Sad : St. Petersburg Trinity Church on Fire

Having visited Russia just a few months ago, when I heard the news on 25th August that the Trinity Church in St. Petersburg caught fire, my heart sank. I hope this ancient beautiful building can be restore to its former glory.

P.S.: noted that Wikipedia has updated on the fire, it is so efficient.

Work : Enterprise Search

For the last few weeks,

I have evaluated quite a few product, and most of them are quite effective.
- Lotus Nomad (Lotus Notes client on USB)
- Windows Live Search Toolbar
- Google Desktop Seach Toolbar
- Google Spreadsheet
- Writely : Web Word Processor Application
- McAfee SiteAdvisor

Also, I went deeper with the research on Enterprise Search Product.
Enterprise Search product are a search engine that is able to search through all sources defined, such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Management (ERP), Enterprise Content Management (ECM), email, files, Intranet Web Applications, Relational Databases (RDBMS), etc.

I refer to the Garnter reports on Oct 2005, it identified that Autonomy, Verity, Fast search and transfer, Endeca as the 4 leaders in the markets. While Autonomy acquired Verity in Dec 2005, it left 3 companies. OF course, they are a lot of challenger in this market too, as this technology has been rising in demand when information is growing so fast and the need for a fast and accurate search will give the business edge.

So far, Autonomy has demonstrated the product. it is very impressive. I have never know that a search engine can be that powerful and used in so many way. Fast Search and Transfer will demo in the coming week while I have contacted Endeca too.

Product should not be a issue. The harness of support and performing proof of concept will be much more challenging as it will be working with all IT systems on the organisation so as to index all information. I look forward for the challenge.

Longan Tofu

My mum make 4 bowl of Longan Tofu for me yesterday, they are so delicious. Yummy.

System Recovered

After enduring a few months of my PC doing system reset by itself, I have enough of it and decided to investigate the cause.

My actions :
1) Download Memtest86+ at http://www.memtest.org/
2) Install the floppy version to a bootable floppy disk
3) Reboot and run the test

The result is kind of funny, errors happened in 2 out of 8 passes (with each pass having 8 different memory tests). It is irregular as should the memory failed, every test should have the same result.

Follow up :
1) Open the PC casing, remove 1 of the 2 memory card (I am using 2 x TwinMOS DDR400, dual channels)
2) Reboot and run test agains

This time the result (after 4 passes) shows that everything is fine, although due to a memory card removal, dual channel access has reduced to a single channel, thus memory access speed is dropped.

Finally :
1) I replace back the memory card and test again

The time the result (after 4 passes) are fine again too.

I have no conclusion for that, and so I let it run for another 48 hrs while using bitcomet to download stuff (fully utilise the idle time).

So far so good, it has not been resetting itself again since then. Well, I consider myself lucky and I want it to at least work till next year when Microsoft Vista is released and Core 2 Duo processor stabilised.

where is the blogs?

It seems like a lot of us bloggers are slowly down in posting (except SWJ who is so diligent on her blog).

Is it because
a) Nothing interesting /no feeling to write?
b) No time to write?
c) Don't want to share?
d) Get sick of writing after a while?
e) Plain lazy? Not feel like writing...
f) All of the above?
g) Some of the above?
h) None of the above? It is because ________

For me, it is g) which is a)+e).

conversations that I dislikes

Here are some of the conversations that I really very dislike to continue.
1) Uncaring, not sentitive to feeling (indirectly hurting you)
2) Self Center talks (everything also I, me, my work, my company, my boyfriend, ...)
3) Expect you to know everything or trying to make use of you (manipulating, such as 'you tell so and so, I want to meet him, etc....')
4) Hostile, threatening
5) Arrogant, boostful (such as 'I always do this because I am good, so and so also know and praise me, bahbah....')

Talks that I prefers :
1) Caring, sentitive (you will feel the warmth even through voice and words)
2) Open minded, intelligent, constructive (make you think, not agree)
3) Shared favourite topics

If none of the above, then they are mostly the unavoidable social chats.

Meaningful Lines

It has been 4 stressed and busy days.

Today, I saw these 2 lines at a colleagues desk.
"Be not afraid if you are moving, even if it is very slowly"
"But have fear if you are no moving at all"

Yes, I am slowly moving now with the efforts put in, so have no fear!
It is better to be slow than not at all.
Must have faith.

Story : Rich? Poor?

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the
express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered:
"I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."
Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.
Appreciate every single thing you have!

Firework

Today is Singapore's National Day.
During this period, there is also a Firework Festival going on.
Yesterday is the 2nd presentation of Firework. by Singapore. The 1st is from Italy which presented a few days before.
I missed the Italian's master work but I am present for my country's.

Movies : Click & Lady in the Water

This week, watched 2 movies. I have not much expectation on both of them, especially 'Click'. But to my surprise both are very good movies, especially 'Lady in the water'.

I watch 'Click' because I wanted to relax and thought that since it is movie by Adam Sandler, it should be a comedy. It is, for the 1st half, but it get really serious since the mid point and it actually drove me to my tears at the end. The theme of the show is good, if you can bypass all your unhappiness amd undesirable portion of your life, what will you get? Or should I say what will you missed? When the character did so much fast forward, he actually reached the end of his life so far, he also missed seeing his dad for the last time, he lost his wife's love, and too much others. A touching show that means a lot.

I watched the 'Lady in the water' taking it as a simple horrow firm. It is also partially true. But the plot is so well written that it is full of twists and with a happy ending, may be because it is from the famous writer, M. Night Shyamalan. The part when the characters trying to figure out their roles in the rescue of the 'lady in the water' is the best part. I do not want to say much on the plaot but I recommend this movie greatly.

Rollerblade

Since my golf partner is studying on Sat now, I am trying something new for myself. Rollerblade, yes. Has been trying for 1 week. Today, I went out to practise brake and turn, ouch, fallen 3 times and I am still practising on flat ground, glad that I am wearing my wrist, elbow and knee guards. Too old for that? May be, but don't want to wait till older. Time is short, let's bring some color to it.

Poem : Slow Dance

This is a chain mail received. The poem does have some meaning in it.
So instead of chainmailing it further, I put it up here.
Since the objective is to spread it, guess this does not hurt.

This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital.
She wants to see how many people get her poem.
It was sent by a medical doctor.

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done!
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Thoughts

Saw LDD's blog just now. Just realise that I have not been drinking at home (with myself only) for sometime. (Ok, occasion having a beer at home is excluded). Guess, I am not too sad or happy recently. The most common emotion is stress, and stress do not really make me urge for a drink.

I have wanted to 'concoct' a 'potion' or two the past few nights, but has not done it yet, guess I do not really have the mood to do it and I have also not been experimenting new recipe too. May be it is time to catch up a bit. I am feeling a bit better now (from the stress), hope this trend will continue.

2nd Visit to Hong Kong soon.

Hello,
I have confirmed my leave from 23 Oct to 27 Oct.
It will be likely a visit of 6 days 5 nights, from 21-26 Oct or 22-27 Oct.

Tell me if you have advice for my visit.

I look forward to meet some of you. See you soon.

Musical : Cabaret

Last night, I attended the Musical : Cabaret, starring Fei Xiang & Emma Yong. The acting and singing is good, but the songs are not as breath-taking as the more famous Broadway classics. The ending is a bit rush too. Overall, I will rate it above average. The setting is in Berlin, Germany during the rise of the Nazis, and it is about the people living during this age of darkness. It contain adult themes and thus is restricted to above 15 years old.

P.S. : At last, the 'Lake House' and 'The lady in the water' begins to show. I wish I have time to watch them. Also, due to a lot of unhappiness recently, I picked up my book 'Being Happy' (by Andrew Mattews) and read it again. It has begin to work its magic on me already, feeling much better.

Karaoke

Last Saturday afternoon, I went to karaoke for 3.5 hrs. I have not sang for more than 5 years easily, I never knew I still have the courage to sing, thanks for not critising my singing. I sang a few chinese and cantonese songs, but English songs is always my weakest link. Haha. I especially like Ronald's '无赖'.

That day, you seems to be sad although you did not show it. Is anything bothering you? You will be flying off to China on early Thursday, have a nice trip and make sure you enjoy it, ok?

Zpop Concert 2006

Today, I am very frustrated with the progress of the vendors, and they never even keep me updated and they do not know what changes has been done and what is the impact. I have to manage this project and yet I am not suppose to enter the server room because my new role does not require me to have the access. My direct boss is asking me to return the project after a milestone, I will be 100% glad to do so. But my former boss will be on a 1 month overseas trip soon. I guess I will try not to burden her while she is on it. So, that will means I will have to take care of it for another 1.5 months. Sigh...

This incident did spoil my mood in attending the Zpop Charity Concert 2006. Staring Jeff Chang, Harlem Yu, Fish Leong and Jolin Tsai. I find Harlem singing especially well, although my favourite is Jeff and Fish. My friend feels Jeff is the best. Well, guess I have listened too much Jeff's music on CD and the sound system at the concert is not good enough to come near to his standard I expect. Overall, I enjoyed it although my mood is still gloomy. (I know , it is not healthy. That is why I blog! To release my emotion. I will feel better after this)

The songs I like most is Fish's '可惜不是你', I feel so touched and fragile that tears basically filled in my eyes. (Yeah, I am a cry baby, I know. I may look tough outside, but I am extremly fragile at time. I have put up the song to share with you, click play at the top if it doesn't.)

这一刻突然觉得好熟悉
像昨天今天同时在放映
我这句语气原来好像你
不就是我们爱过的证据
差一点骗了自己骗了你
爱与被爱不一定成正比
我知道被疼是一种运气
但我无法完全交出自己
努力为你改变
却变不了预留的伏笔
以为在你身边那也算永远
仿佛还是昨天
可是昨天已非常遥远
但闭上双眼我还看得见
可惜不是你陪我到最後
曾一起走却走失那路口
感谢那是你牵过我的手
还能感受那温柔
那一段我们曾心贴着心
我想我更有权力关心你
可能你已走进别人风景
多希望也有星光的投影
努力为你改变
却变不了预留的伏笔
以为在你身边那也算永远
仿佛还是昨天
可是昨天已非常遥远
但闭上双眼我还看得见
可惜不是你陪我到最後
曾一起走却走失那路口
感谢那是你牵过我的手
还能感受那温柔
可惜不是你陪我到最後
曾一起走却走失那路口
感谢那是你牵过我的手
还能感受那温柔
感谢那是你牵过我的手
还能温暖我胸口

Destress

One of my way to detress is to watch VCD/DVD/Movie.

Last night, watched the box office buster : Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.
I like the first show a lot. This is good too, but I still prefer the first one better. I do not like some parts of it, especially when Elizabeth chained Captain Jack Sparrow on the black pearl and leave him for that. That is just super discouraging when a coward such as him is willing to be the right things for once, all he get is a betrayal? Sigh... There is just not enough good people out there, there isn't any reason to discourage them anymore that it does not payoff to be nice. Sigh...

Just now, watched a VCD that was bought 2 or 3 weeks ago. It is the 'il mare', a Korean movie about love. The title, Il Mare, means 'The Sea' in Italian, and is the name of the seaside house which is the setting of the story. It is the original version of 'The Lake House'. It is a slow and beautiful story with nice music, but that is provided you are calm enough to enjoy slow movie. It took me so long to look for a day to feel calm enough. haha. It is perhap the calmness before the storm. Good luck to me tomorrow then.

Depressed

Have not updated or read blog for sometime.
Feeling very depressed for this few days due to work pressure.
Hopefully, things will get better.

My handphone holder

I have never use a handphone holder before, but I saw this cute one last Friday and decide to give it a try. It is now on my office desk, still I think I did not use it really frequently, only mostly during charging via USB. Well, it is still a good decoration to my desk.