Maybe this is why some personal blogs degenerate into mindless complaints and bore most audiences ... entries and not thought through before being penned.....Everything that readers read are simply emotions that flow into the IM box
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Sunday, August 07, 2005
Friday, July 22, 2005
Free Wireless Access
MacDonald's used to offer free wireless access at all outlets across the island (or so I was told). I only realised this some time in May, although the marketing materials metnion that the free offer is a time-limited trial ending on 31 Apr. I was gladly surprised when I attempted to connect to the wireless networks at Mac's Siglap and Mac's Jurong East both in the same day (sometime in May), I was able to get internet access.
It was pretty easy, simply go to a browser to access any page, and the technology offered by ANTLabs will redirect the browser to a log in page asking for my name and email address.
After the log-in page, the network will be connected and I can use the internet connection just as I was at home. Another good service from MacDonald's
Some weeks ago, when I tried to hook up to the wireless network at Mac's Jurong East (entertainment centre), I was greated with a different login page. Apparently they decided to start charging, and I had to pay some charges (I vaguely remembered it was about $5 an hour). So I chose to do some offline work instead.
Today, I happened to have an hour between appointments to spare, and thought that instead of wasting the time to commute to my office just to leave office 20 mins later, I might as well spend the $5 at Mac's Suntec. (In my mind the productivty gained should outweigh the $5 spent, but of course when I get on to a network, I start doing unproductive stuff like blogging.)
After paying for a regular coke and a large fries, I sat down and started up my browser. Typed google's url in the browser, and waited for the login screen to arrive. To my surprise, I was greeted with the login screen that I saw the first time I tried this service -- free access! Gladly I entered my name and email address, and here I am blogging. :)
Two things I don't understand here though: (1) Why is it that at some Mac's outlet the access is chargeable, whereas at other outlets it is free? (2) In the first place, since it is 'morally mandatory' to spend on Mac's food when sitting in a Mac's restaurant, why start charging for the wireless access?
It was pretty easy, simply go to a browser to access any page, and the technology offered by ANTLabs will redirect the browser to a log in page asking for my name and email address.
After the log-in page, the network will be connected and I can use the internet connection just as I was at home. Another good service from MacDonald's
Some weeks ago, when I tried to hook up to the wireless network at Mac's Jurong East (entertainment centre), I was greated with a different login page. Apparently they decided to start charging, and I had to pay some charges (I vaguely remembered it was about $5 an hour). So I chose to do some offline work instead.
Today, I happened to have an hour between appointments to spare, and thought that instead of wasting the time to commute to my office just to leave office 20 mins later, I might as well spend the $5 at Mac's Suntec. (In my mind the productivty gained should outweigh the $5 spent, but of course when I get on to a network, I start doing unproductive stuff like blogging.)
After paying for a regular coke and a large fries, I sat down and started up my browser. Typed google's url in the browser, and waited for the login screen to arrive. To my surprise, I was greeted with the login screen that I saw the first time I tried this service -- free access! Gladly I entered my name and email address, and here I am blogging. :)
Two things I don't understand here though: (1) Why is it that at some Mac's outlet the access is chargeable, whereas at other outlets it is free? (2) In the first place, since it is 'morally mandatory' to spend on Mac's food when sitting in a Mac's restaurant, why start charging for the wireless access?
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Although I have been driving my own car for the last 3+ years, I have always been clueless about what I need to do to maintain my car to make sure that it can continue to operate properly. I always thought that if I just simply go for servicing religiously at the pre-determined intervals I would be free of any problems with the car.
However, the truth is that, as will all machines, after some time wear and tear will set in. The same goes for my car which has passed its 3-year-mark. Some months ago, it was the battery that went flat, and more recently (last Saturday), it was a flat tyre.
In a way, I guess it is a blessing in disguised that I had a flat tyre, because when I went to the Shell servicing centre near my place (ok, I know I waited for almost 4 full days before I did anything about this, but I am a procrastinator. :P ), I was told that the set of tyres I have are quite worn out. The guy at the garage told me honestly that the tyres are not totally worn out, but because I did not rotate the tyres (and I assumed that my regular services at Nissan would take care of that), some parts are not as good as before. He also pointed out that certain parts of the tyres have some sort of split lines, which could possibly be due to me hitting curbs. True enough I had made that mistake of hitting curbs a number of times, and thought nothing of it.
I took his advice to change all four of my tyres, since it has been about 2 years since I last changed them. I don't know the market rate, but they charged me $345 for four Bridgestone tyres (made in Japan, but do I know the difference?). In any case, I left as a satisfied customer with my problem solved. ;)
However, the truth is that, as will all machines, after some time wear and tear will set in. The same goes for my car which has passed its 3-year-mark. Some months ago, it was the battery that went flat, and more recently (last Saturday), it was a flat tyre.
In a way, I guess it is a blessing in disguised that I had a flat tyre, because when I went to the Shell servicing centre near my place (ok, I know I waited for almost 4 full days before I did anything about this, but I am a procrastinator. :P ), I was told that the set of tyres I have are quite worn out. The guy at the garage told me honestly that the tyres are not totally worn out, but because I did not rotate the tyres (and I assumed that my regular services at Nissan would take care of that), some parts are not as good as before. He also pointed out that certain parts of the tyres have some sort of split lines, which could possibly be due to me hitting curbs. True enough I had made that mistake of hitting curbs a number of times, and thought nothing of it.
I took his advice to change all four of my tyres, since it has been about 2 years since I last changed them. I don't know the market rate, but they charged me $345 for four Bridgestone tyres (made in Japan, but do I know the difference?). In any case, I left as a satisfied customer with my problem solved. ;)
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
If you are Singaporean, you would be interested in this.
http://www.petitiononline.com/nkfs/petition.html
http://www.petitiononline.com/nkfs/petition.html
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
I am a big TV addict, and last night's Amazing Race 7 finale had both my wife and I have our eyes glued to the TV set. It was really amazing how Uchenna and Joyce manage to catch up all the way from behind. I thought that when Rob and Amber managed to board the earlier flight, and ground crew told Uchenna and Joyce that the flight is closed, it was the end of the race. It really took a good-hearted pilot to allow the last-minute couple on the flight.
Rob and Amber were amazing and I wanted very much for them to win. Despite Rob's cunning plans and notoriety, I think the best thing about this couple is that they never seem to kick up a fuss or quarrel or blame each other when things don't go their way. Rob did not get mad at Amber for not being able to find the way down to the diving platform; if it was any other couple, like Ron, it would be the start of another fight. In any case, they have won their first million, so being second was still not that bad, considering they won most of the individual leg awards - did you notice that they almost always seem to be the couple to win the individual leg when there was an award at the end of the leg? They are good, and have been lucky for most of the race. The only piece of bad luck they got was the cabbie at the last task, and some pedestrian who mis-guided them to the wrong street.
Uchenna taught us never to give up. When he and Joyce had to go begging at the Jamaica airport for their cab ride to the Onion Shack, we wrote them off the competition. It was Uchenna's persistent and optimism that made them carry on and catch up with the rest. It was also the stroke of good luck they get in the last task of finding the cigar shop when they managed to get a good cabbie who knows Spanish. And not to mention the cabbie was the same one that did not get violent when Uchenna started to go around begging for money to pay him. I think given any other cabbies, the couple would have been left to flag for another cab when they were still on the highway.
The Amazing Race is amazing, cannot wait for the next season.
Rob and Amber were amazing and I wanted very much for them to win. Despite Rob's cunning plans and notoriety, I think the best thing about this couple is that they never seem to kick up a fuss or quarrel or blame each other when things don't go their way. Rob did not get mad at Amber for not being able to find the way down to the diving platform; if it was any other couple, like Ron, it would be the start of another fight. In any case, they have won their first million, so being second was still not that bad, considering they won most of the individual leg awards - did you notice that they almost always seem to be the couple to win the individual leg when there was an award at the end of the leg? They are good, and have been lucky for most of the race. The only piece of bad luck they got was the cabbie at the last task, and some pedestrian who mis-guided them to the wrong street.
Uchenna taught us never to give up. When he and Joyce had to go begging at the Jamaica airport for their cab ride to the Onion Shack, we wrote them off the competition. It was Uchenna's persistent and optimism that made them carry on and catch up with the rest. It was also the stroke of good luck they get in the last task of finding the cigar shop when they managed to get a good cabbie who knows Spanish. And not to mention the cabbie was the same one that did not get violent when Uchenna started to go around begging for money to pay him. I think given any other cabbies, the couple would have been left to flag for another cab when they were still on the highway.
The Amazing Race is amazing, cannot wait for the next season.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Has almost abandoned this site again. Someone was telling me blogging is a lifestyle, and I really have to agree to it. When I was much younger, writing a diary was almost always one point in my annual exercise to establish new year resolutions. And almost every year the diary-writing efforts would whither away within months, if not weeks of starting out.
Along came the Internet and blogging bloomed. Got myself a few blog sites, all focusing on different topics. This blog is the only one where I post "Miscellaneous" stuff, so it is the closest to some sort of a diary. Needless to say, the same person leads the same lifestyle, and after some initial ethusiasm in keeping the blog up to date with my thoughts, the postings dwindled again. Anyway, I have came to terms with that, and since it is part of my lifestyle to occasionally come to this blog site to post my thoughts (occasionally means months in between to me), just let it be.
Along came the Internet and blogging bloomed. Got myself a few blog sites, all focusing on different topics. This blog is the only one where I post "Miscellaneous" stuff, so it is the closest to some sort of a diary. Needless to say, the same person leads the same lifestyle, and after some initial ethusiasm in keeping the blog up to date with my thoughts, the postings dwindled again. Anyway, I have came to terms with that, and since it is part of my lifestyle to occasionally come to this blog site to post my thoughts (occasionally means months in between to me), just let it be.
My good friend Wilfrid Wong has recently set up his blog site. Includes writings he has done over the years. Interesting person with interesting thoughts.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Deliberately Concealed Garments Project | Clothing found hidden in buildings
Was browsing the web, and looking at a particular web hosting company for its hosting offerings. Wanted to see some examples of the sites it has hosted, so I clicked on the link for "Featured Site of the Day", and I got directed to the site above.
Why in the world would anyone be interested in garments hidden in buidling? Apparently there is a group of people who are interested enough to create a group and spend the money and effort to put up a website. One more reason for me to be confused about the world.
Was browsing the web, and looking at a particular web hosting company for its hosting offerings. Wanted to see some examples of the sites it has hosted, so I clicked on the link for "Featured Site of the Day", and I got directed to the site above.
Why in the world would anyone be interested in garments hidden in buidling? Apparently there is a group of people who are interested enough to create a group and spend the money and effort to put up a website. One more reason for me to be confused about the world.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
I am dealing with a Taiwanese client currently, and was cracking my brain to think of what "Content Management System" is called in Chinese. Tried BabelFish and the result I got was "美滿的管理系統". Ok, I know I hope my clients will be contented with the CMS that I will be providing them, but the
I tried "web content management system" and got "網路內容管理系統". This should be what I want, since "content" maps to "內容" more naturally. Did a google search with "內容管理系統" and found an article in InterWoven's site on it. Ok, this confirms that the term is used at least by one of the bigger content management system vendor.
The same article also taught me the names of a few other terms: Enterprise Information Portal - "企 業入口網站", which means "portal" will map to "入口網站". Knowledge Management is "知識管理". Interestingly the same article simply used "e-learning" without translating it. Is that too new a term to be coined?
I tried "web content management system" and got "網路內容管理系統". This should be what I want, since "content" maps to "內容" more naturally. Did a google search with "內容管理系統" and found an article in InterWoven's site on it. Ok, this confirms that the term is used at least by one of the bigger content management system vendor.
The same article also taught me the names of a few other terms: Enterprise Information Portal - "企 業入口網站", which means "portal" will map to "入口網站". Knowledge Management is "知識管理". Interestingly the same article simply used "e-learning" without translating it. Is that too new a term to be coined?
Friday, August 13, 2004
After some two weeks of thinking, switching decisions between striking out on my own and returning to another salaried job, I have finally decided to start my own business. Don't have a well articulate business plan yet. Don't even have a good idea what would be my primary focus. For now, I am mostly taking in sub-contracts from others to build up my cash reserves. Sustainability comes first. However, in the mean time I can also manage my own time and not be hurried by time constraints to rush to work and to rush off work. The new found freedom allows me to be able to spend some time to do other things that I would otherwise simply put off to later (which usually means never).
The website for the new business (sole-proprietorship, which also means it is a one-man-show - with help from my wife) is now being built. Will reveal the URL when I am ready.
The website for the new business (sole-proprietorship, which also means it is a one-man-show - with help from my wife) is now being built. Will reveal the URL when I am ready.
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Saw this poll in JobsDB.com's site: "I'm now in my 40s and I'm willing to forego high pay for a more fulfilling and meaningful job / life".
Interestingly I am now in my 30s and I am already foregoing a senior post in a SME in Singapore for something less, because I want to be able to spend more time with my son. In fact, a few of my peers are feeling the same way as me. Is this a sign of earlier burn-out in the younger generation? Does it mean that people are more pampered than earlier generations, or that the worklife demands placed on people nowsaday is so great that burn-outs occur earlier in the career life?
Interestingly I am now in my 30s and I am already foregoing a senior post in a SME in Singapore for something less, because I want to be able to spend more time with my son. In fact, a few of my peers are feeling the same way as me. Is this a sign of earlier burn-out in the younger generation? Does it mean that people are more pampered than earlier generations, or that the worklife demands placed on people nowsaday is so great that burn-outs occur earlier in the career life?
Now that we have a baby at home, we barely have time to sleep, let alone the opportunity to go for movies at the theater. Fortunately some enterprising Singaporeans started DVD home delivery services: Hollywoodclicks and MovieMaster.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Photoshop wars - http://www.jadeit.com.au/jcsworld/war3.html. The result you get when someone with good photoshop skills have a lot of time on his hands.
Monday, July 12, 2004
Has been waiting for fresh gmail invites in my gmail account for days. Not sure what is the algorithm for google to provide the gmail invites, but somehow I only managed to get one invite so far. Reading others' blogs tell me that some people get as many as 5 or 10 invites a day!
Again, confused. Is it really the case that the gmail invites are handed out at random?
Again, confused. Is it really the case that the gmail invites are handed out at random?
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
[Specific to Singapore]
Received a mailer from HSBC informing me that now I can pay my income tax using the credit card I have with the bank. "Cool!" was my first impression, since this will mean earning the rewards points for something I will be spending on in the first place.
However, upon reading the brochure in more detail, I realised the procedure is as such:
Makes little sense for me to sign up for something that will put money in my account just for me to pay them back a few days later. Upside is the rewards points I will get, but the downside will be the interest and penalty I need to incur when I forget to pay my credit card bill in time (which I might, given my absent-mindedness).
Received a mailer from HSBC informing me that now I can pay my income tax using the credit card I have with the bank. "Cool!" was my first impression, since this will mean earning the rewards points for something I will be spending on in the first place.
However, upon reading the brochure in more detail, I realised the procedure is as such:
- make a GIRO arrangement with IRAS to deduct your income tax from a bank account every month
- Send HSBC the GIRO payment plan and the said amount will be paid from the credit card into the said bank account
Makes little sense for me to sign up for something that will put money in my account just for me to pay them back a few days later. Upside is the rewards points I will get, but the downside will be the interest and penalty I need to incur when I forget to pay my credit card bill in time (which I might, given my absent-mindedness).
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