Monday, February 25, 2008

Memoirs of ASE~

As I looked back on my previous job in ASE, I really missed all my colleagues back there when I was working there with them. You know why?Have you ever worked in a company where all your colleagues are of the same age group as yourself?Have you ever had a bunch of friends marching out together to have your breakfast and lunch together everyday in a large group?Have you ever ran out of common topics to talk to your colleagues?Well, not with this bunch.Most of them plays DotA and even a production section head stops by at our place for gaming discussion.The discussion can last for hours and most of us will be sitting down giving our inputs about our gaming experiences and tactics.

Below are my friends whom I've met and known in my working life in ASE.It is a great honor and privilege in meeting this bunch of friends while working here.They had given me a lot of fun time working together and I really enjoyed working together with them. Besides working, we do organize a lot of makan gatherings together and we explored quite a number of places to look for good food together when Friday lunch kicks by.



This fella's name is Chau Fun and he's the youngest among all of us to get married! Sorry, but I had to announce that you are married so that most single girls should putus harapan on you so that we single ones would only have chance if not he will sapu all the single ladies that comes in his way.So now everyone knows that he's married already, no more hope lah for him. hehe. He's a nice guy who will always speaks his heart out regarding any matter without going around the bushes. He's a very direct man and has a loud voice. Whenever he gets excited while talking to the users, the whole office will be filled with his voice and everyone would get to hear what he's talking about without eavesdropping.



This lady(Hazlina) here works side by side with me and we support each other's systems whenever she or myself is not around. She's particularly very hardworking and always stays back quite late to finish up her work making us look bad because all of us likes to go home on time! Haha, just kidding. She's a great person to poke around with as in making fun with because she will not just sit there while you poke her but she'll retaliate and poke you back. Don't siao siao with her, she can bring her gang and gang poke you when she's under powered.




This jelly man(Wong Siew Ik) is my partner ever since I started working in ASE. We were assigned to help each other in supporting the eSIP system, a system-in-package system that generally takes care of the camera module process. We used to come on saturdays every month to do inventory count for them, just the two of us. He's a sarawakian thus he doesn't understand hokkien so our only way of communication is through Cantonese! haha. He's been a very supportive friend that is always willing to help me in my troubles during troubleshooting problems that I faced on the system.Not only that, he's a very analytical person and able to come up solutions for any problems quickly.No wonder he can spend so much time reading html.help. Hehe only those in MIS ASE would understand that term.



This guy(Timothy) has been my good gaming buddy as most of the time, we talked about games all the time.Most of the time, we can talk about DotA (our favorite game) whenever we go for breakfast, lunch and sometimes even working half way. We will ping each other when there's a new version update on the web.We have worked together in a project together and stayed late nights together trying to finish our project despite of our busy working schedules but in the end the whole system was not used because the users gave the wrong set of requirements.It was a sad case as well as disappointing one but working together with him has been a real pleasure and experience as both of us learn ASP.net together without any proper training given to us. We had to korek the Internet and then developed a system from scratch.I will never forget those times we used to slog our ways to complete that wretched project.It has been fun.



This cute girl(Jing Yen) is our Astro channel in our office. She can do that because she possess two sharp ears that can hear gossips from miles away and then spreads to us during our lunch breaks.She's our informant and also possess a cute voice not forgetting she has a very kwai giat face as we can see there.She can be quite lazy sometimes as she will skip breakfast when that happens and will rather sleep on her desk.We like to call each other's name twice like Yen Yen!! Bing Bing!! (must have that exclamation mark there cuz we will be shouting at each other!) Alas, she did join me for Jay's concert that day and she was such a hardcore fan of Jay's that she brought all the huan yin pin yin lyrics on Jay's song to sing along when Jay sings!She asked me where to get the big hand so that she can wave at Jay and also wants to collect Jay's bags that they sold there.Such a huge fan, much more gila than myself.Next concert, I will ask her to go again. hehehe



This blur girl(Viviance Lim) is Wong's girlfriend and she plays DotA as well!! Bad Wong.. He influenced and brought her to the dark side by teaching her DotA. Now she's got addicted to it and calls people to play together with her! Can you imagine that?Have any of you ever tried to convince your partner in playing games as most girls don't like to play games at all.Wong did a great job and now she can own people in most public games!She's quite quiet at first when I get to know her but when I really get to know her, she can really talk a lot and knows a lot just like Jing Yen. She is a very chatty person so if you know her quite well, you can really have a good time chatting with her.




This girl (Karen) is our latest hire in MIS before I left and at the first glance, she looked really familiar as if I've met her somewhere else. Mana tau, she is from TAR College, same year as me but different course. I was in Computer Science and she was in Information System Engineering but we saw each other before, just that we didn't know each other then.Maybe she too hao lian.Haha, just kidding.She has a very kwai giat personality (matches her face) and she can really mix around anyone because of her bubbly personality. In just a few weeks at work, we have already become good friends. We can tease around and joke with one another non stop.Too bad I had to leave so soon.Hehe Or maybe was it a good thing to leave so soon before she starts to get over my head. kekeke



As for this girl (Joyce), I just got to know her because there was not much communication among us ever since she joined in. She was very quiet at first and we were all afraid to approach her and talk.We thought that she was a very serious type of girl and would not tolerate nonsense from our side.After I leave ASE, I started to talk to her in MSN and found out that she's quite responsive over the net.Haha, she can really talk and able to relate quite somethings with me as she knows some of my friends in Friendster too.Well, it was nice to meet her so hopefully I will be able to mix around more with her in a near future.



Last but not least, this is my successor (Sharizan) of my left behind and leftover work which I let go on the day I left ASE.He's a very proactive person that is very into exploring new stuff in the programming world.He created and maintain a private website by himself due to his interest in programming.He's a very sporty person too as he is into sepak takraw and jogging.He's my training partner for Penang Bridge Run last year and last 2 years ago and he can really run! He finished the race in 2hours plus when I finished mine 3 hours plus.Last year, he got so bored,he tried to run barefooted on the Penang Bridge.Well that was not a good idea.He barely got back in time as his legs was almost all swollen and then it pains for him to keep on running that way.Lastly I wish him all the best in taking care of two major MES systems lah.Hope no problems or issues too big that he can't solve.




Finally, this was what Jing Yen drew for me while Karen added those words in there.It was really sad to leave you all but it is a must.I had to get out there because of the workload and not because of you guys.I really missed you guys and girls.Hopefully we will be able to meet once again in the near future! Miss you guys! Thanks for the friendship! :)



Science Vs God

Recently, Jonathan sent me a link to read about an interesting article about Science and God. I found it quite interesting and would love to share it here to all of you. Here it is, enjoy :

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"Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"
"Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes."
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."
The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment.
"Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if
you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues.
"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even
though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can
you answer that one?"
The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. "Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er...yes," the student says.
"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student : "From...God..."
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"
"Yes."
"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues:
"Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student: "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.

"Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice is confident: "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him"
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not."
"Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or
smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus
Christ, or God for that matter?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes."
"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"
"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."
"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"
"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."
"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.

"You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below
zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the
absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"
"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have Nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him.
This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.
"Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive
thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do"
"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when
man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Scheduled Prayers?

I'm currently sitting down in my office on a Friday afternoon during lunch time. I decided that I would not go out for lunch since the scorching sun would make my whole face red due to the heat it radiates thus, I took my meal in my work canteen. After finished eating my lunch, I walked back to my cubicle and I saw there' so few people left in the office. It came upon me that today I should be having my long lunch break since the Muslims are off to prayer in the masjids. As I start to think back of those time when I eat with my colleagues in ASE, we would travel great distances to enjoy a meal together in somewhere else besides the usual food court we go to during the weekdays.

Coming back to the thought the Muslims having their prayers on Friday afternoon, one thought came upon me which is their scheduled prayers. If you have not known, a Muslim prays 5 times a day facing Mekkah and on Fridays, they would all go to the nearby masjid to have their corporate prayer. Sounds much like our prayer meetings on Wednesday, just that this one only one person does the praying and everyone follows. I asked myself whether would I be so diligent in my prayers with God that I should schedule some time just like the Muslims to pray. Then I thought to myself, "Nah, we Christians don't need this since we can pray anytime we want and anywhere since God is omni-presence." So I don't need this 5 times prayer kinda thing. I can pray whenever I want and wherever I want.

However when I thought about it more seriously, I found out that I've taken this advantage for granted. I wouldn't pray like what Scripture tells us to pray unceasingly whether in season or out of season. To always keep in mind that God is in your daily life and He's there just right there with you. It's kinda irony when we say God is always with us and around us but we don't talk to him as much as we do to our friends. When we don't see our best friends, we sms them with 2-3 pages long of words and when we receive a reply, we would then be so excited about it and start gazing at our handsets busy reading the replies we get and then start getting busy with the keypads to reply. Talking on the phone with a person of the opposite sex is always a long one when you have time in your hands. We can talk and talk and talk until our parents starts to frown at us from a distance then only we'll stop.

The more I think about it, the more unaware I have been for the past few months that I have lost my interest speaking to God frequently. Last few months ago, I would tell God everything even when I walk, sit and work or even do business in the toilet (hehehe). I always find myself talking in the air when I'm alone and if I'm discovered, I'll quickly speak softly. Haha But then as I thought about it now, I only prays when I'm in need or in trouble. I felt that I have treated God as my Saviour only and not my Lord. Whenever there's trouble, I cry Save me Lord, Save me! But when I'm doing fine, I'll just relax and forget about Him. I think it's time for me to buckle up as God had always been waiting for me to commune with Him. He have not failed to answer me in everything yet it is I that have failed Him. It is I that was the unfaithful one.

Back to the point, certainly I don't need a scheduled prayer time slot in my life but it is high time that I should start to pray unceasingly with or without a cause because my Lord enjoys speaking to me and I to Him. Let us cultivate this habit that God is always beside us, in fact He is IN us. Thus, let us not forget to remind ourselves that we are not alone regardless of where we may be in.

"18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" Eph 6:18

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Holidays over liao..*sniff

My 10 days holidays finally ended today as I will be on board First Solar early tomorrow morning in Kulim.Bye bye ASE, Hello First Solar.New Year, New Work, New Routine,New Life. The terrible part of this holiday was that I spent all those time sleeping and resting. Besides that, I would be eating and dotaing. Kinda wasted huh?I was so lazy that I slept and slept that I didn't go for angpow hunting this year.So far, I've only got 8-9 angpows?Wow, that's a bad record.I need to start visiting my friends during this week onwards.Hehehe

Oh well, my holidays will soon be over in a few hours time..Time to adjust back my life now.Can't wake up at 12pm everyday now.Instead I've gotta wake up 6 hours earlier.*Gulp* Hope I would be able to cope with this new routine though.

Will be updating soon another day.I still haven't started my motor yet..Still lazy.Although this year is the Year of the Rat but it seems like I'm manifesting the pig! Tubak!