Why I have not blogged for 2 months plus

[CuRRent MooD:] Not sleepy

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Mui Chai + Rice

2 months seemed like an awfully long time to have not blogged, but I believed I have had longer bouts which I didn't. What set the difference this time was not that I didn't have time, but more of the fact I didn't want to blog a low time of my life.

Fact is, I have been jobless since December last year, which is to say I have been over 3 months without a job. I have found it hard that I could survive for so long, let alone be convinced of the fact I can actually be without a job for so long. Interviews I went, waited and ended in naught come and go with so much emotions accompanied, of course including hope and despair. I found it hard to understand ppl with qualifications and without a job, but now I understand and have learned from it.

Truth is, I have tried and trying, but maybe I have not tried enough. There is no avenue left for me to give up on trying as many have pinned hopes on me getting a job, especially Serene who have been encouraging me no matter how much despair I display. I do not need a second reminder to cherish such a woman though :)

This is just an entry to let the oh-so-less people who are following this blog to know that I'm still around, just that life is at a point I can't seem to motivate myself too much to blog about it. I am awaiting for a time I can finally start to talk about my life in an upbeat manner, and till then...thanks everyone.

And of course, with work I can tag my calendar for the Wakin concert in May...

.LuKe.

Post #501, Last day of 2010.

[CuRRent MooD:] Hard to find a word for it

[CuRRent Song:] No song

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Pearl Milk Tea (damn sweet)

Well I guess I don't update my blog a lot nowadays, maybe it's laziness or maybe some other matters. I cannot mention anything about work since I'm jobless. Yeah, you heard it right - jobless.

Maybe it came as my own doing, having matters that went out of hand that caused me to lose focus, and now concentrating on reality might deem a little too late. I've been able to survive for the first month but for how long? I do really hope a satisfactory job will come soon.

As a year draws to a close, everyone talks about celebration, about resolutions and I am no exception. This year does bring quite a bit of ups and downs, and testing times. So much marriage questions, so little time, so little money, and of course the jobless part does make me wanna break down at times. I'm still around cos I have my family, my dear, my friends and of cos the Divine One up there somewhere who allows me to be surviving for a reason. Truth be told, no one knows when I'll just suddenly break down without knowing why and how, no one knows whether I'll just disappear from the face of the earth without a care of the world. No one knows, I do not know either.

Sometimes I wish I am not what I am. I wish things are better, I wish things are more normal, I wish for many things in life that I knew that it has to be worked out rather than just being spoken. Having a soft personality can be really testing, so testing till it works out to the very existence in this world. My so-called trying to be understanding personality astounds me at times, and sometimes I do not know whether there is a right or wrong, or whether there is a need to know right or wrong. I do my best to put perspective on others, trying so hard to look at better side of things, but when I don't see it when it comes, I question myself to whether I have done it right.

I realize I tend to be hardly unreasonable, I wonder who agrees with me on that. Anytime anything unreasonable comes out, it will be tamed quickly by the slightest of reasoning. By then, who know or what knows whether what is right or reasonable at all.

2010 was a year of trials, and ended with trials. I know years ahead will tend to be in that direction. Let's just hope I'll be a "better man" after all these years ahead of me.

Happy New Year, everyone.

.LuKe.

The 500th post, denoting November, a month left of 2010

[CuRRent MooD:] Tired, lil mood

[CuRRent Song:] (FM98.7) Michael Jackson - Breaking News

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Subway Roasted Chicken Sandwich / Teh Peng

I don't blog much nowadays, simply at times not easy to find an appropriate mood to do so. It just felt I have so much to do, so much to think, and just that certain amount of time. Yes, I understand I can be lazy at times, but somehow it just feels like it's the continuous nudging thoughts and things that are slowing me down.

At this time of the year, it's always so much thinking and planning and at a loss, it has become quite a routine that this year has not spared me away from it. Again, I have to look for a job as my contract is ending - just an active search into the ideal job got me acknowledging the fact I have to further my credentials. It's again the ITIL/MC certs combo that so many companies are actively looking for, it comes knocking to my door I have to do something about it. Maybe I have to hold on another year of a reasonable job that pays what I want, and I have to continue my certs to be updated and also to gear myself to my ideal appointment, IT Manager. Yeap, that is my aim (I'm not overly ambitious to go up director level or something) and I have to do what I can to achieve it...but it seems I have been rather stagnant this year trying to decide what to do, I kinda lost it. I need to orientate my direction...

Not without any costs though. That will take substantial time and money, and I'm not sure if I have both. There had been things happening for the past months that got me thinking a lot, and got me wondering what I am doing with my life, what do I really want and such. As a matter of truth, I still do not have much an answer apart the so-called target appointment.

I felt that I'm kinda lost in my direction right now, I'm not knowing what to do properly, what is right to do, what's my plans like and stuff. It just went completely bonkers without any proper order, any proper solution. No answers yet I guess.

So tired, much to do, not in optimal position to face challenges. How?

How no cow, cow see how. Mooooooo.

.LuKe.

The 499th post

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine, lil tired

[CuRRent Song:] 98.7FM advertisement

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Mixed Vege Rice / Peel Fresh Powerberries Juice

Yesterday was the first major step for ownership of a new home at Queenstown area (Dawson) as we went to sign the Agreement of Lease. All fees added up, the first payment exhausted our CPF as it went over 40k...yeah I know, it's kinda ridiculously expensive, but I'm sure we will find a way out.

I believe it will be a long journey ahead as there is so much to plan for - proposal, ROM, Chinese traditional marriage, temporary housing, design for new house etc...just so much, it seems certain that the coming years will be fast and furious! So much changes, uncertainty and excitement...

Certainly need all the support I can get! :)

.LuKe.

Trying to blog more! LOL

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine, rainy weather

[CuRRent Song:] Sugababes - About A Girl

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Bee Hoon, Luncheon Meat, Fish Fillet / Teh Peng

Generally a good weekend as National Day made it a long weekend, things had been fine on most fronts, and most importantly, no Monday blues and the week is a day shorter!

Actually also not sure what to blog...hahaha...if got something to blog den I blog again...as my subject says..."Trying to blog more!"

Oh yeah, I started a Dragonmaster Evan character in Maple...seeing Serene play Maple, so I also started a new char inside that server...hahaha...so far it's lvl 26 (or 25)...very fast to level...

.LuKe.

Time sprints, flies and teleports

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine

[CuRRent Song:] Random 987 song

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Famous Amos Chocolate Chip cookies / Plain water

My last update was on 23rd May, but the real last update was 21st Jan. The real 'life' update came 10 days earlier, which means from than till now it has been over half a year of real updates. For now, I have my contract extended till the end of the year, which means less thinking (or more) until then. I have to decide my study route very very soon as expenses of my wedding will soon climb up.

Wedding I say? Yeap, of course I have to plan my marriage with my beloved Serene by now. No no, proposal not done yet but I've promised her on that pretty soon (how soon? Wait lor :P), but certainly the wedding needs to be planned. For now, our date is somewhere around the second half of next year (2011) and most importantly, it will be a wedding lunch so I might be anticipating less guests, but oh well, we had reasons for deciding on lunch instead of dinner.

Back to study route, I have a few options - ITIL (for service delivery), MCSE (Microsoft Certification), CCNA (Cisco Certification), PMP (Project Management). PMP poses a problem as I do not have job credentials that reflect on project management, but the huge advantage comes as PMP does not specialize in specific field i.e. I can go any industry. I think I will go for ITIL Foundation v3, as I still am not sure how much I am going for technical studies.

It's quite a dilemma, but I have to sort it out really soon. There will be plenty to come about regards to money matters, but we gonna bite it through! On a side note, I managed to get my copy of Starcraft 2 Collectors' Edition @ SGD$229.00...ppl ask if it's worth it, well I think it is, after all in life, everything has a value that only we choose to determine whether it's worth it.

I hope I'll be updating this blog more often somehow :) for whoever is left reading this...

.LuKe.

Adaptation from my Brother's blog: History of 曾

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Pokka Green Tea

Adapted from Sensei Michael:

It has been said that 天下一曾无二曾 (there is only one Zeng and never two below the sky). Unlike the 陈 Chen or 李 Li or other major surnames, which may be of any other family all over China, all 曾 Zeng surnames come from the same family – that of the vanquished city-state of 缯 or 鄫, wiped out by 莒国 (the state of Ju).

In its heyday, during the time of the Warring States, the state of Zeng was a prosperous city-state, with fertile soil (due to bordering rivers) and a strong silk culture. Technology thrived within the state and the people were cultured and rich. Unfortunately, Zeng was tiny and its army inadequate to protect itself against its stronger neighbours.

In the end, 太子巫 Prince Wu had to flee as his state was destroyed and taken from him. In order to avoid persecution, all members of his family dropped the radical from their names and adopted a simple 曾 to recognise each other. Throughout history, the family has been known for their involvement in the civil service, military and teaching professions, but were never very great men.

Thanks bro for the info :)

.LuKe.

Reason why I should go management...

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Mixed Vege Rice / Water

Look at this article...

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10435937-56.html

A 9-year old kid who has an MCSE certification!!!

I can "knock off" liao...really not the way to go man...

.LuKe.

The January Post

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Shredded Chicken Noodles / Teh-Peng

Ehm, a late Happy New Year for all of you?

Things has been fine, work has been fine but just lacking in the department of learning (there ain't too much to learn), my Christmas was spent with my Dear, Rykiel and Xing munching at 313 Somerset and watched a show at Cineleisure. Initially aiming Avatar 3D, it was full and thus we chose Old Dogs by Robin Williams and John Travolta - it was entertaining and a good watch to spend our time.

New Year Countdown, we went up to Mt Faber with my Dear, Christina, Damien and Chaveil, which before then we ate Sakae at Harbourfront. Chaveil had more contacts coming along, which got the total party size to around 14 to go up the "mountain". We managed to get a space early, but the fireworks for Mt Faber sucks for this year, very disappointing.

Along the way from then to today, I managed to catch Sherlock Holmes and Avatar 3D. It was tough to get tickets for the latter and I understood why after watching it - a decent storyline covered with nice and beautiful graphics, I guess you needn't have to wonder why it's almost full house every weekend.

Work on a Monday is often busy, oh well, get back later. :)

.LuKe.

From SJ's blog...

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine and cold

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] From previous

http://chocolatecandyfloss.blogspot.com/2009/11/inspirational-stories-for-soul-series.html

It talks about life of 80 years and how we should go about living it. I'll try to interpret the remainder for SJ, that is if I'm "pro" enuff.

Going off from where SJ stopped...

Reverent XingYun explains:

The 80 storeys is just like 80 years of life. We have limitless youth and energy in life at the 20th storey. At the 40th storey, life's burden such as kids and finance takes our toll just like the luggage. It is at this time that people manage to leave/endure the burden and carry on climbing to the 60th storey, which by then our stamina has dwindled - but being human we have to continue improving ourselves and climb upwards with a weakened body and soul carried along with old age. When we eventually reach 80th storey, we do not possess any energy to turn back and open the door to happiness.

Our dear readers, you too have 80 storeys of life, how would you want to lead your life at each storey? Life is just like climbing stairs, you can look afar when you are high up above - but surviving the chill while you are up above is difficult, going down the steps requires great effort and care. A special milestone awaits you after walking through the steps and reaching the point whereby you do not require climbing any stairs.

---

The quotations are tough, I better don't try them. Haha.

.LuKe.

This is cool stuff from Microsoft!

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine, cold

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Iced Milk Tea

A project building up Microsoft Surface's abilities, a project team does the traditional desktop D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) on Surface!

http://blogs.msdn.com/surface/archive/2009/12/16/new-gameplay-video-with-d-d-on-surface.aspx

.LuKe.

Facebook know-a-bit

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Bee Hoon / Pokka Green Tea

For now, facebook implemented the shortening URL thingie...

So,

www.fb.me = www.facebook.com

.LuKe.

A new workplace, new life, new challenges?

[CuRRent MooD:] Tired

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Iced Milk Tea

It is my 4th working day today (okay it's the 5th working day of the week but unfortunately I was on MC on Wednesday so hence the numbers) - things have been fine so far, on off stupid issues like the M1 iPhone promo and stuff, things are still okay at the moment.

Nothing too new on the new job apart the switch commands (we'll be handling basic Cisco switch commands) and the monthly reports doesn't look too tough apart from it being mundane (of course, bearing in comparison with good old days in GSK, such reports are like nothing of that sort). Then again, have such a simple reporting system in the new place does have its plus and minus. I hope I have enough chances to learn something new from the job so I can add on more value...well of course, then now being "Team Lead" certainly adds that little more credibility to my resume on my next job search...so when will my real challenge come? ;)

Things aside, usually at this time of the year I'll be blogging about Christmas and stuff and guess I should be. And I should be catching up on my graduation stuff but the pics are mostly in my facebook account. Do look for me if you know me personally in life or if you play apps like Castle Age.

See ya!

.LuKe.

An Apple a day will start keeping people away

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine but irritable (stiff neck condition)

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Milo

Sorry for boring everyone with IT stuff, but the next news caught me off guard. Article from Ars Technica, Apple refuses under warranty products is returned for repairs due to the fact they belong to smokers.

I'm not a fan of smoking; in fact I hate the smell - however this came too much of a surprise as it seems to infringe into human rights, but of course from an employer's point of view, you wouldn't want your employees to be exposed to "hazardous materials" i.e. nicotine and tar. I do think this is already a bit overdoing it, as one of the comments say, it's not that you cannot work with it, just that you need to take appropriate measures to protect your employees.

Then again, Apple really has weird guidelines when they do their stuff, be it the App Store or now, their warranties.

.LuKe.

Viewing Apple's World

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Ikea's Christmas Hot Plate / Iced Lemon Tea

Someone has provided a nice article about viewing Apple differently from other companies:

ComputerWorld: Four Things you need to know about Apple

Of note:

- Everything Apple sells is an Apple product

After reading the article, you have to agree what the author said is right. Everything that Apple makes and uses, they treat it as theirs.

- Apple products are disposable

Upon thinking how they make the products, all are built in batteries. Since batteries in most mindsets are somehowwhat disposable, I must say they have a unique view about the gadgets they make. Maybe even their laptops.

- Nothing exists unless Apple sells it

This emphasizes just how much Apple lives in their own world. I have nothing too much to say about it though.

- Apple doesn't want to be a successful business

I believe this view is written with a tinge of humour in it. I do not believe any business wants to operate without profit, but I must say that Apple does it in a way that when they do things they want it to be good and popular.

.LuKe.

Google Jokes

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine and smiling

[CuRRent Song:] Dunno

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Mixed Vege Rice / Pearl Milk Tea

Guys, have you heard of Google Jokes?

Bet you haven't - because I've recently discovered it. No no no...it's not a goofy thing that Google made directly, rather it's something I found interesting to the point of funny about Google.

For a start, let us step into the famous Google Search Engine, www.google.com.sg (mine is .sg):

Try typing "I am e" - e.g. I was trying to type "I am extremely bored" but do not complete the sentence:

I am extremely terrified of chinese people!!! OMG!!! Are we that terrifying???

Now try "Google is"...

OMG Google is going to take over the world! Not really much of a news, judging by the way how it rules the Web now.

Okay since we're at Google, why not Microsoft? Let us try "Microsoft is " (with the space)...

Microsoft is dead - certainly a scam for now. :P

Now we can create our own jokes in Google - what's yours?

.LuKe.

A quote from nowhere from my mind, thanks to Mr. Chang

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Same as just now

While reading my fellow Msia blogger friend's blog, in a response to his post, this is what I wrote:

Anyway, in the search for yourself, do not lose yourself.

寻找自我，勿失自我。

.LuKe.

Non-personal topics - Football and Technology

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine

[CuRRent Song:] Some familiar song but I do not know the title (from radio)

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Chicken Rice / Iced Tea

First on football, people who knows me do know I'm a Manchester United FC supporter and thus major rivals' downfall should be my glee. Not this time though, upon seeing Liverpool stumble to their 4th consecutive defeat, it's hard to imagine how such a top-class team could come out like that. Of course, it isn't news to any football person that the engines of Liverpool are Steven Gerrald and Fernando Torres, which to Liverpool fans' dismay are both injured. This spun a great deal for any hope in any team playing with Liverpool, and with Sunderland winning them with some luck due to the referee's incompetence to stop the game due to a beach ball and with Lyon winning with substitutes in the Champions' League, Liverpool will certainly face the heat and scrutiny of many. With the coming week's big match of Liverpool vs Man Utd, this is certainly one loss they can avoid catching, and if the 5th defeat is imminent, we might expect to see some changes in the managerial room for Liverpool.

Next on IT, I was reading articles on Ars Technica when I found a convenient flash presentation done by Microsoft about introducing the appropriate laptop for users. They even do some educating on their part so that users will possibly know what the various terms like Processor, RAM and Video Graphics are. Here is the link:

PC Scout

Of course, note the part they mentioned about Vista, and any IT guy knows they are bu||$hitting. Of course again, please get any system with Vista Home Premium and beyond to get the free Windows 7 equivalent upgrade (which in many testers' opinion is much better than Vista).

Oh well, time to throw my link to those who wants to know more!

.LuKe.

Baby I'm amazed by you (Mozilla) - a techie post

[CuRRent MooD:] Fine

[CuRRent Song:] None at the moment, unless you are talking about the title which rings in my brain

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Milo

From ComputerWorld:

"Apple gets best spot in EU browser 'ballot screen,' Mozilla says"
"Safari for Windows shouldn't get first place on Microsoft's proposed ballot, Firefox maker argues"

Just because Microsoft sorted it in the parent company's alphabetical order. Of course, fair say to mention it "should" be sorted according to market share or (maybe) security, but it gets to the point you get a feeling that Mozilla is whining they ain't getting the best treatment.

Under Microsoft, this is what you will get:

(Apple) Safari
(Google) Chrome
(Microsoft) Internet Explorer
(Mozilla) Firefox
(Opera) Opera

If it's the browser's alphabetical order:

Chrome (Google)
Firefox (Mozilla)
Internet Explorer (Microsoft)
Opera (Opera)
Safari (Apple)

Both ways and Mozilla doesn't get first slot. The Commission has reasoned market share is not the way to go as the original indictment was due to "unfair automatic" installation of "recommended" Internet Explorer without giving users a choice of other browsers. Maybe random slots? Well, though processor cycles are cheap nowadays, but to me it's a waste of coding to include code to do the randomization, though it's very simple.

No one can be happy with such a case, and for certain Microsoft isn't that happy with so much whining going about. After all, it's a stupid case to begin with since it's MS's Windows and they should have the choice to insert only their own browser as default - it's not as if they do not allow other browsers to be installed. Only the tech savvy will usually take other browsers and for those who aren't, I don't really think they care what browser they use so long it suits their objective. Then again, IE is not the most secure or fastest around, maybe that's what they are arguing all along.

But then again, isn't Windows a Microsoft product? Sounds like someone's forcing me to use other brands of flour when I have my preferred and "recommended" brand of flour that I use for my cake, as an analogy.

.LuKe.

Wooo Hooo

[CuRRent MooD:] Happy

[CuRRent Song:] None

[Last FooD/BeveRage:] Lexus Chocolate Cream Crackers

Yeah! I got a Distinction for the failed module the other time! SWEET REVENGE for myself! Thanks dear for my Distinctions! :P

Onwards 14th November for graduation!

.LuKe.