Elfyourself!

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Lol Oliver & ZT sooo cute! =)

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Wooi Hau solo!






Aaahh.. I heart Xmas!

I really really miss

My parents and my pretty sister.

Kahee and Wei Sheng.

Hokkien mee.

QE Co-op week 25

Started 1st of June this year, it's so far my longest stay in the same company. Although there's only few weeks left till completion, I am actually looking forward to meet the day liao, the last day to be treated as a student in a workplace.

Proactive is the word I'm striving for in my current job position, as a co-op. I want to seek solution, not told. I want to identify the department's needs by getting involved enough to act like part of the team. There's no need for procedure or template or usually what you should do next. We engineers know our roles.

Apart from that, I gotta say I benefited a lot from this job laaa. It feels like a playground sometimes, I have time to try different approaches in a project. I built a mini assembly line that's expandable! I also tried using plasticine to measure height, turned out to be feasible!

I have a "stimulus plan" that will be proposed tomorrow. It's the same concept as the economy stimulus plan, same theory as advertisement. This plan might revolutionize the measuring phase of major defective issues. Instead of always tracking and looking for root cause (often fail because dam sien), this will show us what we want to see, time, place, and a short clip, in a few mouse clicks. It's gonna be difficult to be approved, when everyone's talking about cost reduction and lean, and my idea will increase cost per unit equivalent, plus some cost to induce technology. Cost & quality = Siti & Alex Tew. This however is a short term thing, a stimulus cost. I have 5 more weeks, we'll see how it goes la.

Quotes I like.

"If you can't measure, you can't control."

"Winter is now, is Spring still faraway?"

Do I actually look like a quality engineer ah? Hmm...

=)

1. Now we can listen to some music with my playlist added.

2. China's high-speed train has completed. The system is currently the largest, fastest, and most 复 杂 的. Travelling from Beijing to Shanghai will soon be 4 hours instead of 10!

3. AMSISU has a twitter account - that's cool.

4. Hangover the movie - I watched twice d. It's the all time best movie to watch with friends.

5. I miss che chiong kai's nga bou lou shu fun....

Good morning Friday.

Pharmacy @ Amana, IA.

Green grass. Clear sky. Buildings stood still. Cars were not wrecked.

There's no need for any enhancements in this situation. It's very green. It's boring but it's ok, because peace, ordinary, and calm itself are worth celebrating.

Every Friday, I want to take off from work and spend the weekend with my loved ones. I wish that the following Friday would stay the same. Till however long it can last.

My deepest sympathy goes to victims of Samoa Island Tsunami, victims of Indonesia quakes, and victims of Philippines Typhoon Ketsana. Prayers to Philippines that are preparing for the 2nd round of Typhoon Pepeng. God bless all of you.

It's all about the money..

There's a calculator, (thanks to CNNMoney) that calculates for me:

How far will my salary go if I were to work in another city?

What are the cost of living associated with it?

Let's start with I'm earning $50,000 a year in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Cedar Rapids in 2 months time.

If I move to:

Square shaped Penang tower @ Baltimore.

Baltimore, Maryland US no.1 earning state for 2006-2008

Comparable salary: $65,907

Groceries will cost: 18% more

Housing will cost: 105% more

Utilities will cost: 28% more

Transportation will cost: 7% more

Healthcare will cost: 5% more

Sienness @ Stamford, Connecticut.

Stamford, Connecticut

Comparable salary: $80462

Groceries will cost: 29% more

Housing will cost: 181% more

Utilities will cost: 42% more

Transportation will cost: 14% more

Healthcare will cost: 8% more

Golden Gate bridge @ SF.

San Fransisco, California

Comparable salary: $92262

Groceries will cost: 42% more

Housing will cost: 267% more

Utilities will cost: 0% more

Transportation will cost: 15% more

Healthcare will cost: 12% more

Curry laksa, chicken wings, extra crispy orange beef, prawn mee, green tea ice cream etc etc @ Rasa Sayang.

Atlanta, Georgia

Comparable salary: $52250

Groceries will cost: 10% more

Housing will cost: 15% more

Utilities will cost: 10% less

Transportation will cost: 4% more

Healthcare will cost: 4% less

The beautiful Oregan.

Portland, Oregan

Comparable salary: $62931

Groceries will cost: 22% more

Housing will cost: 66% more

Utilities will cost: 4% less

Transportation will cost: 12% more

Healthcare will cost: 0% more

Schneider Electric's recruiting/training center @ Nashville.

Nashville, Tennessee

Comparable salary: $49648

Groceries will cost: 13% more

Housing will cost: 5% less

Utilities will cost: 6% less

Transportation will cost: 3% less

Healthcare will cost: 17% less

Minneapolis is very cold.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Comparable salary: $60231

Groceries will cost: 32% more

Housing will cost: 56% more

Utilities will cost: 3% more

Transportation will cost: 3% more

Healthcare will cost: 1% less

Dim Sum @ Phoenix, Chicago!

Chicago, Illinois

Comparable salary: $60913

Groceries will cost: 18% more

Housing will cost: 66% more

Utilities will cost: 20% more

Transportation will cost: 12% more

Healthcare will cost: 2% less

Timeless beauty. *hide behind sandy!*

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Comparable salary: $12000

Housing will cost: 100% less

Utilities will cost: 100% less

Transportation will cost: 15% more

Walker & 12 years cost: 255% more

F&B will cost: 86% more

Iowa isn't that bad after all. Considering the $250 monthly rent, $2.38/gallon of super unleaded, and $6.00 Taipei meal.

So should I get Need for Speed Shift?

Be the customer.

This is what everybody will experience and witness. This happens everywhere, in my company, in my department, my ex coop partner, your organization, GM, everywhere. Since I started my job, I can't stress enough how rapid it occured, and how easy all this can come into existence.

To be ideal, for me, is to have what the customer really needed in every process involved. That's perfection if achieved. but perfection is not what we are going for, that's god's business.

However, the direction we're heading is questionable. Is this direction, the direction? Did we commicated well enough? Does he know what he's doing? Does his boss know what he's doing? Am I capable to produce results he wanted? How many thousands of people need to be on the same page this time? So, why are we on this page again?

Many people I've met have the "just do it" attitude. I personally like it when it comes to play, but a big no when it comes to business. If the planning is bad, the engineer is bad. We plan by considering appropriate (instead of a lot) factors, logic, impact, etc. If you're good at that, wow, but are you getting what the customer really needed?

Songness in a short term does not effectively solve a problem/task/situation. Short term fulfillment is a simple trap, when long term goal is not taken into consideration. It is rather easy to accomplish tasks assigned by my boss. Easier to not document it. A lot more easier to talk cock and lie about accomplishment. Even easier to do without thinking.

So I figure out these steps:

1. Identify customer.

2. Is my current action adding value to "what the customer really wanted"?

3. If this is 1st per million, will my last action per million still be able to add value to "what the customer really wanted"?

4. Besides customer and money, were others satisfied?

Plan, with adequate consideration and sufficient understanding, to meet customers' need. Then act.

Started d..

The challenge starts this week.

Everyone has to study. For those in Ames, fall session will now begin.

FNM (Fannie Mae) & FRE (Freddie Mac) were gg-ed exactly a year ago. Wall street had one of their worse moments in history, September last year. Now onwards: Impact, more impact, current standing, stimulus no more, projected demand? This week will be eyed closely by every investors in every corner. They will be able to tell a (better) story by the end of this week.

Many things will be introduced this week. The new nano and touch with camera? New figures of unemployed Americans. I'm guessing, oil prices might be more favorable to us.

Career fair is nearing soon. Our previous ISU engineering career fair was like a fortune cookie with a piece of paper that writes "sp9yiuhjn" in it. It was like a defect product that was spotted yet released to the consumers. I don't wanna start commenting on it. Anyway, from an optimistic side of it, I still found a job. To be optimistic, it's challenging. Challenge earlier, challenge them back.

Another fun, fast, challenging week ahead. When is not btw?

Big Creek 2009

Yea I was being unprofessional today at work because I was very lazy because my brain had hangover from the boating trip my brain kept thinking of the boat and flippie floppies and flips and peanut butter.

I made some wallpapers for my lappie toppies. The colors are so sharp and nice! Click to enlarge. And here we go babeh~

Bear, the. Look at them shadows and the light contrast on the bear skin. My fav.

Big jetty Creek jump!

Photosynthesis. A process that converts Angus beef into stomach belly, using energy from the sexiness of the hair grown on the surface of a sexy belly.

Persistence. If there's no struggle, there's no female bears next mating season.

"Eh! Classes start on Monday!", OC and friends swimming towards a boat.

3 years of United States

Today is a special day for me - I survived exactly 3 years in the United States woohoo!

Looking back through the 3 years I've spent in the States, gosh there's a lot to be mentioned. Met many many people, learned a lot from my IE courses, exposed to unbelievable dramatic situations, ate a lot of burgers, etc etc..

Adjusting to the environment and life style here wasn't as hard as I expected. Thanks to them, my close loops of friends were among the Malaysians that were here for the same reason, same experience, and as uncomfort at the beginning. I always believe we have a bond that'll keep us taking care of each other and try to optimize comfortability in this uncomfort zone. I'm fortunate in my 1st semester to have helpful seniors, helpful sister, and most importantly getting to know ZT & OC. Thanks again la, for the full 3years of laughters!

Throughout the years, I tried my very best to look after dudes from the same kampung too. Countless activites, outings, parties, and performances were planned and carried out. Outcome were always priceless, 'and then lets do it again'.

I've performed a lot in this 3 years. Started as a noob singer on my 1st grad night (kept drinking water oni), followed by Hip Hop with DubH, lion dance, MCN, grad nights, we even performed at some random business conference room in Gerdin. In fact I think I've performed more than anybody else I know in Ames. Well not because I'm talented or what, but I just enjoy the feeling very much, and I always try to influence my friends to perform with me. I still can't believe I actually choreographed a Malay and an Indian dance haha..

Career standpoint, I feel very lucky and satisfied. Had 3 different internships with international corporations, projects with 3 other companies, and tours to more than 10 manufacturing plants, I've gained very valueble experience in my field of interest. I'll continue to work hard for more exposures, more problems to solve, more $$$ of course, and more $$$. Yes I like $$$. If I take my net earnings from engineering jobs in US divided by the total tuition fees I've spent in US, I can say I'm half way meeting the break even point of my study trip investment in US. I am very looking for the day I meet this break even point.

"If you wanna feel rich, just count the things you have that money can't buy"

All in all, meet or don't meet break even point doesn't matter at all if you don't feel rich. Throughout the 3 years, there's way more ups than downs, I'm very glad about it. I can't tell how many more years I have in the States, but I do hope for the best. Best for you too!

A good 3 years indeed.

Tonight there might be meteors, if I spotted some I wanna pray for you ok! :)