Sitex 2007

This time every year, I head down to Sitex with my dad to snap up some really good hardware deals (never mind that they are usually $2 or $3 cheaper than what you will get at sim lim), and to look at the latest technology. This year was no different. When Sitex came around, we went down to Sitex to have a look, and maybe pick up a bargain or two. I wanted to check out the prices of the new Ipod Nanos as well as a motherboard for my computer, both which are fried.

In the end, I was disappointed.

Very disappointed.

Unlike the years before, the show actually had some small companies from sim lim coming over to sell their wares. This year, it seems like the major players in the technology scene has decided to put their stuff out (economy doing well, maybe) and, like what they do best, stomp out the competition of the smaller businesses.

Harvey Norman has practically taken up half of one of the halls just selling its TVs and digital cameras. Samsung took up the other half selling their stuff. Where Razor set up shop has year at the corner of the expo hall, this year, it was replaced by logitech, selling only a few graphics card but plenty of their keyboards and the like. The only hardware I found was the kingston ram area where they were selling Laptop DDR2 rams for $30 for 1 gig.

Within 45 minutes, we were out of that place.

It was a stark contrast to the 2 hours I spent there last year, peering from stall to stall, just wondering around and watching the DOTA match-up invitationals.

Big companies are good, in a sense, since they help push the prices down for us consumers (You would think so...>_>). But, when shows like these comes around, is there really a need to show case all that cameras and phones? If I wanted one, I'll walk into Harvey Norman myself. Sitex 2007 is pretty much an absolute waste of time for me. I didn't get to see how the new graphics cards work, didn't get to look around for some cheap hardware for my computer. In the end, all I brought was a gaming controller for $30 which I shared half with my brother. My computer remains unfixed, and I am none wiser when it comes to Ipods.

And also, I realised something too.

The model girls, fabulously looking ladies (not in a perverted sort of way >_>) looked pretty... bland this year. Beauty comes from within, but it seems like the beauties of the exteriors have gone missing this year.

Or maybe, my perceptions have changed.

After all, many things did happen during the time I was not in Singapore. :)

To me, only one girl looks fabulous now.

Hehe.

Home.

Finally.

No fancy artwork this time. I'll make a new banner if I see a good one. Just can't find a half decent picture around.

Edit: Found one from the Prism Ark game. Hehe.

---
Song of (whatever) changed to Soshite boku wa..., by Sakakibara Yui. Finally got around to doing the damned lyrics.

此の空が眩しすぎて　そして新い朝が来る
kono sora ga mabushi sugi te soshite atarashii asa ga kuru
This sky is so dazzling, and so, a new dawn will arrive.

僅かな勇気だけを　振り回してるだけじゃ
wazuka na yuuki dake o furimawashi teru dake ja
If I am only relying on this bit of strength,

ホントの「強さ」なんて　解るハズもないんだね
honto no ' tsuyo sa ' nante wakaru hazu mo nai n da ne
Then I’ll never know what is the true meaning of “strength”.

緩やかな丘を上って　星の一つになるう
yuruyaka na oka o nobotte hoshi no hitotsu ni naru u
By climbing up that normal hill and becoming one with the stars,

もしも叶うなら。。。
moshimo kanau nara. . .
If it can really be fulfilled,

苦しみよ　愛しさよ　次の扉を開け放て
kurushimi yo itoshi sa yo tsugi no tobira o akehanate
Whether it is love or sadness, let me open that door.

たった一粒の涙　その雫よりも早く
tatta hitotsubu no namida sono shizuku yori mo hayaku
Before I let that one tear drop

抱きしめてあげたいから　僕は戸惑いも超えられる
dakishime te age tai kara boku wa tomadoi mo koe rareru
I will forever be hugging you.

此の空が眩しすぎて　暗き闇は消えゆく
kono sora ga mabushi sugi te kuraki yami ha kie yuku
This sky is so dazzling. The darkness will slowly edge away.

輝きはプルズムへと　そして新しい朝が来る
kagayaki ｗa puruzumu he to soshite atarashii asa ga kuru
The light which is coming from the prisms, it will bring the new morning to us.


心に翼がある。飛べるワケじゃないけど
kokoro ni tsubasa ga aru. toberu wake ja nai kedo
Although there are wings in my heart, they are unable to take flight.

大空舞い上がれば　雲を突き抜けて行く
oozora maiagare ba kumo o tsukinuke te iku
It wishes to fly high in the sky, bursting through the clouds.

弧を描くアーチに沿って　夢の話をしよう
ko o egaku aachi ni sotte yume no hanashi o shiyo u
But, it is merely sleep talking if I say that I want to follow the drawn arch.

瞳を閉じたら。。。
hitomi o toji tara. . .
My eyes are closed..

悲しみよ　切なさよ　高き祈りを解き放て
kanashimi yo setsuna sa yo takaki inori o tokihanate
Whether it will be sad or painful, release me from that height.

たった一秒でもいい　胸に宿る温もりを
tatta ichi byou demo ii mune ni yadoru nukumori o
Even though it was just for that one second, a warmth has entered my chest.

気付かせてあげられたら　僕は、迷いも忘れられる
kiduka se te age rare tara boku wa, mayoi mo wasure rareru
Once I realised it, all my doubts will be forgotten.

此の空が眩しすぎて　暗き闇は消えゆく
kono sora ga mabushi sugi te kuraki yami ha kie yuku
This sky is so dazzling. The darkness will slowly edge away.

輝きはプルズムへと　そして新しい朝が来る
kagayaki ｗa puruzumu he to soshite atarashii asa ga kuru
The light which is coming from the prisms, it will bring the new morning to us.


たった一秒でもいい　胸に宿る温もりを
tatta ichi byou demo ii mune ni yadoru nukumori o
Even though it was just for that one second, a warmth has entered my chest.

気付かせてあげられたら　僕は、も迷わない
kiduka se te age rare tara boku wa, mo mayowa nai
Once I realised it, all my doubts will be forgotten.

だった一つの涙　その雫よりも早く
datta hitotsu no namida sono shizuku yori mo hayaku
Before I let that one tear drop

抱きしめてあげたいから　僕は戸惑いも超えられる
dakishime te age tai kara boku wa tomadoi mo koe rareru
I will forever be hugging you.

此の空が眩しすぎて　暗き闇は消えゆく
kono sora ga mabushi sugi te kuraki yami ha kie yuku
This sky is so dazzling. The darkness will slowly edge away.

輝きはプルズムへと　そして新しい朝が来る
kagayaki ｗa puruzumu he to soshite atarashii asa ga kuru
The light which is coming from the prisms, it will bring the new morning to us.

The path back home.

Mmm. Finally.

And so comes the end of a rather taxing year, where I was having fun with 4 subjects and 20 hours of work every week.

Whee, but it's all over.

ph33r.

And now, to look forward to going home :D

Of course, before that, there are somethings to take care off.

Like getting a new place.

Check list for summer:

-Learn to ice skate, again.
-Try not to destroy the world while trying something new.
-Play Bioshock.
-etc

Moving up in a company:

One of the more prolific department managers is finally seen getting training to become a real store manager, hence finally moving up the rugs of the corporation hill.

But, how long does it take? Rumor has it that it took her 6 years to finally land a department manager job, which means at least 5 years of getting paid $15 an hour ($15 is the lowest wage in Aussie). It may sound high, but when you are in your late twenties, $15 an hour isn't exactly a lot.

Maybe that's the problem with huge companies where everyone is given a chance to head up, it's too hard to get noticed, and when you do, there's always someone to knock you down.

I have never expected real life to be any easy, but sometimes, perhaps, isn't there a higher place to start? After working this hard for a degree, I really don't want to start work at $15 an hour and getting crap for it.

Initially, I wanted to really work my way up this job, using this job as a stepladder towards greater things, but after seeing how some people get stuck in this job for 5 years and hitting the glass ceiling, I am seriously reconsidering this job.

Maybe it's time to hunt around again. A career should be like a running river. If you hit a dead end, you really need to find a way to get yourself to continue moving. If you stay stagnant, the world flies past you, and you will forever be stuck in the same spot.

It is so time to hunt around again.

Hehehe.

4/4

Woo hoo!

3/4

Just. One. More. Day...

2/4

And so it begins, once again.

Just this time, it begins with 2 straight ones.

Whee.

Failboo- I mean, Facebook.

So, after deciding to conform with the social norm and bending to the pressures generated by my peers, I've decided to join Facebook.

Admittedly, it is fun. As a place where I can keep track of friends and upload my creations, Facebook is simply a site which takes the best in Friendster (Networks). After all, isn't Friendster a place where we all keep track of what friends are doing?


Then, there are the applications. Werewolves, vampires, walls, like Facebook, they are all following the successful formulas of other sites (Outboards and IMing services).

Of course, I'm assuming they work. There are over 7000 applications, but everyone just has that few applications, and there are a few which looks interesting on paper, but simply is coded badly.

But what most of the applications do is to interact with your friends. You do so by doing digital stuff to them such as poking and hugging them. If you are annoyed, you can smack them or throw water on them etc.

Basically, a way of interacting that is strangely, not interacting.

But hey, this is the new digital age, without these applications, I would not be able to keep in touch with my friends who are overseas, as meaningless as useless as they are.

Even though they are useless, it is interesting to see the people who are on Facebook. I just found my manager's picture there, and I must admit I've never seen him in that manner.

So now, conform with the social norm: Join Failbook.

I mean, Facebook :D