Go figure

"The Sushi Man", previously known as Mixmaster (Dude... make up your mind), watched "The 40 year old virgin" over the weekend. He was telling me that the main character collects action figures. In one scene where the main character was showing them off to his colleagues, he screams "Don't open the box. They're worth more if the box isn't opened."
The Sushi Man laughed because he thought of me. In case you guys don't already know, I collect Star Wars action figures and keep them in cases but let me assure you that's where the similarity ends *smirks* Nuff said ;p

80s bands

I know I've blogged about the 80s countless times but I can't stop reminising about this decade. The movies, the TV shows, commercials, music... ahhhhhhh... The music and bands were and still are unique. The band names just roll off your tongue... Mike and the Mechanics, Genesis, Kajagoogoo, Breathe, Boy Meets Girl, Crowded house, Depeche Mode, A-Ha, Tears For Fears, Erasure, Heart, Huey Lewis and The News, Milli Vanilli, R.E.O Speedwagon, Wilson Philips, The Thompson Twins, Spandau Ballet, Culture Club, Yazoo, The Police, Wham!, Eurythmics, Bad English, Bros, Cheap Trick, Eighth Wonder, The Human League, Jefferson Starship, Johnny Hates Jazz, Living in a box, Modern Talking, Alphaville, Thirty-Eight Special, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Bananarama, Frente...
They don't name bands like they used to.

Freaky

Was at the end of Punggol with Jim and Fenn. This is like one of the few parts of Singapore that is still ulu with trees and plenty of grass in open spaces. But in the midst of these trees and grass are LRT stations. Not only are there no inhabitants in the vicinity but the LRT trains commute on these tracks without passengers. How freaky is this???

Wings

Don't car owners realise how bloody ugly their cars look with wings??? Could never understand why people want wings.

Bored

Was waiting for the MRT train door to open and noticed my legs in the reflection off the train door. Ahahahahhaaha so I took a pic ;p

The Art of Star Wars

Seems that there is going to be an exhibition on Star Wars art. I wanna go... anyone wants to accompany me?

Animation fanatic

I'm an animation fanatic so I'm looking forward to the screening of "Chicken Little". Check this out... ahahahhahaha.

Nuts!!!

This guy wasted $10 grand on a piece of virtual land... insane!!! I could think of a million more productive ways to spend that kinda dough.

Skype issues

I've stopped using Skype because I read about the issues with the software. For you guys still using it, take note!!!

Hitmaaaaaaaaaaaaaann!!!

I'm a die-hard Hitman fan and I'm so happy that the fourth installment of this cult game is going to be released soon. Woooooo... I will get to kill people again (virtually that is)!!!

Apple sued!!!

Angry iPod Nano owners have decided to take action against Apple. Morale of the story? Don't buy gadgets when they are initially released to the market.

Circle Line

I was very bo liao this afternoon and decided to research the new "Circle Line". Interesting... there will be a few new stations near my neighbourhood. Hai... the damn SMRT will definately raise the fares again. Wonder how much I have to spend taking the train in 2010?

Superstition

This campaign is playing on Chinese superstition but don't know how successful it will be ;p Haha...

Heaven

My fav drink is Dr Pepper. Its so bloody hard to find it in Singapore as most supermarkets don't carry it. I finally got my hands on one can even though it costs me a whopping S$3.50. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm... tasty to the very last drop.

American Pool

Pool Junction is my new fav pool hall. They tout themselves as a "Pool bar" where they serve large cold mugs of beer while you play. Check it out... they have red and brown playing surfaces!!! So unique. Usually they are green or blue in case you guys didn't know. Ahahahahhaha. Wanna play pool? Caaaaaallll me.

Beauty

There's this beauty in fountains. I have no words to express their splendour so I will just post this photo I took at Bugis.

Quote of the day #3

"Speak softly and carry a big stick."
- Theodore Roosevelt, former U.S. president

"Hardening"

This is one word that we, Security professionals, take for granted. I used this word during a conversation with Jim last weekend and he was like "What???".
People... here's a definition and background into "hardening". The actual term should be "OS hardening" but is generally shortened to just "hardening". This is defined as the steps taken to secure an Operating System (OS such as Windows, Linux, Solaris) by patching, changing configurations and removing unnecessary services/applications. Why the need for hardening? Well its basically because OSs come default with a lot of crap enabled on it and may not be updated with the latest security patches either.
There is a common misconception that only Windows is insecure. That's sooooooo wrong because Linux, Solaris and even Macs are insecure as well. It is very dangerous to think either wise. Have you "hardened" your OS today?

Quote of the day #2

"It only takes a second to score a goal."
- barcajax

I finally know the title!!!

I finally found the title of a song after trying to figure it out for years since I first heard it from NBA promotional clips. The song is called "The way it is" by Bruce Hornsby. YEEEEESSSS. Jim and Fenn... here you go. We can now rest easy knowing the title. GOOGLE... I can't imagine living without you. Damn!!! Wish I had gotten my hands on your IPO.
Additional fact: The song was released in 1986 with the intention of getting people to take a stand on civil rights in America. So a song is not just a song and its fascinating how there are stories behind how they came to be.

Suay lah!!!

I tell you... Blackburn just doesn't have any luck. We were doing fine until Georgian, Zurab Khizanishvili, got sent off. We've still safely in mid-table but things could get nasty quickly if our performances and luck doesn't improve.

Gooooooooooooaaaallll!!!

I watched "Goal" today. Its not the best movie I've ever watched but I give it 4 out of 5. Why? How many decent football movies have you guys seen? None? Well then... this puts it way above average right? Kuno Becker, the lead actor, is credible with good acting and throw in real Newcastle as well as EPL players filmed in actual EPL stadiums. Ohhhhhhhhhh... and Zidane "Le God" has a cameo too. Worth the S$8 spent and possibly THE football movie. Go catch it and I'm looking forward to the remaining two movies of this trilogy.

Who drives a Ferrari to the hawker centre?

Pig's organ soup

My fav Pig's organ soup has to be the one from Tiong Bahru. Mmmmmmmm. What else can I say? 5 out of 5. You need to be early though. I remember going there one time at 1pm in the afternoon and they were sold out already. They only open from late morning till early afternoon Tuesdays to Sundays.

How you like it?

Decided to customise my blog to differentiate mine from others who use the same tempate. In case you're curious, the picture behind my blog title is a photo April and I took of the Rome Forum. Niiiiiccceee!!!

Is it worth it?

I started questioning myself this morning when I was walking to the MRT and saw the lights that illuminate the 2nd storey of the station come on just as I was nearing it. To add insult to injury, the shutters on the ground floor were not up yet! This was very surreal to me having never experienced this before.
On a side note, I wrote and submitted this entry from my mobile while waiting for the train. How bloody cool is this?

Nerve damage

Crap... I bite on a grain of sand and now my tooth aches whenever I chew on my left side and drink cold stuff. I went to the dentist and her diagnosis is that its nerve damage as she can't see any visible crack. She told me to observe my condition for up to 2 weeks and if things don't improve, I might have to consider a root canal!!!

Cheong Fun!!!

I love eating Cheong Fun at "House of Rice Roll & Porridge" along Killiney Rd. Was telling Mixmaster while on the taxi about all the various Cheong Funs with different ingredients including my favs, XO Durian Cheong Fun and Cheese Lobster Cheong Fun. I was describing and talking about XO Durian and Cheong Fun in detail. When we got off, the driver asked me where the stall is located as "Wah you talked about the durian until I buay tahan".
Clockwise: Shop signboard, Fried Fritters Cheong Fun, Cheese Lobster Cheong Fun, XO Durian Cheong Fun

Quote of the day #1

"Employees exist to ensure their bosses do not kill themselves on the job from their incompetence."
- barcajax

The Line Saga continues...

Boss: "You didn't make the lines thinner."
Employee: "I did."
Boss: "No, you didn't."
Employee: "Ok, I will change them and forward the graphs to you again."
Boss: "Come into my room and I will show them to you."
Employee: "Its ok. I will change them and send it to you again."
Boss: "Come into my room now."
Employee: *sucks thumb and goes into his room*
Boss: *toggles between old and new graph fanatically* "See? The lines look the same to me."
Employee: "Ok... I will change them and send it to you again."
Boss: "What did you use to create the graphs? They are very ugly."
Employee: "Excel. The graphs have always been created using the same template within Excel."
Boss: "Its not acceptable. Go figure out what other sofware you can use to create nicer graphs."
Employee: "..."

???

This is a true account and not one of those "my friend told me..." story. I vouch for it.
*Boss calls employee into office*
Boss: "The lines on the graphs you submitted to me are too thick. I want you to change all of them."
Employee: *sucks thumb* "Ok..."

Feels so Dilbertish. Comments anyone?

Ridiculous!!!

I know this is an old topic but it still worries me quite a bit. What am I referring to? I'm talking about the idea of jailing people for trying to cheat on their public transport fares. It makes me wonder who comes up with these regulations? Are they people who actually take the public transports themselves or are some high and mighty people who drive themselves to work or have chauffeurs? Are these people qualified to make decisions that are in the best interests of the public?
I am a proud Singaporean but it saddens me when we have to resort to draconian methods to tackle issues. You have to hand out penalties that are equivalent to the "crime". I think that people who do not pay their fare or cheat on their fare deserve a heavy monetary fine at best. Jail? Its bloody ridiculous and an overkill.
SMRT (whom already earn truckloads of $$$ anyway) won't even benefit from these parties getting jailed. Can't they give their customers the benefit of a doubt that they may have forgotten to pay their fare or consider it charity for those who may be poor and can't afford to pay the full fare?

Bounce

Been dying to watch Bounce starring Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow for years because I love the songs from that soundtrack. Check out "Need to be next to you" by Leigh Nash and "I'll be the greatest fan of your life" by Edwin McCain.
Finally got a chance to catch the movie today and I give it 4 out of 5 "thumbs-up". Yes... it is predictable but I like the storyline.

Crap!!!

Dammit. I failed my IPPT. That's so frustrating. Oh well, RT (remedial training)... here I come.