Movies Since CNY

Some movies that I have watched after CNY, those that I can still remember lah.

"Hi babies have fingernails."
"Oh, gruesome. I wonder if the baby's claws could scratch your vag on the way out?"
Teen pregnancy! Just once and kena, how suay can they get? And fancy going to school with that tummy? >.< If it happened to me, I think I would rather get an abortion and quit school at the same time.

Witty dialogue. Soundtrack that for once, doesn't sound like a mishmash of various artistes promoting their new albums. Great!

"At last! My arm is complete again!"
The only colors in this movie are probably, black, white, yellow and red. Wouldn't be able to understand the musical if not for the well-done subtitles. Surprisingly violent! Blood spilling like nobody's business! Mr Todd's customers exiting his shop in the form of pies! And he even killed/tried to kill the very ones he was avenging :\ The baddie so gross ley, after snatching Todd's wife, he even raised his daughter so he could marry her in future! EEKs!

Maybe the video quality sucks. All black black, didn't see much. Not much fighting also. The only impressive thing was the glowing super duper powderful acid that corrodes everything in its path. Its really unfortunate that A and P must choose Earth out of so many planets in the universe for their battle.

I wasn't expecting that explosion in the first few minutes of the movie. Lawyers trying to manipulate evidence, to the point of removing people deemed likely to jeopardize the case. George Clooney is a habitual gambler, broke, in debt and gave up pursuing justice for money in the blink of an eye. Exciting ending!

Gigi Leung became a CFO just before the Asian financial crisis struck. So suay can? This movie is about the difficulties she and Hong Kong faced from 1997 to 2007. Quite boring lor, it's like, financial crisis struck, then in this year SARS, then o, this happened... zzz. And may I add, it's one humongous Osim ad towards the end.

Wow what blueberry nights? A 王家卫 film, I was expecting something really abstract, but it actually meant blueberry pie nights. Makes so much difference leaving out 1 word eh? This is more mainstream and easier to understand.

I encountered low frame rate while watching and assumed it's too slow playing from my server. When playing from my pc didn't help, I realized it's just something 王家卫 -_-;;

A producer of (failure) game shows by day, CIA hitman by night. Meeting his contact secretly, having beautiful women around, assassinating people, uncovering a plot to kill him... all from a guy who looks nothing like 007. Ok lah quite enjoyable. The dark humour.

Erm what was that about? Afghan-Soviet war? Pakistan in the picture! Too chim lah! Too political! Anyway, this Charlie Wilson guy coaxed money out of the US government to supply weapons and training to Afghanistan.

So does this mean he's the guy who trained Osama?

For Rambo 4, please refer to Devil's guide to the movies : Rambo 4. Basically I feel the same. Some points to add, I don't remember much of Rambo, just a muscle man in singlet and red cloth across his forehead, maybe to absorb sweat and facial oil. Didn't even know that he has a first name. Or that he actually has a dad and a hometown. Anyway now he's too fat to run around in a singlet anymore. New dresscode is T-shirt.

LAME! The part where Jay rewinded time was a bore. It's like telling the CG artists that they have 2min to do whatever they wanted, so they just did something. ZzzzZzzz.

Jap DVD always take so long to release. The movie is just like the drama, nothing much. Watch only if you have watched the drama.

Doink doink! Another crappy movie, but not as bad as Jay's. I don't understand why the scriptwriters had to cook up something called Jumper so that they can have a story about people who can teleport but have no purpose in life. It's supposed to be genetic, but there seems to be no pattern of inheritance, which would enable they to predict the birth of a jumper and sabo the mother to a miscarriage.

At least the paladins have a purpose - to hunt them, which brings me to another question. How do the paladin know that they are born paladins and they are supposed to hunt jumpers? When they were young, did they feel an indescribable hate for their peers playing hopscotch outside? Totally weird!

How come the male lead's mother, who is a paladin, gave birth to a jumper??

And the poor girl, her dream Roman holiday has become the nightmare of her life.

Sabotage

陷害 xiàn hài：策划阴谋害人

This pretty much summarizes how I feel about the latest enhancement I am involved in. Add new functionalities to an existing screen that had already been in use for a few months. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Afterall, somebody else had laid the foundation and since it has been in use without complaints so far, it must be rather stable. Not to forget, our layers of QC.

Developer -> QC tester -> UAT

Not when you have people doing like what Rambo is doing now, laying a trap.
After completing my enhancement with 100% confidence that there's no way I could have broken the existing functionalities, I performed my own testing and passed the buck to the QC tester. Found some bugs, fixed them, and proceeded to UAT.

The users came back to us with a bug list. Some of my own doing, but there are also bugs that have slipped past the above QC process undetected the first time the screen was rolled out. More appalling is that the latter outnumbered the former.

And it's not some hard-to-encounter bug. They are so obvious that they should have been uncovered the last time. Previous developer sleeping, previous QC tester sleeping, and best of all, previous users sleeping during previous UAT, waiting to 陷害 the suay developer for this enhancement.

Unfortunately, the same logic could be applied to me. At the meeting to discuss the bugs (according to experience, the bugs can be real, data anomaly, or users simply forgot what they wanted), the QC tester, L (the same person who tried to sell me The Bio Disc) remarked that I should have done thorough testing. Well I did, on my part! I didn't think that I was expected to retest every single thing all over again, on top of mine. L didn't find the bugs herself too, didn't she? But with the meeting agenda in mind, I wasn't interested in pinpointing the sole responsible person and so wasn't the TL. We just want to identify the actual bugs and fix them fast. Don't know why she has to bring that up! We will all get hurt if she probed. Anyway, PM also not probing, so why was she doing so?

One of the issues was when copying multiple rows of values, I displayed the first row because
1) it's existing logic
2) it's not mentioned in the specifications that it should be changed
3) it's been in use since x months ago and nobody made any noise
4) there was only space for one
There's no reason for me to suspect it's a bug and raise for discussion.

So now the user felt it is a bug because it may result in data-entry error, which as for why, I wouldn't go into detail. I told L #1 and #2, but somehow she interpreted it as me accusing her specifications of being unclear (she wrote it). The part where the bug occurred is right at the last page of the specifications, so she decided that she needed to reexplain the WHOLE specifications to me ALL OVER AGAIN! Even the front part where no bugs were found! I protested, but she said she needed to make sure I understood the front too, since they are all interconnected. I gave my TL the "help me" look and he intervened, probably because he didn't want to sit there waiting for L to finish the unwarranted lecture. *Phew*

The conclusion was that L was to ask the user whether they wanted to retain the current behavior or change it. L did so and sent out an email saying we would change the behavior as discussed. Black and white! I made the change, which was only an addition of 2 lines of codes, very easy. The tough part was having to write an impact analysis document and unit test case document. So troublesome lor. And not even my fault $^&$%#$@. I sent the "bug" for deployment.

Later in the day, the slow-to-react users replied the email.

"I thought we had agreed to retain the current behavior?"

W...what?

L replied:
"Yes, we had agreed to retain the current behavior, but later I sat down and thought, what if this scenario happened... *blah blah*, therefore, I feel it is better to change it"

WHAT FUCKING CRAP! YOU DOCUMENTED WRONGLY, JUST ADMIT IT!

Commenting out the 2 lines of code is not difficult, nevermind. I'm ranting because now I have to write yet another set of impact analysis and unit test case for this reversal!

ARRRGHHHH!!!!

The user reported another bug about inconsistency in system behavior. The user keys in some setup data and specifies a date for the setup to take effect. She found that sometimes the date would be saved as 1 Jan 2000 instead. After investigations, I found that the team lead had patched all old data to start on 1 Jan 2000. Judging from the transaction dates, I concluded that the user had mistook the old data for the one she newly added.

I told L my conclusion. But L thought it wouldn't be possible since the user is a very careful person and has more experience in the system than all of us combined. People do make mistakes, don't they? I showed L the overwhelming evidence. It's up to her whether she wanted to tell the user the cruel truth or sugarcoat it.

L: I'm thinking if it's possible that the TL changed the date to 1 Jan 2000.
Me: He patched the data first, then the user tested right? So that date must have existed before the user did that. Moreover, look at the transaction date, this 1 Jan 2000 was added in 2007. Look at this other row with, the transaction date corresponds to that in the screenshot, so I think the user actually added this row. She see wrongly lah.
L: No, what if TL patched the date to 1 Jan 2000 after the user added?
Me: Why would he want to do that? Unless there's another round of data patching, but no need for that right?
L: *shrugs* How would I know him?
Me: o_O

This is what we call groundless accusation.

Anyway, we sugarcoated the findings by saying we were unable to simulate the bug and ask the user to look out for it again.

So, next time in enhancement project plans, must allocate time for "TEST EVERYTHING ALL OVER AGAIN".

Spotted!

Was approaching this car from behind. On its butt, where the car model usually is, was written "left drive car". I thought it put for fun, until I overtook and saw the driver on the left side! Never knew Singapore got such cars!

The number plate very special also. S1934CD. Look out for it! Found from Wikipedia that it's for vehicles of the Diplomatic Corps. Don't ask me what it is. But they must be so important that we let them drive their cars themselves on our roads. Cannot use chauffeur one.

Hiring Blues

A guy from country C has passed the interviews and the TL was about to make him an offer. Unfortunately, his grandmother passed away and he had to make a trip back to China first.

Then he called backed from China to say that he's not coming back to Singapore anymore.

******

An appointment was made for the first interview of another guy, but he lost his way coming to the office. Nevermind, the office a bit ulu mah, so another appointment was fixed.

On that day, the guy called to say he has been hospitalized.
TL: O, give me a call when you are discharged?
Guy: I don't know when I will be discharged.
TL: ...

Made the TL wonder if the guy was simply saying he's no longer interested.

Most of all, why so suay??

*******

Had to give up a guy because we couldn't match National Cockup Schedules' offer. Seems like they are offering high pay to everybody huh.

Don't Invite My Mum

... to your wedding dinner.

Mum: How much did you pack?
Me:: $100
Mum: So much?! $60 is enough!
Me:: It's market price.
Mum: $60 IS market price!
Me:: 10 years ago is it?
Mum: Now lah, now is $60. Nowadays everybody pretending to be fat. (Meaning acting rich)
Me:: If you are really so poor, please don't attend the dinner.

You have been warned.

I shall help by not attending any invitations to her. Who knows, she will pack $60 for the whole family. If kena discover ah, dunno where to hide lor.

End of Tango

Yesterday, PM informed me that she has talked to the Manager and he will discuss with HR. So that means reply by tomorrow the earliest lor. Better man, still drag somemore, I don't know how liao. Maybe go home and type the letter first, if no reply, then print out?

But I was too busy to type letter lah. Today, got conclusion! The offer is perm, and a puny increment of $50. BUT! The PM took out calculator to show me that the increment is not just $50. I will be eligible for bonus. Last year, it was 2 months. Normal, 1 month, 0.75 month for a bad year. So assuming I got 1 month, plus AWS and the flexi-benefits, it is actually *TADA* almost 11% increment!

Really, I wanted to laugh. She's trying so hard.

If they really wanted to get rid of me, they failed. I accepted it :) Can keep the other bomb already.

Breaking the Inertia

Over the weekend, heard a gossip about Ass See Ass going to buy over National Cockup Schedules. Tried to verify from Mr J, who denied it, saying such word, and the opposite has been going on since dunno when. He mentioned that National Cockup Schedules is not in a very good shape, having made a loss and the CEO stepping down.

PM in a meeting till almost 11am. Reminded her about our appointment, but she said she's busy, but still found time to go out for lunch :\ Lunch more important than me! Like this sure cannot give reply today already lor.

Only got to meet her at 3pm.
Me: What are the plans for me after the expiry of my contract?
PM: We will extend it.
Me: (Sounds like a standard reply?) Still on contract basis? Can convert to permanent?
PM: I don't think so.
Me: O. Not at all?
PM: What would you do
Me: (只好以quit相逼了! But throw 1 bomb first, save the other for when I throw letter.) I might resign.
PM: Hmm let me ask the Manager then. Have you talked to him about this before?
Me: I have raised it to him, but we haven't discussed.

Ok. Manager went out already, so I don't think they would talk today. Tomorrow talk, 1 day to think. So reply by Wednesday? How to drag reply for 2 more days?? Help!

With M's suggestion, I self-issued 2 days MC and told National Cockup Schedules that I would be able to discuss with my boss only when I return to work on Wednesday. You can never have too many 损友s.

From Mr R, the guy who helped me submit my resume, I learned that an old bird from my previous company is joining them too, to the same project. I will get to work with him if I accepted the offer.

I feel that AiFalm has a brighter future ley... and it has been profitable. The people are nice, although they are mostly ah nehs, so I don't click so well with them. But the horrible thing about here is that they like to 拖拖拉拉 on HR matters. Last year, 3 weeks before the expiry of my contract, nobody seemed to know about it. I signed the renewal contract only like 1 week after the start date and I had half a mind to disappear until the contract was signed. This year, the same thing happened to an IA student they are absorbing. Then, I found that my RO should have received a notification 2 months before the expiry. Knowing my RO, I trust him to have escalated to the Manager, but he is still dragging his feet. Maybe he feels that inaction will solve problems? Like, drag till the last minute, I will be so desperate that I will accept all the terms in the offer? So sian lor, have to resort to all these to stop the inertia, on my boss' part and my part too. Better offer me perm now, so it will be the last time I have to do all these things. Or I won't stop trying to leave.

I don't know who is the last developer they converted. I thought they are expanding the team? Maybe they mean the outsourcing to country C and by contract staff locally. If no perm, how?

If only here is like Acensor, which thinks money will solve all problems. People throw letter, offer more money, so automatic.

National Cockup Schedules... tempting offer, work with familiar people, nearer to home. But I can't help but feel they are desperate. The horrible interview too. I don't know if I will die of overwork. I don't know if I'll still have a job after the contract for this project expires, like what happened in my previous job.

If I really throw letter, 2 weeks buy out + 7 days of leave = 3 days to last day! How to bring all my stuff home?

Desperation Detected

Woke up so bloody early for the interview. 6.40am lor! But for once, the interviewer was not late. She really is the HR.

HR: So this is your second interview?
Me: This is my second second interview.
HR: O, so who did you meet the previous 2 times?
Me: R and A. I haven't met the PM yet.
HR: Let me try and call him, he might be here already.
Me: (Ya, he might really be! Overnight, overnight!)
HR: It's a pity, he's on his way to a meeting.
Me: O.

*********
HR: Are aware that the working hours may be long?
Me: Yes, it has been highlighted in the previous interview.

*********
HR: If given, the opportunity, would you like to work here?
Me: Yes! (Take first, think later!)

The next thing that happened, is that she took out the contract, checkup letter etc!! *SHOCK*
HR: The offer is a 15-month package of $x per month. We are looking very urgently and with your relevant experience, this is a rather high offer. It excludes any performance bonuses that you are eligible for, which can be up to 2months. If you join now, which is before 1st April, you will be eligible for the performance review and salary review, so you might get an increment from there. You are also eligible for the choice benefits of $450 per year, which you can use to visit the dentist or go on holidays. But from experience, we find that people do not have time to visit the dentist or go on holidays, so we just give it to them anyway.
Me: !!

********
HR: When is the earliest you are able to join us?
Me: Erm 1 month later?
HR: How many days of leave do you have left to clear?
Me: Very few ley, I cleared them last year.
HR: How likely is it for you to join us earlier?
Me: I don't think it's possible, my project is rushing now.
HR: Has anybody in your company got their notice waived off before? Or do you know how it works or whether there is such a policy?
Me: Not that I know of. (So many funny questions!)
HR: Actually, we would like you to start ASAP. When you talk to your boss, can you first ask whether they can waive off 2 weeks of your notice. If they can't then ask them if we can buy you out for 2 weeks.
Me: O_O (Actually, I was thinking wouldn't it be fun if I kept quiet and just disappeared and joined you guys after my contract. I bet nobody would know.)

********
HR: Any questions?
Me: Well, I wanted to ask if it's possible to join after my contract expires, but I guess I don't have to ask already.
HR: Why?
Me: For the completion bonus.
HR: You must look at it this way. We are offering a 15 month package, you will get your AWS at the end of the year, which will be pro-rated, the performance and salary review, where variable bonuses will be paid. If you look at the long term, you will get more than the completion bonus.
Me: Right.

So I left the place with an envelope. Off to work!!

I asked to meet the Manager, who decides the headcount, like 1 month ago, but he's always too busy and I admit I didn't chase him also, because it's not like super urgent or that I have a trump card. I was actually almost resigned to accepting whatever Ass See Ass was going to offer me. What should I do, now that I have gotten an offer? Take it outright? 以quit相逼? Dump the envelope and stay anyway?

PM on leave. Manager not in. Why wasn't anybody there when I needed someone to talk to? But Monday need to reply already ley, where got time for my boss to counter? So I called my PM, but she said talk on Monday. Sigh, ok.

During lunch, I examined the contract. The 15 month thingy is not mentioned in it. Shall take it as maybe don't have.

I can't help feeling that I'm the spare tyre for some person(s) who has rejected the offer. If not, why the delay?

I agree the salary offered is quite high for my job scope. Like trying to lure me with money. Sure sounds delicious.

I lied about the number of leave days I have. The truth is that I have 7 days. Luckily I never say! Imagine using my leave to help National Cockup Schedules save money! No way lor! I'll rather get them encashed or sleep them off.

Miracle From National Cockup Schedules

Miracle! Miracle! After I got pissed off at my last interview at National Cockup Schedules, I didn't hear from them again. 1 week later, I felt it was safe to assume that I had buanged and my resume has probably been fed to the shredder. But today, 20 days later, I received a call from them! But I already sian diao lor, I was even contemplating to reject it outright already, so I was slightly more difficult than usual.

If I heard correctly, the lady who called is the HR. Should be lah, it's always the HR doing the calling. She wanted to invite me to a second interview. Wanted to tell her that I've already had a second interview and ask what happened to the previous second interview, but nevermind lah, the truth hurts. I'm right that it's a waste of time meeting that A guy, that they voided the whole interview! *V*

Ok, so it's a second second interview. As per HR's usual style, the lady proposed the next day.
Me: Sorry, I cannot make it.
HR: How about Wednesday?
Me: I'm afraid not this week. How about next Thursday? (Sotong is scheming again! I remember what I promised myself. I won't burn my leave for this crap anymore!)
HR: Next week is too long. Not this week at all?
Me: Evenings only. (You cannot, nevermind, we can scrap this.)
After some discussion, it seemed that evening is too late for her.
HR: How about early in the morning, 8am?
Me: (Har must wake up early ley!!) But I need to go to work. Approximately how long will it take?
HR: Shouldn't be long since it's a second interview. About 30min?
Me: Ok then.
HR: So I'll fix it on this Friday?
Me: Ok sure.

I was told to contact her upon arrival. Odd ley, not the PM? So HR is interviewing me? Great if it is! No more questions I cannot answer! Yay!

Now I have a problem. Friday is dress-down day, but interview have to dress formally ley. Do I have something that looks casual, yet formal?

If they dare to be late again, I'll be gone!

The Bio Disc

7pm and I was still at work, doing support for a tester, L. Meaning I cannot go as long as she's not done yet. She walked to my desk. Something to explain in person?

L requested me to make a data change for her and I got to it immediately, so that we can all go back earlier. As I was typing the query, she started asking me about my condition, gingerly, like all people, if they do dare to ask at all. The usual questions like what's the name, how did it affect me, when did it start, how did I know it started, yada yada. No harm letting her know.

She said she has something to show me. She sees me walk like this everyday and she feels for me, so she has been thinking whether to share with me something that might help with my condition, or even cure me. She was really hesitant, but after discussing with a colleague whom she shall not name (and I can guess who, must be her best friend), the colleague encouraged her to tell me and here she is.

Upon hearing this, I knew it could only be something shitty.

L made sure nobody else was around me, saying it's not good to let people hear us. She seemed to be more ashamed of my condition than myself? She googled "biodisc" with the general name of my condition. Then she clicked on The Bio Disc. The website is about water.

L: Do you believe that water molecules have energy?
Me: Of course! (废话, in Sec 1, the school already taught that particles in solids vibrate about their fixed position, so why wouldn't water have energy?)

She clicked to play one of the videos there and asked if I have turned my computer's volume down. What's she trying to do! I don't want to waste my time watching a video with her! Luckily she decided to skip it and scrolled around instead. I saw words like "MAGIC WATER", "Messages from Water", "Structured Water"... looks like some quack water thing I have read before, something VERY shitty!

Presenting The Bio Disc:

Diameter 9cm, thickness 10mm (i.e. 1cm, I smell an attempt to inflate figures)

What she wanted me to try is very simple - just drink water. But we cannot just drink any water. We must drink good water. Special water energized with scalar energy. Bio Disc will change the molecular structure of water (I always cringe when I hear this) such that it will be more easily absorbed by our cells. Her sister's dunno-who in Country I (she's from Country I), who's also a young woman like me, fell down one day and and became paralyzed. She took this water and soon, she could get up and walk! And many people have had a host of health problems cured just by drinking this energized water.

I wasn't impressed. I wanted to ask what scalar energy is, but restrained myself lest she mistook the question for interest in the quack cure. I don't believe any medicine can cure me, much less miraculous cure-alls. I wonder if the case of that woman who fell and became paralyzed was supposed to sound like me. Don't think so lor. Talk about gene-altering water! Can get from the stream beside the nuclear plant.

L: To make this water, all you have to do is to pour the water over the Bio Disc. I am not trying to earn money from you, and I do not ask you to buy a Bio Disc right away.
Me: Ok. (Why did she talk about earning my money?)
L: I have this Bio Disc at home. So what I will do is, I will provide you with the water, you drink it.
Me: O.
L: You have to drink 2L of this water everyday.
Me: (Horrified) 2L??? I can't drink 2L of water everyday! (It is possible, but not 2L of PLAIN WATER in 8hrs! I still want to drink coke, coffee, tea... where got space? I will drown!)
L: Yes! You can! I do and you should!
Me: (I think the bigger question is how to make my father take this water for me every morning.)
L: You will have to drink it at home too. I tell you what, you pass me some containers, I will fill up for you and you bring home.
Me: I can't! My mother will throw it away! (Not to mention that I will have to answer my whole family when they ask why I'm drinking somebody else's water. And where will I find the space for my mother's soup and my brother's junk drinks? Even if I do get cured, I'll probably get depression in exchange.)
L: Well, explain the Bio Disc to them!
Me: I don't think they will believe. (Don't expect me to talk to them when I don't believe myself.)
L: You can see this website. (Bookmarks it for me and clicked on some other results in the google search.) There are many other information here, you can google and see for yourself. I just want to help you. You look through and think about it
Me: Ok.
L: I also want to show you what this Bio Disc can do. I will bring it, and we will go to the bathroom, I will rub it on the part of your body that you think is weak, and you can feel its effects. We can't do it here because others will see us.
Me: (This is getting bloody ridiculous!) I don't think the bathroom is a good place. There's no place for me to sit.
L: It's ok, you don't have to! You can stand, it will only take a while.
Me: ...
L: We will have to find a day that less people is around, like now this time. I only come at 9 in the morning.
Me: So do I. (I dread staying back at work now.)
L: Do you have a religion?
Me: (Proudly) No! (Notices a subtle change in L's expression.)I believe in myself. (What's next, god? Now you can't say that I must have faith and god will help me, hehe!)
L: That's good! You must believe in yourself so that you will recover.
Me: (Wa this person good at 看风使舵 hor?) Yes.

She went back to her table. I continued doing what she asked me to do, only to find that she bloody went home! Meaning I wasted 30min of my life, my Valentine's Day, listening to her!

While waiting for my father, I surfed around that website.

Technically engineered natural minerals have been structurally bonded in glass, at molecular level, using several high heat fusion methods. This combination of the techniques causes a catalytic energy conversion creating a long lasting, specific natural Nano resonance in the BIO DISC.

The author probably dug out all the latest hottest chim words from everywhere to write this junk of a craptology. Reminded me of this prank paper. And what minerals, by the way? How come the thing is transparent? Does that mean mineral miners are a healthy lot?

The website listed many ailments that can be cured by drinking energized water... and they happen to be curable by drinking normal water too.

Bio Disc has a positive spin that overpowers e-smog. Hence, if you have Bio Disc on your body, it overcomes e-smog from your mobile telephone and computer. In addition to that, Bio Disc creates molecular structure in water which will neurtralise e-smog found in water.

I would like to know how.

It is also mentioned that water has memory, defined as "water’s ability to retain residual vibrations of all substances contacting that water". Ok, energy can be transferred. A beneficial vibration is sun's radiation. A bad vibration is forcing it through turbines. Don't understand why there's good and bad energy?? And what's more amazing is that water can tell good vibration from bad vibration and form beautiful snowflake-like structures (must be damn big) and cells will find it easier to absorb them because they are, erm, more beautiful? So the poor, traumatised water will resist being absorbed by a cell because it doesn't want to pass through yet another man-made opening? Honestly, any water being will be traumatised by the dark, moist passage resembling the sewers called the oesophagus, then meet the slimy pouch filled with bubbling HCl...

Here, Diamond Water is trying to break down water clusters, but here, they want water to do the opposite. Who is right?

You cannot 'overdose' on Structured Water.
Water intoxication is real. Go on, drink up, if you want to burst and die a like a Happy Tree Friend.

How does the water structure look like before and after it is exposed to the BioDisc?

Effect of structured water on cells

Looks like some focal and staining difference.

We have been vigorously testing Structured Water and currently have laboratory results which show lower boiling point...
O_O More like they need a new thermometer?

If it's such a disease-sweeper, they should volunteer their Bio Discs for trials. So many societies and associations for sick people lor. Just convince 1 gullible doctor to make structured water for all his patients. And when everybody gets well, it will surely take the world by storm. Wonder why they are not doing this? Sales sure shoot up sky-high. Maybe even the gahmen will buy some to put in our water treatment plant.

There's so much more, it's like a huge joke book.

A forum with an interesting discussion about this glassware. Apparently it costs about RM1000 and can last 15yrs, presumably from the date of manufacture. So if it's been sitting in the warehouse for 5yrs, you have 10yrs left. Didn't say if the energy will dissipate over time.

The best part is, this product is from Questnet, a MLM company. No wonder L don't want people to see lah... and emphasizing she's not trying to sell me something...

I don't believe in it, therefore it will never work for me. I appreciate her kind thought, but I won't try it! Flat NO! The poor people who tried, it's such an expensive placebo. I hope it works for them. A Chemistry textbook is cheaper.

Entertainment Over CNY

A vampire movie of some sort, except that the vampires are quite useless they don't have fangs, colored eyes and special skill, just immortality. Simply spells l-o-w b-u-d-g-e-t. To turn a person into a vampire, after sucking his/her blood, he/she must be raped. Just an excuse for blood, nudity and sex lor. Glad I watched it over mealS.

My CNY eve movie. Yup, watched a 七月 movie on a happy occasion. Didn't understand most of the dialogues and any of the songs, but still, it's very entertaining.

The movie version. OMG which woman will ever want a guy like that? Only in the movies I guess. It's ok that he looks nerdy, but looking at a script on a date?? *Sigh* But 各花入各眼, Miss Hermes can have him.

Not bad! But I wished the makers have stated the year that the remark that bee flight was aerodynamically impossible ( it's 1934 btw). I feel it will mislead the majority audience that scientists are still unable to explain this phenomenon.

A compass that everybody wants 'cause it's sooo cool. Lie to keep it, if you have to! This movie should be kept away from children.

Didn't watch 1 before. Pure, clean songs and dance. Doesn't apply outside the movie set.

New dorama by the cutesy Kyoko Fukada. About a tutor who can see people's future 20yrs down the road when she's stuffed with food. Funny, full of food and played by a cute girl who genuinely looks cute. Watch more before she's not cute anymore.

A fresh source of adrenaline after Heroes. Of course Arnie is not in it, he's Mr Governor now, remember?

And lastly, Galileo SP. Both the male and female leads are missing! Using the name "Galileo" to make people watch only lor! EEKS!

Sofra Turkish Cafe and Restaurant

I must complain about my interview to W and J! J mentioned before that she has a discount card for a Turkish restaurant in Shaw Tower, so there it shall be, in spite of my self-inflicted mouth ulcer.


I was there first. Wanted to order the lentil soup as I was quite hungry, but better not lah, save space for later! I need water. I spied the table next to mine having Perrier. Er no tap water? None of the waiters offered water too, like in Taka's Ajitei. Weird, now offering water is not in anymore? Wait and see first T_T

Food!

A $11+ salad. There's a spread of hummus that we were supposed to use as a bread dip, but we just ate it like that since we are small eaters. Eggplant, shredded seasoned purple cabbage, 1 cherry tomato, a small section of 1 end carved off and stuffed with an olive, from what I remember. And 2 rolls of yaprak sarmasi:

Vine leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, currant and spices. The leaves are edible. And VERY salty.

J had tomato & cheese Pide, which is Turkish pizza, shaped like a lasagne bowl. I suspected they baked it in the lasagne bowl itself.

W had shish kebap. Two skewers of marinated cubed meats (beef/lamb/chicken) served with salad.


I had dory fish with melted cheese, $19.50 which came with its own light source in a carved onion bowl. Such a huge plate, that I got a shock when it came. I was expecting Botak Jones serving style lor. This is so grand-looking! No wonder it came only when J and W were halfway through theirs.

The tomato beside the tealight has been hollowed out. Lift the lid for a tomato soup with cheese strips. The black mass is beetroot cubes on a carved tomato plate. First time eating beetroot (I think). Very refreshing and good when my tongue is numbed by too much flavor. As you can see, it's not just dory and with cheese on top. Got prawns on it somemore! And that's not all! There is a layer of stir-fried chopped onions, green pepper and mushrooms beneath the dory wor! You won't ever feel 腻 eating this! I think I sound like a tv ad :P No need to introduce the other side dishes, no 乾坤, can see for yourself. It's a pity I left most of the side dishes untouched, too full.

Dessert is chocolate pudding with marshmallow. The waiter brought 3 spoons without being asked. So 自动!

Ended up that J didn't bring her discount card and the restaurant must see the card to let us enjoy the privilege. Total sum was $60+. Recommended!

Sofra Turkish Cafe and Restaurant
100 Beach Road
#02-42/44
Shaw Tower

Nightmare@National Cockup Schedules

An ex-colleague Mr R told me his company National Cockup Schedules is hiring after clinching a new project. When I heard they will likely offer a permanent position (he's perm too!), it was enough to entice me to submit my resume.

14 Jan, Monday
Their HR is really efficient. My resume was submitted in the morning and I got a call from them that very afternoon. They proposed that Wednesday and I agreed immediately. But it dawned upon me later that nobody was free to accompany me, so I changed the appointment to 21 Jan, next Monday, saying I was really busy this week and couldn't take leave. It wasn't true at that point of time, but later it came true. I even had to work on Saturday *$%^@%@. Should I say I'm heng?

20 Jan, Sunday
Haven't done anything to prepare for the interview. Did some last minute Java revision in case I was made to do a test again and read up on how to answer some interview questions. Another ex-colleague in National Cockup Schedules helped me stalk out my interviewer's photo and information. Thanks!

21 Jan, Monday
That morning was the formal introduction of the new DH, but I didn't give face :P At 9.50am, I was at their rival's lobby, wanting to change my future. Signed in at the reception and the receptionist helped me call him. Found a missed call from a number I didn't recognize, but decided not to return it in case it's a colleague wanting to know where I was.

10am. Looked around in anticipation.
10.20am. Mr R arrived for work (ya so late hor) and wished me luck. I whined that his PM was still not here.
10.30am. Should I ask the receptionist to call him again?
10.35am. A rotund man came towards me. Finally! But he's actually taking the place of the PM since he's not free. Ok fine.

He led me to the same room I went to 3.5yrs ago. Nostalgic. His name is R, a PL. Things were pretty normal. Quite a chatty guy. Asked me questions I could never answer, like what third party software, architecture I have used before. Only answered with much prompting. Never knew how to classify those things I have used before lor. I realized I forgot to prepare questions to ask ^_^;; Smoke lor.

***
Me: Which project I will be posted to?
R: I can't say for now, but it will be one of the projects in our department. It could be the new project too.
Me: (Reasonable answer)

***
R: What do you feel about OT?
Me: I am ok with it if I have to finish the task for the day.
R: Until what time?
Me: Usually if I OT, it's until 9 or 10pm. But actually, I'm ok with any time, as long as I finish the work.
R: How regular are you ok with?
Me: (Diplomatically) For as long as the project requires. But of course I hope it wouldn't be everyday.
R: Don't worry, we don't like to OT too. We still go back on time when there's not much work.

***
Me: Will you be offering perm?
R: It depends on the PM, but it's possible.

***
Me: When will I know the outcome?
R: I can't tell you now, but we will let you know as soon as we have a decision.
Me: (Huh... say until like never say lor)
R: Here, the first interview is for getting to know your skills and whether it fits our requirement. If we do call you for the second interview, it will mean we are interested, and we would know which project you might be going to. Can discuss more about the terms that time too.
Me: (Got 2 interviews? Last time got 1 only lor.)

Overall, I felt it went well. Yay.

23 Jan, Wednesday
Received a call from the HR to arrange for a second interview! She proposed Friday, but I have something up my sleeves! I said I wouldn't be free and suggested next Tuesday instead and was subsequently confirmed. Because I would be on MC that day. *scheming sotong rubs her tenacles gleefully*

Could my days in Ass See Ass be numbered? I must make it tomorrow! But should be easy lah, interview #1 pass already. What can be the challenge for tomorrow?

29 Jan, Tuesday
It has just stopped raining when I stepped out of the house. Reached on the dot. Signed in and the receptionist called the PM.
2.10pm. Waiting.
2.20pm. 等了又等...
2.30pm. Should I call him?
2.40pm. A guy came to me and said he's meeting me. Thought he's THE PM, but it turned out that he's not free to meet me again. Sigh.

Led me to a room and I gently reminded him to introduce himself (duh). He is A. He started, saying since he has not met me before and he didn't know he would be meeting me, he didn't have my resume and knew nothing about me, so I had to talk about myself and my work experience. He asked if I brought my resume.

I didn't. Hey it's interview #2 lor, still have to bring resume? And what was that about introducing myself? Go through an interview #1 again, for you? Why didn't they send R instead, then we could have saved all these trouble?

Totally unprepared. Didn't know what to say. Bad presentation of my skills. Dumbfounded by the same questions I can never answer. Worse was this guy didn't prompt me.

As I was talking, he scribbled on his notepad. Most of the time, his head was down, presumably think about what to say. Seconds of silence were common.

***
A: Do you have any other questions for me?
Me: (Err... all asked before last time lor. Nothing new today. But since it's all the same, I shall ask back the same questions) Which project I will be posted to?
R: It depends on the PM.
Me: Will you be offering perm?
R: It depends on the PM.
Me: ...

***
A: In your project, if there is a lot of OT, do you think it is poor planning on the PM's part?
Me: No. So far it's due to some glitches discovered during testing, so we had to fix them fast.

***
A: How late was the latest you went home?
Me: 2am.
A: How many times?
Me: Once.
A: (Grinned)
Me: (HOW DARE HE)
A: Stayed overnight before?
Me: Never.
A: Not even once?
Me: No.
A: How about OT? What time do you usually go home when you OT?
Me: 8 or 9pm. But I have stayed till 10 or 11pm when there's a lot of work.
A: How often is that?
Me: Usually towards the last 2 or 3 weeks of development.
A: Here, the development period is only 2-3mths, so might have to OT and come on weekends often.
Me: Is the weekend inclusive of Sundays?
A: It depends.
Me: Are there more late nights and weekends than normal days?
A: It depends.
Me: ... (Doesn't sound good)

***
A: I expect my team to overnight to finish work and go home late because project development time is very hectic.
Me: I am ok with working late to finish up work for the day or to stop at a logical stop. But if we are talking about everyday, it might be a bit too much.
A: I feel that it is important to be able to work overnight.
Me: (He didn't get what I said? Why does he sound like he want people to overnight even when there's no rush?) I won't like it if I have to do it on a regular basis.
A: We feel it is very important to deliver the project on schedule.
Me: Yes, it is important, but not regularly. I will be so tired that late and worse if the next day starts at the same time, 9am. It is bad to work after 11pm everyday. Not efficient.
A: O yes... and the support staff will not be around also.
Me: (Yes, you realized that too? But it's the least of my concerns.) I don't see the need to work overnight if there is no urgent rush. (Must emphasize...)
A: I am looking for people who are able to work late. Here, when we work late, we stay as a team.
Me: (HUH nothing to do also must stay overnight?? OMG! Ah! Is this why he asked about project planning just now? Weekends and overnights are part of the project plan?)
A: We work hard, but I make sure I give something in return to the developers.
Me: (What can compensate the lack of beauty sleep, social life, growing fat from eating Mac everyday? It better be something like a fat bonus and not just a treat.)

***
A: Do you come early, on time or late for work everyday?
Me: I come when everybody comes. I won't be the last few to come. In the middle lah.
A: What time do you go back? When the manager goes back, or?
Me: When I finish my task for the day. I don't peg my time to the boss or any person.
A: Your PL and PM does not state what time you should come?
Me: Just time myself to finish my task. My PL doesn't micromanage. Don't come too late also lah.

***
A: How many developers and mandays do you think is needed to make a portal like National Slavery portal?
Me: I am not sure, I was not around when it was first being built. (How would I know? I'm no PM.)
A: Just give me an estimate, based on what you have done for it.
Me: I have only done maintenance for 3 applications there, not the whole thing.
A: Based on that?
Me: So you want me to give an estimate on how long to build the 3 applications?
A: No, the whole thing.
Me: Including the content component and other applications?
A: Yes.
Me: I cannot give an estimation based on what I the 3 applications I have done, because I do not fully understand the complexity of the many other applications.
A: Just estimate.
Me: (Uh fine... efforts to ward off this irrelevant question is futile. Faster dig out that project with 20% similarity and use its schedule!) 3-4 developers, 2-3 months. Probably 3 months.
A: 3-4 developers, 2-3 months... not inclusive of PL and PM right?
Me: No.
A: So how many mandays is that?
Me: (Huh still must count for you?) 3 months lor!

***
A: Do you have any other questions for me?
Me: (Looking at the state of affairs, it's obviously a repeat of interview
#1, so I think I can save my interview #2 questions.) Not really. It's similar to the first interview.... actually it's the same. (Can't help it, I must say out! But still must come up with something to ask...) Will there be a third interview? I haven't met the PM before. (O shit I think I sounded like it's useless interviewing with him. It's true, but do I have to be so direct?)
A: That will depend on the PM. If he feels there is a need to meet you, there will be an interview #3.
Me: Can we make it after office hours if there would be?
A: O, you have difficulty?
Me: (Without blinking) Yes, I have difficulty applying for leave. Very busy these days.
A: I see. Yes I think that would be absolutely fine. He will most probably be around.
Me: (Of course you guys will be around, like to overnight so much right. Yes! I won't burn my leave for this crap anymore! Fly my plane again also nevermind!)
***

So the only new information I got today was the potential horrible working hours lor. Total waste of time. They spent 40min to find a person to do the dirty job of interviewing me, just to make me feel I didn't come for nothing. I would rather that they cancelled on me lor, for it rained the minute I stepped out of the building! Not keen about this place already. Its reputation is not that good to start with and I don't want to risk this overnight-obsessed person to be my boss.

LUCKILY I WAS ON MC, NOT LEAVE.

Out With The Old

去旧迎新!

Stationery, Anyone?

Went Sakura with some relatives from Malaysia.

Mmm~~

And my aunt brought back some paper clips -_-;;

Getting Drunk... I Wish

My New Year Day drink. Too blur :\

Don't Be a PM If You Can't Count

Back to work on 27^th when the original plan was 24^th, all lazy, engine rusting. PL was only free to brief me on my new task in the afternoon, so my morning was spent trying to read the boring specifications, 100% of which I didn't understand. Afternoon came, got briefed and tried to start work. Couldn't do much when my concept was still cloudy. Didn't help when there's a person who didn't have to work the whole of December MSNing me non-stop. Argh.

Friday was better, but not by much. Had an evil plan to skip work on Monday! Half day again, don't want to waste money on taxi, so I decided to ask the PL if I could work from home instead. That was when the PL revealed that the work has to be done by Monday, as SIT is on Wednesday!!

WTF! I thought the effort estimation is 5 mandays? I know I said I would return on 24^th, so 24^th to 31^st would be 5 mandays. But apparently the PM has forgotten about the 2 half days on 24^th and 31^st! So shouldn't the deadline be Wednesday instead of Monday?

Unless, it's like, on purpose.

How about the MC I took? Ok maybe a project plan can't be shifted on the whim because of something so unpredictable. How about the off day I took on 26^th? Dear PM, I told you about that already, right? Forgot?

Unless, it's like, on purpose.

In the end, we are still not encouraged to clear any off days.

What I Got This Christmas

As I mentioned, I have 2 gift exchanges this year. From my JC class' I got a screen cleaning kit. Useful! If my family bothers to take out and use lah. Got chance at CNY.

I wasn't present for my office's as I decided to take MC instead. Father cannot fetch me for half day on the eve mah, so I figured it would be more economical to take mc, for which $20 is claimable. My bill came up to $36, which is probably comparable to taking taxi :\ but that's beside the point.

When I went back to work, my relief driver passed me my gift. He told me some convoluted story about how I was supposed to get gift no 29 instead, but it disappeared so I got another one. Chim. Got people want to steal my present. This 1 not nice? O_O

Unwrapped it at home. It's a MÖRKER Work lamp in white from Ikea. Looks pretty!

W happened to tell me that Ikea put their whole catalogue online. Idea!


Ya $5.90 only. Somebody didn't play by the rules. $10 budget lor! Exclusive of bus fare! I shall not attempt to find out who gave me that. Preserve the person's image, whoever he is.

What's gift no 29? Better or worse?

A good thing about it is that Ikea's stuff look expensive. But actually, I won't be using it even if it cost $20. Table too small.

Does anybody need a lamp?

Edited 06/01/2008: Successfully given away to my aunt! Yeah!

Spree III + Food!!

My boss owes me uncountable (because I didn't count) off-days, so it shouldn't hurt to take one day to go SHOPPING! Not that I'm a spendthrift, but I honestly really do need some new pants and working clothes, ya?

Really!

With my entourage, we started off with lunch at Le Meridien foodcourt. Target Korean Cuisine at my brother's recommendation. Korean food cooked by real Koreans! It's a huge stall, 3 stalls long to be precise. This made the kitchen look unnecessarily spacious. I mean, cramp, harassed-looking stall-holders are the norm right?

I ordered the spicy prawn soup set, my brother got the tender beef sliced set and my sister had the spicy pork sliced set. Each set comes with a bowl of rice (which I didn't touch) and a small plate of kimchi/cucumber/ikan bilis. There's 3 of us, so we got 1 of each :D The servings are humongous! The whole hot plate is full of meat lor! But my soup is full of vegees lah, not prawns :\

More of the menu. To show the last 2 dishes on the extreme right. I almost wanted the ramen, but I thought it looks suspiciously like instant noodles. For what I know, it's the 辛 ramen.

Cannot see, I know. Put for fun. It got A, very hygienic!


O the ice kachang there is delicious too!

Japanese food menu for the interested.

Next, a spin in Heeren. In HMV, a glance at the DVD chart and I was awed to know I have watched almost all of the flicks! In the comfort of my home :D

On the way to Taka, outside Meritus Mandarin, Chen Hanwei and his gauy friend walked passed. Hmm more skinny than I thought.

Went around Taka lor. Someone's $10 note floated to the floor and honest me got my brother to return it. Bought 2 tops from G2000 for a total of $68.60. And 1 of them is with zebra stripes again -_-;; Dropped by the Anna Sui counter to smell the perfume I wanted to get, but no more sampler. Too bad, or I might have bought it had I had the chance to convince myself again. Went around more. Then 2 pairs of pants from G2000 good friend, G2000 Blu(again) for $82.60. I don't think any of my pants are NOT from there :\ So familiar I am with the cutting that I don't have to try them on anymore.

Dinner time! Ken's noodle house at Orchard Point! Authentic Japanese ramen cooked by real Japanese! Today is really an authentic day :D~~

The interior of the shop. I'm sitting at the counter. It's really tiny. No huge groups, or have to squat at the roadside, which is just 5m away. Really authentic huh. Even got person reading manga!


My stewed egg ramen. The soup looks yellow here, but I assure you it's not 碱水, i.e. not bitter. An interesting thing to note is I didn't find green tea in the menu.

I ordered it to see if there's runny yolk, and there sure is! But the degree of stew-ness is less than that of Tampopo's. The egg also slightly more cooked than Tampopo's. The pork is less fatty, hence less melty than Tampopo's. BUT the winner is the soup! It's so delicious, so didn't taste of MSG, that I could have drunk it all! But cannot lah, the serving is really big, cannot finish, so must save some soup for whoever's gonna mop up the remainder. My sister said the noodles are not Q enough, but I found it ok. More conveniently located than Tampopo, and I don't even know if Tampopo is still open, given Liang Court's state. Will come again!

BTW, I witnessed the cook do the following with his bare hands: pick raw noodles, peel off a piece of meat from a ham-like loaf, put dressing on the bowl, rearrange the contents of the ready-to-serve-bowl. Ya. I don't mind. Do you? So authentic! Must keep repeating the keyword. AUTHENTIC.

No shopping trip with my entourage is complete without a visit to the supermarket! PS now! But before going to the supermarket proper, we went to Daiso and grabbed nose strips and the Tohato snack. $14 gone like that! *faints*

Spotlight. Go for fun. Saw some accessories components. It said silver ley, but doesn't look silver to me. I think order from firemountain is still safer.

Dessert at Ice Monster! Had a mango-ish dessert. Freezing cold!

Then supermarket proper. Nothing to buy actually. Go for fun only.

Go home time. Next day must work T_T Saw human queue but no taxi queue. And who was saying the fare hike would help? Hmpf. Dialed Transcab and waited. The cab take very long to come lah! Meanwhile, empty cabs for hire streamed in -_-;; Our cab came and it waited outside Atrium *sigh* O I must mention this:
$2.80 flagdown + $3 CBD + $3.50 booking = $9.40 before we even moved off.

Ok I think I have fulfilled all my goals for my shopping. Except for the *totally* optional Anna Sui perfume. Afraid to look at my next credit card bill!

It's supposed to be a shopping trip, but I'm seem to be more excited over the food. *sigh*

Seoul Yummy

Met up with W and J for dinner! W recommended this Korean restaurant in Novena Square 2, Seoul Yummy, so here we are. It's so new that it's not listed on the shop directory. It's on level 3, at the side of nearer the medical centre lobby.

Nice and uncrowded on a Friday night so near Christmas. Good news for me, bad for the tenants.

No queue, a table was just clearing out when we arrived. The restaurant uses metal chopsticks. Peculiar. We have 2 small eaters, so it's logical to share all dishes. Can ask for empty plates and bowls. The restaurant supports sharing, unlike some.

Let the pictures do the talking!

Dry noodles with spicy bean sauce. Too dry for me.

Spicy seafood soup. Looks red, but I can tahan :D Comes with rice. Only a spoonful was eaten, by yours truly.

Pancake on a hotplate. I ate it when it has turned cold, so not nice for me.

Yoghurt ice-cream. We asked the waitress how big it is and she gestured a satisfactory size for the bowl. But when it arrived, I felt cheated. The whole bowl is filled with ice lor! And it's not fine ice like ice kachang. It's the kind you get in Seoul Garden. Unless it's the standard in Korea lah, you know, since Seoul Yummy and Seoul Garden serve this type of ice. And nobody in the right mind will let the ice-cream melt into the ice in order to flavor it, so the ice was pretty untouched. So unsatisfying :( But to give it some credit, the ice-cream is delicious. Desserts that melt must be eaten quickly, so pardon this sorry-looking toppled ice-cream.

I think I paid about $12 for all of the above finally. Ok overall.