Diskspace too tight to mention

After what seems like hundreds of perfectly written CD-Rs, -RWs and a couple of coasters, my TDK 48x Cyclone has gone belly-up. Great. Time to hunt for that receipt and maybe I can get an RMA done.

Maybe it's time I gave serious thought to that DVD writer option. Placed an order with some (possibly grey?) mass order for the NEC 2500A drive. Stock should arrive mid-Feb; I should be able to hold out for two or three weeks.

But until that comes in, I need to figure out where to store another few hundred megabytes worth of photos. :(

In other news, I sold the X-box for $240. Yay! Now to figure out how much more to top up for the PS2...

Together we'll break these chains of Cat5

Couple of nights ago, I was struggling to get my swanky new Compex NP16A wireless router set up for wireless use. Enabled WEP, that worked fine. But for some reason I couldn't get the Pseudo-VLAN feature to work.

I'd pick Group mode Pseudo-VLAN, enable WEP, then reboot the router. And my laptop would connect fine to the AP, but time out trying to obtain an IP address via DHCP. Strangely enough, when I disabled the VLAN feature, DHCP issued the IP address just fine.

And the WEP key for the VLAN group very curiously remained at '00000000000000000000000000' no matter how I hammered the Add or Delete buttons sitting below the form.

Was getting really frustrated, until I noticed that the right-side scrollbar indicated that there was more to the page. So I scrolled down a little, and sure enough, that revealed the innocent-looking button to Save WEP keys for the VLAN group.

In the immortal words of Charlie Brown: "Auuugh!"

After that, VLAN+WEP worked like a charm. No wonder I couldn't find documentation on my ordeal. I'd been suffering from mud-in-brains syndrome.

The great console U-turn

Just six days ago, I signed up with SCV MaxOnline for the new house, grabbing their free X-box promo and running with it.

This week, I'm supposed to go down and collect said free X-box. But I'm having second thoughts now.

After all, the console is supposed to be worth $349 right? It's a darned good freebie for an 18 month no-termination contract with an ISP that I'd be subscribing to anyway, promotion or no promotion. But but but... what exactly am I going to do with the damn thing?

First, the offer doesn't come with any games. Second, it can't play DVDs out of the box, and even with the DVD-kit (region-limited) doesn't do progressive scanning. Third, other than the upcoming Ninja Gaiden, I don't see any other X-box games that I might even want to play!

Getting a new controller and some games will make me spend more $$ on stuff that I didn't really want to get in the first place, and even if I mod the set, that's at least another 80 bucks. Bleah.

So now I'm thinking of selling it off cheap, and using the money to pick up a PS2, which I've been eyeing for a good two years. Any takers? Thinking of letting it go for $250, brand new set, but I'm open for lower offers. Just make it reasonable.

But even before getting a PS2, there's that LG 8x DVD writer to think about.

Sigh. So many gadgets, so little money.

Red reflections

J and I have been meaning to get away from the annual CNY visiting mess. We were originally going to Melbourne for the holiday period, but Dad put his foot down firmly this time - no flying.

Plan B was to hole up in our new pad, turn all cellphones off and pretend to be overseas (except to like-minded asylum-seekers looking for a hideout). We'd cook instant noodles, watch TV, surf the web, lounge in the pool, and generally have a relaxing long weekend break.

Shortly after brunch today, we were unceremoniously hauled out to do the rounds. So much for Plan B.

Mom, as usual, had understated the number of places to visit. Instead of the originally purported three places, we were dragged to six (or more maybe, I lost count). Hello, shake hands, Happy New Year, give angbao, get stuffed, make conversation, gotta go, nice seeing you this year.

Paradigm Shift
But somehow, this year as we went around, I actually felt glad that we didn't worm out of visiting. Most of the homes that we'd visited today are places that we would only visit during Chinese New Year. And most of the people that we'd met today are people we would only meet once a year, also during this period.

Are relations such a bother, that we only visit them once a year, during obligatory periods?

My grand-aunts and -uncles are mostly getting on in their years. Over the past couple of CNY visits, I've seen them steadily lose their agility, dexterity, and more dishearteningly, their alacrity. And the only reason that I can tell that they are slowing down is because I only see them once a year - it's like a series of freeze-frames. And then I think, if I don't visit them during CNY when they're happy and prepared to receive visitors, when would I ever visit them on my own?

I am beginning to wonder at the irony of it all.

This is family, right? And families should visit each other during Chinese New Year, because it's customary, right? And I am happy to see so much of my extended familiy during this time, because they actually sit down in my house for a while to chat, and I can pick up where we left off last year. I know that in the rest of the year they're busy out there making a living and all that, they don't have the time to come by. They have their own lives to lead.

But it's alright. I'm happy they're here.

I just wish they'd come by more often.

Is it so difficult to drop by once in a while? After all, we're on a tiny little island no more than 50km across, right? It's not like we're Overseas, or On Another Continent. Really, so difficult?

Sadly, more often than not, the answer to that question is an emphatic yes.

Right now though, I'm kinda grateful for CNY. After all, this is the only real time that I get to catch up with the rest of the family - apart from the other events that crop up from time to time, scheduled (like weddings) or unscheduled (like weddings).

See you guys again next year, I hope.

Anger management

I seem to get annoyed all too easily these days. Lots of things get under my skin and wriggle, and I just can't ignore them.

Granted, sometimes I'm actually right about issues that make me angry, but being right doesn't help my blood pressure much at all.

When I start to get irritated, every tiny little mistake, every niggling comment, every inconsiderate action becomes yet another sting, another burr in the flesh. And when it hits boiling point, the fury spills over into everything else in the vicinity, and everyone around gets a taste of my crap.

Just call me Bruce.

How should I keep my anger in check?

First thing I'm going to try is to keep track of my anger level, and then attempt to step back and cool down when it starts to build up. Then.. we'll see how that goes.

An apology

To the dude with family in the black car that I threw a hand at (nothing obscene, but definitely impolite) earlier this evening, Wednesday, 21st Jan 2004, near Eastwood Centre - I'm sorry.

Yes, my wife stopped our car right before the junction to pick me up, and with the whole string of cars parked on the other side of the two-lane street it would have been a dangerous prospect to get around. Yes, you were right to sound your horn at us for obstructing your path. And yes, you could have been a lot more patient.

But patience aside, yes, I acted like a moron. I was boiling mad at the time, and I'm feeling really wretched right now for bringing my anger into your life and spoiling your day. You didn't deserve that.

I know this whole thing sounds really cheesy and lame, and reading it (if that ever happens) probably won't make the driver feel better, but I mean it.

Drafted into the StarHub Cable X-box Legion

Last week, Ducky told me about the free X-box promo for new StarHub MaxOnline signups. Sam has already collected his X-box and is having a fun time staying away from his PC.

Since I'm going to need the connection anyway, I thought, why not? So I sent in the signup request via StarHub's online form. Next day, one of their agents called me up (conversation paraphrased):

"Can't find your address."
It's a private apartment, not HDB.
"Oh. What's the name of the condo? ... Your place isn't cable-ready, sir."
No?
"No."
Hmmm ok. Do you know when it'll be cable-ready then?
"No idea."
Can you check?
"I can't do that from here."

(There's something to be said about subcontracting and hands not speaking to feet, but I won't go into it here.)

That same day, I also happened to meet up with the property's main contractor, Terry.

Terry, I thought this place was cable-ready!
"Correct."
Huh?
"The estate is cable-ready. All your cable points are in place. But StarHub hasn't connected the estate to their main line yet - see the construction works on the road just outside the estate?"
Um, yes.
"That's them. You should be able to get cable by next week."

Sure enough, in the next couple of days the estate manager had posted up a notice at the lift lobby, saying that the cable signal would be connected and we'd have to re-tune some channels.

Fast-forward to yesterday. I'd not gotten a reply from my second online-request attempt, so I called StarHub Customer Service direct instead. To my surprise, I wasn't kept on hold for very long. The customer service rep was quite patient and friendly, and he confirmed that indeed, my estate was cable-enabled just a couple of days ago.

So I high-tailed it down to the StarHub shop at Plaza Singapura, did the X-box promo registration and picked up a Motorola modem on the spot. I will only be able to collect the X-box after next week, but my cable access should be activated today. Yay!

Now I just have to hope I get a good set, since there are three types with different DVD drives and disc compatabilities. On to the next battle!

Run-in

Why is it called "run-in"? Shouldn't it be "drive-in"? Oh wait, that's taken. Funny how the english language works.

I picked up my ride a while ago. Was thinking about taking photos a la Sam's Mazda 6, but just couldn't muster the energy to bring it somewhere to snap. So here's a quick one:



Been thinking about spray-painting the top and the side mirrors white. Not that I intentionally want to make it look like a Cooper, but we kinda like the combination. Maybe after Chinese New Year, when the workshops aren't so busy.

Edit: Adjusted the colors in the photo a bit. Sam was asking me why I chose black... original photo here.

Clean-up

I'm waiting for clothes to dry
I'm waiting for clothes to dry
La la la-la la-la
This is a really dumb song

Tired as hell. Legs aching from moving boxes of stuff to the new place. At least it's starting to feel livable. It'll probably be a lot more livable once we get gas and cable modem in. (It's funny isn't it, what we think is "essential" for a house to feel like a home.)

Finally got my card reader back from bro-in-law, almost two months overdue, was duly annoyed in the process but I don't give a shit right now, too tired.

Whee. Are the clothes dry yet? I'd better go check. The bed demands it.

How much is that 70-200mm 2.8L IS USM in the window? (woof woof)

Every time I read the ClubSnap forums, I get this uncontrollable urge to check out the prices of new lenses for my 300D.

There's this one post in the forum that keeps getting updated with the latest quote prices, but I can never remember where to find it or what to search for, and I keep spending quite a bit of time trying to locate it. So I've finally bookmarked it: SLR/DSLR Lens Price Reference Guide.

Hah. Ten years of internet experience, my ass. Took a while to remember bookmarks, din'cha?

These few years I've been behind the curve on equipment spending. My trusty Nokia 8250 has been with me for a good 3 years, and will probably still be in use for the foreseeable future. Up to the point where I find a reliable replacement, anyway - recent phones all seem to suck. I've tried to use a PDA thrice, and have given up within a week each time - won't fit comfortably in my jeans pocket. No wireless stuff, no portables. I'm planning on missing the entire Bluetooth wave.

But, now that I've picked up (been given, actually) a new SLR, I've been entranced by the siren song of Another Great Lens And Other Assorted Accessories. I want a new 300mm prime lens, a Sigma 180mm f/3.5 macro lens, a decent Bogen tripod and monopod, a 550EX SpeedLite flash, a 1.4x Teleconverter, and especially that 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens, nevermind that it's 1.2kg on its own, and looks like a white elephant (in all ways).

Help, I've fallen and I can't get up.

Short-term memory

I happen to read something in the papers, or online, or see it on TV. And when I want to tell someone about it, only the vaguest impression remains, leaving me all-too-acutely aware of how lame it sounds.

I hate that. Oh yeah. With a passion.

I could write it down, I guess. But it's always something in passing, something that seemed pretty neat at the time, but not terribly important.

Or I could blog it. But yeah, not always at a terminal.

Anyway. I finally remembered about that blog-by-phone thingie that I read about a couple of months back, it's called Phlogger. Your phlog (phone-log, duh) is updated via SMS, can take MMS pictures, and can even be integrated into an existing blog or site, according to the spiel. Looks pretty damn cool. I gotta tell KT about it, there's suddenly a good use for his phone-cam.

How ironic. When I next come across something that seems pretty neat at the time, but not terribly important, I could phlog it.

Like a dead horse.

Nails to the chalkboard

Ever found yourself in one of those situations? Someone tries to make you do something that you don't want to do. You know that they know that you don't want to. Yet they keep on coming, in the hope that you'll cave in under the relentless barrage.

Some days it'll be the guilt trip approach:
"It's been such a long time! You didn't come for the last one either..."
Yeah, and there was a good reason for that. And for not attending the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that...

Other times, they try the responsibility-and-obligation tactic:
"You're a good friend/nephew/gardner/horse, I know you'll turn up."
Like flotsam on a river? No thanks. Think we'll visit the dentist instead, sounds far less painful.

Or by royal decree:
"Dinner this Sunday."
Really? Jolly good for you. I know we'll have ours, too. Somewhere else.

Or when all else fails, employ the call-the-spouse-maybe-we'll-have-better-luck strategem. Ergh. Why are they so convinced that this will work, when previous attempts have all failed miserably?

So I got the spouse-call today, asking me to convince J to go over for dinner this weekend. Of course, since J had already told me about the ongoing pleading and cajoling, I fended off the caller with a vague "we'll see" and a non-committal "I'll talk to her".

That should buy us another half day, at least. Enough time to prepare the next line of defense.

And maybe pick up a coffee.

Open your mouth and say AHHH

So I went to the doc's yesterday.

Runny nose for three days, cough and phlegm for two, sore throat for two. Blood pressure normal, no fever.
"Have you been overseas lately?"
Yeah, Las Vegas.
"Hah, so did you make any money?"
Nope, lost a little (smile, nod).
"It's a throat infection. Drink plenty of water and get a lot of rest."

It's not the flu. Thank goodness. (Hey, I took a shot a month ago, I'm not supposed to get the flu!)

But it feels like crap when your friends are cleaning your own house up for you, and you can't lift a finger to help. Drink water, and go lie down over there. If you want, you can watch TV. Don't worry, we'll handle it.

Man, you guys have to let me buy you dinner sometime. Stop pushing your share of the bill back at me! :P

Hd and Skip, thanks a whole bunch. I mean that.

Objects in the rear-view mirror are closer than they appear

And they get much closer really quick when you signal to move into their lane.

Welcome back to Singapore?

Being on the road is the most telling indicator that I'm back home. For the last two weeks I'd been driving on the streets and highways around Las Vegas. And no matter how crowded the road seemed to be, as long as I flipped the indicator, the car on the next lane would slow down and give way. In a matter of seconds I'd be on the next lane, cruising down my intended exit.

Cut over to Queensway, where I'm on the middle of three lanes, and spot my turn-off coming up. Flip the left signal, and a convoy of cars blazes down the left lane, completely obliterating my chances of getting out. But the right lane is perfectly clear.

Geez.

Welcome home. Yeah, sure is great to be back.