Haven't done this in quite a while so here goes :)

Food Review: Spicy Oriental Chicken Salad (Starbucks) ~ RM 11.90

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What can I say, I love good salads! Especially chicken ones. This salad has it all! Generous portions of tender juicy chicken breast, crunchy leafy lettuce and a tossing of the slightly bitter kind (pardon my gourmet inadequacies), and this great dressing of vinegar and chilli somewhat reminiscent of chicken rice chilli sauce but funkier. Great meal although could do with more vege. It is however somewhat spicy but oh so yummy! Garlic bread will probably go well with this, although none available to order. Lack of side dishes is my main gripe but the salad itself is delicious!

Food Review: Jumbo Hot Dog (Ikea) ~ RM 2.50

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Boiled hot dog in a bun. Simple pleasures :) What's great though is the unlimited supply of relish, onions, and mustard! NYAM! I love lots and lots and lots of onions and relish and bad breath withstanding, this is just a feel good simple meal :) NYAM!

Warning: Windows may showcase nudity

To anyone who's moving into a new house, first thing you should do is put up curtains. I say again, before anything else, make sure your windows (especially the ones looking out to the street) has curtains (or blinds or newspapers even). And do this ESPECIALLY before you undress for the shower. Nuff said.

(I don't see how I'm ever going to get any students from my neighbours.)

20 Car Trips, 12 Hours, One Exhausted Dan

I've moved! Woke up like any other day, then went to sleep in a brand new house in a brand new room and with my entire body aching. Sorry Saw for the disappearing act! Got so caught up that I didn't quite kept you informed. But it was either this weekend or next anyways.

First of all, not to say this is of any use, but to my irritating ex-neighbours who insist on taking up my parking space, sweeping leaves to where I park, and numerous evil eye exchanges, SEE YA! It is so frustrating to not have a place to park at home to the point where you hesitate going out in case your spot gets taken. FREEDOM!!! :) Gonna miss being near to Taipan tho and living in a home with friends. Renting out rooms to strangers takes a way some privacy but having the space helps give Creativekids a boost.

Have my room settled, TV plugged in to crystal clear reception. Next up, the rest of the house... GAH. Gonna take quite a bit of work. Will also be starting on the studio setting up. Anyone wants to come and help let me know :) Also, those wanting to teach, do bring over some of your artworks for display. Lots of bare walls to liven up. Come come help.

Gonna be welcoming first room tenant today, a TGIF chef and his wife, a pastry chef. And tomorrow, room tenant #2, an aerobics instructor :) talk about opposites. Lalalala....

ps: walked to work today, woohoo!

Putting a Price on Education

My prevailing optimism seems to be nose-diving these past few days. After giving out my 2nd exam, and my first subjective one to the One students, I've been going through academic hell and back with the results. Appaling is to put it nicely. If I had it my way, only 10% of the students will pass. What with the incredibly poor command of English (that has already been dumbed down), zero commitment, intense cheating, and probably downright stupidity, I have no idea how any of the students made it to final year. Now, most people would say, 'but they're designers, they don't need to know business management'. That's probably like saying designers are stupid ignorant folk who's only fascination is with colours and font-type.

I am beyond disgust at the way these colleges are bringing up their students. Taking money from the students and deluding them into skill-based superiority. The students have no vested interest to be better, their only concern is to pass (and being ONE, draw quick sketches). They are happy regurgitating old ideas and don't see any need to question, test, or challenge anything. If this applies to all other colleges in Malaysia, we might as well rename the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Population Cloning for Mental Degradation and Subjugative Control. GAH! You know, lecturers should NOT HAVE TO DUMB DOWN TO THE STUPIDITY LEVEL OF THE STUDENTS but students should strive to meet the pre-set bar! I am so incredibly pissed not because of the sheer pointlessness of giving them marks but the affect it has on the overall growth of society and country.

Needless to say, I can't fail them all. College admin has already told me to pace down to the students. I've already revised the syllabus twice. At its current level, a Form 5 student can take it and do well (probably better). Education is a misnomer. These students are not learning, heck, they're not even memorising. I actually don't know why they are there in the first place. Probably needed a justification to hang out at Sunway all the time.

Now, that's let out. I'm never accepting a lecturing position at the One again, though I doubt they'll want me after I land my wrath on the students tomorrow. There are a lot of things I can tolerate, like inefficient admin, greed, corruption even... but messing about with education is jeopardising our future. Can you imagine our kids (if) being under leaders like these? ARGH!!!

Goodbye my dear bunny...

On this day and hour, my dear bunny, Wallaby Wallace the Fourth has passed on leaving behind his brother, King Wombat. Wallaby had to be sadly put to sleep due to the worsening of his illness. Sob sob... he is sorely missed and dearly loved and hope he can now hop free and happily in the lush green fields of rabbit heaven. God bless...

2 Weeks to April

March seems to be the most interesting month of all this year. In this month, I've started a new job, signed a tenancy agreement for a house, planned and came up with CreativeKids and committed to the business model, met a new friend and we're now good buddies and it's only middle of the month still. Wonder what April will bring but life at least seems exciting now :) Can't imagine that just 3 months ago I was in a dead-end job, complaining and griping, and living a routine dull life. Change is exciting, not to mention highly addictive. It's like once you start something different, you just keep wanting more. :)

Can't wait for this weekend. Been awhile since I've had the opportunity to go home. Work and all. Will be good to spend a weekend in Melaka and catch up.

Oh Friday, Oh Friday, where forth did you go?
For though now you are here,
You were not days ago...
Come save us from Monday, malicious and sly,
Stay with us through tomorrows,
Never do say goodbye...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Two whole weeks have gone in new work place :) Time sure did whizzed by. Been having a pretty good time so far, probably due to me still not having a full work load. Slowly starting to realise what I got myself into. Managing the Multimedia major means being proficient in software such as Flash! Gawd... back to the computer then...

One interesting thing about this place is that it is very chinesed. And me speaking zero dialects and a handful of Mandarin words makes me stick out like a sore thumb. Haven't been called a banana for ages. Ah well... got to start learning Mandarin I guess. Maybe I'll take a class at the CreativeKids@Studio in USJ. Muahahahahaha!

Happy Friday everyone :) Enjoy the weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AH MENG!!!

First up, happy returns for the day Meng :) Someone turns 24 today! (Applause) No cracks needed about the age (since we're all of the same age anyways). Sorry for forgetting though, hope you can forgive me! (Bila makan?).

Work for me has been good so far. Finally got my desk settled and my computer moved from the central workstations to my desk. Yay... surfing in private! Woohoo... weird thing tho is that my PC has no CD-ROM drive. Ah well... LAUNCH @ Yahoo! it is then.

Gonna be moving out soon so gonna be real occupied. All of you guys on the Groups thingy, well, let's get it rolling! Don't want to bring out the whip just yet.

So once again, best birthday regards to meng meng :) Have a good Thursday everyone!

Cheerful Dan logging out.

Blardy Frigid on a Hot Saturday Afternoon

I have finally 'personalised' my computer and suddenly feel at home again. Getting a new computer is like a new house I think. You take some time to take stock, evaluate the potential, and then get right on making it look and feel like your previous home. Comfort is such a driving human ambition!

Anyways, I am at work this blistery cold Saturday... with the air conditioning at full blast and me tucked in my sweater. College has an open day event today so all staff out at full force. This is officially the end of my first week at work and things have been interesting. Here are some notable insights.

~ Big company environment: We all get a monthly ration of one ream of A4 paper, two rolls of toilet paper, and enough Milo, Nescafe, and Coffeemate for each day.

~ Working hours: I have a punchcard. It feels weird but at least I don't have to justify to anyone when I leave. Hoorah!

~ Working Saturdays: Only twice a month and occasionally for fairs and etc. Have to work next Sunday but there's immediate leave compensation and etc. And no one complains. Unlike previous company where everyone does. It's amazing what an understanding boss and good office morale can do. Everyone here is very cheerful :)

~ Having more colleagues than you can remember: It feels weird coming to work and seeing more than 3 familiar cars and 6 familiar faces.

So far, things have been interesting. No complaints and I have a feeling I will be pretty contented here for a while :) Largely also due to the fact that I can walk to work. I just cannot stress enough how liberating it is to be free from bad traffic snarls! WOOHOO!!!

2004: Change is in the Air

Seems I'm not contented with just a new job. Am also moving out from Saw's place. Thankful to Saw for putting me up the past year or so but it's time to move on :) Most of you who have gotten the (da da da dam) SMS'es (except Saw who had the verbal version) would know what's up with the move. In a nutshell, basically going to rent a house, and convert the halls into learning studios to give tuition and a host of after school activities such as arts and crafts. Quite a bit of the gang have shown interest but if anyone can commit at least an hour a week, have something to teach, and can do so in a fun way, buzz me :) If you don't know how to reach me then maybe I don't know you enough! Hehehe... or in other words, this is a friends thingy... so not looking at strangers joining. After all, I am living there.

Anyways, moving out in April to USJ 2. Which also means I can WALK to work from then on. Woohoo... such a bliss to move from 6am bleary morning drives to 8.30am walks to work. Sigh... bliss...

New job has been good so far though I really have done nothing these past 2 days. Not much work for me yet and being a semester break, office has been real quiet. Not to say I'm complaining but I hope when I get evaluated they remember that my slacking is not by intention. Hehe... only other drawback though is that this place seems to be a very Chinese environment. Not being able to speak any makes me stand out a fair bit. Hope to gradually blend in though. Fingers crossed.

Anyways, for the SMS'ed, don't forget our first meeting on the 13th. Check out the Yahoo Groups for details alrighty :)

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Announcement:

LIGHTOLOGY

Presented by The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur & Toki Doki-Jido. "What's Lightology?" The theme is about 'light' and it shows the conflict between human's despair and hope. The premiere was in Tokyo, 2002. Many people appreciated it as a true contemporary art piece with the organic linkage of music, dance, audiovisuals and words. For premiere, we created various scenes together with many volunteer performers. The word "Lightology" was originally named by the director Naoyuki Asahina, with the meaning of "to think about light (=hope)."

Date: 20 - 21 March: 3.00pm 20 March: 8.30pm
Price: RM 35 (Adults) & RM 15 (JFKL members, students)

Hi again one and all... after a month long hiatus off work and a good 3 weeks from the blog, it's somewhat good to be back (and working). :) Office setup is till ongoing so until I get my own machine, this blog will be short and sweet. (just like the 10 min drive to work).

Short story is, moi am back! And with some of you receiving my sms'es, there's a lot of stuff I have planned for year 2004! :)