Power out!

My dad's computer went kaput - it shutdown itself mysteriously and failed to reboot. I suspected it might have to do with power supply so I decided to take a crack at it.

Something was rattling inside as I take the power supply out...

...Here's the baby!

I think this is from here that it fell off:

The computer works fine after the power supply was replaced but the USB ports are fried. The only workaround is to install a new USB PCI card :(

飲到嘔

昨晚同事搞Farewell Party, 一班人狂叫酒灌醉離職同事之餘連自己都灌醉埋, 旁觀的我也不幸免。
從未飲到嘔的我終於生平第一次飲到嘔, 好在忍到返屋企至出事。

唔知今次找數有幾溶哩......

Tip For Fixing Lost Connection

Ever have problem with connecting to internet after your computer wakes up from sleep mode? Sometimes repair connection would work, but more times it doesn't and the eventually I have to reboot the computer.

I've researched the problem on web (e.g. Googling "connection problem sleep mode") and looks like I'm not alone on this issue. Suggestions on the forum ranging from rebooting the computer (thanks but no thanks) to updating the BIOS, but none of these really appeal to me until I found a post where someone suggested that it might have to do with problems resolving DNS names. Going this direction, I think I have found the solution:

1. Right click My Computer > Manage
2. Click Services and Applications
3. Click Services
4. Select DNS Client (click on the picture above for enlarge view)
5. Click Restart

The connection should be back to normal after going thru these steps. This trick works on my laptop everytime, but I haven't try it on another computer yet. If you have the same problem, please try the above solution and let me know if it works.

Sudoku Madness

Sudoku has been a hit for years but I never really catch on until I move to a new company.

In my current workplace, one of our favourite pastime is playing crossword puzzles on the free Metro paper. However my interest in crossword quickly fades as words like "ERR" appear in the crossword solution - what kind of word is "ERR"? So my attention gradually shifts to Sudoku, and I must say it is pretty addictive. Now a day can't pass without a few games of Sudoku.

Here's a great site for some free Sudoku:

http://www.websudoku.com/

Pain in the Neck

Woke up on Tuesday morning with a killing pain in the neck...I'm going to throw my freaking pillow out of the window and just use a rolled-up towel as pillow from now on. The foam pillow is only good for one sleeping posture - if it fits you when you are on your back, then it will be too low when you are on your side; if it's perfect for sleeping on the side, then it's too high on the back. And who wouldn't toss around a bit during the night? I might as well strap myself to the bed to keep me sleeping on my back all night long.

Whoever invent the perfect pillow will be a rich man. Before then, Advil and ice pack will be my best friends.

Procrastination

Yes, I'm suppose to be writing my part of the group project write-up this weekend. Yet it's already Sunday 8pm and I have barely started anything.

Thanks to procrastination, my desk is sparkling clean - I have spent the entire weekend cleaning up papers that's been accumulating on my desk for months and perhaps years.

And I am updating my blog, doing anything but working on my paper.

For the next few hours, I'll have to strap myself to the chair and write the god-damned paper.

On a positive note, at least I have a clean desk to work on.

2nd Day

Today I receive my security badge and computer sign on. Let the training begin!

After being on the giving end of training for the past two weeks, it sure feels weird to be on the receiving end of training.

Feb 14: First Day

Today is my first day on the new job and I have tons of white fluffy stuff piling on the ground to greet me. I made a big mistake to walk from the train station to the company - it's a 30 min walk and by the time I reach the building, I cannot feel my legs and my glasses are laced with ice!

Apparently there are a lot of new hires, so I don't have a computer sign on yet. I end up spend most of the time with HR and reading the orientation material.

It definitely feels strange to leave the office at 4:30pm since I'm so used to a 10 hr work day at my old place.

Feb 13: Last day

After a long job hunt, finally I'm out of the door.

Part of the reason why my job hunt lasted so long is because I do enjoy the small company setting: most of my coworkers are decent people whom I know well; communication is mostly informal; dress code is basically lax. However I can't see opportunity for professional growth in this small company, so it's time to move on.

I will definitely miss my coworkers.

Feb 11: Family Reunion

It was at least two years since the entire family sat around the same table and enjoyed a meal together. Though the time is short but it was really "quality time" spent.

Hopefully my new job will work out well so that I can afford to spend some vacation days to visit my brothers more often.

大功告成

爛 Hinge 1

身首分離

爛 Hinge 2

靚哂!

只用了三十分鐘就換好 laptop hinge, 忽然之間覺得自己好勁...哈哈哈...

爆機

I have no idea how the hinge broke. After dealing with some hardware problems with Dell laptops at work, my gut feeling is that this problem should be something I can fix myself provided I have the parts, so it led to my first eBay experience.

Lesson learned:
I should have called Dell first before looking at eBay, it turns out that it costed more to buy on eBay than order the part directly with Dell. It's also more hassle with this particular eBay purchase - the seller is in the states and I have to make some special arrangement to pay him; also I'm losing on the currency conversion.

The part should be arrived at my office next week, hopefully it is in good condition.

萬般帶不走 唯有 Pod 隨身

Christmas gift from 亞 Ra...I'm lovin' it!

Thank you brother!

End of Parole

I hope to accomplish at least one of these during the Christmas holiday:
1. clean up the room (which looked like a scene from Armageddon or The Day After Tomorrow)
2. read the new books that I just bought
3. clean up old emails

Here's the report card:
1. all previous lecture notes are bundled up nicely. It's a pity to see how many trees I killed indirectly.
2. I'm only half way through, but my course already started :(
3. *not started*

Not bad...