In the middle of nowhere

Hi, am reporting live from Tuas,in the middle of nowhere.Haha..maybe not eaxctly in the middle of nowhere,but it's far from everywhere except for m'sia.

I've got a few more days left at here,which is sad because I can never blog or facebooking from the main HQ like this.I have some stuff to say,so here it goes.....

Last week,I've tried to organise a gathering/dinner for my friends from the SP group.Sadly,all were not able to make it,due to many,many reasons.Some may be valid,some are suspicious.Initially, am quite disappointed because I spent some time to find places where all can sit,eat,relax and talk cock confortably.In the end,it amounted to nothing.More imptly,at least,she told me that she can't go beforehand.That is much better than being put off at the last minutes.

But i'll still try again :-)

In no man's land

Can't believe am stuck in a no man's land called tuas.

Now that much of my work for today is done.There is little left to do except sitting n blogging here right now.

In case you have been wondering what happened between the last post and this post.....there's not too much.

Now that am in no man's land.I am my own boss in this place.It does feel empowering to be your own boss and being able to make decisions. Is that what being a project engineer is about?.But with more perks comes more responsibility.If anything goes wrong,i'll be the 1st person to answer. But touch wood,hope that won't happen. But you get gist of what i mean.

I am glad that I finally moved myself n organise an SP gathering for nxt wk.Long time nv c them liao,though i do always c some of them on sundays.I hope it'll b a good chance to catch up with her because I want to "re-know" her again.

y "re-know"?That is something time will tell.....

My my,it's been such a long time i've blogged.That's because the turnaround in jurong island is sucking out lots of  energy from me.By the time i got home,all i want to do is to sleep.

I've turned into the sleeping monster overnight :-)

But thank goodness,it's only for 2 mths,not forever.

Special term started last wk thurs.The lecturer quite a funny fella who's probably 30+ yrs old,nt tat far from my age.But he makes a difficult topic like differential equation a bit easier to understand.However,the special term lasts for around 1.5 mths,so it's quite a rush going thru all.Maths 2 seems difficult but quite interesting.

For some unknown reason,I am lacking ideas today.So i'll end here ba

Hanging on...

2 more papers down...1 paper to go...

Stress at work

That's a common symptom faced by daily work drones like me n you n everyone else out here.But it's starting to increase a lot because I am still learning about my job,yet there's a lot of expectation on my shoulders,esp my boss.Actually I am quite glad that he trusts me a lot,but the pressure is weighing on me a lot.If there's something I like about this job,it's that I am able to interact with many foreigners, as well as working in an exxon-mobil refinery.It's a wonderful chance for cultural exchange and possibly a start to go other country for church planting mission.

Sometimes I do think about getting financially independent and get away from this job and all.There's certainly gotta to be more than this.More than the stress and the about being financially independent.Several questions will   arise and I hope that all will be answered soon.

Another thing is that I've been trying to reconnect with "miss piggy" after 3 years.It's too darn long not to take any actions and I have to agree on that too.Whenever there's a meetup in a gp,i tried to chat her up.But by the time i got to here,she's always soundly asleep....haiz.It's true that I haven put in much effort to chase her.But that will be different this year when I going to put in more effort :-)

The Great Juggle

Have you ever wonder tried to juggle 3 balls or more at the same time?

That is something I am attempting to do now,by working,studying and hanging out with close friends at the same time.

It's been ard 4th wk since I've started working.I thought that I will be able to come for the evening lectures on time once I am working in office hours.But it turns contrary to what I thought because my company office is in Tuas and it is closer to m'sia than NUS.So in the end,I always had to chiong and be late for class.In the end,I always plonked on the bed and sleep immediately,only after I bathed and brushed my teeth.I still rmb my hygiene and appreciated it despite the inconvenience it can cause.

As for work,I am thankful of the opportunity given by God because I am desperately looking for work last year after all the tragedies and obstacles.Not just that,but a job that offer me a opening to project management and process design.There are lots of cost estimation to make to handle but i'll be going to exxon mobil site soon to learn more.During the past 4 wks,I 've noticed quite alot of ladies working as engineers in the company.Something that is quite unusual,considering that it is more of an engineering company.But so far,my bosses,seniors and fellow noobs like me are wonderful to get along with.

With only two free days out of the 5 remaining weekdays,it is very difficult to meet up with rick,danny,cs and ky.Fortunately,we met up on this wk thursday.We met up to celebrate my bday by having a dinner at PS.I do wish we can meet more often and that yanping,nalyn and jiaqi can come join us.As for sun,it is a "rest day" for me.Not just physically and spiritually because I do need to take the time to bask in God's presence and recharge myself and worship him.

Well that's the situation I am in,there's more but this is the nutshell of it all.Do I see juggling so many things and becoming stretched as a liability?Not quite so.In fact,I prefer it than to waste my time like I did as an NSF.So no matter what happens,I am going to thank God for the opportunity to juggle so many things. :-)

Why does Yoda sound like the cookie monster?

As I am still thinking of a topic to blog about,suddenly i heard yoda's voice.Haha,Yoda didn't appear in front of me using the "Force".

It's just that the hse TV is on.I realised that Yoda's voice is very similar to cookie monster's voice.Later I searched e web and found out y.Both were done by the same voice actor by the name of frank oz.

I loved the cookie monster when I was a child because of his crazy cookie stunts,as well as the fact that I liked sesame street.It really made me laugh alot.Yoda is also another character that made me laugh alot.His english is simply funny like....

“Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Luke... Luke... do not... do not underestimate the powers of the Emperor or suffer your father's fate you will. Luke, when gone am I... the last of the Jedi will you be. Luke, the Force runs strong in your family. Pass on what you have learned, Luke. There is... another... Sky... walker.


Maybe I should learn how to speak like Yoda :-)

Welcome 2010

Currently there's just 11 hours left to the new year man...Later I will be going to tiong bahru and join the rest for countdown.And so it happened that I need to share my 2010 goals to my CG.That is why I am going to take this time to write down my new year resolution for 2010 here as a personal reminder.

new yr resolution:
-just pass IPPT(if i ever get a silver,i'll treat everyone a free soy bean milk :-) )
-achieve an ROI of 50% for investment(what kind of investment would depend on what's going to happen next yr)
-all A's for chemical engineering course(gunning for first class honors)
-get a job
-wait patiently for the God-sent gal to come along(well,i don't expect the person to fall frm e sky)

Importing the flashbacks

I've always wanted to import all the friendster blog into here.But always keep encountering errors.Fortunately,i came across this article from  http://thehunk.blogspot.com/

Meanwhile, after a lot of research I learnt about a Java application that can migrate WordPress posts to your Blogger. Now, the export of a Friendster blog is fully compatible with this application since Friendster blogs are based on WordPress.

How do you use this application? It’s quite simple but not really for novices. If you’re quite bad at using computers, you’d be better off asking your closest geek to help you out. Of course, show him/her this post!

First, you need to make sure that the latest version of JRE or JDK is installed on your computer. JRE means Java Runtime Environment (or quite simply Java). JDK means Java Development Kit (you will only be installing this if you’re programming in Java). If you have JRE, that’s fine. You don’t need JDK.

Now you need to find out if typing “java” will work in the command prompt, no matter which folder you are in. Just open Command Prompt, type in “java” and press Enter. You should see a bunch of options and usage instructions. Skip the next two paragraphs

But if you see something along the lines of ‘bad command’ or ‘not recognized.’ It’s time to find out where Java is hiding. Open up “C:\Program Files\Java” and you should see one or more folders. Depending on what you did in the past, there maybe jre folders and jdk folders.

Choose the folder (jre or jdk) with the highest version and open it. There should be a ‘bin’ folder inside. Open it. Now you need to copy the full path of this ‘bin’ folder. You will need this later. It would be something like: “C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin”
Next, let’s go get the Java app. It’s called BlogSync and it can be downloaded here. If you want to read the FAQ, it’s here. Note that the FAQ says you need JDK, but JRE alone is enough.

Extract the downloaded ZIP file (version 0.3 at the time of writing) and open the file “run.bat” in Notepad. [You guys with Mac or Linux has to deal with "run.sh"] Now there’s a line “set path=e:/jdk1.5.0/bin” and there are two cases. If you skipped two paragraphs quoted above, simply add a “rem” command to change this line to “rem set path=e:/jdk1.5.0/bin“. This disables the line.

But if you found out the location of the bin folder, do not add rem command. Instead change it to a line like this:

set path=%path%; C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin

But make sure you insert the location of the bin folder you found out earlier, instead of the example I have shown you here.
Save the file and close Notepad. Now double-click run.bat to execute it. If everything goes well, you should see this window:

I’ve only shown part of the window here. Now click Accounts and enter your Blogger username, password and blogid in the boxes towards the bottom. Best practice is to import posts from an XML file, especially for Friendster, so leave the WordPress settings as they are. [Feel free to try it though, if you use WordPress.]

The blogid can be found out from the Blogger Dashboard. Links like ‘Layout,’ ‘Settings’  etc. that directly correspond to your blog can give you the blogid. Just check the URL of one such link, and there should be a variable in the URL that gives you the blogid.

Now is the crucial part. After you click the Save button in Accounts dialog, and click OK to the pop-up message, you must exit BlogSync. Then run it again by double-clicking “run.bat”. Never click the “Save Options” button between this process. [This process needs to be done due to a bug in BlogSync.]

Ok, assuming you have already logged in to WordPress or Friendster and exported all your posts as an XML, you may click the “Choose Rss File” button and browse to/open that downloaded file. [To export in Friendster, go to "My Blog Home > Manage > Export."]

Then adjust the numbers (0 is the oldest post, but the numbers are not always continuous) in the two number boxes below, then click Read From RSS. I suggest you test the import first using just one or two posts. You may choose to import comment, but I cannot guarantee its functionality.

Once you see the posts on right side, you may delete what you don’t need by selecting them and then right-clicking them. If you’re ready, click the “import” button. Keep an eye on the log below.

Here’s the catch about the whole thing. Blogger allows only 50 posts to be imported per user account everyday. So if you have a lot of posts, you need to import a set of 50 today, then do the next 50 tomorrow, and so on.

To repeat the import process, simply adjust the numbers below “Import Comment” checkbox to select a set of 50 posts. Then click the “Read from RSS” button and the “import” button. The number you enter corresponds to postid on the Sync box.

That’s it. Yes, if you have some 1500 posts, it’s going to take you a month, but it works! It’s the only thing that works right now when you want to move your blog from Friendster to Blogger or WordPress to Blogger.”

I am very glad to have imported all my old post to here because it reminds me of all the good times and the not so good times.It's very nostalgic to thinking.As well as to remind myself that Jesus has been good to me all this time,no matter what.

Everything men know about women

Courtesy of 9GAG.COM

Neither busy nor slacking

Jus now that mus be the crappiest post ever.That's what happened when my brain is so sugar starved.I must be sounding like some hyperactive kid here...haha.

It's certainly taken a long time to find a job now.Well,i got 2 offers but it's either i have to start work at 645pm in tuas or that i have to deal with something I am not confident in.People can say that I should not be too chosy but after what happened in SC,how can i nt be too chosy.That's another story I'll tell now.

SC is a chemical company in jurong island.The working env is really gd,very little politics and good seniors.Unlike some intense politics between the foxes,snakes,vultures and rats in the office(think of the berocca ad).But it's a pity that i couldn't adapt to the shift system and that it'll clash with school in jan 2010.So i had to find office hour work instead.My original intention is to find office hour work but tempted with good money in shift work,i chose shift work instead.It turn out to be a bad choice.

So i learnt a lesson here,which is not to compromise in the face of temptation,in this case it's money.But in applying this lesson,it made me look chosy instead.But that's life i guess.Everyone views situation differently,so one can't please everyone.

But despite of that,I am glad that christmas is coming.My family never celebrate christmas but ever since I became a christian,i started celebrating christmas.It is the birthday of jesus,not of santa claus.So which is why it is a cause for celebration.Next week,my CG will be having a christmas event for the kids and I was picked to be the MM for this event.That is why I am inside the library to take advantage of free wireless internet to sort out all the slides and music.But after that,I need to do revision on chemical engineering principles.The module that I will be taking soon.

Ok it's time to end this posting even though it's been a long time I've posted anything.So adios!!

Sitting the library,looking busy but nothing to do actually

Here's the proof.....

²⁰ At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship²¹ and said:

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart. ^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]}
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

From Job 1:20-22

Right now,slowly recovering from loss of loved ones.It made me cherish those who r ard me now.I simply don't feel like writing too much about it now,but i nd to be strong for my family now.

Admitted

After going through the foundation course,admission test,I am glad that I am admitted to the B.Tech(Chemical Engineering) program.It's been quite a long journey and a long wait.

Long journey because I have applied for FT course in local U 's 2 times,i was being rejected 2 times..I was pretty sad but knew that it is still not the end of the world coz I somehow knew that God was in control of it all.During those rejections,I realised that getting a degree and get your desired job is not everything to our short life on this planet.From there on,I got a change in attitude and increase my faith.

Long wait because I've been researching the subjects that I am interested in and the degree offered locally and overseas.It has been going on for 2.5 yrs,right after I graduated from SP.Actually I've wanted to take undergrad chemistry,instead of chemical engineering.But that's because I have felt that I have taken the wrong course when I was doing industrial attachment.I guess I am not very fond of manual work.But i do like lab work and research,especially during the FYP.Moreover,the field have tremendous potential to improve people's live in many area like pharmaceutics,medicine and nanotech.It sounds really cold,intellectual and all but I really meant every word i say.So it took me all these time to find out my aptitute and passion.I did find out about other subject areas like biz and accounting.But I don't it will suit me.So in the end,I still went for chem eng.

Now that I know I've admitted,I better go prepare $$ for the tuition fees liao!

cows

TRADITIONAL CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one and bought a baby bull.
Nurse and feed it well.
They mate, your herd multiplies and the economy grows.
You invest & keep the gains into the country reserve. You sell them and everyone retires on the income.

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You mortgage both of them to the bank & obtain investment for two more cows, Then re-mortgage the investment the four cows for eight cows and continue to do likewise, The financial market was flooding with mortgages & investments in cow's assets, No one knows where & who owned the original 2 cows.

Then these 2 original cows grew old & eventually died. You are surprised when there's no asset to back up the mortgage or repay the loan.

Finally, you ask the government to bail out the collapse financial cow's market.

A FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.
You then create clever cow cartoon images called 'Cowkimon' and market them World-Wide.

A GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves.

A BRITISH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Both are mad.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows, but you don't know where they are.
You break for lunch.

A SWISS CORPORATION
You have 5,000 cows and none of which belong to you.
You charge others for storing them.

A CHINESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have 300 people milking them.
You claim full employment and high bovine productivity.
You have the newsman who reported on the numbers arrested.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You worship them.

A MALAYSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You signed a 40-year contract to supply milk at RM0.06 per litre.
Then midway through, you raised the price to RM0.60 or you cut the supply.
When the buyer agrees to the new price, you change your mind again and now want RM1.20.
The buyer decided you can keep the milk and they go look for milk that comes from recycled cows or the cow urine instead.
Your two cows retire together with the Prime Minister.

And last but not least,

A SINGAPOREAN CORPORATION
You have two cows,
One "cow-peh" and the other "cow-bu".

~chain mail

By Courtesy of John Paul

1st night shift

Tiring.

That's the one word i'll say about the night shift if you ask me about it.It's a wonder that I am in blogsphere though I am tired out.More imptly,it made me consider telling my section head to place me in office hours instead.During that 12 hrs shift,I've also learnt much more about the plant operation than during office hours.It is actually quite fruitful when I thought carefully about it.

That's all for the night shift.Ytd night,I was also waiting to see if I am shortlisted for the B.Tech interview.Fortunately,my name is not shortlisted.So now,it means that my outcome is either successful or unsuccessful.I hope it's the former choice because I put lots of effort to brush up my maths and chemical engineering principles.

In the meantime,I am going to prepare the champagne for celebration :-)

1st 2 weeks at work

I guess that goes to show that I am getting too tired to update my posts...haha.So far my first 2 weeks past by quite nicely.

Currently I am working in a chemical plant in jurong island,but my real occupation hazard are not just hydrofluoric acid but 2nd hand cigarette smoke coz am starting to hang around with the smokers at the smoking corner more often.It's hard to believe that if I told anyone that me and my new colleagues sat in a room,kept quiet for one whole day.Yeah,that's how my first day is.But as time passes,I got to know more people and interact more with them.

I've also started to pray for my company and colleagues because most of them have to deal with HF system,which can cause fatality if it is left untreated.My greatest hope when I am working in this company is that God will use me to lead some of them to Christ,and tell them about God's love thru Christ.But they have not confirmed my employment nor confirm if I am going to be in a office hour or shift position.Either appointment works fine for me :-)

For now,that is all for now.So adios!!!

Work woe over

Finally,i went to the HR office to sign the contract.Finally,the job search is over after 2 months of searching and waiting ever since ORD....

Now i can focus fully on the btech admission test and saving a gd amt for future investment :-)

HTC android 1.5 cupcake update

Ole!!Finally i got my HTC phone updated to 1.5 after waiting months for its release.I would not have known about it unless my friends told me bout it.The download and installation takes less than 15 mins,though it has to restart 2 times.Most important thing is that it is hassle-free and there is little need to read through installation steps very carefully.I wish i could post some pics for this new update,so i'll give a brief introduction about the updates

• a new camcorder apps
• ability to switch orientation when rotating the phone
• software keyboard when messaging or on the net,the sensitivity is pretty good
• the background color is now metallic grey,not black anymore.It looks snazzier than before
• ability to upload video on youtube

That's all i've discovered for now.I'll post more when i discover more of its new function.Adios!!

AHM 09

First time running 21 km.My legs hurts like crazy since yesterday morning.Before the run,i met with Agus 1st at yishun and took a cab to the padang.Once at the padang,we left our bags with the guards recruits.One look at them and i can tell they are recruits.But they did a good job of taking care of our bags.After that,we went to look for cui qing,charlie and xiao ying.It was chaotic because of the crowd.So while looking for them,i bumped into derrick and his commando friends.Talk about coincidence.From there on,i'll let the pictures do more of the talking.

It hard to believe I still have the energy to smile after all that..hehe.

But on another matter regarding my job search,stella chemifa(weird name..but it's a japanese specialty chemical company) called me to go for a pre-employment check up last friday.So the job is 99% confirmed.But the only downside is that it's a shift position.So i need to work 12 hrs night and day shift.That makes it difficult to attend any lectures if i am studying part-time next year.I got a plan to tackle that,but it'll take me 5 year ++to complete the whole degree.5 years is no joke sia.But the HR personnel told me that the non-shift position may still be available next year,so i might apply for it next year.