Microsoft + Yahoo VS Google

Would a Yahoo-Microsoft Merger Work?
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2126193,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

Microsoft-Yahoo: Which Products Would Win?
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2126219,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

Microsoft Live Versus Google
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2098401,00.asp

Another first for Singapore: Fastest walkers in the world

Personally, I walk pretty fast too!
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/273935/1/.html

Dell to choose Ubuntu

I have been hearing about Ubuntu since last year. I heard it from my RCL colleagues, the net, etc and no doubt Ubuntu is on the rise and is now one of the most popular flavours of Linux.
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8661763902.html

300 Free 3D Icons

It's free!
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Clear

Increase the number of simultaneous downloads in Internet Explorer 7

Just in case you don't realize, the maximum number of simultaneous downloads in IE 7. This is the case even before IE 7 days. The fix to this inconvenience has remained the same and applicable to all versions of IE.

Refer to below link for the fix.
http://vistarewired.com/2007/04/16/increase-the-number-of-simultaneous-downloads-in-internet-explorer-7/

Xplorer2 file manager (Windows)

This software has been used by my ex-colleague and is proven to be useful.
I am using it at the moment.
http://lifehacker.com/software/download-of-the-day/xplorer2-file-manager-windows-255405.php

<ADV> tag on email subject

I have been noticing this <adv> tag being attached to email subject for the past few weeks from some of the newsletter I subscribed to. After some search on Google, I found the reason - It's a new anti-spam law requirement.

Read More
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=67613

Workers with ESS certification can now join the Civil Service

I am equipped with 2 ESS certificates as well :)
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/272662/1/.html

Try Google's Next Design Before It Goes Live

Just have a try.
One significant addition is the menu at the top.
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/04/be-first-to-try-googles-next-design.html

Google Tops Microsoft as Most Valuable Brand

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2121196,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

Hack Attack: Control multiple computers with a single keyboard and mouse

I thought this is rather interesting.
http://lifehacker.com/software/dual-monitor/hack-attack-control-multiple-computers-with-a-single-keyboard-and-mouse-254648.php

IE 7 Cannot Access Netvibes?

IE 7 seems to have problem accessing Netvibes.
My FF 2.0 has got no problem with that.

It's kinda weird for Netvibes to break only from today onwards.

God Bless

Heard there are 2 RCL employees just passed away one week after the other and both died because of accident in Malaysia.

RCL has lost 2 capable employees.

Tiring Week Ahead

This week is going to be a tiring week for me.
Let's wait and see how many hours of sleep will I be able to enjoy.

i'm Home

i’m™ making a difference
http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/

Google Spreadsheets Adds Charts

Cool! The next one in line would be PowerPoint since they just bought a company providing presentation slides services.
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/04/google-spreadsheets-charts.html

New Adobe Player Takes Web Video Offline

Will post here once the new player is out in the market for download. Let's wait.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2114465,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

101 Essential Freelancing Resources

A very interesting article
http://freelanceswitch.com/general/101-essential-freelancing-resources/

Remove Windows Messenger 4.7

I thought I might as well post this on my blog itself so I can search on my own blog instead of search Google!

To uninstall Windows Messenger 4.7 on your system do not delete the programs files directly instead do the below:

1. Start -> Run


2. Enter “RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove” into your run box without the speech marks.


3. Click "Yes" upon seeing below prompt.

Windows Messenger 4.7 is uninstalled.

Google to Acquire DoubleClick

Just another successful acquisition
http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/pressrel/doubleclick.html

Learn more about DoubleClick
http://www.doubleclick.com

J2EE Practices

Taken from the book: More Java Pitfalls

Client Tier

• Use the new Preference API to store preferences instead of Properties.
• Take advantage of interfaces when hiding implementation detail.
• Be wary of not handling exceptions properly. Instead of returning a value from a method (such as false or null), thinks about the cause of your returning these values. If there could be multiple causes, throw an exception.
• Instead of taking some information from one exception and placing it in a new exception, take advantage of the new JDK 1.4 changes to Throwable and add the original exception to your new exception.
• Make use of the Java Assertion Facility instead of putting a lot of print statement.
• When using assertion, follows the following rules:
• Do use assertions to test postconditions on methods.
• Do use assertions to test places where you believe control flow should not execute.
• Do not use assertions to test preconditions on public methods.
• Do use assertions to test preconditions on helper methods.
• Do not use assertions that affect the normal operation of the code.
• Use Xpath expression to search a DOM.
• Use Apache Ant to facilitate application builds and deployments.
• Other opensource tools:
• Use Junit for unit test.
• Use BugRat to track issues.
• Use CVS for code repositories.
• Use Jdepend to generate metric measurement to determine the software quality.
• Use JavaNCSS to detect noncommented code.
• Use checkstyle to ensure that previously established coding rules are incorporated into each individual source code components.
• Use CruiseControl to automate the build process.
• When deciding whether to create a Singleton class, first ask yourself the following questions:
• Does there needs to be one global entry point to this class?
• Should there be only one instance to this class in the VM?

If answer is yes, then use Singleton. If no, don’t use.

• When using Singleton, make sure to:
• Use private constructor.
• Synchronize methods that need to be synchronized.
• Don’t use Singleton as global variables and never let Singletons to become non-Singleton.

Web Tier

• It is a good practice to make use of a Web tier framework to implements Web application. While it is possible to implements application using independent servlet and jsp, it will be a maintenance nightmare.
• Be careful about your use of HttpSession in servlets. Be aware of the collision problem that could await you in regard to naming data objects with putVaue (). Avoid using common names to storing types in HttpSession with the putValue method.
• Use removeValue instead of invalidate () when removing object specific to the application from HttpSession.
• When building distributed business systems, keep in mind that transactional data should be handled in a database instead of LDAP which don’t have transactional protections. LDAP should be used to organize and search for relatively static information in an efficient manner, while database systems can accommodate frequent fluctuations in data.
• Make use of the Java Regular Expressions introduced in Jdk 1.4 for form field validation.
• Don’t declare instance variables in Servlet as it may cause concurrent issues.

Enterprise Tier

• A J2EE application does not need to have EJB tier in it. The EJB tier is necessary if:
• You need to deal with distributed or complex transaction scenarios (multiple systems, phased transactions).
• Reliability (how well the system responds to something going wrong) is a major concern.
• When your applications need to be spread over several containers in a transparent way to support things like clustering, load-balancing, and failover.
• When design network applications:
• Abstract details from the client.
• Abstract things in a multi-tired solution.
• When the network has the potential to be a bottleneck, use the “plan and execute” strategy - it is often better to send one large message with lots of information than to send smaller messages over the network.
• Use local interface to improve performance of the EJB tier. Use local interface if your Web container and EJB container are in the same process.
• Be aware of using more than one ResultSet at once. While many JDBC drivers will support the use of multiple concurrent ResultSet objects many will not. Many databases will exceed the number of maximum open cursors. To achieve maximum portability, rethink your design so that you only have one open at a time.
• Don’t use Entity bean because you need a object persistence mechanism. Consider JDO as it is lightweight, minimizes database transaction implementation, and it supports reuse, particularly with Java components.
• Don’t spawn thread in EJB.
• Avoid using file operation in EJB.

Remove Dual Boot Menu After Uninstalling Windows Vista

I just realized even if you have formatted drive having Windows Vista and making sure boot.ini is correct, Dual Boot Menu just stays there. Windows Vista is using a different boot loader!

To remove boot menu, follow below steps.

1. Boot your computer in to Windows XP.
2. Ensure you have the Vista DVD image emulated or in the DVD drive.
3. Go to “Start” and “Run”. Type in “e:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt52 ALL /force” (without quotes, and replacing e: with the drive letter of your Vista DVD).
4. Restart the computer, and you will notice the boot selection menu is gone.
5. Format the partition/drive where you had Vista installed.
6. Remove two files (Boot.BAK & Bootsect.BAK) on your XP drive’s root folder (C:), these were backup files of your previous bootloader, now no longer useful.
7. Optional: Restart to ensure it still works.
8. Use your partition software to merge your partitions together.

Extracted from http://www.istartedsomething.com/20060622/installing-and-uninstall-vista-beta-2-for-dual-boot-with-xp/

My Brinkster Website Reached Its Limit Yet Again!

I got below email from Brinkster few days ago.

Dear Brinkster Member,

This is an automated message generated to inform you that yesterday your site[hongjun] reached its maximum daily data transfer/bandwidth limit of 16.7 MB andwas stopped at or about 3/29/2007 10:35:00 AM(EDT).

Don't worry! All stopped sites restart automatically at midnight, EDT.

With the General (free) Solution, you are allowed a generous 16.7 MB per day of data transfer/bandwidth (500 MB per month). Brinkster defines bandwidth as the overall amount of data (or bytes)transferred.

If you have received this message more than once, you may wish to take steps toprevent your site from using up its bandwidth too quickly. Alternatively, youmay wish to consider upgrading your account to either our Premium X4 or GeneralSE Solution.

The General SE Solution ($3.95 per month, $3.95 setup) offers 2000 MB ofbandwidth per month (68 MB per day), ftp access and access to Premium e-mailsupport via premiumsupport@brinkster.com.

Top 10 Best Places to Get Free Books

http://www.friedbeef.com/2007/04/02/top-10-best-places-to-get-free-books-part-1/
http://www.friedbeef.com/2007/04/05/top-10-best-places-to-get-free-books-part-2/

How to Look 10 Pounds Thinner in Photos

http://beauty.about.com/od/hairstylephotogalleries/qt/photopose.htm

So so sad

I sent out my personalized farewell email to every single one in IT Development Department.
That was my very last email sent out using my company's mail account before leaving for Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, I tried to login to my mail account but it has been disabled. I am not able to read any replies :'(

Google's SearchMash & Yahoo's Alpha

Google's SearchMash
http://www.searchmash.com
http://hongjun.blogspot.com/2006/10/searchmash-new-google-search-site.html
http://hongjun.blogspot.com/2006/11/googles-searchmast-update.html

Yahoo's Alpha
http://au.alpha.yahoo.com/

Yahoo's Alpha is so similar to Google's SearchMash.

Anothr Beta

Anothr is a Skype/Gtalk/MSN-based robot which can provides just-in-time alerts for your favorite blog and news feeds.

User can simply input any RSS/Atom feed link to the bot on Skype/Gtalk/MSN to subscribe, then to be notified in the future.

I have tried it myself. I feel Anothr is useful for feeds that don't expect many updates per day. If feeds get updated very frequently, I feel a RSS reader like NetVibes would be more useful.

http://www.anothr.com/

Send a Fax By Email

TPC Fax
http://www.tpc.int/faxbyemail.html

Country Code List (Singapore is supported)
http://www.tpc.int/servers/iddd.html

Gmail Paper

I still cannot see this feature for me. I guess I need to wait a while.
http://mail.google.com/mail/help/paper/
http://mail.google.com/mail/help/paper/more.html

Google as a Symbol of Excellence

http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/03/google-as-symbol-of-excellence.html
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22*+is+the+google+of+*%22&num=100

Hong Kong Trip

I am back from my Hong Kong Trip (31st Mar - 4th Apr).
It's a bit short because I need to be back to attend my brother's ROM which falls on 5th Apr.

TMNT Retro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI0FbYe3lRE

WEP Security Called Unreliable

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130385-c,networksecurity/article.html

Microsoft: Wii Gamers Will Look to Bigger And Better Things When They Grow Up

Wonder if the statement made by Microsoft will end them in a law suit. We shall see. http://www.dailytech.com/Microsoft+Wii+Gamers+Will+Look+to+Bigger+And+Better+Things+When+They+Grow+Up/article6675c.htm

2 More Days

告别宏海箱运有限公司。。。

Yahoo to Offer Unlimited Email Storage

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2108670,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

Overwhelming Things to Do

My To-Do List is getting pretty long and they are to be done asap hopefully by this coming Friday.

1. Documentation for handover session
2. Summary Report for the Documentation Department
3. Project Closure
4. Ad-hoc incidents

Gmail Craze: 30 + Tools and Hacks for Gmail

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/gmail-craze-30-tools-to-make-your-gmail-better/

Snooze, You Win

According to new studies, nothing tunes up mind and body like a good nap. But there's an art to catching the right kind of z's.
http://www.mensjournal.com/healthFitness/0601/napping_power.html

Top 30 Container Carriers Ranked by Capacity

Regional Container Lines is ranked 23rd.
http://glscs.texterity.com/glscs/200603/?pg=62

Pulau Ubin Trip Tomorrow

Handover Session

I hope I can come out with detailed user manuals, system manuals, and whatever documentations which may of use to Remus and Ellen as soon as possible. Remus and Ellen will be taking over my systems after I left my current company.

Next week, I hope to be able to come out with all necessary documents.

Do you need to turn off your PC at night?

http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/technology/hardware/do_you_need_to_turn_off_your_pc_at_night.mspx

Moving On

My days in RCL Feeder Pte Ltd is numbered. On 22nd February 2007, I tendered my resignation. 30 working days later, 31st March 2007, will be my last day of employment. I will definitely miss the many lame people in my department.

My new job will be for ST Electronics (Info-Software Systems) Pte Ltd. However, I will be attached to DSO to work on a project. 9th April 2007 will be my 1st day of employment for ST Electronics.

QuickEE Task List

Wonder if there is anyone out there interested in this Open Source project.
https://sourceforge.net/pm/task.php?group_id=190246&set=custom&group_project_id=51659&_assigned_to=100&_status=1&SUBMIT=Browse

Wikipedia Founder Says Intends to Challenge Google, Yahoo

Remember the times when Google challenge Yahoo and Altavista many years ago
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2102337,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

QuickEE/TubbPost

The new generation of EE's QuickPost
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Community_Support/Input/Q_22438617.html

**Associated Links**
Download (full project): http://www.geocities.com/wstaylor76/TubbPost.zip
EXE: http://quickee.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/*checkout*/quickee/TubbPost/bin/TubbPost.exe
SF Discussion: http://quickee.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/quickee/

Wishlists thread: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Community_Support/Input/Q_22433302.html

.Net Framework:
v1.1
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=262D25E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3
v2.0
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en
Windows Installer
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=CEBBACD8-C094-4255-B702-DE3BB768148F

No Internet At Home

Since last Thursday, I have been living without internet access at home.
Living like ancient man.

Windows Powershell

Just another shell scripting language mutated from Unix Shell and Windows Scripting.
I think it will need at least 2 years before this gets popular.
http://blogs.msdn.com/powershell/

Seven Best Add-Ons for IE7

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/software/0,72777-0.html?tw=rss.index

Google Docs And Spreadsheets Face No Competition

That's according to below Nielsen/NetRatings
http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/pr/pr_070220.pdf [ PDF ]

Welcome To Google Apps

http://www.google.com/a/help/intl/en/admins/editions.html

Gates Sets Limits on Kids' Online Time

Parental Guidance Control Mechanism in Windows Vista
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2097075,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

Happie Piggie Year!

Human = eat + sleep + work + enjoy
Pigs = eat + sleep
Hence, Human = Pigs + work + enjoy
if, Human - enjoy = Pigs + work
in other words,
Human that don't know enjoy = pigs that work
Men = eat + sleep + earn money
Pigs = eat + sleep
Hence, Men = Pigs + earn money
if Men - earn money = Pigs
in other words,
Men that don't earn money = Pigs

Women = eat + sleep + spend
Pigs = eat + sleep
Hence, Women = Pigs + spend
if, Women - spend = Pigs
In other words,
Women that don't spend = Pigs
Summary:
Men earn money not to let women become pigs!
Women spend not to let men become pigs!

Men + Women = 2 Pigs
Wish all the pigs happy forever.

Minimum wage for Philippine maids overseas may upset supply

IMHO, this move will cause more harm than good.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/259802/1/.html

Happy CNY 2007

Hope it is not too late to wish all a "Happy Chinese New Year"

The Story of Sergey Brin

FYI, Brin is one of the cofounders of Google.
http://www.momentmag.com/Exclusive/2007/2007-02/200702-BrinFeature.html

Microsoft SoapBox

Microsoft's answer to YouTube but buffering is rather slow.
http://soapbox.msn.com/

How to Backup a Blogger Blog

It has been long since I last wanted to backup my blog's entries. I may try below method one day.
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/02/how-to-backup-blogger-blog.html

The Google Story

Just finished this book. Interesting book.
http://www.amazon.com/Google-Story-Hottest-Business-Technology/dp/0553383663/sr=11-1/qid=1170685995/ref=sr_11_1/105-8298249-7184407

Google Translator Interface

Please take note this is not a product of Google's.
It is a product created that uses Google Translation Engine.
http://mcrenox.com.ar/gtrans/

Microsoft Jumps to No. 1 in National Corporate Reputation Survey

Johnson & Johnson is No. 2 and 3M ranks No. 3, according to the Annual RQ 2006 by Harris Interactive.
http://uk.us.biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070201/nyth185.html?.v=45

Decision Made

A decision has been made - I am not going to Bangkok to work.
So, what's my next move?

Watch Bill Gates & Co Present Windows Vista

Quite fascinating
http://www.microsoft.com/winme/0701/29339/GA_Launch_MBR.asx

Official Launch of Windows Vista

In 1983, Microsoft announced their 1st Microsoft Windows.
12 years later, the 1st 32 bit Microsoft Windows 95 came and now long filenames is possible.
12 years later (Year 2007), Microsoft Windows Vista is launched.

How Brain Works

Brain is so complicated. Try out below:

1. WITHOUT anyone watching you (they will think you are GOOFY.....) andwhile sitting where you are at your desk in front of your computer, liftyour right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.
2. Now, while doing this, draw the number " 6" in the air with youright hand.

Continue making the 6 in the air.......
Your foot will change direction. It works every time.

Explanation from "Infinity08", Experts-Exchange member.

"Those two movements are very basic, but your brain is not accustomed to doing them together. It can't consciously do two different things at the same time : in this case clockwise and anti-clockwise movements of foot and hand ON THE SAME SIDE of the body.However, you can train yourself to do this correctly, by doing it so often that it becomes an unconscious action. When you start to think about it actively (consciously), it fails.

Compare it to learning to drive a car. Driving a car requires a lot of different actions executed at the same time : handling the pedals, steering wheel, gear shifter, while at the same time looking around and having a global view of traffic around you. When you start learning, you'll have a lot of difficulties doing any two of these actions at the same time (eg. steering while shifting gear etc.). After a while though, when you've driven around for a while, those actions become "second nature" to your brain, and you don't even realise that you're doing them (because they're handled by the unconscious).

I mentioned earlier that the foot and hand have to be at the same side of the body (right or left) for this to work (or better : fail). Try the same exercise with your left foot and right hand and it shouldn't be a problem. The reason for this is that the right part of your body is controlled by the left half of your brain, and vice versa."

Amazon Web Services

Trying now
http://www.amazon.com/AWS-home-page-Money/b/105-4477430-1226022?ie=UTF8&node=3435361

How to Open Password Protected PDF Documents

This is interesting
http://labnol.blogspot.com/2007/01/how-to-open-password-protected-pdf.html

Googlebombing

I guess many have already heard of getting George Bush, US President as the top result in a Google search using keyword "Miserable Failure". This is an exploit in "breaking" Google's search algorithm known as "GoogleBombing".

Related articles
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/09/googlebombing-failure.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_Google_bombs
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/01/google-tries-to-make-googlebombs.html

Google New Spelling Auto Suggest

Another Innovation By Google
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/01/googles-spell-checker-included-in-all.html

How to Disable GPRS on Your PDA Phone?

Install PHM Registry Editor

You will need to first install a registry editor. Windows Mobile does not come together readily with a Registry Editor. Do not ask me the reason as to why the decision was made like this/that because I don't know why. Nevertheless, there is a freeware downloadable from the Internet that provides us with a GUI to "mess" with the registry. Download and install PHM Registry Editor now. Perform a soft reset after installation.

PHM Registry Editor: http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-phm-registry-editor-v0-70.html

Tweak your registry

1. Open your registry editor
2. Go to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ConnMgr\Providers\{7C4B7A38-5FF7-4bc1-80F6-5DA7870BB1AA}\Connections\IDEAS Internet (GPRS)\Enabled
3. Edit the key 'Enabled' by double-tapping or otherwise.
4. Change its DWORD Data from '1' to '0'.
5. Go to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ConnMgr\Providers\{7C4B7A38-5FF7-4bc1-80F6-5DA7870BB1AA}\Connections\IDEAS WAP (GPRS)\Enabled
6. Edit the key 'Enabled' by double-tapping or otherwise.
7. Change its DWORD Data from '1' to '0'.
8. Soft-reset.

If you really really hate GPRS, u might as well rid urself of the MMS function as well:

1. Open your registry editor
2. Go to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ConnMgr\Providers\{7C4B7A38-5FF7-4bc1-80F6-5DA7870BB1AA}\Connections\IDEAS MMS\Enabled
3. Edit the key 'Enabled' by double-tapping or otherwise.
4. Change its DWORD Data from '1' to '0'.
5. Soft-reset.

http://www.ppcsg.com/lofiversion/index.php/t49904.html

Run Ad-Aware In Background (Save CPU Juice)

This may already be known to some who actually explore Ad-Aware options. But I thought it is good to post it.
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/1994/ad_aware_reduce_cpu_usage_scan_in_background

Google Search History

Now, you can search your previously keywords search using the new Google History (Beta). Pretty cool. To stop tracking, click on "Pause".
http://www.google.com/searchhistory/

The 3rd Annual Expert Awards | 2007

Great to see familiar names
http://www.experts-exchange.com/expertAwards2007.jsp

How do I clean a computer's hard drive before I sell it?

Article from LifeHacker
http://lifehacker.com/software/hard-drives/ask-lifehacker--how-do-i-clean-a-computers-hard-drive-before-i-sell-it-229531.php

To all Job Seekers

http://www34.brinkster.com/hongjunwap/jobsdb/

Fake Google Belarus Homepage

Try doing a search for keyword Google Belarus.

The top result turns out to be a site that mimics Google's Homepage. This site though is a copy of Google, it is not a malicious site. A search made on the copy site will simply do a post to genuine Google.

Google Mimic
http://www.google.by/

Google's Localized Version for Belarus (Genuine)
http://www.google.com/intl/be/

Live.Com Is Trying To Be Simple

It seems like Microsoft's own Live.Com is trying to portray a clean and simple landing page and be like Google. My personal opinion is the interface is just too simple.
http://www.live.com/

Advice Required

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Web/Web_Languages/HTML/Q_22124379.html

Shopping for CNY

Today is so tired.

Met up with Regine at Takashimaya Coffee Bean at 10.30am for breakfast before kicking off our CNY shopping spree. We did our shopping at Takashimaya, Bugis, and Queensway Shopping Centre.

All in all, I bought a pair of black leather shoes at Takashimaya and 2 shirts at Queensway Shopping Centre.

Charts for Google Spreadsheets

Add On for Google Spreadsheet - Generating Charts
http://imagine-it.org/google/spreadsheets/makechart.htm

Google Is the Best Company to Work For

Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" ranks Google top.

Top 100 List
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2007/full_list/

Video from NBC on Google's Unique Corporate Culture
http://video.msn.com/v/us/fv/msnbc/fv.htm??f=00&g=fefdd320-1bd9-461f-8d5e-88927f341523&p=hotvideo_m_edpicks&t=m5&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/&fg

Hussein in Hangman's Noose

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/12/30/hussein/index.html

O $ P $

Going to hang Pig's Head le.
Still pending $1,100.
Not even 50% is bank-in to my account.

How to dual-boot Windows XP and Windows Vista

I am going to do it myself in this coming week.
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/windows-vista-beta/windows-vista-beta--how-to-dualboot-windows-xp-and-windows-vista-179906.php

Merry X'MAS !

Going to Clear My Sch Fees By Next Week

Shiok man!
All my school fees debt is going to be cleared by next week before end of year 2006!

It is going to be record breaking! It is going to take me less than a year to clear.

Fauxto... like photo.

Create and edit your picture files online for free!
Another innovative product.
http://www.fauxto.com/

PayPal Integration Completed

Finally PayPal integration is completed and this marks completion of my freelance project, excluding some initial support should there need to be any changes.

I can finally catch some sleep :)

Fast Typing Skills Training

See how fast you can type.

To play, type the name of the enemies you see and then hit RETURN.
I am ranked 38th (Difficulty level: Medium).
Username is hongjun
http://cognitivelabs.com/word_shoot.htm

Hokkien man trying to take a photo

Summary of Blogs Mentioning EditGrids

Just so happen to find the below link and realize my blog is mentioned!
The reason as to why my blog is mentioned is because I actually quoted "EditGrid" as one of my entries previously. The below link actually points correctly to my previous post - http://hongjun.blogspot.com/2006/08/gsheet-google-spreadsheet-and-writely.html.

Internet is so threatening. No one can hide anything once something has posted live on the Internet.

Check it out!
http://www.editgrid.com/tnc/cliff/Summary_of_blogs_mentioning_EditGrid

How to login to an expired Windows

Thought this is an interesting article
http://tomorrowtimes.blogspot.com/2006/12/how-to-login-to-expired-windows.html

Microsoft SQL vs Oracle

Have a look at a paper written by David Litchfield.
Do also take a look at the pdf files posted in the below link as well.
http://blogs.technet.com/security/archive/2006/11/27/microsoft-sql-vs-oracle-david-litchfield-comparison-paper.aspx

Knoppix 5.0 OS

I finally finished downloading 600 over MB of files yesterday.
Had a try on this bootable OS on a CD-ROM and realized I almost forgotten how to use Linux!
It has been almost 2 years since I used a Linux.

Overall Rating: Good

Interview On Myself

hongjun joined Experts Exchange (EE) in Sep 1999, and has been a long time contributor in the ASP topic area. He has also achieved over a dozen other topic areas to reach the 1,000,000 point level, so we asked him what keeps him going.

How did you first find Experts Exchange?
Well, I first get to know Experts-Exchange during my poly days. A friend of mine introduced EE to me when we were stucked with some C Programming logic.

First EE question asked by me: Simple scanf question (C Programming)

What made you start answering questions?
Ever since I asked my first question, I often rely on EE to get quality and prompt replies to my technical questions.

Few months later, I realized there are some questions out there where I can also provide my assistance. I realized the need to give back to the community and to share knowledge.

First EE question answered by me: string requires char type but how to add all entries and get total? (C++ Programming)

What do you get out of answering questions?
In short: Knowledge
When I attempt to answer questions, I actually go through the process of looking for solutions all over the place. Through this process, I begin to know where to get the right solution at the right place at the fastest time. I also get to know a problem can be solved by many different methods and which is truely the most efficient and effective.

I must admit my bookmarks database is rather huge.

EE Profile
http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_237966.html
http://www9.brinkster.com/hongjun/ee/ee-profile.asp

Free Wireless@SG

News
http://www.ida.gov.sg/idaweb/marketing/infopage.jsp?infopagecategory=&infopageid=I3967&versionid=3

iCell Network
http://www.icellnetwork.com/

QMax
http://www.qmax.com.sg/wirelessatsg/index.html

SingTel
http://home.singtel.com/wirelessSG/wsg_index.htm

Coverage
http://www.ida.gov.sg/idaweb/marketing/infopage.jsp?infopagecategory=factsheet:wireless&versionid=1&infopageid=I3929

Knoppix 5.0

This tool is fantastic! One can use this for both good and bad.
Good - Learn Linux
Bad - Hack into one's Windows and copy out the entire harddisk contents.

http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
http://linux.softpedia.com/get/System/Operating-Systems/Linux-Distributions/KNOPPIX-Live-DVD-2621.shtml

Got Myself A Free Book

I just got myself a free book by raising my hands and answering a question in a seminar.
It took me 3 tries on 3 separate questions before they finally gave me that book.

Book Link from Amazon (Cool right)
http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Microsoft-ASP-NET-Core-Reference/dp/0735621764