Yet another year has flown by in the blink of an eye, and yet another set of resolutions. This year's been rather tumultous, what with the economy tanking and various political issues and scandals flying about.
But lets recap and see how I fared with keeping to my resolutions:
Lynx's 2009 Resolutions: Results!
1. Be more responsible.
Yes, over the course of my working experience both full-time and freelancing, i've learned to be more sensitive to both the details in the work I do, as well as how my handling of that work affects other people.
2. Train myself to work faster
Definitely, a vast improvement since posting my resolution. What took me an hour to do now takes only a couple of minutes.
3. Improve 3D skills
Fell behind on this goal, I did become more familiar with normal mapping, but I haven't been arsed to learn rigging and animating.
4. Get a new gf.
Nada, though not for the lack of opportunities. Had many possibles this year, but somehow that vital something didn't spark and nothing really caught fire. Maybe this year something will happen, but ima not gonna worry myself over it.
5. Begin planning and pre-production work on my long term projects.
More or less, i've already set things into motion, though I still need to work more to get my study loan settled before I can finally move ahead. Interestingly though, opportunities have opened which would probably sidetrack my plans, so i'm frankly rather undecided what course of action to take.
6. Work out enough to get at least some abdominal definition.
Yeah, there's 'definition'. A one pack is still definition!
7. Save at least one quarter of my pay every month.
Done, thanks to my freelancing, and thank the God Emperor/Flying Spaghetti Monster/My dog for that, i'm not fond of asking for moolah from my dad.
8. Learn at least 2 new songs on the guitar.
Not sure if done, I learned them early in the year but i've forgotten how to play one of them in full. Facepalm. I'll just call this done.
9. Update blog at least twice a month.
Well, I average more than 2 posts a month, so I guess we can bend the rules abit and call it done. :P
10. Procrastination blah blah blah.
IMPROVED FINALLY YEAH! Still not perfect, but i've gotten shit done in a reasonably posthaste timeframe.
This year hasn't been kind on my resolutions, but I guess its a good thing that i've succeeded where it counts.
Showing posts with label Insight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Insight. Show all posts
Monday, January 04, 2010
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Pursuit of Happiness, Part 2
So, how does one find their 'self'?
Unless you have alot of time and space to be alone and contemplate things, without distractions abundantly available in today's society, it is very difficult.
It took my employer more than half his life to even begin to find his 'self', and that was only after an extremely traumatic event.
One step to that path, is confidence. A confident person is less susceptible to external influences on the inner balance of their emotions, and more importantly, reactions.
The more I thought about it, the more I realised that there is indeed a choice of whether I would let something affect me and how.
A simple, everyday example. You are driving to work on a typical day, after a relaxed, happy weekend. A car swerves in from the left and cuts into your path, making you hit the brakes hard.
Anger rises, and you start blasting your horn, and perhaps begin tailgating the car out of indignation. From observation, a common reaction among Malaysian drivers.
What began as a pleasant day, ruined for the rest of it all thanks to one minor incident. Not only that, in the future you might develop a habit of sticking close to the car in front, so as to avoid or at least lessen the possibility of someone cutting into your lane, which needless to say, will sharply increase the chances of your getting into an accident.
You can observe the thread of events that start with a single reaction to a single situation start to have a more widespread affect, like ripples in a pond when a stone is thrown into the water. Now, imagine if you choose NOT to let some rude driver's exploits affect your own driving, and choose not to let your emotions take the wheel.
You choose to drive confidently, and avoid or at least lessen the chances of some insecure driver swerving into your lane, by always maintaining several car's length of road in front of you. Now even if someone swerves into your lane, at least you don't have to hit your brakes as hard (since you're driving slower and have more room to brake), and therefore your feelings will be reduced to just slightly annoyed instead of RRRRAAAAGGGEEEE!!!!!!
Applying this to the previous example, the tailgating behaviour, will affect OTHER drivers as well, believe it or not.
Try experimenting next time when you are stuck in a jam. Try maintaining 2-3 cars' length distance (6-10 metres) in front of you at all times, instead of the usual couple of inches, or at least 3 metres when stopped.
In a matter of minutes, you will usually see OTHER vehicles around you starting to do the same and keeping a larger distance in front instead of sticking bumper to bumper.
A very interesting experiment indeed on human behaviour on the road. It just takes one car to drive confidently to give a sense of assurance to the other vehicles around, and from my view, that little much more of a pleasant drive despite being in a traffic jam which IMO makes all the difference (and easier on your car, as you will be stopping and starting less, hitting your brakes less and therefore reducing the wear and tear on your car, even saving a little petrol in the process).
So, how does this tie into one's pursuit of happiness, you ask? Well, Simple. You certainly cannot choose when, what and where things will disturb and/or upset your feelings, but you can certainly choose HOW these events will affect you and your actions.
I believe insecurity is the root of the majority of problems people face today, and insecurity is caused by the lack of confidence in oneself. Using anything else other than your 'self' to hold your self-esteem up is the path to an unstable sense of self-esteem. Material wealth, friends or other external things are for naught if one does not have self-confidence built upon oneself.
If you can take criticism as a valuable piece of information about your beliefs or personal faults you overlooked (and therefore can fix) and thank the critic, if you can accept and overcome failiure and hardship as challenges that are simply stepping stones to a greater goal in life, then you're already one step toward true happiness.
Unless you have alot of time and space to be alone and contemplate things, without distractions abundantly available in today's society, it is very difficult.
It took my employer more than half his life to even begin to find his 'self', and that was only after an extremely traumatic event.
One step to that path, is confidence. A confident person is less susceptible to external influences on the inner balance of their emotions, and more importantly, reactions.
The more I thought about it, the more I realised that there is indeed a choice of whether I would let something affect me and how.
A simple, everyday example. You are driving to work on a typical day, after a relaxed, happy weekend. A car swerves in from the left and cuts into your path, making you hit the brakes hard.
Anger rises, and you start blasting your horn, and perhaps begin tailgating the car out of indignation. From observation, a common reaction among Malaysian drivers.
What began as a pleasant day, ruined for the rest of it all thanks to one minor incident. Not only that, in the future you might develop a habit of sticking close to the car in front, so as to avoid or at least lessen the possibility of someone cutting into your lane, which needless to say, will sharply increase the chances of your getting into an accident.
You can observe the thread of events that start with a single reaction to a single situation start to have a more widespread affect, like ripples in a pond when a stone is thrown into the water. Now, imagine if you choose NOT to let some rude driver's exploits affect your own driving, and choose not to let your emotions take the wheel.
You choose to drive confidently, and avoid or at least lessen the chances of some insecure driver swerving into your lane, by always maintaining several car's length of road in front of you. Now even if someone swerves into your lane, at least you don't have to hit your brakes as hard (since you're driving slower and have more room to brake), and therefore your feelings will be reduced to just slightly annoyed instead of RRRRAAAAGGGEEEE!!!!!!
Applying this to the previous example, the tailgating behaviour, will affect OTHER drivers as well, believe it or not.
Try experimenting next time when you are stuck in a jam. Try maintaining 2-3 cars' length distance (6-10 metres) in front of you at all times, instead of the usual couple of inches, or at least 3 metres when stopped.
In a matter of minutes, you will usually see OTHER vehicles around you starting to do the same and keeping a larger distance in front instead of sticking bumper to bumper.
A very interesting experiment indeed on human behaviour on the road. It just takes one car to drive confidently to give a sense of assurance to the other vehicles around, and from my view, that little much more of a pleasant drive despite being in a traffic jam which IMO makes all the difference (and easier on your car, as you will be stopping and starting less, hitting your brakes less and therefore reducing the wear and tear on your car, even saving a little petrol in the process).
So, how does this tie into one's pursuit of happiness, you ask? Well, Simple. You certainly cannot choose when, what and where things will disturb and/or upset your feelings, but you can certainly choose HOW these events will affect you and your actions.
I believe insecurity is the root of the majority of problems people face today, and insecurity is caused by the lack of confidence in oneself. Using anything else other than your 'self' to hold your self-esteem up is the path to an unstable sense of self-esteem. Material wealth, friends or other external things are for naught if one does not have self-confidence built upon oneself.
If you can take criticism as a valuable piece of information about your beliefs or personal faults you overlooked (and therefore can fix) and thank the critic, if you can accept and overcome failiure and hardship as challenges that are simply stepping stones to a greater goal in life, then you're already one step toward true happiness.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The Pursuit of Happiness Part 1
What is life, but the pursuit of happiness, really?
I had a long talk with my boss last week, about the things one faces in life, about his dreams for life, the experience in his relationship with his (soon to be ex) wife, and the realisations from the soul-searching he had from experiencing his divorce.
Some things he said to me during this really stood out.
He said that people who have not found their 'self', often seek attributes in others that they themselves lack, in the hope that that person can make up or somehow transfer it to them. In some cases, the balance of temperaments and the exchange of self from both parties do not come into conflict, but very often people are blinded to the obvious until it reaches a critical point.
The conversation itself is too lengthy and details unnecessary to bear repeating, but I make my observations and lessons I learned from it.
I spent quite abit of time divining the crux of this conversation, as usual falling back into introspective mode for several days through the weekend.
To wit, the foundation of a man is not in the material possessions he owns, nor in the people around him, not even in his wealth. Material possessions can be taken away, the people can distance themselves and disconnect, and wealth can dissapear in the blink of an eye.
It is in his values where he finds the bedrock of his psyche, of his self. A man without values builds upon pillars of sand; everything will come crashing down the moment something kicks them in.
A man who has a strong core of values, a solid foundation of principles, and an unwavering sense of self will pull through through sheer force of will.
Unfortunately, the society we live in today puts many distractions and manufactured stumbling blocks to make it that much more difficult to achieve.
The mass media churns out aural and visual stimuli to distract our minds and create artificial value in things, the concept of credit and debt keeps us working to pay off what is essentially an intangible idea, consumerism keeps the ball and chain of credit and debt locked securely around our feet.
“To be truly rich, regardless of his fortune or lack of it, a man must live by his own values. If those values are not personally meaningful, then no amount of money gained can hide the emptiness of life without them.” - John Paul Getty, How to Be Rich (1961)
"When you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty." - Benjamin Franklin
I had a long talk with my boss last week, about the things one faces in life, about his dreams for life, the experience in his relationship with his (soon to be ex) wife, and the realisations from the soul-searching he had from experiencing his divorce.
Some things he said to me during this really stood out.
He said that people who have not found their 'self', often seek attributes in others that they themselves lack, in the hope that that person can make up or somehow transfer it to them. In some cases, the balance of temperaments and the exchange of self from both parties do not come into conflict, but very often people are blinded to the obvious until it reaches a critical point.
The conversation itself is too lengthy and details unnecessary to bear repeating, but I make my observations and lessons I learned from it.
I spent quite abit of time divining the crux of this conversation, as usual falling back into introspective mode for several days through the weekend.
To wit, the foundation of a man is not in the material possessions he owns, nor in the people around him, not even in his wealth. Material possessions can be taken away, the people can distance themselves and disconnect, and wealth can dissapear in the blink of an eye.
It is in his values where he finds the bedrock of his psyche, of his self. A man without values builds upon pillars of sand; everything will come crashing down the moment something kicks them in.
A man who has a strong core of values, a solid foundation of principles, and an unwavering sense of self will pull through through sheer force of will.
Unfortunately, the society we live in today puts many distractions and manufactured stumbling blocks to make it that much more difficult to achieve.
The mass media churns out aural and visual stimuli to distract our minds and create artificial value in things, the concept of credit and debt keeps us working to pay off what is essentially an intangible idea, consumerism keeps the ball and chain of credit and debt locked securely around our feet.
“To be truly rich, regardless of his fortune or lack of it, a man must live by his own values. If those values are not personally meaningful, then no amount of money gained can hide the emptiness of life without them.” - John Paul Getty, How to Be Rich (1961)
"When you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty." - Benjamin Franklin
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Meritocracy only worth 20 percent in Malaysia
PUTRAJAYA, May 18 — Only 20 per cent, or one in five, of Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships are given based on merit while the rest are allocated based on racial quotas.
Source
So let's take a look at the issue in a little more depth than we usually do.
Every year without fail, we hear the hue and cry from parents about the biased allocation of PSD scholarships. As usual, nothing is changed and the wailwagon starts making a ruckus again the next year, but very few people actually look at the bigger picture, and look beyond the "racial" aspect of it.
By causing controversy over the allocation of scholarships, they divert attention from the effects: less citizens who attain higher education.
The better educated people get, the more they will analyse and question the social and political issues occuring in the country.
Let's face it. Politicians like Rakyat who are docile sheep who do what they're told. They prefer unquestioning acceptance and obedience to challenges to their 'authority'. They've more or less succeeded in this goal ever since Independence, at least until last year.
Their actions are proof enough of this; certain politicians have been harping on and on about not questioning issues that they spin into racial issues. Do not question the social contract in the Constitution. Do not question the decisions of our Royalty. Do not question our decisions.
Education is admittedly just one of the tools they've used to maintain control of the Rakyat, but it is also an important one. Tying quotas to racial profiles also has the convenient side effect of inciting racial sentiments, cementing their tried-and-true 'divide and conquer' strategy.
That is why in primary and secondary school, all you're told to do is to shut up and listen to instruction.
That's why those who can get into uni have to unlearn all the "stfu and listen unquestioningly" programming imprinted on every Malaysian student in primary and secondary education.
Make them obey and listen unquestioningly when they're young, make it hard for them to obtain higher education, and the result is a large population of willing drones to work for you and support you.
Such methods are simple and effective instruments of control, and have been used since the feudal ages, and are still being used today in some form or another.
This might not be new to some, but a thought not expressed might as well have been not thought of at all, as the (most likely misquoted) saying goes, and knowing is half the battle.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
What I Do
Yeah, promised to make a post about this, so here it is!
I started working a couple of months ago as a 'digital imaging artist' at a photography studio that mainly handles work for print ads.
I do the post-production work on the jobs that come in, and the requirements vary greatly depending on the job. Usually its doing surgical work such as extracting the 'subject' from the studio's background, sometimes swapping out various body parts, then putting it into a new background image.
Sounds simple, but it really isn't, as every single detail needs to be attended to, every imperfection and elements that cause 'visual noise' which distracts the viewer from the subject.
Working in high-res is highly demanding in terms of attention to detail, as there is scant room to simply leave alone the areas that are difficult to fix or clean up, because even the smallest and most subtle of details really stand out like a sore thumb when it goes into print. Even the deviation of a pixel or two in a line is very visible, which makes it necessary to be very careful and precise.
Every assignment is usually a fresh new challenge, as the problems are individual to the image itself, and quite abit of creative thinking, looking through many tutorials and lots of trial and error are required to solve them. Before being introduced to this job, I really took the amount of work put into ads for granted.
Raw photographs that don't require any digital retouching are very rare, especially since high-end cameras can capture an amazing amount of detail; in fact they capture too much, and its up to the retoucher's job to make it as clean and perfect as possible.
Deadlines are quite insane, as clients generally feel that post-production work is simple compared to photography, which can't really be rushed due to a higher amount of logistics involved, and usually want to see finished work a day after a photoshoot.
Sometimes, the job is so behind schedule, (usually due to too much time wasted on planning) that they want to see finished work an hour or two right after the shoot itself, and before office hours are over. Which of course requires me to go into overdrive mode to try and get the raw photos at least into presentable shape for sending a low-res preview. Some clients even expect you to work over the weekend, giving the job on Friday and wanting results on Monday. Fun.
So, if you are part of the realisation of an ad, keep in mind that the process is like making a cake. Planning, concepting and photographing is preparing the ingredients. Digital retouching and post production is mixing the ingredients together and baking the cake. Try to rush the baking process and the result is poorly baked flour.
There's two sides to every coin, however and I can't deny that it has its advantages, as I get to train myself to work faster, plan faster and make decisions faster instead of spending hours staring at the screen thinking of what to do.
Its a very demanding job, to say the least, but i'm sticking to it for now. I consider the nice work environment, nice colleagues, boss who acts more like a friend than a 'boss' and a place where i'm picking up some skills I need for my long-term goals as a reasonably good compromise for the relatively low pay and unpredictable working hours as well as the occasional insane client.
I started working a couple of months ago as a 'digital imaging artist' at a photography studio that mainly handles work for print ads.
I do the post-production work on the jobs that come in, and the requirements vary greatly depending on the job. Usually its doing surgical work such as extracting the 'subject' from the studio's background, sometimes swapping out various body parts, then putting it into a new background image.
Sounds simple, but it really isn't, as every single detail needs to be attended to, every imperfection and elements that cause 'visual noise' which distracts the viewer from the subject.
Working in high-res is highly demanding in terms of attention to detail, as there is scant room to simply leave alone the areas that are difficult to fix or clean up, because even the smallest and most subtle of details really stand out like a sore thumb when it goes into print. Even the deviation of a pixel or two in a line is very visible, which makes it necessary to be very careful and precise.
Every assignment is usually a fresh new challenge, as the problems are individual to the image itself, and quite abit of creative thinking, looking through many tutorials and lots of trial and error are required to solve them. Before being introduced to this job, I really took the amount of work put into ads for granted.
Raw photographs that don't require any digital retouching are very rare, especially since high-end cameras can capture an amazing amount of detail; in fact they capture too much, and its up to the retoucher's job to make it as clean and perfect as possible.
Deadlines are quite insane, as clients generally feel that post-production work is simple compared to photography, which can't really be rushed due to a higher amount of logistics involved, and usually want to see finished work a day after a photoshoot.
Sometimes, the job is so behind schedule, (usually due to too much time wasted on planning) that they want to see finished work an hour or two right after the shoot itself, and before office hours are over. Which of course requires me to go into overdrive mode to try and get the raw photos at least into presentable shape for sending a low-res preview. Some clients even expect you to work over the weekend, giving the job on Friday and wanting results on Monday. Fun.
So, if you are part of the realisation of an ad, keep in mind that the process is like making a cake. Planning, concepting and photographing is preparing the ingredients. Digital retouching and post production is mixing the ingredients together and baking the cake. Try to rush the baking process and the result is poorly baked flour.
There's two sides to every coin, however and I can't deny that it has its advantages, as I get to train myself to work faster, plan faster and make decisions faster instead of spending hours staring at the screen thinking of what to do.
Its a very demanding job, to say the least, but i'm sticking to it for now. I consider the nice work environment, nice colleagues, boss who acts more like a friend than a 'boss' and a place where i'm picking up some skills I need for my long-term goals as a reasonably good compromise for the relatively low pay and unpredictable working hours as well as the occasional insane client.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
New Year, New Resolutions!
So another year passes, and a very eventful one for me it was. But out with the old and in with the new, yay!
[inner voice] So, what happened to your New Year's Resolutions for 2008, huh? AHA! Didn't think i'd forget, did you? DID YOU!? Nuahahahahahha-urk [/mestranglesthatbastard]
Ahem, I was *just* getting to that, tyvm. What of my previous year's resolutions indeed.
Lynx's 2008 Resolutions: Results!
All in all, i've been successful at some and not at others. Still, some goals are perpetually in progress, so a new list with some old and new Resolutions are in order!
So hopefully, i'll be able to achieve at least two-thirds of my resolutions by the end of the year. Now that the talk has been done, time for the walk- part of it! Hope you guys and girls who read my blog are successful at your resolutions as well, if you made them! :D
[inner voice] So, what happened to your New Year's Resolutions for 2008, huh? AHA! Didn't think i'd forget, did you? DID YOU!? Nuahahahahahha-urk [/mestranglesthatbastard]
Ahem, I was *just* getting to that, tyvm. What of my previous year's resolutions indeed.
Lynx's 2008 Resolutions: Results!
- Socialise more - Hmmm, I have been going out more often this year, and met some new friends so I can safely say i've succeeded on this.
- Get the body I want - Made definite progress on this front, but still have a long while yet to go.
- Improve my 3D skills - Haven't really practiced much, but on the other hand I made an effort to try out several other 3D programs, so that still qualifies as improvement.
- Update blog more often - Wow, I really dropped the ball here! 27 posts in 2007 compared to *nine* in 2008! More decisive action must be taken!
- Practice more on my guitar - I've learned a total of 3 new songs compared to 2 in 2007, so yay resolution succeeded!
- Improve my photography skills - Been reading up abit on the theory, especially composing shots, visual balance, and learned alot about product shots, so I consider this goal achieved!
- Focus even more on positive things - Hmmm, I guess so. There were some very tough times when I really felt like throwing in the towel, but I decided to persevere and see my problems as challenges I can and must overcome, and I came out the better for it.
- Get out of the habit of procrastinating - Work has forced me to put some things off, while giving me little to no leeway for procrastination for others, so this is still unreached.
- Make solid plans to make a living overseas - Talked to friends and relatives living in other countries and got a general feel of how life is in those countries, made some assessments on my own status, and decided that I still have a couple more years before I can really start considering and planning in earnest.
- Put more effort into exercising more regularly - Still following my 3 days a week routine at the gym, so I have to consider this goal unfulfilled.
All in all, i've been successful at some and not at others. Still, some goals are perpetually in progress, so a new list with some old and new Resolutions are in order!
- Be more responsible. Must pay more attention and put importance in taking care of details I am responsible for handling.
- Train myself to work faster, take initiative and motivate myself to practice Photoshop even during downtime periods.
- Improve 3D skills! Learn and become proficient in normal mapping as well as rigging the models for animating.
- Get a new gf. Been long enough since the last, time enough to have gotten over it completely.
- Begin planning and pre-production work on my long term projects.
- Work out enough to get at least some abdominal definition.
- Save at least one quarter of my pay every month.
- Learn at least 2 new songs on the guitar.
- Update blog at least twice a month.
- Procrastination blah blah blah.
So hopefully, i'll be able to achieve at least two-thirds of my resolutions by the end of the year. Now that the talk has been done, time for the walk- part of it! Hope you guys and girls who read my blog are successful at your resolutions as well, if you made them! :D
Saturday, January 19, 2008
New Year
This year signals the end of my life as a student and the beginning of working life. I'm still unsure of what to start off with, because I will probably be staying with the career I choose to go into at least for a couple of years.
I'd love to continue studying, but for the lack of funds.
I'm still weighing my priorities, asking myself what is most important to me and what are my goals. I have alot to be thankful for in the past year, so here's to hoping there'll be much more to come!
Also, I was tagged by Bernard to put up a Christmas wishlist, but since its long past Christmas i'm posting my new year's resolutions instead.
Been rather busy despite having finished my studies, lots of things I need to organise and some loose knots that need to be tied. Anyway here's a summary of my holiday activities in Dec 2007:
- Attended four Christmas gatherings, one at Bernard's place, one at Siryn's co-worker's place, one at Sharon's place, and one at Ms. Tan's place.
- Celebrated a (rather expensive) new year at Laundry Bar, The Curve. Still, it's probably the best new year's i've had in awhile (at least among those that I celebrated outside).
This pretty much sums up that night. =p
Wish you all a great 2008, after all its a numerically auspicious year (as long as you don't fall into the two '0's on the way that is). =)
I'd love to continue studying, but for the lack of funds.
I'm still weighing my priorities, asking myself what is most important to me and what are my goals. I have alot to be thankful for in the past year, so here's to hoping there'll be much more to come!
Also, I was tagged by Bernard to put up a Christmas wishlist, but since its long past Christmas i'm posting my new year's resolutions instead.
- Socialise more
- Get the body I want
- Improve my 3D skills
- Update blog more often
- Practice more on my guitar
- Improve my photography skills
- Focus even more on positive things
- Get out of the habit of procrastinating
- Make solid plans to make a living overseas
- Put more effort into exercising more regularly
Been rather busy despite having finished my studies, lots of things I need to organise and some loose knots that need to be tied. Anyway here's a summary of my holiday activities in Dec 2007:
- Attended four Christmas gatherings, one at Bernard's place, one at Siryn's co-worker's place, one at Sharon's place, and one at Ms. Tan's place.
- Celebrated a (rather expensive) new year at Laundry Bar, The Curve. Still, it's probably the best new year's i've had in awhile (at least among those that I celebrated outside).
And we sang a, away, away, away
And the voices rang like the angels sing
And singing a, away, away, away
And we danced on into the night
And we danced on into the night
And we danced on into the night
This pretty much sums up that night. =p
Wish you all a great 2008, after all its a numerically auspicious year (as long as you don't fall into the two '0's on the way that is). =)
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Relationships
It is said that a thought never written down and shared might as well have never existed at all (i'm sure I thoroughly butchered that quote...). And without the convenience of a pensieve (really shows what i've been reading lately, ay?), I shall have to settle with a blog entry.
I've been asked several times about my past and present ones, and what I look for, how I choose, and I realised that I haven't really thought about it much.
Throughout my past experiences, i've learned enough to have some things to look out for and consider first, so here are some principles I practice to avoid unhealthy relationships.
I avoid 'relationships' with people who are suffering from post-breakup syndrome (PBS). People who have PBS aren't really interested in you at all except for being a 'stand-in', if you will.
Placing oneself in such a position repeatedly and being used in such a way will earn you the dubious title of "tool", which most people will treat with the philosophy of, "fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
Conversely, if i'm the one feeling the effects of PBS, I won't pursue any relationship until i've got my feelings and mind on the ground again.
Fickle-mindedness is another warning sign, unless its a very short term thing you're interested in, never a good type to get serious with.
If the girl is already involved, its also a no-go. "Do unto others", a maxim I remind myself whenever I face any situation where morals and self-interest come into conflict. I certainly won't react well to another guy trying to chase someone i'm with, especially if he's aware of the fact that she's attached. In any case, having a relationship with someone who'd change lovers like they change their sheets isn't something i'd do; some people might jump at the chance for a fling but that's not the way I roll.
I've been asked several times about my past and present ones, and what I look for, how I choose, and I realised that I haven't really thought about it much.
Throughout my past experiences, i've learned enough to have some things to look out for and consider first, so here are some principles I practice to avoid unhealthy relationships.
I avoid 'relationships' with people who are suffering from post-breakup syndrome (PBS). People who have PBS aren't really interested in you at all except for being a 'stand-in', if you will.
Placing oneself in such a position repeatedly and being used in such a way will earn you the dubious title of "tool", which most people will treat with the philosophy of, "fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
Conversely, if i'm the one feeling the effects of PBS, I won't pursue any relationship until i've got my feelings and mind on the ground again.
Fickle-mindedness is another warning sign, unless its a very short term thing you're interested in, never a good type to get serious with.
If the girl is already involved, its also a no-go. "Do unto others", a maxim I remind myself whenever I face any situation where morals and self-interest come into conflict. I certainly won't react well to another guy trying to chase someone i'm with, especially if he's aware of the fact that she's attached. In any case, having a relationship with someone who'd change lovers like they change their sheets isn't something i'd do; some people might jump at the chance for a fling but that's not the way I roll.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Guitar
Been picking up my guitar again lately, haven't touched it in almost two years.
I was inspired to practice again after a visit to a friend's house.
I had some time to kill as we were going to head out later.
A guitar with a blue-coloured soundboard was sitting on the roommate's bed.
I picked it up and played it.
It had a pretty deep resonant tone, which I've heard on often-played guitars, and reminded me that my guitar was sitting in its cover, and that I was neglecting it.
Course, now I remember why I stopped.
My fingers on my left hand hurt like hell.
The skin on the tips of my fingers flaked.
Then the skin hardens.
So it like when I dipped my fingers in candle wax when I was a kid.
Its a peculiar sensation, like having a dampened sense of feel on your fingers.
But the reward of being able to play cool songs is worth the pain.
Fretboard
My guitar
My fingers
I was inspired to practice again after a visit to a friend's house.
I had some time to kill as we were going to head out later.
A guitar with a blue-coloured soundboard was sitting on the roommate's bed.
I picked it up and played it.
It had a pretty deep resonant tone, which I've heard on often-played guitars, and reminded me that my guitar was sitting in its cover, and that I was neglecting it.
Course, now I remember why I stopped.
My fingers on my left hand hurt like hell.
The skin on the tips of my fingers flaked.
Then the skin hardens.
So it like when I dipped my fingers in candle wax when I was a kid.
Its a peculiar sensation, like having a dampened sense of feel on your fingers.
But the reward of being able to play cool songs is worth the pain.
Fretboard
My guitar
My fingers
Saturday, March 25, 2006
The Dark Side
Fear leads to anger.
Anger leads to hate.
Hatred leads to power.
Power leads to victory.
Let your anger flow through you.
Your hate will make you strong.
True power is only achieved through
testing the limits of one's anger,
passing through unscathed.
Rage channeled through anger is unstoppable.
The dark side of the force
offers unimaginable power.
The dark side is stronger than the light.
The weak deserve their fate.
–tenets of Sith philosophy
Anger. Anger is something i don't give in to often, nor show. But everyone has a limit, before it becomes impossible to hold back.
Anger is what i feel now.
It is a burning sensation,it burns with a passion.
Self control has let me direct the anger, render it malleable, to channel and use it. Anger provides focus, clarity, strength.
Yet, hot anger is fleeting, its power waxes and wanes as it pleases. Flames are fleeting, fickle things.
Cold, ages-old anger on the other hand, are the most powerful, and rare. Cold is patient, calculating, precise, efficient.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are several distinct kinds of people in this world of group teamwork efforts.
First, is the elite. These are the perfect, productive team members, they participate in discussions and give constructive contributions to it, will try and keep a discussion going by giving ideas and suggestions, use their own initiative to bring up and clarify any ambiguities they have with their tasks as well as doing as much research as possible on the project, and are actually concerned about the project and complete their assignments on time. The team leader is selected based on the required organisational skills, or based on the extent of knowledge he or she has about the assignment topic, and is clearly elected.
Second-in-commands are similar to elites, but are different in the sense that they will only actively contribute to a discussion when the discussion is not making any headway. These types are also reluctant to take on the responsibility of a team leader, but will attempt to do a good job of it if voted to the position.
Second-in-commands are usually also competent in all the things elites can do.
Third, are the followers. These are the drones of the team project world. Followers do exactly that: follow. They will follow any plan that is outlined, regardless of its merit and rarely if ever voice their opinions or contribute anything worthwhile to the project. When doing brainstorming sessions, they will sit quietly and stare at other people or generally be inattentive to the flow of the discussion; letting other people do the thinking for them. When it comes to the time to work on the project, followers will require exact directions on how to conduct their work.
Fourth, are the illusionists. Illusionists are extremely difficult to identify, as fakers love to masquerade as elites. Illusionists are armed with a formidable array of 'important' and 'official' sounding words in their vocabulary, and mimic politians in their speech. Common phrases are "basically,", "practically,", "the fact of the matter is...", "it is imperative that we...", and use such bombastic speech to dazzle others to create an impression of competence. Illusionists will aggressively seek power, and if placed in a position of responsibility, an illusionist will attempt to delegate all the tasks to other members, and routinely request work status reports from them.
Illusionists are only identifiable when asked to explain something in detail or asked a technical question, or confronted with an elite. When this happens, their self-defence mechanism will then activate and make them spew confusing, pointless and fallacy-ridden counter-questions and arguments as well as using misdirection and stalling techniques. When an illusionist is exposed, he or she will attempt to retreat and quit the team.
Fifth are the manipulators. Manipulators are masters of manipulation,and will make every effort to make other group members do their work for them. If left unchecked, manipulators will eventually have someone else to their entire share of the work for them. Usual tactics are asking a question, followed by a request for a demonstration.... and the rest is history.
Anger leads to hate.
Hatred leads to power.
Power leads to victory.
Let your anger flow through you.
Your hate will make you strong.
True power is only achieved through
testing the limits of one's anger,
passing through unscathed.
Rage channeled through anger is unstoppable.
The dark side of the force
offers unimaginable power.
The dark side is stronger than the light.
The weak deserve their fate.
–tenets of Sith philosophy
Anger. Anger is something i don't give in to often, nor show. But everyone has a limit, before it becomes impossible to hold back.
Anger is what i feel now.
It is a burning sensation,it burns with a passion.
Self control has let me direct the anger, render it malleable, to channel and use it. Anger provides focus, clarity, strength.
Yet, hot anger is fleeting, its power waxes and wanes as it pleases. Flames are fleeting, fickle things.
Cold, ages-old anger on the other hand, are the most powerful, and rare. Cold is patient, calculating, precise, efficient.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are several distinct kinds of people in this world of group teamwork efforts.
First, is the elite. These are the perfect, productive team members, they participate in discussions and give constructive contributions to it, will try and keep a discussion going by giving ideas and suggestions, use their own initiative to bring up and clarify any ambiguities they have with their tasks as well as doing as much research as possible on the project, and are actually concerned about the project and complete their assignments on time. The team leader is selected based on the required organisational skills, or based on the extent of knowledge he or she has about the assignment topic, and is clearly elected.
Second-in-commands are similar to elites, but are different in the sense that they will only actively contribute to a discussion when the discussion is not making any headway. These types are also reluctant to take on the responsibility of a team leader, but will attempt to do a good job of it if voted to the position.
Second-in-commands are usually also competent in all the things elites can do.
Third, are the followers. These are the drones of the team project world. Followers do exactly that: follow. They will follow any plan that is outlined, regardless of its merit and rarely if ever voice their opinions or contribute anything worthwhile to the project. When doing brainstorming sessions, they will sit quietly and stare at other people or generally be inattentive to the flow of the discussion; letting other people do the thinking for them. When it comes to the time to work on the project, followers will require exact directions on how to conduct their work.
Fourth, are the illusionists. Illusionists are extremely difficult to identify, as fakers love to masquerade as elites. Illusionists are armed with a formidable array of 'important' and 'official' sounding words in their vocabulary, and mimic politians in their speech. Common phrases are "basically,", "practically,", "the fact of the matter is...", "it is imperative that we...", and use such bombastic speech to dazzle others to create an impression of competence. Illusionists will aggressively seek power, and if placed in a position of responsibility, an illusionist will attempt to delegate all the tasks to other members, and routinely request work status reports from them.
Illusionists are only identifiable when asked to explain something in detail or asked a technical question, or confronted with an elite. When this happens, their self-defence mechanism will then activate and make them spew confusing, pointless and fallacy-ridden counter-questions and arguments as well as using misdirection and stalling techniques. When an illusionist is exposed, he or she will attempt to retreat and quit the team.
Fifth are the manipulators. Manipulators are masters of manipulation,and will make every effort to make other group members do their work for them. If left unchecked, manipulators will eventually have someone else to their entire share of the work for them. Usual tactics are asking a question, followed by a request for a demonstration.... and the rest is history.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
A Taste of Things To Come
A lot of happenings in the country lately.
Splashed across the headlines are signs of Malaysia's first major social, political and economic shakeup in decades,and how we plan for the future today will drastically shape things to come.
First is the issue of the re-implementation of the NEP in an "enhanced" form which now includes other newer sectors such as biotechnology.
After our country's independence and following the May 19 racial riots, the NEP was put in place so that the Malays could catch up in terms of market share. The government did everything they could to give them a leg up and close the economic disparity between Malays and non-Malay citizens, develop the economy and wipe away hardcore poverty.
And it was successful too. However, greatness can only be achieved through adversity.
A man who works with his bare hands, enduring toil and hardship will be stronger than a man who gets everything without having to lift a finger.
This same principle applies to the NEP; it has had some serious negative effects contrary to what it originally intended to do: put Bumis on equal playing ground with Non-bumis in the economic sector. Getting concessions, favored contracts, deference for stocks and shares, even down to quotas in institutions of higher education which prevent many deserving non-Bumis from entering - these all make a people soft; and far exceeds the individual level.
Should our country's leaders be visionary enough, they would see it is time to remove the diapers off our country and put on some real pants. We cannot become a fully developed country with such policies in place. The international economic arena is unforgiving and extremely competitive, so companies cannot keep looking to the government for aid. Proton is already feeling the pressure as the AFTA goes into force soon, and already the cracks are starting to show with the controversial sacking of it's CEO.
The Approved Permits has also stirred up alot of controversy, which enable dealers to bring in foreign-made cars. Most of them only allow a dealer to bring in a particular carmaker's cars, while another type allows for the import of virtually any foreign car. But, the next issue might have more adverse effects on the automotive industry than expected.
Second, as international oil and gas prices skyrocket, we can expect merchant profiteering to increase. Althought the government threatens to take action, there are just too many businesses to investigate. Already prices of some things such as fast moving consumer goods (read: food & other perishables) have surreptitiously increased.
Which of course translates to higher living costs and making our lives more difficult.
There is an article in today's The Sun which discusses why the government should drop petrol and gas subsidies altogether, and while it presents many good points, we just aren't prepared for such a change now.
Other Breaking News!
Japanese create realistic female android
These people must be really desperate....
10th Planet Discovered
Another step into stellar understanding.
Splashed across the headlines are signs of Malaysia's first major social, political and economic shakeup in decades,and how we plan for the future today will drastically shape things to come.
First is the issue of the re-implementation of the NEP in an "enhanced" form which now includes other newer sectors such as biotechnology.
After our country's independence and following the May 19 racial riots, the NEP was put in place so that the Malays could catch up in terms of market share. The government did everything they could to give them a leg up and close the economic disparity between Malays and non-Malay citizens, develop the economy and wipe away hardcore poverty.
And it was successful too. However, greatness can only be achieved through adversity.
A man who works with his bare hands, enduring toil and hardship will be stronger than a man who gets everything without having to lift a finger.
This same principle applies to the NEP; it has had some serious negative effects contrary to what it originally intended to do: put Bumis on equal playing ground with Non-bumis in the economic sector. Getting concessions, favored contracts, deference for stocks and shares, even down to quotas in institutions of higher education which prevent many deserving non-Bumis from entering - these all make a people soft; and far exceeds the individual level.
Should our country's leaders be visionary enough, they would see it is time to remove the diapers off our country and put on some real pants. We cannot become a fully developed country with such policies in place. The international economic arena is unforgiving and extremely competitive, so companies cannot keep looking to the government for aid. Proton is already feeling the pressure as the AFTA goes into force soon, and already the cracks are starting to show with the controversial sacking of it's CEO.
The Approved Permits has also stirred up alot of controversy, which enable dealers to bring in foreign-made cars. Most of them only allow a dealer to bring in a particular carmaker's cars, while another type allows for the import of virtually any foreign car. But, the next issue might have more adverse effects on the automotive industry than expected.
Second, as international oil and gas prices skyrocket, we can expect merchant profiteering to increase. Althought the government threatens to take action, there are just too many businesses to investigate. Already prices of some things such as fast moving consumer goods (read: food & other perishables) have surreptitiously increased.
Which of course translates to higher living costs and making our lives more difficult.
There is an article in today's The Sun which discusses why the government should drop petrol and gas subsidies altogether, and while it presents many good points, we just aren't prepared for such a change now.
Other Breaking News!
Japanese create realistic female android
These people must be really desperate....
10th Planet Discovered
Another step into stellar understanding.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Do Gooders?
.... Or are they?
Following up my earlier post on the "mismanagement" of donation funds by certain crooked individuals, here's an article by R. Nadeswaran, who is a regular columnist for The Sun newspaper under the Citizen Nades column regarding some... unethical practices of some so-called "do gooders" in regards to the management of donation funds, or lack of it. As he doesn't name names in regards to the Malaysian context, we can speculate that the cuprits must be very rich, and very influential indeed.
Original Article
Following up my earlier post on the "mismanagement" of donation funds by certain crooked individuals, here's an article by R. Nadeswaran, who is a regular columnist for The Sun newspaper under the Citizen Nades column regarding some... unethical practices of some so-called "do gooders" in regards to the management of donation funds, or lack of it. As he doesn't name names in regards to the Malaysian context, we can speculate that the cuprits must be very rich, and very influential indeed.
Original Article
'Professional' do-gooders must declare their perks
WHEN the saga unfolded in court last week, Singaporeans were not the only ones astounded by revelations of the lavish perks enjoyed by the head of the Singapore Kidney Foundation.
T. T. Durai, who has since resigned, flew first class, drew an annual salary of RM1.3 million and enjoyed annual bonus payments of between 10-12 months' pay.
With that kind of perks, everyone who contributes to a "worthy cause" has every reason to feel betrayed and let down.
Closer to home, the stories of high-salaries, jet-setting and first-class entertainment enjoyed by a privileged few who go by all sorts of names and titles have been subject of the rumour mill.
One day, he is a "consumer advocate". The next day, he is on the boards of 10 government and quasi-government agencies and draws six-figure allowances a month, sometimes more.
One day, he is a "social activist" campaigning for a "better quality of life for the community."
The next day, he becomes a capitalist sitting on the board of public listed companies, and yet keeps on sending statements in the name of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) of which he has managed to get into.
One day, she is a welfare worker, looking into the plight of the down-trodden and the sickly. The next day, she is driven around in a luxury car. Many do-gooders are in circulation for their own interests.
What they earn in the form of salaries and allowances is a secret.
One day, he is an editor. On another day, he is flying to tragedy-struck areas as a member of an NGO - travels first class, stays in five-star hotels, gets a per diem allowance, but far away from where the action is.
He is on a "fact-finding mission. His expenses are borne by the NGO, but where does the money come from?
Annual accounts of NGOs and so-called charitable organisations, if they are made public, lump the remunerations of these officials with those of clerks, drivers and other minor staff.
They are classified as "Salaries and allowances for staff " and no one knows the identities of those who are enjoying better perks than Durai.
So, how much does the ringgit you give for a "good cause" actually end up with the people who deserve it? How much can be used as "administrative" costs?
There are hard and fast rules, but if the chief of a welfare organisation pays himself or herself seven figure annual salaries, who questions such actions?
In this column last year, I raised what was said at a seminar on transparency. Could someone tell us how much the Human Rights Commissioners (who work part-time) are paid and how much allowances they claim and the perks they enjoy. The silence has been deafening.
They go on a country-wide tour extolling the virtues of rights of individuals, but they stop short of telling us that as taxpayers, we have a right to know how they are spending our hard-earned money.
It does not stop at just this group of people.
There are hundreds who work in such organisations, co-operative societies and trade unions. And yet, there is no disclosure.
Before anyone points a finger, let me declare that when I completed my one-year term as the chairman of an inhouse co-operative in 1990, members at the annual general meeting approved an honorarium for the services rendered, of RM2,000, which worked out to RM166.66 a month.
*Abstract from The Sun article*
Copyright© 2004 Sun Media Corporation Sdn. Bhd. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Fad or Hip New Fashion Trend?
Recently, i noticed more and more people sporting rubber wristbands which had some slogan or another engraved on them.
Its amazing how fads like this suddenly pop out of nowhere, and transform rather ordinary, unremarkable things into a 'trendy' fashion all of a sudden.
When i queried Bernard regarding this, i was told that wearing these bands of rubber with "inspirational slogans" on them is a 'hip and in thing' nowadays.
Interestingly, the main figurehead for promoting these wristbands turns out to be none other than the corporate fast-food giant, McDonalds. Now the sales model for this is that McDonalds is selling these bands for RM 2.90 each, with any purchase.
And as quoted from the official McDonalds Malaysia website,
"Express yourself with the the coolest fashion item in McDonald's Malaysia- the McDonald's True Colors Bands ™ "
To make it seem less like they're selling what is basically a glorified rubber band,
"Every 10sen from the sale of the True Colors Bands™ will be donated to the Give a Gift of Smile campaign in aid of Malaysian children born with a cleft lip and palate. Its ONLY RM2.90 each with ANY PURCHASE. So start your collection, come on and donate in style! You can make a difference!"
Now, using simple logic, McDonalds is set to get a crapload of profits from the sales of these bands alone. To put a conservative estimate, all overhead & misc. costs (manufacturing, labor, transportation, advertising etc.) per band is at most RM1 (it should be much less than this), so minus this and the ten cents for the "donation", they reap a net profit of RM 1.80 each band. That is alot of money people. How? Lets look at this example.
McDonalds manages to sell 100 of such bands a day in one outlet, plus a Value Meal each. The profit from these alone would net RM180, not counting the boost in the staple sales products. Thats RM1260 a week, and RM5040 a month. And, assuming ceteris paribus, should each of the 158 McDonalds outlets in the country draw a similar mean amount of rubber band sales, the grand total they make per month is RM796,320 on a nationwide scale. RM9,555,840 a year, a pretty nice sum indeed.
Now, this product might be running for a month or two tops, but the number of customers who patronise these McDonalds outlets who are likely to buy these wristband, is certainly alot more than 100 a day. Factor in the people who'd actually collect every single one of them.... you get the picture.
Now, in the interests of professional journalism (and i don't assume i am such, well not yet anyway.), I'm not trying to give any sort of "bad name" to McDonalds, just an observation i found interesting regarding sales techniques, and sales pitch.
However, on a related matter, lets expand on the subject of donations while we're at it, shall we?
Earlier i brought up the subject of that 10 cents that would be contributed to their own privately set up foundation.
My question is, is it ethical to collect donations for profit? Most donation organisations are supposed to be non-profit, but is there any real regulatory body to serve as a watchdog over these bodies? And is there anyone to watch for frauds out to make a quick buck? Take the recent SEA Tsunami disaster, and the subsequent donation drives that were organised.
Every tom, dick and harry started collecting "donations" for "the Tsunami victims". I was approached by a group of such "donation collectors" while in a shopping mall then, who claimed they were volunteers from some international donation collection organisation. I felt something was fishy about them, so i declined to donate.
Later when i got home, i did a websearch on the organisation they mentioned, lo and behold, no such organisation existed. Immediately my suspicions that they were scammers was confirmed.
Hell, i've seen Fake Buddhist monks running around collecting "alms" (interestingly enough, they insist on being given cold hard cash in quantities of not less than RM10).
I've seen people "stranded" at bus stops, roadsides and LRT stations who somehow didn't have enough money to return to that faraway hometown in Johor or N. Sembilan, but still sing the same tune a day later, at the same exact spot even after you've given them enough "donations" to last them 2 trips.
So rule of the thumb: never, ever donate unless you're sure its genuine. And even then, do a little research first regarding their track record for delivering the promised aid. That is, if you want to be an informed consumer.
Hmm, you know, maybe i'll get one of those cool "trendy", "hip" and "in" wristbands myself.
*hears conscience committing Hara-kiri*
*hears personal integrity commiting seppuku*
*hears common sense say "Et tu, LynX!?" in pained, resigned manner before dying from multiple backstab wounds (sneak attack backstab dmg +150)*
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Water Pollution!
I swear the water dispensers today at uni had some drainwater or something equally vile channeled into it. I had just arrived at uni for class, and decided to take a drink before going in for classes. As i didn't bring my water bottle, i cupped the water in my palm, but as i leaned in to drink, i smelt a rather disgusting odour, but assumed it was from the loo, which was inauspiciously placed really near to the machine.
Someone passed me by just as i leaned in to drink, and i assumed the smell followed him out. But it lingered, and after the first drink i suspected something was wrong with the water (the toilet rarely smells that bad in uni thank god). Upon further invenstigation, i learned that both the machines on the first and second floor were affected, and it seems they were just "serviced" today. Serviced, you say!?
If what i'm smelling there was accumulated over several months, i have to really question the qualiy control of the water companies that supply our area. Water quality has been steadily dropping since it was privatised, but strangely the water rates has increased, even with Government subsidies! In fact, it has gotten so bad that we HAVE to buy water filters just to have clean drinking water. With the money we're paying, shouldn't we be getting clean water instead of the dirt and rust-filled water we're getting now? Or is it really a ploy to get people to buy something that was considered an unnecessary luxury before?
Look 5 years ago. Next to nobody used water filters except those rich people who wanted to show they're "richer than thou" and invest in pretty useless things. Now just look. Almost every single household from Subang and BU to PJ has at least one filter, but the norm is two now. That, folks, is how damn DIRTY the water is. You can change the filter for just a day, and it'll be pretty brown the next day.
Now call me paranoid, but seriously, is it just very convenient that this filtering business just happened to be in place when the water started getting dirty? I'm sure several individuals had gotten pretty damn rich from this. Coincidences are really rare, and when money is involved, really quite non-existent.
Pretty damn paranoid? Perhaps, perhaps i am. But is that necessarily a bad thing? Is ignorance really bliss? Well, i have my opinions, and you yours. As for my part, lets just say i've had my share of being screwed around with, and i try to avoid that as far as i can.
Someone passed me by just as i leaned in to drink, and i assumed the smell followed him out. But it lingered, and after the first drink i suspected something was wrong with the water (the toilet rarely smells that bad in uni thank god). Upon further invenstigation, i learned that both the machines on the first and second floor were affected, and it seems they were just "serviced" today. Serviced, you say!?
If what i'm smelling there was accumulated over several months, i have to really question the qualiy control of the water companies that supply our area. Water quality has been steadily dropping since it was privatised, but strangely the water rates has increased, even with Government subsidies! In fact, it has gotten so bad that we HAVE to buy water filters just to have clean drinking water. With the money we're paying, shouldn't we be getting clean water instead of the dirt and rust-filled water we're getting now? Or is it really a ploy to get people to buy something that was considered an unnecessary luxury before?
Look 5 years ago. Next to nobody used water filters except those rich people who wanted to show they're "richer than thou" and invest in pretty useless things. Now just look. Almost every single household from Subang and BU to PJ has at least one filter, but the norm is two now. That, folks, is how damn DIRTY the water is. You can change the filter for just a day, and it'll be pretty brown the next day.
Now call me paranoid, but seriously, is it just very convenient that this filtering business just happened to be in place when the water started getting dirty? I'm sure several individuals had gotten pretty damn rich from this. Coincidences are really rare, and when money is involved, really quite non-existent.
Pretty damn paranoid? Perhaps, perhaps i am. But is that necessarily a bad thing? Is ignorance really bliss? Well, i have my opinions, and you yours. As for my part, lets just say i've had my share of being screwed around with, and i try to avoid that as far as i can.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Water Over Wine?
Had a chat with one of my lecturers the other day, and the topic of harsh and inconsiderate lecturers was raised, particularly after hearing about the story from my friend who had to make some last minute changes to his presentation simply because the lecturer suddenly changed his/her mind on how the presentation should be conducted.
I expressed my indignation about this, after all, we did pay cold, hard cash to study in the place, not to be treated like crap and worked like slaves at the whims and fancies of the lecturers (and the current situation is cutting it pretty close already).
My lecturer explained to me that they do things like this, is because we'll be facing alot of it when we go out to work as adults. Being screamed at, scolded, treated unfairly, blamed for things that are not your fault etc. are things to expect in the working world, and that subjecting us to it now will "better prepare" us for things ahead. While it made pretty good sense, i wonder if we've become a very, very sad world indeed where having a nice superior/boss is considered "lucky".
The thought of the 9-5 type of job really scares me. Go to work, slave in your tiny cubicle for several mind-numbing hours, maybe get shouted at for something that really doesn't matter, then going home exhausted every evening. Now, repeat that for several years.
The current education system seems like some kind of brain-retarding/washing machine, designed to make people dumber, more submissive and easier to manipulate. Throw in some utterly useless subjects so you won't have time to think any... unwelome thoughts.
The education system even wants to make you have that "employee" mindset, instead of being your own master, or an employer. No, i'm not saying we should all be full of ourselves and think we are the kings/queens of the world, but where's the self respect and dignity? Should we sell ourselves out when you're being mistreated, intentionally and just swallow it silently, just because its from a boss or someone in a superior position? Even if its undeservedly given?
But society is shaped in such a way that going down this path is the societal norm, and should you attempt to deviate from it, you would be an outcast...
The long, harder and lonely path, or the shorter, easier one with plenty of people but filled with taskmasters and slave drivers?
Choices... choices....
Would you choose water over wine.... ?
Sometimes, I feel the fear of uncertainty stinging clear.
And I can't help but ask myself
how much I'll let the fear take the wheel and steer.
It's driven me before,
and it seems to have a vague,
haunting mass appeal.
But lately I am beginning to find
that I should be the one behind the wheel.
Whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there with open arms and open eyes yeah
Whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there x2
So if I decide to waiver my chance to be
one of the hive will I choose water over wine
and hold my own and drive?
It's driven me before and it seems to be the way
that everyone else gets around.
But lately I'm beginning to find
that when I drive myself my light is found.
So whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there with open arms and open eyes, yeah
whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there x2
Yeh. Would you kill the Queen to crush the hive?
Would you choose water over wine....
hold the wheel and drive?
So whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there with open arms and open eyes, yeah
whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there x2
Incubus - Drive
I expressed my indignation about this, after all, we did pay cold, hard cash to study in the place, not to be treated like crap and worked like slaves at the whims and fancies of the lecturers (and the current situation is cutting it pretty close already).
My lecturer explained to me that they do things like this, is because we'll be facing alot of it when we go out to work as adults. Being screamed at, scolded, treated unfairly, blamed for things that are not your fault etc. are things to expect in the working world, and that subjecting us to it now will "better prepare" us for things ahead. While it made pretty good sense, i wonder if we've become a very, very sad world indeed where having a nice superior/boss is considered "lucky".
The thought of the 9-5 type of job really scares me. Go to work, slave in your tiny cubicle for several mind-numbing hours, maybe get shouted at for something that really doesn't matter, then going home exhausted every evening. Now, repeat that for several years.
The current education system seems like some kind of brain-retarding/washing machine, designed to make people dumber, more submissive and easier to manipulate. Throw in some utterly useless subjects so you won't have time to think any... unwelome thoughts.
The education system even wants to make you have that "employee" mindset, instead of being your own master, or an employer. No, i'm not saying we should all be full of ourselves and think we are the kings/queens of the world, but where's the self respect and dignity? Should we sell ourselves out when you're being mistreated, intentionally and just swallow it silently, just because its from a boss or someone in a superior position? Even if its undeservedly given?
But society is shaped in such a way that going down this path is the societal norm, and should you attempt to deviate from it, you would be an outcast...
The long, harder and lonely path, or the shorter, easier one with plenty of people but filled with taskmasters and slave drivers?
Choices... choices....
Would you choose water over wine.... ?
Sometimes, I feel the fear of uncertainty stinging clear.
And I can't help but ask myself
how much I'll let the fear take the wheel and steer.
It's driven me before,
and it seems to have a vague,
haunting mass appeal.
But lately I am beginning to find
that I should be the one behind the wheel.
Whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there with open arms and open eyes yeah
Whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there x2
So if I decide to waiver my chance to be
one of the hive will I choose water over wine
and hold my own and drive?
It's driven me before and it seems to be the way
that everyone else gets around.
But lately I'm beginning to find
that when I drive myself my light is found.
So whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there with open arms and open eyes, yeah
whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there x2
Yeh. Would you kill the Queen to crush the hive?
Would you choose water over wine....
hold the wheel and drive?
So whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there with open arms and open eyes, yeah
whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there x2
Incubus - Drive
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Software "Piracy"?
I just came across this recently while browsing some forums, and this really makes alot of sense!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As all best ideas tend to, this occured to me at roughly 15:32 whilst firmly esconced on the crapper at university today. It was an idea concerning software piracy (warezing) of high-level, expensive development packages by young kids in their basements across the world. Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Interdev, Maya, 3DsMax, Windows Server 2003, that sort of caper...
In my intermittent four years as an IT contractor with a number of support and design firms I have used most of the above applications to get my job done. Most of them are hideously complex to operate at a professional level. They're also devilishly expensive to purchase.
Whenever I've purchased my fully legal copies of the above from reputable suppliers, I've regularly noted how flimsy the anti-piracy protection is on these applications. In a world where probes splash down on Titan and entire Genomes are mapped; it's funny that the absolute best measure for defeating determined pirates and warez-monkeys is a string of 16 alphanumeric characters adhering to a very deducable code.
I wondered why this was the case. Then the idea struck - because it is in the interest of software houses to let people pirate their applications! It's so obvious of course. The entire anti-copy protection, flimsy serial numbers and product keys are an elaborate and paper-thin facade to make it appear like they care. Piracy is probably part of their marketing strategies.
It's simple. Photoshop costs the best part of $700 - something that design firms can easily afford. But design firms need designers, and designers have to come from somewhere without being paid first. Strangely, it's usually those kids in their basements. They can't afford the $700 - so how can they learn the applications? If they didn't pirate Photoshop to learn it, there'd be no designers, no design firms, and certainly nobody paying Adobe their $700 for a legal in-house version.
So it makes blistering sense. The copy protection is so laughably bad because Adobe must let a considerable number of wannabe-designers have it free-gratis, in order that they learn it well enough to graduate to paying-jobs with design firms that pay Adobe's wages at the end of the day.
Without software piracy, there would be virtually no IT professionals in any capacity anywhere in the world.
Now i'd also like to add that in addition to getting trained people in their software, for free, they also make more money by hiking prices even more, on the grounds that "software piracy cuts deep into their profits"!
Very interesting....
Software Piracy - Secretly The IT Industry's Best Asset?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As all best ideas tend to, this occured to me at roughly 15:32 whilst firmly esconced on the crapper at university today. It was an idea concerning software piracy (warezing) of high-level, expensive development packages by young kids in their basements across the world. Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Interdev, Maya, 3DsMax, Windows Server 2003, that sort of caper...
In my intermittent four years as an IT contractor with a number of support and design firms I have used most of the above applications to get my job done. Most of them are hideously complex to operate at a professional level. They're also devilishly expensive to purchase.
Whenever I've purchased my fully legal copies of the above from reputable suppliers, I've regularly noted how flimsy the anti-piracy protection is on these applications. In a world where probes splash down on Titan and entire Genomes are mapped; it's funny that the absolute best measure for defeating determined pirates and warez-monkeys is a string of 16 alphanumeric characters adhering to a very deducable code.
I wondered why this was the case. Then the idea struck - because it is in the interest of software houses to let people pirate their applications! It's so obvious of course. The entire anti-copy protection, flimsy serial numbers and product keys are an elaborate and paper-thin facade to make it appear like they care. Piracy is probably part of their marketing strategies.
It's simple. Photoshop costs the best part of $700 - something that design firms can easily afford. But design firms need designers, and designers have to come from somewhere without being paid first. Strangely, it's usually those kids in their basements. They can't afford the $700 - so how can they learn the applications? If they didn't pirate Photoshop to learn it, there'd be no designers, no design firms, and certainly nobody paying Adobe their $700 for a legal in-house version.
So it makes blistering sense. The copy protection is so laughably bad because Adobe must let a considerable number of wannabe-designers have it free-gratis, in order that they learn it well enough to graduate to paying-jobs with design firms that pay Adobe's wages at the end of the day.
Without software piracy, there would be virtually no IT professionals in any capacity anywhere in the world.
Now i'd also like to add that in addition to getting trained people in their software, for free, they also make more money by hiking prices even more, on the grounds that "software piracy cuts deep into their profits"!
Very interesting....
Sunday, January 30, 2005
It was all for Naught.
Learning can only be through experience. Words of others, no matter how wise, mean nothing, if one did not pay the price for that knowledge. After all, whatever that can be gotten for free, is surely worthless, or has less worth than something you had to pay for. Advice is taken as scornful patronization. That, is human nature.
"We can be Knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom." ~ Michel de Montaigne
So its been said, and so it is.
Some other interesting quotes, which i put here for reasons of my own....
"The truth knocks on the door and you say, 'Go away, I'm looking for
the truth,' and so it goes away. Puzzling." - Robert M. Pirsig
"Familiarity breeds contempt:
The end is easily foretold,
When ev'ry blessed thing you hold
Is made of silver, or of gold,
You long for simple pewter.
When you have nothing else to wear
But cloth of gold and satins rare,
For cloth of gold you cease to care
Up goes the price of shoddy." -Gilbert & Sullivan, The
Gondoliers
"Only in the darkness can you see the stars." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
"When one door of happiness closes, another opens, often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us." - Helen Keller
And, on another note....
"True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked." ~Erich Segal
Have a good night.
"We can be Knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom." ~ Michel de Montaigne
So its been said, and so it is.
Some other interesting quotes, which i put here for reasons of my own....
"The truth knocks on the door and you say, 'Go away, I'm looking for
the truth,' and so it goes away. Puzzling." - Robert M. Pirsig
"Familiarity breeds contempt:
The end is easily foretold,
When ev'ry blessed thing you hold
Is made of silver, or of gold,
You long for simple pewter.
When you have nothing else to wear
But cloth of gold and satins rare,
For cloth of gold you cease to care
Up goes the price of shoddy." -Gilbert & Sullivan, The
Gondoliers
"Only in the darkness can you see the stars." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
"When one door of happiness closes, another opens, often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us." - Helen Keller
And, on another note....
"True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked." ~Erich Segal
Have a good night.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
The Sense of Self.
Everyone wears masks. One for your family. One for that group of friends. Another for that special someone.
Everyone pretends. Pretend to be something more than we are. Something larger than life. But at the end of the day, we know it is all lies. We build a fortress of lies, barricade its doors, seal its windows.
The "side" that you show to different people, and the one side that is never, ever seen by anyone. Not even those you are closest to. For that is the side that is most precious, and would break you if it were hurt.
But the real question is: have we all played the parts so well, said the lies one time too many, that eventually they become part of us, while the "real" us gets lost in the static? Do we lose that sense of self, beneath all the masks we wear?
For a year. A year to forget, a year to forgive, to finally move on. Closure.
For a year. Deliberately remaining distant. The bliss of detachment, the numbness, a blessing. Selfish excuses. Not wanting to hurt another, or just the selfish fear of the same happening again? Once, the resolve broke, the will nearly, very nearly, gave in. But coldness and indifference saved much pain. To think a single slip would cause so many troubles. The tangled knots are slowly being unraveled, straightened.
A year of many endings, and many beginnings.
The relatively carefree, worryless life has gone, and now at one cornerstone of my life, the simple, sobering reality of the word "adulthood" crashes into my consciousness with the full impact of its meaning.
Now, looking back at the longing to grow up, i wonder. Is it really Paradise Found, or actually Paradise Lost?
.....
Who am i?
I can only answer,
I am.
Spewing rhetoric again. :P
Everyone pretends. Pretend to be something more than we are. Something larger than life. But at the end of the day, we know it is all lies. We build a fortress of lies, barricade its doors, seal its windows.
The "side" that you show to different people, and the one side that is never, ever seen by anyone. Not even those you are closest to. For that is the side that is most precious, and would break you if it were hurt.
But the real question is: have we all played the parts so well, said the lies one time too many, that eventually they become part of us, while the "real" us gets lost in the static? Do we lose that sense of self, beneath all the masks we wear?
For a year. A year to forget, a year to forgive, to finally move on. Closure.
For a year. Deliberately remaining distant. The bliss of detachment, the numbness, a blessing. Selfish excuses. Not wanting to hurt another, or just the selfish fear of the same happening again? Once, the resolve broke, the will nearly, very nearly, gave in. But coldness and indifference saved much pain. To think a single slip would cause so many troubles. The tangled knots are slowly being unraveled, straightened.
A year of many endings, and many beginnings.
The relatively carefree, worryless life has gone, and now at one cornerstone of my life, the simple, sobering reality of the word "adulthood" crashes into my consciousness with the full impact of its meaning.
Now, looking back at the longing to grow up, i wonder. Is it really Paradise Found, or actually Paradise Lost?
.....
Who am i?
I can only answer,
I am.
Spewing rhetoric again. :P
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