything Earl posts on his blog...

So what did I just say?

23 March 2007, The Pink Ping Pong Ball Story

For complete and full appreciation of this video, one must be in complete and utter boredom.

Currently there's something wrong with the embedded video. So in the mean time, click on the Video link here. Thank you.

Why I Blog

Tagged by Cely.

1. I started blogging because I had nothing to do & I had to do something. I just started my first full time job & there was almost nothing to do. Actually there was one thing to do - to pretend that I had something to do. It's not easy pretending that you're working, you know? So that's how I started blogging...

2. Writing has always been my passion. It keeps me focused, helps me to relax & organise my thoughts. I would like to think that this hobby of mine has actually helped make me wiser.

3. It's always a risk to put your thoughts out there, especially in the world wide web. I had my share of unpleasant comments & misunderstandings, but I have got to know so many people & it's really awesome knowing that you're part of a community.

4. In my ideal & perhaps ignorant way, I actually believe that my writing can make a difference in the society. I dont' know how and I don't know when, but I'm hoping that some day someone would be inspired and motivated by me to make positive changes in their lives. I want to provide entertainment, laughter, helpful information, thought-provoking questions, inspiration...

5. I love the attention.

I'm tagging the following people, and I'm not going to care if they do this or not:
1. Desiree @ http://chaotic-perfectionist.blogspot.com/
2. Elizabeth @ http://pinkpandaeli.blogspot.com/

Suppose to tag 5 people but gosh, I'm so lazy to think now...

Suitable Adjectives.

Background story: While I was in May's house last night, her cousin, 10-year-old Johannah, asked me to help her with her chinese homework. She was suppose to describe an animal in a form of poetry. She chose bird as her subject, and I gave her one example:

"鸟儿是纯真的小孩， 在天空自由自在。 "

Now, let me clarify that the purpose of showing you the example I gave Hannah is not meant for me to boast. After all, it's a 10-year-old's homework. Furthermore, I'm not the type that would blow my own horn, but I could, I would... Anyway, it's for reference for you lah, basically. So you know what's going on. The idea is to describe the animal using a characteristic of another subject. Ok let's get back to the story.

I wanted to help Hannah think on her own, so I asked her several questions.

Joash: You have to describe the bird, Hannah... Now, is the bird funny?

Johannah: Don't know.

Joash: Is the bird handsome?

Johannah: Don't know.

Joash: Is the bird stupid?

Johannah: Of course stupid lah... the bird didn't go to school also...

Joash: (bursts out laughing)

Johannah: All animals stupid one mah, cause they don't go to school.

Joash: (laughs somemore)

I tried to give more clues to help her.

Joash: Ok, who sits beside you in class? What's her name?

Johannah: But it's a boy...

Joash: Ok, then tell me his name...

Johannah: Chinese or English name?

Joash: Whichever lah... not important.

Johannah: you tell me lah, Chinese or English...

Joash: ok ok, give me his Chinese name.

Johannah: 张志强。

Joash: 志强 got do homework or not?

Johannah: Got.

Joash: Everyday got pass up homework?

Johannah: Got.

Joash: So can we say that he's hardworking?

Johannah: (nods head in agreement)

Joash: Ah, can we also say that the bird is hardworking?

Johannah: But birds don't have homework also...

Joash: (bursts out laughing)

Just before I left, I said thank you to Hannah...

Joash: Thank you for making me laugh ar, Hannah...

Johannah: Why you say thank you to me?

Joash: Cause you made me laugh mah...

Johannah: I got make you laugh meh?

Joash: Just now you didn't see me laugh meh?

Johannah: Why you laugh?

Joash: ( =_" walks away immediately)

when I was bored

No I didn't kill myself.... I just drew this picture in Paint... just to make my colleague laugh.

Vlog - March 15, 2007

Kids...

We just parked our car when we saw this...

Hannah, 9 years old, proceeded to say,

"Why they put the word 'GATE' there 1? Like people don't know..."

She reminded me of a joke in the comedy series, Kopitiam.

"Why do you call your son Ah Chai? It's like naming a car 'Proton Kereta' and a building 'Wisma Bangunan'..."

Shocking!!

This is wrong for so many reasons.

"Bloggers are liars. They use all sort of ways to cheat others. From what I know, out of 10,000 unemployed bloggers, 8,000 are women..."

“Bloggers like to spread rumours, they don’t like national unity. Today our country has achievements because we are tolerant and compromising. Otherwise we will have civil war. Malays will kill Chinese, Chinese will kill Malays, Indians will kill everybody else.”

I suppose after all that "oh Malaysians are warm & friendly", "Check out our tourist spots we prepared for you", & "Look at our Eye!!", there's nothing left for Our Minister of Tourism to say... So he decides to officially (and publically) piss off bloggers & our Indians brothers... My friend pointed out an irony - his statement alone would do the damage he accused bloggers of causing. Probably it's been too quiet in that office of his...

And now I'm going to guess the content of his next public statement... You saw it first on MalaysianLah, friends... Here goes:

"I WAS MISQUOTED. "

(use your mouse to higlighted the space above)

It Pays To Be Smart

March 1st (Thursday) - I was extremely excited when my laptop's charger could no longer work. Finally there's no way to use the laptop anymore - my company has to get me a new laptop. YES!! After complaining about the daily blue screen (PC's way of showing you the finger) and the occationally uncontrollable mouse cursor, I'll finally be getting a new laptop!! Informed my manager about it & he confirmed that I'll be getting a TOTALLY NEW LAPTOP - NO MORE HAND-ME-DOWNS...

March 2nd (Friday) - Colleagues were asking about when I'll be getting the new laptop. I asked my manager of the laptop's status & he mentioned that the matter has been escalated to the boss. The PO has not been issued, but at least it's getting there. Hopefully my colleagues would be able to put pressure upon the matter & speed up the delivery of my new laptop... haha... this is awesome.

March 5th (Monday):

10.00am - Arrived in the office. Calmly I walk into the room where my new place is. I settled down and casually asked one of my colleagues to provide some documents, since I don't have a PC to work with, I thought I could some reading.

10.10am - I passed by my manager's office with the printed document, so I asked him about the new laptop. Then he said that he hasn't received the quotes - the colleague who's suppose to provide him with the quotes is on MC - and that means that the laptop would only arrive at least 2 weeks later. I told my manager not to worry & that I would just temporarily use a desktop (from the storeroom). I don't know why I said that.

10.12am - I felt the sudden urge to take matters into my own hands. I remember that my colleague's old laptop is the same version as mine (5 year old laptop), and there was also a problem with the charger.

10.20am - I spoke to the colleague to ask him exactly what was wrong with the charger. He told me the plug point - so I figured that the good part of the 2 chargers could combine forces & a miracle would take place.

10.22am - I found the old laptop in the admin's room & proceeded to try combining the 2 charges together. Nothing. I tried something totally unthinkable. I took his charger in its entirety & plugged it into my laptop. And it worked. I was filled with joy, but only for a moment. It suddenly dawned upon me - NO MORE NEW LAPTOP.

It pays to be smart...