Assembly lines |03.30.2001|

I never truly realised what a bad company Kinko's is until one of my group members pointed it out. Aside from being over-priced in charging for its services, they work only as required. What I mean is that the guy doing the photocopying will not come over to help the cashier even when there is no one taking cash, and like 6 people in line!
Would you also believe that they charge $99 CDN for AN oversize colour copy? And a per minute charge of computer usage?! They also deceive you. We got a printing quote for less than $0.75 a booklet, but what they neglected to tell us (intentionally I'm sure) is that they did not quote the labour costs, which eventually worked out to over$1.30 per booklet. Sponge got peeved at them today too. At this time of the year, Kinko's isn't that busy. However, these people don't even have a relatively small print job done yet even after at least 18 hours!

Note: Pastor Tim (Wai)'s sister is called Sponge. Jason Chan is also Sponge. This Sponge is in reference to Jason.

"Coincidences" Don't Exist |03.23.2001|

Is there a correlation between procrastination and performance?

Most people would say yes. I would most likely say yes unless I knew what I was doing. Unfortunately I thought I knew what I was doing. Remember that weekend where I said I procrastinated by spending time with fellow brothers and sisters just getting to know them? Well, somehow, the midterm that I thought I did okay on came back to me and gave me such a sorry disappointment. Having gotten a A- in my last midterm (same course), and seeing this barely passing mark (D/E?) shocked me. I realised that I missed some important details in what the prof taught, and that each question was worth a lot more than the previous midterm. Each error constituted to -3%!

Since I haven't seen such low marks since my science days, I was very worried and depressed for most of the day, not to mention that I'm taking another course by the same prof in the fall as well (it was either him or a course w another prof that I would have had for 3 terms in a row). Being a human being, I considered blaming everything on God or on CCF--on my time spent on committee work (or just attending meetings), or thinking, "See, this is what you get when people forbid you to talk about your academic needs in prayer meetings"--even considering "bribing" God: "Look, if you had promised God again that you'd be willing to serve on commitee next year, you'd get your marks...go on, make another commitment!"--even though I fully knew that God's grace in one term does not necessarily mean the same for the next.

Anyhow, I didn't blame God or anyone else, even though I was sooo tempted to but I knew that I wouldn't get anywhere for doing that. Instead, I blamed myself. "Coincidentally", it seems that I somehow "forgot" to write this particular midterm down as my own prayer item and it was the one I did worst on. The rest I wrote down and God met my mimimal expectations (why does that always seem to happen?! every time I pray, I pray for the minimal, and yet, often I wonder if I prayed for more, would I then receive more? I have such l'il faith). I'm thinking to myself that I would be merely superstitious if I correlated writing my prayer items down to having answered prayers. However, maybe it's the way for me to grow in faith, to remember to give my worries and things that are important to me to God and to visual see His intervention?

I dunno. Hopefully, I'll still be able to maintain my average and to well, stop procrastinating! :)

Note. Funny thing is that I learn a lot from this course, and I find it very interesting, even though I'm doing so terribly in it :(

A Chaotic World |03.21.2001|

More shopping experiences.

Why I don't like shopping. Reason #189
Whenever I need clothes for a specific occasion, I can never find anything! Everything is either not in stock, the wrong season for my liking (eg. purples and pinks), or it doesn't even fit me!
I even had to go to CAMBRIDGE of ALL places to see if they had my size. Nope. So what happens?

Lesson #597: Sewing 102. I say 102 because I've taken Home Ec 8 and I got 96% in the sewing portion of the course. However, when it comes to the real world, the stitching they teach you is not practical at all! Hemming up 3 inches of pants isn't my idea of a "perfect fit"--not to mention that the waist still has room for a potbelly :P

On the other hand, life is more than just shopping.

If you were driving eastbound on the 401, and you see the person suddenly brake in front of you, what would you do?

Well, let's assume that you would brake too. Imagine that the car in front of you suddenly stopped because s/he wanted to see want the commotion of the wesbound traffic accident, and your 15 year old car could not respond in time. You tail swerves and hits the guardrail. You are knocked unconscious.

When you come to, the Jaws of Life saves you, and you see your car totalled. You have minor injuries and you require your arm to be in a tight sling for 2 weeks. What you don't know is that during the time you were knocked unconscious, a truck carrying a lot of stuff smashes into you. Emergency crew on the other side of the highway sees the whole accident. They assume you are dead.

Now, substitute "you" in the above story with one of my friends (well, I just met her, but I'll consider her a friend :P).

Life is hard. But God is good. I thank the Lord for sending guardian angels to watch over her. She thinks that it's has something to do with her mother being in church that day. In time, I hope that she realises this God of love--one that can save her from ultimate death.

Humility|03.16.2001|

I would have never guessed that shopping with a bunch of girls would be such a humbling experience.

I'm such a "boy"! (I should be in Engineering/CS).
First, let me tell you that shopping for 5 hours with 5 other girls is not my idea of "fun". Maybe because on Boxing Day one year, my sister made us (dad/brother/me) wait outside for her for 40 mins, just so she could line up, try some clothes on, and buy some clothes. I did not like shopping with her since then.
I felt like I was in Clueless, sweeping the Fairview Mall in Kitchener. I don't know how we managed to stay til closing beginning at around 6 pm. However, these girls really knew how to shop; they knew what looked good with what and what was a good bargain. By the end, we all ended up holding onto at least one shopping bag (except Schmindy). I felt so inexperienced while shopping with them, but at least, it did me some good, because w/o Schmindy's help, I wouldn't have ended up buying 2 collared shirts (shamefully admitting that these two are the first two collared shirts/blouses in my wardrobe since Band 9). I needed to look for interview clothes, and I'm grateful that I had "professional" opinion along my side :P At home, if I ever needed clothes for occasions that I don't have, my sister's wardrobe is easily accessible :)

Please note: I do have clothes. They are just clothes I like to wear: comfie and well, me! :) (not appropriate for all occasions).

Friends and Funny Stories|03.14.2001|

My eventful Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

Sunday and Monday was spent procrastinating even though I technically have an essay due on Friday, and had a midterm Tuesday. I felt it was actually worth it though. Lunch was at Ben Thanh's (pho) with Pork, Jon, Daisy, and Irene. Afterwards, somehow Pork an J ended up coming over and we discussed the most interesting topics. I actually felt like I was back at home with my friends. I actually learned something.

I realised that it's so true that girls "rate" other girls and yet, guys don't seem to do it as much. I could probably tell you which girl is "good-looking" in the world's point of view, but I tend to get stuck on the guys :P (no, I'm not gay, but thanks for your concern). . . Anyhow, that's another topic for another time.

Cell group on Monday was interesting. I procrastinated by doing something productive and sight-reading in piano for cell group. PTL, 20 people showed up (which made me even more scared when it came to playing songs I have never seen nor heard in my life before).
The funny part was that a guy came in a lil before we finished and when I opened the door, I didn't ask who he was, because he just sauntered in with a chair and apologised for being late. I didn't know him but I guessed that one of the other cell group members did. Upon sitting down, he went on to explain that he was late because he had to drive someone to the hospital. Bosco proceeded to ask him if his friend was alright, and he said yes. Okay. Bosco picks up where he left off and mentions "Yeh-Soh" (Jesus), the newcomer looks around and sheepishly says that he's in the wrong meeting room. I felt so bad because after he left, the whole room erupted in laughter. Everyone assumed he knew someone else and well, he probably heard us laughing.

Tuesday. Hmm. Sometimes, I wish that life was a Hollywood film, like Sliding Doors (even though I didn't particuarly enjoy the movie on the plane). That way, my non-sensible side would be able to take a glimpse at what would happen in a different situation that is based on a different choice I make. Anyhow, not that I wanted to actually do this, but I was tempted to see what this stranger would say if I said, "Sure, what time?"

Lemme back up a bit.
Tuesday morning, Shuk-ka and I were walking to class (late as usual), and as we approached E2, a van stopped to let us cross. Normally, I would gesture a thanks, but I didn't that morning. So, as we were crossing, the van slows down, and this guy hesitantly looks out the window and says, "hey!" Shuk-ka and I look back, but I think I must've looked back first because he said something along the lines of (in a serious manner), "You want to go out with me tonight?"
I'm not sure who he was directing that question to considering that we were the only girls around, and I'm sure his friend and him had a good laugh afterwards, but I answered for the both of us and politely replied, "That's okay, thanks," and walked off. I don't think that's a good way of rejecting someone but I don't really put much thought in rejecting strangers :)
Yes, I'm aware people do that in Vancouver and Toronto, because my friend has been approached in Vancouver a number of times, even during a fund-raiser car wash . . . anyhow, these guys must've been on drunk, desperate, a rapist, on a dare, or trying to make fun of random people. Nevertheless, I thought it was quite amusing, especially if in the next person he asked said yes.

Notebook Blues |03.03.2001|

In the age of technology, you would think that everyone would be in appreciation of the quick speed and the advancement in hardware and software development. I have learned a few things.

Notebooks.
What I don't understand is why there are two terms for a portable computer: laptop vs. notebook. Personally, I think that "notebook" sounds more sophisticated. Anyhow, even though notebooks may be increasingly attractive for consumers as the weight and value decreases while increasing in (HD) size and space, keep in mind that desktops still are more versatile than notebooks.
If you are considering on buying a notebook, here's object lesson #2.

I bought an used Compaq notebook for $1800 in Winter 1998. I am never going to buy anything used again, especially not something that is technology reliant. This notebook was one of the better ones from 1996 and it came with a modem/ethernet card, 120 mhz pentium processor with 1.2 GB of HD space and 48 MB of RAM. During the same term, my screen cracked and thus, became useless as the warranty would not provide coverage. The theory behind the reason was that the weather change from indoors to outdoors was too great, that the cold air eventually caused the LCD screen to break. Fortunately, a monitor fixed that problem.

Fast forward to the present. I have a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and a printer, which are all externally connected to my notebook. I cannot run my PDA Desktop software and synch my PDA because all my ports are occupied. In the past 2 months, I have ran into problems trying to find HD space for various software programs I'm interested in installing. I cannot upgrade my technical skills, because my HD won't allow me to install both Macromedia Flash and Fireworks, because they are 40 MB and 80 MB respectively, and I have only 135 MB of space left. I am on dial-up (which is "free" vs. cable modem/DSL for $40/mth) and do not want to download a 20 MB zipfile. I think it's time for me to really consider purchasing a desktop (HD since I have everything else).
Notebooks? Yes, they're good for travel and convenience, but if you are investing in a computer system for long term use, be sure to weigh the pros and cons.

Techie Blues |03.01.2001|

If you think that it'd be cool to be up-to-date with every high-tech toy on the market, then consider this object lesson.

If you don't want to have a restful sleep, here is what you do. First you buy every communication device possible: mobile phone, PDA, pager. Next, make sure the pager is running low on batteries, and the mobile is set to "loud" mode and to receive i-fido text messages at 8:30 in the morning. Thirdly, the scheduled appointment on your PDA must be set so that the alarm is turned on to ring every 5 hours and the time set is for all day. Next, go to bed at 230 AM and be prepared to wake up at 1030 AM.

Or should I say be woken up at all sorts of odd hours in the night? First, my PDA alarm goes off at 3 AM which I turn off. At 830 AM, my mobile beeps to notify me of the weather forecast of the day. Somewhere in between 3 AM and sunrise, my pager sounds an alarm to alert me that the batteries are low. At 1030 AM, my REAL alarm clock finally tells me to wake up.

Due to cost-benefit reasons, I couldn't throw my PDA across the room to tell it to let me have some peace, and my pager/mobile was too far away to reach. Somehow, my 8 hours of undisturbed sleep became an electronic nightmare. Thus, one of the many disadvantages of having so many high-tech toys . . . but there are many benefits too . . . just in case you wanted to get one :)