Short get-away

Will be going on a short trip to Johor from 30th to 31st. Just a quick escape and I'll be back to do data migration on 1st Jan 2008.
Here's a happy New Year greeting in advance :)

-

Christmas Eve

Thank you everyone who made it possible last night. Everyone present had a good time.
Merry Xmas.

Strike any chords?

Pig Analyser

http://ecard.iclp.com.hk/chinesenewyear2007/inf/index.cfm

My results here. (read this after you take the test, so not to influence your own choices)

-

Cunning

I've been had totally. And Beanbear said I was cunning!
Haiz...

Updates that I was too distracted to write about recently...

[14 Dec]
Cheryl gave birth to her twins =)

It was our company's DnD at My Secret Garden. The organisers did a good job. There was a greeting party with our Mr Han and Yuan Lue in their Santa Claus and Santarini costumes, giving out door gifts. There was a booth to paint your tatoos. There was good finger food to go around.
The interior and the food disappointed me as I had high expectations. Nevertheless, we had good fun.

I then rushed off to the chalet with our Trek group. We played our own Trek bingo and watched the movie Soldier before we called it quits.

Story link here

[15 Dec]
I stayed on till midnight when I headed home. I was in danger of falling sick.

Story link here.

[16 Dec]
Finally had my long awaited gathering with Gnel, Yongchin and Wendy at Secret Recipe, Suntec. Everyone was decently happy at where they are right now.

[17-18 Dec]
Finally had to admit to myself that I'm sick =\

[19 Dec, morning]
It's my day-off; I bounced back. I also got "recalled" to office by my users..

[19 Dec, 12:30hrs] - Big5 gathering
I was early; They were late.
We had lunch at Pasta de Waraku. The food was pretty good overall and the service was prompt. It was also revealed that I'm going to have a "brother" - finally! Congrats =)

[20 Dec]
We visited Belachanbabe and her angels. They look healthy and the Wees looked pretty pleased with themselves. We had fun with her parent's WII set but scooted off when their relatives arrived. After that, we had a long chit chat session with Ah Yam and Jinlian before heading home.

Gary n Jane are tying the knot. Congratulations.

Under the weather

Flu and sore throat are threatening a hostile takeover.
Time will tell when I wake up tomorrow.

Darn. Got important meeting tomorrow with user =\

Year end activities

I'll be involved in migrating some materials from the old naming convention to the new one.
Haven't done this for years; I know it's a lot of work.
Till then, I won't be going on any trips till this year is over.

Bird's eye view

An offer of help from a son of the Northmen
A visit of curiosity from an owl
Yet the two coachmen
could hide not from the star above

Team dinner

-edited for errors in team organisation

Plan: Combined team dinner between Shared Services (my team), Web Support Team and Management Support team (admin + HR). It also involves our MD and Finance Controller.
Timing: 6pm
Venue: House of Sudanese

--Pre-dinner
5.30pm
Wartortle: Erm.. Dinner at 6, why isn't anyone moving?
JW: lol. I solving something too.

5.45pm
JW: Wanna go together?
Wartortle: I waiting for Desmond and Desmond is waiting for HR but HR is having discussions...
JW: Ok...

5.50pm
JW: Our dinner is at 6pm, but no one is moving!
Small boss: Ok! Let's go!


--Turnout
Shared Services-2 team was represented by... me! Together with small boss and my HOD. Christy and Mr Han are absent due to health and work.
Web Support team was represented by Mei Hua (wartortle), Mustafa and Desmond.
Management Support team brought our admin girl Anjeline and our 2 HR ladies.
Lastly, out Finance controller and MD.

--Execution
Good food and wine. Speeches and promises. Our MD asked for greater co-operation within teams and to share knowledge freely. He offered to give us his ears if we have issues with management. Also, these team dinners should be a monthly affair. Good words and sounds sincere enough. I just wish that if nothing else, at least management believes in the spirit of it.

-

My hardware card is going.. =\

Not-so-covert plans

Ok, that went well...

Now, phase 2 =)

Translation

In case someone decides your blog is a good site for spamming and you do not know what the heck he's talking about, here's a site I've used.
http://www.translation-guide.com/free_online_translators.php?from=Brazilian&to=English

Finding stock balance at any point in time 2/2

previously..

Ok, got to take back my words, it wasn't that hard after all. After struggling with my old program for many days, I gave up and built a new one from scratch. The result is something that runs slower but is better designed in every aspect.

congrats to huijun and suping

congrats to huijun aka huikoon for her delivery of her girl while suping for getting married. cheers

Aids statistics: Homosexual to be blamed?

The newest statistics are out.

[Of the infected]
-93% are guys
-52% are single
-24% are homosexual

Given our govt and people's skewered perspective, the homosexual community is to be blamed.
Let's do a little maths.

[Gays]
In the 52% single group, 93% are male ==> 48.36% are guys who are single (straight + gays)
If 24% of the infected are homosexual, that means approx 49% of all single males who are infected are gays.

Ah, you see. If you have liberties with your figures, that's an alarming one. "Oh no, half of our precious male population will be infected. Help!"

However, instead of looking for a bogeyman, why not look are these?
[Of the infected]
-67% are heterosexual
-32% are married
-13% are divorced or separated

67% didn't get it from a homosexual.
45% are playing the field when they shouldn't have.
Compared to the 24% homosexual group, which group is more guilty of spreading the virus?

-

DG: "Are you happy with your work?"

Good question. My pause gave me away.

What am I really unhappy about? I can't say.
The workload?
The people?
The management?

Taken apart, none of them is serious enough to warrant job dissatisfaction. All of the above? Of course but is that it?

Bangkok insurance ad

Windows XP sales extended

-from forums
I think a few friends might flip over this...


Quote:
Originally posted by Joran on Fri Nov 23, 2007 23:46:
I doubt those are legal since MS isn't selling any more XP licenses. evil!


deLancie
Actually, MS has extended XP's end of life date to 2008.
See: News report

Responding to feedback from customers and third parties, Microsoft has extended the availability of Windows XP to both original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and retail channels through to June 30, 2008. Originally slated to be pulled from retail shelves and OEMs on January 30, 2008—only a year after Windows Vista's debut—customers requested more time to prepare for the upgrade to Vista.

System builders will be able to continue offering Windows XP through June 2009. For emerging markets where Microsoft sells Windows XP Starter Edition, Microsoft has extended XP's availability to June 30, 2010.

MS knows Vista is not selling well. They need XP's revenue.

Unwanted / Wanted

This is so funny. It's nothing new and many of you might say it's as good as a law of the universe. But it's still funny.

Credit Card
===========
This ABC Bank (not their real name) once offered me a credit card. Fine. I faxed them the first 2 pages of my employment letter.
"But you have 8 more pages right?", they asked
"Yup, all the typical rubbish. My pay details are on the first two pages"
After arguing, the caller acknowledge my point and hanged up.
Few days later, my application was rejected.

Now this bank has returned to me, offering free lifetime membership. Almost no questions asked; They still want my payslip. But I know they know; And they know I know.


Jobs
====
XYZ (not their real name) is a recruitment agency that posts a lot of job openings for SAP. When I was fresh in my second job, I sent my application to them via JobStreet; I was ignored twice over a period of a year. I took the point and never sent to them again.

Recently I updated my skillsets on JobStreet. They picked it up almost immediately and called.
Me: "Sorry, not looking for a job at the moment"


For the bank, I can live with it.
For the job agency.. Ho ho. No way I think.

Upgrade to Mac

NS call up & NS website

I just received a call up via SMS - nooo!!!

Then just as I was logging in to the website to check, I had to suffer through the slow speed of the site and hacking my own password. Is it going to be so difficult during wartime?

Are you too smart for your own good?

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/207402.asp#

Overseas training assignment - actual day

What went wrong...
==================
1. The SAP client is not installed fully on the training PC. Neither is the co-ordinator's laptop. We had to use PC-Anywhere to link back to her office PC.
2. I cannot retrieve my notes as our company's in-house email system cannot handle zipped attachments from Outlook. Pavi had to extract it for me.
3. I have no access to the Singapore server to reference codes I've done before
4. The return flight was delayed by an hour, upsetting my plans to return home early.

No big deal, but it was another stressful experience having to code on the spot while your trainees wait for you. Overall, it is an interesting experience to have. I only wish that the planning was done much better - if at all.

If ever I'm arrowed to teach again, I would choose SQ as my choice of carrier over MH.

A reply. *Gasp*

The big boss didn't reply but his "men" (or women) did. The subsidiary will provide me a laptop.

I can't help being cynical. Would I have gotten a reply if I did not send a carbon copy to my boss? -- same level as him

Training for subsidaries

Ok... I'm getting pretty pissed.

If management is serious about providing proper training, then they should give more support; they should set an objective. Not pull a group of people together with equally clueless trainers.

On my own initiative, I sent a mail to my trainees. They have between 1-4 years of ABAP experience - no small thing. I still have more experience than them, yes. But what can I really teach them that they can't pick up by themselves?

This is really bad planning, or rather the lack of it. What are they here for? No one set any parameters on who can join and who can't, obviously. I am given only 1 day - I can't cater to all levels.

The two original planners are keeping so quiet; They're not responding to my email queries; They cannot understand English? I am that close to complaining about them to my HOD.

Demise of "Nameless Journal"

For some time, CatLady had been the victim of theft of both her online identity and her writings.

A "friend" she met online approached her to teach her how to write better. Instead, this gave her access to CatLady's works. In defense, the site became password protected and at a latter stage, the writitngs were posted in GIF but yet the theft continues. Friends even asked her about the places that she had been to (except that it was by the thief).

With that, her blogs are now closed.

First overseas assignment & Beanbear

edit: deleted reference to person

--Assignment

[background]
Some time ago, various colleagues from our regional subsidiaries were invited to our office for training on operational knowledge. I was tasked with teaching them ABAP - SAP's own programming language. It was meant as a trial so see how well things could go. Lacking info onthis and fearing that this is a matter of "face" for our big boss, I tried to accommodate all their requests for advanced programming topics. This placed a lot of stress on me as they are competent programmers in their own rights, with years of experience that rivaled mine. I was unabashed to show how glad I was when it was over.
[/background]

Do a job well and get rewarded with another. That's the sad truth in this world. Now I got two problems:
#1, What the hell am I supposed to do?
#2, I'm still holding Lecture Notes that I do not have permission to use. Shit.

Where do we stay?
What do we pay with?
Where is their office?
How do we get to their office?
Who do we meet?
Do we get laptops?
Can we connect to their LANs?
What are we going to teach?
What's our trainees' background?
How experienced are they?

And the million dollar question is, "Who is organising all these?".

[snip-portion deleted]

--BeanBear

Beanbear (aka Shijie) came online to check on how I was coping. Since she never listens to me, she flipped through her notes to try to help me with something I was stuck with.
Gee.. I wonder why she brought her notes home..
Ty for the thought =)


--Misc

Lienoi and Yiahwee, ty...

Our Armed forces; While we aren't looking

[I started this thread in a forum; Decided to paste it here]


Due to the recent thread on NS, I went to do a little catch-up on my reading. Imagine my surprise when I came across an analyst saying that Singapore is considered to have the largest and strongest force in S.E.A.
I went, "What??!!"


A quick visit to wiki got me the figures.

We... (29th largest in the world, in terms of numbers)


1) compared against Malaysia (62nd largest in the world, in terms of numbers)
wins in every aspect


2) Thailand (19th largest in the world, in terms of numbers)
infantry: approx 75% of their size
armour: same qty but more superior
airforce: same qty but more modern
navy: greater numbers + more modern


3) Indonesia (16th largest in the world, in terms of numbers)
infantry: approx 50% of their size
armour: lesser but theirs are light tanks
airforce: same qty but more modern
navy: greater numbers + more modern



(opinion)
Some time ago, a country threatened us using veiled words. On one hand, they acknowledged that we have a modern army. On the other, they pointed out that our city is very good target for bombs. I couldn't understand why. Didn't we just render them aid? They fear us?

Things suddenly made a lot of sense now.

Short update for Oct

[Social]
The events I've planned have come to pass, with less turnout than I wanted.

--Fish n Co
Another meet up with Belinda. This time with Calvin and Germaine. When you put a bunch of ex-colleagues together, what do they talk about? SAP! Makes you almost wanna forgive guys talking about Army, haha.

--Black Society
Service was good. Sadly, I have a drop a notch in their food. Not say the food wasn't good. It was just.. boring. This is a sort of welcome back dinner for Duane.


[Work]
Nothing to do in mid-week and the excitement peaking as the end of the month approaches.
Doris wanted to "hammer me" to treat her team a round of coffee from TCC. I know she was joking but I agreed with the condition that they make no errors till month-end closing. So month-end closing came and there were little errors so I sent them a mail saying that I'm buying, which got them pretty excited.
Then of course, the problems have to hit me hard immediately after. Bish... Nevermind la, it's just a tiny mistake which grew big because too many people tried to fix it. It's still a small mistake. After my users' excitement at the coffee, they then said it's too expensive, said I don't have to buy...
Haha, Gals... I'll be just getting the coffees I think is interesting for them on Monday.

[Games]
Between Myth 2 and Facebook, I don't have much time!

[Mood]
Still good =]

Age jokes

Sheesh! Even joking about your own age is taboo when it's used in relationship to someone's age...

Caution, caution =\

Organising blues

-sms
"Hey guys, I just met XXX for dinner last night and she wants to meet the rest of you. Is YYY a good date? Please reply"

[no replies]

Sometimes I imagine myself to have a good fighting spirit but this has been getting me down.



-sms
"Our classmate's grandma just passed away. Looking for someone to go together, either today or tomorrow"

[no replies]

-sms
"Nvm... I'm going with Jack tomorrow"



I wonder, is it me?
I'm almost inclined to believe in Mercury Retrograde - a period where he withdraws his influence and communication fails.
But of course, I have been suffering this for sometime.

I salute the organisers of the various groups I'm in for their strength; I don't have what it takes.

New layout?

As a favour to a friend, I added a banner link to Acres, which she is supportive of. Please do take a look =)

No complaints?

Anastasia asked, "Looks like you're doing well at your work, no complaints".
I replied, "Ha ha, that's because after I take away the complaints, there's nothing else to write!"

Work: Missing my mentor

Mentor just started her maternity leave...

[before]
Beanbear: After I go, don't bully our dear ladies in Logistics [ABC division] ah...
JW: ME??!! Don't know who bully who hor!!
Beanbear: *laughs*

Kinda annoying that colleagues are expecting me to call her up during maternity leave. This isn't a matter of confidence in my learning ability; It's the fact that they believe that I would actually disturb her.

[after]
1.
JW: [msg] Jess, if you need help completing Beanbear's program, I can quite familiar with it; I can help
Jess is beanbear's new boss
Jess: [msg] Why are you familiar with it?
JW: [msg] I kay-poh; I was helping her to look through.
Jess: [msg] Actually I do need help. Both of my girls are on maternity leave. What do you know about the FI module?
JW: [msg] I know some of the finance tables. I know how to post payment and clearing documents.
Jess: [msg] Actually I need more of someone as an abaper role for 3 weeks.
JW: I'm fine with it. But you have to clear it with my boss and you cannot touch me during month-end closing.
Jess: Oh ya, I don't dare to touch you ley. ABC division ley...
JW: Huh? I don't know who big who small. I only know they're my users.
Jess: ABC division, who not scared?
Something funny here...

2.
-after solving something simple...

JW: [msg] Users... Why I can do, you cannot do?
Fiona: [calls] You trying to provoke me, is it? That message was referring to me right?
JW: [calls] *laughs* I newbie leh. Less than 3 months.
Fiona: [calls] Your shi jie left saying that you cannot bully us
I bet she made that up
JW: [calls] *laughs* Too bad! For the next 3 months, I'm the biggest! (translation: I am king!)

-later
Marcus: JW, you know how to fix xyz?
JW: errr...
Fiona: Don't ask him; You can only ask him SAP. He says he newbie; 3 months only. And he's the biggest.
JW: *laughs* Who who? Who so arrogant?

-

Delayed onset muscle soreness

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness

Facebook

Ok.. I'm on it now too..

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

[Friday]
Didn't happen =|

[Saturday]
Blood recruitment drive (link here) + bbq with new colleagues (link here)

[Sunday]
Miffy's wedding (link here)

Miffy's wedding

[post has been backdated]

I was the earliest to arrive and had to wait substantially. Next to arrive was the make-up artist, then the photographer. The sisters and Pika arrived after that.

Peter had arrived early and was waiting downstairs. Jerry (Miffy's brother), Wilson (the photographer) and myself (double-spy) went down to open the groom's car-door. We then attempted the challenges which was kind of a bore. When time trouble threatened, they let in the photographer and we simply let our ourselves in.

I changed coats again and went into Miffy's room where Karen (make-up artist) was putting on the finishing touches. Peter read his pledge of love outside the door and was finally admitted to claim his wife.

We zipped between the homes of the two families and even found time to go to Upper Pierce reservoir (should go there sometime). During this time, we got to know Jerry, Charlotte (Jerry's gf) and Michelle (Miffy's sister). I prefer this crowd to the four "sisters".

The day ended at Orchard Country Club's hotel where we checked in our stuffs. After changing and cleaning up, I promptly fell asleep. Despite my deep state of sleep, I would either mumble a reply to their conversations or would suddenly sit up and give a comment before dropping back to sleep - which scares them somewhat.

At 5, their parents dropped in and supplied us with a dinner of hor fun. Once done, Peter and I went down to check out the sound system. Then another round of resting before we were alerted that guests are arriving.
Michelle: "Why so early?"
JW: "This should be the way!"
Miffy's mother smiled.

Pika and I were seated with Miffy's colleagues. Relatives and business contacts outnumber us "friends" at this wedding and I am glad there were only 27 tables. The food was decent for once and I enjoyed it. By 10pm, all the photos have been taken. By 10.30pm, they were thanking guests outside the door. I breathed a sigh of relief and got myself a beer.
"Drink up!", someone said
What??!!
I rushed to the door but was too late; Peter had drank some of a suspicious looking liquid and was looking red in the face.
"Why no call for help?"
Grimace / Grin.

Best wishes again to Peter and Miffy.

BBQ with new colleagues

[post has been backdated]

(email) "Hey guys, we're organising a bbq at John's house (rented). Please state if you're coming. Each person will pay about $12 for the food. I'll be collecting money later".
Hmm... This is a good chance to know my colleagues; Since I've been complaining I got no time and opportunity to do it.
(email) "Yeah sure!"

Despite sending out the first shot, the sea of emails was quiet on this matter. Is it that we cannot broadcast mails on non-work matters?
I have a bad feeling about this...

"Hey, $12 please. I'm collecting."
"Why no one reply one?"
"It's like this, you have to chase everyone."
...
"Don't you hate it when this happens?"

(email) "Hey guys, this is the confirmed list"
12 persons: 11 chinese; 1 korean. This wasn't the gathering I was hoping it'll turn out to be.

(email) "Hey guys, this is the confirmed list"
10 persons: 10 chinese; 2 coming late.

-long story short
There were no bosses, HODs nor team leads. There were no Koreans nor Filipinos. There were no spouses or married mothers. Just a bunch of singles and some attached persons who have the freedom to socialise without their other half. I'm disappointed but a gathering is a gathering. Plus the fact I hardly know these guys anyway. A step is a step, nonetheless, so I'm grateful.

-

Packed week

Thursday was my only free slot this week amid a sudden furore of social obligations. However, thanks to the clash of the titanic forces of Audit and Month-end closing, I ended up doing OT till 11.30pm. Sheesh!

Which geniuses at HQ decided that it is a good time to have a major audit during month end closing? This was the reason for my hectic programming since 20 Sept. Brainless suits...

Catching up amid a crazy week

Ok... no complaints about work...

Last night, while working on my report (program), I got a call from Duane. He started with a British accent, more pronounced than ever. However, as I start to lor ah la him, he slipped somewhat, heh. The phone conversation lasted a good 30 minutes with my HOD behind me, heh.
No need to worry, we're both doing OT...

Today, I met up with Miffy and Peter. Abit surprised but I had guessed it earlier.
Spock: "Gracie is pregnant."
-- "STIV:TVH", Stardate 8390.
We both complained about our relative work - which will be censored here; while poor Peter pretended to be interested in his food.

Friday with 2 more Uni classmates...

Saturday will be my first bbq with my colleagues. Disappointed at the turnout but all the better.

Sunday will be Miffy and Peter's wedding. I'm going to be sister+brother+co-ordinator rolled into it. :]

Hey! No complaints abt work! Ha ha.

Deadline but not dead

--Bad
Busy like shit

--Good
Luckily users no chase me yet

--Bad
My "Request For Change"(s) (aka electronic red tape) are stuck with small boss

--Good
It's one of my luckier closing day with few issues

Finding consignment stock balance at any point in time - treat the data in the remarks field in the Delivery Order as "locations"

[SAP]
What??!!
Ok, here goes.

[background]
Remarks field - Users key the delivery location into the remarks field. This is separate from the address field supplied by SAP. There are no checks and user can key in anything they like. Eg: 7 level; 6th storey; etc.
Consignment - are goods that are placed on customers' premises. Eg: books in bookstores; phones in mobile phone shops.
[/background]

1. Get all material documents from the very first day my company opened shop. Filter off those that do not have Delivery Orders.
2. Get the Delivery Orders.
3. Get the Delivery Order Remarks field via a function call.
4. Sorted by this remarkable remarks field, start counting the material movements that has occurred since the dawn of time, allocating them to their respective "locations".

Sounds easy? Already worked 2 weeks on this...

Q&A
===
q1. Why can't you use your previous logic - the one that starts tracking from the closest match?
a1. Can you tell me what each and every student in a school has eaten today? You can know how many plates of noodles and sandwiches have been sold but do you know *who* bought what? You got to interview every single single student to find out.

q2. Err... wouldn't that be slow?
a2. You bet your ass.

q3. Very slow?
a3. You daft?

q4. How are you going to verify your results?
a4. Compare with my other report that gives me the stock balance at any point in time but with one material at a time. Then list out all the material movements that has occurred for that material since day 1. Take out my calculator and...

q5. The deadline is Monday, isn't it?
a5. Yeah.

Finding stock balance at any point in time 1/2

[SAP]

[Background]
material documents - system documents that log material movements.
material movements - any sales, transfer or purchase transactions involving materials.
materials - goods used for business operations.
[/Background]

1. What is the run date? Is it today? Is it in the past? If so, find the closest record of the closing balance.
2. How many days difference is the run date from the closest record? Take note of the dates.
3. Fetch all the material documents within the date range. Add / subtract them to the stock balance.

Sounds simple? My user wanted such a report in 3 days. I once took 1 month to write it; 2 more months to iron out the bugs.

Q&A
===
q1. Wasn't this one of your proudest work? Why are there still bugs in it? *snickers*
a1. ... Well, it's cleaner now.

q2. The current state can only show either normal stock or consignment stock in a single execution. Your user wanted to merge the normal stock and consignment stock report generation together. Are you going to do it for her?
a2. Well, looking at that I have like ONE day left before Monday and the other report is far from finished, I say she can take it or leave it. The report is completed, for all that it matters to me. Just run in twice in 2 different modes! Sheesh!

a3. Isn't that slow?
q3. Combining the two functions together will still take the same amount of time...

a4. Are you unstable?
q4. No, why?
a4. Nothing...

Digging through rubbish

[SAP] Oh well, here we go again..
https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/thread?threadID=122463


[Farukh Quadri] Hey, I need a function but it was in version 4.7. I'm using 4.6c. Can anyone help me find the start date of a fiscal year?


[Vinod Gunaware] Use this "GET_CURRENT_YEAR"
--Cool. I can find out what's the current year, when I already know the value. Rubbish


[Shashank Deshpa] Hey! Use this..
--rubbish, he just did a search


[KDeepak] Use this; Reward points if useful
--pui. Rubbish


[Gayathri Hariha] Use this "GET_CURRENT_YEAR"
--Cool. I can find out what's the current year, when I.. hey! Repeated! Rubbish


[sniper]
HI farukh ,

1.
"GET_CURRENT_YEAR" will give u the fiscal year


2.use "GET_DATES_FROM_GJAHR" ,

give the company code and the fm area .
this will fetch the FISCAL YEARS valid from date and
valid to date .

this is with 4.6 c .

--jackpot!

Work attitude

Bad
===
A user shot a complaint email to me and another colleague, with our bosses in the cc list. The module in concern is his baby. Why am I the only one digging information to defuse the situation?

Good
====
This guy from helpdesk impressed me. He didn't push the problem to me as the user is mine but helped me to look into the technical side of the problem. He was so excited in the learning and discovery. Nice...

Users are still users

Yesterday, I congratulated myself that I have finally built a rapport with my users.

Today the sky came crashing down.

Users are still users. They can make unreasonable demands and go extreme measures to ensure it. I have to remember this.

For now, I'm pissed. Nice-ness goes both ways.

Work..

I can't complain so I'll say, "I retract my earlier attempts to persuade my ex colleagues to join me". ha-ha..

My friend's brush with the China Scam. Conclusion.

Some time ago, I wrote [in the forums] that my friend "won" a prize and he was pretty excited about it. I on the other hand was pretty interested to know the ending. Now, neither of us was unduly worried because he don't have the cash to be scammed...

[1]
Gaz (not his real name): blah blah blah, I was called by the manager via an overseas call, so just wanna check with you if you had received the same call.
JW: nopez. This sounds like a very classical case..
Gaz: I also got read before. But they never ask for any money and it sounds authentic.
JW: [laughs] Send them the money!
Gaz: I know la, but I'm just hoping that it's true. Then it'll be 60,000 dollars!
JW: Well, the most sinister thing that can happen is that it's a money laundering syndicate. Don't give them your personal information in case they force you to work for them.

[2]
Gaz: The lady from overseas contacted me, said she's surprised that the transfer hasn't been made
JW: mm hmm...

[3]
Gaz: Well, congratulate me. I just won 60,000 dollars. So all I have to do is to send them 2,000 dollars.
JW: [laughs] So send them the money!

-end


Ok, that's that. Boring. Here's the sequence of the scam, fyi
1. Contact you to go down for some talk. (You prob will refuse)
2. Contact you that in your absence, you won 2nd prize. This will be given by a new Macau casino. If the prize is not claimed, they have to give it to charity, so they would prefer you collect it rather than they go through the hassle of the paperwork. Ask for details like bank account - which you'll give then panic and call cynical friends like myself.
3. Manager from overseas will call you, confirm data once again, cos they aware that there are scams around, so want to assure you (Woah?).
4. Calls to check if you have received the transfer. Express surprise.
5. Calls to check if you have received the transfer. Express surprise.
6. You'll have to pay 2000 SGD to help process the transfer, cos they wanna assure that it goes to you - securely. No, they cannot take it from your prize money as it is a secure transfer.

-end

Hope this helps. I can't believe that people are still falling for scams despite such news being published over and over again.

GrowIsland: A recruit program?

Argh!! I give up.
http://shingakunet.com/special/10054301/0285/index.html

Night Safari

A place that I had no interests in visiting as I thought that the sights would be limited. Turned out to be a good trip after all.

We promised to bring Kumar there; I promised to bring my colleague around. Two newcomers to Singapore; Just nice.

[Attractions]

Animal show - animals came in from the side, took their rewards, left the other way. Owls swoop in, swoop out. Mountain lion climbed the tree easily, took his treat, jumped off and exited. More shy of us then we are afraid of them.

Tram ride - A slow serene tour of the park, highlighting most of the animals. The animals can be seen easily as most of them are not shy of people, simply disdainful. The otters were simply thrilled to see us, chattering non-stop. "Stay for lunch! Be our lunch!", they said. The enclosures used natural terrain to keep the animals separated from bad-tasting food (us) and tastier steaks (other animals). Yet, some of the mildest animals had no barriers at all. You'll wonder why they never wander off and take a dip in the lions' moat...

Footpaths - To access an area not reachable by the trams. Nice! However, the animals here are more shy, especially the cats. All you can see are trees and sand. If you're lucky, you can catch some movements behind the leaves as they spy on us.

[Good]

staff were well-motivated, cheerful and spirited

[Bad]
??


[Bad traits among visitors]

Flashes going off despite being reminded repeatedly that animals can get blinded. At one point, the keeper appeared upset because her barn owl was blinded while in flight.

"I can't see the cat. Hello?" [knocks glass]

"Here never say cannot use flash" [took a shot with flashlight]

[Blonk!] -startling a deer. "What's that?", asked a fellow passenger? -It was a plastic bottle left as litter by someone on a previous tram ride.

-

Dispassionate City People

We made ourselves cold so that we don't need graces.
We made ourselves blind so that we do not need to see.
We made ourselves not to care so that we do not need to care.

-

Coding Bliss?

Monday, 8.45am. I arrived late in office with rainwater on my person to prove it.
My mentor is on sick leave; The day looks set to be crazy.
The post you are about to read is a rant, but it's short.
The names are made up but the problems are real.
I'm JW; I'm a slave of the phone.

As the day crept towards mid-afternoon, I realised I am on the way to achieve a pain-free start of the week. Could this be happening? A Monday without being interrupted every 15 minutes?

To take full advantage of this rare opportunity, I chose to catch up with my programming work. I optimised the program's speed by a factor of 11 and smiled inwardly at what Lie Noi would have said. Shaking my head at such sloppiness, I proceeded to tear down the cobwebs and rearranged everything in a systematic order. An afternoon well wasted; Heh!

Joyce has tasked me to improve an existing program; After analysing for 2 interrupted days, I concluded that it could not be done: The Sun cannot glow; The Moon cannot blind. So I have free rein to tear apart the codes to my heart's delight and give her a new one. The final coding, however, will be tough. She wants it to report the stock quantity at any point in time. This is similar to a program I did for my first employment. A program I was most proud of and it took me 3 months to iron out the bugs. Fun, fun, fun.

Ahem. I've in a different role now. Must not fall back into habits of wasting time...


*note1
Wasting time --> Optimising codes when the job request did not ask for it

*note2
JW (I) is/am not a perfectionist, despite his habits of wasting time.

Earth shattering finding: Laws Of Attraction

A study released on Monday suggests that men homed in on the most attractive women and the women were drawn to...

*snort*

Help unasked for: Complimentary or Reward?

I know I have been lucky; I always had a good mentor, no matter where I go. Some had helped me when I'm lost, without me asking for it. Some had went the extra mile, when I thought I had all I needed from them.

I'm not totally selfless and my help extends mostly to my team and my juniors. When approached, I have not turned down anyone.

I know that rapport is needed and my situation is improving; I just wanted to complain about my initial hiccups. However, as I gain co-operations with our increased relationships, I wonder.

Fugu@Kuriya

1. I tried Tempura Fugu!
2. Kuriya still one of the best

JW the SAP Consultant: What is required of him

-

[2 months ago]
JW: Hey guys, I'll be doing SD (my old rice-bowl) in the new company.


[6 weeks ago]
The-nicer-HR-gal: This is JW, he'll be doing the SD/MM module.
SD/MM?


[5 weeks ago]
JW: Shi-jie! Got user wants to request for access to GRMS system, who I look for ar?
Shi-jie: You la! I gave you the access, remember?
JW: Oh ya.

Snow-white: So how many years of ABAP experience do you have?
Oh shit...


[4 weeks ago]
JW: Hey! This is Purchasing! Interview never ask me if I know Purchasing.
Shi-jie: You in Logistics mah.
JW: Ya, luckily I know, haha.


[3 weeks ago]
Class: Can you teach us more on Dialog programming, ALV and RFC?
*Gulp*


[2 weeks ago]
Survive 3 days without Shi-jie, she hurt her back.


[1 week ago]
JW: Shi-jie! Helpdesk kept routing Workflow issues to me, like got my name like that. I think I need to talk to them later.
Shi-jie: You support Workflow mah, I taught you how right?
JW: Yah, but I thought it's for my SD only?
Shi-jie: No... The entire one.


[this week]
JW: AP, AR, GL. I thought I do SD/MM? Why I need to know so much other knowledge one?

JW @ 7.30pm: When's the latest day that you need your data?
Uncaring: Latest tomorrow morning, else cannot do month-end closing.

-

Why no personal updates

Could mean...
1. I'm not stressed
2. I'm not pissed
3. I'm pissed about work but I can't blog about it as I am trying not to
4. Nothing exciting is happening
5. Too busy to blog

Erm... most of the above.
All's well...

Pictures from the Voyagers (the probes, not the Starship)

http://news.com.com/2300-11397_3-6203472-1.html?tag=ne.gall.pg

The Smelly O

I'll just make my statements short.

1. It's certainly in their rights but why do they have to do it with such glee?
2. The message has been sent. What is the motive for prosecuting to the bitter end?
3. One illegal download does not equate to a loss of one sales.
4. Money is the root of all evil.

Who is cleverer ? Teacher or student??

[email joke]

One Night, 4 College Students Were Playing Till Late Night And Didn’t
Study For The Test Which Was Scheduled For The Next Day.

In the morning they thought of a plan. They made themselves look as
dirty and weird with grease and dirt. They then went up to the Dean and
said that they had gone out to a wedding last night and on their return
the tyre of their car burst and they had to push the car all the way
back and that they were in no condition to appear for the test.

So the Dean said they can have the re-test after 3 days. They thanked
him and said they will be ready by that time.
On the third day they appeared before the Dean. The Dean said that as
this was a Special Condition Test, All four were required to sit in
seperate classrooms for the test.
They all agreed as they had prepared well in the last 3 days.

The Test consisted of 2 questions with the total of 100 Marks.

Q.1. Your Name.........................( 2 MARKS )
Q.2. Which tyre burst ?...............( 98 MARKS )

a) Front Left
b) Front Right
c) Back Left
d) Back Right .....!!!

-

Yellow Ribbon Fair

http://www.yellowribbon.org.sg/yellowribbonfair.html

2 Sept 07, Sunday 10am-5pm
Changi Prison Link Center
Admission is Free

Come visit the Yellow Ribbon Fair and learn about our rehabilitation efforts and also witness the talents of our inmates and ex-offenders as they present their songs, poetry, art and multimedia showcase.

Title change

Ok, I had been thinking of it for sometime now. Why "addicted to gaming, books and margaritas" when all I blog about are on work, games, social events and complaints? Do I split off to another blog that writes on games and another one that writes on personal stuffs? And anyway, what kind of name is "Joran's posts?".
What's in a name? Well, it describes; It tells you what to expect. There won't be any difference in the things I write but hopefully it will be a constant reminder to me in keeping my topics in context.

19 remainding hostages would be set free

A day of good news for the families.
A day of defeat for moral rights.

A fool's errand.
Their appetites' whetted.

Dumplings and drinks

[post has been backdated]

Gaga had been doing well recently and generously offered to treat us a round of drinks at Scarlet Hotel. Everyone promptly replied with a reasonable delay of a day or two.

We went to our favourite dumpling place and waited for Bryan. There, Cheryl revealed that her twins are boys. Surprise!
I'm sure I remembered knowing it beforehand. Maybe I dreamt it...

At Scarlet, we ordered our 1-for-1 shooters. The drinks were all quite nice except for a green tea-whiskey that we ordered to introduce to Bryan; Tough luck there. Overall nice. Cheers!

Quote of the night:
Guy A: "I can eat anything!"
Guy B: "Famous last words"

Misinformation by greed

For the last two weeks, I have been suffering misinformation from the forums while searching for SAP resources.

[Background]
The forums are where people post questions and people answer them. If the answer is good, the requester is obliged to award points to them. Points are used to ask questions or some strange things.
[/Background]

--Example: Looking for linkage between Delivery Order and Material Document--

GuyNeedHelp: Hey guys, how do I find the Delivered Quantity? It's in VBEPE but it's a structure, so I can't get it from the tables. I can't JOIN the Delivery Order table with the Material Document table as well. Please help.

Crap #1: Go to the DO transaction and view the schedule lines tab. You can find Delivered Quantity there.

[My study & thoughts]: The guy was obviously asking a programming question; Quoting the structure name means that he had retrieved it from the transaction, no where else! This is akin to asking how to understand a particular recipe for a cake and someone tells you to go to the library.


Crap #2.1: Look that this link. It points to table relationships.
Crap #2.2: Look at these 4 links. They point at table relationships.
Crap #2.3: Look at these 2 links. They point at table relationships.

[My study & thoughts]: Amazingly, these 7 links all point to the same 2 drawings on table relationships. While informative, does not provide the answer. The guy who gave the 4 links is the winner; He pasted the links without realising the duplication. These guys were out for quick points as well.


Crap #3: Try these 4 functions. They'll give the Delivered Quantity in the VBEPE structure.

[My study & thoughts]: The functions don't work; To the original requester and my disappointment. I discovered later that the guy had simply copied them from an internal search in SAP, giving VBEP as a keyword. How I know? The order of the names are exactly the same as my own search. SAP didn't even bother to describe their use; How could this guy know what they are for? Grrr...


Crap #4: Try these tables and structures.

[My study & thoughts]: Doesn't work. The structure is wrong because it is only filled at runtime inside (surprise) the Delivery Order transaction. The tables don't work simply because the data isn't there. That's why we need the Material Document tables! What are these guys doing??!!


Conclusion:
After an hour of frustration, I gave up and went to my colleague to pour my grievances. I later found the link by myself. Those guys who had given unverified information, I spit on you!

A clash of views

[edited to remove things I might regret later]

As Odd Peer: "Do you know DG?"
JW: ??!!
"Ya, our HR. Why?"
As Odd Peer: "I think she's nice, is she single?"
JW: ...
"I have no idea."
"I think Teen Gyp is prettier."
As Odd Peer: "Oh, she's married. I saw that she had a ring."
JW: ...
"Married? Can't be."
As Odd Peer: "Why are you still single?"
JW: "Like that lor. Have, have. Don't have, don't have."
As Odd Peer: "Don't tell me got so many pretty girls you got no chance?"
JW: "Doesn't mean people single must chase. People single must get attached."
As Odd Peer: "Who's that girl in yellow?"
JW: "Don't know. I think I've never seen her before. Yup, pretty."

[snip]

As Odd Peer: "Your IT manager also nice, still single."
JW: "People manager..."
As Odd Peer: "So? Manager also people. She's also a woman. She also have needs."
JW: "I hardly know her till I was assigned to train. No chance to know other people."
As Odd Peer: "Yah, I notice in this country, people only care about their own work."
JW: "Not my country's culture, ok? It's this company's culture. I usually like to go around disturbing people. Here have to be careful."
As Odd Peer: "Oh no! We're alike!"
JW: "No... you go for all the singles."
As Odd Peer: ...

[snip]

-

My first lecturing stint

[Background] Members from regional subsidiaries were to come to our country for training. Two of us were to train them in ABAP; Another 4 of us will give training on functional knowledge. Work kept me busy and I didn't have time to prepare notes nor exercises. I am to teach the more advanced parts.
[/Background]

The first day we measured each other. I don't know what they make of me but I found their skill levels to be higher than I expected. A class of 8, decently smart, all technically inclined. My advantage? My wider exposure and my and longer years of experience in the field. Not by a lot, it will have to do.

On the second day, we moved to the challenge of Dialog Programming. My lack of preparation caught up with me as I found myself struggling to give them an effective demonstration. As the list of questions grew, I promised to answer them the next day. That night, I rushed out 2 example programs and had to drop the request on a Remote Function Call demo.

A slow-motion JW moved through a hectic third day. My class appeared happy with the extended lessons on Dialog Programming and ALV. Technically, we were done by 3pm but they continued to refine their programs. They were a fun bunch, who wanted to enjoy their time in this country as best as they can. I said my good-byes at 5pm and went back to my work.

In exchange for all the stress from keeping ahead of them, my skills have went up. Yet I should learn where to take arrows. Somewhere fleshier and not near the heart.

17-12

Day 2 of training

Beat

End of a little OT spree

Ok, it's over. My user didn't seem very thankful so that left a bad taste in the mouth. Ah well, I don't need to prove how hard I've worked. Do I?

17-10

Coping with work

-currently
Yesterday caught me busy massaging Excel data, together with frantic debugging. I was working under a tight deadline that kept encountering technical difficulties. This type of thing have to suffer alone. How do you tell your user that your delivery date because you just found out that the software version is older than what you have worked with and you're now missing a key feature? Nah, you owe me big, [insert user name].

-learning
Both are support roles but I can learn so much more. On the simple fact that more work gets done faster, way faster. Like yesterday, I transported codes 5 times. That would have taken 5-7 days in Ulu Ulu place. And the all-mysterious-config experience that I lacked? The key skill that kept me from landing jobs? I don't know what's so hard about it. Everything is just a search away...

-colleagues
DG is still a DG. Colleagues are indeed nice but I find myself standing and talking in the aisle more than anyone, heh.

-load
Abit heavy but perhaps I'm too new. However, I note that it usually rains in the morning and drizzles in the afternoon. By the end of the week, thunderstorms are not unexpected.

-my desk
Starting to take after my other desks...

15-10

Smart move, JW

Now you better magick up something or you can go eat your lofty ideals...

Catching up with ex colleagues x2

[post has been edited]

[1]
Due to my involvement with the Costcon during the WCG, I was late for Ah Bee's wedding. The dinner was about to start and I bumped into Siang chuen and Noelle, who were also looking for the seats. Finally, Eu Huat saw us and we're re-united with him, Dylan and Chee sheng.

Just like at the dinner of Xiaohui's, we talked about our work environment and asked about updates on colleagues we have not seen for some time. We still keep tabs on each other and admittedly, it's not very difficult.

Congratulations, Ah bee.


[Interlude]
We interrupt these reunion stories for another story.

After the dinner, I was waiting to get a cab to go to the Gohs. The traffic was bad and people were stealing my cabs by standing ahead of me and pretending not to see me. One lady, probably 19-20 years old was with her parents. The parents saw the traffic conditions and looked towards my direction, suggested taking the train. The girl raised her voiced at them, said she's going to get home herself, she's taking no stinking train that's so far away. Argue, argue, parents gave in. They moved away from my sight.

[2]
Taxi driver dropped me off, insisted on giving me a discount I met up with Shandy, Eric, Gim and Wei shei. We played MJ while Eric sat out preparing food. I won a wu-fan by pure dumb luck that got everyone screaming. We stopped for a break and Eric brought out the river prawns they caught today and opened up a bottle of white. Eat eat, drink drink, went back to our cards. Shandy was winning and I ended the game with a si-fan zi muo. Another piece of dumb luck, haha.

Stopped for a second round of river prawns. Just like the wedding, we did catching up as all of us are in different locations now. Gim and I were the ones who just moved while the others are happy where they are. We ended at 3+ and called it a night.

I slept 11 hours...

Star Trek properties

A collector's dream come true. A rich fan, that is.
http://www.startrekproperties.com/

"So how many years of ABAP experience do you have?"

What a loaded question. I told her anyway. Worse, I accepted her challenge.

Welcome to the working world where people look at how many years of experience you have rather than how good you actually are.

Srew up? Or success?

Girl on Girl

I know. It's a sexist show meant for guys. But it's still funny. haha...
Slow load, so you may want to pre-load.




More:
Episode 2 part 1
Episode 2 part 2

Learning that goes rhymes with Ouch!

1. My efforts yesterday that was made obsolete by what my user taught me. -.-
2. Discovered that morning's wasted efforts was due to delayed scheduling of goods delivery. Ow.
3. An afternoon killed by credit limit (with delivery block). Didn't know this :|

12-6

Welting 2

Nooooo!!.....

Solved something on my own

JW: "Yay!"
Alter-ego: *snorts* "You almost wanted to dial those numbers in your head."
JW: *sticks out tongue*

Catching up with old friends or having your own private gathering?

 

I hate to do this. But for future class gatherings, I won't turn up unless there are people to steer the talk away from the milestones in life.
 

---

When planning gatherings, I hate it when people base their decision to attend, conditional on the turn-out of their buddies. Imagine sending out a round of messages to 30 people...
-2 says yes
-10 ask you, "Who's going?"
-18 keep quiet

You shrewdly add the names of people who you know are waiting to know if their buddies would turn up and send out another round of messages to these 30 people again...
-2 say no
-4 say yes
-7 ask you, "Is XXX going?"
-17 keep quiet

Again, you update the list, trying to get the little gangs to turn up.
-13 say no
-5 say yes
-2 ask you, "Who's going?"
-10 keep quiet

At this stage, I'll be rather pissed and disheartened.
 

Why won't people return lost handphones?

JW: "Isn't it sad that people won't return lost handphones?"
Sancta Joky: "What for? Who would return?"

First impressions

[Resources]
Oh nice.
-No longer having to lock away my only pen that might get stolen; No longer having to be told to be more responsible for my own belongings when I lose that pen.
-Having my own production account; Able to do work without hitting "You are not authorized to...". --> Old post: "Missing authorisation"
-Free beverages.
-Air-conditioning that actually works; Perhaps a bit too well.

[Environment: Physical]
-Nothing to complain. It's good.

[Environment: That intangible factor]
-Picture paints a thousand words, they say. Link: here

[Co-workers]
-They seem nice; That is, if we can ever properly interact outside of our lunch hour.
-My mentor is helpful but she's so in glee that I'm taking over :|

[Overall feeling]
-Good but with a feeling of dread about the future.

-

"Interview" by Head of Department

I am seated in front of my Head of Department, which is quite a stressful position to be in. Our conversations are limited to morning greetings and good-byes. Like any self respecting nut case, I talk to my alter-ego while I work. He probably have a pretty good understanding of my inner Smeagol by now.

Today, I was working on a program change so I stayed an hour behind. Boss threw an invisible lasso just as I was packing up.

Boss: "So how are you picking up SAP?"
JW: "Er... if you mean Business logic, I'm still quite blur. Technical wise I'm still ok"
Boss: "Oh that's good to hear. Don't worry, usually people take about 3 months to pick up the knowledge"
JW: "Oh ok... But I think they are expecting me to take-over in 1 month"
Boss: "Ok, don't worry. Good night"
JW: "Good night"

While walking out to the door, my alter-ego stirred, "You didn't tell him that the technical side is the only thing you're good at". "Shut up", I said. He snickered and went into the background.

How am I doing at work?

Quite a lot of friends asked me today but sorry it's still too early to say. I don't want to make a premature judgement.
But then, here's something.

Plus
===
Frustrations on restrictions are gone.
If I want to, I can reach home at 6pm sharp.

Bad
===
No one leaves on the spot.
Supervison/monitoring is high.

Scoring an easy win

Despite all the talk about sportsmanship, people love easy victories.

When Singapore was gripped by the fervour of the Tiger Cup from 1997-1998, fans would often look forward to the match between their national players and the Brunei national squad. With a great disparity in skill levels, fans expect a score of nothing less than 10-0. If they do, then the coach would have angry fans to answer to.

In war histories, the most remembered battles are those when one side inflicted an extremely heavy toll due to the utter inability of the other side to defend themselves. Yet we praise them and study their tactics.

Twice, we were invited by boys in LAN shop to play a match of DotA. When we replied that we are still learning the ropes, they would claim that they too, are just newbies. The first group laughed themselves silly whenever we got killed. The second group had the cheek to suggest a match between 5 of them against 3 of us. When we insisted on a fair number, they sent their weakest member over. Whether he was dying on purpose during the game was something I wondered.

--this post is brought about by Kelly's complaint: one of the disgusting guys finally dragged him into his first game of DotA but refused to team up with him...

I'm back

The doors hissed open; I stepped out.
Crowding; Blocking.
Standing in the corridor; Everyone passing me by.

I'm back.


Coffee; Milo; Horlicks; Milk powder.
Blue pens; Black pens; Green pens; Red pens.
Cubicle; Laptop; Messenger; My own production ID.

Welcome back.

-

Tacking into the wind

Some sailing info...
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/volvooceanrace/interactives/sailing/index.html

Departure

It has been a while since a long serving (>1 yr) staff left our team, so naturally, I caused a little stir. History repeats itself.

As mentioned, Kevin, Wendy and Bhavani each gave me an unexpected gift. I'm surprised I mattered.

I could not trust my heart. I left without saying goodbye to most of my colleagues. I have no idea why it is affecting me worse now than when I left my first job.

Once I've done my exit clearance, I'm my own master once again.

Dinner was attended by Meng Kwee; Isabel (Belle); Kieran; Derek; Weiping; Teckming (Magician); Kaijie; Tommy; Eric; Steven; Clarinda; XXX; Alice; Kaifen (Xiaofen); Huikoon (HK); Angie, Jingying; Stella (Lala) and Tommy. Flattering to have our newer guys and girls to the team to turn up. My own team was only represented by HK as they have given me a private treat prior to this. We were split into two tables and I tried to share my time between them.

It was getting late and the girls asked if I could dismiss them. I asked why should it be me then I recalled that in Western decorum, no one can leave while the host is still present - and that is me. So we asked for the bill and called it a night.

Thank you.

Last day at Ulu Ulu place

I got unexpected gifts from Kevin, Wendy and Bhavani. Thank you.

I had my lunch with Huikoon and had a long talk.
Idiot Raymond... Thought she's my gf and scolded me online (msn). I scolded him back from not replying my usual messages and only did so when he thought I kept such news from him.


Had my exit interview, talked too much and.. that's it.

Now coming. Monday.

The right way to praise your child

[excerpt from http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20070716/READERS/107160102]

The Negative Power of Positive Judgment.

It's normal for parents to think their child is the brightest, most talented and cutest thing on the planet. But praise like, "you're great...terrific...incredible" can be too much for anybody, even small children. Extravagant praise is hard to take. And if you're like most people, you probably get uncomfortable whenever someone evaluates you. When someone tells you how pretty you are, most of us have an inner voice that reminds us of a time when we felt ugly. Children are no different. They often push away praise that evaluates, and sometime will act out in a negative manner. For example, if you tell a child what a great artist she is, she might tell you that her friend is better at drawing. If you tell your son he's a terrific pitcher, he might become embarrassed by your bragging.

Evaluative praise can also make a child come to depend on the approval of others.

Ask yourself, "Does my praise make my child more dependent upon me and my approval? Do my words help her see her strengths and abilities?" And while it's easy to toss out phrases like "Good Job! Wonderful! That's Great!," it's a form of praise that gets children to conform to our wishes. It leads children to measure their worth in terms of what will make us smile and offer the words of praise they want.

Descriptive Praise Works Wonders.

Instead of evaluating your child in praise, try descriptive praise. Start by describing exactly what your child did. "Aidan, you did a great job striking out those two batters." By doing this, your child will probably recognize the truth in your statement and feel comfortable accepting it. Oftentimes, the child will then accept his or her accomplishment, and praise himself. "Wow, I really am pitching better."

It's true that descriptive praise takes more time and thought, but the payoff is very much worth it. It offers unconditional love, rather than love that is conditional upon your approval. Descriptive praise has positive results:

2 days left

I am busy.
Yet I'm not really doing work...

Farewell lunches

With little fanfare, requests for lunch dates popped up.
There was one of them I was looking forward to but it had to be post-phoned. :|
Another colleague scolded me for not telling her and requested an appointment.
The latest surprise came from Diana, who wanted to arrange a lunch between her, myself and my fifth boss.

Ty. I think I should stop moving around for a while...

My immediate bosses

[post has been edited]

The first was gentle. He never scolded me for mistakes. When someone slipped me a RM$10 note, he paid for the difference. He took out the garbage together with the boys (me).

So was the second. When the manager scolded him for letting me read during work (I had nothing to do...), he did not pass it on.

My luck carried on to the third. She was always protective and constantly steered me from danger. There was once when my pride clashed with her caution and tempers ran hot. Fortunately I did not quit and she turned out to be possibly my best supervisor ever. Even when I switched to my fourth "boss", she extended her protection to me. She was sad when I resigned and that almost made me retract my letter.

My fourth was my peer. She was my match or better in programming so I was often at odds with her on how to solve a particular problem. I can pity her as she couldn't stop me from helping out of bounds. My third boss had to rein me in.

The fifth was a break in Joran's string of luck. Her eyes were on deadlines, not reality. She pushed like a fly buzzing in my ear. Once she stopped being my boss, I found her a better person.

Number six was an approachable and helpful guy. When shit happened, he did not lay blame. The bad part was finding a time when he is actually free.

The last is hard to label as a boss. She is my peer. I work along and support her as best as I could. For a while, I worried about being seen as over-stepping my place. Probably neither of us wants her position but she does it well.

The relationships we have with other people are projections of the relationships we have within ourselves

http://namelessjournal.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!25E1648C276D440F!1325.entry
A pretty good read by Mao Fu Ren, if you can handle Chinese.

Belachanbabe,
*wink wink*

Project planning

[Background]
I have been assessing the effort for a program change request for the last few days.
[/Background]

I have been colouring little excel boxes for the last few days, giving generous estimates to the program effort. I planned the scheduling, with 3-4 programmers in mind.
HK: "What you doing? We're lucky if we have 1 programmer".
Oh ya...

Me: "Have you seen my updated calculations?"
LT: "Can you give a breakdown for programmer and analyst's efforts?"
Oh ya...

-During the internal meeting
LT: "Does this contain User Acceptance Test?"
Me: "Yup."
LT: "Documentation?"
Me: "Nope." Darn...

This is a good thing, I guess. It highlighted my problem of thinking too much from a programmer's point of view. I broke down the programmer's tasks easily, but neglected the analyst's. Surprisingly, my coding efforts' estimate matched that of an earlier assessment, so that put my mind to ease that I was padding too much time.

A good learning opportunity. Ironically, just as I am leaving, with "lack of growth" as a reason.

Transformers: The new movie (review)

Warning. Spoilers.

Acres

http://acres.org.sg/donatetoAWRC.htm
A friend is making an appeal for her affiliated organisation as funds are low. I promised to make a donation on my next pay check...

Regrets?

"Why are you leaving?"
Hmm... Good question.

I like teasing my juniors; I am good at what I do; I'm the "guru" in programming (which is flattering but...); I have a good working relationship with my team. I'm missing them already.

It'll be a sad day. Maybe I should move around less often.

It doesn't get easier the second time

The news quietly exploded among our 50-strong team and I received private well wishes. However, some meetings were so heart-felt that it triggered off an unbearable feeling of tightness, 2 weeks ahead of schedule.

Once again...

I will join sometime sooner

I wrote on impulse and now I have to slap my own mouth...

This time, principles take a back-seat. An interesting contrast when set against a bitter post I wrote - here.

Some info:
I will be working in the city. Yes!
It will be a permanent position.
The salary gain is petty, so don't expect large treats, haha.
I will still be in the same field.
Possible overseas assignment.

-

Can you join us anytime sooner?

Strange isn't it?

They don't want job hoppers, yet they won't hire you without experience from your previous employments.
They value loyalty, yet they look for people who can join them with less than 1 month's notice.

Maybe I should state this in my resume next time.
"Personal ethics does not allow me to quit without a proper handover period of 1 month".

Btw, that means I'm not likely to get the job...

Transformers: The new movie

Noooooooo!.....

Back into the living

After 25 brain-numbing days, I'm back.

Another good news is that my "precious" have a new nose. So it's back to more DotA, Uncharted waters and Blogging...

Oh ya, the Greece thingy..

Return to my old unit: breakdown on what have changed and what have not

[Background]
After the events of 911, a new flight (mine) was created to supplement manpower needs when needed. We are to put on the old roles we knew so well. The crap we know even better.
In theory, when we are around, the active personnel would have an easier time.
[Background]


[Good]
1. More fans...
2. We can lie on the beds during daytime now
3. My old Camp Sergent Major is gone
4. The base appears more secure to public

[Bad]
1. Room is actually warmer now, with less ventilation and more warm bodies
3. His successor is even more "charming"
4. The base appears less secure to me
5. NCOs and Men divide is wider than before
6. Duties do not get lightened due to our presence. In fact, more duties were generated
7. Men are expected to use their initiative (see #8)
8. Men are expected to seek Control's advice when something is out of the ordinary (see #7)

[Just-as-stupid]
2. TV is still off-limits during the day
9. Contingency drills requires everyone to assemble outside the guard room. Perfect for a grenade or sniper kill

[New-high-in-stupidity]
10. Contingency drills require everyone to line up and sign for their ammo


I can go on but it would then be attacking the stupidity of individuals that are in-charge. I shall stop here.

Greece: write-up and photos?

I'm not dead. It's just that the number of photos are so staggering that I have been putting off the organisation.
Secretly, I have been doing some posts. However, as the excitement of the trip dies down, the entries get simpler and simpler, haha.

I back-dated these entries in May so that it is easier for me to relate to them. When all is completed, I will put up an index page so that you'll know about it.

If you can't wait, there are two tools for you to locate my posts. One is the archives. The other is the "labels" located below each entry.

Choosing a birthday gift

[post has been back-dated]

Belachanbabe wanted to buy me a belated present and asked me to pick my own. I refused to let her do a "Gaga" and went about looking at "anything".

I saw a figurine / bust of Saya(Blood+) in an attack pose, together with Hagi and I expressed my interests. She however claimed that it was too perverted as Saya was in uniform...

"Hello? Bleach is more perverted. Blood+ is serious all the way. Ahem, I correct myself. Bleach is very perverted."

However, my argument fell on deaf ears. She picked something in the end, unwittingly completing a collection of mine.

Later, we saw a nice display set of a popular cartoon series. It was several characters and its selling point is "Create your own opening scene!". Belanchanbabe then thought it would make a better present. I felt shy about returning the present to the shop-owner so we left it at that.

Thanks. Anyone wants to gift me a shelf next?

Tribute, inside joke or self praise?

[quote]
...My first awareness as I came to myself, such as I was, was of a medicinal scent, sharp and acrid. Next was the realisation that I could not move. I was lying on my back, and straps of various sorts kept me there. After a time, it occured to me to open my eyes.

...I resolved then and there to remain still while my head cleared. If I alerted the staff of this place--surely the mental hospital that Tuvoon had mentioned--they were certain to come in. No doubt they had permission to give me drugs to make me sleep again.

Something like this had happened to a fellow in a novel I read once. His enemies stashed him in a private sanitorium and authorised its staff to dope him to the gills. He, however, turned out to have superhuman strength and recuperative powers, and had busted his way out. I wasn't so well equipped.
[/quote]

Amber! Corwin of Amber!
Nine princes of Amber By Roger Zelazny.

I found this in the book "Lord Demon". The last work of novel by Roger Zelazny with Jane Lindskold before his death. I wonder who put that reference in and why he allowed it. Anyway, I burst out laughing upon reading it. Luckily, no one put in a mental hospital.

The Zen of guard duty

Sleep when you can
The best way to pass time

Eat while you can
It gives you a high and it lets you sleep better

Read if you're alert
It'll put you to sleep

Read if you're bored
Not as good as sleeping but it serves

Awakening

He thought it safe so he played with fire
Few were blind to his desire
She took time off, her heart to calm
That news he learnt, his heart did bind
To loot a burning house is not his way
Yet choosing otherwise is to cause him pain
The girl later chose, with her guy to stay
Life's painful lesson, taught over again

-Midgard, 2007

Dream of Santorini

Dreams as they go don't make sense. I just thought that it's amusing to log them and read at a future date. Readers might want to skip this entry.

[Dream]
Family came to visit me at Santorini for the weekend. Brought them out. "See the caldera? Nice, isn't it? Look at the streets. Note the stones are different from Paros and Mkyonnos."
Went into toy shop. Picked up a Veritech fighter box, tore open the black bag inside, saw a VF-1s and tiny figurines of Zentradi officer pod and UN Spacy's Mac II, which I already have. "Hey Melvin, you want a VF-1S?" "Yes, I want", replied Melvin. Wow, these days they stick the little models into Lego bricks instead of seperate items. Huh? These days I see are not for sale? Item turned out to be Jabba the hutt vs Stormtrooper on speederbike. The type is on the box. "Oops, you still want it? I can purchase it to complete my collection, no problem." "No, no, I can still get it." "You sure?"
Took a look around, rest of family is gone. "Oh no, stay here while I go look for them." Ran around a large modern train station, could find them. Came to town. Entered narrow streets. Entered a shop which turned out to be a massage shop. Boss(?) and Fauzi where there, having massages. Lied on a bed, which turns out to be the most expensive one at 28 dollars. Attendant started giving a massage by applying oils. When the massage for the other two guys have been completed, the massager's went to the center of the shop, which is laid out like a gym and took part in a popularity contest. Of them, who is the best massager? My guy won are came back to me. He seemed to have lost interest or lost track. Either way, he concluded my massage, leaving me unsatisfied.
Got off from bed, the coins in my pocket have spilled out. Segregated different denominations and put them back. Remembered that the rest of the family could not be found that they couldn't get into my hotel room as I'm the only one with a key. Phones won't work as there is no reception there.
Went to cashier to pay. The bill came out to be 40.05 Euros - because of herbs. Was unhappy due to lack of transparency but paid up. Gave them 40 Euros and a dollar coin. "Hey, what's this?", the cashier demanded. Took a closer look. SBP.. "Oh, Scottish Pound. Sorry, I took out all my foreign currency with me". Found the correct coin and paid them.
On way out, came across LHS and Fauzi. LHS uncharacteristically used his elbow to rub my shoulder, which only feels mildly ticklish.
[/Dream]

Scottish Pound is not SBP. It is used domestically and has the same value as GBP. Great Britain Pound is GBP.