6 Seconds To Relax

Ever have one of those days when it seems there's not a minute to catch your breath, let alone meditate or relax?
A day when you feel like the proverbial busy bee, with no time to admire the fragrant flowers you're landing on?
Or, perhaps for you, some days flow smoothly, but there are still some - or many - during which taking a break feels impossible.
On those days, instead of an evening, an hour, or even 15 minutes to relax, could you spare 6 seconds?

Yes, that's right… 6 seconds.
That's the time it takes to let yourself have 1 relaxing breath. 2 seconds breathing in through your nose, and 4 seconds exhaling through your mouth.
Right now, I'm going to ask you to take 12 seconds for an experiment.
At the end of this sentence, practice that relaxing breath… 2 seconds in and 4 seconds out.

That's right. And once again at the end of this sentence… 2 seconds in and 4 seconds out.
Even that little amount of time – 6 seconds - can help your body and mind relax. Let your heart rate slow. Let some of the stress slide away.

Now how can you give yourself the gift of relaxing breaths during even your busiest days? One answer is to pair a relaxing breath with an activity that comes up repeatedly during your day. For example, let's say you're a secretary. Each time your phone rings, breathe before you answer it.

(6 seconds is less than the time it takes for the phone to ring again, so no one will even notice you're taking time for yourself.)

"Smile, breathe and go slowly." – Thich Nhat Hanh

Top 3 Misconceptions About Tech Careers

http://www.insidetech.com/benefits/articles/3517-top-3-misconceptions-about-tech-careers?referral=IT_nlet


The Information Technology (IT) and tech industries may lend themselves to a few key misconceptions. You may have some false hopes or reservations about the type of work and environment you'll find in the IT world. This week, I'm going to do a little myth-busting and reveal the reality behind the three top tech misconceptions.
1. Tech is exciting.

I've been to trade shows and seen all the hype surrounding new technologies and product releases. Tech careers expose you to lots of things to be excited about every day, but the truth is that a tech career is very much like any other.

In my experience, the well-run, successful technology companies are disciplined, conservative and (quite honestly) a touch boring on a daily basis. Sure, there are companies like Google and Apple that buzz with excitement. The fascination surrounding a hot start-up or a revered web giant is more centered on the vision and direction of the company, rather than the daily work you'll do there.

Working successfully in technology requires that you keep your eye on the goal that you and your employer are striving to accomplish. Keeping goals in mind can give whatever mundane or tedious task you're working on some merit in your own mind. If you can keep that vision, the allure of it can lead you to eventual fulfillment.
2. Junior is always online; therefore he's a computer whiz and should go into technology.

I see this all the time from hopeful parents. There is a big difference between loving the application of technology and loving the building of technology. While Junior may be a budding computer whiz and be destined to make his fortune in the technology field, he could also be simply enjoying emailing his many friends.

As with other career choices, it's wise to ask yourself if programming, administering or building technologies is what you could see yourself doing 40 hours a week. It's a good idea to take a course or two in programming and then make sure it's the right direction before jumping in with both feet.
3. I wasn't good in math or science, therefore tech isn't for me.

I've heard this statement on a semi-regular basis. It's also completely false. There are a number of supporting and instrumental areas in the tech field that aren't directly involved with the development or application of the technology itself.

For instance, a good project manager is vital to the success of large-scale endeavors of any company. Some of the worst project managers I've known are those who moved into management directly from a technical role. Management takes a very different skill set and usually requires a peripheral understanding of the tasks at hand. Coders, network managers and system administrators can make great project managers, but a deep technical background is not always a requirement for the job.

Tech companies also need personnel managers. In my experience, technology buffs are notoriously untalented in dealing with the human aspects of their jobs. Time management, administrative tasks and career management can be tedious and dreadful for someone who has focused on technology. Good managers can harness the single-minded focus of a seasoned technologist for the good of the project and company. Without these managers, tech workers can easily get lost in the weeds of administration.
Asking the question.

If you take the time to honestly assess your own skills, you could find a place in a technology field or discover that it's not the appropriate place to focus on.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am still trying to make any sense on my career choice... coz right now, all I can say is:
overworked, unrewarded, unappreciated, unchallenged...

It just feels like so dead-end...

The tie that binds... on strings, tensions and gauges...

Sampras played with the thinnest string available and strung his stick to the tightest tension position, Guga has lower tension preference. I once wondered if string gauges and tension made any diffrence on playability, turns out.. it does...

I had a chance to play on a gauge 17 string (I didn't until I broke 'em); and it played very well... my shots has a crispier feel. But I only got to play on 'em once, after that I've been gauge 15 ever since mainly for economic reasons since the lower gauge string tend to pricier and a tad hard to find. They also tend to break easier as compared to the larger gauged once...

When I used to be able to play on a regular basis at 2 to 3 matches with race-to-8 games (you could say, we were the competitive recreational types), I would end up breaking my strings every 2-3 weeks on the average. At first, it felt good; it's an achievement for every beginner level... a kind of passing that you have achieved a level of game... that you can already break your strings. That's how it felt when I played again during my 2 year college hiatus. But then again, after breaking one too many... and since there weren't that much variety of strings available at our place... I ended up cringing at the thought of breaking 'em again, coz it took a dent on my pocket (we're not pros, you see)...

I don't usually mix my strings, like what the rest are doing these days... they tend to mix the mains and cross for playability or longevity purposes.

But I believe, it's mostly for playability. I have no preference actually... I would not mind mixing strings, but for purpose of economics; i might opt for not mixing the string up, besides; I don't play that often these days... I'm more like the weekend warrior.

Here are some pointers in case anyone needs some reference on what strings to use on their sticks:

With literally hundreds of different strings on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to find the one that best complements your game. But if you take the time to understand the main categories of string and what your priorities are, you'll have an easier time narrowing down the possibilities. There are five categories of string:

• Nylon Solid Core: This is the most basic (and least expensive) type of string, with a solid core and one or two outer wraps. These strings are fairly durable and hold tension well, but they aren't the most comfortable because they're relatively stiff and don't cushion much of the ball's impact. Companies typically call their nylon solid core strings "synthetic gut." Some of the best choices in this category include Wilson Extreme Synthetic Gut, Gamma Synthetic Gut, and Prince Synthetic Gut Original.

• Nylon/Polyurethane multifilaments: These are the top shelf of synthetic strings. Multifilaments are composed of hundreds, often thousands, of individual fibers that are woven together to create a uniform piece of string. With multifilaments, you'll get excellent feel, and, because they do a good job of absorbing shock, a comfortable sensation. Multifilaments usually run from $15 to $30; when you factor in the labor, it's a pricey but worthwhile proposition, especially for better players who like to feel the ball. Our favorites are Wilson NXT Tour, Technifibre NRG2, and Gamma Live Wire Professional.

• Natural Gut: Still the gold standard, natural gut-which is made of cow intestine-pockets the ball more deeply across a smaller area, for control, but also allows more of the ball's energy to be returned to the ball, for pop. And you won't find a more comfortable string, so if you have arm problems, natural gut is, well, the natural choice. Gut is the most expensive, it isn't durable (players who hit a heavy ball have been known to break a string in a couple hours), and though companies now use protective coatings, the string is still the most susceptible to losing tension when it's exposed to moisture. Babolat, which produces 90 percent of the natural gut on the market, has many types of gut; we like the Babolat VS Touch.

• Polyester: These strings are popular among advanced players who find that poly takes a little power off their shots, enabling them to swing harder and still keep the ball in play. Polyester is also ideal for those who tend to break strings but who don't want to use a stiff, uncomfortable Kevlar hybrid. Polyester's biggest weakness is that it loses tension quickly, though the latest generation, of which the Babolat Hurricane, Head Ultra Tour, and Wilson Enduro are among the best, does a better job of maintaining its tension thanks to recent advances in the manufacturing process.

• Hybrids: The combination of one type of string for the mains and another for the crosses is called a hybrid. This is done for durability. Frequent string-breakers should go with a stiff aramid fiber like Kevlar for the mains (the strings that usually break first) and a softer synthetic for the crosses. Hybrids last long but can produce a boardy feel. Two of the most popular prepackaged aramid hybrid sets are Gamma Infinity and Prince ProBlend. Some newer hybrids offer a polyester/synthetic gut (or natural gut) combination for a more forgiving feel than Kevlar-based hybrids. Wilson Ultimate Duo, Wilson Champions Choice, and Pacific PolyGut ATP Blend are 3 great options.

Source: Midwest Sports

Makes no difference whether what kind of string I use; haven't tried anything beyond the ordinary nylon strings anyways. But I seem to like to multifilament types... the gauge 17 string that I had used before was of that kind; and it did have a good feel at the whacking...

Now that I mentioned it, I just broke my string recently (cringe-ing)... hmm, might want to try out another multifilament kind... but I may need to re-string my other stick... I keep 2 identical 95 sq. in. Wilson Pro Staff 7.1 sticks (inherited from my father)... they are vintage collections for the tennis stick enthusiasts. I'd need to have the two sticks strung w/ the same string and tension so that I won't be making too much adjustments when I switch in the middle of a game... ;-)

Re posting from my spaces blog...

Fly Away - Lenny Kravitz

I wish that I could fly... Into the sky
So very high... Just like a dragonfly

Id fly above the trees... Over the seas in all degrees
To anywhere I please
...
Lets go and see the stars... The milky way or even mars
Where it could just be ours

Lets fade into the sun..  Let your spirit fly
Where we are one.. Just for a little fun
Oh oh oh yeah !
...
...
I want to get away x4... Yeah
I want to get away... I want to fly away
Yeah with you yeah yeah
I got to get away

[ o n e ! r o ] (c)™ 2.0 update...

[ o n e ! r o ] ©™ 2.0 update...

i have just updated the [ o n e ! r o ] ©™
  -added labels/categories
        -oneiro works: related to technical thingi's that i tinker around on
         my free time. anything tech related.
        -penny for a sweat: work-related rants and screams... sometimes even a whisper...
        -tennis and yellow balls: anything i can think of that is related to the
          yellow ball and tennis...
        -toys for little big boy: my toys... gadgets and...
        -watchatink wataytink: what i can think of on something that i find usefull
         or useless
       
       
i have not completed labelling the rest of the posts just yet, but as i go along... i'd be having more labels
until the whole shindig has been ideally labelled/categorized...

desk job hazards...

don't stay holed-up in the cube too long...



http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9115340

nostalgia... for home...

of the journeys you make, and places visited...
of cultures and peoples interacted with...

... you adapt,
... you assimilate,
... you strive to fit in...

but at the end of it all,
... you are still you,
... your heritage,
... your culture,
... your kind...

i'm a filipino working here in singapore; as much as we try to make this place
a home. with families, friends kept close to keep the feeling and sense of "pinas"
it almost feels like home... when i spend the day with Famela;
... walking the streets,
... malling,
... hanging out
home is wherever you have your family with you... and here, it almost... almost feels like home.

at work; we'll it's another story...
i stream... stream for true blue "pinoy" radio stations :) thanks to the internet these days...
10 years ago, when we were in brunei w/ my dad working... there was no radio streaming over the internet.
there was no internet even...

yeah, pinoy radio... it's kewl.... better than the stations here... at least for my taste..
here's a playlist least you feel like streaming too... just add them to your media player or winamp:
Monster Radio RX 93.1 Cebu
105.1 Crossover
96.3 WRock

New toy's a SCREAMER... an audio utopia for me...

Recently, an I.T. Expo has just wrapped up. It was held sometime on the last week of august here in Singapore at the Suntec International Convention Center. It was the COMEX Show 2008; as usual, it was a galore of I.T. toys for boys… an I.T and Consumer Technology Exhibition; basically, it's just one big grand sales thing to me. And come to think of it, it's usually every end of quarter of the year, so there's one around March – The I.T. Show; June – The PC Show; August – COMEX; November – SITEX; so guess there's no worrying missing the gadget that you've been wanting, and there're always something new for the show to showcase.

At the COMEX, we got an Altec Lansing VS2421; it's a 2.1 speaker system that is a screamer and I mean a screamer. It's small and compact and yet, when it's on full volume, the bass does not break. I mean, it can hold out unlike our old Altec Lansing 251, which would break at high volumes. Anyways, we can enjoy sound tripping and watching movies with having to strain on the tiny speakers from the laptop (another one of the toys I posted about previously)

We also got a wireless router, a D-Link DIR-300; enabling us to have wireless internet connection at home. Spares us from the limitations of wire connections, but with a compromise to connection speed hehehehe but the connection speed is just fine so far. We got our router at almost half the price so I guess it was a bargain enough since it came with a lifetime warranty.

The last was a webcam- a LifeCam NX-3000, helpful when chatting with families and friends. Especially for Famela, since her sister's in Canada & they have a webcam. It comes with a microphone, which makes it more convenient…

Now, if I could just get rid of the wires and cables…. Hmmm… Bluetooth?...

1,000 balls to start... 10,000 more to perfect... that's tennis...

I got to play tennis last sunday... I mean, TENNIS...
and it felt good again... really good... tiring good... but good...

It started when I posted at Tennis Friendz Network, a local (singapore) tennis network that I was looking for anyone looking for a hitting partner.
I was looking to hit with others who has higher NTRP level than me (I think I'm a 2.5-3) & who was willing to hit too. As usual, it's a weekend warrior thing (weekdays are work days, but I guess night games can be squeezed in should the need be). After getting delayed for a week due to rains, I  finally got to hit some real balls...

It felt good, to be able to hit again with players better than me. Obviously, after almost 1 1/2 years of not being able to play has taken their toll.
I couldn't hit the backhands as well as I used to (my left wing used to be my favorite shot)... be it a topspin, or slice... I just sprayed all over the place. I had to hit them defensively, just putting the balls back into play. On my right (forehands), I was hitting better but there are still some obvious rust in them. I just kept to the baseline most of the time, even if we were playing a doubles game. I couldn't hit the volleys even; other than the easy ones. I tried adapting to an eastern forehand grip sometime ago to no avail... I just can't control the shots; so I'm back the the ol' semi-western. As for moving around the court, well... what can I say :)  I've been out of it for awhile so I would make an excuse to be slow; a step behind, ...slow to react (you know where the shots are going, but your body is still slow to react), ...court-vision is off;well, all in all... it has all the symptoms of a long absense from playing.

My body was sore the next day :) the wrist numbs a bit (i'm glad it wasn't sore), my back was sore, my shoulders ache and so was my legs. The worst hit was lower back; it was really sore that I could not sit still for long. Even till now, I still feel the numbness on my lower back...

Probably, after a few more hits; 4-5 more sessions... then I'd get comfy again and start getting back in the zone. The 4-5 hitting sessions does not mean that I'll be able to play the way I used to but it should get me comfortable on the court again... be able hit on both wings, move around better, hit the volleys. But to be able to play, REALLY PLAY again... hmmm lemme see, 1,000 balls to get the rhythm and 10,000 more balls to perfect them...

At the end of the day, I'm just glad that I get to play again. It's a good stress reliever (all work and no play, makes a tad duller day) & a good sweat too (gotta rid some poundage too)...

The US Open is on now, hmmm gotta check who're still in the hunt; I know Rafa, Fedex, Nole are still in there...

of rainy days... and tennis blues...

I don’t really mind the rain… in fact; I get a sense of calm with it.
It’s pattering on the roofs or the ground, the sound of the rain drizzle…
…it has such as soothing effect
…it calms all that’s troubling my mind…
…the touch of the rain’s kiss… it’s soothing caress

But it is a spoiler too…
My day just really breaks whenever I’m all set to play tennis; and the rain pours.
Imagine, you’re all mentally fired up to play…
Tennis gears in hand, packed up and ready to go…

Then bang… it pours… arrrrggghhh….

I’m still hoping for the rain to take a breather later at 5pm…
Even if just enough time to give me a sweat for 1 game :(

The Yellow Brick Road... not in the land of Oz...

Ever found yourself loosing your way around Singapore? hmmm this may seems odd; Singapore is a small country and you'd wonder if you'd still get lost? You still can... and most likely...

Following the yellow brick road can a challenge, especially when you still have to find where the road is. Having a map can come in handy ;)... Once, when I was in Hong Kong for an assignment and I decided to walk around on a weekend... and since I didn't know the place, I'd flip open a map just to know where I am :) try going to the Mong Kok or around Causeway Bay area on a weekend on your first time and you'll know what I mean... I would actually open the map right in the middle of a crowd and I couldn't care any lesser; it felt like I was a genuine tourist hehehehe...

These days, with the GPS being available; it's probably a lot easier to travel around without getting lost.

But GPS Service also comes with a bit of a budget, I believe there are subscription fees to avail of GPS Service but I am not that certain though...

Since GPS comes with a price tag, I have taken to using the Google Map for Windows Mobile; on my WM6-enabled phone. It's a pretty handy system; it works just like the actual Google Maps and it's free; where you can search for a place, and find directions on getting there. I am able to look for any locations anywhere in the world even, the same goes for the street names too; provided of that the Map information is maintained at the Google Maps database... there's pretty much a high chance that you'll able to find the place you are looking for... and that's for all over the world ;) However, you need to be connected to the Internet to be able to do the search. Connecting can either by viav WIFI hotspots or via GPRS; just like GPS, GPRS comes with a fee too (based on bandwidth, I believe). But there are WIFI hotspots here in Singapore where I am able to connect for free via Wireless@SG. So, there I go… search for the yellow brick road when lost hehehe

There's another system similar to Google Maps, that's also convenient to use; no need to WIFI hotspots, GPRS or GPS… just a plain old Map application developed specifically for mobile devices. It's the SLA StreetMap Mobile; jointly launched by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and MapKing (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. This system is limited only to Singapore, and it has better details on the places here. You may even be able to find an HDB unit…

I have used these system on an occasion or two, whenever we (me & my wife) seem to be lost… and they do come in handy… hmmm, except for knowing where the North and South are (basic mapping and orienteering, thought during our scouting classes when we were kids)… it's probably a lot easier finding the yellow brick road… happy trails…

A Leader Should Know How To Manage Failures

I stumbled into this blog from devpinoy.org while I was browsing to pass a lull at work and I traced the original post to a blog at geekswithblog.net

Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam at Wharton India Economic forum, Philadelphia, United States March 22,2008)

Question: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?

Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's "Rohini" satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.

By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure.

That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.

The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, "You conduct the press conference today."

I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience….

This reminds me of my share of failings too on the projects that I have worked on over the years… I have had my shares of leaders who took the responsibility when we fail or fall short of what was expected from us. To me, the effect is that I get a sense of value of the work that I failed to do, that it was critical; I am a valuable member of a project … it me a sense of motivation that I have to be able to deliver the expectation…

On the other hand, I have had my share of those that left me into the lion's den. These left me with a sour taste in my mouth; I still remember it as if was just yesterday…

Reduce Stress at Work

Health Tip: Reduce Stress at Work
Suggestions to try
-- Diana Kohnle

(HealthDay News) - Your job can be a great source of stress, which can significantly impact your physical and emotional health.

The AARP offers these suggestions for handling stress on the job:

• Set up regular evaluations and meetings with your manager to establish expectations, goals and discuss your workload.
• Build your prioritization and time management skills, so that you avoid having to always work overtime, or take work home with you. Allow yourself free time away from work to relax and do things you enjoy.
• Take advantage of any flexible work schedules, long lunch breaks and exercise opportunities that your employer offers.
• Don't check email or answer work-related calls at home, unless it can't be avoided.
• Recognize when it's time to look for another job if your current one is causing significant stress and unhappiness.
  

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/stress-management/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100192531&OCID=eml_msnnl_6005.11.5.19&REFCD=emmsnnl_6005.11.5.19

Another toy for the kid in me... but not a toy, really...

I’ve just got a laptop… guess, you can call this another new toy for the boys, but not a toy, really.

 

It’s more like an all in one package where I can still continue studying for what I do for a living; (being in the IT field, requires you to keep abreast with technology developments) I usually keep tabs thru the MSDN, CodeProject, CodePlex… I can list a lot of IT resource sites hehehe ;) … you catch the drift here…

 

I am just hoping to still be able to continue studying - continuous learning, I believe is the catch phrase on IT related things... if not for the curiosity, then just to be able to keep the edge and at least still be able to keep abreast with technology’s evolutions. Since there are things that I may/would not be able to work on at the office (you know… constraints on resources, legacy systems and all… plain red-tape, if I may say so), at least with my little lappie, I can still continue and keep on learning… (now, this is a wish list… but I’d like to keep this a reality)

 

It’s also an entertainment package for us (me and Famela) whenever we get bored; (just grab a DVD… play… wham… we’re watching a movie already) well, all work and no play makes for a dull life so we have to loosen up every once in awhile. So, this is what we do… we sometimes watch movies. In the absence of DVD’s, we stream movies; either from YouTube or from Watch-Movies.net. If we’re up to watching just about anything, then YouTube is the choice… but if we want to watch a movie, then Watch-Movies.net is the one (you just have to choose, coz sometimes you may end up watching the pirated ones but there are some that are clear, like genuine.

 

Sometimes, watching (streaming) movies would come to a bore… so, we sometimes just opt to read… News, Magazine, Techs and Toys for boys, Showbiz (hmm not to mention Philippine showbiz buzz, Famela’s favorite), Sports (Tennis mostly :D you may call me an addict to this hehehe a student of the game)… and this… posting a blog, blogging gives me a medium to vent out the aspiring writer (ahem J) in me. I blog just about anything that I can think of… what I am able to accomplish at the end of the day, what I am able to observe on a day to day basis, what I  dream of… blogging provides a means to keep things in perspective and it does help in a way or two….

 

So this is what I got this lappie for… learning, entertainment, development, hobby package for us… not bad for a piece that I got from an the I.T. Expo last March 7^th… This is a modest machine, a Core Duo @ 1.86Ghz, 3 GB RAM (I got the extra 1GB for a freebie a 120 GB HHD, WiFi… nothing fancy really, HP’s website features this as a entry/mid level mobility machine; the battery is a bit of a limitation though (2hrs) max… I’m gonna be looking for an extended life battery, at least 4 hrs. max, that should be good enough..

Blog from my mobile...

This would be my first blog thru my handheld....Kewl,a mobile blogger :)But l can only post in short notes since my mobile has limited space to write on...

I'm passing time here at the Bugis Junction, watching the fountain while I wait for Famela get off from work...somehow, the water has a soothing effect from a stressfull day...

work productivity (even if at the most minimal if you may even call it)

Whoa… this is kewl… I actually got my first taste of working offsite (out of office) well, at least a bit of it… checking email, coordinating for progress updates…

 

I actually intended to show up for work in the afternoon but somehow got held up a tad longer on an engagement. So, at least to be able to make-up for the lost time I could at least try and keep tabs at work by checking emails, sending updates (apologizing for missing work on a critical phase of a project). I got a ton of emails (follow-ups, updates, schedules for meetings), it’s a good thing that I am able to wire-up (wireless actually) and there are free wifi services (wireless@sg) here at selected places in Singapore which is a bit of a kewl thing…

 

Niways, all I could do is review on updates, send updates, confirm schedules… but at least I could say that I had some productivity (even if at the most minimal if you may even call it). I know I have my work cut out for me when I get back at the office tomorrow… hmmm what can be expected, let’s see: reprimand (most likely), deadlines (most likely) I’ll be glad if I still have my job L

 

It’s actually kewl to be able to do this once in a while… taking the most of technology to help you...

Hope I’m still alive tomorrow ;)…

 

Last blog for the month... but no blog actually...

Sigh...

Just to serve the purpose of blogging, but in truth... no blog for now just yet.
I can think of so many things to post for a blog...

but I just can't squeeze the time :(
guess I gotta keep trying to find that little tiny-winy time :)...

Hope to be able to post more in the next month...

and back to tennis...

I'm playing Tennis again... a few weeks ago, I had my rackets shipped to me here thru a friend
who flew to Cebu to attend her daughther's graduation rights. When we heard it, we took the chance
to ask for a favor if the rackets could be brought here... and now... well, here it is...

I used to play Tennis, while I was a little boy; my father would take me w/ him to the tennis court
as he used to play also. But Tennis had no appeal to me when I was younger; not until I was on my teens...
that's where it caught my fancy.... I think it was also because Agassi was cool that time...
These were the times of Edberg and Becker, Stitch.. then came Courier, Agassi, Sampras...
They were legends of their own generation and I enjoyed watching them play on TV .

I stoppped playing after college and it's been quiet some time
since I whipped a two-handed backhand (my favorite shot) :D
Anyways, I've taken Tennis again; me and Famela... I'm teaching her to play and at least it's something that
we can do together on a regular basis as an exercise...

My movements are slow, my shots are out rhythm and my breath falls short :D ...
heheheh, guess it comes with the long hiatus..
but they are still there... ;) hehehehe

I'm playing tennis again... nothing competetive yet...

illusions of better days

these days, just don't get any easier...
i am really illuding myself that things would be better...
just when you start to see things in a better light, you start to hope...
things just turn downward spiral...

am i illuding myself of a better day?
are days meant to be a fucking drudgery?

sigh... what else... what else...

[ o n e ! r o ] (c)™ 2.0 update...

[ o n e ! r o ] ©™ 2.0 update...

i have just updated the [ o n e ! r o ] ©™
  -google adsense features
  -links to other blogs using blogrush.com
  -rss feeds from developer resources
     -from codeproject.com
     -from developer fusion
     -webservices updates from msdn...

it's closer to how i want it to be... :D

accidentally brilliant choice....

I took an online career quiz, it's one of the many that find on the web these days.
it's not like i buy 'em but i find them to be a bit interesting... at least they do SEEM to give
some interesting insight as to the career that you should be pursuing...

this one i took from monster.com; monster.com is also a job search site & the career quiz thingi just happens to be
some of the features they have on their site... hmmm and i do have a profile in monster.com :D (grin)

Discover Your Perfect Career Quiz
and i found the result to be interesting... here they are:

Life as an INTP
(Intravert, Intuitive, Thinker, Perceiver)

People of this type tend to be quiet, independent and private; logical and unemotional; creative, ingenious and innovative, global thinkers; curious and driven to increase their competence; casual and adaptive; nonconforming and unpredictable.
The most important thing to INTPs is their privacy and the opportunity to solve complex problems in unique ways.

Great careers for INTPs
Here are just a few popular and often satisfying careers for people whose Personality Type is INTP:

* Computer software designer / developer
* Legal mediator
* Financial analyst
* Economist
* College professor: philosophy, economics
* Musician
* Intellectual property attorney
* Web site designer
* Investigator
* Strategic planner
* Neurologist
* Pharmaceutical researcher
* Network integration specialist

hmmm what can i say... hehehe what i do for a living is right on top of the results list.... heheheh
savvy...

Great blogs on software development and project management

Found this blog site... i like the articles written here...
it's called:
Buu Nguyen's Blog
Thoughts on software development and project management

He's an Engineering Manager from Vietnam...he's great blogs on software developement & it's worth a read...

none but only gains…

My brain is scattered all over the place…

Projects are starting to pile-up…

Work loads are starting to crash-in from all directions…

Break them down to smaller parts…

Manage, Prioritize & Isolate…

Collate once completed…

Lose standards, set one…

No Templates for project documentations, create one…

No design architecture, build one…

What is there to loose, in the absence of any…

…none but only gains…

techie overload... for soulful recluse...

Music is food for the soul, it has been said…

And I indulge myself with it… I listen to music, in fact; I prefer listening to music rather than watching TV. Depending on the mood, my music preferences varies across assorted genres, some of which I don't even know what… J it's music nonetheless & I enjoy it…

I use, Winamp 5.31 for U3 (click link to download) when I'm listening to music while at work. (shrug), I don't have those portable mp3 players, so I opted to install a player on my workstation. I prefer using my winamp over windows media player, even if my media player is the latest version already.

Although Media player has got some cool features (especially internet radio streaming & it looks better than the old versions) it takes a lot of space in the system, it has a large foot print. It takes up almost twice a much (~28000kb) to Winamp's (~11500kb). I knew that the former eats up a lot of space but I never actually checked it, till now using Process Explorer (click link to download).

Nothing spoils the pleasure of listening to a mood-centric tune while working than a machine that's slowed down by an application meant to make your work better. Music helps relieve a bit of work stress; it can even help productivity since there are people who like to listen to music while working.

What I like the most of the Winamp, is I can carry it anywhere, along w/ my favorite mp3's… and launch it on any workstation.

by happenstance...

We just moved to a new office last March 1st, it's a lot better than our previous one. We're no longer packed up in a small room with our desks so close to each other...
Our new office is on the new building, we call KOM Tower... that's Keppel Offshore and Marine Tower to be exact.

The space is reminiscent of my cube at NCR-CDC; where our workstation are setup on the corner of our cubes and we have a large desk space on the left and right sides.
We had our own phone lines then, but what we have here, is an in/out tray... I can do away with the phone :) it' s not a loss... Where my screen used to be a 17" CRT is now and LCD... the machine is faster too :) a C2D w/ 2GB RAM... hehehehe I feel like a kid with a new toy hehehehe... The place still smells of wood working & it's till pretty quiet here... the rest of the departments haven't moved in yet. but most of our team are in place already... soon, there'll be about 3-4 groups on the floor w/ bosses in private office on the sides... yeps, it's bound to get a tad noisier but then again, it's all bound to have some noise or two.. not unless I'm all alone on the floor :) niways, this is good...

Keppel Offshore and Marine Tower is located in the TUAS area of the Jurong Industrial Estate in Singapore... Ok, ok... I've moved again... and yes I would agree... this is the road less taken, maybe not taken at all... w/ all this moving and traveling... but then again... chances and opportunities are not always predictable; so you just have to grab as much as you can while you still can.
Hunting here in Singapore has been in the works for some time, it's just that the prey were hard to come by. so here we are... and I took the road again.

On foresight, this does not end here... maybe, just maybe... and I'm just hoping... praying... this time around things would work out...
The best laid plans may not always be attainable but at least, there's a better chance to get things to move forward...

Reference E-books for Development Works

I stumbled on this website as I was looking for free programming books (in e-book format):
http://www.freeprogramminge-books.com

I was searching for articles, references specific to the .NET Framework and I noticed the site has a vast repository of references for other programming platform also.
I was able to download ebooks on the following:

The Art and Science of Web Design by Jeffrey Veen
Microsoft patterns & Practices: Design and Implementation Guidelines for Web Clients
Microsoft  Building Secure ASP.NET Applications

I have yet to squeeze in the time to catch up on some reading but it was a relief that there were these articles available.
There are other sites which has free ebooks, but these are what I have uncovered for now...

Anyhow, it was a relief to have stumbled unto this coz this can be a great help whenever I'd be needing to look for references.

Who is colored?

I got this from a colleagues who sent us copies of this email...
It's interesting to think that it does raise a thought or two on the subject of race...

It's said that this was written by an African kid and was nominated by the UN as the best poem of 2006

WHO IS COLORED?

When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in Sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I sick, I black
And when I die, I still black

And you white fellow
When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you grey

And you calling me colored??

Sweeper works...

It's a nightmare maintaining a legacy application... nightmare is perhaps an exaggeration but that is how i'm feeling right now...
one that was built without proper development framework...
no coding conventions...
no documentation of any sort...
most of the knowledge base is passed on from developer to developer...

to make things more challenging... the technology used to build the solution was from almost 10 years ago
which suffice to say, the solution it was supposed to provide has been outgrown by it's problem domain so-to-speak...

the challenge is how to make the available resources adapt to newer technology more capable of providing solutions it should give.
the challenge is how to seamlessly lay-out a framework based on the current technologies w/o ever breaking the legacy solutions.
the challenge is how to migrate legacy solutions to the more than capable development technologies....

.... the challenge ... a challenge...

It has been brooding in me to attempt to break the norm & lay out something new....
There isn't much to lose anyhow... i could try to create a prototype, to prove the concept.... then let the stakeholders decide....

challenging as it may be, what with the limited tools i have at hand...
challenging as it may be... a challenge indeed....


I am not exactly a brilliant developer... not even that good...
but over the years, whenever you see an system where you are able to see the design from the inside, meaning being able to read thru the codes,
trace the table structures... be able to see the overall architecture... I believe you'd know a good design from a shabby one...
I may not code the most optimized codes of them all but... (sigh) what can I say... this one I'm maintaining has a lot of room for fixing...
the design should be able to use at least some OOP based concepts, but they seem to be partially implemented....
the database, all the more...

guess all of these, comes w/ the job...
sweeper works...

[ o n e ! r o ] ©™ @ blogger.com alpha 1.0

Earlier I posted a blog that this would be an alternate blog site for the [ o n e ! r o ] ©™...
we'll here it is... it's finally having a face...

But as for the blogs themselves, there isn't much yet... however, I have provided links to the posts from the spaces.live site.
I'd mostly be posting future blogs on this site too...

anyhow... here's the alpha version of the o n e ! r o ] ©™ at blogger.com

Personal Finances Lite 2.4

Ever thought of being able to track down expenses, savings & earnings sans a full accounting system?
I have been searching a tool to be able to provide w/ such... I have even thought, why not just create my own... being a developer and so...

Anyhow, just as when I was about to just get on, with the heck building my own from the ground up... I stumbled by chance on one simple
solution that gave me exactly what I have been looking for... a simple stripped-down solution for tracking down expenses, savings & earnings...

...Personal Finances Lite 2.4 from Alzex Software.
www.financessoftware.com

This little application even comes w/ a U3 compatible versions, which made even handier... since it can run on my U3 enable flash drive...
this means I get to carry this w/ me all the time, darned portable.. hehehe

Now, I should be able to track down my finances easily, without ever needing to have a full accounting system... that is I have anything to keep track on...