done! presentation

it's finally over. the only thing i complain is my groupmates only appear in the last minute.

grad photos and more

the photo taking session went quite smooth on sunday, the only problem was too crowded. grace paid me a dinner in watami, tst. she wanted the gift chopsticks so that i've ordered a vodka tonic.

i start processing those pics in midnight, and managed to put it online for the reference by grace, her mentor and her sister.

this morning received a phone call from dean gary. i asked if he has any good news on his 2nd GRE attempt. suprisingly, the 2nd attempt was still unsuccessful. it was marginally better than last one, that means still not good enough for passing the minimum threshold of yale ph.d admission.

what my result could be if i take GRE now?

tonight is the presentation, and i need squeeze the time to fill out the application for MT of HSBC and Cathay Pacific.

Encouragements to a Lover, Sir J. Suckling

Come across this. Hope to share with all.

Encouragements to a Lover

Sir J. Suckling

Why so pale and wan, fond lover?
Prythee, why so pale?
Will, if looking well can't move her,
Looking ill prevail?
Prythee, why so pale?

Why so dull and mute, young sinner?
Prythee, why so mute?
Will, when speaking well can't win her,
Saying nothing do't?
Prythee, why so mute?

Quit, quit, for shame! this will not move,
This cannot take her;
If of herself she will not love,
Nothing can make her:
The Devil take her!

關你咩事

星期五晚心情唔好, 半夜的時候一個人行去碼頭7-11賣野飲. 一路行一路打比一個朋友, 冇人聽.

飲酒係會好訓d. 今日佢打番比我問我咩事.

「諗諗諗, 關你咩事? 諗下點樣做好個project, 諗下點樣做好個present, 諗下聽日去HKU拎咩相機仲好啦!」

真的, 關我咩事? 佢係你咩人, 人地又當你係咩人? 需要這樣在乎這樣著緊嗎?

其實我清楚知道要怎樣做, 只是一時想不通. 要在乎要著緊就要找一個值得在乎著緊的人. 多謝朋友的提醒, 可能我就是需要你們不斷的支持.

「諗諗諗...」

Thanksgiving

It's thanksgiving, as well as the b-day of my sister.

I still remember the thanksgiving in last year. I stayed in the office until heading for Tai Koo Place joining the thankgiving dinner of KK. It was me the first one to speak: I thanked my parents and all my frds, who gave me support thruoughout the years, particularly to those spending their time with me when I was down. Thanks KK for her part.

And again, for the thanksgiving of this year.

I went back to office after the dinner, for the report of So-net Japan. It's 4:00am when I finally reached my bed.

It's easy to forget those who gave you support without asking any return. Think of them when you're down: realize how tiny you're in this world, and how your peers have brighten your life. You'll feel the love within.

Being needed

It's 4:40. Finally finished my take home exam, I should be the first to finish. I programmed using C++, which reminded me the days I tought her C++, and not I'm no longer needed. It seems a lot to do these days, no time to do job research. Still having two projects on hand, with the deadline coincide on Dec 16. What's more I've promised grace on sun, and Carmen has came back from NZ, probably meeting other friends during weekends.

I went to town center today settling my credit card, and then went to park'n shop. Think of my frd during my shopping, as I smelled a drink that she loved. I called her, and told her about it. Yet she was too busy to talk with me - or simply not comfortable to talk with her bf here with her.

Somehow I dreamed, that someone would do the same with me - call me and tell me they're thinking of me. It's so sweet, preferably from someone you love. This lead to the feeling of being needed, being in someone's heart, which is something I'm starving for. Let me know you need me. This is the one, if someone someday who could give me such feeling.

She should be backed to HK tonight, yet I guess she is just too tired to update her xanga. I know she is sad... and I know she will recover sometime, just like me.

Pray.

congregation invitation

it's about congregation time. it was UST last week, and i just got an invitation from my relatives for one in PolyU.

for once i hoped to have her in my congregation, or at least a photo, as promised on the stairs.

PolyU reminded me lots of things, and definitely even more for her. however this moment i chose not to join, to escape from the atmosphere and i'd go there next weekend to take some pictures for me.

this weekend yet another congregation photo taking session in HKU with grace.

lesson of life

it's 3 after finishing part of the paper. review her posting, her friends added his comments. it seems this guy also have such experience, and i noticed everyone is feeling and doing more or less the same.

i dun have any mood for study for 2/3 of my undergrad. whenever i picked up the book i just wanted to cry. still i could handle all the courses without any failure and graduated with 2nd upper class honor. good or not? i dunno. my dream is to do a ph.d and do research in university, and my result did not allow such opportunity - at least not an easy, 'straight' path. if i have any subject failed, properly i'd recover whole alot faster, not after 2 years until i met dr. tam - a timeframe that lasted longer than the time we spent together. if i did m.phil, then no dr. tsang then no sinocdn then no japan trips then no so-net japan or hilton japan. there isn't a clear cut answer when dealing with life.

i've told dr. tam all about this, and i somehow asked a similar question: shouldn't i join CUHK instead of UST, a choice that she has the influrence? just like she asked as if to be a member of the cabin crew. human loves to look back and think if the outcome could be changed. when we are in love, we make decision with his / her in mind, from where to have dinner to which university to which job. when there is no longer love, ppl start to look back hoping to change, or to guess the '2nd version', or to blame.

still, things happened and these are part of our life. we make decision for a particular incident, be it the place of dinner or career choice. the break up just happened during the course of the incident in the same way, but the difference is that rarely happened during the course of a dinner, plus you won't blame for sth like 'why i choose to come to this restaurant?'.

there is no point in looking back, we're all here for present and future. decisions have been made, and they're part of us. you might hide but someday you have to accept it, it's the truth.

live your life, it's short. taste it, every bit count as part of you. it's about making the most out of what you have at THIS moment, not about what you COULD be.

exam and alcohol

back to UST tonight for the mid-term paper, 90/100. not the greatest, yet good enough for a sd i suppose. while i check for mail with my clie, i saw her posting. i'm getting more worried and leave her a message...

prof hamdi finished the lesson well before the scheduled time at 9:00pm, and i went to mong kok for some alcohol. dunno why, i just wanted to drink. vodka lime, not as sharp as whiskey, but it fitted the feel tonight in autumn.

Less is more

今天單車日, 來回都是上水.

第一次往上水是四年前, 還是住在良景的時候. 那天從UST二個OCamp後回來, 接到她的電話說身體不適. 她正在PolyU的OCamp. 我很擔心, 本來倦得要死的我立刻甦醒, 乘的士往上水接她到屯門醫院.

錦田公路、粉嶺公路, 很快的到了上水. 找到了她, 問候她的情況, 緊緊的把她抱住, 才感到安心一點. 還記得回屯門之前, 沒有錢乘的士, 要她在的士站等往HSBC櫃員機走得一身汗的我回來.

的士沿粉嶺公路、錦田公路走, 感到很寧靜; 因為倒在我懷裡的她很安詳. 感到她需要我, 我心有種莫名的幸福, 盼望的士走慢一點就好. 很快的到了屯門醫院, 跟她的媽媽交代一下, 我先回家去了.

就這樣, 以後經過粉嶺公路錦田公路的時候, 我都會想起在的士倒後鏡的畫面; 不論是自己駕車, 44/44A/44B小巴, 還是往來大陸的直通車, 抑或是火車. 學懂了如何接受自己的感覺, 那既然是我生命的一部份, 為何要壓抑? 慶幸我依然擁有這一種感覺.「感情逝去了, 把美好的收藏起來.」說是簡單, 做起來卻不容易, 但最後我做到了.

這幾天知道她分手了, 很不高興. 她的臉又浮現於腦海中, 自己十分希望可以支持她幫她一把. 很慶幸, 我們終於開始交談, 有一種安心的感覺. 然而, 我在有意無意間像在希望她可以一日便回復過來. 怎可能? 自己可能有點過份了, 再下去只會雙方都不愉快.

想清楚, 作為她的朋友, 我想這也差不多了. 找一個合適的位置, 把自己的希望調整一下, 不是更好嗎?

Less is more. 把其望降低, 反而更容易感到滿足. 經歷過的才能體會了解.

希望她的身體可以快些好過來.

presentation

what a work!
finally finished the ppt slides at 5:00am, and gathered the info needed for final report. still hasn't got any progress from my partners as usual...
i'm getting more and more worried.

the comp211 team

Today went to cycling with comp211 peers, from Tai Wai to STP to Tai Po. It's a pleasure.
We exchanged informion - Astri, GRE and so on. Particullarly Vincent and I both want to take the GRE exam. As I said, need to do more then others to convince you're capable.
The other 'must-have' questions has to be affairs. Claudio has a great ambition in his 'carrer path' - finding a wealthy girl friend and already got a target. Vincent seems having his own target as well, while David keeps his confidential calls as if nothing has changed in 3 years time. Luckly they believe me having no engagement, and I still remember everytime the doubtful tone and eyes of Dean Gary on this topic.
Let it be.

早日康復

同妹妹去看「公主復仇記」午夜場. 回來見到她說病倒了, 很想他.
我知道那一種感覺和痛苦. 給她一個訊息, 希望她可以快些回復過來.
不知道我是「王子」還是「仆街」, 我只覺得她是在經歷一些我經歷過的, 好像阿Gil跟陶紅一樣.
也許對她的關心有點過於一個普通朋友, 但她也真的擁有著不一樣的位置; 而現在最重要的還是她的身心, 如果可以讓她好一點, 為何介意付出多少? 只希望我付出的同時, 她也會接受.
衷心的希望她可以開開心心, 畢竟我們都愛過.
早日康復.

Congratulations to Carmen

I got an email from today. Congratulations to Carmen!

Interestingly though, we meet in the company this time last year. She left our company within a month cuz the low paid and long hours. I am glad to be her best frd in the company despite our difference in age.

My picture of her is her relationship with her bf. They met in New Zealand when doing undergrad, and started the relationship there. She left her mother and brother in NZ, and followed her bf to come to HK after they graduated. Her bf is a pilot, with lots of girls surrounding him.

His life was filled with luxious and women; while she worked as a normal OL in HK. Challenges and temptations are filling their relationship. He was getting rich, she seemed standing still. He started relationships with girls around. Lies could no longer stand, when she witnessed the truth, time after time.

She decided to put it to an end, after 10 years alone in HK. We met at this moment. We shared our story in an overnight telephone call till 6:00am. I can felt she has given up all together, not to let him to bother her emotion anymore. My experience was nothing compared to her, why I can't do the same? We cheered up ourselves altogether, and she joked I could be her Mr. Right if I wasn't her little brother. She joined a piano course in an attempt to fill her life with music, which was her dream during schooltimes.

She told me her bf found her again in our last meeting, and I remembered that day she paid for the phone I'm using (I was stupid to left my pocket at home!). Mercedes and candle dinner - these weren't what she hoped, money can't make infidelity moral. I reminded: make it clear what you're doing. If you can really feel the love, give it a second chance. Afterall it's your life, and you're the one to make it a happy one or not. We crossed our fingers for finding our right person.

I'm so surprised by how many things could happen in a year's time.

Dear All,

I'm pleased to announce that Henry and I have got married today in New Zealand.

Will call you guys after I get back and GOOD LUCK to all singles out there that are looking for a partner!

Best regards,
Henry&Carmen

I'll always be your angel, wishing you all the best.

GMAT + GRE

After reviewing the whole picture of the business market, I decided to take another business degree.

My undergrad result can only be called satisfactory, that isn't enough for a company to justify a non-major student in joining their industry. Alex, my former classmates at PLKCC, has joined Standard Chartered Bank as a Graduate Associate after graduate from HKU with a CS major. He is smart, probably lucky, yet he deserves it as he has been heading to this area long before me. He hinted having CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) is the key in his area.

Well, the first question comes to my mind is: how can I finance a HKD$400k Full-time MBA or HKD$200k part-time MSc? Still I'm too far away, the school might just reject your admission!

The first step is to take the GMAT and GRE exam, to understand what I can archive. If I'm capable, I can register for the business grad school on 2006. Money? Leave it as another issue. If not, I have to sit back and settle with what I can do.

Thanks Dr. Tam, I have leart to find the support within myself, not from my love. I know I can do better, and I need to do more.

Tokyo Visit

Amazingly, I've been to Tokyo for 4 times in roughly half a year, all for business purpose. There I've build a good relationship with all 3 major customers. After announcing my resignation, I've told my friends in Tokyo that I'd call them for a dinner when I visit Tokyo again.

Earlier last month, I got a offer from my credit card company for a $4800 3-day round trip Tokyo package on Cathay Pacific. It seemed quite attractive that the hotel isn't motel but really a 5-star hotel. The timing is good that you could have a snowing Tokyo in December if you're lucky. I tempted to join - before I realized the price is based on the average of 2 person trip with a twin room.

Well... I've been all my own for all those visits. I'd be glad to have a partner, and I have stupidly think of someone when I was in Daiba. Still, I'm here all alone. A friend is interested in joining me, yet I need the time to consider.

The friend already broken up asked: How to X'mas? Try to go out with groups of friends, or go out all alone in crowded places. If you are yarning for someone to be with you, then please save all your passion and will, and pray for Mr./Mrs. Right to come - Valentine's Day, Easter, Mid-autumn, X'mas, New Year...

Save the best for last.

Utada / First Love

I picked this CD tonight. Pop it into the CD drawer, skip to cut 7. It resemble Shape of My Heart, and it was Utada that accompany my time in Ginza, Tokyo.

The same CD, but gives different feelings at each listen over 5 years.

I was told that when you ask less sugar for your tea or coffee, favour dark chocolate over milk chocolate - you have grown.

When to use slide film and when not to? - Suite101.com

When to use slide film and when not to? - Suite101.com: "Here is one big hint.....if you are going off on a trip of a lifetime, leave the slide film at home! Unless you have countless hours of practice with a particular type of slide film it is best to avoid trying it for the first time on any shoot that you will regret. If you are just itching to start using slide film then spend the time at home learning its unique characteristics first."

I've made the same mistakes! However I'm on my 6th roll of Velvia and it is getting better with my scanner.

Internet growth

This is an article from Reuters about Internet growth.

Analysts predicted the next drive to Internet growth would be, wireless. VCs are returned to pre-1999 funding and valuation level for new ventures. As an insider, I would admit VCs has recovered and wireless has the potential. On pure tech side, there are also semantic web and others, the limits are really bounded by our imaginations. However, IT lacks a model that could generate periodical income.

Like the DC market has experiencing a steady growth from late 90s to now, from 2MP to 8MP prosumer, or 16MP full frame – this keep generating income for companies like Canon, Nikon and Sony, while Kodak suffered most. This has been the case up this year, Olympus find the margin of its digital imaging department getting thin, due to price drop and tough competition. In fact the price for consumer DC has decrease over 30% in my expectation over last three years. CCDs are no longer dominated by Sony, with Panasonic and Samsung catching up. The business model has changed, that allow manufactures to bring their own DC my assembling ICs and CCDs that are already available on the market, and the result is we get HP and brands from Korea and China selling DCs. This is exactly the same case for mobile phones. The consequences are the price drops, less product differentiations, and making existing players without in-house development difficult. One obvious victim here is Olympus, without its own ability to develop imaging processing engines or CCDs. Nikon and Canon are moving their focus to the DSLR market, where consumers are upgrading from DC to professional SLR in quest of better photos, and enthusiasts willing to spend more in the segment that regarded as serious photography. These changes allow companies like Canon and Nikon to keep up their profit in the digital imaging department.

How about the web? As mentioned, it lacks a model to drive profit. QoS has been in discussion for over 10 years without provision. Wireless has driven the growth of computer hardware industry (intel centrino, wi-fi access points), yet for how long can this growth sustain? Is there a real market for it? Technology advances so fast that it might be human who refrain the introduction of new technology. Is 3G really that impressing by allowing media streaming and video conferencing which could only be in sci-fi movies? Yes it seems so, however it is a nice-to-have rather then a must-have for most people. And the idea of video has introduced some privacy problem – you might not want to let your wife to know you’re in a club or with your part-time lover. See? New tech are not always welcomed.

Tech analysts, is there a place for me? Analyzing has been my best. Is McKinsey the start? I hope so.

midterm

midterm exam, routers and switches.

heal

Got a bad news from one of my friend.

It's just like what I've been feeling, I wish she can get it thru bit by bit. I can do nothing besides trying to give her my support. These are what friends can do.

Let's pray.

scan scan scan...

[The title style has remind me one of my frd - you know who you're!]

It's 5:00am in HK. I've been spending my time in scanning my slides and negatives from Japan with my film scanner. Slides do capture great colors, with lots of details. Negatives do have a wide dynamic range, at the cause of grain.

I've to believe that, slides are more difficult to deal with in outdoor situations - where you cannot completely control the light sources. My Velvia in Japan blown easily - perhaps due to my ISO40 setting in my EOS 30V. An EV stop of 1/2 steps can easily ruin your work.

Slides and negatives do have their pros against digital.

One of my favourite shots on Velvia.

My first DSLR

Here it comes - the Canon EOS 20D.

It's not cheap - at least to me at this point. However I prefer it over the EOS 300D for its solid build, and balance with my heavy lens, the Canon EF 24-70 F2.8L USM.

I've been playing with it for a week. The low noise @ISO1600 is simply awesome! It allow me to capture the night sky as well - all beyond what my short-sighted eyes can see!

Please visit my photo gallary at pbase.com, and share your photo experience!

opening

I've been thinking of building my own blog and photo server for a few months. For various reasons (server, bandwidth, Dyn DNS... ) finally I settled with pbase.com and blogger.com instead of setting my own servers (versus what Vincent has been doing... I need a completely quiet environment for music!).

Despite being a graduate of computer engineering, I'd prefer working with tools and software already available, instead of writing and maintaining my own servers. What's more is that these tools are extremly flexible. Of couse I'd like to build a website as Eric Cheng did - let's see.

Okay, welcome to my blog!