Wee weet! It's been 7 months since I wrote a damn thing... Guess I'm not gonna make it as a celebrity blooger in this lifetime!

I don't even know why I bothered to log in to blogger now. Been so long since I updated this blog so not sure where to start filling in the gaps.

Okay, let me try to write this like it's a diary!

Dear Diary,

Several things have made me very happy in the past few weeks, although some things are more important than others.

The thing that has the biggest immediate impact on my happiness meter would have to be the presentation I just done with Miklos (my big big boss) and subsequently the client (can't disclose who).

Long story short, boss commented that it was a very well constructured presentation which addressed the key issues that the client would be concerned with. And while it's beyond us to wave a magic wand and turn their business around, pointing them at the right direction would be a good place to start, hopefully they will be able to pull themselves together and execute meaningful measures and grow their business.

It been so long since I joined Nielsen, and only now do I really feel like I'm on to something, that I finally know the power as well as limitations of the data that we wield. Also, now I finally know why driven + ambitious people are more likely than others to become successful. It's easy to produce good work when you are full of adrenaline, but to keep it going for your entire career takes an altogether different energy...

My happiness meter also took a boost when my fishes laid eggs in the fish tank! Wow, I almost became a grandpa... (Opps, for those who didn't know, i started keeping fishes as a hobby 2 months ago.) I read somewhere that if fishes (Corydoras) laid eggs without external influences, it means that they are generally happy with their living conditions, so I must be keeping them right! :) Unfortunately, I didn't let the eggs hatch (I let my other fishes snack on the eggs!) cause I didn't think I can add new fishes to my tank so soon and there are other things I'd like to acheive and learn with my tank before I add new members...

My better half (Who?) and I are also kind of planning for the next stages of our lives now.. Been doing alot of research on the kind of dwelling we can possibly afford and so on. Took a merry go round and explored many options but eventually decided that we'll most likely go for the conventional route and take HDB's 2.6% concessionary rate. What a difference 1+% makes when you are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars!

Gab

*NOTE TO SELF*

Having finally started working for a few months now, I noticed how time zips by ever so sliently...

Even every now and then, people around continue to exclaim in astonishment when I tell them I have joined the work force for 2 months now.

Hee... Before I know it, I'll be 30 years old!

I am really growing to like my job more and more each day (Even though the SAI GANG "Otherwise known as shit jobs" continue to seek me out ferociously)

But at the same time, I have grown alot simply from the process of adapting to a full working like as compared to the previously carefree like I led as a student.

For a start, I iron my clothes every day.

I cut my hair every 3-4 weeks (properly this time!) and at least pretend to style it every morning.

I have now kept my room spotlessly neat for 1 and a half months straight, spending close to an hour each Sunday to sweep and mop up my room. I believe the routine helps me be more neat, tidy and organized (and eliminates shabby-ness!)

I am planning to join a gym so that I can skip lunch on certain weekdays to go run instead (this is to help me improve my energy level so that I can always stay alert)

I can go on and on, but nothing counts if these changes I made to my life don't became a habit I keep for the long term, which I seriously hope it does!

In any case, having started work for real has also finally taught me a thing or two about my R/S with KJ. I've always thought of her as a mini-Wondergal for her ability to juggle me on top of all her work obligations. Now I know just how much more credit she deserves for managing everything despite the hectic workload...

Sorry for the meaningless verbal outpour, but I'm too tired to make anything I write entertaining...

Very long never write anything here.

Not that nothing happened in my life, I was just to lazy to type it out.

A few people kept asking me about my blog. Apparently I wasted alot of their time when they visit (many times) to find the same stuff here since 31st May... Hee hee

Erm.. Maybe I can just give an update on what I've been through for the past few weeks...

Officially I started work in The Nielsen Company (as they are known officially) on 1st July. Most people would know them as AC Nielsen, or the firm that provides the TV stations with the rating report.

From 1st July till probably end September, I'm just gonna be sitting through classes with 14 other recent graduates. But the classes are really fun and informative... So far, the focus has been on exposing us to the company culture and entire range of product suite offered by the company.

Typically what happens each day is that we will sit for lectures on various topics. The trainers are usually the directors of the company, which is a pretty strange sight cause you see these REALLY SENIOR people talking to us REALLY UNIMPORTANT people about REALLY TRIVIAL topics (Company culture, Structure, product type, etc.) I don't know, maybe it's just something about their flat and open culture that I have yet to learn to appreciate.

On certain days we get to do more interesting stuff like mystery shopping, case study.. We're supossed to visit a store next week for an audit check but I just noticed that it's on the 22nd and I have to attend my stupid convo! I'd pick the store check over the convo ceremony anytime if it wasn't for my parents...

Haha... Okay... So.... Other than the training sessions I must say the people in the firm are really nice, not just the 14 other trainees, but also our trainers, mentors and our babysitters from the HR dept. We see them so often it feels like we've known each other for a long time... Haha.. we even jio-ed the people from the HR dept for dinner next Friday, which they gamely agreed to join!

Of the 14 other trainees, many of them were from NTU (5), 1 from SMU, 0 from NUS, 1 from Starhub (He had worked for 3 years prior to joining Nielsen), 1 from India (MBA!) and the rest are a mix of SIM and Monash. It's still early for us to call each other great friends but at the very least we get along really well. Let's hope the relationship stays as well when we start getting real work to do!

Enough about my job... I am very happy to announce that KJ and I recently celebrated our 1st ever anniversary together. Anniversary "X" as I call it, marks the length of time we've been together, where 2 < X < 3. Subsequent anniversaries can then defined as "X+1, X+2, etc" Unfortunately, KJ hates my definition and insists it's our 3rd anniversary (even though we are celebrating it for the first time..)

To complicate things even further, we have absolutely no idea what is the exact date we got started. So the date 07/07/08 was fixed as randomly as possible. Each of us contributed a random 5 digit number which was then multiplied. From the result, the first and last number happend to be 7, so we decided 7th of July each year is a good arbitual date to celebrate our anniversaries from now on! (Yeah, I know, we are really weird....)

Haha... We decided on the 7th july date in a cab on the 5th July (Gasp!) The short amount of notice fate given me meant that I did not have time to properly think through what useless thing I can get for KJ that will thrill her socks off. Remembering that she always complained I never bought her soft toys, I decided that's the absolutely useless thing I will get for her this year! Muahaha...

1 hour of speculative hunting in causeway point eventually resulted in a great success, for the retailer that is. According to the receipt, the huge panda bear toy I got measures 70cm in length. If I am priced the same way the panda is, I will be worth exactly $163.40 Sing dollars today. Go figure.

A greatly weaken Braun Buffel wallet and Posb account aside, I am relieved that the piece of cloth stuff with cheap cotton I selected was a great hit with KJ. Ah... The simple pleasures of life...

Hahaha... Stay tuned for the next episode of my random chatter!

By right, I should have put up a blog post detailing the trip to Taiwan that I just had.

However, I just found out that someone did a much better job then I can ever muster.

www.senspalace.diaryland.com

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Hehe... Still looking for a job now, but to be very very honest I think I am crazy.

I do not understand why, but when my exams were just over, I was practically in panic mode for a while as far as job search is concerned.

Close to a month has past but I am starting to calm down. No longer nervous, even though maybe I should be.

I just have this feeling that I will eventually find a job that I really like that'll bring me where-ever I want to be at in future.

I cannot explain it, it's the kind of senseless confidence that my life will fall into place. Like it has always did.

I know it will happen eventually because I will keep trying.

Kaijun asked me to answer these 20 questions and post them on my blog. Sorry that the questions are in Chinese!

1妳認為分手後的男女朋友還能做朋友嗎?
Definitely, but it depends on the way the break up happened.
2.形容一下你媽媽的長相?
She used to be a hottie when she’s younger. (I know that sounds wrong)
Now, I just think she’s the most comforting face on earth for me.
3.最近最煩惱的事???
Looking for a job
4.最近最快樂的事情是什麼?
Going to Taipei for holiday/ Writing 2 songs.
5.最近最害怕ㄉ一件事?!!!
Many. Cannot visualize how I will be in 10 years time for a start…
6.最喜歡哪個數字?
7, for biblical reasons.
7.覺得自己是個怎樣的人?
I prefer not to think about that, I know my shortcomings, but I don’t like to comment about myself. Let others tell me.
8.妳最喜歡哪位星光大道参赛者?
黄靖伦，徐佳莹。
9.愛人與被愛，哪一種比幸福?
Same, the most important thing is for both to happen at once. If you love someone who doesn’t love you, or someone loves you but you don’t… It’s all a disaster…
10.你覺得點你名的人是個怎樣的人?
She IS Wong Kaijun. That explains everything.
11.如果可以回到過去最想改變的事情是?
I really don’t know if I’ll change anything about my past. If I do, will I miss out on any experiences that I will come to regret missing? How many chances do we get at changing our past?
12.你覺得怎麼樣才叫幸福？
When you finally feel contended.
13.忘記一個人需要花多久的時間?
You can never really forget, but you can train yourself not to remember.
14.最近很想做的一件事?
Learn how to play a musical instrument. Learn how to paint.
15.下輩子想做什麼?
Lady.
16.現在最想念的人?
I’m not good at this. (Of course, 1 particular person doesn’t count… Or it’ll be too straightforward.)
17.收過最棒的禮物是什麼?
A beautifully done scrapbook that accompanied me for 6 months. It somehow made the geographical distance seem small and surmountable.
18.說出你平常生活最享受的三件事？
Pool. Food. KJ.
19.這輩子知道什麼是愛了嗎?
Yup. Still Learning.
20.想要自己以後成為怎樣的人?
Does anyone actually ever become the person they thought they’ll become? When I was a kid, I wanted to become tall, dark and handsome… LOOK AT ME NOW!!!

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Oh, by the way. I'm back

Will share some pictures of my Taiwan trip as soon as they are ready!

So much for Taichung wireless...

Quote

No such deals?

The affairs of some companies linked to Sunshine Empire have come under the spotlight again.
Hedy Khoo

Sun, Nov 18, 2007
The New Paper

THE affairs of some companies linked to Sunshine Empire have come under the spotlight again, this time in Taiwan.

An 'affiliated company' of Sunshine Empire, Empire Communications Technology (Emcom), has claimed on its website that it plans to invest more than $20million in a broadband project there.

The company, whose registered office is at the Toa Payoh Hub, has 'invested heavily into Taiwan' to build 'a seamless wireless broadband that will cover more than 95 per cent of the city of Taichung'.

It claimed that the project will be completed by the end of this year.

However, a check with the Information Management Section of the Department of Planning of the Taichung City Government showed no evidence of this.


TAIWAN: No $20 million broadband project.
Ms Huang Hui-Ming, chief of the section, told The New Paper on Sunday that Emcom does not have any partnership with the Taichung City government.

She said the company had never contacted its department regarding the broadband project.

Ms Huang noted that while it is true that the city's government plans to build a wireless Internet network, it is part of a project proposed by the Industrial Development Bureau of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs.

And this government-initiated project is being handled by Asia Pacific Telecom Group (APTG).

Ms Huang said: 'After contacting APTG about Emcom, we understand that EmCom is not involved in the government-funded M-Taichung project.

'As for other plans, such as Emcom's wireless network construction in Taichung, we at the city government cannot confirm its authenticity.'

On Sunshine Empire's website, EmCom is listed as an affiliate company.

The Taiwanese official's comment comes in the wake of a Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) probe into the affairs of Sunshine Empire.

Earlier, Sunshine Empire made news when the Monetary Authority of Singapore placed the company on its investor alert list in September.

Malaysia's Securities Commission also put Sunshine Empire on its investor alert list a few months ago.

While it maintains that it is not an investment company, some of its potential members have said that they were told that they could get returns of up to $96,000 in eight years if they put $12,000 into the company.

They claimed they were also shown various business 'projects' that a company, Empire Property Venture, is supposedly involved in, including a Malacca Empire Marine Theme Park and A Magic Kingdom theme park inSabah.

Empire Property Venture is listed as an affiliate of Sunshine Empire on the latter's website. But in an e-mail response to The New Paper on Sunday, Sunshine Empire's Asia Pacific president Jackie Hoo Choon Cheat said the two companies are 'legally unrelated'.


MALACCA: No approval for project.
The CAD is now asking Sunshine Empire members to wait for further updates from the authorities and hope they can come forward to help in the investigation.

The authorities in Malacca and Sabah had earlier told The New Paper on Sunday that they have no information on the existence of these projects.

'NO PROPOSALS'

When contacted, the Mayor of the Malacca City Council, Datuk Zaini Md Nor, said that to date, they had not received any proposals for such a theme park there.

He added that he had received an application in August for the approval of a plan by Empire Property Venture to build a commercial and residential building of 510 units on 0.87 ha of land (slightly larger than a football field). But this project has not been approved.

The mayor added: 'If any developer begins building without approval from the City Council, we will put a stop toit. It is illegal to build without approval.'

This, however, has not stopped Empire Property Venture from supposedly marketing this development, as well as Empire Theme Park Service Suites and Empire Marina Villas, which are part of the Malacca Empire Marine Theme Park.

According to Empire Property Venture's website, the construction of the theme park and the Sunshine Villa project in Malacca was expected to begin about two months after the ground-breaking event on 9 Sep.

Each project has its own link to its price list and booking status.

That's not all - the company has also put up the Sunshine Villa project's blueprint on its website, indicating that 317 of the project's 510 units have even been sold.

The price of these units ranges from RM100,000 ($43,000) to RM300,000.


KL CITY HALL: No empire state tower.
When contacted, a receptionist at the Sunshine Empire office in Toa Payoh Hub said the properties were available to the public.

However a receptionist who answered a call made to the Malaysian office of the Empire Property Venture International said the units of all the properties were only available to Sunshine merchants or members.

She said interested buyers had to go to the Sunshine Empire office in Singapore to sign up as a member before getting access to their merchant website to make the purchase of the properties online.

She also said that more than 300units of Sunshine Villa have been sold, with the sea view units fully booked.

When asked if there were any show flats available for viewing, the woman said there were none, but brochures were available online.

She also said there were units available for a higher-end project in Kuala Lumpur called the Empire State Tower.

The brochure on the company's website describes this development to be 'the most prestigious residential address right in the heart of the Golden Triangle Business District of Kuala Lumpur'.

This project which is supposed to be built on Jalan Tun Razak, purportedly has 290 units available for sale, with 147 units shown as 'sold' on the online price list.

However, a check with the City Hall of Kuala Lumpur revealed that no such project is in the works at present.

A spokesman said: 'City Hall Kuala Lumpur has not received any application for a property to be developed at Jalan Tun Razak called the Empire State Tower.'

Unquote

SCAM SCAM SCAM!!!

Many months ago, a friend of mine waxed lyrical of the seemingly endless opportunities offered by the company he was working for.

KJ told me 1 hour ago that the company is currently involved in an investigation...

Gee. After I am done researching the company, I am convinced it's more like a cult than a business organization. Once you get past that stage then, it definitely is scandelous...

A wealth of youtube vids and text based info on the group...

Family of companies


Their "theme song" for NTI


Their glorified founder


A transformed (a.k.a brainwashed) employee (Dong Xu... Are you 1 of them?)


Latest company founded by James Phang: Emmax (also MLM/Ponzi)


Damned! I must inform the news people so that they can warn the country about this dangerous person!

More propagenda:




The wake up call:


News and other text based info URL:

http://www.thelocalking.com/singapore/miscellaneous--others.../sunshine-empire.html
contains a recent article by Ms Lorna Tan from The Straits Times

http://em-max.com/index.html

http://chingtong.wordpress.com/2007/06/26/dawn-of-a-new-empire-james-phang/

Note: It's much more telling when you read the comments!