Sunday, May 31, 2009
You be the judge – am I really weird?
“Can I have a scoop of Tiramisu and Strawberry”? I asked after a tough decision, all of them looked equally luscious.
“You want Tiramisu and Strawberry together?” the guy on counter asked me surprisingly
“Yes – something wrong with it?” I had no idea what was wrong with my choice of ice cream.
“No.” Said the guy with smile “I have never heard anyone asking for such a strange combination” and I could see he was genuinely surprised on my choice, he even mentioned it to his colleague.
I shrugged.
PS: I don’t regret my decision, it was delicious.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Things you can do as a lecturer.
- Take multiple naps between lecturers (I know some lecturers do during the classes too but I assure you I am not one of them.)
- Whenever there is a books, technology, educational exhibitions/seminars etc you have a good excuse to cancel the classes and attend exhibitions/seminars, since they upgrade you. (or give you a chance to go away, have good food somewhere, enjoy the day off, and in evening just report back how hectic the day was)
- If you don’t have a class you can leave the office, go for shopping, or even a movie. And if (Just in case) – your boss calls you and asks where you are, you can always tell him busy doing some research for next semester’s course you will be teaching.
- You can always Bu!!$hi* around as if you are a big intellectual and know every little detail of things you have never even heard of, and people will believe you. (or at-least pretend they did)
- You get a good sense of being respected and self satisfaction that you are molding young minds, doing something good for the community. (or completely opposite one, that you are ruining them)
- You can play Facebook, Tagged, Friendster etc and call it online research about social science and computing.
- When you are bored to death and feeling drowsy you can write a completely idiotic blog post (like this one) and post it on your blog.
- Last but not the least, after posting it, you can keep clicking the refresh button to check if there are any comments.
Okay, I gotta go now, I have a class in few minutes, but I will be back to check if there are some comments.
PS: This post was posted during the height of boredom and drowsiness.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
IT Comics
Enjoy.
#6
Some of you might not agree with half of it, but the other half is completely true. It is worth a look.
#5
Haha!!... I have actually seen it happening
#4
Almost all of us have used similar excuse ;)
#3
I like this one, sometimes this is how we fix the bugs as well ;)
#2
It is so frustrating when your clients have no clue why they need software; the common perception is “Software will solve all problems” lol. And trust me, when you are trying to analyze the requirements they treat you as an stupid who don’t know the basic things hehe.
#1
If you ever end up fixing others code this is exactly what happens
Friday, May 22, 2009
And I wrote again
I guess, even after 4 years as a blogger there are many things I can not write about.
Do I want to?... I don’t know. Maybe.
Should I?... I don’t know.
Will I?... Maybe not.
I classify myself as very private person.
Perhaps some things/thoughts/feelings are meant to be private.
Frustrated
Moments ago, I connected my phone to my PC to transfer the files and it did it again, memory card corrupted - all photos gone.
*Scream*
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
I saw the dead bodies
But people around me in the train seemed so normal, as if it was nothing at all. Me… I kept staring out of window, on the surface of river and the disturbing images of dead bodies kept coming. One after another, I couldn’t count them all, after a while I stopped trying, but I kept looking.
No matter how wrong the things or events might be, but once it becomes your routine you are no longer effected, I think that’s what happened to people in the train, and I was afraid, the same thing might happen to me. And it did.
Today, when I saw those dead bodies again, I was no longer shocked, I didn’t give much care either, but I still wonder… I wonder why those fishes died anyway, is the water really that dirty and poisonous?
Monday, May 18, 2009
Blue screen of death
Anyway, when I woke up (and I didn’t feel fresh because of all that noise they call music) my Mom told me she couldn’t use the PC because it’s not working. Upon inspection I encountered the blue screen of death. I tried to boot the computer in safe mode, with last known good configuration, I disabled the onboard cache and finally I unplugged all the peripherals attached to my PC but all in vain. I was concerned because a lot of data is in that PC which I haven’t transferred to my new one yet. Finally I had no choice but to rerun the setup again.
It’s up again and now I am again going to be lazy and I won’t transfer the important data. Oh and there were other things I wanted to write, but I don’t remember.
Alas, its 4:35 AM and I have to wake up again in 2 hours for work. I am not a big fan of Mondays.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Presentation skills – what I expect.
Though Sunny’s post is thorough on the subject I would like to add what I expect specially if it’s a technical presentation and as a critic attendee. I feel I must remind all those students who presented their research work in ET, if it would have been my decision almost all of you failed. The only reason you passed was a lenient management policy of not to fail anyone unless absolutely necessary.
Pardon any inconsistency in the post because half of the things written here were written almost a year ago.
Dress well
It is not just the topic you present, you present yourself. If you don’t look good, your presentation doesn’t look good too. When I say dress well I don’t mean dress expensive or wear designer cloths, but something decent and appropriate.
Communicate
Presentation is communication; it is not just plain radio. Communicate with your audience using your gestures, body language, eye contact and voice. Be friendly, give away some smiles, and interact with them.
Body language.
Your audience not only listens to you, they watch you as well. And like the phrase goes, a picture is worth thousand words. What they see gives a far stronger impression than what you have to say. Studies show 55% of communication is done by the body language. If you look annoyed or uninterested for your presentation do you think you will convince anyone else to be interested in? Think about it, here are some suggestions.
- We often do things we shouldn’t be doing during presentation and some time we don’t even realize we are doing it because those are part of our personality – our habits. For example putting both hands in your pockets for too long or setting your hair with your hand. I always suggest to rehearse in front of mirror, so you can see what your audience will see. If you don’t like what you see in the mirror, chances are, others won’t too. You can also try recording yourself.
- Smile is a powerful tool. It gives a message of friendliness, ease and comfort. Use it. (Not a chuckle or laughter)
- Use your eye contact to regulate the flow of communication. Remember you present to audience and not the computer, wall, objects etc. Don’t keep your gazes to one person for too long as well, every one is equally important.
- Use the correct gestures, be lively.
Voice Command
- Like I mentioned 55% of communication depends on body language, your actual words that you use have only 7% impact. 38% is your tone, I can tell you, you are an idiot and stupid and you will smile or I can make you angry saying the exact same words, using different tone and body language. You can emphasize on important points, tell how serious the matter is all by your tone. Vary your tone, depending on the importance of what you are saying.
- Avoid long pauses – pauses are important and do use them, to get the attention, to raise the curiosity but make sure the timing is perfect. I will say don’t use any pause longer than 3 or max, 5 seconds. If you are setting up an equipment, writing on board etc don’t stay silent. If there is nothing else to say share an experience, tell a joke but a silence of a complete minute is a Big NO
- Use your volume, lower your volume to show a concern or raise it to show the importance, after all, presentation is all about acting. Same goes with the pace
- Don’t give me language excuse; your language skill has nothing to do with a good presentation. Language is only a tool, use it like a tool, if you lack one ability use others. One trick is, if you are out of vocabulary, shift back to your language without hesitation for a sentence or two, as it was intended to. Or you can be more formal and use something like “... Like we say in malay/urdu” and you make a transition.
Prepare the presentation.
- And before you do, you should very well know what tools will be available? For example a projector. Prepare backup as well, if plan A doesn’t work what will be the plan B
- Time is important, use it wisely. Make sure you use your facts in your time, cut down or add up information depending on the available time. Rehearse to make sure it will be within the time frame.
- Play with your words, add humor, ask questions but don’t force your audience to give you an answer, if they don’t, instead you give them an answer. The trick is ask questions which only have a 1 or 2 answers, and prepare yourself how you will continue from either answer.
- In your slides (if you have any) use bullets instead of long sentences. List down points not the complete explanations. Use graphs, charts etc. Don’t use words you don’t know the meaning of. If you can’t explain properly some technical part don’t add it up.
- The flow of your presentation should be something like this, you present the problem (yes you can exaggerate a bit, emphasize on why it really is such a big deal) once done, you suggest a solution and finally you will give benefits of solution.
- Oh and Never – I mean NEVER EVER READ from your slides.
Hope it helps.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
New Virus
Okay, just a thought.
Maybe it’s a good movie idea, please give a credit if you do decide to make a movie on it :\
Monday, May 11, 2009
Annoying things that happened today
- In queue, while waiting for the train, this lady doesn’t want to get into the train because it is crowded. (I think four to five people can fit in). First you won’t find an empty train for an hour at this time of morning and even when you do, it will be crowded at next station as it is now. So why the heck you don’t want to board the train? Okay Fine! Don’t, but at-least offer a way to others so they can board as most people don’t have the luxury of time like you do and they are willing to compromise their comfort.
- The machine ate my money. Yes the stupid ticketing machine ate my money. It was just $2 but then I had to use the long queue on counter since I didn’t have any more change. It just ate it, said thank you but never gave me a ticket :\
- Office Air Conditioner isn’t working. It is running, but its not working. It’s just running, I was sweating the whole day and God know how many days we will have to live like that.
There were other things I wanted to write. But I forgot.
I think by now you can tell how blur I am.
Google Reader
So I started to subscribe blogs that I read — and other web sites — and other blogs — and anything else that seemed interesting and guess what… I have 187 subscriptions now and I have no clue what’s going on. Every second there is something new and I can’t keep up. And now it seems so difficult to remove them, and which ones.
Bhaaaa.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mothers Day and Tare Zameen Per
I remember when I watched it first time in cinema almost ever eye was wet, every hand had a tissue. I think the movie have touched millions of hearts. And specially when you have a kid in a family who is Autistic.
Okay, yes I admit, I did end up shedding some tears here and there.
Here is song “Maa” (Mom) for you from the said movie.
Quote(s) of the day
Bill Cosby
If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed and color, we would find some other cause for prejudice by noon.
George Aiken.
In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known
Thomas Pickering
To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all
Peter McWilliams
Saturday, May 09, 2009
State of existence
Author: Me
Reason: Unspoken
Pain: Ultimate
Run away chances: None.
Update
I do have many different chunks in my mind to write about, but I have no idea how to relate them or where to start.
In short, I have burnt a lot of calories.
Yesterday I bought a new desk top and this will be a first blog post from the new PC. I have tried to keep myself busy in assembling and installing.
I think you can see I have no clue what I would like to write, so I will stop.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Blogroll rants
I also updated some links which were changed or moved to other addresses and removed old ones. Although there are dozens of links I would like to add but as most of you know me, I remain the ‘lazy’ one to do so.
In the mean time, hope you enjoy the new blogroll plug-in.
Monday, May 04, 2009
I am your Master - I am a Man
So, Mr. X sneaks into Ms. A’s cell phone and goes through her SMS and call details; and he had courage to inquire and argue about one call length she had (Approx. 20-25 min). As if his very first act of looking into private things wasn’t unfledged at all, not disgusting at all.
The call at hand was from Ms. A’s friend who is having some of his own problems and he was just discussing those with her. But Mr. X insists the only possible explanation for such a lengthy call is — you are having an affair on his back. What utter nonsense. If she wanted to have an affair with someone else why would she stick with such a lowlife like you anyway?
So after the altercation they had over the issue, the conclusion; Ms. A’s SIM got broken and she is not allowed to contact with her friends who are guys. What saddens me more though — is— she might do as he asked. She will, as most women do, allow him to treat her like a property and not an equal companion with equal rights and freedom.
Although I wish the best for her and hope she stays happy, it is highly unlikely the wishes and hopes can solve the problems. I believe, men will never manumit, they never have. The answer is not in the hope things will get better but in an action from women, in a refusal of being treated as a slave.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
The best dance
Tapping your cell phone
Friday, May 01, 2009
Money Planning
Maybe there is a chink in my pocket and I am dropping out my money everywhere? :\
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Follow-up on my last post.
So it’s confirmed now, shall I complain to Western Union about their Agent, or RHB about their branch and employee? Or just be me and forget what had happened?
Monday, April 27, 2009
RHB bank - Western Union and their service
I went to RHB bank just now to receive money thru Western Union, because I was suppose to buy medicine for my 12 year old cousin back in Pakistan, who is Autistic and still doesn’t speak or hold proper social skills. Let me remind you that this is not the first time I am receiving money using same method. Here is what happened.
I filled up the form and went to the counter. “Hello, I am here to receive money using Western Union” and I handed over the form.
“Do you have your Passport?” asked the lady
“No, I have my ‘i KAD’ (Expatriate Identification Card)” I produced my I KAD
“I am sorry, you need to have your Passport” she said
“But I have my i KAD, you don’t expect me to carry my Passport all the time, do you?” I said, knowing that I have used the i KAD countless times for both Western Union as well as Money Gram.
“Maybe at other agents, here we need your original Passport” she sounded confident which made me more p****** off since just last month I received money from the same bank as well as same branch and I told her so.
“Just last month I used it right here on this very same counter” Now I wasn’t smiling anymore.
“Maybe last month, now we don’t, this is a big amount”
“It is exactly the same amount I received last month; it wasn’t big amount last month?” I was being sarcastic now.
“No we need passport” Now her customer service sweet smile was gone and she sounded agitated as well
“Why the heck not the i KAD? I don’t make it at home, your Government gives me this card, Immigration told me I can use this anywhere instead of Passport as my authentic identification, you can even verify my finger prints from the database right now, you can even verify this card is authentic using simple SMS service to immigration” My voice was defiantly raised.
“But bank policy changed” It was clear she was out of excuses.
“I don’t see any notification posted, perhaps you have some notice or memo you would like to show me?” She kept quiet, and I tried to lower my voice and politely asked again “would you please confirm it once again from your superior, I am telling you I have received money using my i KAD previously several times” and she went away to consult someone.
After few minutes she came back with this guy who didn’t even greet me with a hello and said “Sorry, our system went down, cant process Western Union requests right now”
My Blood Pressure jump to my tamples again.
“I am sorry, this is just an idiotic lie, but let me ask you this, this means you are saying I can use my i KAD but only your system is down right now – correct? So I will wait right here till your system comes back online” I was bluffing, I didn’t want to collect the money anymore, I was simply just angry and I was seriously thinking to bring it higher and complain.
“No” he replied with blank and confused look, I am sure he wasn’t used to of getting someone who will argue. Maybe most people just go back when asked.
“You know what – Sir, I am really, I mean really disappointed in your service and behavior right now, and I will make sure you have to give an explanation for all this” I spoke slowly and angrily “May I know your name and designation?”
His eyes widened and narrowed, and you won’t even believe what he did. Can you imagine? He babbled “Oh and …. That is there” and run away in one direction out of my sight, pretending he just remembered something important and avoiding telling me his name. Arghhhhhhhhhhh
I was so P***** off.
Call for header design
The design specifications are, I think it should be 1600 pixels in width and it will be squeezed to fit according to user’s browser. Height, I believe should be 200 pixels.
If you know my email address you can send it in my mail or you can comment and ask for it. And thank you if you even consider doing it.
Upgraded
I decided to change the theme, and when I did, they once again laughed at me, I was “Obsolete” since I was using a Stone Age version of Wordpress; never mind, I upgraded to 2.7 version of wordpress as well as a new theme called Atahualpa. Hopefully, I am upgraded now.
There are more than 200 options of the theme itself and various in wordpress, it will keep me busy for few days trying to figure out what is what. Though I have noticed some fonts have been messed up in some posts.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Income Tax
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Gender of the Monkey
Google Friend Connect - The world has changed
Hmmm any suggestions? I am still skeptical about keeping it or just throw it off and go back to my simple world.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Woods Camp
As mentioned by Mr. M the idea of this camping date’s back to August 2008, right after the first camp, there are very few people with amazing ability to turn ideas into reality – and one of them is Mr. M. he proved it once again.
Around a month ago I first found out about the camp but I wasn’t sure if I will be able to join it for many reasons, some of which were personal and some family related. In the end I did make it.
During the course of preparations, arranging, settling things, marketing etc and God knows what else, I used to get updates mostly from Mr. M and partially from the Committee Members or Ms. Y. It looked promising knowing there were so many colleagues and friends who were willing to join along with the students. But disappointingly some of which couldn’t make it at the end, with the reasons ranging from business, family and personal choice. Similarly some of the students couldn’t make it either.
We ended up with thirty eight participants. Mr. M asked me few times to join him while he was arranging things but I was never able to make it because of my contact hours during work. On 18th of April when we got there it was my first time to see the place. Let me list down the Good(s), the Bad(s), the Cute(s) and the Ugly(s) of the experience.
I might post some photos later (if I am not really lazy) otherwise if you are a camper drop a comment or email and I will send you some. Or collect a CD from me once I burn few.
The Good(s)
-Finally going there on Woods Camp in reality.
-Being away from Kuala Lumpur and work
-Amazing view of nature, trees, crystal clear fresh water. (Not to forget ice cold)
-Independent and responsible committee members (Hats off to you guys)
-Decent transportation (it was a mess last time)
-Just laying down in the streams (it was heaven in itself)
-A chance to know a different side of every participant.
The Bad(s)
-Maintenance of the chalet (I would have preferred more cleaner one)
-The place being too big, it was too far away from one place to other
-The HEAT and the HEAT and HEAT and HEAT HEAT HEAT (it sucked out all my energy, specially the second day and I was completely dried out)
-No spoons (yes no spoons, had to eat with hands and I really don’t know how to. I ended up eating not only with my mouth but my chin, cheeks and even nose.)
-Loosing a game of chess from Ms. J (Just Kidding. I know you are a wonderful chess player. At least I won all other 3 games I played with others)
-The fact that I would have loved some others to be able to join the camp, but they couldn’t.
The Cute(s)
-The Poser Monkey.
-There were many participants who were cute in their own way, and since I don’t write the complete names there is no point to mention the initials.
And the Ugly(s)
-The waste. Either from one of the participant or the Monkey. But I hope it was the monkey (kidding)
-The Lizard (or was it crocodile/dragon?) it was around 1.5 meter long. Black. Ugly. Disgusting. I went up to the chalet around 2 AM and I saw it on Mr. M’s chalet. I didn’t dare to go closer.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Charles Petzold
Charles Petzold is a legendary author about computers, specially programming on windows platform. He is one of my favorite authors and he never seizes to inspire me as a programmer, as a student of technology; and he gives me a strange sense of motivation—He is a true visionary.
I am reading one of his books again and some of his lines are echoing in my head since yesterday. I just wanted to share.
“Late at night, when the day’s work is done but the brain is still buzzing, programmers have sometimes been known to ask themselves this question: Is programming an art or a science?
Surely it seems like a bit of both. As an artist, the programmer starts with a palette of basic tools, spreads open a canvas as wide as available memory, and with a dash of inspiration begins fashioning a unique creation where once existed only random bits. But the canvas can’t be decorated with complete anarchic abandon. The syntactical rules that govern the tools of programming may allow an infinite variety of constructions, but at the same time they are as strict and unrelenting as the laws of nature.
Programmers are the designers and builders, architects and bricklayers, visionaries and engineers of the modern age. The edifices we build become the global cities of the future, an ever-expanding series of links and connections between people, communities, and information, often with a beauty truly admired only by those who share our passion. To nonprogrammers, our creations are rarely respected—unacknowledged when they work correctly, cursed when they fail, and abandoned when they become superseded—even as they become ever more essential to users’ lives.
A computer program is a magnificent machine. Were it to be implemented with whirling gears, levers, and pistons, it would fill our rooms with a music of breathtaking complexity. We’d see logic in motion, algebra in action, a dance of data. A strange vision, yes, but that’s really the perspective the programmer sees, as pieces of a program are fitted together with a precision unmatched by machinery in the corporeal world. Few joys in life come close to the thrill of getting a new program working, seeing it suddenly blink awake and take life before your eyes.
Such joys are never experienced by the vast majority of computer users. Most people who use computers these days aren’t programmers and never will be. They instead simply run applications—word processors, e-mail programs, Web browsers—that other people have programmed, or they use appliances—cell phones, DVD players, bread machines—that have computer programs embedded deep inside.”
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
An attempt to come back
I am having feeling of “uselessness”, being caught in void and static. And I desperately need to do something, and I know what I should – I must. But that’s where the “Excuse Master” comes in. It’s another part of me, with great excuses about why I shouldn’t do, or can’t do what I must. Anyway, till next time, here are few lines of chat I had with my student the other day, sometime they scare me :\
STUDENT: sir..
Me: Yes Sir?
STUDENT: your ass want print screen or burn in cd?
Me: My "Ass"?
STUDENT: WHICH ONE
Me: I have only one
STUDENT: ASSGNMENT
Me: phew ....you scared me