Upz

I got a new camera. A DSLR; a camera which I wanted for very long time and I had decided to put my money on it. Even though the body is not a new one, I bought it at a first and second hand shop, The Camera Workshop, it looks as if it is taken out from its unopened box. Konica Minolta Dynax 7D. I bought the body and vertical handgrip for 2nd hand. They are all in new condition as if the previous owner never used it before.

I bought a new lens from Cathay Photo Store, a 75-300mm lens. Also from there, I bought a camera bag, and some accessories. 17-35mm lens, I think I will also get it soon. Or I will get a 18-125mm? Lens will be a never ending buy for SLR cameras. There are too many ranges too choose from. What I lack now is a lens with wide angle.









tata…

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Life goes back to normal

Life goes back to normal for me from today onwards. No more shift duties, no more off days. I had finished my 1 month operation and is back in camp for office hours work. Here comes the arrow shooting at me again in a military political life.

I will miss a lot of my days the past 1 month. Working on shift gives me so much time to rest during off days and I can truly enjoy myself since I enter National Service. In the ops room, we watched Korean dramas, movies and many more. Of course duties are performed as we are watching. We are all vigilant people deployed in a operation!

I was introduced to a forum, ClubSNAP, for photographers. I registered as their member and did postings, readings and searching for threats. I understand a lot of issues, comments and recommendations on cameras which is truly a learning environment. Also, I know that there are actually many Konica Minolta lovers out there.

tata…

P.S. KM is Konica Minolta

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I’m Back!

I did not even realize that I had not updated my blog for so long. I had being busy in my work and during my off shift, I would laze around at home playing games or browsing around the net.

I am also trying to get myself refreshed to Autodesk Viz. Now, I am using the 2005 version but there doesn’t seem much changes except for some onscreen interface. It is March already and in less than a year, I will be going over to Australia for my studies. I had to start learning things which I lost touch almost 2 years since I left poly. Soon, I will be digging out architecture books from my shelf and to immerse myself to read the history of architecture.

tata…

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Lessons Unlearnt and Learnt

Did I do anything wrong or I had gone too far. I feel that the message I am trying to tell my men was misinterpreted.

Few days ago, I caught 4 men and a specialist sleeping at a resting area and no one was looking after their ammunitions and weapons. I was there for quite long and no one woke up. I decided to “stunt” some items and took one of their live rounds. When they returned their ammunition, they discovered the lost and were anxious as it can cause them years in DB, Detention Barrack. The moment they knew that I took their round, they were furious.

What they do not understand is that my intention is to punish them for their negligence for not looking after their property and for sleeping so soundly. I am not punishing them for losing their ammunition. Can’t they understand that? Not even a 3rd Sergeant who is also punished understands it. He did not even understand the situation and argued with me. As a commander, he should know the situation best. All of them should learn from their mistake as warning was given to them that confinements will be given if they were caught sleeping without taking care of their own equipments.

I also learned that I should have taken their property, wake them up on the spot and give them their punishments. The way I wanted my men to learn is to understand the importance of their equipments especially in a real operation.

tata…

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Korean Drama Craze

Shit, I am getting more poisoned by the Korean drama craze. Last time, I only find that Korean dramas are nice to watch, now, I find that they are very nice. Not all actually lah.

I was watching Sassy Girl Chun-hyang last week with my Ops room people. In-fact, I only started when they were playing the last 6 disc out of the 22 disc I think. I had nothing to do and joined in the craze, and was immediately poisoned by that. Every meal time, we stopped. After meal, I would wait in the room, for the rest to come back and play the video. After the end of the show, those of us who missed from the beginning of the show started from disc 1, including myself. I was so drawn to the show that I always forgot the time to give a briefing to the men who are going out for duty. We sat in front of the television set for more than 12 hours just for that drama.

What was I doing? One of my men was cursing and swearing to 2 selfish characters who try to break up the 2 main character’s marriage. Disc after disc it continued and so do the swearing.

tata…

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Long live Aslan!

The Chronicles of Narnia. The story is full of magic and mysteries. Monday, I bought 3 copies of BBC’s Narnia VCD, 1st “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe”, 2nd “Prince Caspian” and “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”, and 3rd “The Silver Chair”. Prince Caspian and The Voyage are 2 stories in a volume. The other 3 Narnia stories, The “Magician’s Nephew”, “The Horse and His Boy”, and “The Last Battle” were not filmed.

BBC’s Narnia movie was filmed true to the book. Most of the details were captured and it was like the book is the script even though I had only read the first 3 stories. Do you know the 7 stories are not written in sequence? Lewis actually first wrote "The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe" with no real expectations or plan for a sequel, let alone a series. He followed it with "Prince Caspian" and then "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader". Later on, he wrote “The Silver Chair”, “The Horse and His Boy”, “The Magician’s Nephew” and lastly “The Last Battle”.

In reading order, It should be:

1. The Magicians Nephew

2. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

3. The Horse and His Boy

4. Prince Caspian

5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

6. The Silver Chair

7. The Last Battle

1988 to 1990 is the years BBC film the 4 movies. So expect some low technology and graphic effects. Human in animal costumes and cartoon animals with wings and ghosts were part of the film. But it was quite a well made film. Nowadays, film makers are making movies from books into a 2 hours show, and as a result, details in books are often omitted. The emphasis now is the graphic effects which makes the whole movie alive and entertaining.

tata…

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End of 1st Shift

After 48 hours of shift, I was very tired. Currently, I am working on a 2 days work 2 days rest shift system. I had spent my past almost 24 hours sleeping and dinner with some of my poly friends.

I overslept and work up only at 6.10pm and I was supposed to meet my friends at 6.45pm. I spent 30 minutes to think whether to meet up with them or not. Then, Juncheng called me and wanted me to go, and I decided to meet them up eventually.

We had dinner at Olio, Suntec. The food there are expensive but the set meal are priced reasonably at $15++. It is so difficult to meet up with friends nowadays. Please don’t forget to call me along when there are any gathering and I will try to make myself available.

tata…

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A Tired Person

don’t know why are these happening to me but they are keeping my day to day morale lower and lower. I had made quite a few mistakes this year and they are very careless mistakes.

First, I was so eager to finish a work that I did not double check whether I had keyed in the correct data. Second, while in a meeting, I fell asleep partly due to the warm office and also I have not had enough sleep for the past week. Thirdly and many more, I did not get the background information of any situation and went into conclusion. I think 2006 is not my year at all.

I almost got extra duties for the mistake in the documents and sleeping in the meeting. It was a close shave. I hope that for the 1 month in operation from tomorrow onwards, I will not make any more silly and unforgivable mistakes.

I am too tired and had less than 5 hours of sleep each day for the past week. I think my brain is not able to work fully.

tata…

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Selfless or Selfish

You know, there are some people who are such a slacker, and there are some people who are so loyal about their job. I guess I am one of the stupid person who unrelentingly reach out to help my friend in his duty. But it all means responsibility and good relationship built up from helping those who needs it.

There isn't any duty for me this month but I took over his duty as he has to go for range today. Furthermore, I was to take over the duty from the previous DOO who also needs to go for range early in the morning. So, I stayed in yesterday night and woke up early. As I was suppose to be a Chamber Safety Officer in tomorrow's range, I requested my friend who is taking over on Sunday to do the same as I did this morning. The respond was not good.

He told me to pass the keys, card, and pager to my GA so that he do not need to come early. It is a bad idea as the safe key is in the bunch. I told him it is impossible. Impolitely, he replied me that if I want him to take over early, I am to pay for his taxi fare. Where is his responsibility? In fact, I do not think he has. Since posted to the unit, I had only seen him a total of about 1 month even though our offices are on the same level. He is always in his bunk sleeping or doing something which I have no idea.

Why can't he stayed in camp for the night?I can do it, why can't him? Another of my friend is kind enough to offer me the help to stand-in for the slacker until he reach camp, I suppose at 8am, the official taking over time. Well, no choice, I had to leave camp at 6.30am.

It just came to my mind that I was reading XiaXue's blog. I cannot believe that she is a friend of one of my friend. How did Wendy get so many supporters? Her recent entries were a shock to me. Just a small matter, she writes it as if it wants her life. Hmm... I think she is always like that? Well, to my opinion, she is one of those busybody aunties who likes to make things big, and gossip around.

tata…

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Feverish

Ah… I think I am getting sick after the past few hectic days in camp. I had not get enough rest even though I had almost 7 hours of sleep each night. I am feeling a bit feverish bit giddiness now.

tata…

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