I have just spent my whole day packing up my belongings, filling out exit forms and making sure that all my work are allocated to someone else. It is my last week at my corporate role and I am already missing it. I owe my professional career to this company, and owe my career to many people that have helped me along the way. Boy am I going to miss them!
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about what I will miss about my corporate job. And since it's actually now closer to my last day I thought I'd share it. No matter how stressful and how political it can all get, the corporate job have many perks to it that does hook onto you. Although I have never really been that much of a corporate person and rather work on the field on development projects or in customer service, I find that even from time to time I enjoy simply being pampered by the corporate.
So. I have more paper work to fill tomorrow and then officially from next week, I will be working as a retail travel consultant. Something completely different but hey, we all need a break from our routine from time to time, and let's see how I enjoy this one eh?
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Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Brrr.... cold? Have a cat :)
Now that it's getting so cold at night in Sydney I've rediscovered why cats make such great house pets.
They are so extremely warm I don't even need to turn on the heater at night.
My cat, Kitty, whom I love dearly, is also feeling the cold. Therefore, she is always looking out for me to go to bed so she can snuggle in too. Her habit of squeezing in just around my tummy area has been keeping me warm at night. She generate so much body heat it's almost unbelievable.
Isn't it nice to be loved by your pet? :)
Image: My cat snuggling up on the bed.
They are so extremely warm I don't even need to turn on the heater at night.
My cat, Kitty, whom I love dearly, is also feeling the cold. Therefore, she is always looking out for me to go to bed so she can snuggle in too. Her habit of squeezing in just around my tummy area has been keeping me warm at night. She generate so much body heat it's almost unbelievable.
Isn't it nice to be loved by your pet? :)
Image: My cat snuggling up on the bed.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Aww you poor drinkers...
One of the 'front page' news caught my eye today in today's The Australian. On the same page as the disasters in China and Burma, a small title of 'Kevin's drink tax hurts a ute man' describes how a particular tradesman in the name of Dave McKinlay is disappointed and feels ripped off by the governments budget to hike up the tax for ready to drink alcohols, aka Alcopops.
I am not sure if it was the intension of the report to have McKinlay to appear as a victim of the tax, or having the title as a way of mockery.
Seriously, how does this type of news compared to the REAL victims of the cyclones and earthquakes to match?
Aww you poor thing, you have to pay extra to have a drink instead of being the good little boy and pay your bills instead.
Yes, putting up the price of alcohol does not stop people from binge drinking, however it is a social problem and all problems mostly start with drinking. I bet you if this news was spoken from an Aboriginal it would be a different story. Instead of feeling 'pity' for the fella, we'd all be like "Bloody abos, all they know is to drink."
Sorry mate, from the way you are complaining about drinking taxes and the cost of alcohol - you white mens are no different. Just open your eyes and look at this world. We always criticise the original settlers of this land to be corrupt and drunk. Well, sorry to say this - but the colonials introduced alcohol into this society. As McKinley says in the news report: "We're Aussies - it's been happening this way forever." Well, if that's so, what makes you different to the Aborigines community that drinks?
Seriously - alcohols are not a necessity. I'd be pissed off if they put heavy taxes on water and fresh produce. However if you want to drink alcohol, it is your choice. If you prefer to spend $100 on alcohol rather than your family's well being and kids education? Go ahead. Just don't complain about the price tag.
I am not sure if it was the intension of the report to have McKinlay to appear as a victim of the tax, or having the title as a way of mockery.
Seriously, how does this type of news compared to the REAL victims of the cyclones and earthquakes to match?
Aww you poor thing, you have to pay extra to have a drink instead of being the good little boy and pay your bills instead.
Yes, putting up the price of alcohol does not stop people from binge drinking, however it is a social problem and all problems mostly start with drinking. I bet you if this news was spoken from an Aboriginal it would be a different story. Instead of feeling 'pity' for the fella, we'd all be like "Bloody abos, all they know is to drink."
Sorry mate, from the way you are complaining about drinking taxes and the cost of alcohol - you white mens are no different. Just open your eyes and look at this world. We always criticise the original settlers of this land to be corrupt and drunk. Well, sorry to say this - but the colonials introduced alcohol into this society. As McKinley says in the news report: "We're Aussies - it's been happening this way forever." Well, if that's so, what makes you different to the Aborigines community that drinks?
Seriously - alcohols are not a necessity. I'd be pissed off if they put heavy taxes on water and fresh produce. However if you want to drink alcohol, it is your choice. If you prefer to spend $100 on alcohol rather than your family's well being and kids education? Go ahead. Just don't complain about the price tag.
Buying a computer for the office (joke)
Hilarious, Imagine for the Bookkeeping answer they put MYOB instead of MONEY. You’ll understand when you get to it.
Only you can truly know whether you meet the selection criteria outlined below ...
To fully appreciate this you have to be young enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers.
For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on...
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, "Who's on First?" might have turned out something like this:
COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".
COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "W" if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on "START".........
Only you can truly know whether you meet the selection criteria outlined below ...
To fully appreciate this you have to be young enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers.
For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on...
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, "Who's on First?" might have turned out something like this:
COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".
COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "W" if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on "START".........
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Wayne Swan's federal budget
Splashed across the front page of major newspapers, today's headlines are not about the tragedy of the earthquake in China nor the aftermath of the cyclone in Burma. It's Wayne Swan's first federal budget and people just can't stop criticising it.
"WAYNE Swan has taken a knife to John Howard's middle-class welfare in a budget delivering Kevin Rudd's election promises in full and banking $41 billion to spend on health, education and infrastructure.
The Treasurer also delivered a greater-than-expected $21.7 billion budget surplus, worth 1.8 per cent of GDP, which he said should satisfy the Reserve Bank and reduce pressure on interest rates. " reported The Australian in their headline news Mild budget cuts as Treasurer delivers all poll promises. He has put money towards the much neglected childcare, education and infrastructure, and supposedly being fair and balanced towards both helping working families as well as fight the inflation at hand.
And even Wayne Swan himself admits that not everyone is going to like his budget, but it's his way to trying to help.
Of course, when a politician makes any important decisions like this, criticism will come from all corners. Opposition leader Branden Nelson says this budget will increase the unemployment rate and put a lot of people out of their jobs, and columnist of The Australian accuse Swan of being "a wuss" in delivering such a soft budget without any 'edge' to the decision.
They say he is not doing enough, and rather than fighting inflation hard on, he is trying the 'safe' approach to try to keep everyone happy while not addressing directly to the problem.
Well? What were the problems in the first place? The nation had been complaining about everything. The health care system, our education, the inflation, housing prices and unemployment. We all want these issues fixed. Do we pick one issue and put all the money towards it? Of course not. What's wrong with a safe approach?
The extra money put towards education is being received by the higher education happily. They look forward to upgrading the universities to provide a better quality education for our future. Are the critics saying that money should have been spent on fighting inflation instead?
There is no 'edge', meaning he had no guts to put forward and aggressive budget to fight inflation. It's that word again. Inflation. Seriously. We should just face it that cost of living will rise as long as human beings are always wanting the best of everything. Don't blame the government if you can't afford next month's groceries. You shouldn't have bought that plasma tv in the first place.
No matter what politicians do, we'll never be satisfied. If today he DID put forward a more aggressive budget - watch it - the critics would be rarring about the neglect to families and education.
It's a no win situation. Well - if they are so good at criticising - why not draw up their own budget? Can they do any better?
"WAYNE Swan has taken a knife to John Howard's middle-class welfare in a budget delivering Kevin Rudd's election promises in full and banking $41 billion to spend on health, education and infrastructure.
The Treasurer also delivered a greater-than-expected $21.7 billion budget surplus, worth 1.8 per cent of GDP, which he said should satisfy the Reserve Bank and reduce pressure on interest rates. " reported The Australian in their headline news Mild budget cuts as Treasurer delivers all poll promises. He has put money towards the much neglected childcare, education and infrastructure, and supposedly being fair and balanced towards both helping working families as well as fight the inflation at hand.
And even Wayne Swan himself admits that not everyone is going to like his budget, but it's his way to trying to help.
Of course, when a politician makes any important decisions like this, criticism will come from all corners. Opposition leader Branden Nelson says this budget will increase the unemployment rate and put a lot of people out of their jobs, and columnist of The Australian accuse Swan of being "a wuss" in delivering such a soft budget without any 'edge' to the decision.
They say he is not doing enough, and rather than fighting inflation hard on, he is trying the 'safe' approach to try to keep everyone happy while not addressing directly to the problem.
Well? What were the problems in the first place? The nation had been complaining about everything. The health care system, our education, the inflation, housing prices and unemployment. We all want these issues fixed. Do we pick one issue and put all the money towards it? Of course not. What's wrong with a safe approach?
The extra money put towards education is being received by the higher education happily. They look forward to upgrading the universities to provide a better quality education for our future. Are the critics saying that money should have been spent on fighting inflation instead?
There is no 'edge', meaning he had no guts to put forward and aggressive budget to fight inflation. It's that word again. Inflation. Seriously. We should just face it that cost of living will rise as long as human beings are always wanting the best of everything. Don't blame the government if you can't afford next month's groceries. You shouldn't have bought that plasma tv in the first place.
No matter what politicians do, we'll never be satisfied. If today he DID put forward a more aggressive budget - watch it - the critics would be rarring about the neglect to families and education.
It's a no win situation. Well - if they are so good at criticising - why not draw up their own budget? Can they do any better?
Friday, May 9, 2008
Being a travel writer
There has been a lot of debate and discussions about guidebook writers since Thomas Kohnstamm revealed that he got the information for his Colombia guidebook from a chick he was dating, among other things he wrote about his experience being a guidebook writer in his book Do Travel Writers Go To Hell?
Reference article: Lonely Planet's bad trip
Well, as a travel writer myself, although I don't agree with what Kohnstamm had to say about thing he did for some of his guidebooks, I have to agree that yes - sometimes travel writers do have to go to hell, as all writers do. There are many myths about travel writers out there that need to be cleared up, including that all travel writers get paid a lot to travel is simply not true.
Money is always a big thing and as writers we all know we are not in it for the money (travel writer or not). I wrote a brief article on this issue and you are all welcome to have a read and leave your comments if you are interested. I am not going to be offended if you don't agree - after all, writers are just people who write about their stories and opinions and like any other form of communication, there are always going to be the other side of the story.
My article -> Myths about travel writers
Reference article: Lonely Planet's bad trip
Well, as a travel writer myself, although I don't agree with what Kohnstamm had to say about thing he did for some of his guidebooks, I have to agree that yes - sometimes travel writers do have to go to hell, as all writers do. There are many myths about travel writers out there that need to be cleared up, including that all travel writers get paid a lot to travel is simply not true.
Money is always a big thing and as writers we all know we are not in it for the money (travel writer or not). I wrote a brief article on this issue and you are all welcome to have a read and leave your comments if you are interested. I am not going to be offended if you don't agree - after all, writers are just people who write about their stories and opinions and like any other form of communication, there are always going to be the other side of the story.
My article -> Myths about travel writers
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Things you can learn from a sanitary pad...
Odd I know - but a certain brand of sanitary pads have odd facts printed on them ;)
For example, I learnt the following today:
When the human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off and you never get thirsty.
Bees have to collect nectar from 4 million flowers to make one kg of honey.
The indentation at the bottom of the wine bottle is to strengthen the structure of the bottle and to trap the sediments in the wine.
An eggshell has nearly 8000 pores that allow oxygen to flow in and CO2 to flow out, allowing the chick to breathe.
Researchers claim that light green as a colour is effective in relieving the feeling of homesickness.
An average person sheds about 750 grams of skin per year.
Embryos of tiger sharks fight each other while in their mother's womb, the survivor being the baby shark that is born.
Hehe - funny eh?! All those things we didn't know! :)
For example, I learnt the following today:
When the human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off and you never get thirsty.
Bees have to collect nectar from 4 million flowers to make one kg of honey.
The indentation at the bottom of the wine bottle is to strengthen the structure of the bottle and to trap the sediments in the wine.
An eggshell has nearly 8000 pores that allow oxygen to flow in and CO2 to flow out, allowing the chick to breathe.
Researchers claim that light green as a colour is effective in relieving the feeling of homesickness.
An average person sheds about 750 grams of skin per year.
Embryos of tiger sharks fight each other while in their mother's womb, the survivor being the baby shark that is born.
Hehe - funny eh?! All those things we didn't know! :)
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Star spotting
People go all lengths to be at particular places to try to 'bump' into celebrities. Today it seems I didn't even have to try to be surrounded by them. I have arrived in Melbourne for a business trip for the next two weeks and staying at the Crown Promenade.
As I got off the taxi I hear screams in the near distance and noticed I was surrounded by flash limousines. About five A-list looking people stepped out of the hotel looking like a million dollars. Of course - I got curious.
"What's going on?" I grabbed the nearest concierge and asked.
"Oh - the Logis." He said, rather matter of factly.
Wow. I took a good look around... yes I do recognise some of the faces walking out red carpet style and turning around I found where all the screamings were coming from. The casino, just across from the main entrance to the hotel.
Wait - is that Katie Ritchie?
I have nothing against tv personalities, but I am no fan of such events either. To me, they are just human beings doing their jobs, just like I do mine. However it is a thrill to know that I am staying in the same hotel as those with great media attention. It feels rather good.
Oh god, I hope the after party doesn't get too loud. I gotta start work early tomorrow morning!
As I got off the taxi I hear screams in the near distance and noticed I was surrounded by flash limousines. About five A-list looking people stepped out of the hotel looking like a million dollars. Of course - I got curious.
"What's going on?" I grabbed the nearest concierge and asked.
"Oh - the Logis." He said, rather matter of factly.
Wow. I took a good look around... yes I do recognise some of the faces walking out red carpet style and turning around I found where all the screamings were coming from. The casino, just across from the main entrance to the hotel.
Wait - is that Katie Ritchie?
I have nothing against tv personalities, but I am no fan of such events either. To me, they are just human beings doing their jobs, just like I do mine. However it is a thrill to know that I am staying in the same hotel as those with great media attention. It feels rather good.
Oh god, I hope the after party doesn't get too loud. I gotta start work early tomorrow morning!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Food... Driving... Food... Driving.... Food....
I can't believe it's still a debate. Do we keep driving / flying / must use up petrol or do we feel the world? Hmmm...
Like really, is this question THAT hard?!
What if tomorrow, we wake up and we are given the option of either use up every bit of food we have to make fuel while 10 million people dies for those who can't afford to buy fuel? Hello first world? Are we really that self-ish?!
There are plenty many other ways to get energy, such as using cow farts (yes it's true, in Scandinavia they collect cow farts to run one of their trains) - which would be great for countries like Australia and NZ that has plenty of cow and sheep. Wind energy, solar energy are all options and YES you can run a car on electricity. Maybe not the beautiful expensive fast cars you want to drive, but what's more important?! Survival or being cool?!
You can't be cool if you are not even alive. Let's just put it this way.
Sure other forms of energy can cost a lot of money - but in reality, the first world governments (especially US, UK and Australia) are spending enough money to build a wind farm EACH DAY for buying military / defence equipments. Yes, I know North Korea is making nuclear weapons. US has them too. I know the religious extremists are making a nuisance of themselves around the world, but who started it? We were never born to hate, but feelings grow when one minority group is continuously bullied by another, especially those who think they control the world.
I am not saying they are right in their actions, they are in fact, violent and should be punished, but really, by going to war with them is not going to solve the problem, it just makes them hate you more.
Hello? Have we all learnt from history yet? WAR does not solve anything. It just creates hatred and death, and eventually more war. What has WW1 and WW2 done for the world? Not much. More public holidays in every country to remember those who fell, that's all.
No, sorry, this post is not meant to be about war, it's about the recent debate of the food crisis and the use of bio-fuel. World - think wisely. We are already almost ruining the environment. Don't let our future generations hate us too.
Like really, is this question THAT hard?!
What if tomorrow, we wake up and we are given the option of either use up every bit of food we have to make fuel while 10 million people dies for those who can't afford to buy fuel? Hello first world? Are we really that self-ish?!
There are plenty many other ways to get energy, such as using cow farts (yes it's true, in Scandinavia they collect cow farts to run one of their trains) - which would be great for countries like Australia and NZ that has plenty of cow and sheep. Wind energy, solar energy are all options and YES you can run a car on electricity. Maybe not the beautiful expensive fast cars you want to drive, but what's more important?! Survival or being cool?!
You can't be cool if you are not even alive. Let's just put it this way.
Sure other forms of energy can cost a lot of money - but in reality, the first world governments (especially US, UK and Australia) are spending enough money to build a wind farm EACH DAY for buying military / defence equipments. Yes, I know North Korea is making nuclear weapons. US has them too. I know the religious extremists are making a nuisance of themselves around the world, but who started it? We were never born to hate, but feelings grow when one minority group is continuously bullied by another, especially those who think they control the world.
I am not saying they are right in their actions, they are in fact, violent and should be punished, but really, by going to war with them is not going to solve the problem, it just makes them hate you more.
Hello? Have we all learnt from history yet? WAR does not solve anything. It just creates hatred and death, and eventually more war. What has WW1 and WW2 done for the world? Not much. More public holidays in every country to remember those who fell, that's all.
No, sorry, this post is not meant to be about war, it's about the recent debate of the food crisis and the use of bio-fuel. World - think wisely. We are already almost ruining the environment. Don't let our future generations hate us too.
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