Time for New Mobile again ^_<

Was told that I changed my handphone quite frequently - did I anyway? I have been holding on to my current mobile for... almost a year (not really a year, but almost, 10 months, does that consider a year :P) haha... Anyway, playing around with mobile phones has been a passion for me, ever since my first job with Maxis, the leading mobile operator in Malaysia.

Have been surviving without a mobile phone through out my university life, until I was named as 'dinosaur' - an analogy that I always use when I was a student "Out of 10 people in MMU (Multimedia University), there will be only one without handphone, and that would be me :)". And I was holding on to my principal till the day I left my university - if you wanna look for me, let me know earlier; if I am reachable, means I'm free to entertain you. Else, I could be busy at lecture, or having fun, please DO NOT DISTURB, ha!

Left with no choice when I graduated, was asked to hold a mobile phone for the ease of my 'potential' employer to call me for interview. At that point of time, I have got myself the 'hottest' phone - Nokia 3310. Not very trendy, yet equipped with all the basic function (note: the basic function at that point in time is obviously different from now :P)

My 'fate' with mobile phone has changed after joining Maxis. Being the leading operator in town, we are accountable to deliver 'innovative' products to our customers and since then, I have built my passion toward the brand, and its supportive tool - the mobile phones. I have changed my mobile phone 4 months later - Nokia 6610, amongst the newest phone with 6100 3 years ago, had become my choice. Functionality has become my prior concern, with the outlook come later (hence didn't go with 6100 which looks much better). I was pretty satisfied with the phone until the launch of MMS where camera phones have become the hot topic of the town (or rather, we, the marketers making it 'hot').

Nokia 6230, my favorite phone, introduced by a friend of mine, who is also a handphone freak. I bought it when it is still hot at it's bench, ofcourse with the 'hottest' price too (you know how fast the phone depreciate in value, right...) I was happy with its function - camera, mp3, video, outlook, style, size, everything, name it if you can... until, it 'quietly' slipped out from my pocket when I was at Pudu! Which I realised much later that... I LOST MY PHONE!! Knowing Malaysian well, there will be 0% to get my mobile back, I cried with no tears... (but bleeding inside my heart)

Just so that I'm in par with the latest technology, I got myself the 1st generation of 3G phone by Nokia - 6630. It was considered part of the gift I got for my farewell (a RM500 handphone voucher*). It was my first regret where I learnt my lesson - never buy anything which is considered as 'first generation'.

(Note*: Maxis used to give away gift during their annual dinner, handphone voucher was the favorite one)

With much regret of the expensive 3G phone, I finally answer to my heart that always wanted a clamshell phone (or more often known as flip phone). A Samsung SGH-E600C was chosen due to it's comparative price, function, and outlook. And this is the first phone that marked the end of my 'Nokia journey' with mobile phones. Was comfortable with Nokia phones previously due to its 'user friendly' function. Which for long, I know that the 'user friendly' is just the term used by marketers ;) You will eventually get used to the phones that you bought, nothing to do with the brand.

And now... even I have lesser phone calls, and very seldom I'll play around with my phones, I am still very 'alert' with the new function and technology coming up by the telcos. And because of that, I still wish to have a phone that could support the necessary functions. Time to think and to consider which phone to buy now... what do you think? ^_<

Shell Life (part 4: Driving to work...)

Driving in town has not been a topic to me ever since I started my working life in KL 3 years ago. I was working at KLCC, so convenience that I could easily travel with the Mercedes' drivers that will pick passengers frequently with their well-known transport, BUS lah~ No interchange, and almost every single bus will drop me right in front of KLCC (and also the place I stay). Obviously, traveling in KL will give you no runaway path from being stuck in traffic jam, but guess what, I could still sleep for the whole journey (even though I was standing, pro ler...), observing at others frustrated drivers under us (bus is higher than normal cars) without having any worries, and oftenly, the 'pro' bus driver will send me to the office right in time. I bet you know how's the driving skill of our bus driver in KL ;) The only thing that brought up my alert was the squeezy crowd inside the bus - always beware of pickpocket or any wacky hands!

Anyway, with Shell being my new employer, I have to bid goodbye to my previous 'busing' experience and say hello to the unpleasant 'driving' culture in city. Nobody likes the traffic in KL, given the choices, noone would choose to stuck in the jam for hours - for whatever reasons, raining, peak hours, accident, police block, etc. You just can't predict the traffic, for some reasons, it will be congested. What more with now, the monsoon season which brings raindrop everyday - especially during off-office hours!

Let say, per day, my time spent on the road is approximated at 2 hours per day - depending on the traffic. Per week, 10 hours; Per year, 21.7 days - excluding weekend or any public holidays that I travel home using the North-South highway (you know what I mean -_-). It could go up to 1 month or more! Can't imagine? My entire year with 12 months has been 'quietly' reduced to 11 month, and nothing I could do about it... Heard that government has dumped billions to 'improve' our road system, 'enhance' the public transport route, and guess what... we still lost the precious time worth 1 month on the road! Talking about plan your journey? How early you could get up and bit the traffic - as early as 6 or 7 something with all the schoolgoers?

The only thing that I could pray right now is that I don't have to drive to work everyday - work from home, may be. Do you know any alternative that could help to save my time, my energy on the road?

闷。闲 Boring...

从未想过我有一天也会无所事事地待在办公室里，不知该做什么。想起之前的工作，从早忙到晚都没时间好好地坐下喘息，与现在的情况形成很大的对比。有点难以适从，却有种‘享受’的感觉。不知道我会不会因此被宠坏，也不知道会不会因此头脑变得迟钝，更不知道会不会因此变得懒散，只知道我只想好好地宠爱自己，让自己好好地享受人生，那怕是那一下下也好，谁知道好日子会不会过得特别快呢！你说呢？

Shell Life (part 3: Stories from Wellington)

Let the photos tell you my wonderful trip to Wellington...
http://tadpolecorner.multiply.com/photos

Shell Life (part 2: New Zealand, here I come~)

I have been in 'idles state' for some while after my previous project, the moment I got into the new project, I was asked to fly to New Zealand to pick up some knowledge.

Everything comes out of sudden (even I was so desperate in traveling previously) with no company charged card being issued (in time), last minute booking of flight & accommodation. Yet, I have gotten all the green lights to proceed with my traveling, ofcourse with reimbursement being done after 'good receipt'. Gosh, my credit card bill! What if the team is 'residing' in UK, with that high exchange rate... phew~

Anyway, this would be my first business trip to New Zealand, have not been in this part of the world before. Though will be tied up with works, hopefully, it would be one of the delightful trip. New Zealand... here I come~

周杰伦出专辑了 - 《十一月的萧邦》 Jay Chou with His New Album - November's Chopin

配合主打歌[夜曲]及专辑推出的月份而命名的第六张最新国语专辑，同样的选择与最佳拍党方文山合作大部分歌曲，维持着‘周董似’的创作演唱风格。虽然少了些许的新鲜感及突破，却以多元化的音乐格调及词曲的功力满足了周董迷的音乐瘾。

第一波主打歌[夜曲]除了延续了[以父之名]般的曲风，周董第一次以逝去的爱情为主题，贯穿偶像萧邦同名曲子[夜曲]，再配上周董一贯的唱法﹑幽幽的旋律，颇为脍炙人口。[蓝色风暴]﹑[逆鳞]则略带着[双截棍]﹑[龙拳]﹑[半兽人]的影子，强而有劲的节奏唱出歌词中激昂的气势。[东风破]的番外篇幅 - [发如雪]更幽更美，如果说这张专辑具有古典味道，这首歌必是其一。

喜欢过去周董磁性地唱出[你听得到]﹑[借口]﹑[搁浅]的粉丝可从[黑色毛衣]﹑[浪漫手机]中找回类似的感觉。从没写过挖苦狗仔之类的歌的周董终于以[四面楚歌] 绘出了他过去被狗仔激怒的复杂心情。歌词惟妙惟肖，别有一番意味。与南拳妈妈的弹头合作的[枫]，属于较为凄美的抒情小品。

[麦芽糖]的轻快曲调则甚似[爷爷泡的茶]所描写的意境，让人有置身于红尘外的感觉。与Landy温岚合作[屋顶]后另一首合唱歌曲 - [珊瑚海]，与南拳妈妈的Lara携手唱出海鸟跟鱼相爱的无奈。头文字 D的主题曲[飘移]及插曲[一路向北]也以Bonus Track 的方式一并收入在此专辑当中。

周董放弃了暑假黄金档而选择了有浓浓秋意的十一月延迟发行这张专辑，说希望音乐在制作上能够更加精细，却也保持了一向歌曲风格及味道。今年迟了一点，希望感觉也会多了一点！

Shell Life (part 1:Intro)

After recharging for a while, I'm back to the enterprise world! And guess what, I was enrolled into the Shell Graduate Scheme, just because I have less than 3 years of working experience at the time I applied. Feel abit shy to mention that though, cause I would have to 'beat' the rest of fresh grads to be successfully recruited.

Was dreaming to join such a renown multinational company earlier when I was still with Maxis - but when I was offered with such opportunity, it took me a while to accept it. Reason because, I was asked to join as business analyst in the business IT department, a field that I have left 'untouched' for quite some times (even I was 'suppposedly' trained to be one.. :P). Anyway, after talking to few seniors, have decided to try it out, with the following principal - well, it could be a guideline for any of you who are at your career junction, and dunno which way to proceed:

1. If the money does entice you, go with the job!
2. If the money does not entice you, but the job is, (i.e job satisfaction), you could always choose to stay!
3. If the money + the job do not entice you, why stay?!

I guess, that's how I ended up in Shell, at least I will withhold that principal until I find another better one.. :P Also, will always looking for traveling opportunities. Hope I would be able to enjoy my working life in Shell (at least as a graduate for now.. hahaha... :P) No offend to those fresh grads... Don't worry, the Shell Graduate Scheme is open throughout the year, come and try it out, and you will find it goes quite well with the job principle above.. ^_<

全方位艺人？？ All Rounded Artists

最进因时间上的许可（其实可另说成‘大把多余的时间’）从网络上下载了好多台湾综艺节目及电视连戏剧以‘消磨’时间。这才发现台湾的多元化市场已经非常大众化，或许应该说已经没有所谓的专业歌星﹑明星或模特儿之分，大家都争先恐后地把自己冠上‘全方位艺人’，以表示自己在所有领域的成就及身为公众人物的骄傲。

或许现在的艺人真的不好当吧！艺人，异人，异于常人，不在是单纯的偶像，而是经济公司‘呕心沥血’所栽培出来的‘形像’，简称呕像。也因此，歌手不能再专心地唱歌，还得兼顾演戏﹑拍广告甚至主持！市场普遍的‘泛滥’景象让所有人都能出专辑，只要曝光率高的就能与热卖画上等号。

究竟是大众口味的转变还是经济公司的宣传技巧，看来这股‘全方位’的风，不知得刮多久。
Sweety: 两位十七岁女生在求学时期又拍广告，又拍连戏剧，又出唱片，难怪现在有许多小女生想冲进娱乐圈。

乔杰立艺人：5566， K1 全方位艺人的‘原创者’，无论唱片﹑戏剧﹑综艺各领域，跨媒体的艺人生涯统筹规划让旗下艺人在台湾呼风唤雨，大红大紫。

小猪罗志祥： 从早期的台湾四大天王团体到后期的主持﹑拍戏到最近出专辑，是一只在演绎圈打不死的苍蝇。

杨丞琳： 在4inLove解散后毅然地选择留在演绎圈单飞发展。从偶像剧[流行花园]的小优开始就以‘可爱’行走娱乐圈的邻家女孩，为最新偶像剧[恶魔在身边]‘献身献声’，除了扛着女主角重任之外也为该片唱出插曲﹑片尾曲。后来更因此推出第一张个人专辑而大卖。

张韶涵： 电眼少女，从[MVP情人]开始缚获人心，接二连三地拍了几出连戏剧后也在唱片市场兴起一股偶像风。