backup mobile phone

My backup mobile phone, a Nokia 5600 Music Express has officially bite
the dust. I have to get a replacement. In consideration of all the
factors and all that I need, I settled on a Nokia N97. A look here: http://www.nokia.com.hk/find-products-en/products/nokia-n97#/
main/landing

Basically it is a mobile device with everything. My main iPhone
cannot do half of the things this N97 can do. Wi-Fi access, my iphone
just couldn't access the free wireless at HKG airport, with this N97
bam.... I was there with the page loaded.

I can even sync my Apple's calendar entries and contact list. Missing
Sync for Symbian... USD 39.99. Well worth it!

I might use this new phone as my main phone to carry around. We'll see.

Google Voice

I got Google Voice now!!!!! I submitted my request last week. Now I
have it! Will look into more details about this when I don't have the
paranoid c0Mm!e firewall blocking every single video coming in!

O Canada, here I come.

I need light

Went back to "Cccccc sssss Ccccoo", same building, same floor,
same room to do one final "sound check" for the big day tomorrow.
Look at the setup. Paperless now. And notice the logo on the
laptops? And how perfectly aligned they were. It was by accident.
(Steve should be proud!) That was an IP phone BTW, we used it as a
hub for our WWW access to do the work needed. I didn't even bother
using the "access" granted to us. This was faster and easier. We
were up and running in 5 minutes compared to the frustrated 45 minutes
from last week's test run.

As the sun was setting, by 5:15pm it was getting dark. Light switch.
No, nothing on the way. Ask the receptionist, she was "smart ass"
type responded, it's automatic as you enter the room. Right we HAVE
been in the room for bloody 3 hours plus! the light didn't even turn
on! She came in to the office with me looking for a light switch. 5
minutes later, she came back in. Response: I can't find a light
switch. Don't know how to turn it on. You can use another meeting
room. What kind of a respond was that! And the entire floor, there
were two rooms setup used for meetings, the rest were just empty
shells. What a waste of space. Or maybe just had to take the whole
space but don't know what to do with it. So we worked to the dim
light, dimmer and dimmer NOT dumb and dumber. I brought everything I
could think of to eliminate unknown from the technical side, tomorrow
I must bring my OWN torch to work! Ridiculous.

One thing one must learn, in this part of the world in particular in
MY land of resident seeing should not be believing. What you see is
NOT what you get.

packed

Amazing how the power of saying "No" to people and sticking to your
planned schedule. Since Sunday I have stuck to my schedule that meant
skipping the China Gaming Conference which I signed up for. It was
suppose to be one whole date of seminar on Sunday; but the it was
split to two days one day before I planned on attending. The speaker
should have planned better for his flight from the States. So I
didn't go otherwise, I would have fallen yet again behind in my stuff.

I've done my accounting, prepped for WebEx teaching, fixed up stuff
around the apartment, called NorthWest, packed for the North American
trip to named a few. Man, I was never felt so organized and
accomplished.

Speaking of packing, I have my computer roll bag and a small hand
carry bag for my trip. Yes, so compact. Couldn't pull it off without
some recent technologies. My Patagonia vest, make of hi-teck material
good for -10C at least, I can stuff it into a small pouch. Air
compression bags for my warm yet hi-tech socks, shirts, you name it.
Can't say I will be losing my bags by the Airline. Since I am not
flying AC mini-bus coming in, I am good. Heading back to Asia will be
a different story.

堵

堵, this Chinese character means traffic jam. And you thought traffic
jam is bad in North America, in particular LA. Well, this is in the
Shannxi province major highway. 3 separate accidents with empty truck
after empty truck returning to the coal mine. The jam, 55 KM long.
Where's that bathroom?

Italian red

I am amazed how many bottle of nice wine we can find in Mark and
Spencer, the British department store across the road from us. I
tried this Italian red and man it was smooth and fruity. A little bit
on the dry side which I like.

In case the picture is not that clear, it is a Chianti Classico,
Basilica Cafaggio, Vendemmia 2006. Highly recommended.

captain's log

Star date 2009.286.3.27, our ship has continue to move forward in the
Red Zone. Strange noises have been resonated all around the haul of
our ship. We suspect it was the open communication between the
inhabitants. So far, our analysis has not been able to establish a
standardize pattern of these strange Honking sounds. Their pitches
but are very random.

Our exploration team has been able to move among the inhabitants
without being noticed using the acquired Klinon stealth technology.
All our communications have been channeling thru "i Papa Holiday Owen
Nancy Echo" frequency.

In order to established a language pattern of this new species, Dr
McKoil had beamed a local from our designated "Mao Ming" district to
our virtual simulator. This specimen "Mao Ming" (aka MM) managed
successfully correcting a mistake that Dr McKoil designed in his
experiment. MM was mechanically inclined. The experiment involved a
sealant problem with Enterprise's escape hatch. MM fixed it by
disassembling the housing and then proceed to screwed back the
loosened parts. Dr McKoil and his medical team also noticed that the
Red Zone society was using a monetary system called "Kuai". We took
notice that the communication this time with this specimen did not
involved "honking" pattern. A rather strange 4 tonal sounds. This MM
also suggested improvement on the lock bolt mechanism.

I also have to record a malfunction of our lighting system in the
Energy and Life support room. The entire housing required replacement
as the inner components were crumpling with each touch by our
mechanics. Once we have close to space station Lenny Yellow Nancy
Nancy, we will send a sub-space transmission for a new standardized
lighting system with Mechanic Zhang.

Our sub-level transport hatch was having problem as well. Could not
open; thereby locking our crew inside. Hopefully our mechanics can
resolve the issue smoothly.

Captain out.

---------------------------- Translation to normal English reading,
here it is:

At 3:37pm on Oct 13 2009 ( yes, 286 has gone by since Jan 1), the
noise from the honking outside was ridiculous. People honked just
because; no reason except saying: "Get out of my way, I am running a
red light, 3 cars behind! Can't you see?".

I just you my iPhone with my headset to drown out the noise from
outside.

"Mao Ming" is the street where the key cut guy is located. I went to
have a key cut and then ask him to drop by the APT to fix the door.
You see, the keyhole is so loose I could have pull it out. He fixed
it; the screws fixate the keyhole came off. The cost for the house
call was RMB 50.00 ( > CAD 10.00) I am sure he would have charged less
if I demonstrated a little bit more "local".

Then I moved on to fix the light in the back storage area where the
fridge and water cooler were located. I opened up the light fixture
cover. Jiggled it a bit and plastic started falling off except there
was no where to remove the florescent light bulbs. We will have to
call our friend Lynn; she has a handyman called Mr. Zhang who will
come by and change the entire fixture out.

Then when I left the apartment at noon, the main gate was stuck; no
one could come in and out; after a few key jabbing into the lock
mechanism itself, we were all free.

So there.........