Changjiang A328

Guess what, I went back to Sim Lim Square in the afternoon to buy one of the China Phones.

In the end, I chose a slightly different model from the one I had in mind yesterday.
But they are largely the same, in terms of functions and features etc.


Of course, my aim was to see if I can actually make better use of the phone. If I can manage to do synchronisation with my Outlook, I would be more than happy to switch to using these China Phones.

In some sort of ways, the synchronisation can 'work'. But somehow, it keeps complaining about not being able to write into the handphone, when it actually did, partially.
It manages to store the name and mobile number, but other details such as email somehow didn't go in.
Furthermore, due to the 'error' it complained about writing into the handphone, only 1 contact was copied into the phone at 1 time.
That makes it very tedious to do synchronisation actually.

The other thing about the synchronisation is that the calendar from Outlook cannot be pushed into the phone.
Still trying to see if there's any newer version of the PhoneSuite software meant for the Cheena Phones. :P

Other than that, the phones are actually quite value for money for all the features it has. No wifi and 3G though. The rest, you name it, it should have it.
On top of it, is has TV too.
Tried that, quite alright, but maybe due to home area, the reception is not that great. Can even see Malayia's Channel 7 and Channel 8.

Still trying it. If in the end not suitable for my use, I'll see which niece or nephew would like to have it ... ...

China Phone

The other day, met up with some partners. While chatting, saw him using a phone that is pretty different from what is commonly seen.

He's from Australia, and travel around Asia quite often. He bought a phone from Sim Lim Square, which is like HTC Touch Diamond.
I know Sim Lim Square has been selling these phone for quite some time, but never bothered to look at them whenever I pass by also.

Of course, what he bought was sort of a replica of the original, but as long as it serves his needs well, and at a fraction of the cost, he's happy with it.
Further, it can have dual sim card, which suits him well when he's out of his own country.

So yesterday, we went to Sim Lim Square also, to kaypoh kaypoh look at those phones.
Very interesting. The phones are obviously cheaper, else how to win market share right?
And best of all, it has almost all the features of those real ones, and even more at times.
Only thing is, most of them do not have WIFI and 3G, but these are not that important I guess.
What is lacking, to my interest, is that it appears to be unable to do synchronisation with Outlook, as they provide no software to do that. If this is possible, I would have bought 1 to try out already.

So when back at home, I did some searching, and it is indeed hard to get any PC Suite for these China Phones.
AT last I did found a few, just never sure if it is going to work with those phones at all.

Oh well, still thinking if I should get one of those to play play ... ...

Jogging

At around 5.10pm, Karinna said wanted to go jogging.
So exciting right? D'uh!

In order to help her exercise, although jogging is not good for her knees, ok lah.
What to do, she my wife leh.

We drove to the carpark at the other end of the reservoir, which is nearer to The Tropica.
So after warming up (anyhow), started to jog.

Wah piang. Si beh tired ok!
I don't think I run very fast lah, afterall, she will always run slower than me.
At least, my breathing still ok.

We ran probably about 1/3 of the round, and then did a U-Turn back to where we came from.

Don't be too ambitious when started exercise. Start from something smaller.
That's what I always tell her.

If really want to, start at a stadium, do maybe 2 rounds non-stop, if ok, continue. Give yourself some target, then can slowly improve to do more rounds without stopping.

When we were back at our start point, did some 'warm-down'.
See the diligent runner doing her warm-down.

Actually, for me still ok.
Tired? A bit.
Still can continue? Should be ok, but not too long. hehehe

And then, I felt my heel at my sole hurts. Maybe didn't jog properly.
Just now walk also felt some pain here and there.
Now better already. It needs to rest.
ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ....................

Sugar

Last Thursday, our friend came over and put her dog with us. The same one that came here on Labour Day for a trial, and then ended up at Bishan Dog Run the next day.

Anyway, they went Japan holiday, so put the dog with us for dog-sitting.
And yes, I had sat on the dog, Sugar. Crush her!

She's basically a quiet dog, doesn't bark much, except at our own dogs Precious and Sapphire.
And she is like a king, dare to walk into our master bedroom, where our own dogs would refrain themselves from going in.
What to do, guests are kings. hehehe

And she's a dirty dog! She poo poo already, then likes to eat her own shit!
Arrghhh! Disgusting! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeks!

Anyway, she won't be here for long. Tomorrow her daddy and mummy will come back, and probably take her back in the evening. Not sure what time also.

See Sugar with the hamsom man.

The Three ODD Musketeers.

The lazy Sapphire.

Sugar likes to sit under the dining table.

Sugar lazing under the living room's coffee table.


Karinna tempting the dogs with ang-ku-kueh ...

There were few other pictures taken, but that's all shown here.
See so many for what right? *yawn*

JDBC-SQL

Sigh.

Ever since SAP goes into Java-based, I sometimes feel very vexed with the things to be done on the technical level.

With my SAP-Basis background, I also find it difficult at times to understand Java-based system. In fact, I reckon that probably about 80% of Basis consultants cannot really deal well with SAP Java-based systems.
Maybe I am prejudiced. :D

Anyway, my colleague has a problem at a customer site, where they wanted to link the BW system to an external Microsoft SQL Server in order to extract the data from SQL into BW.

The way to do so is to create it as a UD Connector source system in BW. And in order to do that, need to make use of JDBC Driver for the SQL system, and basically need to configure the java system here and there to make it able to connect to the SQL Server.
Too chim? It's ok. It's jargon to me too. hahaha

So yesterday was installing a SQL Server in one of my systems. That's the easy part.
Loaded a sample database into the SQL. Easy part too.
Gotten the various JDBC driver, and put into my Java-based system. Fairly ok.
Then started fidgeting with the configuration to make use of the jdbc driver to talk to the SQL Server.
In the end, keep getting headaches with my tests, and more tests, and even more tests.

It got even to a point where my Java-instance cannot run! And took me a while to digest and revive the Java-instance back.
@#$@#^&%^*#%#$^&^*(*&^$

Fret not, the small brain of mine, anyhow click here and there, and now the java instance is able to connect to my SQL server with the JDBC driver!

In my BW system, it is also possible to see the tables and information from the SQL Server now, so it's a happy ending.

Good for me!
In the process, my experience in this area has increased yet again by a notch!
Ahhhhh!!!!
Provided I know what I have done that makes it work ...

What is it? :P

The Nick Vujicic Story

I was just sent a link from a friend Lynn, where she says "watch this! dun worri its not virus or spam, watch ok" in my yahoo messenger.

OK lor, I just finished watching a budgeting and planning tool demo, a little bored also.

Well, she gave me a different link, but it's in youtube anyway, so I just put the embedded video here.
I think it's brilliant, and everyone should watch it.

So, how would you like to end?

Geeeez. He can swim and surf, and play golf, blahblahblah.
How much have you done?

For a longer speech from Nick, catch the 3 part video starting from this:

颜黎明 - 我们这一班

For the older folks who still likes to feel nostalgic with songs from their youth-time.

The era of Singapore XinYao, will forever have a special place in the memory.

I've never been to "重逢" concert. Wanted to, but never really get to doing it by getting the tickets. hahaha

Again, internet has some interesting footage here and there.
In this video, most of the pioneers during that period were called on stage.


我的那一班
不知去向 。。。

Hospital Wait

This morning brought my mother to CGH again to do another round of endoscopy.

She gave me a little problem. She ate some biscuits around 6+am, when she was supposed to refrain from food until the procedure was completed.

Due to the swine flu thingy, it's now a hassle to get into the hospital.
First, the lift goes from carpark to level 1 only. Then you need to get out of the building, and make a turn at the other entrance near the 7-Eleven.
Then you need to queue to get in, and get scanned for temperature, and need to register with the staff there that you are there.
Then when you go the the lift area to go up, the staff will ask about your destination and reason and such and such.

We're also given mask to go into the building.
See Dr. Tay:

I'm not complaining that it is not necessary, just a lot more hassle due to swine swine. Si beh suay suay.

So I told the staff there about my mom's greediness for food in the morning.
After checking with the doctor, it's a go-ahead to continue.

This time, didn't wait too long for the blood test to come back, and the endoscopy was actually done before 1pm.
HURRAY!

Still, she needs to be admitted for observation.
Meanwhile, I went to take my lunch.

Wanted to take junk food, but hospital generally should not have much junk food around.
Then I felt like getting fruit juice, coz it's cheap there.
Then I saw they have this "Yakult Fruit Juice".
Hmmmmm. Sounds, peculiar. :P ... TRY.

Then I ordered 1, with Honey Dew.

$2 for it, well, quite ok lah.
Not so bad actually.

Went back up to the endoscopy ward to wait for them to move my mom to the ward.
Wait wait wait.
Wait until 5pm!

Alamak! Super terok!
And that makes me tired!

Sapphire Sunday

See the gong-gong look of Benjamin looking at my Sapphire?

Damn gong 1 right? hahaha

Went to see my mom today, then she asked me to bring my dog over to let Casper 'play' with it.
Of course, ultimately, Casper's play would end up beating it in some form, need to watch out sometimes. :P

Not that bad lah. Previously, Casper came to our home, and ended up learning how to sayang my dogs.
So today still sayang Sapphire here and there lah.
At least, he had some fun, just that my poor Sapphire was probably more scared than them, although Chrystal and Cedric sort of scared of dogs.

Additionally, also had to double up as IT support stuff to make their computer back into working order.
Piece of cake. Choco-flavour please!

My niece Pauline came over to my home after I went back. She needed some coaching on her Additionam Maths subject.
What to do?
The damn cute, and damn hamsom uncle is so damn good in his academics, and especially in the damn mathematics area.
So don't choose me, choose who? *giggle*

Differentiation. Wow! So chim.
I need my teacher Miss Rahma to re-educate me the concept again before I can teach leh. Sigh.
Next time integration! Die mah. Now I only know about integration with computer systems.

Ultimately, she's more careless than anything.
Do things and don't check properly.
Think more than 70% of the time is silly mistakes that she makes, or simply never remember some formulae well enough.
Cannot expect me to remember formulae that I know 20 years ago right?

The rusty part of my brain just happen to occur more on the academic area!

Fret not. I think I still fared ok this time. *wink*

Cheers!

Makan Makan

Today, brought my parents out for lunch.
I've never done that for the past 39 years I think, but today I did.
I'm not very filial right? :P

Anyway, brought them to Changi Sailing Club there.
Didn't know of the place until a friend brought me there around CNY time this year.
It's a pretty nice atmosphere place, and the food is pretty decent, and pricing also not very expensive.
So overall, okay to go and good to go. :P

We ordered a lunch set for 4 persons. Simple order. Save hussles in trying to go through the menu.
We had fish maw soup, veg with abalone, fried chicken, steamed fish, noodle, and dessert.
OK right?

Food wasn't that bad either.

After the lunch, sent them home, and came back home too.
Had a conference call with my colleague, rather my boss lah. :P

By then, it was like almost 5pm, and had to get ready for another makan session.

This time, it's with my mother-in-law. So we drove to Dorset Road there, one of the coffee shop. My brother-in-law and his wife were already there when we reached.
Food was already pre-ordered, so when we were seated, just ordered drinks, and the food started appearing in a short while ...

What do we have? Hmmmm
Assam Curry Fish Head, chicken again in dunno-what sauce, some mock-duck with mushrooms, yam with meat/prawn blahblah, and Tofu with roast pork.

Singaporeans! What can you do besides going around eating and eating?
Still eating.

Just don't look at my tummy. :)

ViaViente

Last week, when I came back from Bangkok, I was told my mother was looking for me.
Well, early next day, she called.

Told me that she wanted to buy some 'medicine' which will definitely cure her problems with her eyes/noses/tongue ... ...

Then she passed me a pamphlet showing the information.

It's a product called ViaViente by the company with the same name.

In short, it is a MLM product.

You cannot find it off-the-shelf. I searched internet for it, cannot find it to be sold in Singapore even!
Well, at least not able to see any trace on the web, except a link to send email to the ViaViente office in US.

So I sent an email to them, asking for purchase possibility in Singapore.
Took a while for the distributor to call me. Gave me some links, and I have to sign up as a Wholesale Customer.

Guess what, now I am a wholesale customer, and if I recruit someone to be a wholesale customer, I will become a member, and will then be able to earn commission from the sales of the products!
How cool right?
I see $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ coming in. Ha ha ha ha ha!

As a start, I bought 1 set. 1 set consist of 3 bottles, which should last roughly for a 3-month usage, which is to drink it.
1 set costs about USD$200.

So what is ViaViente. In short, it is a drink that is full of anti-oxidents, and lots of minerals, which will be very good for your body.
So it's a health-drink. So much so that it can help boost your immunity, and possibly cure some of your pains.
The idea of Simon Tay's mother.

Tell her many times that it is not really some form of miracle medicine, but as usual, it never gets into her head.
Anyway, the 1 set of 3 bottles can be a trial. If by end of 2 bottles still don't feel good with it, can refund, as I was told.

Good lor. Let her try, if really good, then I'll make myself a more activie member to buy more of the product, or even recruit members to help me develop a new business!
So funny right? hehehe
My research shows that it is a legitimate MLM, not a pyramid scheme, but don't mark my word for it.

Then again, I thought the following video is pretty interesting.

Swine and Whine

The swine flu has been the main talk-about news recently. Almost 10-15 minutes are devoted to the news related to it during the News telecast.

It's good to know that it is not as deadly as SARS, and flu virus kinda thing, it's always mutantly changing its genetics until you get caught off-guard.
The are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Virus!

So with swine, all the hygiene news come along too.
Do you really know how to wash your hands properly?
I just chin chai chin chai wash, and still do.

Let's hope the swine thing can go away soon, then people would have happier times travelling here and there.
I want to go US! :D

Now the whine part.
Reported news that no Coach of the Year was awarded, and more specifically, the previous STTA coach Liu who helped bring in the Olympic medal for Singapore after 48 years, was not even nominated.

Reason by STTA appears to be weak, in my opinion.
How can result not be a major criteria for consideration.
If no Olympic medal is won, they will definitely say no result was produced, thus cannot even think of nominating him.

A bad comment done during Olympics is really bad enough. And now a lousy reason.

I'm not Liu's supporter. I'm not STTA's critic.
Just the way I see, it's the whiners at STTA who cannot afford to be 'losing' face by honouring its previous coach.

Dog Run

Yesterday morning, we bring our dogs to the Dog Run at Bishan Park.
It's the first time we go to the one at Bishan. We've been to the one at West Coast and East Coast though.

There were some other dogs there, in terms of crowd, it's quite an ok size.

So our Precious and Sapphire were free to roam, I guess they were happy to run around.

Karinna teaching Sapphire to sit ...

Precious, Sapphire and Sugar, Georgina's dog.

Georgina and Karinna with Sugar and Sapphire.


Long long bring them to dog run is good.
Every weekend is too siong ...
hehehe