Wednesday, September 28, 2005

legends

having some free time for myself at the moment, i managed to hunt down some collectible marvel figures from shops all across Victoria (wotta road trip!). the collection is a multi-figure set, so gathering all the pieces proved to be quite the challenge. that's what i enjoy about still being a collector of sorts, i guess... the thrill of the hunt, the adrenalin rush... and the satisfaction of the kill?! uhm, as i look around me, the items are still in their bags, and they're all just sitting on the floor... together with the another set that i conquered the previous week... hmmm. cricket chirping... typhoon evacuation warning... a tumbleweed passing by this ghost town that is Spencer Station.

More Office Bullshit

I'm pretty sure I've made so many entries about this but here is another one.

Nearly a month ago I was approached by the IT department to help work
on a site for another department. I had to ask permission from my
manager since I report to him and he is not the sponsor of this
project. So we had a chat and he said that he knows this is good
experience for me and it will help my career so he is happy with it.
As long as he knows what I'm doing. i.e. he doesn't want me to go and
do work for different departments without his permission. Since I have
his permission on this then I thought he was happy.

So I carried out the work and yesterday was finalising some minor
details. Behind me is our designer and she tipped off my manager that
I was doing work on it. (I finished the bulk of it 2 weeks ago). Now
the manager says that he is not happy at all about it. My question is,
if he is not happy about it then why give me permission to do it in
the first place? I do not mind if he does not give me permission to do
it. The two fuck faces are now telling each other that soon all other
departments will come to me to do work. Which is of course what my
manager would not like.

He says he wish I would do redesign work on our stuff. Let me tell you
this. 4 months ago I did that work. To the point where it was ready
for lauch. I did the work from beginning to end with his permission
and sign off. What happened? He was over-ruled by his boss and all my
work went down the drain.

Another example. 8 months ago I did a redesign on another job. This
one I worked hard on. Me and him put our brains together, the design
was signed off by several people, I did all the work until it was
ready for launch and what happened? He was over-ruled by another
person in Australia. Again my work went down the drain.

I'm just about to start another one. I've done a prelim design and
doco on this and he seems happy with. I know this will go ahead
because it is to do with an event. However, he is playing a different
political shit this time. My job is to create and administer the
project, clean up results and present to them. He is worried that the
event may not be successful and we might not get enough people. I
personally think this is a marketing matter because it is marketing
that is suppose to put the word out there but he is laying this down
over my shoulder. He said it is my responsibility to talk to people
and promote this. How am I suppose to do this? Does my job title now
include marketing? So now I do not only develop, but I also do
support, writing, administration, subscription, call centre, and now
marketing?!?!?!

Monday, September 26, 2005

cumulonimbus

it's overcast outside, the kind of weather i like, when it gets dark and murky. i wish it'd rain a bit, and perhaps relieve some of the storms from somewhere else around the globe and in my head.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Ever get to the point

where you're brain just shuts down?...

Last week, i calculated that I worked about 80 hours, starting sunday lunch-time, through to friday evening. That's not counting the hours that I was on-call during the weekend, where i worked for another total of 10 hours...

This week, i've been good, cutting it down to 10-11 hour days... god i'm tired...

why do i do this? when there is effectively no over-time (although last week, since i was on-call i do get a tidy payout from it)...

i guess it's the fact that my work ethic goes along the lines of "work to the job, not the clock" and "work hard, play hard"... which also carries over to my personal life...

why do i do this? true, work pays well, and the perks are good, but is that all?
why push myself harder than most of the team? why stay back later than some of the team?...

got a totally unexpected promotion, which of course came with a pay rise - but how much effort is really worth it?...

right now, eyes are red and heavy, brain seems to be clouded in a fugue... mentally exhausted... seemingly in a stupor... and yet i'm still here... merely taking a break, to try and regather my mental faculties...

why push this hard, when there are some in my team that don't push anywhere as hard... that complain at the very thought of pushing harder... who keeps strictly to their 40-hour week, and god forbid that they should stay even a minute longer... who view the prospect of such banal activities to be so abhorrent that they stop answering calls within 30 minutes of their set time... a perfect example would be today - this teammate knew of an issue that could possibly affect hundreds of people, and yet they noted it and went home BECAUSE it was their time to go home... true, they were not on-call this week, but it is an application that resides in their support portfolio...

and yet i'm still here... why do i do this?

one reason i guess would be that i know that i have the abilities and the skills required to fix what needs to be fixed, to investigate and delve in to an issue which i know that some others might have the skill to even begin to understand...

it's the fact that i'd want someone like me to deal with the issues that i would not be able to handle... and with that in mind, i'm still here...

i don't know how my significant other puts up with me keeping such long hours, with being woken up in the middle of the night because i get a high-severity call that needs to be fixed within 30minutes, with being restricted to being within 60 minutes of getting in to work, should the need arise...

i don't know how she does it, but she does it, and i'm grateful that she does...

why am i still here, instead of at home with her right now?... 'cos i know she understands my need to be here, my need to drive myself at a goal, i have been aimed at a target and released... hopefully, i'll hit it soon... no need for me to abuse her understanding nature...

it's at this point that Pogz's saying would fit in perfectly...

"Go Home Kit!"... i think i'll take that advice...

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

drops of jupiter

can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken...? your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you’re wrong... can you imagine no first dance, freeze-dried romance, five-hour phone conversation, the best soy latte that you ever had . . . and me?

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Busy Times

It's been at least a week since I properly entered something in this blog. I've been busy for the past 2 weeks due to a couple of "projects at work" and it's not over. I have another one coming up which I'm due to start next week. This is, of course, in addition to my alreasy hectic schedule.

The week before last was the last week of a competition we run at work involving children. I got so many phone calls and emails from students, teachers, and a couple of parents. Some begging for an extension, some complaining about certain rules, but most are just asking for help or a nudge in the right direction. There is one question (which I will not post here) that somehow never gets resolved. We've been running this for many years now and people still ask the same question. It is definitely the ultimate "FAQ". May be there is a bettewr way of tackling the problem but I personally think it has something to do with knowledge of how the internet works.

Last week was the week of elimination where we eliminate entries and cull them down to the finalists. Most of the time it is fairly easy to do but it is the top 15-20 that is usually the hardest. Thank goodness I'm not one of the judges. I'll leave that for others to decide. We do have a system of judging but judging is never easy. It is not a simple TXTing who to eliminate like they do in the idols.

In addition to this, we also had an election yesterday! Elections are always tricky for the parties involved and the voters. The problem is politicians hide facts in favour of their policies. A very good example of this is the Labour Party's Student Loan figures drama that happened a couple of days ago. Who knows what the politicians are thinking. The results are realy close though for the two major parties. But at this time we still do not know who will govern or what coalition will form, not to mention the special votes that remain to be counted.

I'm not one that usually tries to convince people who to vote nor do I ask who people will vote for. I do ask whether you've decided but I never go further than that. That's because I believe who you vote for is not of my business. It is a personal choice. It is as personal as your privates. It's like asking, "Hey, do you have one or two testicles?"

Apart from it being a private matter, I think it is also the awkwardness that follows a conversation after you find out the other person is voting for someone else. This awkwardness is not because of the diference in your choices but for me it is the look they give you...kinda like "What..?? You are voting for them?" or the never ending "preachings" that you shouldn't vote for the party you just mentioned. The other day I spoke to a friend and he said he is voting Act. I personally think voting for a minor party like that is a wasted vote ( and the 1.5% percentage says that). That vote was better off going to a similar party who in this case could be the determining factor. But I did not say that. Because he is entitled to his own opinion and decision. I also provided him with a summary of what I think of the parties and he also respected my views.

Elections can make people as annoying as Jehovah's witnesses that come knocking on your door (don't get me wrong, you are entitled to your own religion. Whatever makes you happy as long as you do not try to recruit me.) I've had some people at work who think they are always correct and think anyone who is different is the devil. But I guess that is because they are journalists or at least influenced by their journo husbands, wives, or friends. There is this lady (whom I've spoken of in previous entries) who apparently has been preaching the Greens. Anyone she speaks to ... clients, colleagues, ... Someone said thay she didn't even sounded like her but she sounded more like her partner who is an editor of a community newspaper. I tell you elections can change some people...

Anyway, it is not over yet. This election was not a clean cut as the previous one so it will be an interesting week.

Shakoo..I know you have opinions on this so feel free to add...yup...you can talk about MMP, too, if you want.

Oh...btw. If any politician gets to read this blog, all I want is a change in the police system. More real police work please - you know, stopping real crime, investigating real cases. Issuing tickets and revenue gathering is not real police work. Catching the guys who vandalised my bike is.

Almost forgot to mention that I went to the Home Show yesterday. It was bigger than last so thumbs up there. I walked around for 7 or so hours! When I got to the last hall, there was a stand for the NZ Police. As usual, promoting the police, trying to recruit, but mainly making people aware of the 111 system. The cop came to me as I walked pass very tired almost dragging my feet - he said "He you go sport, put it on you fridge." It was a fridge magnet with the big "111" on it. I was ssooooooooooooooo tempted to say: "Hey thanks, a taxi may come in handy some time. Oh by the way, have you found the culprits that stripped my bike?" But I didn't I thought doing so will make me as low as them. God I hate these cops!

B0log3r didn't come. I thought he would but I guess he was probably hung over from his 9th-21st Bday Party. Yummy food, lots of people... the usual. Always great to go to his parties as his in-laws always prepare home cooked traditional (pinoy) food. Food I don't always get to eat. There are other things that happened on friday but I'll leave that to B0log3r to enter. Of course considering he may not remember the whole night :), the rest of us can fill/correct in as needed.

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Xbox 360 Specs

Check it out here

My apologies for not posting lately. Been very busy at work. Too many things going on. Hopefully I'll be able to make time to post soon.

Welcome Jigasaurus!

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

goalee

the Commonwealth Games is just around the corner; the Australian Tennis Open is coming up even sooner; not to mention, it's almost Christmas time... there's no need to be afraid.

but with recent talks about the city of Melbourne being a possible target by terrorist factions from halfway across the globe, i would remain vigilant as an agent of light.

Fighting terrorism is like being a goalkeeper. You can make a hundred brilliant saves but the only shot that people remember is the one that gets past you. --Paul Wilkinson

I hope not to be remembered this way.

Monday, September 12, 2005

Dammiittt...

... that's expensive.. grrr. I need to find work that can supply IATA fares...


NZD 2,665.08 for 1 passenger(s) (total fare: NZD2,617.00 plus total taxes NZD48.08)
View fare breakdown
DateFlight details
Flight no.
Time(local)
Flight details
Class and stops
EK433

22 Sep 05
23 Sep 05
5:25 pm
6:25 am
Departs Auckland International Apt,New Zealand (
AKL)
Arrives Dubai, United Arab Emirates (
DXB)
Economy
2-Stops


Connecting to
EK923

23 Sep 05
23 Sep 05
3:10 pm
6:00 pm
Departs Dubai,United Arab Emirates (
DXB)
Arrives Cairo, Egypt (
CAI)
Economy
Non-stop
EK924

26 Sep 05
26 Sep 05
7:15 pm
11:50 pm
Departs Cairo,Egypt (
CAI)
Arrives Dubai, United Arab Emirates (
DXB)
Economy
Non-stop


Connecting to
EK432

27 Sep 05
28 Sep 05
8:45 am
1:15 pm
Departs Dubai,United Arab Emirates (
DXB)
Arrives Auckland International Apt, New Zealand (
AKL)
Economy
2-Stops

Anong....

....kalokohan to? ;P

Sunday, September 11, 2005

What were you doing?

Sitting here at work, working 'cos we're upgrading to oracle 9i, as well as some unix app upgrades, and it just hit me that today is september 11, or 9/11 (as the yanks call it)

What were you doing on 11Sep2001?

I was on the late shift that day (1200-2230) - was still working for Ansett at the time, and so I got up late (around 8-8.30) and turned the TV on to channel3, when they had a newsflash about the WTC and such, so I quickly flicked over to channel 1, and watched in shock as they recounted the bone-chilling events that had transpired... As I sat there watching it, still groggy and semi-somnolent, I had a rather selfish thought - it was "oh sh1t, work is going to suck today", which was quickly over-ridden by a distinct feeling of self-guilt...

So I decided to go to work early, and got ready mechanically, my mind clouded by a hazy fugue, not really thinking anything... Didn't really notice at the time, but I can truly say that I can't remember what the traffic was like driving in to work that day...

Got to work, and the usual hubbub of an IT service desk was eerily subdued (which is weird seeing as we supported a combined total of nearly 20,000 staff, the majority spread across AU and NZ)... There's a tv (which we use for monitoring the schedules pages in teletext as we provide the info for those screens) in a central location (right by the a couple of memorex/telex green screen terminals)... It was currently on channel 1, which was providing the main coverage of the events, and updates as they came...

With the security lockdown in place, with regards to communications in and out of N. America, we had lost track of 3 of our planes... I was brought up to speed with regards as to what the operating procedures were for the shift (certainly not standard, by any stretch of the imagination)... The phones and the queues (the alternate ways that users could log issues/requests were via email or a website) were, not surprisingly, quiet...

Murmured conversation carried on in small groups, an unconcious drawing together of colleagues and friends seeking to draw comfort, strength and solace in the face of this manufactured disaster... I called an ex, whom I knew had a sister that worked in NYC, subduing feelings of awkwardness in an effort to be of some help to someone... Thankfully their sibling was safe...

The surreality of the situation will always stick clearly in my mind extended for the entire shift, lingering over the next few days and never fully clearing for weeks after the event...

Friday, September 09, 2005

stream of consciousness

apart from craving to play some badminton or tennis for most part of the day, i wouldn't mind a few games with the local pool shark to loosen up a bit. the weather's been fickle-minded this side of new orleans, and the love handles are not waging war on retirement. this is actually how i picked up spanish, by the way... by counting the balls in the native tongue of our first encounter with the western world. that was a long time ago, almost as long as i've been playing with my stick and my balls. if you seem too drunk to pick up the cue ball, cheers matey dear, and don't hurl on my shoes.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba


i stood in line for what seemed like eons. but... there was no one else there!?

ahhh, gadzooks! the place was still closed (i hate those chandeliers). priceless.

Friday, September 02, 2005

Minotaur

as usual, i was browsing through walls of graphic novels within the sub-basement domain of minotaur yesterday. a friendly chat about the hobby is always welcome from the equally friendly shop assistant, and before i knew it, i found out that that big fella from elektra the movie was in the store last weekend! bob sapp you mean? yeah, as in the beast! apparently he's training somewhere in melbourne and frequents the area as he has an aussie girlfriend, too. words that came out to describe him: huge, gentle, and huge! just like in the k1 ring. i wonder where glass jaw's going to have his next match?

Teen admits kicking puppy to death

Wtf is wrong with these people?

And another one - >Officer's cat cut in half

and >Judge gives cat killers nine months for cruelty...

Did I make a mistake?

I recently accepted this internal job for another department. In a
nutshell, it is to setup a small web site. The problem is the work is
not from my department.

I expressed to the IT manager (who is not my direct manager) that I am
interested in doing more work to expand my abilities. My direct report
also knows this. Before accepting this job, I asked for my manager's
permission. He accepted and that is why I'm doing it now.
But now, he is bitching about it (classic 2-faced attitude as
described in previous entries).

I wonder, did I make a mistake accepting this? Is it wrong that I want
to take on more, or better, challenges?

He does bitch a lot.

A couple of months ago, I made another 'mistake'. My manager put me in
charge of an internal move and some thigns didn't go quite as planned.
So I made a complaint about the person in charge of the move, in this
case the office manager, and somehow I decided to include the
Operations manager in the email. I only included the COO because I
feel I know him and we communicate freely in the office. Of course
being COO, he proceeded in investigating the matter which was then
brought back to my manager. The office manager got a formal letter in
her record because of this and I did apologise to her. Certainly not
my intension and it was a mistake. I just wanted for the move to be
done correctly as my manager put me in charge and their satisfaction
is my satisfaction. There is another story to this - my manager
doesn't like the office manager either. In fact, I was closer to the
office manager than my manager ever was and he calls her names and
makes fun of her behind her back. After this incident, he spoke with
the COO and the office manager and made me into the bad guy. He now
pretends to be best friends with her.

Going back to the current situation. If my manager didn't really want
to approve my work with this other department, then why approve it?
I've asked him. I said ..."as my manager, it is up to you whether you
approve it or not" I may want to do it but it is not up to me to
decide.

It is situations like this that makes it difficult to ignore...