My blog’s back for a bit because some people are wondering where it went to.

Is she not coming back ever?

And about twitter, either they didn’t have a clue how it works or are absolutely disgusted by the pitiful amount of text we’re allowed to write in there. I feel loved, like how they cannot go on with their days without having more to read from me. Right!?

So anyway, I got tired of the old layout and wanted to change into a new layout that I made eons ago. I thought closing the site would motivate me into coding the psd file into something we can all poke around with. BUT work attacked and ate me whole and I was thus distracted.

But I’m back. With an old layout. But at least it’s a change yar? Whatever…I have cool geeky picture to show!

Nexus 2007!

I planned for a busy weekend. And I was busy doing random things I didn’t plan for.

I did manage to squeeze some of my initial plans in. Like how I’m always saying how I need to catch up with school? So I read through one chapter of my HCI textbook. One whole chapter! And I fell asleep less than three times in the process. This is known as determination, yo.

Anyway, I was reading my textbook while we were doing some rituals for my grandmother. We were burning paper things for her so that she can receive them in the afterworld how whatever you call that.

I’m not the superstitious sort but I’m kinda wondering…people are practicing less ancestor veneration rituals although nobody can confidently deemed their purposes unfounded. I’m agnostic so I’m semi open to everything. And I’m wondering, if no one is gonna burn me paper stuff in the future, can I live with my grandmother? Cuz she has a big house, a holiday resort, a car with chauffeur and a private jet. I don’t know how she’s dealing with the inflation rate but assets are assets, I hope she don’t mind sharing? Or can I burn some now for myself and collect them when I need to? Burning a computer quite straightforward ya but how about The Internet? Advice will be appreciated, wherever they come from.

Random

Pink Jr and I chatting on MSN despite being a few steps away. I was in my room and she’s usnig the laptop in the dining room.

*{nu} says (11:01 PM):
ooh
why you message me?
you miss me huh?
but I’m HERE!
I’M HEEEREEEEE
12slc- p [e] a [r] l [e] e [n]- says (11:03 PM):
MOOO
12slc- p [e] a [r] l [e] e [n]- says (11:04 PM):
yoohoo woohoo
*{nu} says (11:04 PM):
you wanna come here and see me?
12slc- p [e] a [r] l [e] e [n]- says (11:04 PM):
dun wan
*{nu} says (11:05 PM):
then I go over and see you?
12slc- p [e] a [r] l [e] e [n]- says (11:06 PM):
dun wan dun wan dun wan
*{nu} says (11:06 PM):
i miss you leh

There are 4 computers in the house. That calls for a game of Gunbound doesn’t it?

Going through an induction course (despite working for 2+ months already) which ends today. I wasn’t really looking forward to it because I heard it’s gonna be pretty dull. But it was kinda fun and I’ve learnt a lot about the organization. I’m becoming a fan. Willingly brainwashed. Oxymoronic but true.

Parting with my induction course mates today. A bit reluctant but oh well…we can still keep in touch.

Back to work next week. Hopefully things wouldn’t pile but I’ve been going back to office to clear stuff so I don’t think there’ll be any issues.

Gonna finally enjoy the new speakers that Daniel (colleague) has dug out from somewhere when I was away. He even hook them up with my computer already! So nice of him to do that especially since he’s the only one who complains that I play too many retro songs.

Truth is, I don’t! It’s just that I’ve got a “boybands” (shut up) station at pandora and it plays songs from the late 90s era. 90s is not retro waaaat. Retro. pfft. Yao Si Ah!

Someone introduced me to “Pure and Simple” a long time ago saying how it’s very me. I was rather young and didn’t like the retro sounding music arrangement. But it grew on me over the years and I now have better appreciation for the song cuz of things that have happened. And in retrospect, yea… I was pure and simple. Oh well, wasn’t everyone?

Pure – Seeds Lightning (uploaded to radio.blog)

night time slows, raindrops splash rainbows
perhaps someone you know, could sparkle and shine
as daydreams slide to colour from shadow
picture the moonglow, that dazzles my eyes
and I love you

just lying smiling in the dark
shooting stars around your heart
dreams come bouncing in your head
pure and simple everytime
now you’re crying in your sleep
i wish you’d never learnt to weep
don’t sell the dreams you should be keeping
pure and simple everytime

dreams of sights, of sleigh rides in seasons
where feelings not reasons, can make you decide
as leaves pour down, splash autumn on gardens
as colder nights harden, their moonlit delights
and I love you

just lying smiling in the dark
shooting stars around your heart
dreams come bouncing in your head
pure and simple everytime
now you’re crying in your sleep
i wish you’d never learnt to weep
don’t sell the dreams you should be keeping
pure and simple everytime

look at me with starry eyes
push me up to starry skies
there’s stardust in my head
pure and simple everytime
fresh and deep as oceans new
shiver at the sight of you
i’ll sing a softer tune
pure and simple over you

if love’s the truth then look no lies
and let me swim around your eyes
I’ve found a place I’ll never leave
shut my mouth and just believe
love is the truth I realize
not a stream of pretty lies
to use us up and waste our time

lying smiling in the dark
shooting stars around your heart
dreams come bouncing in your head
pure and simple everytime
now you’re crying in your sleep
i wish you’d never learnt to weep
don’t sell the dreams you should be keeping
pure and simple everytime

look at me with starry eyes
push me up to starry skies
there’s stardust in my head
pure and simple everytime
fresh and deep as oceans new
shiver at the sight of you
I’ll sing a softer tune
pure and simple over you
pure and simple just for you

Love the movie! I generally like musicals so yea, probably not for everyone. In fact, the songs have far too much screaming that at a point it was quite painful to watch. Haha regardless, here’s one big song that Beyonce pulled off. Love it!

Listen to the song here in my heart
a melody I start but can’t complete

Listen to the sound from deep within
Its only beginning to find release

Ohh the time has come for my dreams to be heard
They will not be pushed aside and turned
Into your own, all ’cause you won’t listen

[chorus]
Listen
I am alone at a crossroads
I’m not at home in my own home
And I’ve tried and tried
To say whats on my mind
You should have known
Now I’m done believing you
You don’t know what I’m feeling
I’m more than what
You’ve made of me
I followed the voice, you gave to me
But now I’ve gotta find my own
You should have listened

There was someone here inside
Someone I thought had died
So long ago
Oh I’m screaming out
And my dreams will be heard
They will not be pushed Aside or turned
Into your own
All ’cause you won’t listen

[chorus]
Listen
I am alone at a crossroads
I’m not at home in my own home
And I’ve tried and tried
To say whats on my mind
You should have known
Now I’m done believing you
You don’t know what I’m feeling
I’m more than what
You’ve made of me
I followed the voice, you gave to me
But now I’ve gotta find my own
You should have listened

I don’t know where I belong
But I’ll be moving on
If you don’t, if you won’t

Listen to the song here in my heart
A melody I start, but I will complete

Now I am done believing you
You don’t know not what I am feeling
I’m more than what you’ve made of me
I followed the voice you think you gave to me

But now I got to find my own – my own

Mirth
Click here to get trippy!

This method of sleeping on the job is rather appalling! I’m deeply traumatized.

Geek
Css Menus Utopia: would be pretty useful when I start designing again, which wouldn’t be anytime soon. Truth is, I’ve got a completed designing sitting in my local drive for the longest time, I’m just too lazy to code them.

Art
Miss Van‘s website has been updated! Finally! There’s nothing much, just some publicity for a joint exhibition with another artist. You can find out more about it here.

An example of a gorgeous gorgeous work by Miss Van! So wish I could be there!

Anyway, I think I’m becoming a slave to my rss feeds. I have a paper due on Wednesday and here I am, checking out what’s hot on digg and what’s new in engadget instead. I’ll tell you what are some of my favorite feeds in another post. But I can tell you right now that google reader is the best feed reader ever.

• 0900: Woke up because I’m used to waking up early. I can call myself a somewhat early bird AND a night owl. Why be one thing when you can be both.
• 0900 – 1000: Surf through all my unread rss feeds. Interesting stuff are highlighted on your left.
• 1100 – 1230: My buddy’s solemnization at Hotel Rendezvous or however you spell that. I was sooooo happy for her! We’ve been friends for 17 years! Haven’t seen her for a while, missed her so much!
• 1230 – 0230: Project group discussion, productive despite not getting wireless connection at coffee bean.
• 1430 – 1730: Roaming around town and shopping with Paul and Marcus.
• 1730 – 1830: Braved the IT Fair crowd alone cuz those sissies would rather die than step inside. Was grossly crowded but received a good buzz from all the gadgets around.
• 1830 – 2030: Aileen and Vikram joined us for a yummy dinner at Marina Square. Dian xiao er or something. The duck is to die for.
• 2030 – 2330: KTV!
• 2330 – 2430: Went to Paul’s house to borrow sneakers from his sister (thanks Paul). Helped myself to the CNY goodies on the table. I’m surprised they still have some around.
• 2430 – 0330: Momo! Juicy was there! I love juicy lah! She’s the smartest sexiest sweetest and most humble babe ever! A number of the usual dance folks were there too!
• 0330 – 0630 – Supper/Breakfast

Then I’m up at 10 am today and couldn’t get back to sleep. Sigh.

Anyway, this is super cute lah! A post it table!

via Popgadget

Another day off!!! A reward for something else, something I would expect any employee to comply to. What the! Seriously! Tell me people, are there other good things in life that you’re hiding away from me?

Anyway, my colleague took this during one of our company outing. Vicki adores poses like this. She said so.

Well, we were actually doing those number poses (striking poses with numerical hand gestures ala cutesy Taiwanese girls) and I happened to be number 2. So there you go. I would love to show you my colleagues pictures but that’ll be rude. Oh wait, I AM rude.

So I will. After I sort out my stupid yahoo-ed flickr. Yahoo stinks, every awesome website venture they touches will turn into crapass.

My buddy Qianni is asking me to help her brother with web-design too. Ahhhh! Hi Qianni! Are you looking at this? AHHH!!! You all hor… when I was bloody free, back in the good ol days when me and Oprah were tight, you don’t ask… but you all have to need me NOW! Like right smack in the middle of crunch time. Doh!

I’ve seen my exams timetable! 20 April, 24 April and 4 May. God! May! Didn’t I went through that countdown thingy not too long ago? How come the middle of the year is creeping up already. WTF!

Boss gave a few of us an extra day off because we helped out in some event (I merely did a 15 min presentation and some facilitating). Like WTH!? Such things exist?

When I was at one company (which I shall not mention lest I get sued), I thought. “This is it man, working life sucks like crapass.” How I didn’t know how I was working in a sweatshop still amazes me. But such ignorance deserves to be punished.

Well, at least I had pretty great colleagues over there. One of em is getting married real soon and she’s asking me to be a sistah! Thanks babe! Luvluv! But I have exams and work and whatnots, still thinking if I should attempt to kill myself for her?

Speaking of schoolwork, I’ve got 3 projects to complete, one report to write, a few presentations to do, and the exams to study for. All these happening within these two months. Just thinking about it is making me exhausted.

On top of that, my Aileen babe is asking me to do a website for her startup. Yes yes, and I’m including that into my long list of to-dos too. Am I wonderful or am I nice? Someone was willing to pay 1.5k for a website but I wasn’t interested leh. Yet I’m designing one for her, absolutely free of charge! Am I awesome or am I peerfect? I think I’m all of them. Right Aileen? But remember hor, after this, you are indebt to me!

I’m actually blogging from school and my class has started…so toodles!

*edits*

Totally not paying attention. Saw the following email.

Dear colleagues and graduate students,
We have received the following request from Jurong Junior College. If you are interested in getting their students to help you with your research projects, please send me a title and brief description of your project by next Monday 12 March.
Hao Xiaoming

Got such things one meh? The world is turning in my favor these days.

- My family is happy and well
- Plenty of friends who love me and whom I’m really blessed with
- I love my job
- I love what I’m learning at school
- I feel great about myself. I should probably crap more but we can work on that later.
- I’m genetically optimistic. If that exist.

These two years have been wonderful. Even if I don’t have all of them in the future, I would still look back to this day and decide that I have a wonderful life.

Not that I wasn’t happy in the past, I was simply too young to be truly appreciative. Love your life y’all, we’re all blessed in different ways.

Went to the shared pad of three bachelors for a 3/3 (March the Third) party. Me and Aileen amused ourselves with a game of room raiders. Room raiders is this lame show playing in MTV but I watch it anyway because I’m super free (right mummy?). So we all settled for the last room which has a nice view of the pool, the biggest bed, loads of power suits in the wardrobe, weights and soccer ball on the floor. There was really nothing bad we can find there! How inspiring!

So I’m looking around my room searching for potential turn offs. There’s nothing! Awesome.

On the other hand, my room has many turn on points.

It’s Pink! Sexy!
IT textbooks and random gadgets scattered around. I’m one of the cool kids, yo!
Huge mess on my bed. I’m easygoing, nice.
Half eaten food on the table. Feeds stray bugs, compassionate. Tell me, who wouldn’t love a compassionate and caring person?

Raid my room!!!

Anyway, found this from notcot.org earlier (Oh notcot, how I love you so!)

Petite Salope means little slut in French. Charming! Lochers items are all innocently charming until you look a bit closer. Check out this one. I think we’ve found my favorite!

Different workplaces breed different work cultures. And people there often portray very similar traits. Meaning Hewlett Packard people would be very Hewlett Packard. Chrysler people are very Chrysler.

So it’s really ironic when one of the most regimental work environment (or so I thought) happened to employ an impressively wide spectrum of offbeat characters. It’s quite amusing really, to see really extremely different people bonding well together. Almost too cute.

It’s like heroes. I can try and describe each personality here but it wouldn’t do them enough justice. Speaking of Heroes, I totally want that power the internet girl have. It’s like having wifi in you. Efffffin cool!

School is not as interesting. The only good thing about this semester is that I’ve kinda identified a passion within information communication. Information communication is a huge sector. Some people might be interested in ajax, some obsessed with design, some are super anal about web standards. I think I’m really interested in Human Computer Interaction and truly believes in all the good that it can bring. Cuz users don’t really care about the technology that’s running the system. They don’t care if it validates, don’t care if the form refreshes without refreshing the whole site. Maybe they do, I think ajax is cool but my mum certainly wouldn’t have noticed a thing. And taking the cue from Apple, a pretty user interface may not be everything but it certainly is a luxurious thing to have isn’t it.

Hookay. I’ll stop here with a reminder to add me to twitter if you have one!

And finally, here’s another artist recommendation: Alberto Cerriteno.