Sunny Chan blogs

Trouble compiling OpenJDK 7 in Fedora 18?

Sunny Chan — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 07:38:11 +0000

You will need to modify jdk/make/common/shared/Compiler-gcc.gmk and remove -mimpure-text from the GCC command line. See the icedtea changeset here: http://icedtea.classpath.org/hg/icedtea6?cmd=changeset;node=ddca483b3ed9

Synology LDAP server and Centos 6 client: Brain Dump

Sunny Chan — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:06:02 +0000

This is a brain dump on how to get Centos 6 client to authenticate using Synology's Directory Service. I have assumed that you have setup the Directory Server correctly.

You need the following packages:

openldap-clients

sssd

sssd seems to be installed by default, but openldap wasn't.

Run system-config-authenticate, with the following settings:

LDAP Search Base DN can be found under Synology Directory Server application

Make sure you use ldaps:// in order to use LDAP passwd. Notice that ldaps is switch on by default on synology server.

Then, Apply the changes.

Notice that the SSL certificate used by the LDAP server is a self-generated one, and I didn't manage to change it so I took a short cut and ask openldap client not to borther checking the certifiacte. You can do this by modifying /etc/openldap/ldap.conf and add "TLS_REQCERT allow". This would ask openldap to ignore any SSL cert error.

Once you have done that, try login via ssh and you should be able to access the user listed in the synology server directory. If you want to use the uid and gid from ldap server instead of the passwd file on the Linux client, make sure you swap the priority for passwd in nsswitch.conf.

Java SE Embedded and Synology Diskstation

Sunny Chan — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:52:46 +0000

I have got a Synology DS209 at home, which is an ARM based NAS. Oracle has released Java SE Embedded 7 and it has got ARMv5 support, so naturally I would want to see whether my NAS is up to it:

disk> uname -a

Linux disk 2.6.32.12 #1955 Sat Nov 26 14:50:54 CST 2011 armv5tel GNU/Linux synology_88f6281_209

disk> java -version

java version "1.7.0_02"

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment for Embedded (build 1.7.0_02-b13, headless)

Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 22.0-b10, mixed mode)

So "Hello World" is working. Let's try something more fun - like running jetty:

disk> java -jar start.jar

2011-12-14 03:33:21.810:INFO:oejs.Server:jetty-8.0.4.v20111024

2011-12-14 03:33:22.039:INFO:oejdp.ScanningAppProvider:Deployment monitor /volume1/homes/schan/jetty-distribution-8.0.4.v20111024/webapps at interval 1

2011-12-14 03:33:22.075:INFO:oejdp.ScanningAppProvider:Deployment monitor /volume1/homes/schan/jetty-distribution-8.0.4.v20111024/contexts at interval 1

2011-12-14 03:33:22.096:INFO:oejd.DeploymentManager:Deployable added: /volume1/homes/schan/jetty-distribution-8.0.4.v20111024/contexts/javadoc.xml

2011-12-14 03:33:22.413:INFO:oejd.DeploymentManager:Deployable added: /volume1/homes/schan/jetty-distribution-8.0.4.v20111024/contexts/test.xml

2011-12-14 03:33:22.845:INFO:oejw.WebInfConfiguration:Extract jar:file:/volume1/homes/schan/jetty-distribution-8.0.4.v20111024/webapps/test.war!/ to /tmp/jetty-0.0.0.0-8080-test.war-_-any-/webapp

2011-12-14 03:33:30.509:INFO:oejsh.ContextHandler:started o.e.j.w.WebAppContext{/,file:/tmp/jetty-0.0.0.0-8080-test.war-_-any-/webapp/},/volume1/homes/schan/jetty-distribution-8.0.4.v20111024/webapps/test.war

2011-12-14 03:33:30.510:INFO:oejsh.ContextHandler:started o.e.j.w.WebAppContext{/,file:/tmp/jetty-0.0.0.0-8080-test.war-_-any-/webapp/},/volume1/homes/schan/jetty-distribution-8.0.4.v20111024/webapps/test.war

2011-12-14 03:33:30.510:INFO:oejsh.ContextHandler:started o.e.j.w.WebAppContext{/,file:/tmp/jetty-0.0.0.0-8080-test.war-_-any-/webapp/},/volume1/homes/schan/jetty-distribution-8.0.4.v20111024/webapps/test.war

2011-12-14 03:33:30.518:INFO:oejsh.ContextHandler:started o.e.j.w.WebAppContext{/,file:/tmp/jetty-0.0.0.0-8080-test.war-_-any-/webapp/},/volume1/homes/schan/jetty-distribution-8.0.4.v20111024/webapps/test.war

2011-12-14 03:33:30.518:INFO:oejsh.ContextHandler:started o.e.j.w.WebAppContext{/,file:/tmp/jetty-0.0.0.0-8080-test.war-_-any-/webapp/},/volume1/homes/schan/jetty-distribution-8.0.4.v20111024/webapps/test.war

2011-12-14 03:33:31.338:INFO:oejhs.SslContextFactory:No keystore or trust store configured.  ACCEPTING UNTRUSTED CERTIFICATES!!!!!

2011-12-14 03:33:32.929:INFO:oejs.TransparentProxy:TransparentProxy @ /javadoc-proxy to http://download.eclipse.org/jetty/stable-8/apidocs

2011-12-14 03:33:33.047:INFO:oejs.AbstractConnector:Started SelectChannelConnector@0.0.0.0:8080 STARTING

I am very impressed - They also have the server VM for ARMv7 too - maybe it's time to get a new Diskstation!

More OpenJDK compile notes for Fedora 16

Sunny Chan — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:01:36 +0000

Just to save people from scratching their heads - if you try and compile OpenJDK from vanilla source bundle (not IcedTea) on Fedora 16, you migth see libjvm.so fails to link with a message:

libstdc++ not found

If you look at OpeJDK build readme:

This is caused by a missing libstdc++.a library. This is installed as part of a specific package (e.g. libstdc++.so.devel.386). By default some 64-bit Linux versions (e.g. Fedora) only install the 64-bit version of the libstdc++ package. Various parts of the JDK build require a static link of the C++ runtime libraries to allow for maximum portability of the built images.

DOH! So what you will need on Fedora 16 is libstdc++-static package

Three Weeks In

Sunny Chan — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:33:45 +0000

Here is my status / thought three weeks into Plan A (formerly known as Plan B)

I am still jet lagged. I feel sleepy during the morning but otherwise I am fine

I have been eating out almost 85% of the days I have been in Hong Kong. I have also joined Fitness First and definitely need to make use of it

The amount of alcohol I have consumed in the last three weeks is the sum of all alcohol I have consumed 3 months before I leave UK.

Where the f**k did all the people come from?! The whole town is packed

My mom is better at investigating my life than FBI / MI5 / KGB

I still feel like I am on holiday here in Hong Kong. I think that would change when my boxes arrive.

My box is currently somewhere near the Gulf at the moment. I just hope that the pirates in Somali won't find it

Work is fine, except a lot of midnight calls.

Lunch is much better around here. Plenty of nice food and company!

My salary is pretty good over here. Why didn't I do it earlier?

I missed MINI. Didn't help when they have big poster showing Mini near Time Square.

I do miss you guys in UK. Honest.

Looking back

Sunny Chan — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:10:08 +0000

The cat is now out of the bag, and I am slowly shutting down my life over here. I think it's time to do a review and take stock of what I have achieved and looking ahead

Most people have thought that my mom and dad made the decision for me to come over here, on the contrary it is actually me initiated the whole studying in UK. I was not happy at the school I was studying in Hong Kong and I see this as a way out to the terrible time I had in Hong Kong - I considered myself being bullied by my teacher and I thought certainly this "mother" country could not be worse. (The colonial government did a good job of brain-washing me :-).

When I first set foot in this country it feels strange yet farmiliar. The car drive on the correct side of the road, except that everything is in English. I certainly can feel the chill but I do find the people are very welcoming and have a strange sense of humour. But I certainly didn't forsee my experience in Felsted - it changed my life completely.

I definitely remember the first night in Follies. I was sobbing like a little baby in the little desk that we have for the NIPs (stands for Not Important Person). I think most of my housemate is puzzled - I think it is the thought of having to fence for myself from that point onwards. But soon after I get into the strive of studying and living in the boarding school, and I definitely make good use of my time there. Initially I am pretty sceptical of the gwai chais there. My parents have told me a few things about what they are like and I have found out that it is completely different - once we have worked out our cultrual differences I think my friends Felsted are warm and welcoming, and much more down to earth then I first thought. I have certainly made a lot of really good friends and we are still in touch 20 years later.

I am a pretty open minded person and after my "training" in Felsted I can really apperciate the way of life here and the culture. What I really love about this country is that people are humble and they are able to laugh about themselves and being selfless in a lot of ways. They like to engage with people and encouraged to look outwards and dream. I feel free to be myself here - as long as you don't go and kill people, you can do whatever you want. There are certainly a lot more social norm and convention out there in Asia, which would be very interesting to deal with.

I will definitely feel sad to leave behind all my good friends I made over the years, as well as the piece of London that I own (okay, the little piece of London that have been leased to me for another 70 years :-). I would definitely missed the days that I can go to the football games or take a spin in the winding road down in countryside.

However, I feel that it is the right opportunity to make a change in direction for my life. It would be a big culture shock when I am back in Hong Kong but I don't want to regard it not doing this while I still can. Who knows where life would take me but I certainly would be quite happy to come back and call UK home.

Sunny's 5 Year Itch

Sunny Chan — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 04:26:39 +0000

According the this website, The phase "The Seven Years Itch" means the inclination to become unfaithful after seven years of marriage. Ladies, don't worry, I am still single and available. However I wonder whether I do have a five years itch.

So far in my life I never really stayed at one location / school / job for more then 5 years. The worst period is during my Primary School years, where one reason or another I have moved to 3 primary schools - nearly once every 2 years. By the way, I do not recommend anyone to subject their son and daughter to this as for me it was pretty traumatic, and it has turned my life upside down. Without the bad experiences during my late Primary / early Secondary School years, I would probably have not pluck up the courage to take the big step to study in UK. The period I spent in Felsted is the best time in my life, where I made friends and won respect - people still remember me out there after 10 years! If I haven't studied to Felsted, I probably won't get into Imperial, and would probably got the job that I am doing now.

Sometimes I am wondering whether Plan B is my 5 Year Itch, but I don't think it is such a bad thing.

For those who wonder what happen with Plan B I am still waiting for Human Resource in the bank I am working for to sort things out. It may take 2-3 months. I have already started to throw away old books and stop buying items that I cannot take with me. However, until I have the offer no one should assume that Plan B is happening. So please do not discuss this with my parents yet!

Donation sought (at the request of my mom)

Sunny Chan — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 13:27:33 +0000

Dear Children,

Please note :

相信你們都常常聽我提及有關我參與不同的義工服務。其中一個團體是"無界限 - 精神健康社區融合會" (簡稱無界限 )。

很高興在這裏，隆重宣佈: 本會的第一份宣傳小冊子已經出世了 (見附件)。身為司庫的我，親眼見證這群babies(小冊子)，在這個貧窮但充滿愛、理想和團結的大家庭裏面，只用了650元便做出了2,000個值得我們自豪的寶貝.......它們身負重任 :

(一) 將 "無界限" 的成立、宗旨、目標、服務對象/內容等等介紹給尚未認識我們的朋友。希望朋友們知道，在社區上有一群人正在努力默默地為精神病康復者提供服務，幫助他們融入社區和重拾自信。朋友們! 你地能放下對他們的歧視和誤解; 以愛，包容去接納他們，一個共融的社區，對他們重投社會有莫大的幫助。

(二) 朋友們如果你身邊在這方面有需要協助的人，可以聯絡我們，可能我們未必可直接幫到手，但我們可以儘量為你們提供相關的渠道，獲得合適的協助。有問題，不要怕，只要勇敢面對，一定OK。

(三) 歡迎認同我們理念的社會各界人士，加入我們的行列。

(四) 籌募經費 : 希望大家能慷慨解囊，樂善好施。

Please help to spread the news to your friends, colleagues (in HK for Sunny) so that someone may like to donate money to our community. I will bring a few handouts to Sharon's home today.

Forwarded two words files for follow-up action.

Mother

Kelvin Ko on Marriage and Opportunity Cost

Sunny Chan — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 13:22:25 +0000

Autofs hints

Sunny Chan — Thu, 6 Aug 2009 19:11:26 +0000

Just to save other people out there who have try to use autofs:

All automount map file must be non executable (eg rw-r-r-)

If not automounter will refuse to load it. I was scratching my head for a whole night trying to figure out my new ubuntu installation refuse to mount my NFS home directory. I am just about to blame ubuntu for this :-)

T-Mobile G1 - The Google Phone

Sunny Chan — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:06:56 +0000

Well, as most people who read this knows that I am pretty keen on Palm Pre. However my Nokia N95 is falling apart and I need a phone now to replace my Nokia. So I decided to take a look and I have decided to get a T-Mobile G1 for now, and then when Palm Pre is out here at the end of the year I would go and get

For those who doesn't know, T-Mobile G1 is the first phone that is based upon Google Android, the Linux based mobile OS that uses a subset/special implementation of Java as the main program interface.

I have been using the G1 for about a week now, and so far so good. It's pretty slick and the interface are pretty good compare to the iPhone. All the apps I wanted to use are there, including a fairly decent Live Messenger client. Althought the AppStore is not as good as Apple, it is growing and there are a few useful one up there. Hopefully once the Chinese Manufacturer making cheaper Android phone more developers will move onto the platform. Though it should be fairly easy to move J2ME application onto the Android platform (quite similar but not exactly the same - however a good developer can easily develop Facade to support both).

Anyway, I should download the SDK and have a play around soon.

J P Morgan Challenge 2009

Sunny Chan — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:18:29 +0000

Here is the result. I came 11164 out of 11725.

It is all about participation! :-)

Sunny Gor Gor

Sunny Chan — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 08:48:26 +0000

I have a weird morning today:

Firstly I got up at 8 and I was watching thie Google I/O 2008 talk in bed. It is all about the Dalvok VM and I am curious about why they have their own dex format, etc. Interesting on how they adapted Java to work really well in a small platform:

Then I saw my sister has posted one of those really old Hong Kong advert in the facebook:

I then hop around the youtube site and look at some of those really old Hong Kong TV adverts. My goodness. When I was young I thought it was slick and cool, but now I feel a bit errie about them. Anyway, I finally landed on a couple of links with Sunny Gor Gor songs. For those of you who are old enough in Hong Kong should remember him - he is pretty much the first Hong Kong Children TV presenter. I did a bit of google and manage to find his web site. I was too young at that time (ahem... yes I was) and I only had a faint memory of him on TV.

However, I didn't pick my Sunny as my first name because of him though (nor did my parents). That's a story for another time.

What I have learnt this week.

Sunny Chan — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:36:37 +0000

It's been a long week. Here is 10 things I have learnt:

If you have locked your keys in your MINI, don't bother calling the recovery service. Just find a stone/hammer and smash the window.
Autoglass open 24*7. If they have the mirror in stock and a technician is available then you can get it fixed at 2am.
Never chain your house keys with your car keys.
Power Steering is a common fault on the 2001-2006 MINI Coopers. And it is expensive to get it fixed so BMW didn't do a recall.
Taking the train to Brighton can be quicker than driving. Except you should expect noisy babies so iPod is essential
Water in Brighton is pretty decent. Though it is a bit difficult to find a shower facility.
Your ghost in Sim 3 only has a limited amount of time. Once the time is up then that's it, so get him/her revived asap.
It's difficult to find a decent techie jobs in Hong Kong, unless you are actually there.
Enjoy your life. You never know when your doctor will give you an overdose. Especially you are the King of Pop
Java 6 Update 14 with server hotspot compiler is really really fast.

Why can't Orientals guys (US: Asian) get the white girls

Sunny Chan — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:16:01 +0000

Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Sunny Chan — Sun, 17 May 2009 10:37:32 +0000

Eurovision Song Contest has become a little bit of a joke last couple of years, though I still enjoy Terry Wogan's (now Graham Norton) sarcastic comment and also what those crazy Eastern European could come up with. Surprising this year I think it's pretty good (hence I would like to blog about it)

For those come who are reading this and have no idea what Eurovision Song Contest it (e.g. if you live in HK), do a google and find out what you are missing out here!

This year seems like everyone is getting really serious about this competition, for
example, Germany has Dita Von Teese on the set, while UK have Andrew
Lloyd Webber writing songs, etc. They have changed the voting system
this year as well, and it did reduced the political voting effect. (Though
Ukarine still give 12 points for Russia, etc.) and Moscow who hosted this seems to be lavishing a lot of money on the set!

My favourite song this year is the one from Estonia (not just because she is lang lui haaa):

Another one I quite enjoyed is the Ajiberjan's entry:

I thought this is quite cheeky and the tune is quite catchy too.

I stayed in and I thought I was entartained - so good job Europe looking forward to next year.

VMWare ESXi 3 experience

Sunny Chan — Fri, 1 May 2009 20:04:18 +0000

I recently have upgraded my desktop machine to a Core 2 Quad - that by itself is quite a big change because I have been using AMD CPU for nearly 10 years, but it seems like Intel finally has a better product, so I voted with my Wallet.

Anyway so with a working Dual Core AMD Athlon x2 3800+ CPU as well as 4G DDR RAM, what shall we do with it? Of course try some new stuff. I always fancy the idea of having a hypervisor in the BIOS - althought we are not quite there yet, but the closest product we have right now.

So I downloaded the VMWare ESXi from VMWare website, burn it onto a CD and run installer. ESXi consists of a modified Linux kernel and some VMware modules. It took a minute or so to boot up. When I tried to run the installer, it comes back with an error with unsupported device. I did a quick Google on the topic and found that the installer just doesn't support IDE hard drives (which is the one that I have lying around!). You need to go to the virtual console and start hacking their installation script. That's not very nice.

Anyway, once I have installed it on the hard drive I reboot the machine - however it doesn't seems to be able to format the hard drive. After trying for half a Sunday I figure out that my drive was used to install Windows 7, and instead of standard old school partition table it now has a EFI GUID Partition Table. VMWare doesn't seems to know how to handle them. In the end I cleared the GPT using diskpart off my hard drive and now VMWare can install properly.

The one really annoy thing for me is that VMWare ESXi can only use drives formatted with VMFS - as a result I can't really share my external SATA hard drive with another Linux installation. BAD. Also it seems like you once you have created a VMWare Virtual hard drive on a data store it won't be able to shrink the disk size. Arghhhhhh. Why can't they have a straight pass through SATA? or USB? Searching in Google suggested that the only way you can let your VMWare to use a drive "natively" is to share it from a remote machine using a iSCSI intiaitor. BAD

At the moment when I need to install OS onto the server I either use a CD image or my local CD drive. This is another annoyance as I just cannot convince VMWare to assign the server's DVD ROM drive onto the virtual machine. Make it a bit slower to install the packages..

Another thing that I don't like is that there is no console directly on the server itself- you will have to use the management client in order to connect to those console. This is okay for a headless server but for developer like me I would still prefer to have full console access to my VM the server itself.

Other than these annoying details it works pretty well with the stuff I throw at it. The CPU I use for this VMWare test machine doesn't support Pacifica technology (AMD's Vritualisation instructions set) but is still achieve a decent performance

Old School Computer Music

Sunny Chan — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:47:37 +0000

My first PC has two floppy drive and no hard disk (how could one survive that?!), and when the floppy's step motor moving around it makes noise that can be similar to music. I always wonder whether someone will us it as a musical instrument. Someone with lots of time in their hand finally has done this impressive number with old computer bits:

I am well impressed!

The latest HSBC ad

Sunny Chan — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:24:38 +0000

This is a classic HSBC ad, blogged here for my mom:

For those who doesn't know Chinese, the English translation they give there isn't as true to the meaning. The chinese words above the "Fear" actually means "Nightmare".

Strange Conversation

Sunny Chan — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:08:36 +0000

4.45pm. Sunny's mobile rang.

T = T-Mobile sales. S = Sunny

T: Is this Mr. Chan?

S: Yes

T: This is T-mobile. I noticed that your discount period is coming to an end. Would you like to renew your contract or get a new phone?

S: Not at the moment. I am waiting for a phone to come out and it is not on sale yet.

T: May I ask which one?

S: Palm Pre

T: Sorry what's that?

S: Palm Pre!

T: I have never heard of it.

S: Google it!

T: Tell me the name once more?

S: (Annoyed tone) PALM PRE.

T: How do you spell it?

S: (Very Annoyed) P-A-L-M P-R-E

T: What make is it?

S: (Thinking "D**khead" in his head) Palm

T: I am sorry?

S: (Are you wasting my time?) PALM!

T: Oh Palm. I never heard of it before - Okay let me see.

T: (Looking at Google, found the Palm's website) Oh is it US only?

S: Nope they are going to make a GSM version (Note: I mean 3G - I won't buy a phone without 3G HSPDA!)

S: So can I just keep the contract as is.

T: Yes

S: Okay.

T: Thanks for your time.

This guy should be layed off in this kind of economic environment. Palm Pre is like the best phone since iPhone. He is so not going to sell any phone to me

Backup

Sunny Chan — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:14:40 +0000

No, I am not talking about Hard drive backup. Although if you are not you should. RAID will not help you.

Over the years, there has been a number of my female friends who jokingly/seriously say that they would want me to be their backup, and would like a pact with me if they can't find someone by 35 then I should married them. That makes me wonder: what makes me such a good backup? If I am such a good backup, why don't they want to make me the main man? Am I good enough but not good enough?

Answer on a post card please.

I did have agreed to one of these pact long ago, but fortunately (or unfortunately) she has found someone and is now engaged. So I am free to make another pact!

Windows 7 Beta First Impression

Sunny Chan — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:22:35 +0000

Well, Windows 7 Beta is out and thinking that I have a spare machine I would give it a try - I have downloaded Windows 7 and then install it from DVD. The installation was pretty quick and painless. I decided to wipe the machine clean rather than doing an upgrade, as my out Windows XP setup has too much crap in it.

This machine is an old single core Pentium M 1.7G, with 2G of RAM. Once the installation completes it boots up fairly quickly, and much more reponsive then Vista on the same machine - the hard drive doesn't work as hard as Vista, and it seems that it doesn't work the CPU as hard.

Interface wise it is not that much different from Vista, however, they copied some of the elements from Mac, for example, you can now pinned the Icon onto the task bar, and you can organised a whole bunch of Windows according to app - just like Mac OS X Tiger.

Out of the box it has already contained most of the driver I need for the Thinkpad, and they are available via Windows Update. However to my surprised they dopn't have Intel Pro Wireless drivers isn't available - considering that Intel is a close partner for Microsoft I would have thought that it should work straight out of them box. Luckily, it seems like Vista driver works fine on Windows 7 so I just download the driver from Lenovo and the wireless works fine.

One of the main problem is that I spend most of the Sunday afternoon trying to sort out is trying to connect to Samba shares. It seems like Windows 7 has tightened up much of the security in terms of SMB shares. Most of the instructions on the net says you need to change the security policy manager, Local Policy to allow NTLM authentication. However it didn't work and after switching off most of the encryption and security options for SMB it finally works.

So I will spend a couple of days with Windows 7 and see how it goes - I am impressed so far.

Planning for "The Italian Job"

Sunny Chan — Mon, 1 Dec 2008 15:49:24 +0000

I always want to do an Italian Job, but I always find the driving a bit daunting - Although my trip to Monaco with Mini went okay, I think Italy is stretching my ability to stay awake to the max. However, fear not! I have been surfing on the Internet and discovered Auto Train by SNCF which takes your Car all the way down to Nice. Now that would save 13 hours of driving! There is also train from Holland to Livrno so that makes going to Rome certainly a lot easier!

There are so many places I want to take my Mini to! I would love to see the roof top track feature in the old Fiat factory in Turin, as feature in the film. Also if possible I would like to drive in the Stelvio Pass, Northern Italy/Swiss boarder, voted by the presenters of Top Gear as the best road in Europe. As well as visiting Rome of course!

I don't know how many days it is going to take but it should probably be 10 days or something like that. Anyone fancy this?

Just leave me alone

Sunny Chan — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:05:05 +0000

Rather mad about certain email I received. I deal with issues in my own way and I just do not understand why someone have to impose "their idea" onto me. "I buggered off with your friend in your birthday party but I would still like be your friend. So please talk to me". What do people expect. Didn't I made it clear? Just get out of my life.

Certain friend of mine has been commenting that maybe I am not letting go, but this is the way I deal with this kind of things. She has found someone else and I don't think too highly of the guy but I leave them alone. But just don't expect things will get back to the way it is, I don't have any obligation to be anyone's friend. Those of you who really know me, I am a person of extremes: When I love something, I love it with passion. When I hate something I hate it with passion as well. If people can't deal with that then that's tough.

That email ruined my day. But I am calm down a bit and after I sleep over it I decided that I shouldn't raise my blood pressure over it. This is the last time I will talk about this.

Closer

Sunny Chan — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:37:52 +0000

One of my favourite at the moment:

Closer by Ne-Yo

Miss CX and Miss Solicitor

Sunny Chan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:58:36 +0000

For those of you who didn't notice, I am back home in Hong Kong for three weeks at the moment. I haven't had a holiday for a long time and I am definitely enjoy my time not thinking about JVMs, Java Plug-ins and Java Webstart. Thought I have to admit that having bring my Blackberry I do find myself checking work email during the day time.

Anyway, visiting home is a bit mixed feeling for me. Althought it's great to see my parents (even my mom has a blog!) and my sister, but wondering around Luk Yeung makes me feel a bit weird and uncomfortable. Maybe I remember the good time I had with Miss CX, and all that happens afterwards. I don't want to eleborate too much, but things just doesn't work out and I do feel pretty sad about it.

I was having dinner with Dr & Dr W this weekend, and Dr W. has a very good observation for me: It's fine to concentrate on your career, however you have to consider that most girls at our age who is still single are career minded and definitely won't have time to entartain the idea of migrating to another country. She has suggested that I should consider moving back to Hong Kong for a while and see what happens.

That certainly has crossed my mind. I think the last couple of years has proved to me that I would like to meet someone like Miss CX, and I am not sure whether someone like her exists in London. I had so much fun with her and I had that falling in love feeling with her which I didn't feel for a long time. Sometimes I wonder whether I should said yes to that question she asked and maybe we will live happily ever after, but I am certainly would not like to pushed into a big decision like that.

In terms of Miss Solicitor, it's another really really bad habit of mine. I push people away when they intrude into my space and I closed up. I think if I actually try harder maybe it would work out. I was thinking of trying to get back together with her, but as my shared class team mate has said, once she's hurt it's not a great advertisment to come back for more - then she start dating another guy that she met in my birthday party - I think that just get a bit too much for me. The moral of the story? NEVER EVER BRING EX TO YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY.

2008 definitely has been challenging, emotional wise. I had made some bad choices in 2007 and I have suffered for it this year. I just hope that things will improve next year.

BTW, there are two people (Miss PCCW and Mrs. Accountant) who knows for sure who are Miss CX and Miss Solicitor :-) Others are welcome to speculate but you have by now worked out how the system works here.

Wohoo - finally!

Sunny Chan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:49:42 +0000

Finally I have manage to upgrade my blogging software to Roller 4.0, as well as uplifting all the infrastructure to the latest version - I have also applies a new theme too. The old on get on my nerves as the calendar never layout at the right place.

Let's see whether this will motivate me to blog more.

Congratulations to Nadine and Steve

Sunny Chan — Sat, 24 May 2008 16:26:48 +0000

I am really happy for Nadine and Steve finally getting hitched finally! Contrary to some of the things he says, he is a loyal and a loving guy and Nadine is lucky to have bag someone like him. Congratulations!

Wow. My BOSE is amazing

Sunny Chan — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:59:43 +0000

I bought myself a set of BOSE 3.2.1 GSX system over the christmas to replace my 5 years old integrated DVD system and I have been really impressed so far. I am no Audiophile so I was looking for a set of speaker system that has a good general performance. I reckon with the money I spent on it I could have get a really good set of Amps and stuff, but I thought I would save myself the trouble and get the BOSE instead. And I wasn't been disappointed. I pipe my XBox, and PS3 and watch Blu-ray disc on it, and has performed really really well. I notice a big difference from my old system that I had.

They are showing Celine Dion's A New Day show from Las Vegas on BBC2 and the sound is amazing. I just wish they have rolled out BBC HD on DVB-T soon. So the next challenge for Bose will be Grand Theft Auto IV, and I will definitely report my verdict next week.

Does anybody read this crap?

Sunny Chan — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:15:20 +0000

Guess not. I have posted quite a few things that is quite controversial but no one comments :-) Either I am boring or no one cares?

I am still trying to recover from everything that happened since the beginning of the year. It is really heart breaking when you know that you have put a lot into something but end up with nothing. Well, I guess I get to taste my own medicine.

It's hard to meet someone that you have so much rapport with - I tried my best to hold onto it but I need to protect myself. Some decisions is for lifetime and should not be taken lightly or being threaten into doing it. Maybe that person is not as mature as I first thought. Would it make any difference if I do something more drastic? Did I not communicate how much I value it? Maybe not.

Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. I have done things that I am not proud of but they have all moved on, which is fine with me. I just get back to my old self and there is nothing to see, so move along.

Don't really want to speak to my mom at the moment - she is giving me "pressure" but I just don't want to hear about it anymore.

Anyone care to be my travel partner so that I can fulfill my plans for this year? Would be helpful if my travel partner can drive and don't mind driving.

Is Java really that slow? Does C# compiles to assembly code?

Sunny Chan — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:07:56 +0000

Last weekend I was having a chat with my friend, and they keep telling me "I thought all the banks are using .net". I asked why? They bring out the age old argument, "I thought Java is slow and C# generates native code"... Oh dear. This friend of mine is one of the cleverest guy I ever met, however he has been misinformed.

Java does not necessarily slower than C++. Yes, startup time maybe longer compare to a native application. However there are a lot of clever runtime optimization that can be done through a JIT that is not available to normal static compiler. For example, most of the JIT compiler would have generated fairly optimized assembler code, as well as using compilation techniques that can only be achieved by using run time profiling information. In the recent version of Hotspot it also contains technology like Biased Locking - this cannot be easily done using a normal static C++ compiler. In most case, Java is as fast as C++, and can be quite a bit faster in some circumstances.

C# does not compile into native code straight away, and it employs similar bytecode/JIT organisation similar to Java.

Java used to be pretty slow during the early days, but with the arrival of better runtime this is no longer the case. One of the problem that still need to resolved is the overhead of the garbage collector, especially using the large heap. There are a lot of clever people spending time solving this problem and hopefully we will get somewhere soon.

In the end, I can't be brothered to argue with him as he hold tightly to his beliefs, so we left it there. But I just wish people would take a look at the current state of the affair before dissing Java.

Love China - but do I have do agree with everything Chinese government does?

Sunny Chan — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:37:38 +0000

I noticed that there has been a few people who has put up this "Love China" sign in the MSN. Fair enough I think one should be proud of their heritage and who they are. However, that does not means I have to agree with everything that the Chinese government does.

All the government over the world make use of propaganda. Does everyone remember the Iraq war and the 45-minute WMD claim? Silly me. I was so naive to believe the British Government on this. Same thing happens with Tibet - Chinese government would like you to think that Tibet has been "well-integrated" and the trouble has nothing to do with what the Chinese Government doing out there. Hm... does anyone see any parallel here?

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying I want to renounce my heritage. But do I want to associate with a country which supports Sudan and sell arms to Zimbabwe so that Robert Mugabe can whack once the bread basket of Africa? Maybe not.

So I love China because I am a Chinese and it's my heritage. However, I do not love the Chinese Communist Government.

Should I be doing something else?

Sunny Chan — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 23:49:28 +0000

Well, being a JVM expert is quite fun, but then it seems like there are many other profession that is much more fun and gives you more perks! Take an example of a politican - all they do are talking hot air and they get perks like Second Home, and others expenses. Hang on a second - TV License for Tony Blair? Come on, he doesn't even like BBC!

As the credit crunch deepens, I am planning for my exit if the big enterprise that I am working for decided to lay people off and that I could find a job to do with computers:

Be a plumber/electrician in London. Although the article is quite a few years old, I can confirm that there is still a shortage of plumber and electrician in London after the boiler fiasco.
If I have got fed up with the city life, I don't mind going to Australia and be a beef farmer or even a miner or whatever they can do out there. You know. people from UK have a thing about Australia, and vice versa.
Worse come to the worse, I can always go back to Hong Kong and teach English? Who cares about good tenses and stuff!

Sounds like I am pretty sorted. Bring it on credit crunch.

The Beijing Olympics Torch Fiasco

Sunny Chan — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 13:12:13 +0000

Olympic Torch has been quite a big controversy recently with all these Tibet
independentists organised protest against the flame. I read in an article on The Independent today that the Olympic Torch was
first started by Nazi Germany as a part of their propaganda tool. Germany took
the torch from Athens to Berlin via Central and Eastern Europe to show off their glory. In the ancient Olympics they never had this torch ceremony
and it does not really serve any purpose other then the supposedly "showing it" as a symbol of the Olympic ideals.

If you look at the routes of Torch
Relay from the previous Olympics, you will notice that most of them only
visit places in or near the hosting country (e.g. LA 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona
1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000). Only the Beijing Olympics has its torch relay visiting pretty much half of the world. To me this feels like the PRC government is having
a ego (or "face") crisis and feel the need to show people who is running the greatest show on Earth. Nothing wrong with
that and if this makes them feel better then that's fine with me. However they
should not be surprised that people in the country the flame visits may not agree
with what PRC government is doing and would like to protest against it.PRC
government cannot blame anyone but themselves when there are so many
"embarrassing" incident along the route.

All this sounds like the
Emperor's New Clothes to me you know....

Checklist of things I would love to do this year

Sunny Chan — Tue, 1 Apr 2008 17:47:23 +0000

Things that I would like before the year end:

A road trip to Italy with Mini. Maybe an Italian Job
Visit Scotland. Can you believe I have never been there, after 17 years I have been here?!!!!
Surfing in Cornwall/Devon.

Anyone would like to join me for one of these adventures?

Has Sunny gone photo crazy?

Sunny Chan — Tue, 1 Apr 2008 17:40:57 +0000

Not quite. If you are reading this blog entry over in Facebook, you might suddenly discover yourself tagged in some of my really old photos. You wonder what happened here? Let me explain.

I have been publishing a lot of my photos over in my website. I use it as a kind of my archive and let other people have an idea of what my life is like so far - my mom keep tabs of me on that photo site! :-) The site uses Gallery v1 and I highly recommend this if you ever need to build an online album website but don't want to use Flickr or something like that. When the Facebook API comes along people has been developing software that bridges Gallery to Facebook's Photo application. However, most of these solutions requires a newer version of Gallery.

As with most people I talk to at work, I am very reluctant to upgrade due to the fact that the new version of Gallery requires a proper SQL database, consider that I am only running on a 512MB Xen VPS provided by Slicehost. However last weekend I decided to take the plunge finally and upgrade my Gallery installation after all these years, and finally I can make use of Gallery Import and make those photos available.

There were some absolutely gems - including photos from my final few months in Felsted... I was so bloody slim! I blame those KFC I ate on my way back to halls in my first year......

Enjoy the picutres!

Comments on the cars that I have owned so far

Sunny Chan — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:28:57 +0000

Well, I had owned three cars so far. Let me talk about my general feeling towards each of them.

The first car that I drove was a Ford Escort. I bought it when I start working as a summer intern in IBM Hursley. That place is so remote and there is no way I can wake up early enough to catch a train and then a bus from Eastleigh. So, it was £1000 and it has done quite a few London and Eastleigh run on M3. Pretty good until near the end when the engine would cut out mysteriously. Althought the drive is not great it gets me from A to B pretty well, and people are impressed with it fitting 5 people. Don't miss this at all though.

My second car was a Ford Puma. It's my graduation gift from my parent (thanks mom and dad) and it is the best car I have driven so far. Okay, a bit feminie on the outside but don't let it fool you - it's brilliant when you are doing 150% the speed limit on M27. It's quick, nimble, handle like a proper sports car and it still turn heads. I would have snap up another one if Ford decided to make another couple again. I have done plenty of Southampton to London runs as well as a few trips up to Liverpool, and it has done 40,000 in the 3 years that I owned the car, and boy did I enjoy every single minute of it. I would love to own a Ford Puma again at some point.

Finally, the current Mrs. Chan, Mini Cooper. Well I got it because Ford has a reputation of going wrong when the warrantly runs out, and I cannot be borther to risk it. Anyway, I want a small and nimble car with 4 seats, and yet the Ford so call Puma replacement, the Ford StreetKa, is such a pile of bulls**t that I didn't even test drive it. So it was down to Mini then. Well, it wasn't as quick as the Puma and doesn't handle as well as the Puma, it is pretty good and I am quite happy to live with it. I have been to even more places with it, including the France driving trip to the south and Monaco. Though I have to say BMW really needs to improve on the build quality. Things are falling off my car - mostly the internal trims!

So my firm favourite is still my Puma. Ford please make another brilliant car like Puma - I would buy one straight away.

Not been writing for a while

Sunny Chan — Mon, 9 Jul 2007 13:49:26 +0000

Well I haven't been writing my blog for a while - the reason is that I was using Apache Roller 3.0 and it has a few things broken in terms of the template and stuff, which I finally been managed to fix by diving into the Apache Derby Database that runs this blog. So I have upgraded to the latest version, and all it well again.

I will try to blog a little bit more now that all is fixed and we have a decent editor!

IT Volunteering in UK

Sunny Chan — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 13:07:15 +0000

Well, I don't know what kind of people who reads my blog :-)

But then if you are an IT person and would like to do some volunteering then here is a website for you: http://www.it4communities.org.uk. They allow people who have IT skills to donate their spare time to fix computers for charity around UK. I have signed up to this and trying to see whether there is an opportunty for me to do some voluteering work!

Wargames

Sunny Chan — Sun, 7 Jan 2007 15:09:35 +0000

Today they showed Wargames on ITV this afternoon. Wow. The nostalgia is flooding back (I remember my first computer has two floopy drives and no hard drive, blah blah blah).. So I have been looking up on the net - You can still get a IMSAI 8080 computer (The one that kids used to hack into WORP) with a ATX motherboard in there.... I want that for Christmas!

Two observation: Why does all the computer geek always get the pretty girl, but they don't in the real life? And why is all the geek suppose to have that jittery movement? I don't!

Oh they are actually making a Sequel to Wargames this year. Can we have Scarlett Johanssen as the lead lady please? Well I suppose she is too "mature" for that :-)

RIP Steve Irwin

Sunny Chan — Mon, 4 Sep 2006 20:46:12 +0000

I have enjoyed watching your program. So long for all the entartainment you have gave us

A quick status update

Sunny Chan — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:51:05 +0000

I am back to UK after a nice and relaxing trip to Hong Kong - didn't really do a lot of interesting thing but I am now a proud owner of a new thinkpad (and 900 quid poorer)

I have already started working in certain big financial institution. It has been quite an experience for me and I have already working some interesting stuff. We will see what happens

My parents have arrived from Hong Kong last week and has been doing up my flat. The only stuff that is missing is my washing machine and the fridge - they tried to deliever them a few weeks ago but then they didn't have enough people and tools to move it up the stairs - I told them I live on the third floor and there is no lift! Nevermind.

So people in UK should expect a house warming invitation soon.

An old song

Sunny Chan — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:43:35 +0000

For a friend of mine who is not having a great time

(Copied from http://supak.com/sunscreen.htm)

The lyrics to Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen, by Mary Schmich:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Flying again

Sunny Chan — Tue, 9 May 2006 15:23:15 +0000

Right now I am at the Heathrow Terminal 3 departure gate for CX252, waiting to get onto the plane. Well time flies it's nearly mid May and I am going to start my new job soon. It has been quite a breeze for me last few months!

Flat is progressing well. Hopefully once my kitchen has been installed and the carpet fitted, I can start moving myself in. I can't wait to get my own space again, and this time it is a place of my own! Thanks mom and dad for making it possible.

Quite looking forward to the new job - it will be a chanllenge but I am roaring to go. Shame that I will miss JavaOne this year but hoprelly there will be plenty of other conferences to go to!

The last game of the season was really good. The football is good and they are getting back to the winnings ways - even though they have been a bit wonky at the end they get the job done. I have a good feeling for the next season - hopefully I will be able to see them get back to the premiership next seasons!

Right. I am jumping on the plane now, so 7 hours later I will be back to Hong Kong!

The cat is out of the bag

Sunny Chan — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 00:14:50 +0000

Finally, the cat is out of the bag.

I have found myself a new job at an investment bank, which should remain nameless for now. I never thought I would end up in one of those, but the role feels like it is tailor made for me, with the opportunty to shine - plus the salary to match it! Well, I couldn't say no.

I can see this job is going to be tough and strench my ability, but it could be rewarding, in terms of job satisfication and monetary terms. So I think I need to put in 110% - hopefully I would achieve something great.

Anyway, I feel like this is a blessing from God... I don't feel like I deserve the job but now that I've got it I won't let it go easily (oh, unless I am burnt out of course) I am looking forward to the new challenge.

Thank you Ocado for giving me an opportunity to sharpen my Java skills - I have learnt a lot while I am there :-)

(It feels like I am writing an oscar acceptance speech!)

Hmmm.... 85 ukp sandwich....

Sunny Chan — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 13:08:14 +0000

Well, after I just finished my lunch, I saw this on BBC website.... I can probably be able to afford one of these for lunch soon:

The most expensive sandwich in London

HMMMMMMMMMMM..............

I am Colour "blinded"

Sunny Chan — Thu, 6 Apr 2006 00:50:40 +0000

Well.. I have been working pretty hard at work during the day and sorting out my flat during the night - it is making progress though not as fast as I would like.

Anyway. I having headache picking colours for my flat. I am trying to pick something that look good but not to plain... it is proven to be hard! I have already put sample paints on the wall but none of them look quite right. I have a few suggestions from my mates - but still no conclusion yet :-(

Well, the news is that soon I will be making another life changing decision, so stay tuned.

Update

Sunny Chan — Sat, 1 Apr 2006 08:36:29 +0000

Haven't really written anything last few weeks - but I have been so busy with all sorts of things then I just don't really have time to sit down and reflect.

Flat is making progress, the kitchen floor is now been fixed and looks great, so now I need to sort out the sockets and stuff and find myself a washing machine and fridge. It probably need a good clean after all these building work!

The carpet vendor is coming to measure and give me a quote on how much it is going to cost to replace the carpet. I haven't really decided what colour the carpet and the wall should be... Well I am not really good at these things and I am a bit worried that I made the wrong choice (apprantly the pale yellow shirt I bought in M&S do not look nice with anything................................)

And then there are other things that keep me busy.. shouldn't talk about it in public yet but when it is ready I will tell all :-D

Oh.. Happy Birthday Sharon!

So many good songs lately

Sunny Chan — Sat, 1 Apr 2006 08:25:10 +0000

Well, as you know I drive around all day going to work, and therefore do listen to a lot of the radio - there is another song that's quite catchy. So those who are living in hong kong should look out for them (well I suppose they only care about cantopops!)

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley (prouncations: Noels Bark-ley)

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind

There was something so pleasant about that place.

Even your emotions had an echo

In so much space

And when you're out there

Without care,

Yeah, I was out of touch

But it wasn't because I didn't know enough

I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy

Does that make me crazy

Does that make me crazy

Probably

And I hope that you are having the time of your life

But think twice, that's my only advice

Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are,

Ha ha ha bless your soul

You really think you're in control

Well, I think you're crazy

I think you're crazy

I think you're crazy

Just like me

My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb

And all I remember is thinking, I want to be like them

Ever since I was little, ever since I was little it looked like fun

And it's no coincidence I've come

And I can die when I'm done

Maybe I'm crazy

Maybe you're crazy

Maybe we're crazy

Probably

Put your records on!

Sunny Chan — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 07:56:19 +0000

One of my favourite song at the moment...

Put Your Records On, by Corinne Bailey Rae

Three little birds, sat on my window.

And they told me I don't need to worry.

Summer came like cinnamon

So sweet,

Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.

Maybe sometimes, we got it wrong, but it's alright

The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same

Oh, don't you hesitate.

Go, put your records on, tell me your favourite song

You go ahead, let your hair down

Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,

Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Blue as the sky, sombre and lonely,

Sipping tea in the bar by the road side,

(just relax, just relax)

Don't you let those other boys fool you,

Gotta love that afro hairdo.

Maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it's alright

The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change.

Don't you think it's strange?

Go, put your records on, tell me your favourite song

You go ahead, let your hair down

Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,

Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Just more than I could take, pity for pity's sake

Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger

When you gonna realise, that you don't even have to try any longer.

Do what you want to.

Go, put your records on, tell me your favourite song

You go ahead, let your hair down

Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,

Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Go, put your records on, tell me your favourite song

You go ahead, let your hair down

Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,

Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Oh, You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow

Sunday Morning and I am at work

Sunny Chan — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 09:40:14 +0000

Well, I won't moan about working on Sunday...

The builder who suppose to do my kitchen floor stood me up yesterday...... and I had to wake up at 8.30am just for him! Geezzzz... I thought only me who stand people up! Anyway, I took Krios with me after lunch to look at my flat, and I am glad to say he agrees with me where the LCD TV should be hung on the wall. Now I just wish someone can bloody sort out the kitchen floor so that I can plan the rest of my flat!

Last night we had Joey's leaving do and it was really sad to see her go. But then I think her soul is bigger then London I suppose and I think New York is probably a better place for her (think "Sex and the City" and Sarah Jessica Parker)... though I don't think I can stand an American Husband for Joey ("That's ridiculous! Hell yeah...I would like some to-may-to sauce please" to-ma-to! Geezzz).. Nah she will be alright - I am looking forward to visit in New York!

I have been a bit crazy lately

Sunny Chan — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 23:19:02 +0000

I have done a lot of silly things for last few weeks - I don't know why - I think I might need to calm down a little, and take life a bit easier..

Joey is off to New York soon - Me and the crews are going out with her to send her off. Last few years I think we haven't spent a lot of time talking like we used to during our university days but I will miss her when she's gone. I wish her luck in New York..

Moving into your own flat is stressful

Sunny Chan — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 00:16:35 +0000

Well, got the keys for the few days now, but I don't have a date to move in yet.... There is a hole in the kitchen and I have got a builder to take a look at it. Luckily it is not too serious and they can fix it. Though I hate the kitchen unit door and I may go and change it. It seems like I don't have to take the kitchen unit out after all, which is a relief!

Once I have got it sorted I can go and get all the utilities and funiture. I need a nice big double bed (even though it is just me who is sleeping on it!) And of course, the LCD TV! I think the paint is fine, so I am going to keep the way it is.

So hopefully I can move in sooner rather then later. I am looking forward to have my own mess again!

Mathematical Model of Social Interaction

Sunny Chan — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 10:18:49 +0000

This is cool - some physicist in US decided to study the social interaction between high school students and derived a mathematical model to work out whether you are going to be mates or not...

The Physics of Friendship

Now I wonder whether they can work out a mathematical model for working out whether a girl is a mate or a date! hmmm.... money making opportunities!

"It's greener on the other side"

Sunny Chan — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 22:31:17 +0000

I had a chat with a female friend in Hong Kong tonight. Her bf "blanked" her because he find her a bit troublesome... so I shared some of the things how I feel about my previous relationships, etc. Well I think I have learnt a lesson.

Guys always think they are spolied for choice - and we always think "it's greener on the other side". So some will dump their girl, "play the field" and see whether they will find anything better. After a few failed attempts, they will realise that their ex is actually their perfect match. But by that time it will be too late.

I remember a long time ago a guy told me he did this with his wife, and luckily he got her back and have a happy ending. His recommendation is never attempt to do it however much you feel the grass is greener.

I suppose some people need to learn things by the hard way................................

Another new era..... I am a home owner

Sunny Chan — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 04:00:25 +0000

Well, another new era has arrived - I am officially a home owner - SHOCKING!

I picked up the keys at 1pm yesterday, and went straight there to measure and have a look. Generally okay though I think it probably need a new kitchen, new carpet and a lick of paint. So plenty of work to do!

You can find the pictures of my flat here

Went to see As You Like It tonight, it's alright except that I am scratching my head for a bit as it is a Shakespeare play, and they speak in 16th century English - that's not easy to understand! :-(

Feeling blue

Sunny Chan — Thu, 9 Mar 2006 00:49:21 +0000

Maybe it's because it's grey out there? Or maybe it just that I have missed another boat. Oh well, I have make my choice and I am sticking with it. I didn't know I actually miss "the boat" that much, nevermind

You learn things when you get older, and I have certainly learnt a few lesson. When you did have something you never missing them, but then when it is gone through your finger you do miss them dearly.

Don't worry Mini, I am not selling you yet - I can't get to work without you (which could be a good thing)!

I just wanted to go out and drink this weekend - anyone wants to come along drop me a line.

Why I love this country so much

Sunny Chan — Wed, 8 Mar 2006 13:11:54 +0000

You would not find it anywhere else in the world:

Woman caught driving while doing her make up

Of course if you are a kid, you get pay well:

Kids get paid to get off the street

Mom, why did I never have that when I was younger?!

Genius.

That is so true

Sunny Chan — Wed, 8 Mar 2006 05:27:20 +0000

Why am I up this time at night?

Just found this article on ISTP (my Myer-Briggs Type) , and it is so true:

Recognising Stress

As stress increases, 'learned behaviour' tends to give way to the
natural style, so the ISTP will behave more according to type when
under greater stress. For example, in a crisis, the ISTP might:

withdraw from people, to think through possible solutions

use tried and trusted solutions to short-term problems

criticise others efforts and ignore their feelings

sort out detailed points that could perhaps wait

Under extreme stress, fatigue or illness, the ISTP's shadow may appear - a negative form of ENFJ. Example characteristics are:

displaying intense feelings towards others, or insisting on things being done without any logical basis

being very sensitive to criticism

having a gloomy view of the future

attributing unrealistic negative meaning to others actions or statements

The shadow is part of the unconscious that is often visible to others,
onto whom the shadow is projected. The ISTP may therefore readily see
these faults in others without recognising it in him/her self.

Anyway...... I think I do have a problem letting my feeling out I suppose, and that I only see the logical side of things rather then the big picture.

I just wish people understand the picture I see and how it is fits together, and not to impose their views into my world..... I know they want the best for me, but what they see as the best option is not necessarily right - remember, I am an "I"... I keep things to myself

A new era - I begin to blog

Sunny Chan — Tue, 7 Mar 2006 23:54:58 +0000

Oh well, I think it is about time for me to start my own blog. This has been long time coming - I am trying to find a Java Blogger and only recently I manage to get one going on my server. Who needs php anyway when you can run it in *ALL* in Java -this runs on IBM JVM (I made it), Apache Derby, Apache Tomcat and roller weblogger

Lately a lot has been going on. Too many things that I won't want to let the whole world know... but if you know me well enough I should have told you by now! Anyway I think it is an exciting time of my life - I am now officially a home owner! Finally there is a piece of earth that I can call my own, for which I can paint it any colour I want! I am looking forward to that.

Just took Mini to the garage today... gosh she is getting a bit of "high maintenance" lately.. I have to replace the front tyres for 110quid a pop... ouch........ and then I have to do some suspension tuning............ that's another 145quid. ouch ouch............. don't know how long I can afford to date mini now that I have a flat to pay for next 25 years!

okay okay I have moan enough (nothing special then!)

This blog is still under beta testing... may disappear if it doesn't work properly!