False Alarm

Spent the first half of the evening watching the tokusatsu show and after dinner, spend the night watching House season 4.

Yeah, alone at home on Saturday night, no dates not gathering, pathetic and lonely, but it works for me, at least this week.

The first two discs of House season 4 has 5 episodes per disc, since one season of American drama series usually has 24 to 25 episodes, so I deduce that disc 3 and four should have 7 to 8 episodes per disc. Things got spooky when I put in disc 3, it only shows 4 episodes. Hey, 5 from #1, 5 from #2 and 4 from #3. If this is the case does it means that disc # 4 will have 10 or 11 episodes?

Curious and worried that I may have purchased an incomplete set which is totally with what written on the cover, I checked disc # 4 and to my horror, it only has 2 episodes~! Holly shit! And I happen to notice that the title for episode 16 is the title of the last episode for season 4, something I learnt when Wiki on House.

Since the last episodes in this DVD set is the last episode of the season, will it be possible if 8 episodes throughout the season has been missing? or there are 8 two-parter episodes that they grouped and named as one?

To find the answer, I have not choice but to go Wiki again and found out something. Something that I was concerned a year ago and forgotten by now. The writer strike! There was a writer strike for about two months which resulted on various film production got delayed and some ongoing series being interrupted.

Thus, for 2008 season, House season 4 only has 16 episodes as oppose to the normal 24. Which means I lost 8 hours of fun, thanks to the writer strikes.

Once the mystery is cleared, I resume the viewing and most likely to finish the season before Monday. So, a year long of waiting, just take a week to finish.

Video : 黃子華 - 冇炭用之結構性失業

我家陣真係唔洗do啦!

The Case of The Dead Battery

So Saturday...as usual I will spend sometime with my car. Since friend will be fetching to the wedding guy's bachelor night, so I have all the time I need before night.

After a quick wash at a nearby RM 8 car wash service (I have not wash the car myself since a couple of months ago...I'm allergic to detergent, yeah right), I took the car home and proceed to rewash the windscreen and the windows. As you humble me is a bit of a perfectionist, I have to make sure every inch, I mean CM of the windows are covered. So, I have to turn on the electric power source so that I can lower the power window to clean those hard to reach area.

This done, I applied some rain repellent liquid on the windscreen. It has been rainy lately, I think this will come in handy. The whole process only takes me around 15 minutes, and by the time I was done, the mother of the baby my mum is babysitting came and we successfully dispose the very last job related thing for the day.

So I happily make myself a giant glass of iced coffee, and online and happily wait for my driver to come. I found that the typical Chinese bachelor night is always boring. There will not be any stripper and all the relatives will be around. Whoa, so the meaning of being bachelor is, you have relatives? The only difference between bachelor night and the night function Chinese typically have for the deceased (where you go there give donation money and sit don't know do what) is, instead of mourn, the bachelor night is a celebration, instead of looking at the deceased one last time, we visit the bride's room; instead of eating some lamely made food and cheap drinking water, we have nicer foods and booze, and the better part is bachelor nights do not have those annoying religious rituals.

Despite the fact we need to be early the next morning, I think we will hang around there rather late if not for some unexpected annoyance I choose not to relived here. After a rather lengthy journey, I got home alas, around 1 am. Worried that I may forgot the red packet for Sunday's wedding dinner, I think it will be good if I put the invitation in my car, for I surely will drive there. So I get to my car and found something weird...hey, the car key still in the car.

No...those cliche plot of car key lock inside care will never happens to me. The car isn't lock, but the power never switch on. I could barely see the battery light on. Try to start but it couldn't. Optimistically, I thought "It has been 7 hours the power if left one, maybe after a night sleep it will be OK tomorrow". Of course it won't.

I got up early the next morning trying to start the car. Oh shit! It was dead, and I need to have a car for the "buddy delegation". I interrupted my dad's morning shit and ask him to help jam(or jump?)-start...but of no use. We spent around half an hour trying and trying. At then end, I called my friend informing this bad news, but I still join the delegation anyway, but not driving. Thing is, the delegation also do not need this many cars as he expected. So in a way it doesn't really matters anyway.

Of course I didn't tell any of them what really happened that day. For it will be extremely paiseh for me to face the wedding guy with such stupid incident. And in order to make the misinformation works, I have to misinform other friends as well...Sorry, but now you get the truth~! Haha~

Alas, and EL on Monday and I got my car towed to the service center and the battery get a new replacement for free. Of course I have to do the misinforming part again, if not it may not be for free. If everything happens for a reason, the this incident of the dead battery happened because maybe God predicted I will get a hangover from the wedding dinner. Well, it is something a expect for being a buddy at the "Yam-Seng" session anyway...That night, highly intoxicated but still not drunk. It's good I don't have a car to drive that night.....

Misfired (Inspired by a true story)

There is no take two in life. You will live up to this motto if you have one of this experience.

All is set, all is ready for the big day of your brother. Today, you will get a new family member, a sister in law. As with all typical Chinese wedding your brother, along with his buddies has started their journey to his future wife's house. There they will endure countless mindless challenges set by your sister in law's "sisters".

At any minute, the whole delegation will return in their cars decorated specially for this wedding, along with your new sister in law. As any typical Chinese wedding, they blow the horns endlessly, making as much noise because they know no one will complaint, as this is a celebration of a new beginning of both the bride and the groom.

It came suddenly! Although you expected it, but the sudden break of dozens of horn startled you. In a flash, you remember your mission! You have to ignite the fire cracker! To bring this celebration mood to a higher level. Not a second to lose, you retrieve the lighter from your pocket. You have sudden boost of adrenalin, you dash fast and far to the front gate, and as the sound of horn is getting nearer, you ignited the fire cracker and it blast like a psycho with a M-16.

Then here comes the brides car cruising magnificently, passing you, passing you house...

OK this is weird, shouldn't it suppose to stop right at the front gate and one of our boys here gonna open the car door for them and get a red packet?

And this car does not look so familiar....and why does it take to corner? And all other buddy cars follow...and none of them looks like someone I know....

Damn, I lighted the fire cracker for the wrong delegation! This is our neighbour's! They have someone getting married today as well!

Oh damn, the fire cracker cause us a fortune to get from a smuggler. We only have one...now what should I do when my brother's delegation get here? Shit......

Inspired by a true story occurred on November 23th 2008. I was in one of the arriving buddy car, and the family that screw up the fire cracker ignition is my friend's wife's neighbour, who happen to have a wedding going on the same day. You should see their faces when they realized they got the wrong delegation. It's bad, but I can't help to laugh!

Malaysia's 'worst in the world' taxis tarnish national image

How true...

AFP - Thursday, September 18

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - - The ads promoting "Malaysia: Truly Asia" aim to welcome visitors with a warm smile to a prosperous and modern nation, so the taxi fleet branded "the worst in the world" can come as a bit of a shock.

Even the locals are not spared the shabby service of unkempt and hostile drivers behind the wheels of decrepit vehicles who refuse to use the meter, overcharge and pick-and-choose which destinations they will travel to.

At the popular KLCC mall under Kuala Lumpur's iconic Petronas Twin Towers is a typical scene, as a gang of cabbies negotiate with a young Norwegian couple just metres from a signboard warning against "taxi touts".

"Flat rate, flat rate, no metre," one driver insists as the tourists try to find a cab to take them to their hotel, less than two kilometres (1.2 miles) away.

Anxious to escape the baking heat, they agree to pay 25 ringgit (7.22 dollars) for a trip that would have cost less than three ringgit on the meter.

"Is it expensive? We don't know, we thought it is normal here," said the woman as they piled in with their shopping bags.

More frequent visitors, however, are vocal in their criticism and say that aggressive and unprofessional drivers are tarnishing the nation's image as a squeaky clean and hospitable destination.

"I first visited Malaysia in 2006 and I was impressed by everything I saw except for the worst taxi service I have endured," said Kabir Dali, an Indian tourist waiting in vain for a metered taxi at another mall.

"I paid a whopping 260 ringgit (74 dollars) from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to town and was later told that was twice the proper amount."

Complaints about taxis are common in many countries, but in Malaysia it has escalated to an outpouring of frustration, on blog sites and in letters to newspapers.

In a survey by the local magazine The Expat, some 200 foreigners from 30 countries rated Malaysia the worst among 23 countries in terms of taxi quality, courtesy, availability and expertise.

The respondents lashed the fleet as "a source of national shame" and "a serious threat to tourists -- rude bullies and extortionists".

Salvation is in sight though, as a number of smaller, up-scale operators enter the market to provide a more expensive but quality taxi service for frustrated visitors and locals.

The uniformed drivers, behind the wheels of smart new multi-purpose vehicles and sedans, switch on the meter as a matter of course and do not refuse destinations -- surprising and delighting commuters in the capital.

Abdul Razak, operations manager for Dubai-based Citicab which launched here in January, said that even in poorer nations such as Thailand and Indonesia, taxis are smarter and the drivers far more courteous.

"I would say it is the worst in this region, undoubtedly. I have travelled to all countries in this region and our company operates taxis in many parts of the world. The situation here is the worst I have seen," he told AFP.

"The vehicles are in shabby condition, the driver will take you if he likes your face -- that is, if he agrees with where you want to go for the price he insists on."

The government has called on taxi firms to lift their standards, but various campaigns have achieved little, and many blame the lack of enforcement on rampant corruption in the police and bureaucracy.

"It is difficult for the roads and traffic department to take stern action," said a security officer at one city mall as he watched the touts swoop.

"Taxi operators and the company which hold the licences are all linked to some politician or another," he said. "Drivers here are ruthless because they are unchecked by authorities who are almost non-existent."

John Koldowski, from the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said that "less than desirable" taxi drivers have an outsize impact on a nation's image.

"The first contact a tourist gets with locals is often during airport transits to hotels and it creates a very, very strong first impression, either be good or bad," he said.

"Authorities certainly need to do their jobs and act upon any complaints strongly, quickly and visibly."

copied from: http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080918/tts-malaysia-transport-taxi-506e7eb.html

Well, one of the solutions...:

Are we there yet?

Are we there yet? No we are not! Maybe next time!

Ah~man, not again?

Why not? You fighter sucks! He actually freaked out in the final.

Freaked out?

Freaked out! Totally not in control. You see the Chinese chap? He, is in control. He protested for the foul, he protested to the line, he initiated the shuttlecocks change yada yada yada. He acts like a champion, a leading world No. 1. What our boy did?

Well, like our normal boys did...

Yeah, just follow. Just agreed. Just let himself being bullied, being carried by the tempo of the champion. And like our typical boys, he has the inconsistency curse!

But what to do...fighting in other people's place....

What has it to do with it? That's the heroic part if he succeed. But being a pro like him, that result is ... is... pathetic.

Yeah, all the people's hope...

People's hope? That is the exact reason why he failed. People's hope, nation's price, being the first of its kind in the country...all is hoping, and all is giving him a fucking damn big pressure like never before...any one will goes down for sure. Why can't they put it this way: "You already got to the final, no matter you win it or not, you already are the hero, contributing perhaps the only prize for the country. Just relax and do your best in the final. Need not care too much of the outcome." Like this I get he can do better.

But...

But it is because the naive bugs like you that gave him the pressure, and affected his concentration. The reason for the lost is not his skill, but the very people he is representing... You all are pathetic, fuck off!

Monday + headache + sleepiness + blur = Diu!

My At&t password expired months ago, and so are half a dozen of other peoples' Id and password that I parasited on.

I left a whole chunk of work untouched last Friday. If I were to finish them that day, I might work till midnight and my right arm self destruct.

Prior to COB last Friday, just minutes after I decided to put aside that bunch of work, I saw the invitation to the training on Monday morning. Early Monday morning, 8.30am.

So, my agenda on Monday morning should be

a) Get another colleague's At&t ID to parasite, and in the same time call helpdesk to get mine fixed. Catch is, my office phone gone mad and I will have to get the local IT guy to fixed it, then only I can call to another helpdesk to fix my At&t access.

Damn it, why don't I just parasite some latecomer's phone to make the call first? Never really enthustiatisc in fixing my phone. No one can reach me now isn't great? My big boss can always MSN me and as long as the most important figure can get to you, other can be ignored.

b) Finished last week's work first. But that will depend when I can get the At&t access. So this become a variable. Worst case, get Shirmen to help. Well, just some orders get pend a bit, no one's gonna die. Even if there is, who will that be? Not CSO...but the profession that I loath most.

c) Sort out and prepare to work on orders that came in from COB Friday till Sunday night. My job, the preparation part is always to most time consuming and heart-aching. It is during this stage that I keep on thinking, what do they ask when interviewing candidate for a job in the team where the profession I hated most? Perhaps..

Interviewing Manager: Do you have a brain?
Candidate: No.
Interviewing Manager: Good, you are hired!

or

Interviewing Manager: If shit happens, and you are the cause, how do you handle?

Candidate: Adopt the Samy-Vellu or Barisan solution.
Interviewing Manager: Which is?
Candidate: Never our fault, always the others.
Interviewing Manager: Good, you are hired!

or

Interviewing Manager: Customer may be demanding and sometimes being ridiculous. How do you deal with them without offending them?

Candidate: No problem, anything also can.
Interviewing Manager: Promise them anything, how do you fulfill them?
Candidate: Let other department settle and blame them if fail.
Interviewing Manager: Good, you are hired!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So three agendas.

But at the end, only manage to get one and a half done. I called the help desk, sort out some last week's work and pass them to Shirmen, and during the training, I get to parasite another dude's ID...wahahaha~

But that already cost me one hour of sleep time! I got up an hour earlier, blur blur dei drive to office, blur blur dey with headache and heavy eyelids and yawn every one or two minutes. Until I packed and left the office. Monday + headache + sleepiness + blur = Diu!

Lucky fresh work for today is not that much. Hopefully can clear most pending work tomorrow.

If anyone from the team above happen to read this, and get offended...Hey, you won't unless it is the truth, right? Since the truth always hurt....wakakakakaka~

Nothing personal strictly business.
That is only my professional point of view of what you are.
Why so serious?

But...and there is always a big BUT

Ok, what is sales order in Chinese? How about error? SAP contract? Wow. Really wanna help. But translating technical term really aren't in my list of limited talent. If you want a translated story or lyric at least I can do it. But this...pai seh pai seh.

So the humpty dumpty back to the work....

I knew I purposely left some work yesterday. I realized I still have some shit yet to clean up. Both sites form one of our biggest customer still have orders waiting me. Given my half day until lunch. Only 20% will left. I have this confidence. But....there's a big but.

I was so concentrated, the work turbo was working fine, my momentum was gaining. Then a shadow casted over my cubicle....damn it. I am to join a training that is not directly related to my current job but it will be better I sit in and get to know something. Well...since, not directly related to me then I can of course pay only less than a quarter of attention and proceed my work there.

And so it was done. But....there is always a big but. I sensed a disturbance in the force. The workforce was not balance, so I sensed it. In the meeting room, I started to got a bad feeling about this.

I opened MSN, opened Sametime. I checked and rechecked. I sneaked out of the room (witnessed by all in the room) and check the place. OMG~ my one and only help is not here yet? Or is it "yet" anyway? She either already be here at this hour or not at here at all.

Worried (about my day) I text her. No reply. Ah, just back up her, never mind, should not be that much work today. But, and then there is another but...a MSN window pop up and tell me the training meant for my job scope was scheduled in the after noon. Great~!

Very injured now, and the salt came...SMS from manager who is on leave. That girl really won't be here today. MC. At that moment I was thinking why didn't I hit my head harder yesterday till it bleed. Then perhaps I can take a few days of MC. See how the management suffer without us~ wahahahaha~ just for the fun of it.

But salt is nothing compare to acid. The acid came in toe form of lousy presentation in the afternoon session. The so call training is cheaply conducted via teleconferencing. And the guy at the other end spoke as if someone if pressing his balls all the time. How can I concentrate at all? The orders bothering me. Damn. The session was not at all productive. Didn't even absorb anything.

At the end of the day, I just manage to finish 80% of one of the the 8 databases' work. Out of this

8, 4 are from web. I touch none. Another 3 I touched a little. Hey, I'm an injured man, man. Can't endure to much of this. As a preparation in case I need to work alone again tomorrow. I decided to leave while the sun is around and go shop a little, to cheer myself up.

Tomorrow is only Wednesday....fuck.

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...

Monday morning. The cursed bloody morning. Despite I bed at almost 2 am yesterday, I was surprised I manage to wake up before the alarm. The clock show its 7, but I know too well it is just 6.45.

So, what the heck, month ends, trends changed. Should not be a lot of work now, maybe it is good to be a few minutes earlier. I can then finish the order faster and clear some shit that has been pending for months.

As usual I take my shower, had my coffee and dressed up. But it was during the dressing up part that I sensed a disturbance in my bowel. I considered, here, or office? Well, it is the first morning of a working week, really don't like the drive to office being disturb by this. What if I fart in the car? Disgusting.

Having make the cursed decision, I undressed myself, and with the boxer and a towel wrapped around the waist (anatomically I do have, just not quite visible now) and headed to the toilet.

Well, my father was in it. Taking a leak before he start off, I waited a few seconds, quite impatiently. Alas he got out and I try to step in. At that particular moment, before I'm event physically in the toilet room, I felt I left feet lost the grip. My brain and body registered this as a normal non-fatal slip that a minor gesture will able to adjust the balance. My conscious mind was still not warmed up yet. I felt my body made the move, but it was just too damn slippery and I fall...side way.

First the leg, then the thigh, hard one. Hit the back, hand brushed the wall, and the head hit either the wall or the floor. This highest mark goes to the head, the point just above the left ears.

All my parents whose witnessed it can do was "Oh! Oh", "Careful". Yeah, thanks for the help. Appreciate it.

But I didn't stay long on the floor. Sprang up in less then a second, cursed a bit and went to shit.

Well, it was a good one, the shit. Pretty enjoyable with Crayon Shin-Chan. I remember I was still holding it when I fall~ lol.

I check my thigh and arm, just some bruises. I know I hit the head, but didn't quite bother, save for my hair got messed up. After the shit, I went back getting dressed and start of to the office. The plan is getting the some fuel supply first. But it is on the way to the petrol station I realized my head is aching. Somehow the fall caused a headache. When I turn my head, the point get hit hurts. When I open the jaw wide a bit it hurts and I was a bit dizzy. Although falling side way on my left, I managed to get a bruise on the left feet. I ache and disturbing my drive.

OK, I'm not going to the doctor, but I'm not driving 20 something km to work as well. Since no doctor means no MC, well, I decided to go home and work from home.

It is at home once a gain that I recheck and found that it really hurt when I touch the left side of my head. Well, I'm not so worry about brain damage yet. A simple knock like this, the body will fixed itself. But as a safety measure, better stay at home and let the body rest. If things somehow got worse, then to the doctor lo.

Not bad work at home, but I missed a training call that she-who-doesn't-want-to-be-name-here reminded the participants last Friday. Damn it. Lucky another colleague attended it. Maybe I'll extract some info from her tomorrow.

Think can work as usual tomorrow.

Hope she-who-doesn't-want-to-be-name-here's mission is an enjoyable one, or getting to be.

Late, go sleep.