Carol's Diary

listen to your emotion

2011-07-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

There are many things in life which we cannot control, beyond our control, for example, loading this page, we cant control the Internet speed, I can't control what the situation happened around me and the list goes on. These situations create may result in anger, frustration, anger and etc - these are negative feelings. It depends on the correct perception of the feeling and how good we feel. As I am writing this, I am anxious and rather frustrate with the things that are happened around me. The things aren't as smooth as expected. There are much fears of insecurity, unsafe or being neglected, feeling unloved, loneliness and all these negative emotions result in depression. There is global crisis to this depression and people are feeling low about their future. So am I. Anxiety about job security is the major factor, apart from being lonely in this deserted land.

I try to understand the emotions and response to them before they prolong and lead to worse situations. I noticed change in myself- having social withdrawal and sleepless night. Somehow I need help to regulate emotions so that these negative emotions will not dominate my life. Life is short enough for any regrets and I do not wish to spend time for being depress. If someone there can help me to regulate these emotions away. Not denial of emotions.

Selfishness

2011-05-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

Selfishness is not a good act - as the matter of fact there are few signal of narrow minded selfish friend - which I personally do not consider them as "Friend".

1) friend who comes to you when they are depressed or lonely and ignore you when they have friends around them
2) friend goes away when you disagree with them

so, do you notice someone like this around you?

New Year New Aim, New KPI

2011-01-01T18:40:00.000-08:00

Hi dairy,

It is amazing now that we are celebrating the 2011 new year - time flies. I wonder how would I be for the next coming 10 years.

1 aim for the year - I need to complete that before August 2011.

It's Raya time

2010-09-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

Hi Diary,
It has been half a year since the last time I visited you - There were many changes throughout the half year - Changing of environment - people around you are your passenger in life. Life is not only one way street,however perspective in place. When we look from many angles - we see the same thing completely.

to let go in order to grab

2010-06-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

14th March 2010

2010-03-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since the last time I dropped you a word - in this blog. It is now 1.21 am in the morning, and I am lying awake - unable to sleep. I am absolutely tired especially after a day out- I have yet to recover from flu - am I suffering from insomnia? Since few weeks back, I had had restless night. Dark circles grew around my eyes. The tense is blooming yet uncontrollable. Am I suffocating?

Take a deep breath, count to three, release the breath. Repeat for few times - it gives temporary distress. Did I amiss anything? God knows. Life goes on - it is too short for any regrets.

Cathy is sleeping soundly beside me. She has been with me for almost 9 years. Good old cat, always been loyal to me. There were many times when I was sad and fear- she's the only one beside me. I could not imagine if one day she would leave me. I recalled the day I adopted her from SPCA. She was placed down the right corner, unseen and almost unheard. When I duck my head and saw her - aha - she is the one! I brought her back with some donation to the charity organization. http://www.spca.org.my/success.htm . Looking at her reminds me to be stronger. Cathy needs someone to protect her. As I have taken this responsibility to adopt her from that day I got to take care of her regardless any unpredictable occurrence. Be a responsible pet owner and never neglect her when she needs you most!

Derived Record, good one

2009-12-15T19:37:00.000-08:00

Derived Records

"Derived records" are useful PeopleSoft objects, but sometimes there is some confusion about them.

Recall that "record," as used by PeopleSoft, is a generic term that covers actual database tables and views, plus subrecords and derived records. You can't select from a subrecord or a derived record, since they don't exist in the database. Derived records are record definitions that are never created as actual tables. But there are other differences as well, and these are not always obvious.

PeopleSoft makes normal data entry pages a snap to create. But for more complex page designs, we must use elements that are not directly bound to tables or views. This is where derived records are useful. Now, we might think that a derived record field should act exactly the same as a "real" table column on a page. Sometimes this is true, but not always.

If you try to define a scroll area or grid consisting only of derived record fields, the page will not be valid. These objects must contain at least one "real" database field. Sometimes, though, it is necessary to create a scroll or grid that doesn't relate directly to a table or view. One easy way around this problem is to create a dummy view containing just one field that returns one blank space or other unused value. Put that field into your scroll or grid, mark the scroll/grid as "no auto select," and you can now fill and manipulate the scroll/grid without any complaints from the system. (I have also used a dummy view as a component's search record when I wanted to do all of my data selection in code.)

Another major difference between derived and other records is in the way the component processor handles keys to tables and views. When you have several tables or views on a page, and a search record attached to the component, you know that selecting one row on the search dialog causes all of the related data to be loaded automatically. The various records share their keys. The component processor looks at the definition of each record, finds the keys, and checks to see whether values are available for those keys (from other records on higher scroll levels). If so, those key values are used in loading the data. But derived records do not participate in this. You can set a derived field to a value before the page loads (in PreBuild, for example), but that won't help. You need to do actual SQL using SQLExec() or Select() or some other function/method.

I don't really know why these limitations exist. But they do, and understanding that they are there will help to eliminate many bugs and uncertainties about how our pages operate.

Until next time...

credit to :http://www.sparkpath.com/techtalk-20070919.php

A Saturday morning in Singapore

2009-12-11T23:24:00.000-08:00

It has been a while I am in Singapore, again. Staying in Simei and travel all the way down to Tanjung Pagar has been my daily routine - alone as to compare before - travelling in team.

I used to listen to ipod, but now I never. I do not know why if this is what we call change of mood. The feeling is different from the last time I was in Singapore. Perhaps I have put down the burden of sorrow to my mother's death.

I went to Expo and Pasir Ris this morning. Enjoying the sensation of Singapore island, surrounded by sea. It is two stop away from Simei to Pasir Ris.

I have never know that laying down by the sea side- listening to the sound of waves can be so calm. It gave me the sensation of peace to the mother nature - even better than Mozart or Chopin master piece.

Pathway to Perodua

2009-09-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

Shortly after my return from annual leave, I happened to be allocated in Perodua with Azreen. Perodua happened to be at Bukit Beruntung, a dead yet delightful township of my sojourn.

Today, I came back late in the evening, close to 9 -idling the neighbourhood of Prima Beruntung, doubtful to what dinner I should next betake myself. I passed by a local chinese shop - wondering myself - by heart has lost and won plenty of five franc pieces, till the fun is no longer. I thought - "For heaven sake, after a day work with 3 to 4 hours journey thru and flow from home to workplace , let see if I can chill up with sometthing genuinely nice food. " Very well, I arrived at the shop. Few man looked up on my enterence.

I made my order - sitting at the corner of blackguardism there. Many chatters - though the voice of croupier should so dulled in the atmosphere of the shop. I sought the nearest excitement - a wringling little puppy yepping for more food. It won my heart instantly, prodigiously staring at its stakes with joy.

My food arrived. I had not fininshed it - somehow the atmosphere discourage my appetite. Then I continue my jorney home, along the descending road that swallows me in the darkness of the night.

Plagiarism - Why?

2009-09-14T22:39:00.001-07:00

The outbreak news in the local paper dated 15th September 2009, on plagiarism among university lecturers shocks me. Source (http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/9/15/nation/4713248&sec=nation). I can understand that there are cases of plagiarism occurred among students, but lecturers, isn't it simply too much? Lecturers are the role model for students. If lecturers are caught in plagiarism, what faith the students in their lecturers?

Plagiarism is not just copying someone's work or imitating one 's original's idea. It also means to commit a fraud of literary theft. There are various reasons to why plagiarism happened.
Everything happens for a reasoon, wherether the reason is good or otherwise - it subjects to subjects and objects involved

Last 6th Month Rhapsody

2009-09-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

So, this is it, isn't it?

It has been 6 months since I was allocated to Astro project and now it begins to roll out. This has been the fruitful 6 months. I have met many PeopleSoft talents.

I sat in Botanical park, on a bench in the middle of the park. Greenery with singing-mocking birds in the early Saturday morning wound around me. Golden like sunshine and emerald blanket of grass rose in tiny hills surround me. I sat there for hours after jogging- sweat drizzle down my face, to neck while frizzing my hair. I have not have such sensation for very long time. Well, this is my life, or isn't it? The world suddenly stopped, all in black and white monochrome, just I was told, the world from multi- dimension substance suddenly become 2 dimension, I could not see things anymore, couldn't I? I experienced every single movement around me with my senses. Everything has its own frequencies and our life definitely more than two dimensions. It was so hard to explain using words as the true meaning of life is lodged into multi-dimension of logics and emotions.

Right now, my conscious is clear - unconfused. This was how I felt to say out loud - "Praise the Lord and say Amen!"

Note of the day August 27th, 2009

2009-08-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

Allow enough time for ideas to form:

* First, identify and define the problem.

* Then construct a strategy. Get the information and resources you need to implement it.

* Finally, monitor the entire process and evaluate your solution.

Watch out for different restriction e.g time/financial factors

My first sketch of Cathy

2009-08-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

It has been very long time since the last time I sketch on drawing board. 12 years ago? or more? I cannot remember....

I started to sketch aimlessly.. not knowing what is the object to be drawn. Alas, I saw my cat sitting on the bed, slept gracefully. I started to sketch her face... and suddenly she woke up, wailed her tail and walked away.. Above is the outcome,.. though she slept with her eyes close, I drew with her green shining eyes open. :) My first attempt to sketch after all these years... hurray!

The suicide theory

2009-08-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

There are many ways one ends his or her life. Accidents, illnesses, aged factor and last but not least suicidal.

There are many people who take their own life - by committing suicide. Hong Kong stars like Leslie Chung committed suicide back in year 2003 by jumped off building, Kim Ji Hoo (Korean actress/model) hanged herself, Toshikatsu Matsuoka (Japan Minister of Agricultural, forestry and Fisheries end his life due to financial scandals. There are numerous method in committing suicide, from poisons, hanging, jumped of building, gun shot to drowning. There are many researches done to understand why people choose the suicide path to bring an end to their lifes. Generally there are 3 categorisation of studies being carried out - sociological , psychological and economical aspects.

Each day I see people around me facing different challenges in life - drastic changes in working life, romance relationship, familyhood, friendship, financial diifulty, addiction to drugs, I began to ask myself - what are the factors that influence the value of an individual place in his or her life.The decision theory comes in place - making choices to live on or to death in many dynamic uncertainties situation.

Personally I believe that suicidal lies in relatively narrow rational when one faces dissatisfactions in their lifes - unduly pessimistic of everything that concern their lives. - drive one's to suicidal choices.

In summary, the suicide theory can be factorise as below:

(variable affectiing lives + availability of suicide method )appropriate time /venue factor > 0 , the probability of suicidal = 1.

From life to death - reincarnation process

2009-07-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

Once, a world famous golfer (Bruce Crampton) said this - Life is a compromise of what your ego wants to do, what experience tells you to do and what your nerves let you to do. I was totally amazed when I read this statement in reader digest.

There are many times we found that our life has no meaning, or even worse, the life that we led have the meaning of which we disapprove. We have worked hard everyday - we always think for better way of life - and to commit it like crazy with a mixed blessing - yet how many of us do really, ultimately enjoy life? Some of us works for 8 hours, 12 hours even 16 hours aday - left aside barely 8 hours to sleep. Alas - is this what we call life? I believe life is in a fine mingling - sum of our own choices.

Since we were born, our life is made of body, soul and mind, and it aged over years. I have wondered where would we go after death- end of life. After death, our body deteriorates, and our soul - the innermost spiritual living reincarnates here during life after life after life; but between these lives it returns to its home in the inner worlds and pursues there the higher ranges of its evolution. Death is the process of breaking up our body and soul in respect of every element that once life lived. The body is dead lying in coffin, yet you can silently felt the present of person around you, inside you.

The cupid effect

2009-07-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

There's something magical about Ceri D'Altroy...

After departing London to follow her hearts desire to become a psychology lecturer, Ceri D'Altroy vows to leave her matchmaking ways behind her for good. Unfortunately, all she seems to do is inspire the new people she meets to change their lives.

There's Ed, who's decided to declare his love to a woman who is way out of his league; Mel and Claudine, two long-term friends who are now tempted to start an illicit affair; and Gwen, the chain-smoking head of department who has a deep, dark secret she only wants to share with her new employee.

No one who comes into contact with Ceri is ever the same again. Could this unsuspecting young woman be a modern-day Cupid?

This is the first time I came across this author- Dorothy Koomson. The story line is good and touching, leaving me in tears and laughter from page one to the end. It reminds me of my lecturing days in UTAR, especially on dress rehearsal and first day of lectures. While reading, I still can recall the vivid butterflies in my stomach during the first day . I am looking forward to read more from her. Impressing!

Just another Sunday

2009-06-14T04:09:00.000-07:00

War is everywhere, took place in different forms, aimed subjectively designed for desired results. There is one interesting article caught my attention - Soldier 'not living anymore, just trying to survive. Survival - another terminology for the continuity of war? We are our very own soldier. We are soldier to company to fight for business, we are soldier for family as bread winner, we are soldier to our nation. Who are we? Who am I?

There are sometimes we lost our way, thus religion comes in place. External source for us to put our faith in when we lost our hope in living. I have watched an anime recently and the story line deeply touch my heart - Full Metal Alchemist. Though it is merely an anime - it has fruitful meaning. Everything has a value- we pay for what we gain, yet in many situation, though we have paid, we may not gain what we desire. This story teaches me many philosophical aspects rather than practical aspect that exist in our life today.

Everyone has their own path and destiny which no one should ever interfere - even as life partner. Is there a hope for lasting marriage? I saw many marriages- divorce, isolation, all kinds of devastation. I asked myself, why should I start my journey that way? Gan and Chris (Astro) and Henry (NGA) used to tell me - this is a process of living. As women, we should get married, have children to complete the cycle. I had watch many marriages fall apart. And I do not know if I have the courage to start and keep one together. I am listening to Miss Saigon sound track (Broadway Musical) -" I still believe" the music is catchy - yet, I just wonder if I still believe in what I listen practical in this modern society.

The PeopleSoft Spirit Lives On

2009-05-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

http://www.workforce.com/section/10/feature/24/13/20/

Alumni bring the software maker's entrepreneurial energy to firms ready to compete with Oracle for their former employer's customers.
By Douglas P. Shuit

eopleSoft is one of those Silicon Valley stories that just won’t die. Even though the company is rapidly being absorbed by Oracle, former PeopleSoft executives seem to be popping up all over, keeping its legacy alive.

PeopleSoft’s founder, Dave Duffield, is leading the charge. The former CEO is putting together a company that is developing new software technology based on ease of use, adaptability and cost reduction, which sounds a lot like his early strategy at PeopleSoft.

Elsewhere, PeopleSoft alums have moved into CEO positions at different software manufacturers or have been appointed to boards of a variety of startups and developing companies. Their experience at PeopleSoft is a huge asset for startup technology companies that have plans for growth or want to go public.

"Everyone wants to be the next PeopleSoft in terms of rapid growth, in terms of seizing on a large market opportunity," says Jason Corsello, senior analyst with the Yankee Group.

Companies that own PeopleSoft software are being courted as aggressively as the company's former executives are. Oracle wants to hold on to longtime PeopleSoft customers, rival SAP would like to steal them, and numerous niche software vendors see opportunities to get cut in on the business.

If Oracle has its hands full with competitive pressures, it’s because PeopleSoft was much more than just a technology firm with good marketing. It was a company built in large measure on customer service, hitting the market at the right time and utilizing the risk-taking entrepreneurial spirit of Duffield and people he brought into the company.

A somewhat goofy incarnation of that spirit was the Raving Daves, a band named after Duffield and formed by musically inclined employees who pulled out their guitars when they needed breaks during long days.

As the company caught on, so did the Raving Daves, who went from impromptu hallway jam sessions to playing before as many as 12,000 people at the Superdome in New Orleans.

"I’d often look out at the big crowds and ask myself, ‘How did this happen?’" says Baer Tierkel, the early leader of the band and self-described geek who spent 10 years as a PeopleSoft executive.

PeopleSoft’s credibility, of course, had more to do with its deep appreciation of its customers and their needs than its employees’ musical chops. It was "a great company; HR people loved it," says Phil Fersht, research director for EquaTerra.

Competition for the company’s goodwill is fierce. German software company SAP may have the most to gain. Oracle, Fersht says, "is under serious threat from SAP" in the fight to convert PeopleSoft customers.

"SAP is very smartly using the human resources outsourcing channel to win over PeopleSoft customers," Fersht says. "Oracle needs to better understand the HR BPO market. SAP has definitely taken a jump on Oracle."

Paul Salsgiver, a former president of one of PeopleSoft’s divisions, says Oracle is going to have a hard time bottling the formula that made the erstwhile software company great.

"We are people who like to create things," Salsgiver says. "We are not bashful about taking an idea and creating a product out of it."

These days Salsgiver is CEO of Aspectrics, a company built around a unique technology that can instantly get readings on the chemical properties of liquids, solids and gases. Salsgiver is borrowing heavily from his experience at PeopleSoft. Just as he once sought feedback from colleges and universities to help develop PeopleSoft applications for higher education, Salsgiver is going straight to his customers for feedback in developing products for Aspectrics.

Market innovator
For 16 fast-paced years, PeopleSoft was one of the darlings of the Silicon Valley, a technology growth machine whose stock doubled four times during the 1990s boom. It showed the business world that advanced, sophisticated and cutting-edge software could be applied as strategically to workforce management as it could to finance, payroll and manufacturing.

The innovation PeopleSoft brought to the market was client/server software that allowed human resource managers to move away from bulky mainframe computers and work with data and workforce management tools at their desktops.

Early customers who took a chance on the new technology were Monsanto, Eastman Kodak, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the state of New York.

By the time Oracle targeted the company for the takeover, PeopleSoft had grown from a handful of people to a global workforce of 12,000, with annual revenue approaching $3 billion after its acquisition of JD Edwards and Co.

Jeff Carr, now executive vice president of global sales and marketing for Taleo, was one of PeopleSoft’s first 50 employees. He was in sales before the company went public in 1992 and rose to the presidency of a PeopleSoft division.

"When we began rolling out our products, HR was a very underserved market... We captured the hearts and minds of that market."
--Early PeopleSoft employee Jeff Carr, now executive vice president of global sales and marketing for Taleo

"Dave Duffield was a visionary who could look around corners and see trends before anyone else," Carr says. "He bet the company on client/server and Windows at a time when others still saw it as risky technology."

Because it was a new technology, customer service became Duffield’s mantra.

"When we began rolling out our products, HR was a very underserved market," Carr says. "Human resources reported up to the CFO. Payroll and financial applications ruled, and employees were seen more as an expense rather than value added. Our early focus was talent and human capital management. We captured the hearts and minds of that market."

Focus on service
These days, the products Carr sells belong to Taleo, formerly known as Recruitsoft. Carr and several other executives from PeopleSoft, including Taleo CEO Michael Gregoire, are using what they learned at their former employer to help Taleo grow. The private company is gearing up to go public, just as PeopleSoft once did, and is developing a suite of workforce management products.

Another former PeopleSoft executive, Jason Averbook, co-founded the consulting firm Knowledge Infusion with Heidi Spirgi, also a PeopleSoft alum. Knowledge Infusion has jumped from three employees to 75 in a matter of months following the Oracle takeover, Averbook says.

Averbook’s company helps PeopleSoft customers develop their software to get more strategic use from it.

"The hope is that we can help HR departments not take five steps back because of the acquisition of PeopleSoft, but take five steps forward to drive strategic value," he says.

SAP, the German software giant, picked up two former PeopleSoft vice presidents, Mark Lange and John Zepecki.

Phil Wilmington, a co-president at PeopleSoft at the time of the takeover, landed as CEO of Outlooksoft. Kevin Parker, the other co-president and CFO of PeopleSoft, is now CEO of Deltek Systems, which hopes to compete against both Oracle and SAP for a share of what once was the PeopleSoft market.

Ronald Codd, a former PeopleSoft vice president and CFO, today sits on the boards of six technology companies. When he was with PeopleSoft, he helped steer the company from $15 million in annualized revenue in 1991 to $1.5 billion when he left at the end of 1998. During that span, the number of employees rocketed from 75 to 7,000.

Codd captures much of the spirit of early PeopleSoft executives and what makes them so valuable to developing technology companies: They’re not afraid of risk, and many like small companies.

Codd says he made that clear when Duffield offered him a job.

"I said, ‘Gee, Dave, I really think I can do this job, but I want to be honest with you: When we get to $300 million or thereabouts, I am not sure I want to continue,’ " Codd says.

"Dave got a good laugh. He had told people he didn’t want the company to be more than 50 people. He was very worried about losing that vibrant entrepreneurial energy that a team can have together."

Today, Codd is passing on what he learned during PeopleSoft’s growth years to companies whose boards he sits on. It gets back to listening to the customer.

"Customer focus is absolutely critical to about 99 percent of the companies out there," he says. "We were always on the cutting edge with technology. People were betting their careers when they came with us, and we wanted to do right by them."

Former PeopleSoft workers have formed a thriving Web-based alumni association organized by Steve Tennant, who worked at the company during the boom years.

Tennant figured that after the Oracle takeover it would be fun to get together with other PeopleSoft alumni and have a few beers occasionally. He put out feelers and had 1,300 members in no time at all, Tennant says. His Web site, www.psftalumni.net, is particularly popular with recruiters. It now has 700 recruiters registered, Tennant says, and they have posted 3,000 jobs.

"It just took off," he says. "It was beyond my wildest expectations."

Douglas P. Shuit is a Workforce Management staff writer based in Irvine, California. To comment, e-mail editors@workforce.com.

Silent prayer

2009-05-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

Remembrance to 512 Sichuan earthquake.May the survivors continue their journey with strength and courage. For the death, may they rest in peace. Weep no tears for the lost but to treasure the people around, this very moment

Malaysian Education System

2009-05-12T07:08:00.000-07:00

Since Malaysia's independence, our education system has been yield for betterment on racial unity and hope to provide diversity in scope that our people may thrive. However, after 50 years of independence, the result was NOT as expected. Our leaders entrusted with the responsibilities of managing national education are not playing their roles diligently. They simply more interested to politicize the education system rather than handling the issues in hand.

For example, the recent crisis on educating Mathematics and Science in English - this issue has been politicize by irresponsible counterparts which defeat the whole purpose. These selfish leaders and poor enforcement of policies lead to deteriorating of education 's quality. We have shortchanged so much in education and our generation and the next generations suffered from these causes.

Decades ago, University of Malaya was on top 100 universities in the world. Yet today, the ranking has dropped drastically. Many researchers and world class educators from Malaysia are unwilling to exert themselves in local, rather they prefer to expand their horizon in the neighboring countries. I recalled our former leader ask them why - "Tak Kenang Budi, Tak Kenang Jasa". The answer lies between the blunt foible of who we are and what we going to be in 50 years to come.

What a profound statement - Why do we suffer?

2009-04-26T07:39:00.001-07:00

why there is always darkness before dawn?

What is career?

2009-04-15T07:48:00.000-07:00

Successful career path always come with luck, opportunity, talent, hardwork and last but not least certifications.

Sukuk

2009-04-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

Sukuk, in arabic term a legal financial instrument comply to Islamic law - always means by financial equivalent bond.

The first Sukuk bond from Malaysia Government is now open for sales by introducing the first batch of the dual-series RM2.5bil Islamic bonds that offer returns of 5% per year. This introduction is part of the RM60bil stimulus package announced on March 10, where up to RM5bil in saving bonds will be issued this year for people aged 21 and above, and with a maturity period of three years. Government is providing an alternative to us- the people an method to savings. or should I say an alternative for government to get money from us? There is no absolute security in this context, not even from government. What do you think? Would it be obsolete like our RM1 coin prior to its maturity period?

Where we are heading?

2009-04-13T08:45:00.001-07:00

Money politics is not corruption, theft and homicide are not crimes.

Marley And Me

2009-04-12T03:45:00.000-07:00

I have watched this movie twice today and read the book once. This comedy is publicized as none stop laughing feast by many top bill board. Starred by Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston who brought back their first puppy after their marriage, named after singer Bob Marley - the song who Owen listen on his way back from airport.. This wreak - house clearance puppies grew into a big dog, yet still contrived hilarity and proverbial madcap mayhem that brought the entire movie to its laughing stock. At the end, the protracted death of Marley brought me to sob and moist eyes. To the author of Marley and Me - John Grogan, you are the best!

9th April 2009

2009-04-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

Left Astro at 7 pm , considerably early compare to other days. Went to dinner with friend and reach home at 8.30. pm. Tomorrow is Good Friday - and me after watching the last episode of soap drama - ON AIR, I chill up in the my own bed room, enjoying to music - Heat Is On 2005 album collection with a pack of VSOP in hand. I have not drink too much for now, which keep me solemn enough to write in this blog.

I am attracted to this song - Early Morning Snowfall - by Chuck Brown. It gives me the feeling of peace and freedom - Hope is there and where we can grab.

As I am surfing the net, - saw many interesting things happened to Microsoft. The headings in theinquirer.net highlights the business practices by Microsoft. The headlines are read this way:

1) Microsoft relaxes WGA further

2) Microsoft sued in China for patent infringement

3) Microsoft and Autodesk lose patent case

and the latest !!!

4) Microsoft stole Uniloc product activation

Business is war, there is no time for feel or sympathy in business!

An update news on conflicker - the worm which I have inherited previously - actually does something according to the trend micro - it has updated itself and dumped a mystery payload on infected computers The data package seems to be a keystroke logger and so the worm is probably after secret data. Windows users who have not updated their computer with the latest updates are likely to be targets. Sounds dangerous ya!

Dashing up for technology news, now is time for bed. Almost 11 now, and wanna to dozz off- the effect of that VSOP! Tomorrow is not any other ordinary Friday - It is the Good Friday for 2009.

First Monday with New Prime Minister

2009-04-06T07:42:00.000-07:00

We have - Datuk Seri Najib as our 6th Prime Minister effective on 3rd April 2009. After the political turmoil back in March 2008, Tun Abdullah decided to step down for the change of leadership in UMNO. Being Malaysian, how do we anticipate the changes in our economic, social with the new leadership in our political arena?

Many neighbouring countries including we- as Malaysian citizen are forecasting, tracking the trajectory of current economic situation. We do hope with the new leadership would bring to the betterment in our worsening economic and social demoralized situations.

First thing I saw the delta along Kesas Highway this morning - first monday with new prime minister. Kesas has finally gave in to open the tidle flow - a workaround to overcome the traffic congestion. Is this workaround a long term solution?

Back to the economic issue - today Bursa Malaysia closes with the welcoming smile to New Prime Minister with total 437 gainers, 147 losers and 176 remain unchanged. This is a welcoming sign to the paradigm shift in leadership. However how long will this sign sustain?

We do put hope on the Datuk Seri Najib and please do not disappoint our faith. If one day people stop voting on the government, it is the government who are to be blamed for not carrying out the duty. There will be general elections to come thus, we are hoping continuous improvements in a goverment which should be compatitive enough to lead us thru. If you can't do it, perhaps someone else could.

Gossips :P

2009-04-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

It has been a global issue - economic recession. From Singapore to Malaysia and across many countries around the world is now experiencing recession. Malaysia's economic is technically recession. Within the first Quarter of 2009, the unemployment rate is much higher compare to the last quarter of 2008. If we walk along the factories area in Shah Alam alone, notice that there are many factories practice the 2 days operation thru out the week. More retrenchment has been issued, not only from private sectors, but also in semi-government industries. These are just my observation, putting aside from the statistical reports by Central Bank of Malaysia. We cannot over focus on the downturn and the impact of short fall to our current economic situation. On the contrary, fundamental and intermediate actions should be done- reemployment and reeducate our people to support the future economic growth.

The recession continues to demand urgent reengineering in economics as growth rates continues to deterorites. The recent London Summit 2009m, the first global effort to tackle the global recession. And Malaysia territory of Labuan is "proudly"named as one of the worst offenders for not practising financial openness. Is this naming another pang to Malaysia off shore market? How does this reflect to mirror against Malaysia political turmoil back in March 08, 2008?

Talking about political turmoil our Miss Hee has just received the nomination of being the most hated woman in Malaysia. Please refer to the picture below that illustrate Hee as a dog. Frankly I think that a dog is human best friend and thus illustration is an insult to dogs.

This picture truly insults to dog kind- Even a stray dog is better than her.

A Very Special Day

2009-04-04T09:46:00.000-07:00

Today, I have upgraded myself from 2 to 3. It is fun to celebrate yet, it reminds me again - time flies.

We went down to south today, relaxing and enjoying the moment of doing nothing. Absolute nothing in mind- no work, no practising violin except to enjoy the vivid moment waiting to dusk. We first arrived at Nilai, then continue our journey to Port Dickson. Along the way we passed by few towns like Seremban and Lukut. The weather was unpredictable, rained then stop then sun started to shine again. We reached Port Dickson - Bagan Pinang to be specific around 4 pm. Walking lazily along the beach at that time was a silly idea. We got sun burnt. Gosh, I just got over the sun burnt Í had at Hainan Island, now I am in it again!

Sitting by the sea, listening to the whisper of sea is indeed the joyous thing you can have. This is what we called the happiness of life. Oppss did someone misplace her/his slipper? :D Haha forget about the slipper :)

We waited till dusk, then drive back to Lukut, then to Seremban for dinner. We took the wrong way which land us in different place. Well, we are supposed to take the PLUS highway, instead we were led to this LEKAS highway. This highway promised us a faster journey to KL/Subang. True enough, we reached our place at 11 pm. I am very happy today :) Thanks pal for bringing me along.

Happiness is something that you share with your family, loved one and friends. My father and sis sang the birthday song over the phone. What can I say, I am overjoyed. It is very happy to hear someone who is sincerely sing birthday song to you :)

Second month in Astro

2009-04-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

It is me again and it's my second month at Astro. Today, I try to work hard as possible wanting to forget the sorrow memory.

One month passed ever I start the consignment in Astro. I have learnt a lot in this site. Apart from PeopleSoft I also learnt about broadcasting - IBMS system, E2E and the transformer projects, nothing confidential- just application.

Today we went to the meeting - the HR listed down 10 items for me to do. This list will keep growing as time goes by. It started off with the new tax ruling. After I applied and modified the patches, it is now pending at user side for testing. I can consider that task 50% down , 50% to go if troubleshooting is required.

Next coming to my list is the TPR project. As the company is going to rename the details fo the work details etc etc - and the list grows dramatically, from ESS to SAP integration.

It is lucky to work under Benny from ITD. He is very understanding person. Working in Astro can be very pressure and got to be multitask- however there are many new things for me to learn. It is a good training ground for people like me.

Tomorrow, I got to do presentation - It is not a presales thingy, but it is a good experience for me to expose to SAP financial - especially on Control Account.

Do you know, when I got to know that I got transferred to Astro, it seems like the end of world. However, now I think it is a great opportunity for me to expand across the horizon. On my last project, I did not have much opportunity to explore to standard PeopleSoft GL due to time constraint. But now in Astro, it opened my eyes to what is GL and the configuration to SAP with all the cost centered and all the customised GL involved.

I did some researches on control account, what it is like and how it works along with PeopleSoft HCM. In accounting, GL is always related to cash flows and investment. It is a journal that keeps the transactions of AR/AP - Account Receivable and Account Payable in accounting terms. Like any accounting standard, all accounts must have journal entries for debit and credit.

Normally in PeopleSoft, we have Positive input, inserted in GP_PI_MNL_DATA by user. There is also GP_PI_%GEN, some sort of record in peoplesoft that cater for positive input generated from the system by other module, for instance Time and Labour (T&L or Global absence). There is some translate values that distinguised if these records are system generated or manually entered or pull from clock like chronos clock that work hand in hand with PS.

Preventing user intervention thru online input and manual manipulation of data would thus increase the error and effort to reconcile these accounts. In PeopleSoft Finance, PS has delivered a funtionality as Control account at the chart field level. In addition, the account can be also configured as budgeted account or vise versa. It also include the performance measurement of a GL. Sound kind of complication but the underlying concept is simple.

In GL everything is about posting to right account. All the marked journal or journal copy for unposting enteries should keep at minimal thus to reduce the degree of control applied to the check on control account's accounts. Sound interesting isn't it?

From what I can see here, one thing bad about PeopleSoft in this context is that it does not restrict the action to perform the changes at the source of journal. Thus user can change anything at the source without control. Something I learnt today before going to bed. Haha

Well tomorrow will be another day - Friday is something that I always looking for throughout the week. You can say I am lazy, but what to do,.. I am still a human. oh man, Thank God it is FRIDAY (TGIF)!!!

Mother I love you

2009-04-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow , or few hours from now April 2nd. A year ago, I have lost my beloved mother on this date - 6pm. Time flies ..............

A year ago, I was on my last day for Fuji Xerox project before moving on to the next project - StarHub. I still can recall that evening, it rained heavily. Thunderstorm and lightning still playing in my thought. The view from Fuji Xerox building and the memory of my mother's last breath still linger in my ears.

I recalled my sister phoned, asking me whether to send mum to hospital. Dad was not at home. My sis was panicked. My mum had difficulty in breathing and after few minutes of struggle, she passed out. We rushed back that evening and reach Malacca almost 10. By then, my mum has been sent to parlor.

We saw her lying in the coffin. My brother came in late with all tears, cannot accept the fact that our mum has gone to HIM. When all the family members gathered, somehow I saw my mum face was smiling - was I imagining? Until now I still cannot comprehend.

After 365 days you leave us apart,. you are still fresh in our memory. Mum we love you always. We always do. As we promised by your coffin, we stay united - one family one body. No matter one day brother might be remarried, sis getting married or even myself we are united. I shall not allow anything to jeopardize the unity.

Now we have only Dad with us. Dad we love you.

It's a Saturday!

2009-03-14T08:49:00.001-07:00

Today is Saturday, to most of the working adult, Saturday is always welcome - rest day. I got up about 9 in the morning, having breakfast and did my household errand. Then I took a break and played my favourite game on the PS2 - Time Crisis 3. It was about noon, then I depart from home to go to Astro - reached there about 1 noon.

Working on Saturday is indeed - you can call it joyous or sorrow. Joyous as you can fully concentrate doing what you plan to do without any intervention from the users, plus better network performance. Sorrow is to have the feeling of loneliness - working alone on Saturday afternoon.

I reached Astro around 1 pm. After logging into production to get the data that the user wanted me to do, I gave a call to my project manager on the tasks for the test cases. After running few round of testing in DMO environment, I still puzzled.

Not wanting to spoilt my Saturday, I decided to go out with my friend Bee Ping for dinner. She brought her cute daughter - Christie along. It was raining like cats and dogs when I went out from Astro and alas, I was truly wet.

We went to the Mines Wonderland for our dinner. I am quite surprise that some of the buildings were bought over by Capital Land/Capital Retail - a Singapore based conglomerate in construction.

Along the way, I saw many buildings with labelled Captal Land etc etc. I could not understand why our government let Singaporean bought so many property here, let alone in business properties. Somehow or rather, based on the economic health and wealth, somehow some day Singaporean may end up owned many of Malaysian property and at that point what can a Malaysian do to protect our own interest. Sigh......

Day 10

2009-03-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hello blog,

It has been 10 working days in the client site, after deducting the 2 working days + weeknds for company trip to Hainan Island.

Retuning to work, back to reality from the relaxing de tour means a fresh start. It has been very busy. Gan has been assisting and advising me in many operation issues in Astro. I have learnt alot from her especially on Year End processing. It seems that the Year end processing configuration has not been done properly. The report is not rightfully configured thus some fields do not appear in EA form. The more happenining situation is due to the production performance issue. Got to think hard how to solve this hardware performance problem. Think real hard!

Day 1@Astro

2009-02-25T06:21:00.000-08:00

Good bye Fuji Xerox and hello Astro.

Today is my first day to the 6 months (5+1) contract on support work in Astro. I started my journey at 7 this morning and reached the destination at 8.20am. The traffic was real bad.

I started my support job with the EA form alternation. I thought the job was suppose to be completed by my colleague, but seems that it still required changes the alignment of the SQR report is all wrong. The task is not difficult, but tedious. Before I started on the EA task, another task is escalated in by Calvin. He taught me how to use simple file layout to cater the Global Absence 's needs .I have yet to have hand's to complete the given tasks, was asked to go to another block to test out the printer - LQ2180 Epson. Strangely, the printer has some configuration issue that lead to some SQR does not print out correctly. I then went to check on the printer setting, etc etc and without realizing, it has already 8.15pm. Whow, what a day. That is my day one experience as support slave. Did I say staff or slave? What does it matter anyway :p.

Tomorrow shall be another hectic day.

Global Warming, the economic is cooling : Japan "faces worst economic crisis since WWII" as Q4 GDP plummets

2009-02-16T06:48:00.000-08:00

TOKYO: Japan's economy shrank at an annualised pace of 12.7 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2008 - its worst performance since 1974 - as the recession deepened, official figures showed Monday.

Asia's largest economy contracted by 3.3 per cent in the three months to December from the previous quarter as exports and factory output slumped due to the global economic crisis, the government said.

It was a third straight quarter of negative economic growth for Japan, which is in the midst of its first recession in seven years.

Exports plunged 13.9 per cent from the previous quarter as demand for Japanese cars, electronics and other goods slumped in recession-hit overseas economies.

Business investment in factories and equipment dropped 5.3 per cent as companies scrambled to reduce their costs to cope with the recession.

Household spending slipped 0.4 per cent as consumers tightened their belts following a wave of job cuts by Japanese companies.

The figures were even worse than the average analyst forecast for an annualised contraction of 11.6 per cent.

The pace of the contraction also picked up sharply compared with the three months to September, when the economy shrank 0.6 per cent from the previous quarter.

Japan’s economics minister warned shortly after the data was released that Japan faces the worst economic crisis since World War II, and that it would not be able to bounce back until the global economic climate improves.

"This is the worst ever crisis in the post-war era. There is no doubt about it," Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano said.

"The Japanese economy, whose growth is heavily dependent on exports of automobiles, machinery, and IT equipment, was literally battered" by the global downturn, he told a news conference.

"Japan alone won't be able to recover. The economy has no border. It is our responsibility to rebuild the domestic economy for other countries." The government will consider fresh stimulus measures to revive the economy, Yosano said.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/409300/1/.html

Being A Malaysian

2009-02-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

Being silent and refraining from confronting an issue openly isn't easy, however, many of us are doing it repeatly, effortlessly with the hope that the situation will improvise for betterment. There are many outstanding issues from globally to nation level, and further narrow down to company, to single unit of individual.

At national level, the dark time comes with the money politic drama series takes place in land of silver. A good show put up by the actress leaving the people that support her, as if leaving the husband for another man. This is totally disrespectful and not honour the trust that people given to her. How can such a person become a leader? This is where our wealths are being reap shamelessly to fulfil the monetary anxiety of the disrespectful person. Eventually there goes the taxes from our pocket, our very hard earned cents.

The night gets dark, and when the dawn breaks? Our economic situation is bad enough, plus the melo-dramatic politics and increment of social crimes. Being Malaysians, there is no one left to speak up

Summary of Singapore

2009-01-19T16:08:00.000-08:00

Today is my last day on-job business in Singapore and moving back to Malaysia project. When I was in MRT on the way back from Tiong Bahru to Admiralty, I saw many interesting scene. One that caught my attention was an old man - senior citizen. He was old and fragile. The fast moving MRT seems to disturb him especially when the MRT approaching a station and the driver pull for a stop. This senior citizen was standing, holding a back while struggling to grip tight on the pile. No one seems to offer him a seat. Worse, someone in front was trying to kick him - I do not know if the person intentionally did that or by accident. That was sad. In a related scene, I overheard someone said "Why should I offer him a seat, I saw itI wa first. I won't even offer to my own grandfather" That was from a mouth of a young kid. - in her teenage. Deep in heart, I was thinking - what would be the next generation in this country? They maybe brilliant in academic, work life, but deeply they are empty souls.

My father was about that age. Imagine if my father was in the MRT, I cannot bear to see him being treated that way. Can't someone respect senior citizen?

Later, on the way down the escallator at Admiralty station, I saw a old couple holding hands. That was sweet. I was standing behind them, thus can hear their conversation. The old lady was saying, "Will Man come back this CNY? I have not seen him for years (in Hokkien)," The old man in replied, "Either one of us go before, another would be lonely". That was tragic. I recalled of my father at home. I really miss him and want to spend more time with him. CNY is when family time comes first.

Well, Good bye Singapore and hope to visit you again in future.

Thankful we are still alive

2009-01-17T18:07:00.000-08:00

As usual boring Sunday morning in Singapore, I logged on Facebook to check the latest update from friends. I came into notice to this group - A tribute to Choy Ai Ling and I clicked in.

Choy Ai Ling was my schoolmate in Methodist Girl School. She was my one year junior. I came to know her because we were prefects and were assigned to take care of the same class - 1K. She was a stern yet friendly prefect. I recalled that she always took a book - ABRSM blue color theory - Eric Taylor book to read when we were on duty. We shared some experiences in piano learning. She was good in piano.

It was a shocked that she left. From her I have learnt - life is short. Treasure it before it's too late. My deepest condolences to Mrs Choy - my former teacher, my discipline teacher.

New Year New Resolution

2009-01-10T09:08:00.000-08:00

There are many times that I don't feel good about myself due to many factors. Lost of confident and low self esteem. Every bad things that happened to me has to be enforced as self doubting, confusion, feeling unlove and believing myself to be ugly - totally do not feel good about myself.

I know this is a simple issue to resolve - yet difficult. This is the crucial step to experience and feel capable to overcome life challenges. As I was listening to Lenka's song, "trouble is my friend" - this really holds true in many aspects in our life. We do not want to find trouble outside, yet trouble - some minor problem always lingering about us - causing us to lost faith, confident and confused of what we want, what we need and what we care in life.

I feel grateful that I am still breathing now, having a job and my pets. I am grateful that my family is healthy. Happiness is around me and I should appreciate it all. After analysing the caused, often we experience that the daily tasks of living and our job performance greatly affect our self esteem. The sense of belongingness in team and relating ourselve to others - human is sociable creature and cannot live alone. Though many think that we can live single mindedly, but in actual fact, we are interelated, unseparable.

If you ask me how I feel now? I would say I feel great. Happiness is not how much money I earn or how high the position I have in the company. Those are simply material substances. To be continuous live happily is my aim for 2009.

By conviction or inheritance?

2008-12-30T05:45:00.000-08:00

It was two days before Christmas. The lights along the street are dimmed in sudden as I walked along the road from Keck Seng building to car park area. I looked at them in little surprise. It is 8 pm at night. Far a distance, I heard children sang caroling - Jingle Bell in soft tone.

I always love Christmas time. This is the first year of Christmas without Mother. I love stories about christmas, bible and fairy tales. My mother had a lot of such stories in her arsenal, stories of Simon, Moses and Joseph. Beside bible, my mother read us the history of Great China. From romance of three kingdom to the modernize fiction of "Qua Ren". The work by "So Dong Bou" was one of my mum's favorite.

Year 2008

2008-12-29T04:28:00.000-08:00

It has come to the end of year 2008. Many things happened in this year. I have lost my mother and uncle. I have learnt alot thru out this year - 2008. Time to lost someone,. being love by someone, being away and alot of fruitful experiences.

Living on top of people, living under people

2008-12-26T21:55:00.000-08:00

How is it like, living on top of people, yet living under some other people, unless you lived in a penthouse, which usually the top in a building. While thinking to post a message in this blog, I overhead a short scream from downstairs. Some housewives were shouting, - "Bodoh punya manusia, kenapa simbah air ke bawah, habis baju saya". It is difficult to live in such a situation - living under someone. It may be applies in our working environment.

It never been easy to work under someone who is nasty. One of my colleague was assigned to work in WD - under a dragon lady. The dragon lady or often been labelled as Ms L shouts at her subordinates /people under her for a small issue. The deadline is always "NOW"! Well when dealing with this situation, we shall always:

Cease to love them long ago,
So I tell myself every day,
Deep in heart I know I feel,
There is no truth in what I say.

And I wonder, how can my colleague survive in this situation? He always gave us rather wild pale look and jaunty smile each time we ask "How's work in WD?" I try to image everyday his sole is driven away by the torment scream. Think again and recalling how we live under someone everyday, the unyielding and willful, yet complication of life pushes us to persist on - living under people. It is so true the above statement applies to everyone, even boss'bosses.

Each time I step in church, I hold my prayer, thinking HIM higher upon other people. We as sinner are borned to cry. You see the new born baby, comes to this world with his/her first cries. If those baby who is born - not crying may have the tendency of born- still - dead. Is that tears of sorrow or tears of joy coming to this world?

I hold it true with HIM who worships,
to who clears harp in diver's lordships,
Those sons who raise on stepping stones,
of their deal selves to higher thrones.

End is the beginning of another chapter

2008-12-14T09:35:00.000-08:00

Hello,

It's me. I have long not to drop any words in the blogs. Busy is always the answer or merely an excuse not to write diary or keep in touch with friends?

One month ago, I came back from Singapore, helping my colleague in Astro Projects - Start with bundle fixing then ESS. The bundle fixing did not go smoothly as PeopleSoft always gave us 'After effect' work thru their patches. The man days exceed as my colleague unable to complete the given task on time. The Form E drags for more than a week from the actual plan. I recalled each time we went to meeting, the feeling wasn't good. There were times my colleague cried as she could not able to complete the task, not knowing the solutions and had no one to turn to. We were in the same team and I tried my best to help her. We worked over weekends, till midnights to ensure the completion of tasks. After long hour of hard work, finally the ESS is moved to production and ready to go life this 16th December 2008. If you ask how I feel now, I can tell you - over joy.

It is such a short time to complete the work, and guess what, some of the coding was missing and we had to find some tricky way to append them back. I learnt from another colleague that the server was crashed before, hence some of the coding went MIA. The tasks were indeed challenging. It was a fruitful experience to handle this project as I have learnt new module - Workflow and Employee Self Service, which I have never know priory.

Not knowing what is my next assignment now, I do know that the end of this project means the beginning of another chapter. Whether the chapter is exciting or deterioriting much depending on how I author this chapter. Path is depending on how we mark the history in our very own diary. One day after sometimes, when I recall my diary, it isn't that difficult to handle anymore. We learned from experiences and grew with it.

Memoriars of Uncle Teow Goo

2008-11-28T15:47:00.000-08:00

Uncle Teow Goo was my father's biological brother. He had had pholio disease since youth, thus unable to walk as normal. He never left the house since day one he moved in. I recalled, when I were young, I always stayed with him and auntie leng qiao. My mum was sick and often hospitalised. Hence I have no one to turn to at that time, were sent over to their house. I still can remember Uncle Teow Goo taught me on some arithmatic and reading some stories to me before bed time. It seems like images in my mind, yet it is still so fresh as if it happened yesterday, but that was somewhat 25 years ago.

Uncle Teow Goo rested in peace two weeks ago, 12/11/08 4 in the morning. That day, before knowing his death, I had had a strange dream. The strangest dream I had since my mother passed away. I dreamt about my mum, wanted to hug me. But when she drew nearer, I saw her face turned into someone else, trying to suck away my breath. Spiritual conflict? Later part of that day my sis informed me about his death. Strange, but it happened.

To Mother

2008-11-21T20:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Mother in Heaven. It has been eight months since you left us. It’s hard to believe the passing numbers on the calendar,weeks after weeks; months after months.

I never really got to say thank you for what you did for us. I too never really got to say sorry to you. I had so many chances to do so while you were still around but somehow never did so. Like so many others, I never knew what I had till it’s gone forever. It is my eternal silent remorse. You always loved us unconditionally, no matter what mistakes we did you always forgave us.

I hope you are more comfort right now, after being ill in bed for 3 years. Thank you for being our mother.

Clinic Gotoku

2008-11-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

I have recently watched this Japanese drama, featuring a medical doctor who transferred to the land of Zimura, after causing a death of patient in Tokyo. With a humble beginning, he was ignored and critized by the local who does not believe in doctor who served in the island. To the locals, a medical surgeon like Dr Gotoku is an arrogant doctor who does not care about the others. Some even believed that the doctor is a killer. Many local died due to cancer, yet reluctant to receive medical treatment.

It is an inspiring drama series that shows the diligence of a doctor in pursuing his dream in serving and saving people's life.

A Trip to Bukit Melawati

2008-10-26T04:34:00.000-07:00

This morning my friend and I went to Bukit Melawati. We reached our destination about 12 noon. Bukit Melawati is the place that been thru many wars, always been the core of tactical skirmishes. The hill provided a vantagepoint for monitoring ships entering and leaving this part of the Malacca Straits.

Along the hiking, we saw many silverleaf monkeys swinging from tree to trees. The monkeys are gentle and lovely. If you see the picture below, notice that the monkey is as if "penjaga meriam" in the old days. Some said these monkeys are the spirits that would stay here for generation to keep an eye on the fort.

Look here. These monkeys brought me a new inspiration to work harder. As tomorrow I will be back to Singapore for work, this short trip to Bukit Melawati is indeed an enlighten experience, bringing me back to nature.

Heart break and chest pain.

2008-10-24T19:10:00.000-07:00

My health is deteriorating. Have been cough for almost one month and had just recovered from flu. The pheme contains some blood. Having chest pain at night, could not sleep well, suffering from minor insomia. Still continue to work 12 hours a day without taking medical leave.

No matter how much effort I have put in, tones of work remain incomplete. Smile no more as I see the piles stack on my working desk. I always maintain a smile, as i goes through all odd, but i meet my perials. The memory of the work flow through my soul, and yet nothing leaves behind.
The joy to this individualistic enviroment, as we are gradually merging to become part of it.
The door glimering in the dark. The shine with bright and strinking colour, waving at me, as if it is the only step to a brighter world

Having a little chest pain now. Though chest pain may or may not be cardiac in origin, I think I should go for a checkup. Acording to my family doctor chest pain is the symptom to many serious illness that require immediate medical attention. I was having this chest pain more than 2 weeks. A switch in what I am doing may be a solution. A quick solution to long term remorse? Is it a coward act?-Dillema in place.

Mrs Singapore contestant leaves suicide note blaming Ah Long

2008-10-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

THE death of a former Mrs Singapore contestant was prominently featured in all the major Chinese dailies.
Sin Chew Daily reported yesterday that Liu Jin Lian, 42, plunged to her death from her flat in Singapore last Saturday.
In her suicide note, Liu, who left behind a husband and three children, aged between 16 and 23, blamed her death on loan sharks.
Expressing hope that her debts would be written off following her death, Liu said she felt sorry for her elder daughter because she had used her daughter’s college funds to pay off her loans.
Liu was a hawker and her food was said to be popular with customers.
Her husband Yu Ming Yong, 46, said his wife borrowed S$40,000 (RM96,000) from loan sharks to renovate her stall.
“Every day, she had to pay about S$200 (RM480) to the loan sharks,” he said.
Yu claimed that the loan sharks pressured his wife to contemplate death by claiming they did not receive her payment each time she banked the money into their account.
“Sometimes, they would call to say that they had changed their bank account number and so failed to receive her repayment,” he added.
Another loan shark had claimed Liu was late in repaying and she was forced to pay additional interest, added Yu.
China Press quoted Yu as saying that life had treated Liu unfairly, adding that she had been given up for adoption as a baby.
“Since young, she was forced to help her adoptive parents sell noodles,” he said.
Although she did well in school, Yu said Liu stopped schooling after Year Six to help her family with the noodle shop.
Other News & Views is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a sub-heading, it denotes a separate news item.

source:http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/25/nation/2371962&sec=nation
Comment: Sick society. Can you imagine the suicidal rate in this country is higher than the fatal car accident cases?

Short of money, short on love

2008-10-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

Source:http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/10/19/lifefocus/2274896&sec=lifefocus
I HAVE known this man for one and a half years.
Our problem now is that he always says he has no money. Even his sister always asks him: “You work ... you live alone, where does all your money go?”
He works outstation, and his salary is almost RM3,000 a month. But when he comes back to our hometown, he always grumbles that if I don’t take money from him, he would be able to save. But, sometimes, I don’t.
However, his family thinks he always gives me money even though I no longer dare to ask for any because I am afraid that he will shout at me again: “Always no money, ask from me, no wonder I can’t save any money.”
I feel like leaving him but I don’t know how to. Can you please help me?
All for the Money
IF you want to leave the guy, tell him the truth. You are afraid to ask him for money because he shouts. Yet his family thinks you are taking his money.
If money is the basis for the relationship, then you truly have nothing to stay for.
The poor fellow is probably under a lot of stress because he can’t seem to make ends meet.
Working outstation is not easy. Costs have been escalating and it is tough for anyone to pay for daily needs, help with family obligations and fork out money each time the girlfriend needs a little extra.
He should thank you for leaving him. When a guy is being pressured, he needs love and understanding. He would appreciate a girlfriend who can help him get through such tough patches.
Instead of asking for money he doesn’t have, she could give him encouragement and support.
If you feel that you are not prepared to brave the worst with him, then do not bother to hang around. Love is a constant test of resilience and selflessness.
How many couples can weather the storms in life together?
People break up for the weakest excuses. Divorces are common, easy decisions. Who cares if anyone suffers and gets hurt? Let’s just take care of ourselves, right?

A trip home

2008-10-19T02:39:00.000-07:00

I went back to hometown this weekend, departing from Singapore took me 5 hours to reach the destination. It was late when I reached home, almost 12. After having some chit chat with my father, I went to bed. The next day we went to police station to lodge the report on the identity fraud.

Later in the evening, I attended Darren's wedding. Darren was my ex colleague in Visual Solutions, and so is his wife - Koay Hueh Kung. She looks totally different compare to the Hueh Kung I knew 3 years ago. What a tremendious change. She is much prettier now. I met my ex boss Mr Yew at the dinner. He looked as charming as usual, with his grin gesture. After the dinner, I visited my old friend and yam cha over the mamak. It was like the old days.

A short trip home, brought me much of old memories. And now I come back to Singapore to face the reality...Well, morale and loyalty beat fear and pressure in any ways. It applies now, it applies later part in life.

Identity Fraud

2008-10-16T08:10:00.000-07:00

This evening, around 5.20pm, I received a call from my sister back at hometown. Someone has called up my family, telling them that I have made a loan to buy a house (5.10pm) The un-recognised person thru the phone told my sis that I have missed out some document for Citibank Housing Loan, hence need to request for my contact number. I was stunned. I have never made such request. Has anyone tempered with my personal details? How can they access my personal information and harrass my family? I am thinking how advance the bank can secure our money left alone our personal information being viewed by unwelcome visitor. Such scam is very common, especially with current economy. Please beware of such scam. I have yet to investigate further details on this issue.

Parliament: Cops scared of crooks, so base closed! (updated)

2008-10-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

By ROYCE CHEAH
KUALA LUMPUR: A police beat base in the Chow Kit area of downtown Kuala Lumpur was closed down because it was in a location that was considered unsafe, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
In a written reply to Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohamad Ghazali (PAS-Titiwangsa), Syed Hamid said the beat base was located in a dirty area where there was a possibility of being exposed to contagious diseases.
The presence of criminals also posed a threat to the safety of police officers, he said.
Lo’ Lo’ had asked why the beat base on Jalan Haji Taib was closed considering the high number of vice-related activities in the area, as well as what kind action had been taken by the police to curb such activities.
Syed Hamid said that the police were looking for a new location to build a police beat base that would be able to give “guaranteed and continued service to the public.”
Lo’ Lo’s was the 30th question in the Order Paper and hence did not get a mention in the House during the daily one-hour Question Time. However, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) managed to raise it when he interjected during Azmin Ali’s (PKR-Gombak) speech during the debate on Budget 2009.
Dr Mohd Hatta said that if the police themselves felt unsafe in a beat base, then it would be even worse for the public.
“The minister has to resign if he is worried about the safety of police in that area. Maybe it would be better to put the beat base in army barracks,” he said.
Dr Mohd Hatta then managed to raise the issue again during his own debate on Budget 2009 saying that Syed Ali’s response was not rational.
“The police are there to make a place safe. If they themselves are scared and run away, then how can we hope for others to want to be there?
“It is embarassing and that is why the criminals will always be there,” he said.
Dr Mohd Hatta said if the place is dirty, then it is up to the police to organise gotong-royong activities to clean it up or if they did not want to then they should move to Putrajaya or Parliament.
“And what is this about contagious diseases on Jalan Haji Taib? The only kind of contagious diseases that are present there are sexually-transmitted ones.
“Is the minister scared that his charges will contract such diseases? That kind of thing is a matter of choice. In any case, if this is what he is worried about then we are worried that the police are not above this.”
Dr Mohd Hatta added that the police had to be brave people and that they were a different breed altogether when facing demonstrators. He said he hoped that the minister would clarify his written answer in the House as this is not the kind of police that the people want.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/16/nation/20081016172233&sec=nation

Weekend - It's a Saturday!!

2008-10-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

It's me again. Weekend always welcome. However, falling sick on weekend is intolerable. I am having bad cold, flu and top disease - sore throat.

I woke up at 5 am after 4 hours of sweet dream - unable to sleep. Nose's blocked, with continuous cough. Thus, I on the television, watching some headlines from ChannelNews Asia.

The spotlight of the news - economic turmoil- as recession is around the corner. Is the history of 1929 replaying?

The spokeman from Ministry of Finance in France announced that the economy is at very weak growth. Same goes to UK, which has bad remark on the current economic situation.

Back to Asia, more than half of taiwanese are dissatisfied with their President Ma due to his inefficient in comforting the economic situation. While in Singapore, the economic is experiencing moderate movement along with the recent partnership with Japan in financial sector. Japan shows a stable economic sentiment so far - but how long can it sustain?

Australia has a different view. They decide to speed up infrastructure building in order to boost the economic.

So are we ready to face the recession? How would recession have impact on me as an individual? The answer is absolute - therefore should I minimise spending and increase savings. Wise form of investment is important for better wealth management.

The moment that I screwed up

2008-09-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

There are many circumstances when good intention and action of kindness in handling customers never repays.

Stories that touche - Hearty Paw & Sky of Love

2008-09-27T04:30:00.000-07:00

On my way back home from Singapore, I had watched the movie that touches my heart - Hearty Paw (Korean Movie)/ This movie features countless of man best friend - about loyalty and courage.

The dog vows touches everyonce. On the contrast edge, it shows the cruelty of human kind to abandon her children due to selfishness, and forgiveness added into a crescendo.

This movie left footprint within me. This morning, I went out for breakfast, saw stray dog chasing after something, reminds me of Hearty. The loyal run -chase scene appeared in my mind. Unbelievable, I still can shed tears reminishing the vivid movie I watched yesterday.

On top of Hearty Paw, I also watched another movie that would touch million of girls'heart - Sky of Love (Japanese). This story told me that one should never give up on loving someone. A typical innocent love story that bring you back to your first love.

Replay economic history?

2008-09-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

It has been a decade ago since Malaysia has implemented capital control measures and currency pegging to USD1 to RM3.80. That was during my uni'days. I still can recall our financial economic lecturer questioned us in the issue of currency pegging at that point of time. After 10 years, as the fluctuation of current economy with the turmoil in financial industries in global market, should Malaysia again peg the Ringgit?

The concept of currency pegging happens when a country's exchange rate regime under which the government or central bank ties the official exchange rate to another country's currency, or alternatively the price of gold, which is the second option. The price of Gold is less volatile to open currency market. The idea of pegged currency with fixed exchange rate is to maintain a country's currency value within a very narrow band.

The question whether to repeg Ringgit much depend if Malaysia's economy can stand chance against the global market fluctuation - fiscal, monetary policies, or other fundamental policies named by the economists. Would it be a temporal solution, preventing the economy to be worsen or would it be a long term saviour?

The strength of currency reflects the health of country's economy. This issue may link to why many malaysian would like to go work overseas. For instance, in the case of Singapore, our politician wonders why there are many Malaysian would like to work in Singapore, rather than serving in their homeland. The answer is SGD is stronger. If ringgit is apar the value of SGD or even higher, many would prefer to work in their homeland. What it is, a breadwinner's primary objective is able to feed the family, followed by living with the family.

If we pegged the currency, how would it affect the vulnerable market situation? How would it affect Foreign direct investment in Malaysia, in turn affect our KLCI. If you have noticed, almost every decade we do have recessions, tracing back to late 1970's 1985,1998 and soon to be 2009. It is like history repeating itself, again and over again.

If we have noticed, the root of slow down is due to hike of fuel pricing. With the recent decrement in fuel pricing, we are hoping that it will aid to the current situation.

AIA - Insurance for Assurance?

2008-09-19T16:19:00.001-07:00

It was Monday when we heard about the turmoil in US financial institution. AIG the parent company to Giant Insurance company - AIA is heading to crisis. On Friday, the breakout news - Singapore Country Manager from AIA quits after sigining papers assuring the policy holders everything is all right. This sudden departure will worsen already vulnerable situation. Well, he has to take care of himself first right? It's human nature. To those who complaints over the blog, mind you again, if u were him, you might react the same.

Check this out..

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/377223/1/.html

Google Chrome

2008-09-19T16:19:00.000-07:00

Wow, Google has come out with their own browser - The Gooogle Chrome - browser that combines minimal design with sophisicated technology to ensure browsing over the Internet smoother and faster.

There are many browsers available in the market today. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and now Chrome. Though with much of choices, the concept of browser operation remains. When loading a web page, the most common operation perform is to detact the version and type of browsers. This is why often we saw over the web pages - best perform in IE6 or etc. Browser detection is performed to ensure that the content presented to the browser is compatible and renders correctly.

When I was doing my Master research in Text Mining on Messageboards, the usage of browser does affect my extraction tool. I have tried many browsers as named above. IE from Microsoft though is the most popular browser, it is slower with much complication algorithms to perform thru the navigating process.

FireFox - another browser, usually packaged with linux - OS is a better option. What user expects from browsing satisfaction is to able to view the page faster - that is the concept by Google - Simplicity. I would prefer to use FireFox rather than IE. It is however, Firefox has few limitation in terms of graphic intensitfy pages.

Now, I have downloaded Google Chrome - Let's try and see how good it works and Bravo! hope it is good as it seems

Balance

2008-09-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

It's me. Today, I have many thoughts of what balance life is. It is now 12.47 am and I just go back from work. Alas, this is how UAT time - world of OTs.

No one would ever understand how rough the situation of UAT unless he or she is in the same shoe. Complaining from client is unavoidable, so what is so fuss about it? If there is no respond from customer, then something might went wrong. After all, the customer always right...On the way back, (in MRT) I was composing some music through my phone. Listening to my own composition, sound fantastic. Even I may face much problem in work, I felt total relief when listening to music. Music provides me sensation of peace and joy.

I was reading a book by Robin Sharma, the monk who sold his ferrari. Indeed inspiring- even for the first chapter. Everyone is unique. I am unique. That is the first thing I should realise to overcome any low self esteem. However, people who always claim themselve as brilliant (jokingly or unintentionally) may think over uniquely intensify? or the contrary...What ever it is,

I have to keep my thought balance. Balance, balance, balance. Got to rush to bed. Have to be in Office by 8.30 later.

Ferrero Rocher - Simple yet complex

2008-08-23T23:50:00.000-07:00

Share the Secret - slogan of sherical hazelnut chocolates captures the hearts of million chocolate lovers. Many who loves to share the secrets are successful. The power of share is powerful, that word of mouth is the key to business successes, a failure if used in wrongful way.

And so, today, if we march out to market, many share their success stories thru seminars, talks, playing the needs of sharing at complex manner - the underlying concept remains the same - share- as simple as enjoying Ferrero rocher chocolate by balcony, looking at the clear blue sky.

The sharing concept is simple yet so hard to do. Many gurus like Robin Sharma, Confucious and etc. often advices people to share - as sharing is good moral to practise. It is simple to say, yet hard to do. Couples who reluctant to share burdens and responsibilities, which lead to divorce in many cases. The idea of sharing can be extended to idea of having rebates in fuel from Malaysia government (Petronas) to share the people's burden, especially with drastic hike in fuel prices. The discontinuity of sharing caused huge havoc. Question lies to which extend sharing concept works.

Life is Musing, Musing - Simply Too much or irresistable

2008-08-16T02:57:00.000-07:00

Recently I saw one interesting issue from the local TV - would a guy date skinny revolting girl or gorgeous fat girl? As getting slim, not thin has become the motto for many girls, especially in Singapore, thin is an uptown trend. Girls going to slimming courses, spending huge amount of money to achieve ultimate thin, or slim?

What do you think?

2008-08-16T02:26:00.000-07:00

Many people become project managers by accident. When top management assigns them the management of project due to the area of expertise, not reckon if they never had any form of project management training. Without specific methodology to clarify the objectives to project manager, soon entire organization would be recipe of bankruptcy. This situation usually happened in the IT industry, where project fails due to mismanagement, the company suffers. I have experienced such situation priory where mismanagement by a single project manager lead to the buyover of entire company.

Unforgetable Mountain Peak

2008-08-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

On 08/08/08, 5 in the morning, far from the east peak of Malaysia, here I stand - Mount Kinabalu, the prominent mountain in South East Asia.
At 13000 feet above sea level, I saw the most beautiful scenary ever, with surrounding of variety flora, and the silent coldness of dawn, I have experienced the most vivic moment of 08/08/08- the opening of Beijing Olympics from Mount Kinabalu.

The Elixir

2008-08-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

Undoubtly, music has the power and pervasive influence in our society. Every culture around the world has some form of music to celebrate triumphs, mournes of losses and heighten tribal or national pride in time to patrotism. Music has the ability to stir emotions, the newer generation uses music as search for alternative realities, or commonly known as new age. Different view about music and what music can do, however, back to basic, how music is defined?

Hyms from churches has evolved from classic instrumental to the current hip-hop trend, infatuated with today's behaviour. How would this impact the psychological accelerate to heal maladies without learning the truth of Bible?

Saturday de tour...

2008-08-02T05:24:00.000-07:00

Sunny Singapore is always welcome. I went out this morning meeting my friend at Jurong East station, with an aim, Sentosa Island. However, my dream went down to drain when my friend suggested to go to Jurung BirdPark instead. So Good bye Sentosa, and hello to Jurung Bird Park.

We reached the destination sharp at 10. The place was crowded with people. We saw many children running around. We start our normal routine, taking photography and no nonsense

At 11, we went to the Bird and buddies show. The bird singing show is the top of the list. The Green color bird, named amingo is trained to count one to ten in English, Mandarin and abled to sing 'rasa sayang' in Malay. It was quite enjoyable.

Look at this smiling ostrich. Isn't she charming? I took this picture in a close distance. Manage to pat her head. So fury, so warm...

Another charming swan. Such a beautiful gesture.

Introduction to Singapore Architecture - Colonial Civic Building I

2008-07-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

Architecture is a subject matter that always fascinated me, even I was young then. I was tidying my old stuff back at my hometown, Malacca, I recovered my childhood diary, written 20 years ago. Without much thought, I flipped and began to read, reminishing the old memories.

Victoria Memorial Hall

On 20th December 1988, I wrote this... "My ambition is to become an architect that design and construct buildings . That is my hope" Silence pang triggers inside me. After so many years, architecture is still my interest. Though I have to distinguish between ambition and reality, interest in architecture never left me. Picture of buildings has been my interest .

The Fullerton building

The architecture of Singapore ranged of influences and styles from different period and places from eclectic to hybrid form of different colonial period to current contemporary design. Traditional architecture may includes local hybrid shop houses, ranged of places of worship reflecting religious diversity of beliefs and colonial civic Europe new renaissance style.

Victoria Theater

The above pictures symbolises the historical colonial in Singapore. Thru architecture, we can know the significant political influence for the colonial in the past years.

Cat country

2008-07-19T05:07:00.001-07:00

Cat, or scientifically known as Felid caught my special interest during the visit to Singapore Zoo today. Until today, there are 40 known species of felids in the world.The cat all look very much alike, differring primarily in size. The most powerful one in cat family is non other than Tiger. Cats have relatively short faces, with large eyes to provide binocular visual. If you notice, their eyes are round, especially at night, reflects light back inside the eyeball, giving the cat eyes a distinctive shine. Thus, often when photographying cats, red eye effect is required to minimise the reflection in the picture.

The Charming Cheetah

Do you notice every cats naturally, have whiskers, unless with human intervention :P. Cats'whiskers are higly sensitive set deep within skin, which provide sensory information about the slight air movement around it. This sensory is helpful for nocturnal insights as well as provide the sense of balancing to cats as hunter.

The spotty Jaguar

I have the opportunity to see White Tiger for the first time in my life. White tigers are found exclusively in India. The existence of white tiger is very rare and critically endangered.

The powerful white tiger

Those are the bigger cats in the family. Talking about smaller cats, like feline domestica, the cats that we see day to day, they are being loved and hated. Very contradicting right? I seldom see cat in Singapore. After few months staying here, I discovered the first cat, a bengal bob tail down the Sembahwang HDB.

First cat I saw in Singapore

Cats are very mysterious creatures, indeed unique. Ancient Egypt worshipped them, early Europe distrust cats, religion fervor consider cats as evil spirits that should throw to death. For this reason, cats are executed for simply being a cat. Cats were blamed for multitide of sins, including the encouragement of our wrong doing. What ever is the reason behind, cats stand a place in our society today.

Japanese and Chinese Garden

2008-07-12T22:09:00.001-07:00

Greenery in Chinese Garden indeed is a sight which you should not miss in Singapore. Apart from the fresh air and sense back to nature, Chinese garden offers visitors fruitful information about chinese history, culture and life. The picture above, Ru Yun Ta Pagoda is the signature architectural building that is used in the ancient times to store human bones.
Peaceful environment with chit chit from birds gives you the sensation of joy and calm.

Friday Night at Clarke Quay

2008-07-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

Surrounded by colourful kaleidoscope that features various restaurant, wine bar, entertainment spots and retail shops, Clarke Quay is the focus drinking place for expatiates during the weekends.

Locating at upstream from mouth of Singapore river, one can enjoy exciting riverside view while sipping wine and listening to western music. It is delighful spot as everyone cheers for weekends as we always said, Thank God It's Friday (TGIF).

I have walked from Clarke Quay MRT, taking the F exit to the destination. Unlike any other day, Friday in Clarke Quay is much differ. Friday night means dancing night for night folks.

The night was young when I arrived. I saw many couples walking in each other's arm. Such a beautiful scenery. From far distance, I can listen vivic spanish songs on air. Somehow, it gave you a sensation of mix western culture in east land. It is a good night spot in Singapore that you should not miss .

虎豹别墅

2008-06-21T02:32:00.000-07:00

I stayed over the weekend in Singapore and visited Haw Par Villa, also known as Tiger Balm Garden. Prior going to this place of interest, I have searched over Mr Google for details. Surprisingly, there isn't much information about this spot. There are some articles stating that Haw Par Villa is demolished. To kill our curiousity, we went to the site for review.

Haw Par Village is located along Pasir Panjang Road. We took bus (SMRT 51) from Jurung East station. The journey took about 20 minutes. When we reached the site, alas, there are many on going constructions around Haw Par Villa.

Haw Par Villa is the mythology theme park in singapore that contains over thousands of statue and hundreds of dioramas from Chinese folklore and legends. These statues includes Laughing Buddha, Goddess of Mercy and the most famous Ten Courts of Hell located right hand side of the enterance. It was build in 1937 by Aw brothers and was sold to Singapore Tourism Board in 1979. It is a waste if to tear down such an attractive tourist spot as it is the oldest favourist photo taking spot in Singapore since 1937.

We manage to take some photographs. Please review :)

How rife is HR/Payroll Market?

2008-06-07T15:52:00.000-07:00

After PeopleSoft was acquired by Oracle in Dec 10, 2004, David Duffield started WorkDay, with aim to be the next generation human capitalist solutions that carries his legacy.

Heavy competition from traditional ERP vendors, like ORACLE and SAP, HR- specific vendor like ULTIMATE, ADP and some other HR specific local products, would WorkDay replace PeopleSoft on day? Would Duffield continue his legacy?

Workday solutions consists of WorkDay Human Capital Management, Financial Management, Payroll, Procurement, Resource management and Expenses.

For more details, go to www.workday.com

Interesting link: http://www.informationweek.com/news/services/saas/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207603344

Birthday Boy

2008-06-07T07:44:00.001-07:00

We celebrated our colleague's birthday at one Japanese buffet in Suntec. The food was good.

The birthday boy was asked to obtain 5 cell phone numbers from girls, total stranger out there... If he failed, he had to eat the special made wasabi-sushi... Here is some interesting scene...

This is how the special made sushi looked like.

Gloomier economic...

2008-06-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

= ??

With drastic increase of crude oil selling from USD 90 per barrel to USD130, many countries are unable to sustain fuel subsidies. Taiwan, India, followed by Malaysia ' governments are unable to cope with the price hiking, remove fuel subsidy totally, letting fuel price fluctuates against market sentiment. The impacts to local as well as global economic are tremendous.

It is within our expectation that anticipated demonstration and public outrage happen over Malaysian' government decision to hike fuel prices 40% overnight. The annoucement by our prime minister has triggerred chaos across country, even for us, who currently away from Malaysia. The drastic measures that took effect overnight pangs the economic, directly increase the inflation. We become poorer than before. Will MYR100 Malaysian Ringgit depreciate equivalent to VND100? This day seems nearer.

When someone become poorer, of course someone at the other end become richer. That fulfill the balance of economic cycle....The question is who..

My Pets... look innocent, but may be devil, Koi, here we come

2008-06-07T06:13:00.000-07:00

Koi,

2008-06-07T05:22:00.000-07:00

Koi, which meant "carp" in Japanese is believed to be originated from Caspian Sea that has the ability to survive and adapt to various climates.

Today, Koi has different essence that symbolised love, affection and friendship. The hobby of keeping Koi spreads worldwide as the shipment of Koi can be done easily at mortality rates. Nevertheless, Singapore is not left behind. Keeping Koi has becoming many's hobbies as it is easier to maintain compare to other pets in citylike environment. I have an opportunity to visit Koi Garden which located in Suntec, Singapore. It amazed me to see the Japanese Koi with multicolor living in the pond. It is however, Koi's bright-multicolor often put them at severe disadvantage against predator, that rings a lunch bell againts the dark green monster in the pond. Nevertheless, if Koi is kept at outdoor, they invite unwanted visitors like cats and herons, who are capable to 'kidnap' them at once. Being a cat owner, I do think my cathy has the capability to do so... Beware of cats. :P

Memory to my late mother Part 2

2008-05-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

Today is the 49th day after my mother passed away. Sorrow..But no one to tell.

Back to the memoir of my late mother.
When we were young, she used to walk us to school, no matter how far is the distance. I recalled on my first day of primary one, my mum brought me to school. She stood by the side of the class room, watching me.

My mum always worried about us...our sibling, if we had our dinner, or whether we sleep well...100% good mother..

Old memories reminished in my thought...

Clueless....

2008-05-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wake up in the morning, wondering which planet you land on?
I do. I just wonder that this morning when I woke up from bed. A synchronization of mind or body, rather I would say soul with physical mismatched. Beyond human comprehension.... Is this a psychological pathetic symptom? God knows...

Excellent algorithm to HR. practioner.

2008-05-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

Think business, think of solutions.

What are the solutions to the business today? Of course the workforce, skillful workers. In managing today's business, retaining talent has becoming the focus for most of the companies, especially for Singapore where businesses grown significantly over the past 30 years.

Supply of talent cannot competes with the expansion of businesses. If we see today's business opportunity in this region, say Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand or even Vietnam, the businesses just boom from ten employees to thousands. And to run a business successfully, demand on talented employees is highly needed.

We had talked earlier among our colleagues on retaining talent in one of our evening discussion at Malaysia office. For a consulting firm, how much a talent employee worth to the company. There are many views upon the discussions on whether to buy, train or outsource talent to run projects. Another question arises, would retain existing talent a better option than poaching?

We do agree that training and retaining our very own talent is the number one priority in our business environment. Through training and retaining our people, we can build our culture, having consistency, a total top down approach. Again this process may take time, especially for recruiter, trainer and HR people to shape a blunt knife to needle. Again, issues may arises when cross training for a single talent incurred. Would job rotation helps in shaping a talent? Or job specilisation can build a professional?

If we look at Consulting industry, the industry turnover is approximate to 15%. I do notice that the turnover rate is higher in conglomerates compare to SME. Why would this situation occurs? How would we retain our talent? Would offering higher salary a solutions to this situation?

We do discussed on this issue. To the younger generation, higher salary means higher loyalty. If this concept holds true, the employers may stuck in this treadmill of having pay higher compensation to retain the worker. At one point cost of business, in our case, the salary of employee increases, there will be hardly for any negotiation of brining the price down in the future.

Today, we may not think of this issue as we merely as employees. If one day we own our business, would we think contrary? This question is left to you to think :)

Singapore Botanic Gardens

2008-05-10T07:26:00.000-07:00

Singapore is a concrete jungle. It is such a surprise to find natural rain forest within. Throughout the journey to Botanic Gardens, we saw many great buildings, high skycaps, astonishing building, circulating the rain forest. The first step behind Singapore Botanic Garden gate lies another greenery that one could ever imagine.

Founded at Tanglin in 1859 by agri horticultural society on an abandoned plantation, today, Singapore Botanic Gardens has evolved, becoming one of the major tourist spots in Singapore. On my journey, I saw visitors around the world, from Japanese to European outing in this flora natural habitat.

There are many species of plants, ranged from something usual that we see daily to something anomalous. You may find some plants has strange smells, attract insects to encase them... It is strange yet erotic experience one can encounter.

Memory to my late mother - Part 1

2008-05-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

My mother, Pit Chen passed away on the evening of April 2, 2008, 6 pm in her sleep. She was then 70 years old. She was a member of Chinese Methodist Church, Malacca since 1966 and had been Christian since married to my father in year 1965.

In her early days as a child during World War II was a misery. When we were young, she used to tell us about her own childhood. She told us how they hide themselves from the Japanese army, in little space underneath St John Hill. Somehow or rather, often her sad story tended to be more comedy than nostalgia.

My mother has 14 siblings. Her family was poor and money has always been in major issue. Every cent was then crucial to the survival to the entire family.

My mother used to work in the factory produces brush. She went to school in the morning and worked in the afternoon. She earned merely a dollar a day to support her family. My grandma was reluctant to send her to school, almost refusing her to go. My grandma was about to disown her for her strong wills to go to school, getting proper education. My mum fought with my grandma, silent war for almost 3 years...

During the oldern days, girls were not supposed to go to school, getting proper education. Schools were then occupied by boys. The parents mentality at that time was different. To them, girls were liability to the family. On the other hand, boys were assets which may be a form of investment.

If you were my mum then, would you determine to fight against your own mother knowing what you aim for is good for yourself or merely a follower?