Narrowband.org

After the unsuccessful attempt at winning a free copy of Bill Gates-autographed Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition at the launching in Low Yat Plaza early this month, I thought that that was it, there goes the free Vista. I spent about 10 hours in Low Yat Plaza that day, and the parking fee came up to a whopping RM21. That’s twenty-one freakin’ ringgit, a record for me. I came home totally exhausted. As if failing to win any prize wasn’t bad enough, the parking fee sure as hell made it an experience to forget.

Yesterday, however, I had another chance of getting a free copy of the much-hyped Vista. And I got it - but not before having to queue for close to five hours. It was hard-earned indeed. The event, organized by the Microsoft Student Ambassadors, was called the Microsoft Vista Campus Launch. I didn’t intend to get it, actually. I passed the Multi Purpose Hall and noticed a crowd at the entrance. Then I saw Pik Jian. He happened to be there after a class. We had chat and before we knew it, we were already in a queue, with more people standing behind us. We just stood and talked and then the crowd built up. I told myself that I’d have another go at getting the Vista.

It was the Business Edition they were giving away. About 6000 free copies. That’s six-thousand, free, cold-hard copies of Windows Vista Business Edition to be given away in two days. But I didn’t bring along an empty DVD-R. Yes, that’s right. We were supposed to bring our own DVD-R, and burn a copy on the spot. It was the CD-key that was the main focus of this giveaway. What does this mean? It means that we do not get the fancy packaging that normally comes with the Vista CD. What we were there for were simply a copy of Windows Vista in a DVD and an original CD-key. Thankfully, I bumped into Rajah, Murali and Chiva, who had extra DVD-R’s. And hence began our long, hard journey of getting our free copies of Windows Vista.
Continue Reading »

Edit: Firstly thanks to momofthree for the add. I have actually done this before, in an earlier entry (thanks to Cincauhangus and Che-cheh). I didn’t know it was the so-called “Z-list”, which has been quite a buzz on the net. Anyway I’ve also got some new adds I’d like to share with you guys. Usually, I read them using a feedreader. So let me finalize my list of new additions/recommendations (depending on how you like to look at it) to the list:-

First add:
This guy was among the earliest readers at Narrowband.org (this blog was set-up only in December last year). He said he calls Subang his second home, as most of his relatives live here. He once confessed that he liked me my nickname Narrowband. As an aspiring Wordpress-guru, he gets a kick out of having an XHTML valid site. He is Cincauhangus aka Aaron.

Second add:
Golden retriever. A really beautiful golden retriever. No I’m not talking about the blogger - I’m talking about her pet dog. The blogger herself is an engineer (*salute*!), and is also a Subangite (Whoops!). She is one extremely entrepreneurial woman. You can tell by the second-hand items she’s selling on her site, as well as the paid reviews she’s been writing. I heard George Lucas presented her with lightsaber as a gift because she loved his movies so much. Don’t play play. She is Che-cheh.

Third add:
Whoa this girl and I go way back. Lol I mean she was already on my blogroll when I was blogging at blogspot long time ago. We can connect in so many ways lah I tell you. We’ve got a mutual friend, who is my former roommate’s girlf. Her younger brother is also studying in the same university. She writes well, listens to a lot of good music, and enjoys photography. She is Julee.

Fourth add:
I enjoy reading this girl’s blog a lot. We also have a mutual friend, whom I met online in year 2001, I think. Don’t expect to find English entries on her blog. They’re all in only two languages: Mandarin and Hokkien. Waitaminute, I thought it’s a well-known fact that Narrowband can’t read Chinese? Look, I may not be Chinese-educated but I *can* read some ok! What more with all the hi-tech translators and programs readily available on the net to aid us ‘bananas’. Dear readers, I present to you, Sanyeong’s blog. (Btw, her Hokkien very ho liao wan.)

Fifth add:
Lastly, here is a blog that I stumbled upon via MyBlogLog not too long ago. It took only 3 visits before I decided to subscribe to her RSS feeds. She is a Singaporean blogger, married with a son, Jaymes. One of her most recent entries was about her encounter with her first love, how she handled the situation and how she felt after that. I could almost imagine it in my head. She writes in impeccable English, and sometimes include a line or two of Chinese phrases as well. And because we’re not of the same age group, I find her blog enlightening. She is in the East Coast of Singapore; she is eastcoastlife.

The Originals:
(Note: I realize that there is at least one repeated link, so I don’t really expect a response from everyone. It’s a matter of choice, really. Up to you, ok? ;-) )
Continue Reading »

Man, I’m beginning to miss the holidays already. The past 7 days or so had been so relaxing and blissful, so much so it felt almost like a sin. I’ve not put on weight (I told you I have excellent weight-balancing metabolism), but I’ve developed an ulcer in my lower gum. I applied salt - it was so good that I almost teared. But salt always works ;)

I’m suffering from what some people would call ‘the jobseeker’s dilemma’. I read somewhere saying that if you have a blog, include the URL in your resume so that the HR people could read it. I still don’t quite understand how a blog could help secure an employment (professional blogs, maybe - but personal blogs?). In fact, I have also read that it’s best not to let your colleagues and bosses know you keep a blog.

That said, I’ve sent a number of applications (not many lar, about 5 nia) and am still scouting for vacancies. I was chatting with Joyce last night about this and I said that I could deal with looooonng working hours. I told her, “Good thing I’m single”. Then she replied, “I think it (the job) also keeps you single too”, which kinda brought me to my senses. Money is nothing when you don’t have a balanced life, right?

I’m finishing my studies some time in May. And I actually got sounded by Yian for being ‘too early’ on the job applications. But securing a job prior to graduation is not uncommon, isn’t it? Yian’s got a point too actually. It’s not like I’m idling my time away shaking legs at home. I’ve still got my Final Year Project and two more final subjects to handle. It’s a stressful final semester, to say the least.

And my post-holidays syndrome hasn’t gone away yet :(.

By the way, I received a terrible news two nights ago. The house belonging to a close friend of mine had caught fire. The second floor, including her bedroom, was badly damaged. Fortunately, no one was injured. That, I think, is what’s most important. Apparently it was caused by a short-circuit somewhere in the house, when its occupants were busy playing mahjong. I hope her family gets through this in no time.

Someone added me in MSN recently. I thought he was a blogger, so I asked what his URL was. He replied with a “URL?”, and added: “Friendster got lah”. I was surprised. This stranger (a guy, if I may add) actually found me via Friendster, and decided to befriend me. Ok, I thought we might have something in common - nevermind the fact that he didn’t have a website (and wasn’t even closely connected to my Friendster network). And then our conversation developed into something weird. I thought it was pretty obvious we were both male. But it seemed like he was expecting something else. Like I was a half-girl or something. I dunno.

Look I don’t like to dwell on topics like.. er.. our sexuality.., especially during such tender stage of acquaintanceship. It’s weird, man! I asked him “So what made you decide to add me in your MSN”. He said, “I don’t know leh?”. I mean he’s not even chatting like a real, grown-up gentleman. Right. Well anyway, I have chosen to believe that he’s an innocent dude who is only interested in seeking nothing more than just pure friendship. Damn, that itself sounds… oh nevermind.

Or rather, temple visits gallery. It’s the second day of the 2007 Lunar New Year today. Fortunately, it is not raining. I mean what is CNY when the sky’s cloudy? We had a reunion dinner on CNY eve. Leading the 9-course meal was none other than the obligatory dish - the yee sang.

Continue Reading »

I got this from Cincau and Che-cheh (added to the bottom of the list). Thanks, I feel really honored. Here are the originals plus the two lovely people who chose to add me to their list:
Continue Reading »

It’s going to be one of those times when you don’t have any problems finding a parking in Taipan at any time of the day. It’s also one of those times when I dread to think about the questions my relatives will ask me during our reunion dinner.

Those are the cookies in my house. Oh man there’ll be lots of work to do after the holidays (even during!). Meanwhile, I guess blogging will slow down a bit. Happy Chinese New Year to you all!

This came in early in my feeds today (via Digg). I found it hilarious, and I concur that such analogies are only for humor purposes (as stated at the bottom of the entry). According to the author’s dad, his problem was that he dated girls serially.

(Circuit diagram shamelessly stolen from bit qua bit)

Hop on over to read it in full. Check out the comments on the article on Digg too, funny! One of them said that that’s what most women do (true?) - Some even “brag about stringing guys along like retarded puppy dogs”. Haha! And speaking of dating, I spent the V’s night watch The Bodyguard. Alone. Then it dawned upon me that I’ve gotten used to it. *Chuckles*

Actually, I had expected the ferris wheel to be larger. But then again, I wouldn’t want the government to spend too much money on this alone either. Anyway, since it was widely publicized, we decided to pay The Eye on Malaysia a visit.

Continue Reading »

These days it seems like we just cannot live without navigation buttons that help us move our selection up, down, left or right. Here are some examples of such buttons:-

Of the six devices in the picture above, all have good, robust designs except for one. No prizes for correctly guessing which one. It’s been giving me a lot of headaches lately. It gets very frustrating when you can’t go a certain direction, and there is no other way to do it!