Monday, April 30, 2007

For the love of Mini

I love the Mini. It is one of my favourite cars. I've test driven the new Mini and it was a super fun drive.

There are loads of Minis on these streets in Houston but I've never seen this guy.

I really don't know what to make of it.

I mean, this is Houston. Home of of the giant highways with giant trucks. I just can't see this two door, yet surprisingly roomly 4 seater, Mini as a taxi. It just doesn't make sense. I'm chalking it up as an Art Car.

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Curse of the Serpent

I know many of you know about Shaw Brothers, the Hong Kong movie studio that had their Distribution base in Singapore. I'm sure many of you are familiar with Shaw Cinema in Singapore as well. Here is some the history on Shaw Brothers and the Shaw Foundation.

What you may not know or heard of is this long lost unreleased movie that was presented at our Monday Morning Meeting this morning.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you,

"Curse of the Serpent"

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Sunday, April 29, 2007

Time is up. Protect Darfur

Today is the FOURTH anniversary of the bloody conflict in Darfur.



According to the Globe for Darfur network, in the last four year the conflict has:

  1. Spread to two other countries (Chad and the Central African Republic);
  2. Led to 16 un-enforced UN resolutions;
  3. Provoked 60 statements of concern from the EU but zero action;
  4. Killed over 200,000 people;
  5. Forced 230,000 people to flee the country;
  6. Cut off an estimated 900,000 from aid;
  7. Made two million people homeless; and
  8. Ruined the lives of over four million people.

The Globe for Darfur, a global network of dozens of different organisations is calling for the imposition of targeted sanctions to force all sides to respect the ceasefire, end attacks on civilians, allow the deployment of an effective international peacekeeping force, and stop attacks on the aid operation.

In particular the group is calling on the U.N. to impose asset freezes and travel bans on individuals continuing the violence and to enlarge the arms embargo.

“The government of Sudan has played the international community for fools and our politicians have fallen into every trap they’ve set. Despite more than two hundred thousand deaths, two million made homeless and two new countries becoming embroiled in the war, the international community continues to delay decisive action. Today we’re saying time is up, the people of Darfur need protection now, ” said Larry Rossin, a spokesperson for the Globe for Darfur.


What can you do?

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Thursday, April 26, 2007

working, working, working

Working in the day.

Working in the night.

No. Time. to. blog.

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Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Well I got the window fixed.

So here's what happened. On Monday evening, hub hub and I went to another Brilliant Lecture athe the Hobby Centre. This lecture featured Kofi Annan. On Tuesday morning, I left the house to go to work only to find my car had been broken into.

The driver side rear panel had been smashed, the driver side window had some nicks on it but was not broken. I know from personal history that this window in particular is unbreakable. Nothing was stolen.

Either this was a botched burglary or just a random act of vandalism.

I went to work and called around to get quotes and I quickly found out that the quarter panel on a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse is probably the most expensive piece of glass that you can break on this vehicle. I called the place that replaced Ray's window on his vehicle when it got busted last year. (Again it was another, break in with nothing taken incident) and they quoted me $300.

Gah!

For kicks, I called the dealership that is right by the office. The said that the part alone was $220 + $180 for labour.

Good Gah!

Neither place had the glass in stock and both said that it's hard to come by. NN at work said that she had a recommendation to this place and gave me the number. I called Oscar at Uni Glass who had me talk to Junior who said that he could get me a used quarter panel and install it for $165.

Now that's what I'm talking about, man.

I went to the shop this morning as just before it opened at 8. Posted all over the shop were signs stating that they do not accept credit cards. This was a bit of a problem.

I went in and waited for Oscar. He was loud man with a very rough bedside manner. I told him that I had spoken to Junior and was here to get my quarter panel replaced. I said I notice that you don't accept credit cards and I wonder if I can write you a post dated cheque as my payday is on Friday. (As always, straight to the point) He asked me if I could go to the ATM. I gave him the most pitiful look I could muster and said no. He looked at me and he said that was OK. I was about to speak but couldn't because he immediately got on the phone. I went to sit on the couch in the waiting area and just mulled over what had just happened. I felt bad even asking if they would accept a post dated cheque.

One of the guys came over and asked for my keys, I said I needed to check with Oscar first. He finally took a breath and I asked him if he would prefer I come back on Monday, he said it was up to me, I said I didn't want to take advantage of his good nature, yes, I actually said that, but I don't have the cash right now, but I'll get paid on Friday. He said loudly that as long as I have a in-state cheque and Texas Driver's Licence, he can take my cheque and that they don't deposit the cheques until Monday anyway.

Thank you.

I gave my keys to the dude. They fixed it in 30 minutes. I wrote my post dated cheque, took a stack of their business cards and left.

If you need glass, go see Oscar:
Uniglass
1500 Hopper
Houston, TX 77093
(713) 862-1919
(281) 449-0808


Before


After

The Unbreakable

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Wordless Wednesday - well maybe one word

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Bliss is a red iPod nano


Aaah, isn't it gorgeous.

Thank you Ed, thank you Glen, thank you HappyKatie, J, Kim, and Jason. Thank you Schipul.

From the moment the trio of red iPods appeared in the office, I have been coveting one. Ed explained that he would be using them to reward employees as he saw fit, and I knew instantly that I just had to have one. This is my very first mp3 player of any kind.

I have no shame. I wanted it and I knew I would have it. I worked my ass off to get it. I've been playing with it. I love gadgets. This thing is a dream, smooth as buttah.

I'm a happy gadget grrl.

[grin]

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Wednesday, April 11, 2007

I'm not the only one who sees him, right?

No, happykatie, you're not the only one who sees him.