靜有時後是最好的答案！Silence is sometime the best answer..

Super Long Weekend

silentboi — 2008-12-30T04:47:24+08:00

It was a great long break for me to slack. Basically, I had spent most of my days at home, doing housework, sleep, watch tv, play games, and sorting though some things.

Pretty cool that I had early release from work on Wednesday at 1pm. So tried to make some arrangment to meet up some friends in the evening. But couldn't think of who to ask out. In the end, went shopping on my bicycle to get some goceries back home. On Christmas, it was even more boring. I spent the whole day at home sleeping and playing games. And played game overnight from Christmas till Friday before I slept in for the whole day. I just happened to take leave on Friday for my long weekend. Staying at home means helping out in doing some house chores. Well, I helped cooked the dinner...and guess what, "Curry Chicken" was the only dish cooked for the evening.

Was supposed to meet the University gang up for "Tim Sum" lunch buffet, but was "fly kite" on that day. I wasn't informed that the outing was cancelled last minute as most of them couldn't make it. I was already on the train on my way to the meeting place when I sms the organiser to confirm the time. I do feel a bit pissed because I didn't plan any other meeting for that day. Well, in the end, I had to loiter around at Orchard and staying in Borders alone to flip through some books on a Saturday afternoon.

Anyway, on my way back from town, I dropped by Compass Point to meet up my mum and sister. There was such a big crowd of people because of the "Little Nonya". I wanted to take some photographs of the cast, but couldn't manage to get close enough to the stage. My sis is a great fan of the show "Little Nonya", and her only purpose at the event was to take photos of the actors and actresses of the show. But too bad, she also didn't manage to take any proper or close up shots of them. I would comment that good shows on tv are hard to come by, and it was a great job done by MediaCorp this time for such great production.

On Sunday, I almost slept in the whole day again but was being woken up by this Malay wedding music down the block. Well, it is very annoying at times because they like to blast the music so loud that the whole neighbourhood can hear. And it lasted from 10am till 6pm, can you imagine that amount of distraction and frustration was caused? Well, I couldn't sleep in the evening, so watched tv until 3am.

And on Monday, I took another day of leave. That is why it is call the super "Long Weekend". So there won't be "Blues" for me on this day. Basically, I wanted to do a lot of things. But couldn't bring the strength to do anything. Only manage to clear up some stuffs in the kitchen, sweep and mop the floor of the living room. Well, that how my super long weekend ended. I am now still quite awake and typing away. I was thinking about some issues in the bathroom earlier which I wanted to pen them down. I guess I really had no clue on how or what should I pen down. It is almost the end of the year. I must think of some new year resolution for 2009 which I didn't really come up or complete in 2008.

Business Ideas: Kampong cafe

silentboi — 2008-12-13T08:24:30+08:00

I was thinking about this very much earlier when I heard on the radio news that someone won a design competion and then there will be a renovation work near the punggol river. They will turn it into a kampong scenary with many sports activities you can do in the river.

I had this dream of having my own cafe some day. I ever thought of opening a cafe/resturant in some kampong setting. That is where customers can drop by to enjoy nice good food and drinks, and at the same time, play those kampong games. Well, I didn't experience any kampong life before. So that is really a very nice idea where it bring the kampong culture into reality. People will get to appreciate the history and lifestyle of Singapore back in the 60-70s. I would say, life in those days were much simpler and happier than now.

Isn't it a good idea? I think it will be an "IN" thing in the near future.

2008 Exams results

silentboi — 2008-12-12T03:02:39+08:00

I was feeling quite light hearted because I got back my exams results earlier. I wasn't very looking forward to it as before as I only pray to get a pass. And thank god, I passed all my 4 papers. The results are not bad, at least I get a B- and above for all 4 papers. Yes, I can finally say good bye to the Cs, which I have been getting at least one for the past semesters. The only dissappointing thing is that my average GPA only went up by only 0.1. Now I can officially say I cleared my 2-year of my degree studies.

So, I am now left with 1 more semester to go to get my basic degree. And after my degree, I am thinking of taking a part-time certificate in Visual Communication at NAFA to brush up on my design skills. And then, saving hard for the masters.

Just something sweet to share. We had a mini celebration in the afternoon for having a successful conference event. Well, the organising committee brought many sweet and nice cakes, and they're yummy! Oh, I guess it isn't bad to be working at my current place afterall. We get fed with so many yummy food and I feel that I am gaining more weight as the months pass.

Well, I have to start more exercise routines and restraits myself from eating so much delicacy.

Another 23 Signs You're Becoming a Design Geek

silentboi — 2008-12-11T17:37:11+08:00

Source: https://www.crestock.com/blog/design/another-23-signs-youre-becoming-a-design-geek-152.aspx
Posted on Thursday, 4 December 2008 by Sverre Sjøthun

Indeed a list of harsh realities - a testament to the fact that design isn't created, but observed. And true designers exist in that space 24 hours a day!

Learn to spot the warning signs in time – you know you're becoming a design geek when:
1. You smile that spanking-kind-of-smile when you use the CSS property: padding-bottom.
2. You know exactly what I'm referring to when I say "Make my logo bigger".
3. Every now and then you go through a ‘herbal tea’ phase to try and reduce your dependence to coffee, but you always go back to the inky demon eventually.
4. You've caught yourself more than once hitting CTRL or CMD+N when you need a coffee refill...
5. Sleep and nighttime are no longer irrevocably linked.
6. You have woken up in the middle of the night your sleep and started recreating the dream you just had in Photoshop.
7. When getting up, you wish you had a healing brush/patch tool for those unsightly blemishes and undereye luggage.
8. Your keyboard could definitely be someone’s grocery list - you're eating there constantly.
9. You know several Photoshop shortcuts that require 4 fingers (Shift+Ctrl+Alt+K anyone?).
10. Whenever you see fog on a forested hillside, you think, nature is making a gaussian blur.
11. You're sitting in the movie theater watching the movie titles, shaking your head at how badly they're kerned.
12. Your biggest fear is Papyrus becoming the new Comic Sans.
13. If you could go back in time you wouldn't go back to see the rise and fall of civilizations, you'd go back in time to destroy Comic Sans and Papyrus.
14. Your most romantic date was when you went to see Helvetica by Gary Hustwit.
15. You've considered naming your children things like 'Kern', 'Pica', 'Bézier', 'Nyala', and 'Serif'.
16. You are trying catch the post-it notes at your monitor with your cursor.
17. You know that, by default, if three designs are shown to a client, your least favorite will be chosen - or any combination of worst components of each.
18. You also know that if you ask for more copy it will be sent as a Jpeg; If you ask for images they will be sent as PowerPoint presentations; if you ask for a vector logo, it'll come in the form of a Gif – from their website.
19. You have an uncanny ability to automatically see when something is lined up properly without the need for tools or devices, for instance if a shelf is straight, and where the center of the wall is to hang a picture.
20. And as a direct cause, get an almost uncontrollable urge to adjust a painting that's tilted ever so slightly.
21. And when in doubt, you automatically think CTRL or CMD+;
22. When girls are picking up Vogue and Cosmopolitan drooling over the latest trend in eye makeup and trying to figure out how to accomplish the the same effect, you're drooling over the most amazing 2 page advertising spread you've ever seen - trying to figure out how to accomplish the the same Photoshop effect...
23. You actually understand this post and pass it on to your fellow geeks friends.

Friends

silentboi — 2008-12-10T02:14:35+08:00

I have been thinking about this topic recently. The kind of friends you mix with really make you what you are. I remember I used to be a very quiet person because of certain incidents that happened during my kindergarden and primary school days. i don't want to say what is it as it really make me feel quite bad and ashamed.

Okay, coming to secondary sch, I wasn't really that socialable and only speak with a few people that I am closer with. It was during my sec 4 that I decided to take on the role as class monitor which started training myself to become more confident. And we did manage to organise a graduation BBQ gathering going after our O levels. After that, I didn't really keep in contact with any of the classmates much . I am a very homely person, and had never once gone out with anyone during my secondary school days. And that is why I wasn't close with any of my sec sch classmates.

Afterwhich, I went for the pre-U 3-months course at OI, which I met a few very good friends that I still meet them occasionaly until now. This is the bunch of friends that I had known them for 8-years and the bond is still going strong. This group is where we had celebrated countless birthdays, fun and crazy KTV sessions, and also many dinners gatherings. And I can say this is the best group of friends I ever had.

Then, going to poly, I met this group of friends which we have celebrated many occasions together. It started being the few of us in the same class group, and subsequenly, each going into our own area of focus for year 3 diploma. This group went through many up and downs together. Gone was the days of camping in school or at someone place to do projects, hiding in the classrooms to play games on our laptops, or dropping by the lan shop to play counterstrike, red-alert, WC3- 3 Corridoors. Going 2nd year and 3rd year, we switched to playing billard and pool, and KTV. And meeting on occasions to celebrate birthdays and visiting each other house during CNY. There was a period when we will meet up on almost every weekends to do something together. I still remember clearly what we did for a year countdown and sitting by the Marina-Bay riverside (current location of the floating platform) to drink and discuss about our future plans. Coming to recent years, everyone is getting busier with their own life, and the frequency for meetups are much lesser. Well, I would say true friends are fourge when you spent so much time doing things together and helping one another when in need.

There are many other friends that I known through other means. These friends really stimulate my interest in things. Like there was a period that I am into blogging and web designing. And then, a period where I was influence with the interest in music and song composing. Right now, after knowing a bunch of people who are into photography, I am also influence into capturing photographs as a hobby. Not forgetting friends who are interested in sports activity like Beach Volleyball and Tennis, which stimulate my interest in playing sports more often.

It is really interesting that the company of friends really make you who you are today. I just hope that many years down the road, someone will remember who I am. Oh, I am now missing my best friend in poly whom had not met up for 4-years.

Art Director Job

silentboi — 2008-12-03T10:40:06+08:00

Saw this advert that was sent through email this morning. This is the job description to the position:

Art Director
Job Responsibilities:
- Creative conceptualization and strategizing; artistic storyboarding; conducting brainstorming session
- Provide art direction and execute projects
- Participate in pitching and presentation
- Overseeing creative outputs of team members to ensure quality
- Uplift creative and technical skill sets in the creative department
- Ensure professional and set best-industry-practice standard
- Support Creative Manager in achieving department goals

Job Qualifications:
- Exceptional creative design ability
- Excellent Flash programming abilities
- Preference will be given to applicants who possess strong Internet Marketing skills
- Possess business acumen and marketing knowledge
- Communicate effectively both orally and written
- Able to perform under pressure. Respect deadlines
- Positive, initiative, responsible, good EQ, flexible, adaptable to change
- Passionate about design, ever-learning
- Has at 5 or more years working experience in interactive agency

I think it does takes me a few more years of work experience before I can become one. Let's reference to the job description and work towards the skillsets needed.

Study Dream

silentboi — 2008-12-02T10:46:03+08:00

I was on morning leave today. Had the weirdest dream last night.

I can't remember the full sequences and story, but I remember vaguely that it is a classroom setting. I must have been so love for education that even it appear in my dream.

Having morning leave is great which allows us to wake later and not to rush for the morning train. Alright, time for me to prepare to report for my work.

Facewall vs Facebook

silentboi — 2008-12-01T23:03:40+08:00

It was kind of exciting to see your face up on the facewall displayed of the staff directory. Well, considering how much effort was put in coming up with something like that. It would have been easier if everyone just have to post their own photos on facebook.

Anyway, my friend list on facebook just hit 500 today. Well, I never had knew that I have known so many people in my life without such an interactive community networking system available on the web. I am sure that my list will continue to grow as I meet or know new people. Not to forget those that I have lost contact of; my old classmates, schoolmates, neighbours, colleagues and many other friends that I have known through the different stage of my life.

I am not a very talkative or sociable person. But however, I tend to accept everyone for whom he/she is, and will try to make friends with everyone. That is basically why I feel I should be in a job where I could meet and talk with new people, or rather doing PR with people? It is interesting to hear life stories from each individuals, and learn from them and improves on yourself. Anyway, I am currently stuck in the path of an IT job, and trying to move towards design or advertising industry. Shall see how it goes, and my dream to become an art/creative director still has a lot of catching up to do.

Be nice to me. This is my first donation

silentboi — 2008-11-11T23:00:05+08:00

Guess what is this title about? It's the slogan found on the sticker which was given to me during the blood donation today.

Yes, it is my first time to go for blood donation. Well, I was feeling kind of nervous about the whole event. The pity thing is that, the nurse manage to extract only about 100ml of blood from me. This is what happened..

I went through the whole process of filling up the forms, and doing blood pressure test, and followed by iron level blood test. The nurse started preparing all the equipment for the blood transfusion to the packet. When she injected the antibiotics on my right arm, I started to feel neuseus. Then next, she plug in the tube to withdraw my blood. The blood started flowing out from my veins. This is when I started feeling the urge to vomit.

The staffs were really nice. They immediately offered me a plastic bag, in-case if I really vomit, and ask me to lie down on the bed-chair to rest. They then unplug the carrier tube from my arm. Immediately, I could feel the numbness running through my arms. I rested for about 10-20 minutes before I was informed that my donation was considered not made. They told me that I can donate next time, which is in 80 days time before I can proceed.

I stayed on to accompany one of my colleague whom went for donation as well. I was quite fasinated by the mechanism and the amount of blood that was transferred out from your arm to fill the packet. I am not scare of seeing blood, but I am just nervous about the whole process. Well, that was my newbie experience in blood donation. Sounds like fun?

Anyway, I feel that blood donation is good for your body. This is because your body wil reproduce new blood cells to replenish whatever blood that was lost during the blood donation. So everyone, please go for blood donation won't you? Really, you are helping yourself, and at the same time, you are helping someone else who will eventually need to use your blood. Who knows, someone life will be save with the blood you donated. 為賞進樂！

Lomo+graphy

silentboi — 2008-11-10T22:56:17+08:00

Well, I am not into this subject, as it is really a expensive hobby. No, I don't own any lomo cams. But here is an online shop that I found that sell lomo cams.

http://8storeytree.com

What is fun about lomo is that, you will be surprised by the effects that the cam can produce. Different models have different effects. It is just how you want to spent money to capture things in a creative way. Anyway, that all I have to say for today. Everyone enjoy.