Tuesday, January 30, 2007

TESTING...

This is just to test my non-computer savvyness, or is it computer non-savvyness?


Tis a great song, by the way...




Totally Stupid
By Andrew W.K.
BestAudioCodes.com

Saturday, January 27, 2007

ENF?


I once heard that although a human being has physically stopped growing (vertically, that is... humans have the alarming capacity to grow horizontally anytime!)his or her ears keep on growing larger and larger and larger... (you get the picture), but fortunately, considering the common human life expectancy is around 70+ years depending on gender, where we live and how we eat or other occupationaland life hazards, the ears do not totally look disproportionate to our dead bodies lying in their coffins.
Of course it's a different story is somehow through some strange medical breakthrough, the average human's life expectancy is extended to say 1000 years, then we may all be having ears that looks like Dumbo's. Unflattering I suppose, but looking on the bright side, I'd say it would be cool... I mean, yeah... if we could fly with those ears!

Now, I'm afraid to admit that I might be unable to verify the above statements as I cannot recall where I had read it... it could have been in a story book (quite unlikely, though!), or in the newspaper (yes, I have started reading the papers again), google (why would I run a search on such a thing?) or a magazine (CLEO?). I give up! I can't remember... For all I know, the article could have mentioned about noses that kept on growing instead of ears... and if that was the case, and we all lived up to 1000 years we'd all look ike Pinocchio with walking sticks and grey hair!
But what I intend to point out is that I think the feet secretly grow longer too...
Somewhere in October, I took my precious new pair of safety boots from the HR personnel as my old boots seemed to be old (Duh!) and worn off at the bottom (thanks to my feet dragging!)
I therefore unceremoniously bid them adieu, and they lived in deplorable conditions, collecting dust and whatnots outside the house. Besides, the new boots were a zillion times more comfortable. Hopwever, last Thursday, I revisited those old safety boots as I had some potentially (extremely) dirty work planned and didn't want to spoil those (quite) new boots.
Imagine my horror when the old pair behaved like a neglected bratty child, hurting my poor old toes. I can't tell for sure if it was sweet revenge or it was the fact that my feet had mysteriously grown a couple of centimetres longer in the past few months.
I have a weird feeling that it must be a little bit of both.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

ON BEING WORRIED

'I could worry for the olympics and win a medal. Gold.' (This was found in a book I was reading, and I felt that it would make an excellent start to a post!)

Now, worrying is something we all do from time to time, but the degree varies among people. Some just worry for a fleeting second and then throw it all away with distractions and then there are some that become even more worried with all the distractions that are around them. If there's nothing to worry about, these people borrow something to worry about from the future by playing all the worst case scenarios in their head! (paranoia comes to mind)
On a more personal note, I think it runs in the family. All the older relatives obsess (worry) about the younger ones (I unfortunately still belong to the 'younger' set), their imaginations going wild on all the 'bad' things that could happen, from crazy drug addicts waiting to rob you behind bushes in location A, when in fact, you have neither seen bushes large enough to hide even the skinniest drug addict nor have you seen any drug addicts lurking around (skinny, blood shot eyes, looking aloof, etc!) in said location to kidnappers lurking to catch you and your cousins after a 5pm movie in the local cinema!

On the other hand, the following list depicts realtime worries:
1. You try to get some sleep, but instead you lie awake and worry that you're not getting enough of sleep. (Sounds odd, and totally beats the purpose, but it happens!)
2. Worrying that you did not screw back the fuel tank cover after pouring petrol although you're pretty sure you did it.
3. Worrying about the changing weather conditions. Floods, the breaking of a large chunk of ice somewhere in the Arctic, etc.
4. You worry about the sudden influx of teeth in your mouth, and the not so flattering grin and then proceed to worry about finding an amazing dentist and the impending pain of having your wisdom teeth removed to cater to the inequality of size between your mouth and the teeth.
5. You worry about losing your passion for blogging (Although posting of blog posts is at an acceptable frequency, you feel that each post lacks the energy the earlier posts had)
6. You worry about work issues when you're at home and you're supposed to leave work where it belongs.
7. Feel troubled that you've yet to go on your European backpacking adventure and time is running out!
8. You wonder if you'll ever do your post graduate or where you're gonna do it and when, and how...
9. You worry about worrying too much!
Worry!
You should be sorry
Why are ye in such a a hurry?
To ruin the lives of all and sundry!
Worry!
What is your duty?
Do you make visions blurry?
And leave everything else in a slurry!
What do you worry about?

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS?

Some of the links to other blogs I read (placed rather strategically on the sidebar at the right)have stopped working, both at work and at home.

I smell a rat...

Does anyone know what could have happened?

Monday, January 22, 2007

BLOG CARNIVAL VER 5: MEMES, MEMES AND MORE MEMES

If you find yourself constantly bloghopping, and stopping with intense excitement at blog pages with memes, and then you rub your hands in glee as you think... "I must do this!" then I implore you to go and pay Queen Mimi a visit.

This is because she most probably is having the biggest compilation ever of memes from around the world (I hope!)

How did this happen? you hear yourself asking (If you didn't already know) this happens to be the fifth installment of the now famous Blog Carnival, a very interesting idea from Bobby G back at the Bestest Blog.

So, do drop by Queen Mimi's blog and have a teriffic time finding your favourite meme as well as getting to know fellow bloggers (assuming that they answered the questions in the meme truthfully)

And if you don't know what a meme is, then this is the best time for you to find out!

Thursday, January 18, 2007

THURSDAY THIRTEEN : #2 (BOOKS)


The other day, a bloggerfriend behind the blog Gem-osophy suggested that I list down my favourite books in the next Thursday Thirteen.

Now, I've been a bit slow in participating in this activity mainly because I completely forget it is Thursday, and by the time I remember, my brains refuse to co-operate with me in coming up with good TT ideas.

Therefore, here is a list of books I have read and enjoyed throughout these years in no particular order.

Thanks, Gem!




Thirteen Things about TERRA SHIELD: FAVOURITE BOOKS



1. The Catcher in The Rye: by JD Salinger
Holden Caulfield is one of the most captivating characters there ever was. I greatly enjoy reading this book because his thoughts on his surroundings are usually things that we think ourselves but never say aloud!

2. The Harry Potter books: by JK Rowling
This might be called cheating, because there are 6 books under the series now, and I happen to like them all, albeit for different reasons!

3. Anne of Green Gables: by LM Montgomery
Of all the books in the series, this one is my all time favourite.

4. God Knows by Joseph Heller:
This book killed me. Despite the title that uses the word 'God' which is supposedly connected to being something serious, this book kept me in giggling fits that had my roomate look at me nervously from time to time. She should have known me better!

5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This was a book that I first read at the age of 19, mainly because the library didn't have it. Till today, I think I have reread the book so many times that it looks quite worn. The book is simply amazing as Scout's narration enables us to imagine the story magnificently.

6. The Adrian Mole books by Sue Townsend:
Another cheating case, but it's hard to tell whether I prefer Aidy at 13 and 3/4 or at 30. Aidy's life is like a tragic soap opera, but it's so honestly funny that I keep rereading it, especially when I myself am feeling down. I just finished rereading Cappuccino Years on Sunday.

7. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy:
This was one of the most mysterious books (it's not a mystery novel per se) I have ever read, because not only was it cryptic, but the tale was intervowen so intricately that you find out what really happened in the very end, although peeking at the back of the book when you're halfway there doesn't help one bit!

8. The Rainmaker by John Grisham:
This was the very first Grisham novel that I ever read, and it gripped me right from the start. The principal character's endeavours to get a job reminded me of my attempts to secure employment when I first graduated. It was painfully disasterous. I just connected with the character like that.

9. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon:
A first person narrative where the narrator is a 15 year old boy with the gift for numbers. We get a glimpse into how his mind works and how he overcomes his fear and travels to London all by himself to search for his mom after finding out a bitter truth.

10. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott:
This is one of my favourite classic books. It's not desperately tragic, neither is it predictable (I'm sure most people would have never expected Jo to reject Laurie)

11. Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien:
Now, this book took me about a year to finish. (My version happens to be the paperback with all the 6 books (or 3 books based on the movie) and the appendix) This was because after the fun filled and sunny chapters of the carefree and happy lives of the hobbits, there came the dark parts about evil pervading middle earth, and Mordor and such, and I procrastinated, and hesitated reading the book until much later.
12. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom:
This book is one of my favourite non-fiction books. If it hadn't been mistakenly labelled as fiction by the librarian, I would have never come across it!
13. Last Act by Christoper Pike:
This book is a special mention as it is the one and only Christopher Pike book at home. I've read it so many times that the book has fallen apart, and is currently bandaged in sellotape.
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Saturday, January 13, 2007

BLOG CARNIVAL VER 4: ANIMALS

One day, not too long ago, a blogger who goes by the name Bobby G from The Bestest Blog of All Time came up with the idea to have a blog carnival.

A whole lot of other bloggers in the blogosphere sat up and took note. A blog carnival was an amazing idea.

This week marks the fourth installment of this blog carnival which seems to be getting more and more popular.In case you were not aware of it, this weeks theme is Animals, and it's hosted at:

(drum rolls please)

It's a blog eat blog world by Morgen who will take you on a magnificent journey through all the blogs that submitted their entries. And check out his amazing template :)

Friday, January 12, 2007

THE (APPARENTLY) SILLY QUESTIONS MEME

Was it a matter of coincidence that I dropped by Gem's blog the other day, put in my two cents worth in her comments section, and got tagged? Hmmmm.....

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Bad hair! Should I chop it off again?!!
2. How much cash do you have on you? None :D
3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR? Four?
4. Do you label yourself? Yeah... right now it's ridiculously unlucky :(
5. Bright or Dark Room? Somewhere in the middle? Well, if I have to choose one, it will be bright. No, maybe dark. Yeah,dark it is... to sleep!
6. Why is there always a missing question? Copy and paste? Happens :D
7. What does your watch look like? Kind of like a bracelet
8. What were you doing at midnight last night? Rereading Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
9. Where is your nearest 7-11? About 5 minutes away by car
10. What’s a word that you say a lot? Apparently. Apparently I use it so much that there are a couple of imitators at work. Apparently!
11. Who told you he/she loved you last? I think it was the sister a few weeks ago when I informed her that I had booked our places for the canopy walk. Sad, innit?
12. Last furry thing you touched? A cousin's pet rabbit.
13. How many rolls of film do you need developed? Do photos in CDs waiting to be printed count?
14. Favorite age you have been so far? 21, I think
15. Your worst enemy? Can't think of any
16. What is your current desktop picture? Work: Windows XP theme or something, Home: A black screen with Eminem and his tattoos.
17. What was the last thing you said to someone? "Not tired, just sleepy" :D
18. The last song you listened to? Innocent by Our Lady Peace
19. What time of day were you born? 4 pm-ish
20. What do you do when vending machines steal your money? Scold first, then beg and plead. And yet that's the end of the money. The bigger problem is I'll still be thirsty/hungry!
21. Do you consider yourself kind? Friends think I am, so I might as well agree
22. What’s your life motto? Life will be boring to you if you are boring to life! (TM)
23. Name three things you have on you at all times. My glasses, lip balm, and the cell phone
24. Can you change the oil on a car? I know the theory, but have never done it ;)
25. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it? Yikes! I think it was back in '98. I was stuck in an extremely boring debate, and went on to write a letter to the parents telling them about 'orientation' week in the varsity. Obviously they're IT unsavvy.

Whom shall I tag?
Aunty, Yaxlich, Ian, Maryam, and TheThinker

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

YAHOO! MESSENGER (LATEST UPDATE): WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

Regardless of how early or late I get to bed on Sunday nights, Monday mornings almost a always greet me with certain degree of unkindness. It's the time of the week that makes you realise that there's a quarter million things to do and there's not much time.

Sometimes, this realisation happens when you're watching Oprah Winfrey rubbing shoulders with the cool crowd on Sunday nights, but you somehow always manage to stash it (the thoughts) away...

As you sit in front of your desk, taking out files and papers and turning on your PC, you're greeted by a message from Yahoo! Messenger.

Without thinking much, or even reading the contents of the message, you just click the YES tab. Next thing you know, Yahoo! is busy updating your messenger to the latest edition. It's too late, you let it do its job while you prepare your stuff so that you can work efficiently once it hits 8 am.

The problem lies therein... updated, and marvellously spiffy looking, your messenger services start misbehaving... first it terminates itself without warning, then you find yourself unable to log in. Shutting down, restarting, and all the common cures don't change a thing. Everything that once moved in a smooth flow has now become a rough patch.

There was this time when there was a previous update, messenger refused to inform me of any new e-mails until it was restarted.

Now it looks that I may have to say adieu to messenger services for the time being. Anyway, as I'm typing this, a backup plan is being executed. We shall wait and see!

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

LIFE SOUNDTRACK

So, I got this off Lizza's blog to lighten up the mood of this old blog.

These are the rules:

If you want to play along with this, go ahead. It's surprising how fitting some of the answers are! Making up a soundtrack for the film of your life is such a great concept, especially when you leave it down to chance.

Instructions:
1. Open your library on your Zen or Ipod or other MP3 player
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question type the song that’s playing.
5. When you go to a new question press the next button (But you can listen on if you really like the song :D).

**********
Opening Credits: Go the Distance by Michael Bolton.
This song was actually from the Disney Hercules soundtrack... Hmmm.... Not too bad for my opening credits. Yeah, I'll go the distance, baby!

**********
Waking up:Evil by Interpol
Waking up (especially early in the morning) is torturous... Judging from the title of the song, Evil seems appropriate enough :D. But then again, if I heard this song first thing in the morning, I think I might be a bit more energetic.

**********
Falling in love:Daysleeper by R.E.M.
I'm a fan of R.E.M for reasons I might not be able to explain. Anyway, this song is slow and soft enough for falling in love, perhaps? Funny thing is according to R.E.M. themselves, this song represents them well because they work all night and sleep in the day. I used to do that way back, but I've turned my clock around... Hmmm....

**********
Fight song: Smells like teen spirit by Nirvana
Err.... allright, but fight song?

**********
Break up song: Easier to Lie by Aqualung
"Honestly to look you in the eye, it's easier to lie?" Nice song, though...

**********
Making Up: All the way to Reno by R.E.M.
Looks like R.E.M is hogging my soundtrack :D

**********
Life's Okay: Wonderwall by Oasis
This was my theme song back in the day when the seniors forced us to churn out songs for them in the name of 'orientation'. Life's okay, and after all, you're my wonderwall

**********
Mental Breakdown:Bang Bang Boom by The Moffatts.
Oops... this is downright embarassing. But definitely not material for mental breakdown!

**********
Driving: Blinded (When I see you) by Third Eye Blind
The only thing that blinds me when I drive is the high beam from irresponsible cars with equally irresponsible drivers... Good song, though :)

**********
Flashbacks: If you talk too much by Nelson Rangell.
This song was one of the 'sample songs' pre installed in the MP3 player... It's not bad, but not really a favourite either. A hidden message to delete it maybe?

**********
Happy Dance: Stand by R.E.M. (again!)
Wow! Yeah, a happy dance and this song go pretty well!

**********
Regret: Absolutely (Story of a girl) by Nine Days ft Blink 182
Occasionally, there will be a song that doesn't fit the question. One of my old favourites!

**********
Final Battle:Yellow by Coldplay
Once again, I'm baffled by the choice made by the MP3 player... but maybe it does not know me well enough yet! An awesome song though...

**********
Death Scene:Never let you go by Third eye Blind.
Absolutely amazing! Never let the person go even in death.

**********
Final Credits: Electrolite by R.E.M
"Electrolite... you're out of sight..." There's your final credits... :D

**********

Allright... I guess that's it... the curtain is down again, and its time to leave...

Anyway, just to explain some things, chance or no chance, the said MP3 player is only 512 MB, whereas there's about 5 GB worth of songs in the computer. And then, yours truly had happily loaded the whole R.E.M CD into the player (which clearly explains the frequency R.E.M is featured)

Another thing is until I finally learn how to load songs into my blog, I'm afraid it's impossible to place links so that you can sample the songs... :( (Plus, I might add that I might be the laziest internet surfer around... I hate googling for stuff)

Gosh, I suppose I have to tag 3 people now... well, consider yourself tagged if you read this... ha! ha! ha!

IT's THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

Time for the Annual Appraisal again.  It's a cloudy Sunday afternoon, and I had just finished giving scores to my subordinates on their ...