The Iron Man 2 storyline for me is quite fast pace. The movie reminded me of Transformer 2 where there were too much action going on at the scene. My wife who watched the movie with me didn’t understand the story in the beginning and asked me a lot many questions. I then told her bits and pieces and told her to just enjoy the movie rather than trying to figure out the story. Since one the sponsors of Iron Man 2 is Oracle, I noticed a number of glimpse of Oracle logo. There was also Larry Ellison the CEO of Oracle himself shaking hands with Tony Stark.

Back home, I did some Googling and found out that Oracle and Marvel created a webisode titled “Two Worlds” highlighting the Oracle technology being used at Marvel. It’s quite entertaining and contain a lot of information regarding how Oracle is being used in the business world.

Check out the 3D illustration which includes Tony Stark (the animated version) as Iron Man.

Truth to be told, there aren’t any ideal environment where everything you need is just at the tip of your finger. There are other efforts and factors to be counted as well. However, having a positive thought is good enough to keep things moving forward.

Back to Iron Man 2 movie. I love the action pack battle between Iron Man and the drones. I love the technology being used by Tony Stark. Overall, its a great movie to watch.

Anyway, no one knows when or where your final moment would be so it might be best to accept fate that god had written.

Al-Fatihah to Syed Azizan Syed Hashim Al-Idrus..

This year, not a single physical Hari Raya greeting card for me since I never sent one to anyone. Most probably because people are saving up for other stuff. The price of goods has risen drastically over a year and the economy for most people doesn’t look that good. Myself included I supposed. So, SMS wishes and Facebook are now the preferred option nowadays.

This year’s Raya would be my final year celebrating it as a single guy. Next year, hopefully I’ll be celebrating Hari Raya with my future wife or if lucky a child as well. There are also plans for next year’s Hari Raya, I would be celebrating it elsewhere instead of being stuck in KL all these years.

Okay, here’s my Hari Raya digital card for this year’s Hari Raya 2009:

Have a nice Hari Raya celebration, drive save and happy holiday!

I wished the event was held after the fasting month, this was because I could have enjoyed the drinks and meal that were provided. ;-) Anyway, since I arrived at the place early (The event was supposed to start at 9am but the majority of the people invited only came in at around 10pm), I’ve gotten myself one movie voucher at Cathay Cineplexes (Thanks ECS).

4 years ago, I had the opportunity to come an Oracle event also at Sunway. You can refer to my blog post here. That was like a long time ago when I was just started off in the technology area. Bringing back the memory, I wrote that I was going to get an IT degree. Well that didn’t happen because it was just too expensive at that time. My mother just last week asked me whether I did think about continuing my studies because my younger brother had plans for it. I replied to her that I wanted to get married first and later on think about it. Then again, what can I gain if I pursue for further studies when all I can get is a better paying job. The question remains, is it a fulfilling one?

Enough about my ramblings, let’s move on to my sales training yesterday. The title of the training was “Oracle Partner Demand Generation Training”. Confused? Me too. It sounded like a name of product but its not. The trainer was a guy from Oracle, Nick Tielman. Before that, we had the Oracle channel’s manager giving a brief of what how Oracle company and product doing these days.

Getting back to the training session. Nick did a great job at presenting his presentation. I really like the first part which is the Goal Setting. That is one aspect that most of us or mainly me neglect the most. The rest is just like the usual sales training but from the aspect of technology industry which I also found is interesting considering I haven’t been on a sales training for a very long time. Anyway, relating this training to my job. I wear many hats in the company that I work with. I can still recall the time when I was a telemarketer and failed badly (this was before I landed at this job right now), it was one of the most difficult job I had ever done. I never enjoyed a moment of it.

Basically what Nick presented was a refresher course for me. However, I love the part where the Customer Relation Management system usage that Oracle themselves are using. I’ve implemented an open source CRM but hardly use it. There’s no harm in trying after learning all of what the sales training has provided, right?

By the way, Nick is from the Oracle application business development unit and what he had said about Oracle’s product is fairly true, with all the 60 acquisitions within 4 years and humongous amount of applications under Oracle’s umbrella, there is no way a salesperson could remember all of them. What they can do is basically get the ball rolling by bringing in pre-sales, consultant and tech-guys into the picture before getting the sales transaction completed.

What I saw yesterday was only just to sell Oracle’s product as if it was a box of software being presented to the customer and we need to close the deal as fast as we can. I am more into looking on how the implementation and services that we can provide because a lot of the clients that I’ve seen doesn’t have a clue on how to operate the software. Apart from that, the services and implementation area are more profitable rather than making a small percentage of profit margins of the product itself. By doing that way, the cash flow business can be sustained longer and the effort can be justified. I am just writing what come into the top of my head here.

Anyway, the sales training is a good approach in knowing what Oracle businesses is. I wonder if entering into Oracle University would be a good move for me. I guess I’ll have to look more into it as I reorganize my own personal goal.

It has been an occasionally rainy day the past few weeks. I reckon this would make a perfect gifts for the kids apart from the surgical mask to prevent the flu. Don’t you think so?

Let me see what I’ve left out on this blog, I have a list of things in my head to write about but too lazy to type it using my keyboard. I’ll try and seek a time to write more often. Anyway, here’s a really good quote I’ve found:

“We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing. “

Have nice weekend today!

Anyway, I managed to borrow my father’s digital video camera and recorded footage of Citrawarna 2009 from an amateur point view. I don’t really like spending my time editing videos so I’ve converted and uploaded the longest unedited video footage available on the camera. I’ll try and finish off the rest if I remember to do so. Anyway, enjoy this half an hour raw unedited footage of Citrawarna 2009 uploaded on Vimeo (Youtube can only cater for 10 minutes plus it’s being blocked at various places). The fireworks was really awesome!!

Will definitely come again next year for the awesome fireworks display as usual!

January 2008

Getting my first Adsense earning

Thaipusam 2008 along Jln Ipoh

Thaipusam day was in January this year. Apart from lots and lots of meetings, I now have a permanent workplace at my office. Had one visit to JB followed by a client meeting the next day. It was quite a hectic month. I cash out my first Adsense earning. I wrote a blog post about my car being service at Fasfik. Fasfik apparently was too ambitious to expand but couldn’t cope with the growth therefore forced to shut down their entire operation where I’ve seen. Too bad since I really like their services.

Fasfik Kepong Branch

February 2008

Brainstorming Session for Project Management Workshop at Residence Hotel

Having a nice meal at the Opening of Maybank Taman Equine with my brother

Another hectic month. 3 days of my company’s project management meeting at Residence Hotel at Uniten. Upgraded my Acer laptop’s RAM. Saw this MineAlesi figurine doll. Went to Melaka for a wedding reception. Laadvamore’s birthday!

MineAlesi Figurine

March 2008

Which Party?

Started off the month with my cousin’s birthday. My cousin was supposed to have her wedding later that month but moved it earlier since the announcement of The National Election Day. Election fever was on this month. Casted my first vote since I missed the last one. I went to MISA at Putrajaya for free. There was a plan my company sending me to Washington for a conference and business partner meeting. So I made my international passport and my 6 months validity US visa just to find out that my company’s budget had to be cut down thus making my trip being cancelled the next month.

My Malaysian International Passport

Non-Immigrant US Visa Queue Number

April 2008

MacBook Air at Low Yatt

Tasty Big Apple Donuts

This month, I wrote some fun stuff about MacBook Air, Big Apple Donuts, KL Freeze Craze, MAC Cosmetics Girls, Sneaky Telemarketer, Office Flooding and more. I also got my first credit card this month. There was a PC Fair at KLCC but I went to Digital Mall Section 14 PJ instead.

MAC Cosmetics Mocels

Flooding in Front of My Office

May 2008

My Compaq 3751AU

I bought my first very own laptop this month, a Compaq Presario V3751AU.  The blog post became the most visited page of all my blog posts coming from search engines. I also received a couple of e-mails and chats from people with also bought the same laptop most of them asking for Windows XP drivers which was hard to find since it’s a Windows Vista configured. Wrote about my third or last visit to Fasfik. It’s also a dancing month, one at Cineleisure Damansara and another at Citrawarna 2008.

Line up of Citrawarna 2008 in front of The Palace of Justice Putrajaya

June 2008

Managed to refuel my car before the petrol price sky-high hike

UTHM FPT Computer Lab

Singapore Polytechnic

I started my second job this month teaching English for UPSR student at a tuition centre this month, the pay wasn’t so great but at least it is still extra money and the job wasn’t so difficult. Two days after that, the petrol price increased sky-high. I managed to find a petrol station with less queue after running around seeing petrol stations being flocked by motorists. My full tank of fuel didn’t last long, the next day I went to Batu Pahat to conduct a Joomla Administration training at UTHM. Luckily the trip was claimable. Within the same week, I finally, made use of my international passport by visiting Singapore with my company team. It opened my eyes a little bit seeing things for myself rather than seeing it on a laptop screen (I need more travelling this 2009). Heard about BarCamp KL but didn’t really understand what is it about at that time. There were 2 tender bidding activities was quite hectic as I had to squeeze my brain doing a lot of paperwork.

July 2008

A Really Nice Wedding Stage

Weddings Can Really Cost A Bomb!

It was a wedding month with so many wedding I had attended the past several weeks earlier. My mum’s birthday is this month. My girlfriend decided to style her hair and tried hair rebonding at Sungai Wang where I had to wait for 5 hours for her while doing the process. Luckily Low Yatt Plaza was just next door so I spent most of my time there while waiting but it was a waiting endurance for me. I also went to an Advertising Career Program talk which was quite interesting and the moment which I was looking forward for the past 1 month, BarCamp KL Malaysia 2008.

BarCamp KL Malaysia 2008

A Career in Advertising cum Training Opportunity by 95% Advertising Academy

August 2008

ACT Car Service Workshop

Had my car serviced at a new car service centre which apparently I found out was a bit overpriced for a car like mine. My brother’s wedding is this month, one in Kuala Terengganu and the other in KL. Being the ‘Best Man’ is unpleasant if you are single and making it worse, the bridegroom is your younger brother. Found out that Maxis Wireless Broadband in Kuala Terengganu was quite fast. Discovered a blogger friend of mine LadyAzurt in a car magazine. Being approached by a market research firm through my girlfriend’s friend father. Brought home 5 audio products to be tested for 2 weeks and got paid for it. It was so much fun.

D’Losong Homestay Kuala Terengganu

Being A ‘Best Man’ sucks!

September 2008

Tickling Fish Spa

Wall-E Toy at Toys R Us MidValley

It’s a fasting period this month. Activity tend to be slowed down but not entirely. Tried a Soft Fish Spa at a shopping mall nearby my house.  This kind of fish spas are popping up all over shopping malls I’ve been to. I watched Wall-E, the best animated movie I’ve ever seen. Went to one seminar about currency trading. You can really make (or lose) some serious money with just a laptop with an internet connection. My company’s software principle from Boston USA came down to Malaysia and did a seminar talk about a really long title which I had to shorten it to explain it to the invitees. After 4 years working with his software solutions, I finally had a chance to met the founder. The guy is really huge. Just look at the size of him compared to me (picture below). Anyway, the “buka puasa” food at Marriot was awesome.

Taking a picture with Mr Bruce K. Forbes, ARCHIBUS founder

October 2008

Its Hari Raya month. A point where I started to slow down on my blogging (only 2 blog posts this month). My family was infected with a flu that caught almost everyone except me. I spent most of my time in my room reading stuff about a newly found area that could definitely replace my struggling ‘poor cash’ career. I guess I really am an information junkie after all. 18th of October was my birthday. I celebrated my birthday at Semenyih with my parent’s friends family since there were 2 other person celebrating their birthday the same as I am.

This month I went to one seminar, one presentation meeting and a couple of webinars. I also had my first visit to Hospital Selayang for a check up on a lump on my neck. I also bought a 2nd hand HTC Touch from my father.

My HTC Touch

November 2008

Maxis Broadband USB Try Out

My second check up was up after the first one. This time it was a CT Scan on my neck. The blog post is still in my draft box. I’ll try and finish off that blog post as soon as I can. Later after that, there was a conference at Sheraton Subang Hotel where I had to attend my company’s showcase booth. I also traded in my Maxis Wireless more than 1 year old ZTE modem for a new USB package. That didn’t work out very well, traded that one back to Maxis and went for a Maxis Broadband Wireless power package. On top of that, I’ve added a new subscription for DiGi Internet Mobile Access for my HTC Touch. I’ve been quite happy with DiGi Internet connection so far eventhough its not as fast as Maxis or Celcom. I helped out Laadvamore bought her new Lenovo Ideapad S10 netbook. Its so light, full functionality and gorgeous looking. More detail blog post on these coming up soon.

Laadvamore’s new pink Lenovo Ideapad S10 Netbook

Maxis Wireless Broadband Advanced Power Package Modem

December 2008

My laziest blogging month of all. I only wrote one blog post about my treatment experience at Hospital Selayang and that’s only part 1. Part 2 is still lying around in my draft box. I serviced my car again this month (owning a car carries a lot of liabilities). Nothing unusual happened in December. I am however looking for ways to supplement my income though. I’ll probably write about it if I can find time for it.

That’s wrapped up my year in 2008. Looking forward for a more prosperous year in 2009.

4 years back, the swelling came back after I got an infection which came from a fever. I then went to General Hospital Kuala Lumpur and had a check up. After being x-rayed and some blood sample were taken, the doctor said the thing the swelling is just a cosmetic effect and wouldn’t harm my health whatsoever. I was relieved it is not cancer or something so I just ignored it.

2 years ago, I got another infection but this time it got even larger and is now visible. I went to a clinic nearby, had my blood analyzed. I found out that I have a blood “O+” type. This means that I am a universal donor. There is this Blood Type Calculator where you can check out what your parent’s blood would be or your child blood would be.  I have this phobia for syringes where each time I got shot by it, I will go into this vomiting and drowsiness phase which is so uncomfortable and I hate it. Anyway, the clinic doctor gave me a recommendation letter for me to get further check up at the nearest Hospital available which is Hospital Selayang. The thing was, I didn’t go for the check up because at that time, I just got a new job so I did something that everybody loves doing, procrastinate.

I did a few Googling around and found similar cases for my rare condition. A couple of months ago, my swelling on the neck got even larger. This time, it has gone down to my right shoulder and it sure is uncomfortable especially when I sleep on my right side. I have to get this swelling removed before it gets even larger and make me look like a freak. After getting a new recommendation letter at my company’s panel clinic, on the 28th of October I went to Hospital Selayang to seek for further treatment.

At the hospital, I was referred to 2 places before landing at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic. Paid RM30 for the registration and waited for my queue number which was like almost 2 hours.

Payment and Registration Counter at Hospital Selayang

The ENT Clinic at Hospital Selayang

Getting inside the doctor room, check out the doctor’s office by the way:

My ENT Doctor’s Office

ENT Doctor’s Equipment

After being examined by the doctor, the doctor said he wanted to see inside of me so he sprayed some kind of medication into my nasal passage and my face instantly felt numb. I almost puked but I retained my calmness. 10 minutes later, I was in another room surrounded by 2 doctors, a nurse and the medical equipment assistant. The doctor plunged the camera tube into my nose, it was not really painful but it was the most uncomfortable situation I’ve ever had in a very long time. The good news is, my nasal passage was clear and it was all okay.

Back at doctor’s room, the doctor told me that the lump is not dangerous and it is just a matter of excessive fluid that could find it way out and got trapped in a few pouches underneath my skin. The doctor then ordered me to go the Radiology department to set up an appointment with them for a CT Scan. I only got an appointment 2 weeks after that. The experience continues in part 2 which is coming soon.