Last week was busy, busy, busy week for me. I was managing the final production of our publication before we hit to the printer. All was completed on time, ahead of schedule, but alas! we have not award the printer yet. We have not finalise an external agreement yet. Wow, talk about moving at 90% speed and suddenly you have to slow down to 10% speed blantly. Well, now is waiting for management and marketing decision.
Last week I attended an interview at one of the hotels in KL. Luckily, I managed to reached there on time because there was a thunder storm while I was on my way. It was a simple chit chating interview by the CEO of the potential company. After about an hour of discussing my working style, personality and attitude, I was hired! We even finalised my salary package on the spot. Strangely, I saw my colleague waiting there since I arrived and about to leave the place. I approached her and she mentioned she was waiting for someone. It turned out that she was called for an interview too. What a small world. She resign because she doesn't want to be transfer to my department but in the end, she still has to report to me in the new company. Too bad...
Last weekend I went to my hometown in Labuan. Well, I have more than 1 hometown since my relatives and families are scattered around. It was a short weekend trip and I was accompany my sister. It much more fun going with my sis than alone. We walk around the small town looking for great bargain. We bought few liquors and chocolates there are super cheap. Why not because it's a duty free island. Altough I have to say most things are not duty free. It's only worth to buy cars, liquors, cholocate and some of the electronics but most of it are old models.
This week started of with a bang too. I was rushing to get my medical check up done because my new offer only valid if I passed my check up. That was done in my half day MC. Then, is filling up the forms and sign the offer letter followed by emailing back to my new boss. Last night my new boss called to check if I'm ok with one of my colleague joining the team. I've no problem. Not sure about her though.
Tomorrow is off to Singapore to visit my new boss and parent company. At the same time, to discuss about the model and goal of the business in KL. Hmm..my flight is 8am and only takes an hours. After that, it's whole day meeting before I return home in the evening flight. Not bad for the celebration of our 51st year Merdeka yeah...
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Avril Lavigne Concert Cancelled - What Went Wrong?
Wednesday August 20, 2008 MYT 4:16:03 PM
Avril Lavigne concert cancelled
By LOH FOON FONG
KUALA LUMPUR: The Avril Lavigne concert in Shah Alam on Aug 29 has been cancelled.
Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Shafie Apdal said that the concert falls during the nation's independence period and was not a suitable time to hold such a concert.
There are a lot of events on Aug 29 and the Ministry does not want the independence and the near Ramadan month to be filled with such pop and rock culture, he said.
I appreciate his comment but isn't this a multi-racial country? Why can't we postpone it until after Independence Day's over instead of cancel it?
"As the Minister of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage, we should be instilling good culture in the young but here we are allowing other parties to organise things," he said Wednesday after launching the IDeAS for enhancing Integrity book.
True we should instill good culture, but what does it got to do with music? I feel that music unite us. Is Pop Rock such a bad thing? Is our mind still so inferior that it would be corrupt with such concert?
Moreover, the organisers were promoting the event even before they got approval from the relevant agencies, he said.
Is this a case of not following the rule or is it a case of unclear rules? Too bad with all the promotion going on the radio and TV about this concert. Too bad to those who were waiting for Avil's concert. Now all those promotion gone wasted and no revenue recovered. Who lose in the end? I wander...
"All organisers, local and foreign, should adhere to the rules and regulations before promoting the concert and selling tickets to the public," he said, adding that Lavigne's organisers should have sought advice from the Kuala Lumpur City Council or the Ministry.
Really? Media people, please comment...
Asked if he knew why they had promoted the concert before it was approved, he said he did not know.
Asked if the Ministry's decision was in response to PAS Youth's call for cancellation, he said "no."
Avril Lavigne concert cancelled
By LOH FOON FONG
KUALA LUMPUR: The Avril Lavigne concert in Shah Alam on Aug 29 has been cancelled.
Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Shafie Apdal said that the concert falls during the nation's independence period and was not a suitable time to hold such a concert.
There are a lot of events on Aug 29 and the Ministry does not want the independence and the near Ramadan month to be filled with such pop and rock culture, he said.
I appreciate his comment but isn't this a multi-racial country? Why can't we postpone it until after Independence Day's over instead of cancel it?
"As the Minister of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage, we should be instilling good culture in the young but here we are allowing other parties to organise things," he said Wednesday after launching the IDeAS for enhancing Integrity book.
True we should instill good culture, but what does it got to do with music? I feel that music unite us. Is Pop Rock such a bad thing? Is our mind still so inferior that it would be corrupt with such concert?
Moreover, the organisers were promoting the event even before they got approval from the relevant agencies, he said.
Is this a case of not following the rule or is it a case of unclear rules? Too bad with all the promotion going on the radio and TV about this concert. Too bad to those who were waiting for Avil's concert. Now all those promotion gone wasted and no revenue recovered. Who lose in the end? I wander...
"All organisers, local and foreign, should adhere to the rules and regulations before promoting the concert and selling tickets to the public," he said, adding that Lavigne's organisers should have sought advice from the Kuala Lumpur City Council or the Ministry.
Really? Media people, please comment...
Asked if he knew why they had promoted the concert before it was approved, he said he did not know.
Asked if the Ministry's decision was in response to PAS Youth's call for cancellation, he said "no."
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Soon To Launched Anti-Crime Drive
In today's newspaper, a national-level crime prevention campaign will be launched by the Prime Minister soon. At the moment, it was informed that more than one million pamphlets on crime prevention, including rape and burglary, will be distributed nationwide starting Saturday.
Extract from The Star:
The pamphlets are entitled “Personal Safety”, “Home Security”, “Holiday Security for Homes”, “Home Security and Safety Advice”, “Rape: No Means No”, “Crime Prevention For the Disabled”, “Ladies Safe” and “Teen and School Kids Safety”.
It's about time we have a national launched on the above mentioned. I hope it won't be just a one-time-thingy or a 'season' drive where after the telecasted launched, everything suddenly become quiet and then died. I hope this effort will continue and are properly plan.
MCPF vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the pamphlets, with a practical checklist of safety tips, would hopefully go a long way towards preventing crime.
“If the public follows the tips, I believe crime can be reduced,” he said at a media briefing on the month-long campaign, themed Prevent Crime, Get Involved, We Can Do It Together.
I will have to wait and see the tips. I believe in general we are aware of the prevention tips but choose to be ignorant.
I hope when the drive is on, no stupid comments by certain group about female dressing as the reason of rape. I have heard enough of MCP commments about how they debate and question female dressing as reason for rape.
Extract from The Star:
The pamphlets are entitled “Personal Safety”, “Home Security”, “Holiday Security for Homes”, “Home Security and Safety Advice”, “Rape: No Means No”, “Crime Prevention For the Disabled”, “Ladies Safe” and “Teen and School Kids Safety”.
It's about time we have a national launched on the above mentioned. I hope it won't be just a one-time-thingy or a 'season' drive where after the telecasted launched, everything suddenly become quiet and then died. I hope this effort will continue and are properly plan.
MCPF vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the pamphlets, with a practical checklist of safety tips, would hopefully go a long way towards preventing crime.
“If the public follows the tips, I believe crime can be reduced,” he said at a media briefing on the month-long campaign, themed Prevent Crime, Get Involved, We Can Do It Together.
I will have to wait and see the tips. I believe in general we are aware of the prevention tips but choose to be ignorant.
I hope when the drive is on, no stupid comments by certain group about female dressing as the reason of rape. I have heard enough of MCP commments about how they debate and question female dressing as reason for rape.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Something To Ponder In Life
I received this from my email so if it's copyrighted, my advance apologies...
There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.
The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in
summer, and the youngest son in the fall.
When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.
The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.
He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.
If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.
Moral of the story:
Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
Don't judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches
and better times are sure to come some time or later
There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.
The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in
summer, and the youngest son in the fall.
When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.
The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.
He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.
If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.
Moral of the story:
Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
Don't judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches
and better times are sure to come some time or later
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Multi-Racial Culture In Malaysia
What has happened to us?
Where has our past gone?
Where has our memories of multi-racial culture disappeared?
Where's the time when we gang up with our Malay neighbours and jump into the pond to catch tadpoles with our bare hands, ended out mothers coming with stick in their hands?
Where has the fishing trip with own made fishing stick, at the jetty on the 'water wooden houses' with Kampong boys gone?
Where has the time when playing hide and seek with Indian neighbour gone?
Where has time gone when we play masak-masak and game of wars with neighbours without looking at their colours, genders and background?
Where has the time gone when we go swimming at the pond at the back of our multi-racial school after class?
Where has the time gone when we pretend cooking meal for big family with leaves and sticks as our meal?
Where has the time gone when we made real fire for our cooking that our teacher scold us for buring down our school's big hibiscus plant?
Where has the time gone when we each plant a sugar cane at the school yard and tender it while it grew?
Where has the time gone when we share our sugar cane with all our colourless friends and happy faces while we compare whose got the sweetest sugar cane?
Where has the time gone when we sneak out of our uni to go karaoke on the weekend? Just the 3 of us, Indian, Malay and Chinese?
Where has the time gone when we learnt how to eat with hands for the first time at friend's house?
Where has the time gone when we learn to cook nasi lemak from friend's mom?
Where has the time gone when we learn to cook sardin curry and tosai from friend's mom?
Where has the time gone when we smile at our neighbours and talking to them over the gate?
Where has the time gone when we give away our homemade redang or cake to our neighbours?
Where has the colourless people gone?
Where has the pure heart gone?
Where has harmony gone?
Where has unity gone?
Where has multi-racial gone?
All I see in the news and on the net are bickering each other, dissatisfy of each other, showing who is more qualify, showing unneccessary authorise power, showing who has special privilege and who dont.
I am a Chinese and my best friends are an Indian and a Malay and we known each other for more than 10 years. I have experienced and live the lives of the above.
Where has our past gone?
Where has our memories of multi-racial culture disappeared?
Where's the time when we gang up with our Malay neighbours and jump into the pond to catch tadpoles with our bare hands, ended out mothers coming with stick in their hands?
Where has the fishing trip with own made fishing stick, at the jetty on the 'water wooden houses' with Kampong boys gone?
Where has the time when playing hide and seek with Indian neighbour gone?
Where has time gone when we play masak-masak and game of wars with neighbours without looking at their colours, genders and background?
Where has the time gone when we go swimming at the pond at the back of our multi-racial school after class?
Where has the time gone when we pretend cooking meal for big family with leaves and sticks as our meal?
Where has the time gone when we made real fire for our cooking that our teacher scold us for buring down our school's big hibiscus plant?
Where has the time gone when we each plant a sugar cane at the school yard and tender it while it grew?
Where has the time gone when we share our sugar cane with all our colourless friends and happy faces while we compare whose got the sweetest sugar cane?
Where has the time gone when we sneak out of our uni to go karaoke on the weekend? Just the 3 of us, Indian, Malay and Chinese?
Where has the time gone when we learnt how to eat with hands for the first time at friend's house?
Where has the time gone when we learn to cook nasi lemak from friend's mom?
Where has the time gone when we learn to cook sardin curry and tosai from friend's mom?
Where has the time gone when we smile at our neighbours and talking to them over the gate?
Where has the time gone when we give away our homemade redang or cake to our neighbours?
Where has the colourless people gone?
Where has the pure heart gone?
Where has harmony gone?
Where has unity gone?
Where has multi-racial gone?
All I see in the news and on the net are bickering each other, dissatisfy of each other, showing who is more qualify, showing unneccessary authorise power, showing who has special privilege and who dont.
I am a Chinese and my best friends are an Indian and a Malay and we known each other for more than 10 years. I have experienced and live the lives of the above.
What Do Chinese Do During Hungry Ghost Festival?
I don't know much about Hungry Ghost Festival and have never celebrate it all my life. Even my family doesn't celebrate it. Although, I think it meant for Taoism and Buddhism. My parents are Buddhist but we never celebrate it so I never know how it works. I believe my grandma celebrates it but she lives in Labuan so I never got the chance to see it too. Anyway, since my mom's getting older, she seems to believe all these. Personally, I don't think she should but what can you say to elderly? Maybe we will be like them when we grew old. Hmm...I don't think I will. I may become more spiritual but not superstitious.
All I know from my mom is that this month is unauspicious to do things like moving house, get marry, renovation etc and she was against me doing all these. As a non believer and non practiser, I did a minor renovation to my house, move in this month, move in my sofa and basically everything my mom said I shouldn't do. Why should I follow as a Christian? I still see my neighbours doing their renovation during this time and it's still difficult to get the contractors to come by my house during this month because they are very busy. I did all these without my mom knowledge, I just want to avoid unneccsary confrontation. Luckily, I have a very sporty and open-minded dad. He's been working overseas for as long as I can remember. Enough said about me.
During the 15th day of 7th month in the Chinese calendar, I see a lot of colourful flags with chinese word on it put up along roads or streets. I see it a lot at Chinese majority suburbs or business areas. I don't know what the flag meant but my sister told me it meant for the ghosts. Is it true? How is it meant for the ghosts? The flags will remain there for 1 month. During this time, some Chinese colleagues will go home early or before darkness fall. I asked them why and they said they don't want to encounter any unearthly spirit that follow them home. They also said during this month the unearthly spirits are more powerful. Well, not every Chinese follow this because when I was in multi-national companys, I have never seen any of my colleagues did such thing. I guess when you're in a typical GLC company, everyone in it is supertistious and orthodox.
Next in the list is I will see an entertainment stage build at Chinese suburbs which majority of Taoism and Buddhism families living there. The stage is quite big and impressive with colourful decoration. I was told this is the time they please the wandering ghosts with entertainment and offerings. There will be performances every night and families will gather to watch the performance. Few years ago I show an opera show on stage when I was on the way home. It was impressive although I only watched for a few minutes. I was told the first row of the seats should be kept empty. It's reserved for the wandering spirits. Now I know why in Canto scary movies ghost appeared in the first row.
Next, it's never steps on the burnt offerings or paper money because it's consider bad luck. Your spirit might step into the under world. Don't eat delicacies used for offerings. I told my friend that should be easy as it's place on the street outside the house but my friend told me some families did their prayers and offerings at their home and family members should not eat food offer to the ghosts. One will fall sick if break the rule. Well, not all are scary during Hungry Ghost Festival. It's also a month where younger generation offering prayers, food and worldly gifts to their ancestors as a respect. The younger generation take time to remember their ancestors and families who have left them. This is a tradition event to some Chinese families.
All I know from my mom is that this month is unauspicious to do things like moving house, get marry, renovation etc and she was against me doing all these. As a non believer and non practiser, I did a minor renovation to my house, move in this month, move in my sofa and basically everything my mom said I shouldn't do. Why should I follow as a Christian? I still see my neighbours doing their renovation during this time and it's still difficult to get the contractors to come by my house during this month because they are very busy. I did all these without my mom knowledge, I just want to avoid unneccsary confrontation. Luckily, I have a very sporty and open-minded dad. He's been working overseas for as long as I can remember. Enough said about me.
During the 15th day of 7th month in the Chinese calendar, I see a lot of colourful flags with chinese word on it put up along roads or streets. I see it a lot at Chinese majority suburbs or business areas. I don't know what the flag meant but my sister told me it meant for the ghosts. Is it true? How is it meant for the ghosts? The flags will remain there for 1 month. During this time, some Chinese colleagues will go home early or before darkness fall. I asked them why and they said they don't want to encounter any unearthly spirit that follow them home. They also said during this month the unearthly spirits are more powerful. Well, not every Chinese follow this because when I was in multi-national companys, I have never seen any of my colleagues did such thing. I guess when you're in a typical GLC company, everyone in it is supertistious and orthodox.
Next in the list is I will see an entertainment stage build at Chinese suburbs which majority of Taoism and Buddhism families living there. The stage is quite big and impressive with colourful decoration. I was told this is the time they please the wandering ghosts with entertainment and offerings. There will be performances every night and families will gather to watch the performance. Few years ago I show an opera show on stage when I was on the way home. It was impressive although I only watched for a few minutes. I was told the first row of the seats should be kept empty. It's reserved for the wandering spirits. Now I know why in Canto scary movies ghost appeared in the first row.
Next, it's never steps on the burnt offerings or paper money because it's consider bad luck. Your spirit might step into the under world. Don't eat delicacies used for offerings. I told my friend that should be easy as it's place on the street outside the house but my friend told me some families did their prayers and offerings at their home and family members should not eat food offer to the ghosts. One will fall sick if break the rule. Well, not all are scary during Hungry Ghost Festival. It's also a month where younger generation offering prayers, food and worldly gifts to their ancestors as a respect. The younger generation take time to remember their ancestors and families who have left them. This is a tradition event to some Chinese families.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
My DVDs Collection
Yesterday I finally displayed all my DVDs onto the shelf. Hmm..it seems I have 60% free space to fill. I bought the Ikea's tall book shelves to fill my books and DVDs. When I was renting another place, I seem to have a lot of books and DVDs. However, after I arranged all of it onto the shelves, I only used up 45% of the space. Now, I have all the reasons to buy books and DVDs. I'm the kind of person who will repeat my DVDs many times when I wind down at home. Books is cool too where I can read before I go to bed but management, marketing or leadership books I have to read it at my SOHO. I guess it's my principle.
Religion Converting In My Country
My boyfriend is a Muslim and all this years I never agreed to marriage is due to this country's rule on his religion. In Australia, when my friend denounce Islam it's ok. (he's original a Muslim) When he told me I was so surprise because I have never heard such thing as a Muslim change religion in my country. That was many years ago and I was younger but by then my boyfriend and I were already together.
In my personal view, the main reason I don't want to get marry is because I don't want to be convert to Islam. Why should I when I have no faith in the religion. I'm a Christian and in this country only Islam is compulsary to be of same religion (Islam) before one married. In Christian, it's not encourage but it's not compulsary to be converted to a Christian if you're a Buddist. Furthermore, there are so many unclear area in Islam that I fear the religion as a convert. I respect the religion's method of teaching on simple way of life but it ends there. Maybe if I was in Australia, I don't mind convert as I know I have a choice but here, I don't.
I read in the news where a convert who didn't practise the religion anymore have problem when they pass away or when it concerning their will. These 2 things are very important to me and it makes me have less confident in converting. Now, my mind is there's no way I'm going to convert. Recently, our Bar Council held a forum on this issue. For a person like me, this is a good platform for people like me to find answers. Most of us are unclear what will happen to us if thing turn sour. As you know, marriage in this age and time is so different than our grandparents and parents time. It's just a paper. Divorce rate is getting higher each year. I don't have the figure but I have more and more friends who are either single mom or divorced. Mind you, these are all educated people with strong mind and personalities.
However, the forum was being critiscise by Muslim quarters and government. I understand is a sensitive issues but isn't it about time we take things out from under the carpet in 2008? We are no longer in 1954 or 1969. Or is it our mentality hasn't grow according to time? There are so many grey area that I don't know and I have the rights to understand it before I make a decision. But how can I make the right decision if I don't know the pros and cons? I know people will tell me marriage is for lifetime but what if it doesn't? As an educated person, I prefer to know all my options. I believe the forum started as a way to help whose who are in the situation. Yes, it is very sensitive but how about those who are affected? Don't they deserve an answer or assistance? Yet, when the forum was on, Muslim were protest outside to stop it. I personally feel this is very selfish. Those who protest are not convert. Have you see any convert protest? It's time to be more open minded or we will be left behind like some of the countries is middle east. If forum is too big of an issue, there should be a neutral department where people like me can go and seek advice. It should have experts from 3 main religions where I can ask questions and seek answers. What I want is when I go to a meeting room, there will be an expert in christian and Muslim together with me in a room and discuss about my path and future, the pros and cons and what I can do if things didn't go well. Can my children follow me? Last I heard in 2000, children must follow Muslim family. That means my children can't follow me? People like me have a lot of questions but no way to find the answer. No point asking my boyfriend because he can'e give me answers.
In my personal view, the main reason I don't want to get marry is because I don't want to be convert to Islam. Why should I when I have no faith in the religion. I'm a Christian and in this country only Islam is compulsary to be of same religion (Islam) before one married. In Christian, it's not encourage but it's not compulsary to be converted to a Christian if you're a Buddist. Furthermore, there are so many unclear area in Islam that I fear the religion as a convert. I respect the religion's method of teaching on simple way of life but it ends there. Maybe if I was in Australia, I don't mind convert as I know I have a choice but here, I don't.
I read in the news where a convert who didn't practise the religion anymore have problem when they pass away or when it concerning their will. These 2 things are very important to me and it makes me have less confident in converting. Now, my mind is there's no way I'm going to convert. Recently, our Bar Council held a forum on this issue. For a person like me, this is a good platform for people like me to find answers. Most of us are unclear what will happen to us if thing turn sour. As you know, marriage in this age and time is so different than our grandparents and parents time. It's just a paper. Divorce rate is getting higher each year. I don't have the figure but I have more and more friends who are either single mom or divorced. Mind you, these are all educated people with strong mind and personalities.
However, the forum was being critiscise by Muslim quarters and government. I understand is a sensitive issues but isn't it about time we take things out from under the carpet in 2008? We are no longer in 1954 or 1969. Or is it our mentality hasn't grow according to time? There are so many grey area that I don't know and I have the rights to understand it before I make a decision. But how can I make the right decision if I don't know the pros and cons? I know people will tell me marriage is for lifetime but what if it doesn't? As an educated person, I prefer to know all my options. I believe the forum started as a way to help whose who are in the situation. Yes, it is very sensitive but how about those who are affected? Don't they deserve an answer or assistance? Yet, when the forum was on, Muslim were protest outside to stop it. I personally feel this is very selfish. Those who protest are not convert. Have you see any convert protest? It's time to be more open minded or we will be left behind like some of the countries is middle east. If forum is too big of an issue, there should be a neutral department where people like me can go and seek advice. It should have experts from 3 main religions where I can ask questions and seek answers. What I want is when I go to a meeting room, there will be an expert in christian and Muslim together with me in a room and discuss about my path and future, the pros and cons and what I can do if things didn't go well. Can my children follow me? Last I heard in 2000, children must follow Muslim family. That means my children can't follow me? People like me have a lot of questions but no way to find the answer. No point asking my boyfriend because he can'e give me answers.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Shopping For Levi's
Yesterday evening after work, my friend and I went to KLCC to buy his birthday present. Yup, the present is from me. Since he has help me a lot in my work, this is my gratitude for his efforts. He has bear with my all the moody, weird and fast tempers LOL. So this year, his birthday present is a Levi's jean. Actually, he has been looking for an orignal Levi's jean for quite sometimes. He does wear levi's jean to work but non are originals.
Then last 2 months, he told me about a limited edition Levi's that caught his eyes. It's kinna baggy style. I finally has the photo to show, courtesy of my friend. I guess he loves that jean design very much. But in the end, he didn't buy it. I'm not sure because of the price or because he really thinks that he has to buy suitable shirts, shoes and belts to go with it. One think I admire about him is that he's prudent with money. He said if he has to choose, he won't buy levi's buy use the money to buy another brand of jean that he can get 2 or 3 pair of jean with the same amount of money.
We had our dinner first when we arrived at KLCC. He ordered fried rice while I picked Penang Fried Kuew Tau at level 4 food court. He prefers local food or asian food so his instint of food court is level 4 while mine was level 2. Anyway, we finished our dinner quite fast and the meal was good. The taste was good (I hope I won't get paranoid with health minister's comment on the star today) We made our way to the floor plan board just outside Kinokuniya and locate Levi's store. It's was just 1 floor down. When we reached the store, first thing I noticed is the range weren't much. It has everything in a store but the choices were limited. They don't have the latest collection. Too bad. We decided to go back to Isetan Levi's section because I always show a wide range of choices each time I visited there.
We did a pit-stop at Converse store because I was looking for a new pair of shoes. My Scholl is losing its quality. I just bought my Scholl shoes about 4 months ago and its already has 'open mouth' on the sides. The glued wasn't properly done and this make me dissapointed. I paid about $200 for that pair of shoes in Isetan Lot 10. Don't they do quality check anymore? I lost my confidence in Scholl. Don't buy Scholl guys. Anyway, I didn't get to buy my Converse shoes yesterday but I've survey the price and design.
We reached Isetan Levi's section and my friend asked for the limited edition and luckily there's a last pair and it's his size! I pick up 2 for him to choose and he selected one. When he tried on the baggy style, it look weird on him. Maybe it's true that I never seen it on him so I'm not used to it. One thing I noticed, he lost his butt wearing it. Or maybe you're supposed to lose your butt in it.
Next, he tried on the latest 523 cut. Wow! nice...but he wasn't that thrill because he said this is what I normally see him wear. OK, maybe I am, so what? I prefer man who wear suitable for his size, height and style. He has the height and the length so he should highlight it. I asked him to choose the one he like the most. After he tried for the second time, he decided to go with the 523. Hurray!!! It doesn't cost that expensive because it's made from Malaysia, only $223. Well, I hope he's happy with his choice. Today he wear it to the office. Later I'll bring him and another colleague to lunch to celebrate his birthday.
Then last 2 months, he told me about a limited edition Levi's that caught his eyes. It's kinna baggy style. I finally has the photo to show, courtesy of my friend. I guess he loves that jean design very much. But in the end, he didn't buy it. I'm not sure because of the price or because he really thinks that he has to buy suitable shirts, shoes and belts to go with it. One think I admire about him is that he's prudent with money. He said if he has to choose, he won't buy levi's buy use the money to buy another brand of jean that he can get 2 or 3 pair of jean with the same amount of money.
We had our dinner first when we arrived at KLCC. He ordered fried rice while I picked Penang Fried Kuew Tau at level 4 food court. He prefers local food or asian food so his instint of food court is level 4 while mine was level 2. Anyway, we finished our dinner quite fast and the meal was good. The taste was good (I hope I won't get paranoid with health minister's comment on the star today) We made our way to the floor plan board just outside Kinokuniya and locate Levi's store. It's was just 1 floor down. When we reached the store, first thing I noticed is the range weren't much. It has everything in a store but the choices were limited. They don't have the latest collection. Too bad. We decided to go back to Isetan Levi's section because I always show a wide range of choices each time I visited there.
We did a pit-stop at Converse store because I was looking for a new pair of shoes. My Scholl is losing its quality. I just bought my Scholl shoes about 4 months ago and its already has 'open mouth' on the sides. The glued wasn't properly done and this make me dissapointed. I paid about $200 for that pair of shoes in Isetan Lot 10. Don't they do quality check anymore? I lost my confidence in Scholl. Don't buy Scholl guys. Anyway, I didn't get to buy my Converse shoes yesterday but I've survey the price and design.
We reached Isetan Levi's section and my friend asked for the limited edition and luckily there's a last pair and it's his size! I pick up 2 for him to choose and he selected one. When he tried on the baggy style, it look weird on him. Maybe it's true that I never seen it on him so I'm not used to it. One thing I noticed, he lost his butt wearing it. Or maybe you're supposed to lose your butt in it.
Next, he tried on the latest 523 cut. Wow! nice...but he wasn't that thrill because he said this is what I normally see him wear. OK, maybe I am, so what? I prefer man who wear suitable for his size, height and style. He has the height and the length so he should highlight it. I asked him to choose the one he like the most. After he tried for the second time, he decided to go with the 523. Hurray!!! It doesn't cost that expensive because it's made from Malaysia, only $223. Well, I hope he's happy with his choice. Today he wear it to the office. Later I'll bring him and another colleague to lunch to celebrate his birthday.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
KekKaishi Animation
This anime is about a 14 year old junior high school boy, who is a descendant of Kekkaishi, or an exterminator of monsters. He took over from his grandfather who was the previous exterminator. He is vying for the heir to the family with Yumikura Tokine. Tokine is older than him, is his childhood friend as well as his rival Kekkaishi. To qualify as an potential heir, they must have the square box mark on their body.
As a Kekkaishi, they must protect a magical land from the evil monsters. It seems the land will increase the monsters strength by multi-fold and it became the prized item for the monsters. Each night, Yoshimori fights against monsters and from the practise make himself stronger. Yoshimori wants to protect Tokine and his new friend Sen. However, Shishio Gen was killed by Kokubourou's man. Yoshimori has set his mind to take revenge for Shishio and stop Kokubourou team. There is a total of 52 episodes and a must watch for anime fan.
Lunch At Nasi Lemak Cikgu
This morning I had a meeting with one of the TV stations in PJ at 10am. The meeting took about an hour and we were on our way back to the office when one of my collegues suggested we have lunch at Nasi Lemak cikgu in Kelana Jaya. I have never heard or even eat there. So unadventurous of me, right?
I was told that the nasi lemak cikgu used to be a road side stall near the Kelana Jaya football field. It was always jammed with cars and people espeically when the players were there. The football players and audiences would eat at Nasi Lemak Cikgu after a game and it become very famous. It was called Nasi Lemak Cikgu because the owner used to be a teacher. So no brainer, right? Why didn't I think of that? Anyway, it seems the football field was later expanded and the crowd has became too huge that it jammed up the road around that area. So the owner move to a shoplot just few meters aways from the field.
When we arrived at the shop, there were only few customers. Maybe because we arrived at 11.45am for lunch. The environment was clean and bright. We order nasi lemak (coconut rice) with chicken. The chicken was just nice. It wasn't salty or hard like most malay stores I visited near my office. The meat was juicy and tender with the taste of spices. The sotong sambal was the star. The taste is a sweet and spicy. The sotong was well cook and the taste of the sambal blend well with the sotong. They compliment each other. Although it look spicy, it's actually quite mild. So for those who love hot and spicy food, this may not be your favourite. However, for those who like their sambal less spicy and want to taste of sambal when you out in your mouth, this is the place. The price is reasonable, altough for me is a bit on the high side. It's RM6 per plate. If you only want normal nasi lemak without the chicken, then it's RM2 per plate. Overall, I will recommend my friends or bring them over for a bite.
Nasi Lemak Cikgu
No 14, Jalan SS5B/2,
Kelana Jaya, Selangor.
I was told that the nasi lemak cikgu used to be a road side stall near the Kelana Jaya football field. It was always jammed with cars and people espeically when the players were there. The football players and audiences would eat at Nasi Lemak Cikgu after a game and it become very famous. It was called Nasi Lemak Cikgu because the owner used to be a teacher. So no brainer, right? Why didn't I think of that? Anyway, it seems the football field was later expanded and the crowd has became too huge that it jammed up the road around that area. So the owner move to a shoplot just few meters aways from the field.
When we arrived at the shop, there were only few customers. Maybe because we arrived at 11.45am for lunch. The environment was clean and bright. We order nasi lemak (coconut rice) with chicken. The chicken was just nice. It wasn't salty or hard like most malay stores I visited near my office. The meat was juicy and tender with the taste of spices. The sotong sambal was the star. The taste is a sweet and spicy. The sotong was well cook and the taste of the sambal blend well with the sotong. They compliment each other. Although it look spicy, it's actually quite mild. So for those who love hot and spicy food, this may not be your favourite. However, for those who like their sambal less spicy and want to taste of sambal when you out in your mouth, this is the place. The price is reasonable, altough for me is a bit on the high side. It's RM6 per plate. If you only want normal nasi lemak without the chicken, then it's RM2 per plate. Overall, I will recommend my friends or bring them over for a bite.
Nasi Lemak Cikgu
No 14, Jalan SS5B/2,
Kelana Jaya, Selangor.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
How To Communicate With Square Head?
This is the second year it happened. There's a different between a SPM level, Diploma level and a Degree level. Or is it? Maybe there's a different between an MBA level and other qualifications. My my opinion, there is a different ways of thinking level, ability to absorb information and translate it though our human brain. In my company whether you are SPM, STPM, Diploma or Degree level, it'a all the same. They don't understand and don't ask. They say understand but don't understand. They can't think but work like a robot without brain. Why the use of brain when they don't use it to think, evaluate, make personal judgement and all that sort of things you see naturally in a private sector. Can I call them DUNGGU??
Below are a few real life cases. Mind you they do this every year and this the 2nd year they did the same thing under my supervision.
Scenerio 1
Some of the obsolete search titles or headings have been removed from backend since 2006 and 2007. Each year the same process repeated and won't appear. In 2008, it appear and nobody noticed it until I checked. Headings like supermarket, coffee shops etc only require logic thinking when my team QC the listings. If you suddenly saw something that was didn't appeared last year, won't you question or curious? Nope, it was OVERLOOKED. Simple answer by the team leaders.
Scenerio 2
Sending out PDF to branches for their checking. Doesn't anyone know the risk of copyright issue or even leaking of information if you send out high resolution PDF? Free for all? This is not the first time I said and reminded again and again. In fact, this morning I look into a designer and CD face and tell them put low resolution PDF on the server. Yet, when I checked (YES, I HAVE TO CHECK EVERY SINGLE THING AFTER I TOLD, EMAILED, INFORMED AND ALL THAT COMMUNICATION CALL TALKING) it was in high resolution.
Scenerio 3
compile the PDFs (single PDFs) into 1 PDF for easy viewing. Nope, it's still batch by batch, piece by piece. Maybe I should put the single PDF page for all the classified section on the server and let them experience how inconvenience it is.
Scenerio 4
Last minute syndrom. Last year, when manual paginations were done last minute, lack of QC and accuracy happened. Actually their brain can't function if you if them a task that required them to think fast and act fast on it. So there was no QC. They just check everything looks good visually. So we ended up with customers complaints that we print their older version advertisement, wrong company telephone number, wrong headings, missing lisence code etc. You would thought they learnt. Nope, still the same. It has been a month since the sales closed and some of the sections are just merely arranging the listing extracted by IT. Nope, they have to wait and wait until I shouted. For 1 month, all i see in their out tray is cover pages. When deadline is up, then everyone running like chicken. Kelam-kabut. When I finally received the first draft, there were mistakes everywhere. Haven't even think about signatures count and layout arrangement. Yet, I don't see any urgency at all.
This is just 4 examples that happened within this week. No point focus on attention to details. Let get level 1 or level 2 in our KPI beramai-ramai. I really wish I don't be around for the next annual publication. I'm very active in looking for job now. I can't let my reputation spoilt any further with all the donkeys here. I think donkey are smarter.
Below are a few real life cases. Mind you they do this every year and this the 2nd year they did the same thing under my supervision.
Scenerio 1
Some of the obsolete search titles or headings have been removed from backend since 2006 and 2007. Each year the same process repeated and won't appear. In 2008, it appear and nobody noticed it until I checked. Headings like supermarket, coffee shops etc only require logic thinking when my team QC the listings. If you suddenly saw something that was didn't appeared last year, won't you question or curious? Nope, it was OVERLOOKED. Simple answer by the team leaders.
Scenerio 2
Sending out PDF to branches for their checking. Doesn't anyone know the risk of copyright issue or even leaking of information if you send out high resolution PDF? Free for all? This is not the first time I said and reminded again and again. In fact, this morning I look into a designer and CD face and tell them put low resolution PDF on the server. Yet, when I checked (YES, I HAVE TO CHECK EVERY SINGLE THING AFTER I TOLD, EMAILED, INFORMED AND ALL THAT COMMUNICATION CALL TALKING) it was in high resolution.
Scenerio 3
compile the PDFs (single PDFs) into 1 PDF for easy viewing. Nope, it's still batch by batch, piece by piece. Maybe I should put the single PDF page for all the classified section on the server and let them experience how inconvenience it is.
Scenerio 4
Last minute syndrom. Last year, when manual paginations were done last minute, lack of QC and accuracy happened. Actually their brain can't function if you if them a task that required them to think fast and act fast on it. So there was no QC. They just check everything looks good visually. So we ended up with customers complaints that we print their older version advertisement, wrong company telephone number, wrong headings, missing lisence code etc. You would thought they learnt. Nope, still the same. It has been a month since the sales closed and some of the sections are just merely arranging the listing extracted by IT. Nope, they have to wait and wait until I shouted. For 1 month, all i see in their out tray is cover pages. When deadline is up, then everyone running like chicken. Kelam-kabut. When I finally received the first draft, there were mistakes everywhere. Haven't even think about signatures count and layout arrangement. Yet, I don't see any urgency at all.
This is just 4 examples that happened within this week. No point focus on attention to details. Let get level 1 or level 2 in our KPI beramai-ramai. I really wish I don't be around for the next annual publication. I'm very active in looking for job now. I can't let my reputation spoilt any further with all the donkeys here. I think donkey are smarter.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
McDonald's Latest Promo - Gold Medal Meal
It has been 1-2 years since I saw McDonald came up with an interesting gift or collectable item. I still remembered the first time McDonald came up with its teddy bears collection. I think there was 60 of differently dressed bear. I kept it till this very day. Now that I have my own place, I'm going to display it soon. Got to buy a wooden display case first. Have to be custom-made to fit my style.
Talking about McDonald's latest promotion, the Gold Medal meal that comes with a coca-cola glass with embossed sport graphic is quite nice. I'm a coca-cola fan and collector so I'm overjoy with this promotion. I don't think it comes free though, bet the cost is already in the meal we pay. There are 5 sport design glasses to choose from. My personal favourite is the volleyball. I hope I can collect 1-2 of it but don't think I can afford to eat Mcdonald everyday to collect all 5 glasses. Hmmm...unless my colleagues is willing to eat the meal and I get the glass. That would be owesome.
It's great that the tied the promotion to Spicy Chicken McDeluxe meal because it's my favourite now. Each time I go to McDonald, there are already pre-ready so I think there're a lot of customers who like Spicy Chicken McDeluxe too. I ate it as it is without the chilli source and the taste is nice. It doesn't has much of the greassy taaste of deep fried. So psychologically it feels healthier...LOL. The burger comes with quite an amount of cabbage (well, the outlet at my area does). Most important of all, it doesn't have pickles. I hate pickles. Each time I buy burger at burger king, I have to hand-pick the pickles out before I eat my burger.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Furious Friday, Wind down Weekend and Moody Monday
Last Friday ended furiously. Well, it was me feeling furious as a manager. Having open system sometime comes with over-do staff. We are now in our super peak production time where my department has to paginate and finalise the publishing of our 7 books. The sales closed was 30th June and we had parts of the books that required manual pagination. It means designers have to layout the advertisements and information manually using Adobe Indesign. Each year, we would improvise our books to stay on top of competitions. However, it has been a month since sales closed yet I haven't seen the first draft of the manual pagination. My concern that what happened last year will repeat. When things take own sweet rim to complete until last minutes, there're practically no QC. Remember I work in a very less than dynamic company here. They can't think fast enough or adapt to changes quickly. They follow a routine of over 10 years. You give them something new, they take at least 2-3 years to adapt and familise. Sometimes it's more than 2 years because they rememeber the process in first and second year but forget in the third year!
Well, to minimise the incredible high errors rate. What made me hit the roof was to found out listing that were suppressed yearly for the last 2 years, was forgot to suppressed and the data entry staff fail to noticed it during their few rounds of amendments and checking. IT doesn't know how to automate the suppress headings yearly or their routine task during production. Everything has to be remind and highlight and inform. As for the manual pagination, I have to prepare the arrangement since the department in charge has no head and the managers refuse to take the responsibilities and play dumb. No choice but I need the first draft to visualise the whole book and so I can move the pages around to revealed which section and page comes first. 1 month and all i see every day in the tray are the cover pages of the books. The staff goes home early but I seen nothing. I questioned my CD about it. He has this stupid habit of sour-face and angry each time his mistake was pointed out. That morning, some kind of 'draft' was out. But when I checked, it was just copied from last year version and changing the templates. When I told him that his team shouldn't take their own sweet time to finish the work. Some of the sections should have completed at least 2 weeks ago. That evening, his team rush to get the pages done and print out. My CD has the guts to say I 'cepat merajuk'. Am I a manager that doesn't allow to be angry or merajuk when team members make mistakes or very slow in their work? You answer.
I was in no mood for a outing with the team that Friday and went home early. I spent my weekend at home watching DVDs and went to Ikea. I bought the wrong series of Desperate Housewives :-( so I'll watch some of the episodes that I missed in season 3. I'm looking for season 4. Does anyone knows what season we are in for CSI LA and CSL NY? I'm a great fan. Besides that, I'm watching one of latest japanese hits anime. It comes in series so now is series 27-52. Yesterday, I went to Ikea due to the sales. I was quite dissapointed because the sales wasn't on the hot items. Only a few items usual were on sales like rugs, storage boxes, chairs, tables, photo frames etc. Even those are selected items only. Either way, I managed to buy a few stuff for my house. I finally got a contractor who will do my wall mount items from Ikea this weekend. What else, I bought more wall mount items yesterday and some more rugs for the floors. This weekend I need my apartment's cleaner to take away the boxes. Need to find him earlier.
Today I went to work feeling moody. Maybe I still carry the effects of last Friday. No choice, life goes on and I have to face the day the best I can. I don't like people to step my head when I'm nice and think they can get away without doing work or did a half cook work for me.
Well, to minimise the incredible high errors rate. What made me hit the roof was to found out listing that were suppressed yearly for the last 2 years, was forgot to suppressed and the data entry staff fail to noticed it during their few rounds of amendments and checking. IT doesn't know how to automate the suppress headings yearly or their routine task during production. Everything has to be remind and highlight and inform. As for the manual pagination, I have to prepare the arrangement since the department in charge has no head and the managers refuse to take the responsibilities and play dumb. No choice but I need the first draft to visualise the whole book and so I can move the pages around to revealed which section and page comes first. 1 month and all i see every day in the tray are the cover pages of the books. The staff goes home early but I seen nothing. I questioned my CD about it. He has this stupid habit of sour-face and angry each time his mistake was pointed out. That morning, some kind of 'draft' was out. But when I checked, it was just copied from last year version and changing the templates. When I told him that his team shouldn't take their own sweet time to finish the work. Some of the sections should have completed at least 2 weeks ago. That evening, his team rush to get the pages done and print out. My CD has the guts to say I 'cepat merajuk'. Am I a manager that doesn't allow to be angry or merajuk when team members make mistakes or very slow in their work? You answer.
I was in no mood for a outing with the team that Friday and went home early. I spent my weekend at home watching DVDs and went to Ikea. I bought the wrong series of Desperate Housewives :-( so I'll watch some of the episodes that I missed in season 3. I'm looking for season 4. Does anyone knows what season we are in for CSI LA and CSL NY? I'm a great fan. Besides that, I'm watching one of latest japanese hits anime. It comes in series so now is series 27-52. Yesterday, I went to Ikea due to the sales. I was quite dissapointed because the sales wasn't on the hot items. Only a few items usual were on sales like rugs, storage boxes, chairs, tables, photo frames etc. Even those are selected items only. Either way, I managed to buy a few stuff for my house. I finally got a contractor who will do my wall mount items from Ikea this weekend. What else, I bought more wall mount items yesterday and some more rugs for the floors. This weekend I need my apartment's cleaner to take away the boxes. Need to find him earlier.
Today I went to work feeling moody. Maybe I still carry the effects of last Friday. No choice, life goes on and I have to face the day the best I can. I don't like people to step my head when I'm nice and think they can get away without doing work or did a half cook work for me.
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