Useful Software

Alright, I'm just going to take a break for now, and write about why I use the following software:

1. Digsby
It's an IM client that's still in its beta stages, but it has already won me over (at least on Windows). I use Pidgin primarily, since I use Ubuntu fairly often (as long as my projects or whatever doesn't require Windows). Anyway, I simply love Digsby for the following:

1. Ability to connect to many IM services (actually it doesn't matter to me, cause I mainly use MSN, but it's still a very good thing to have, since I do have friends who are on other services.)
2. Ability to connect to Facebook, and other social networking sites, and receive updates! I didn't care much about social networking sites in the past, but since getting into Uni I realised Facebook is one of the easier ways to let me know how my friends are doing. Even then, I found it troublesome to open a browser, log-in, etc. However, with Digsby, it's just there. The updates and all. It's just so seamless!
3. Ability to connect to various email services. For example, I currently have mine set up to connect to my Gmail and Yahoo! Mail. From Digsby I can check how many new emails I have, etc. (like Gmail Notifier).

Well, there're still some cons with it though, but I trust that they'll be resolved soon.

1. No way to invite other people to a conversation, in other words, it is currently unable to start a multi-user chat. Of course, people can still invite you into their chat, but you can't invite others. This can be an issue for those who do mass chats often.
2. Memory usage is a little high, although this has been hugely improved in the latest version.
3. I think the file transfer is a little cranky. Sometimes it just doesn't work.

Lastly, one point that some people have a problem with... You must have a Digsby account. Now, why is this good, and why is this bad? Basically, with Digsby, you sort of assign all your other accounts to it. So, all you have to do is log into Digsby, and everything else, such as your MSN, Yahoo!, Facebook, etc. will log in automatically. Some people might find this an invasion of their privacy, especially if you use a particular email for professional correspondences. Well, to me, if you're worried, just don't link that particular account. Also, from Digsby:

"This information is stored on our servers and is encrypted in a manner that would prevent anyone, including DOTSYNTAX LLC employees from accessing your passwords."

Of course, the final decision is yours. In addition to Digsby, I also use Pidgin often (on Ubuntu).

2. Avira AntiVir Free
For those of you who refuse to pay for an anti-virus, and do not want to resort to piracy, Avira AntiVir is really good. It has served me well for the past few months =). I frequent the following sites often, so do a check for yourself if you want to:

www.wilderssecurity.com
www.av-comparatives.org

3. WinPatrol
The free version is already very good. Basically, this program will notify you of any changes made to your system, and ask if you would allow it, etc. This is a very brief description, please check out the website for more information. Also, if you choose to buy the Plus! version (like I did recently), visit billpstudios.blogspot.com for a coupon to receive a $10 discount =).

4. Unlocker
Taken straight from the site:

• Ever had such an annoying message given by Windows?

• It has many other flavors:
  
  Cannot delete file: Access is denied
  There has been a sharing violation.
  The source or destination file may be in use.
  The file is in use by another program or user.
  Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.

• Unlocker is the solution!

Ok, enough said =).

Alright, I guess that's about it. Have a good day =)!

Eden

I love this song, for some reason =). Anyway, today marks 3 years and 2 months since Geri and I have been together ^_^.

On a separate note, I highly recommend Digsby. Take a look for yourself ^^. Will blog about why I recommend it another time, if and when I feel like it. Ok, take care people.

Sometimes life sucks, but you just got to keep telling yourself you will make it out alive somehow.

Rant

I hate my (school) life the way it is now, I wish it wasn't like this, but I don't have much of a choice now. I'm supposed to be enjoying myself now, because I was supposed to go Zouk with some of my friends, but here I am, blogging, and ranting, after writing approximately 70% of a 2000-word essay.

I don't particularly care about nightlife, nor clubbing for that matter. I care about relaxing, about having some time for myself, and more importantly, having a damn life. But no, I haven't had such a chance at all. In fact, I feel so busy and stupid that even blogging seems like a complete waste of time now, and the only f*cking reason I'm doing so is because I don't know how to continue the essay. This is not the life I envisioned, and everything just seems to be getting worse each day. I remember what one of my professors said during one of the talks before school started. He said he always gets As, and that one of his friends was the so-called slack one, as in he didn't do well, but really enjoyed University life. Anyway, he goes on to say that all he is now is just a professor, while his "slack" friend is now doing very well in life, running his own business and all. I remember he ended his talk with something like, "Don't be a loser, enjoy your uni life." I think he meant it to a certain extent, although it might seem like a joke at that point in time.

You know what? I fully agree. I miss my poly life. Yes, a lot of people say poly life is slack, bla bla bla. Well, I say, it's precisely because you all think this way, and that's why you didn't score during poly. Poly life can be slack, but you can choose to put in your effort and do well. And I frigging did. I put in my effort, I did well, and most importantly, I ENJOYED MYSELF. Not because I got results of straight As, or distinctions, but because poly life was fun in itself. Despite putting in effort to study, I still had the time to play, to join CCAs. Yup, CCAs, I enjoyed running my club, and I appreciate the wonderful members I had. Yes, there was f*cking politics, which till today, I'm quite lost as to what really happen. But you know what? I don't give a f*ck about some guy who chose to abandon his brothers over one girl. Nor do I give a f*ck about someone who only cares about his grades, someone who can sacrifice his friendships just to be in a lecturer's good shoes. I cared about my wonderful friends, about the occasional drinking sessions we'd have in school, about the events we ran together, about the daily ogling and chasing at girls, about the once-in-a-blue-moon guys heart-to-heart talk. I cared about living my life.

I didn't have a wonderful secondary school life, especially during upper secondary, due to the amount of family issues and whatever. I took all that negative energy, and told myself to put it to good use during poly, and I did. I enjoyed poly life so much that I went back to help out after I graduated, that till today the bunch of idiots I mixed around with are still my good friends, that we still crack the same jokes and it still makes us laugh, that I can't help but feel sad when I think and know that in future we're going to change and drift further apart.

During NS, I still had time for them. For Geri, and also for my family. Yes, it wasn't much, but there was time. No matter how busy I was, I could always find time for them. At the very least, when I do spend time with them, I didn't have to think about ANYTHING ELSE.

Then came uni life, and I'm utterly defeated by it. Yes, I could probably not give a damn, and maybe aim for an average CAP, but that's not what I want. Why is it that I'm finding it so f*cking hard to manage my time? Why is it that the only time people bother to make friends or talk to you is when they need help? What the f*ck. When you frigging needed help I tried to be there, no matter how busy I was. But when I needed help you weren't even around. Screw you all.

I don't really care anymore. I've realised there're bound to be sacrifices on this path I've chosen, or rather, been forced to choose. And I'm going to walk it, come out of it alive, and if there are things I must do, I will do it, somehow. I hate how abstract this f*cking post is, I hate how much I cannot say, and I hate the way my (school) life is. This mugging, this frigging culture, this is bullshit.

I wish I could type like this for my essay, you know? But I can't. This life just isn't what I envisioned. Nothing close to it at all. Where's the fun in school, when all you do is study? There's no free time at all, if you spend your free time with schoolwork idling at the back of your mind.

Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm not up to it. F*ck.

It's been a long time since I actually felt like blogging, and today's one of them. I've been really busy recently, and on top of that there are many personal issues on my mind, which sucks considering that I've a sit-in lab test later (at 2pm), as well as a Math test on Friday.

Before I came into Uni, I thought that if I stayed in a residence, I'd be at least able to return home once a week (other than weekends, of course). I thought I'd be at least able to meet my dearest Geri at least once or twice during the weekdays. I also thought that I'd be able to live life to the fullest, doing the things I love, like working out, actually joining and participating in some CCAs, among others. I thought wrong for all of them.

So far, there has only been once when I returned home during the weekdays, and that was only because my main computer was down, and I had to fix it or I'm screwed. That took such a toll on me that I felt really burned out by the end of that week. Nevertheless, getting to see your family kind of makes it a lot better =).

The number of times I've met Geri during the weekdays can be counted with one hand. I'm really trying to find time, but time is not friendly with me nowadays. I'm really thankful I've such a wonderful and understanding girlfriend =).

I've only really jogged twice, and only exercise VERY lightly about twice a week, one of which is ON A WEEKEND.

I think my time management skills suck, but I'm trying. I'm so tired. This is not the kind of life I wanted, but sometimes there's no choice due to certain obligations.

Also, yesterday was my sister's birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEI MEI =)!

"And you never would have thought in the end,
How amazing it feels just to live again" - The Used, Blue And Yellow

21 + 1

Happy 22nd Birthday to Myself! Haha =). Well, my friends had some sort of mini celebration for myself and Jeremy on Friday already, and it was really nice! Dearest Geri came as well ^_^. Thanks guys and girl =P.

Spent the entire Sunday doing tutorials though, and today's Monday, my birthday, and I'm schooling. Bah. Thankfully Geri came down for lunch with me, and brought a mini cake as well. Thanks dear ^^. I'd love to blog more but am very tired right now =(. Thank you all for the birthday wishes ^^.

Oh ya, from Welson to me: