An intelligent machine

This post is dedicated to the photocopying machine in my workplace.
I realized I’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time standing beside it during the last 2.5 months or so, making copies and feeding it with crisp paper from time to time.
Have a sorta love hate relationship with it.


Why I love it so?
This wonderful device copies, scans, faxes..
Moi has learnt how to turn single page to double, double to single, print 2 page in 1, sort, staple and punch holes with it.
Yes this machine can staple and punch holes too. Ain’t it fantastic?

Why I hate it so?
Sometimes it gets a little too smart though. For instance when the paper size is set to A4, it will override the setting and auto reset to A3 if it senses something else placed on the feeder.
Talk about being intuitive! Poor moi here was stupefied cos I had some stuff placed on the edge of the tray and no matter how many times I changed the setting to A4, it came out A3 sized.

It also brings me much pain whenever it throws a tantrum.
ive had my share of paper cuts from either feeding its empty stomach or from handling the warm and crisp paper it churns out.

I just caused the mother of paper jams last week. Despite opening up everything which can be opened, and removing what seemed to be the offending piece of paper, it refused to get to work again.
Even the ‘miracle’ Reset button didn’t work.
My RO actually came by when she saw me probing the machine’s innards and tried to lend a hand by well.. pressing the Reset button and probing at the toner box.
No miracle happened and she commented that im suay! Ugh…

So I had to call the technical service folks to come down.

Hopefully we can cultivate a cordial relationship and there are no more major mishaps!

The Idiot's Guide to ... Fireworks Viewing

After this year's experiences, i have decided to record the 'things i have learnt'.
Like i alwaiz say 'There is sth new to learn everyday'.
Therefore, there are certain SOPS to observe in order to maximise the viewing pleasure come our nation's bdae month in 2007.

Lesson 1:
Arrive early. Very very early.
As Singaporeans are notoriously Kiasu, we come at 6 when the show starts at 9.
All for 10mins of splendour. Nonetheless it pays to be kiasu as that is the only way to chope yourself a good spot.

Lesson 2:
If you're an avid *read serious* photographer, then go even earlier.
Every precious bit of space is pretty much filled up by 6, so u'll prolly have to reach by 5?
It appears that the rule is to stake your claim along the bridge with a tripod.
Beware though as things can get tense when there is too little space and too many 3-legged stands, as illustrated by siwei's bad experience last year.

Lesson 3:
If you're driving... DON'T. Unless you arrive very early too. As illustrated by all those who suffered on Saturday. The jam was horrid and parking was next to impossible. Poor Yishan didn't even manage to weave thru the mess and ended up somewhere else altogether.
I was late and got off at Redhill MRT station at 750 to take a cab. Moi had already sat down and closed the door and the Taxi Uncle actually asked me to get off and take the train instead.

Lesson 4:
Now once you're in the area, there are many ways to watch the same show.
(Of cos those in the mood for romance and have the cash to spare can check themselves into a nice hotel and pack along a nice book.*lol* Prices are likely to be jacked up loads though.)

The rest can..
a. Go to your office in the area to watch.
(But there is a lack of proxomity). Can't smell the smoke, the sweat and hear the music.

b. Reserve a rooftop seat at Al Dente.
Romantic too. (And tuck into hearty folded pizza.yum yum)

c. Picnic.
Bring along the necessary barang. Find a less crowded spot with a decent view and unfold your garbage bag/plastic bag/newspapers. Plant your ass on it and wait.
Go to the toilet first as it'll prolly be hard to find a place to pee.
And pack along food/fan/umbrella (though i dont tink it'll help much if it really rains)..good company n whatever kips you happy n comfy.. and wait patiently.

Took some clips.. a notable one being gers going aww in a really creepy way.. but unfortunately my com can't sem to receive stuff fr my hp via the ancient infra-red port. and Nokia don't pvd a USB cable! Till i figure a way...

Zenith

In all honesty, i dont know what it means.. haha

Anyways, like wat i said previously, the auntie me didn't regret blowing on a dress that i can only wear once and kiaping my hair cos i figured it only happens once, kind if like a wedding sia, and more importantly it will leave fond memories and gave a nice closure to the journey we took together during the last 3 yrs.

Neways, at the ripe old age of 23, i finali understand y such dresses which make my heart ache n my auntie mentality screech bo3 hua2 can't be recycled.. Cos it has a different equation altogether. Unlike a pair of expensive jeans which u wear many many times to make it worth its price, a dressy dress is depreciated by taking pics in them. So the idea is to take enuf pics to fully depreciate it by the end of the nite. Think of it as $1 a shot.. kaching! *A dollar pls* kaching *Another dollar pls*! And it can't be recycled for another event cos 1. I've put on enuf weight to not be able to squeeze in it again. 2. I've taken so many pics in the same dress that i wldnt want to be caught in it again.

Talking about taking pics, im cam shy okie, and my eyes will auto shut when there is a flash. I think my dear lilies have indeed put in much effort in my training .. hahaha.. Nonetheless, tink the amt of pics taken recently have exhausted my pic quota for yr 2006 already.

The day started on a frantic note, grabbed my clutch at the last min at Far East Plaza where i got my hair kiapped at a very reasonable 25 bucks *merci*, though the curls on the right did unravel by 9pm.. Elv tried her best to revive them and for abt half an hr, they did regain some of their bounce. That explained why i cld onli stand on one side.. haha. Was quite worried when the stylist yanked and pinned the hair behind and started curling the lower half. Thankfully i went out looking sane still.

Neways ya the nite was devoted to cam whoring as expected, food pretty much sucked though.. as in they were prob average, but cos of the Tung Lok name, the expectations became higher i suppose. The sharks's fin was realli quite horrid though, but i finished it anyway.. cos shark's fin is shark's fin and auntie san simply can't throw it away. It was this gooey over starched concoction.. ewww.

The highlight of the night goes to Mr Daniel Ng.. who was crowned Man of The Nite.. waha! moi pretty much screamed like a banshee.. like some fan club screaming for boy band liddat.. Just short of the line, wo men yong yuan zhi chi ni!! hahhaa..

The next morning after getting home and takin a shower, I was attempting to blow dry my hair and juz felt kinda sad.. its like wah ..we're all grown up, no more sheltered life as a student, where the worse u can find is prolly juz free-rider pjt mates or attitude ones. In the working world, where most of us wld be spending almost 40 yrs or so, its much more than that. Then felt really nostalgic.. But well, gotta think positve! There's a long long road ahead!

Since the nite is abt cam whoring, this post wont be complete with some of the evidence..



Waha! And i won 4 lucky tics to Wild Wild Wet..


Quickly grabbed Man of the Nite for a pic.


The collage which everyone wanted to take a pic with

If you haven't realised by now, there is a fantastic optical illusion in these pics. mabe its the light/mabe the dress. Heck! But well i was sufficiently thrilled to see something ive never seen b4.