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    • It’s Called ‘Lining Up’, People.

    2009 - 12.10

    Category rants | No Comments »

    While lining up for the bus, there’s always – always – at least one or more people who insist on standing a bit off to the side so that when the bus finally arrives, they could push their way in and attempt to board the bus before the first person in line.

    Holy. Bloody. Crud.

    I know it’s freezing cold out there, but do not push your way into a bus. It’s not going anywhere. Line up like the good, civilized people you ought to be and await your turn. This simple act of courtesy would probably put an end to that feeling of being crushed on all four sides when mounting a bus, just because people are insolent enough to push their way in. The bus isn’t going anywhere and there’s plenty of room for everyone on board. The worst thing that could happen is that you don’t get a decent seat.

    Honestly, people. Where is human civility?

    The Lopsided Pot.

    2009 - 12.08

    Category life, rambles | No Comments »

    Lara was making dinner and I was inquiring about a lopsided pot when she suddenly came up to me, put her hand on my should and said with a grim look on her face, “Guess what, ‘K’?”

    “What?” I asked.

    “I, “she began, “… am … making rice …” She paused and looked at me solemnly, “… In a pot!”

    Rice. IN A POT!

    My Asian background just couldn’t handle it. Rice in a pot! Rice has always been cooked in a rice cooker. Rice made in a pot on a stove is just sacrilege!

    And then the old git proceeded to tease me by going through the pantry proclaiming how we don’t have enough junk food.

    “We don’t?” I said, taking her very seriously.

    “No,” she said, sorting through what we had on the shelves.

    “We have lots of chocolate. That counts as junk food, doesn’t it?”

    “Yes, and look, we only have chocolate, a bag of chips, a bag of chips, another bag of chips …”

    I looked at her and asked, “Wait. Are you being sarcastic?”

    She obviously found my dimwittedness very, very funny because she turned around and began snorting as she continued to chop up carrots.

    What If Apple Made A Car?

    2009 - 12.06

    Category Apple, rambles | No Comments »

    During our Ottawa road trip, Jesse, Lara, Francesca and I wondered what a car designed by Apple Inc. would be like. Here are the best entries in the list that we came up with:

    IF APPLE MADE A CAR …

    • The entry models would only come in black and white. The pro car versions would have an aluminum unibody enclosure.

    • It would have a built in bluetooth with voice activation and would be 100% compatible with the iPhone.

    • The steering wheel would be a click-wheel.

    • When you turn the engine on, the Apple OS start-up sound would go off.

    • It would be fully electric.

    • It uses no keys, just a password. When you get the password wrong, the entire car shudders.

    • It recharges using a cable with a magnetic plug.

    • Any problems with the car should be forwarded to the Apple Car Service Store. Don’t try opening the hood up yourself, or you’ll void the warranty.

    • The wheels lock when not in use.

    • The mirrors have the ability to zoom in and out.

    • You can take pictures with your rearview mirror by double-tapping on it.

    • The sunroof is in the shape of the Apple logo and glows in the dark.

    • There are no cup holders … because no one would ever dare bring drinks in their car.

    • Windows open and close by sliding one finger up or down. Using two fingers would tilt the window.

    • Double-tapping on the windows would tint them: tapping one side would cause it to darken, the other side to lighten.

    • There are WAY fewer buttons and knobs.

    • The available radio stations are the same ones that come with iTunes. More can be added if required.

    • The car would be wireless-enabled and can access any Wi-Fi hotspot in the city.

    • If your car was ever stolen and you had a MobileMe account, you can trace the stolen car’s current GPS location, have a personalized voice message transmit through the car’s audio system, and/or remotely set off the car alarm.

    I’m Guilty Of Being Witness To The Annihilation Of A Ladybug

    2009 - 12.03

    Category life | No Comments »

    I had the day off work, today, so I decided to join Lara and work with Johnny at the house he is building. I had always promised him that I’d go help him out, but never really did. It was a good thing I went today – it proved to be a more valuable use of my time. If I had stayed home, I would have wasted most of my time playing Avernum 6.

    I could have gone and done laundry, though … instead I ended up getting mud all over my boots and my jeans.

    Anyway.

    So there I was, helping build a house.

    Lara and I were given the task of stapling the vapour barriers to the studs and then taping around the windows and electrical outlets with Tuck Tape. My word, the jokes that kept popping up while Lara and I were working. I won’t even start. I honestly had fun.

    Corvette1.jpg
    I found this ladybug was on the window sill. Lara decided to be cruel and trapped the poor creature in between the insulation and the plastic. Soon its poor, suffocated dead body would be covered with a layer of drywall, primer and paint. The unsuspecting people moving into that house would never know of the dead insect trapped dead between the walls of the master bedroom … until they start waking up in the middle of the night seeing the ghostly figure of a red beetle.

    Corvette2.jpg
    Me, stapling the vapour barrier to the studs.

    Corvette3.jpg
    Johnny! That awesome, funny, little balding man. :)

    Corvette4.jpg
    Me taping around the windows whilst standing on the tub. According to Lara, I like to “spread over the tub”. What a naughty child, she be.

    Anyhow – it was overall a fun day, despite the cold. If Lara can manage to wake me up and get me out of bed the next time I’m off, I’ll probably tag along again. Fascinating to see how the products I sell at work are actually used – it gives me a better understanding. Seeing it actually being done is a lot more reliable than basic theory.

    Lara and I also dropped by Rona afterwards. We’ve got a live Christmas tree! Unfortunately, we had the time to go and get the decorations just yet, but we will.

    Christmas, Christmas, Christmas! <3

    If I Found A Quarter, Would I Have Good Luck For 25 Days?

    2009 - 12.02

    Category life, rambles, rants | No Comments »

    It’s raining outside.
    What a bummer.

    After taking Jack for a quick WPP (walk, poo, pee), I went back down to toss out the cardboard boxes that had been sitting in my room for weeks.

    There I was with my hood on, my glasses wet with rain, fighting the wind and trying to keep the cardboard boxes from flying off into the dark, cold night while attempting to shove them one by one into the cardboard bin slot.

    It was a fierce battle between the wind, the rain and me, but I prevailed. I am, after all, awesome like that.

    I rushed back into the building pronto after that.

    After getting off the elevator on the elevator on my floor, I found a quarter on the ground.

    25_Cents.png

    A QUARTER!
    That would help pay my bus fare.

    And speaking of bus fares …

    [begin rant]
    I find it utterly ridiculous that the TTC has to raise the bus fares AGAIN. This city is asking me to take more money out of my pocket, but it sure as hell isn’t putting more money in.
    [end rant]

    So there.
    End of blog post.

    I Am A Groundbreaking Thinker

    2009 - 08.31

    Category quizzes & questionnaires, rambles | No Comments »

    According to a personality test on www.ipersonic.com, I am classified as a groundbreaking thinker.

    Interesting and mostly true, I think.

    —

    — General
    Groundbreaking Thinkers are charming, enthusiastic persons. They really bubble over with energy and like to take centre stage. They love variety both professionally and privately. Groundbreaking Thinkers tackle changes consistently with their optimism and firm belief in their own abilities; they are always on the look-out for improvement possibilities. Their excellent communication skills are of great advantage to them here. They approach the world with curiosity and openness and master new situations with a great deal of talent for improvising and with resourcefulness. Their spare time is taken up with a large number of hobbies; most Groundbreaking Thinkers like to travel in order to gather as many different impressions as possible. This personality type is unbeatable at discovering new possibilities.

    In their work, Groundbreaking Thinkers highly rate challenges and diversified tasks. They cannot stand routine and too detailed work. They love to astound others with bold ideas for an original, new project and then leave it up to the others to implement them. Hierarchies, rules and regulations arouse their opposition and they love outsmarting the system. It is vital to them that they enjoy their work; if this is the case, they quickly become pure workaholics. Their creativity best takes effect when they work independently; but they are very good at motivating others and infecting them with their optimistic nature. Conceptual or advisory activities appeal especially to Groundbreaking Thinkers. It can happen that some people feel somewhat duped by their flexible, spontaneous nature.

    Their sociability and enterprise ensure that Groundbreaking Thinkers always have a large circle of friends and acquaintances in which activity plays an important role. As they are mostly in a good mood, they are popular and very welcome guests. Grumbling and peevishness are unknown to them. However, they do tend to be a little erratic and unstable when it comes to obligations and this makes them appear to be unreliable to some. Groundbreaking Thinkers are very critical and demanding when it comes to picking a partner because they look for the ideal relationship and have a very concrete picture of this ideal relationship. Mutual aims in life are very important to them. They do not like compromising and would rather remain alone. For the partner, it is often a challenge to have a long-term relationship with a Groundbreaking Thinker. Groundbreaking Thinkers need a lot of space and diversity or otherwise they become bored and feel cramped. Types who are rather more traditionalistic often have problems with the willingness of Groundbreaking Thinkers to take risks and their often crazy, spontaneous actions. However, if one can summon up sufficient flexibility and tolerance for them, one will never be bored in their presence and will always have a loyal and faithful partner.

    — Adjectives which describe Groundbreaking Thinkers:
    extroverted, theoretical, logical, spontaneous, rational, innovative, intellectual, open, independent, curious, enterprising, analytical, clever, enthusiastic, venturesome, inventive, energetic, sociable, optimistic, non-conformist, creative, freedom-loving, charming, able to get enthusiastic, self-confident, communicative, capricious, inconsistent, outgoing

    — Career
    As a Groundbreaking Thinker, you are one of the extroverted personality types. Dealing with others, communication, discussions, and a little action are your life’s blood – and some of your strengths. You are very articulate and love variety personally as well professionally. New tasks, new projects, new people, fascinate you because you are always interested to increase your wealth of experience. Consequently, you have no problem dancing at several weddings; juggling parallel tasks to be accomplished electrifies you, and you are an accomplished improviser.

    Your enthusiasm carries others along and enables you to create positive impulses in your team. Mountains of paperwork, endless e-mail correspondences, and solitary work tire you quickly, and bore and frustrate you. The appreciation of your work by others is more important for you than for the introverted Thinker types. You measure your own professional value by the admiring glances of your colleagues and superiors.

    The psychologist Keirsey once described the Groundbreaking Thinker as the “soul of the company,” and that can be just as easily applied to an employee position, as to an independent chief of a company. Since risk represents less of a threat than excitement, freelance or self-employment are well suited to you. However, you must take care to have collaborating staff around you, or that you are able to work closely with other teams in order to satisfy your contact and communication needs. You are naturally suited for leadership positions because there you have the ultimate freedom making your decisions and choosing your tasks.

    It’s “K” Time.

    2009 - 08.14

    Category rambles, the Internet | No Comments »

    12668.jpeg

    Go to: http://thesurrealist.co.uk/slogan.cgi
    Put your name in, and generate slogan after each question.

    —

    1. What do you say to yourself every morning?
    Show Me The “K”!

    2. What do you want other people say about you?
    The “K” That Smiles Back.

    3. Someone asked you out, your answer is…
    “K” – The Appetizer!

    4. How would you answer a booty call?
    Bet You Can’t Eat “K”.

    5. How would you introduce yourself to someone you really like?
    You Like “K”. “K” Likes You.

    6. To someone you dislike?
    We All Adore A “K”.

    7. You’re in a conversation and you suddenly feel the need to pee, how would you excuse yourself?
    A Glass And A Half In Every “K”.

    8. Your parents ask you why you got home late, you say …
    I Can’t Believe I Ate The Whole “K”!

    9. You’re failing a subject, you say …
    All You Add Is “K”.

    10. The love of your life asks you to marry him/her, what do you say?
    Stop! This “K” Is Not Ready Yet!

    11. Your bf/gf is breaking up with you, you tell him/her…
    Life’s Pretty Straight Without “K”.

    12. Someone told you you’re an asshole, you tell them…
    Don’t Leave Home Without “K”.

    13. What are the best words to describe you?
    The Curiously Strong “K”.

    14. If you’re going to have a movie about your life, the title is …
    Watch Out, There’s A “K” About. (I’d SO Watch That.)

    15. Your last words before you die …
    Because “K” Is Complicated Enough.

    16. Your message to a special someone..
    Don’t You Just Love Being In “K”? (WTF!?)

    17. Title of this post will be…
    It’s “K” Time.

    Ranting And Raving To Rogers

    2009 - 06.22

    Category rambles, rants | No Comments »

    The following is my conversation with Rogers via e-mail. All I had wanted to know was whether or not 3G tethering would be applicable on my account, but they had to make it so complicated.

    —

    ME:

    I currently own the iPhone 3G running the latest 3.0 version. I also currently have the 6GB data plan which I acquired last year when I got my phone.

    Just to be sure and to avoid possible additional charges, will I be able to tether WITHOUT being charged extra, as long as I am within my 6GB data limit?

    Thanks.

    —

    ROGERS:

    Dear Khristian Nañola,

    Thank you for taking the time to write to us, we appreciate your use of online customer service.

    In your recent email, you have informed us that you would like to know if the new iPhone 3GS will allow tethering.

    For more information on the new devices please visit
    www.apple.com/iphone

    If you require any additional information or services, please do not hesitate to contact us again by replying to this email, or by visiting www.rogers.com/contactus. We would be glad to assist you in any manner possible.

    As another alternative, you can contact our Customer Care line toll free

    1-888-764-3771 or *611 from your hand held device, 24/7. We look forward to hearing from you and have a great day.

    Thank you for choosing Rogers, we appreciate your business.

    —

    ME:

    Hello,

    Before forwarding me links to websites I am not vacuous enough not to have checked first, I would appreciate if CSRs properly read the e-mails sent to them before sending out a near-automatic response. This is not the first time that I have had to reply to a ‘Customer Care’ representative’s e-mail asking them to re-read my original request and provide me with the right answer, rather than forwarding me links I could have easily found myself.

    As I have mentioned in my first message, I own the iPhone 3G running version 3.0, and I currently have the 6GB data plan.

    On your website, it states as follows:

    “[...] i f you subscribe to a data plan which includes at least 1GB of data transmission between June 8, 2009 and December 31, 2009, and if you have a compatible device, you may use tethering as part of the volume of data included in your plan at no additional charge.”

    I know that the new iPhone 3GS allows tethering and I know I need to have 3.0 to enable it. What I would really like to know concerns your plans and payment issues, not details on Apple’s latest piece of technology. Why, then, was my inquiry responded to with a link to Apple’s website? That question was rhetoric, by the way.

    Here’s my real query:

    I obtained my data plan prior to June 8, 2009. I got it about a year ago, the day the iPhone 3G was released. I wish to confirm whether or not I, too, am eligible for tethering as part of the volume of my data at no additional charge.

    I have had unsatisfactory experience with customer service reps over the phone who give me false information which I take as true. Also, miscommunication is easy over the phone. The end result usually leads to me being asked to pay hefty phone bills which could otherwise have been avoided. This is the reason why I am contacting you via e-mail, so that I have a written statement that I can go back on.

    If you could respond with the appropriate answer to my question, I would be most obliged.

    Thank you.

    —

    ROGERS:

    Dear Khristian Nañola,

    Thank you for taking the time to write to us, we appreciate your use of online customer service.

    In your recent email, you have informed us that you would like to know if your plan includes tethering at no extra charge.

    We apologize for any frustration caused by this issue and assure you that we strive here at Rogers to provide the best customer experience possible. We are sorry that we did not achieve our high standards when addressing your inquiry and appreciate your patience with us at Rogers.

    Due to our security and confidentiality guidelines, we kindly ask you to provide us with your address including postal code and your date of birth for full verification. Once we receive the information, we would be happy to comply with your request. We look forward to hearing from you.

    We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for choosing Rogers.

    —

    ROGERS (after providing them with the information they asked for):

    Dear Khristian Nañola,

    Thank you for taking the time to write us, we strive to provide you with the highest level of customer support, and we appreciate your use of our online customer service.

    In your recent email you have inquired if you are eligible for tethering with your IPhone 3G without incurring data charges.

    We certainly assist you with this; we have reviewed your account and see that tethering has been added to your account. There will be no additional charge for tethering if you remain within your 6GB limit.

    [...]

    [...]

    You are a valued customer and we appreciate your choosing Rogers for your service needs.

    —

    Was that really so hard? Rogers really is becoming a pain in the ass. It’s a good and reliable network, but poor in customer service. They also tend to overcharge. I have to keep a careful eye on my phone bill to make sure there are no extra charges to screw me over.

    Suck, Suck, Suck.

    2009 - 06.04

    Category rants | No Comments »

    It’s one sexy Shark.

    It’s long.
    It’s sleek.
    It lights up when it’s dirty.
    It even has this rolling attachment that I use to brush my pussy cat.
    It has awesome sucking power.

    It’s 36″ long, but I can make it go up to 48″.
    If it can’t reach the hard-to-reach areas, I simply press the right buttons and I can make it longer.

    Gosh, I love my vacuum cleaner.

    Rusty.

    2009 - 04.21

    Category life, rambles, rants | No Comments »

    At around 6:00pm, April 20, I began designing and coding a Wordpress theme for my MMM BooGrrs comic which I plan to resurrect.

    It is now 1:23am, April 21, and I have not yet come up with a satisfactory design.

    Blah!

    I try one idea and find that I cannot figure out how to code the .php and .css files to give me the result I had wanted. Thus, I abandon that and try another idea. If I somehow manage to solve the problem, I am led to another issue, and another, and another, and eventually I just get so frustrated with that concept and start again from scratch.

    The only good thing that has risen from these constant roadblocks is that, while I do my research to come up with a permanent solution, I learn and therefore improve. I try to implement all the new things I learn to the new themes, which sometimes isn’t such a good idea because it ends up becoming too crowded and then I have to make that awful decision on which wonderful idea I should eliminate.

    Buggger, bugger, bugger*.

    I really must come up with an acceptable theme soon. I am yearning to bring back those comics, but the perfectionist in me demands that everything must be Utopian upon its relaunching.

    There are three chicken breasts left and about two more cups of tea in the pot. I wonder if that would be enough for an all-nighter?

    *Did you know that ‘bugger’ is another derogatory term that for sodomy?

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