tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83247222011-10-07T13:49:51.091+08:00"There are people who go, people who stay."KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.comBlogger1691100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1150973252770146462006-06-22T20:35:00.000+08:002007-03-27T16:54:06.570+08:00

I got my wheel-clamp fee refunded. That is quite a big deal for me.***Background: I am a person who, in addition to crashing a car in every major city I have spent significant time driving in, picks up parking violations like spilled honey picks up ants. In the time that I had to maintain a car in Singapore, I incurred multiple parking fines. Most of them were for neglecting to put up parking

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1150717256262437562006-06-20T22:20:00.000+08:002006-07-20T18:29:56.666+08:00

There was quite a bit I wanted to write passionately about. I have non-government-approved ideas and seditious opinions floating around in my head just waiting to burst out through my fingers. However having future free-passage through a certain island-state compels me to moderation. At least the last time I checked, crimethink was still not yet actively persecuted by law.D. did raise a salient

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1149763002282303382006-06-08T18:44:00.000+08:002006-06-18T23:25:53.516+08:00

Looks like I am out of a job. The pizza delivery job, that is.Previously I mentioned that the owner was in the process of selling the business. The business ownership transfer was finalised around the same period when D. was in town (and when I was not working). Seem that every business I work for ends up going under, getting sold, relocating or restructured. Pizza shops not exempted.So

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1149645890744587992006-06-07T10:47:00.000+08:002006-06-19T08:58:05.116+08:00

D. left Perth and went back to Singapore two days ago. After spending three weekends here on holiday.[ I am actively trying to avoid the use of "back" and the ilk when referring to Singapore. Western Australia is my base for now. Perth may even be home in the future - perhaps even more than Singapore ever was. ]This was her 3rd (or was it 4th?) visit to Perth since I moved here almost a year ago.

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1149560248707924362006-06-06T10:11:00.000+08:002006-07-02T14:30:31.750+08:00

Teacher: "..there are dangers on the outer planets. So with so many social and medical advancements we can bring to the Independents, why would they fight so hard against us?"River: "We meddle."Teacher: "River?"River: "People don't like to be meddled with. We tell them what to do, what to think. Don't run, don't walk. We're in their homes and in their heads and we haven't the right. We're

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1148609570317829942006-05-26T10:06:00.000+08:002006-06-05T03:50:01.603+08:00

It is approaching winter again. I am fine, and how have you been?D. on her third visit to Perth said I am definitely a lot happier here than in Singapore. And the few people I have remained in contact with from Singapore agree with D. on that assessment. As for myself, it is still too early to figure out where the best place is for me but I think I am falling in love with Perth and WA. Of course

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1147262739078982852006-05-10T19:36:00.000+08:002006-05-23T18:23:04.410+08:00

Those of you who have been following this blog for a while would know that I share the (almost) beach-house with a couple housemates who are 4WD enthusiasts. And not just your regular "let's go run the sand-dunes for the weekend" or "let's do a cross-country road trip to some quiet town" weekend warriors either. This is a pair who are in the slow process of prepping a brand spanking new platform

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1146987350763753262006-05-07T15:07:00.000+08:002006-06-09T19:18:07.316+08:00

*cautiously peeking out from hiding under the proverbial rock in the desert that is Perth, Western Australia...*Now that the Singapore elections are over, is it safe to blog again?Every time I have tried to sit down at the keyboard, I am overcome with the desire to make snarky and explicit persistently political comments that would no doubt get me into some form of trouble.And between two jobs

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1143031672643102592006-03-23T08:45:00.000+08:002006-06-28T14:12:44.370+08:00

Summer is over.To most of the people around here, "civil" summer ended on 1st March. However the fall equinox was just a day or two ago. Now the nights are longer than the days and will get longer. I know most people, especially those living around the equator do not really give a damn about astronomical (pagan?) practices. However tracking the seasons by astronomical measures versus some

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1142320942945838742006-03-14T15:38:00.000+08:002006-05-13T11:10:10.256+08:00

It has been over 3 months since the last update. 3 months is a lifetime by Internet and blogging standards.I am still pleasantly surprised once in a while by emails and comments wondering how I have been. Especially from people I have never even met in person before.And for those of you regular visitors still showing up on the site counter once in a while after this long period of silence.. I am

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1109850800171484582005-12-01T00:00:00.000+08:002006-04-25T16:18:10.926+08:00

Blog Status: ArchivedThis blog will no longer be regularly updated.***The complete index of posts in chronological order from the oldest to most recent post to date. [ Last updated 1 December 2005. ]Confession.In the Beginning.And So It Begins.Emigration Numbers Reality Check.We, the Immobile.Dichotomy.Official Emigration Reasons.Emigration Essay.A Cautionary Tale.Handle With Care.Visa

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1132977950594489112005-11-26T13:15:00.000+08:002005-12-11T07:18:48.720+08:00

"Withdrawal in disgust is not the same as apathy."- Richard Linklater I first came across a variant of this quote reading Grace Chow's book - almost a full year ago now. And I have come to appreciate the usefulness of this quote in recent times.During a lull moment in the day job, the office chitchat turned to the convicted drug smuggler from Melbourne that the "Chinese rogue port city" (

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1132755267868225802005-11-23T22:18:00.000+08:002005-11-23T22:16:58.276+08:00

In case you have been living under a rock (metaphorically) like yours sincerely, you may have missed the Australian Citizenship Bill 2005 which is about to be passed into legislation replacing the existing Australian Citizenship Act of 1948.One of the biggest impact it will have on new Australian immigrants is the changes in Citizenship by Conferral.An applicant for Australian citizenship will

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1132298260542045692005-11-22T22:17:00.000+08:002005-11-22T22:18:46.620+08:00

Lastest update from the small island (a couple days late actually)..D. has passed her IELTS with flying colours. Scored band 8 on two of the components and a 7 and a 9 on the remaining two. Band 9 is the maximum score. And you only need a 6 for demonstrating competency in English for DIMIA purposes.The package requested earlier went out and has already arrived at DIMIA. So it is back to

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1131773089074854862005-11-12T14:33:00.000+08:002005-11-12T14:30:51.853+08:00

Did everybody know that Australia actually has an honest-to-goodness working nuclear reactor? I only realised it recently because of the uproar (again) of the commissioning of the replacement research reactor to replace it.So it is but an itsy bitsy 10MW research reactor which is over 40 years old. The replacement reactor is double the capacity at 20MW. In comparison, full scale commercial nuke

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1131538178721999182005-11-11T12:16:00.000+08:002005-11-11T12:15:24.520+08:00

This post is about the tooth.No, seriously.The tooth, the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth.***I tend to abuse my teeth badly. Not that I neglect them or anything. I brush, floss and use mouthwash regularly. It is just that one of the ways I subconsciously react to stress in my life is to grind my teeth. Literally. And it does not help that my regular snacks - apart from the chocolates and

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1131419199370797152005-11-09T15:10:00.000+08:002005-11-09T15:10:56.913+08:00

Nothing that a pint of Haagen Dazs, a litre of Absolut and a big hug cannot fix.- tagline on my personal email from way back in my university days Since the first and last item are not readily available in Perth, I therefore have less tools at my disposal to cheer me up during the rougher emotional days. Like last Monday for instance when I had a broken tooth giving me pain, getting chewed out

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1130910963621468792005-11-05T13:49:00.000+08:002005-11-05T13:50:02.676+08:00

It is now four months since I hauled my sorry ass across the Indian Ocean to plonk myself in the middle of nowhere. Someday when I am in the mood (and have the energy), I should do a list starting with "Perth is so isolated that...".It has been four months without D. next to me. I miss her. Desperately. Keeping busy is one of the things that keeps me sane.It has been over a month since I have

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1130379042357895302005-10-27T12:08:00.000+08:002005-10-27T12:06:10.056+08:00

I jotted a few notes last night which I am now stealing a few moments during my lunch hour at my day job to write down. Fragments of thoughts. Snapshots. Vignettes. That kind of stuff.***Back in the getting-hazier past, I would work long hours at my job. Very long hours. As in Taiwanese-engineer-type long hours. The mobile phone would ring at all kinds of odd hours and on weekends and on my days

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1129704304726644872005-10-19T15:59:00.000+08:002005-10-19T16:01:47.733+08:00

These old boots still got a lot of groundthey ain’t covered yetThere’s at least another million milesunder these old bus treadsSo if you think I’m gonnna settle downI‘ve got news for youI still got a lot of leavin’ left to do- Dierks Bentle, lyrics to Lot Of Leaving Left To Do My housemate's post is short and to the point: "I have moved."I would like to say the same, but I am not sure it would

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1129128344804638362005-10-12T23:45:00.000+08:002005-10-12T23:33:36.100+08:00

So it is only Day 98 as as I write this. So sue me!It has been one hell of a wild ride so far. Those of you who have been following the entries from way back on that tiny island will probably get a sense of what I mean. Then again, sometimes I doubt that anybody can truly understand (or empathise) with the journey unless they have chosen to walk a similar path.Still working two jobs into my

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1128520637568817332005-10-05T23:19:00.000+08:002005-10-05T23:16:19.760+08:00

Okay. So we got the place. And although I am sure the stuff around me can no longer be compressed back into that mere 20 kilograms I hauled with me here across that pivotal trip across the Indian Ocean, but everything I own here should still fit comfortably into the back seat and boot of the Good Little Car.Strange enough that C is blogging about envying my being able to move in 2 hours. Here I

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1128236332004230032005-10-02T15:15:00.000+08:002005-10-02T15:15:36.330+08:00

Okay, I now have a clean - no, make that a cleaner car. A cleaner car than compared to yesterday anyway. Was planning to get the car professionally cleaned but could not find a service on the weekends and the car is not available to sit stationary for a day or two, in any case. I was thinking to myself, how hard can cleaning a car be?I have to stop tempting fate in such a manner..Rushed to

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1127967558427069222005-09-29T12:33:00.000+08:002005-09-29T12:33:26.063+08:00

Summary of a typical day recently:Wake up. Shower. Get dressed. Get coffee. Go to work at day job doing purchasing paperwork and driving to suppliers picking up urgent orders. Finish day job. Get changed. Go to work at night job driving to customers delivering orders. Finish night job. Go back to temporary accommodations. Maintenance tasks*. [* Eat food. Do laundry. Buy food and essential

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1127297340499382412005-09-21T23:08:00.000+08:002005-09-21T23:06:11.923+08:00

In order to discover new lands, one must be willing to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.-- Andre Gide (1869-­1951), French WriterHooray for warmer weather and longer hours of sunshine!Now when I wake up in the mornings, I feel merely uncomfortably cold instead of painfully frozen. And the longer hours of sunshine (and declining number of rainy evenings) make pizza delivery an

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1126447160149871352005-09-15T13:57:00.000+08:002005-09-15T13:56:59.513+08:00

Winter is almost over.Australians for pragmatic reasons adopt September 1st as the first day of spring. However going by the measurement of the earth's orbit around the sun, spring equinox (fall equinox in the northern hemisphere) is not until around September 22th. That is when the days start getting longer than the nights. Currently sunrise is at 6.15am and sunset at 6.08pm, so we are almost

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1126188946580249002005-09-10T21:36:00.000+08:002005-09-10T21:36:30.446+08:00

I miss D.Especially this period when she is also travelling on business in a country where Singapore mobiles do not roam. I am only able to reach her in the hotel late at night. Unfortunately working the factory assembly job plus the pizza delivery leaves even sleeping time a little scarce. And I am usually asleep by the time she gets back late to the hotel.***And my only comment about that

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1126029918591218082005-09-07T02:56:00.000+08:002005-09-07T02:44:30.933+08:00

It is now almost 3am and my sleep cycles are totally unstable again. I have to go to work in under 4 hours (7am) and I am so going to be so miserably sleep-deprived tomorrow.I found temporary work at a electronics assembly plant doing production type work (hand population, assembly, soldering, inspection test, etc). Casual work - via an agency I earlier registered with - means the assignment

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1125930967409251722005-09-05T22:10:00.000+08:002005-09-05T22:36:07.453+08:00

I am cold. I am wet. And I am hungry.Not a happy camper at all, but I want to blog tonight's events while the emotions are fresh and before they fade with a hot meal, a hot shower and a good night's sleep.I am angry. Not the seething, raging, throw dishes through the window sort of hot flashes of flaming anger. It is the ice-cold, calculated, clear-headed type of anger. The dangerous type that

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1125069522684453282005-08-31T23:30:00.000+08:002005-08-31T23:32:12.243+08:00

Before I bought the car, I walked the 3km to the city and back. Sometimes twice in a day. After a week or two, I started to fall into a set route walking to and from the city. Post car-purchase I started driving to the edge of the free transport zone of the city, parking just at the edge of the city in free-parking side streets and walking the rest of the way. One day I was forced to make a

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1125290141587403602005-08-29T11:56:00.000+08:002005-08-29T12:35:41.633+08:00

Have been busy working every night at the pizza place to make enough money to buy food, pay rent, and buy fuel for the car. I clocked over 35 hours at the pizza place last week - almost a full-time job! Not enough time to keep up jobhunting without having to sacrifice precious sleeping time. And I still need to make enough to pay for the car registration due in about a month's time.Still

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1124779540430865272005-08-23T22:39:00.000+08:002005-08-23T22:34:54.063+08:00

Much earlier in this blog I mentioned that I had no intention to keep a "today I brush my teeth" blog, preferring to focus on the mental processes and decisions behind the emigration journey. Then after the decision was made, more of the entries started falling into that category. After crossing the rubicon, almost all the entries documented more of the external developments than the thought

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1123755972956121152005-08-22T22:08:00.000+08:002005-08-22T22:09:13.270+08:00

A whole bunch of fragmented thoughts while I take a break from applying for jobs. Have done the newspaper clippings, and will move to hitting the job websites after this blog entry.***Big bold headlines across page 4 of The Western Australian on Saturday 20 August 2005 :"Our MPs' pay tops the nation"The article expressed mild outrage that WA politicans are being paid as much as A$265k per year.

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1124550368203830102005-08-20T23:32:00.000+08:002005-08-20T23:31:58.473+08:00

The day started out promising enough. Woke up early even after a late shift last night delivering pizzas. I had food stocked, had done the laundry the day before and had a big stack of clean clothes. And the paperwork for the transfer for the Good Little Car, and the setup of the BankWest account, and the driving licence conversion, and the Medicare registration and all that nagging paperwork

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1124390108660368062005-08-19T02:45:00.000+08:002005-08-19T02:38:27.180+08:00

So much has been happening that I am at a bit of a loss on what to update. So the bad news first.. the potential employer from that hot lead I was following up on (and expecting to land steady full-time work from) finally came back to me and said no. Was very sure I would land a job offer, so have not been diligently filling the job hunt pipeline over the last two weeks or so. In simple words, I

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1124027434964815232005-08-14T23:12:00.000+08:002005-08-14T23:01:19.703+08:00

As you can see in my last post, I was rather pleased with myself for taking all the precautions to make sure I had a safe and reliable vehicle in that "good little car". However I neglected to address the weakest link in the chain, the most unpredictable and most unreliable piece of this particular transportation system.The doofus sitting behind the steering wheel of the car: Me.And the universe

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1124009727089263722005-08-14T17:30:00.000+08:002005-08-14T17:32:16.633+08:00

A car entry. And an ode to an old car.Going to be a quick entry. Have to go to work delivering pizza in a while after this.The car has been checked out. The mechanic work costed me almost 20% the price of the car, but I feel it was worth every cent. Turns out the the CV joint was good. Just needed a CV boot kit repack. [ What in the world is a "CV boot repack"? ]. Replaced the timing belt and

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1123882032517233532005-08-13T06:17:00.000+08:002005-08-13T06:14:17.006+08:00

This job search in Perth has so many unexpected developments that I am thinking of making a Cantonese TVB soap opera out of it..One of the two hot leads I was following up and trying to close on beginning of the week has flamed out. Just when I believed they were prepared to put an offer on the table, another candidate (performing the same role with a direct competitor of theirs) walks into an

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1123478626676930292005-08-08T14:42:00.000+08:002005-08-08T14:40:39.253+08:00

It has been an eventful weekend. A quiet peaceful but eventful weekend - apart for a small incident which my family managed to irk me and shake my new-found calm from across the Indian Ocean by demonstrating the ability to miscommunicate the simplest of messages. However I refuse to stay vexed for long. I am reminded of that parking attendent I was exchanging pleasantries with. He highlighted

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1123347319613767582005-08-07T01:24:00.000+08:002005-08-07T01:24:47.853+08:00

Just got off after a few hours at the pizza job and I suddenly remembered that it has been a while since I last blogged. It has been over a month in Perth. Time to take a checkpoint and evaluate..Financial status.Reserves are still dwindling. The pizza job is defraying some of the cost, but it is not sufficient to pay for living expenses. Especially with the high cost of rental of the car - which

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1122900688068503602005-08-01T22:54:00.000+08:002005-08-01T22:52:30.776+08:00

I am unfortunately not getting enough hours at the pizza place to even cover the rental of the car, let alone the cost of fuel. Am only scheduled to work for 3 hours each on the Friday to Sunday weekends. On standby on the weekdays, on the chance possibility that the full-time driver does not show up. Still it beats having to pay the full cost of renting the car, only to have it sitting unused

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1122275105155029452005-07-29T13:21:00.000+08:002005-07-29T13:18:34.626+08:00

I got a blister on my foot. Broke it with a clean pair of nail scissors sterilised over an open flame, drained it, put on antiseptic and a protective plaster. It has been such a long time since I got a blister on my foot. I treat my feet kindly. However have been doing a lot of walking.The distance from the hostel to the city centre is about 1.5 kilometres. The distance from the city centre to

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1122136921409190402005-07-24T01:06:00.000+08:002005-07-24T01:06:01.866+08:00

Hanging out with Liana and Jelts and their friends from the old place they were staying at.. feels like getting hit by a truck. In a good way. These folks really live the meaning of the phrase Carpe Diem when partying. [ Note to self: Carp diem does not mean "eat the fish". ]Thanks to these wonderful folks, I now have the dubious record of attending my first ever interview (at a late-night pizza

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1121946508810684522005-07-21T20:28:00.000+08:002005-07-21T20:27:08.903+08:00

Was planning to head out to wander Northbridge to look for "Help Wanted" signs in the windows. So far the pavement-stomping search for casual work has been mainly around the CBD area south of the train lines. I think it is time to expand the search a little. A reader's email reminded me that if I were looking for casual work restricted to outside office hours, it would make more sense to target

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1121856881739677292005-07-20T18:53:00.000+08:002005-07-20T18:54:41.753+08:00

Two weeks.[ I am rudely reminded of the fact as the rent is due again. ]The weather has been amazing. Low to mid 20s with fresh winds and big warm sunny days right in the middle of winter! The kind of weather that must make you have meandering conversations about trivia with total strangers at bus stops, book shops and assorted locations that enourage loitering. Which is quite an uncommon

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1121587980724859062005-07-17T16:14:00.000+08:002005-07-17T16:13:00.736+08:00

Eleven days in Perth. Four days since the last entry.And no, I have not been drunk and passed out in some gutter in Northbridge. Even though I have had more alcohol in these last few days than I have had the last couple months. I have been diligently looking for work and for a cheaper place to stay.Met with with C. on Friday after she got off from work for a drink or six. I lost count after

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1121230084045177202005-07-13T13:23:00.000+08:002005-07-13T13:24:41.106+08:00

One week.I know it is one week today because the rent is due. Am paying rental on the hostel place on a weekly basis. The cost of the hostel is unconscionably high. For the same rate, I could rent a nice studio fully furnished in the middle of the city. So getting a cheaper place to stay is high on the list of priorities, but still not as important as finding a job. In any case, I reckon I have

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1121051431702476112005-07-11T11:35:00.000+08:002005-07-11T11:35:57.703+08:00

I am pleased to announce that the long saga of the 1.99 chicken quest has come to a satisfactory close.What chicken quest?When I was in Sydney, I enjoyed doing my shopping near midnight at the nearby Coles just before closing time. The quiet time to browse and shop for supplies unhurried and breezing through the aisles and checkout counters, pausing occasionally to chat (or flirt) with the

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1120920538930996912005-07-09T23:15:00.000+08:002005-07-09T23:14:18.203+08:00

"Why do you want to stop drinking coffee? You have been drinking coffee all your life!"- D.'s comment on the detox miseryThe detox program has not been too much of a success. Without caffeine, I am just unable to function on any higher-level mental activity. I now count a huge tin (200g) of instant coffee as part of my supplies. I still weakly maintain that I will be actively trying to cut down..

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1120805206979080142005-07-08T14:47:00.000+08:002005-07-08T14:46:46.996+08:00

Detox.Since yesterday I have not been feeling too good. Had trouble even concentrating on the newspaper classifieds. Symptoms included severe headache, sniffling, fatigue, irritability and a great difficulty in concentrating on anything for more than 20 seconds. Initially I thought I was coming down with a full-blown case of the flu. The symptoms have been there since before I left for Singapore.

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1120746365228550142005-07-07T22:28:00.000+08:002005-07-07T22:26:05.286+08:00

.. now what?Start from the basics. Breathe. Eat. Keep warm. Try to stay alive. That normal stuff.Perth is cold at this time of year. Not the freezing cold that makes life miserable, but more of a crisp, jolting cold that is fun for about 5 minutes - then gets to be annoyingly uncomfortable. Perhaps after my body acclimatises after a couple weeks, I would stop noticing it so much. Note to future

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1120649000523524252005-07-06T19:30:00.000+08:002005-07-06T19:27:31.996+08:00

Lots of held-back tears, two inflight movies, four-and-half hours of flight time, and 3896 air kilometres later, I find myself at this Internet cafe in one of the most isolated capital cities in the world (barring maybe Honolulu).Got here in one piece. The body is sleep deprived. The sense of humour is still intact. However there is this big empty hollow space where a piece of the heart seems to

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1120587557152747372005-07-06T02:19:00.000+08:002005-07-06T02:19:17.160+08:00

In under five hours, the sun will rise. In under five hours, I will head to the airport. In under five hours, I choose - with full volition and free will - to cross a quiet but important threshold.The bags are packed. Every administrative and logistic detail I can remember has been addressed. The night feels hot, humid and deadly quiet apart from the irregular clicking of the keyboard. As

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1120544658336270672005-07-05T14:54:00.000+08:002005-07-05T14:55:05.246+08:00

T minus 1.In under 24 hours I will be in Perth...There is a big traditional Chinese funeral being held in the void desk next to the block of HDB flats that I am in. Woke up this morning listening to the prayers and chants mourning the dead. A funeral dirge.. how appropriate the music.Instead of getting my butt around to packing my bags, I am instead procrastinating here surfing the net on the

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1120393698140096702005-07-03T21:40:00.000+08:002005-07-03T21:42:35.426+08:00

T minus 3.Still holding it together..***I have two compact boxes packed and sealed under the computer desk ready for shipping. One holds all my childhood treasures weighing a total of 15 kilograms. The other holds old newspaper clippings and old files and obsolete documents that record who I was, and that box weighs 20 kilograms. Added to the 20 kilograms of day-to-day necessities that I will

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1120066140286134332005-06-30T03:59:00.000+08:002005-06-30T03:59:50.766+08:00

T minus 6.Why do you need to get rid of everything? Can't you just store it temporarily in Singapore till you're ready to move it all over?- from comment by Tym in previous post SG Sitrep 10.The short answer: Because it is not who I am.The long answer takes up the rest of this post. I mean no disrespect to Tym in this post. I am just sharing some of my beliefs in my approach to life.***The

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1119970345322904322005-06-29T01:17:00.000+08:002005-06-29T01:18:36.343+08:00

T minus 7. I leave next week. (Toyed with the idea of leaving on August 9.) At least I will be spared the in-your-face, self-congratulatory, nation-building propaganda this year.For my recent mood with respect to the upcoming move, the following song is quite close to my sentiments.Lila McCann's new single album "I Can Do This" written by Rachel Thibodeau.The next couple of entries are probably

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1119532457385333772005-06-23T21:55:00.000+08:002005-06-23T21:57:42.866+08:00

The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.- from Kosh in Babylon 5 series, episode "Believers"The wheels have been set in motion.I have called the travel agent and issued the ticket on my credit card. Should get the electronic ticket tomorrow via email barring any billing issues. Quite horrifying to hear that I would have to pay more than US$160 for a "free" ticket

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1119120535026668622005-06-19T03:12:00.000+08:002005-06-19T03:09:27.840+08:00

"We have NeWater"Those who are thinking of migrating should think again. [...]In the case of Singapore, each time our economy becomes less competitive because of rising costs, we have the capacity to reduce our costs. [...]Also, we are topping up our population with able people from China, India and elsewhere. If we have able people and we are more united and better organised than others, we can

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1118854702843077452005-06-16T01:05:00.000+08:002005-06-16T00:59:46.740+08:00

Have booked in the flight to Perth. Have no idea how I am going to afford to pay for it yet, though. Probably put it on the credit card. Ticket has not been issued yet, so I have not actually had the courage to "pull the trigger".. but the bullet is very much in the chamber.***It occurs to me (and amuses me) that I am doing the exact opposite of what nature intended.Animals all over the globe

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1118569586985840042005-06-14T13:12:00.000+08:002005-06-14T13:14:14.173+08:00

Racism in AustraliaBut what spoils Australia is its people. They are, to quote Shakespeare “too wild, too rude, and bold of voice”. They are possesssed of a strange sense of self-entitlement that makes them think they are better than everyone else.. - entry Delta Goodrem’s invisible rainbow, from blog Rice and Soup***IT Unemployment in AustraliaAccording to the Australian Computer Society's

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1118509470378449572005-06-12T01:04:00.000+08:002005-06-12T02:36:48.503+08:00

The story so far with D.'s computer..I did a pretty comprehensive computer upgrade job on it about six weeks back. Had it running stable and working fine after literally taking it apart and putting it back together again.Spent a few hours working on the physical layout and cabling around her system, creating a more comfortable (and more easily maintainable) workspace. As documented in the last

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1118328290337757762005-06-09T22:40:00.000+08:002005-06-09T22:46:01.636+08:00

Am still in Singapore. The previous second-stage interview fell through even before it happened as they have already hired someone internally. I have no more job leads on hand.Been almost a week since the last entry.. of which provoked an unusually large number of lengthy comments. A thank you to those who expressed emotional support, as well as those who felt I needed a kick in the butt to get

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1117796966059463332005-06-03T19:25:00.000+08:002005-06-03T19:28:15.283+08:00

[ This is my second attempt at this entry. The first attempt - written last night in the hour of the wolf - turned out so introspective, so whiny, and so self-indulgent that I would be embarrassed to inflict it on anyone but Mr Trashbin. ]How can such a deceptively simple decision be yet so difficult? The family has been informed that I intend to move in July/August. D.'s family has also been

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1117418762703707662005-05-30T10:03:00.000+08:002005-05-30T10:06:56.476+08:00

D.'s application package, which was sent out late last week, has arrived at DIMIA this morning.

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1117025438062136922005-05-25T21:15:00.000+08:002005-05-25T21:20:27.853+08:00

There are some roads you must walk yourself,Just you and your own Faith: nothing else.And on those dark days you're bound to go through,Here's something to hold on to.- from lyrics to One Believer, by Diamond Rio takcheck poses a difficult scenario and asks how a choice could possibly be made. The scenario is similar to the life choice I currently face. This emigration situation and the

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1116887388551108362005-05-24T06:53:00.000+08:002005-05-24T06:50:26.056+08:00

D.'s skill assessment came back over the weekend. Result was positive. Thank goodness for small victories. Took 7 weeks and came in ahead of the conservative estimate of 10 weeks.We are putting together the formal DIMIA application package now. Compared to the paperwork and costs involved in getting an Australia PR, the application process for a Singapore PR (two-page forms and S$100) is a joke.

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1116524494505378642005-05-20T02:40:00.000+08:002005-05-24T09:36:49.480+08:00

The Karate Kid IV blogs on Girl, Emancipated about how it seems to be getting harder for new graduates to get jobs in Singapore. And muses about the economic future of graduates in Singapore on finding employment. My personal observations on the recent Singapore job market in Employment Discrimination? do not seem to be very far out of line from her observations.Maybe it is just me as a whiny

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1116201658308416472005-05-17T04:50:00.000+08:002005-05-17T04:57:01.293+08:00

A Singaporean StoryOn 18th April 2005, Lai Chee Fan turned 55. This is his story.In order to understand where Singapore is going, it may also be necessary to also understand where Singapore came from. It was American philosopher George Santayana who said: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."Read CF Lai's story in the Find Singapore forum, mirrored also at the Sammyboy

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1116189739832409492005-05-16T04:20:00.000+08:002005-05-16T04:49:33.513+08:00

I feel like closing my eyes, sticking my head in a dark place and going la-la-la until the confusion goes away. [ An entertaining real-life mannerism I picked up from D. ] D. says the lack of a routine imposed by the structure of employment is driving me into depression. I am alternating between rambunctious good humour and morose desolation. The mood swings are not that obvious to most, but D.

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1115730442365937232005-05-10T20:48:00.000+08:002005-05-10T21:08:43.800+08:00

All this waiting is really getting on my nerves. I have been edgy and jittery and my sleep cycles are all over the place. My emotional and mental states are not in the best of health.Almost five weeks since D.'s skill assessment application went out. Another month or so of waiting to go before we can expect to hear anything.No progress on the jobhunt here in Singapore. To tell the truth, it is no

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1115400085569035082005-05-07T01:25:00.000+08:002005-05-07T01:27:59.630+08:00

Last Wednesday I was flipping through the papers looking for the comics when the following blurb in the TV listings page caught my attention.In this brand new season, find out how Singaporeans fit into their adoptive countries and how they adjust when they are back home.Get Rea! on Channel NewsAsia at 8.32 and 11.32pm- from The Straits Times Wednesday, May 4, 2005 (Life! section page 9)I assumed

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1115329687256559672005-05-06T06:18:00.000+08:002005-05-06T06:27:30.493+08:00

Australian MerlionCheck out the Australia Computer Society webpage where ongoing applicants for Skilled Assessment for Migration are directed to check the application status. Take a close look at the left side of the banner across the top of the page.Why is the Merlion in the background of the banner across the Australia Computer Society webpage used for processing potential immigrants to

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1115194202828720472005-05-04T16:04:00.000+08:002005-05-04T16:13:16.110+08:00

Or subtitled: How to shutdown this blog?I read this from mrbrown of the defiant "gahmen oso not scared" declaration. And he has claims to have picture of his pet fish plastered all over his blog. (For the record, I did not see the pictures of his pet fish.)If I spoke to these Singaporeans overseas, what stories will they tell me?I am interested in why they have made their journey from our

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1114720058490633332005-04-29T06:45:00.000+08:002005-04-29T06:48:34.116+08:00

The recent events in the Singapore blogsphere resulting in (undesirable, imho) international attention. Any more rampaging elephants resulting in the loss of more blogs is going to leave me nothing but the ground to be worshipping on. In the meantime, I think serialdeviant.org has good advice for how bloggers should respond.I just want to be left alone.- Greta GarboSince evolution favours

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1114503619380115122005-04-26T18:18:00.000+08:002005-04-26T18:23:06.566+08:00

No government has the right to decide on the truth of scientific principles, nor to prescribe in any way the character of the questions investigated. Neither may a government determine the aesthetic value of artistic creations, nor limit the forms of literacy or artistic expression. Nor should it pronounce on the validity of economic, historic, religious, or philosophical doctrines. Instead it

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1114402896136272912005-04-25T12:02:00.000+08:002005-04-25T12:26:47.863+08:00

Spent most of Sunday night (Monday morning actually) taking apart D.'s computer and putting it back together again. Literally.This is going to be mainly a geek post, so feel free to skip down past the tech stuff..***Unlike me, D. does not use her home computer extensively. More like a couple times a month to pay bills and occasionally to check emails or hit a website or two. Not what you would

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1114175726409351842005-04-23T01:44:00.000+08:002005-04-27T08:44:01.166+08:00

Lisa versus DIMIACurrently on a bridging visa after studying in Australia, the blog owner of Bohemian Philosophy has decided to apply for a Permanent Residency visa and is documenting her step-by-step struggles with DIMIA. The first posts in the Battle With the Bureaucracy series, is titled Immigration Chronology : Prologue and provides excellent tips on dealing with DIMIA.[ Lighthearted aside: I

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1114115122366631912005-04-22T04:00:00.000+08:002005-04-25T21:32:47.936+08:00

It is the hour of the wolf again. Fortunately a long midnight conversation with D. over the phone is keeping the wolf at bay..Unlike the Uniquely Singapore (sic) approach of a Hobson's Choice to the issue of a casino, I face a real personal choice of which Australian city to live in.The short answer: Perth.The long answer: It depends.If I can find stable well-paying work in any major Australia

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1114023785656532822005-04-21T03:00:00.000+08:002005-04-21T03:03:05.666+08:00

I have written down a bit of the converations that have been going on in my head over the last week and longer.The Hour of the Wolf. That is what the Russians call the hours between 3am and 4am. According the legend, it is at this time between night and dawn when our terrors and doubts ("the wolf") are at their strongest. The time of night when we are at our weakest against our deepest fears.The

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1113484164163464492005-04-14T22:23:00.000+08:002005-04-14T22:22:42.473+08:00

Sydney, Melbourne homes not affordableBy Shane Wright / AAPApril 13, 2005 - 6:40PMHomes in Sydney and Melbourne have been ranked among the most unaffordable in the developed world as people move from quarter acre blocks to inner city units.The Demographia international housing affordability report ranked housing in Sydney just behind parts of Los Angeles and San Diego as the least affordable in

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1113399715569207602005-04-13T21:38:00.000+08:002005-04-13T22:01:59.843+08:00

The Singapore Kindness Movement was launched in 1997 in response to the Prime Minister's call to make Singapore a kinder, gentler society.- Speech by Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts at SKM Seminar, 26 January 2002, Raffles the Plaza Hotel BallroomYes the law is equal to both rich and poor. They may both NOT sleep under bridges, beg for money on the streets or steal

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1113384504374953992005-04-13T17:36:00.000+08:002005-04-13T17:39:47.290+08:00

It has been a week since the last entry, so I suppose I should update on progress.The short version: No progress.The long version:The job hunt situation is still as bad. Been sending out resumes mechanically. Read job advertisement. Look for email address. Type in email address. Attach the appropriate variant of the resume details. Copy and paste appropriate template email cover. Press send

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1112764751039148562005-04-06T13:52:00.000+08:002005-04-06T13:54:56.446+08:00

D. has left on a business trip, leaving strict instructions for me to "stay out of trouble". She will be back next week. So in the meantime: Whatever it is, I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it and you cannot prove anything!Still sending out resumes but still no news. A piece of news from an employed friend that they were getting in a fresh engineering graduate to do some software testing work for

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1112520282192385792005-04-03T17:26:00.000+08:002005-04-03T17:28:31.590+08:00

I do my best work under certain conditions. When I say work, I mean it in the most general of terms. It could be a piece of writing, or training at physical activity, or hacking a piece of code, or addressing a complex real-world problem. Athletes know the condition as being "in the zone" when you are so focused totally on the activity that everything else (including pain) gets blocked out.

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1112342155047079612005-04-01T15:46:00.000+08:002005-04-01T15:57:30.670+08:00

The job opportunity I was hoping would pan out (mentioned in SG Sitrep 01) just fizzed out, crumbled into dust and blew away. Did not even make the interview shortlist as they found couple of other candidates with a much closer skills match.Am demoralised. To say the least. Back to square one and cold lead generation.But I'll live. To quote my own email tagline years from years ago: Nothing that

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1112274886714620892005-03-31T21:11:00.000+08:002005-03-31T21:14:46.713+08:00

The skills assessment submission package for D. just went out late this afternoon.Will be approximately 10 weeks' wait for results, barring any requests for additional information.

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1112205539453668692005-03-31T02:15:00.000+08:002005-03-31T02:16:57.746+08:00

Blogger NavBar Was mucking around Blogger trying to figure if it was possible to hack the template to remove (or hide) the annoying advertising bar that runs across the top of the page. As part of republishing the entire blog, couple of comments stuck in the Blogger comment queue system must have gotten flushed out. The Blogger comment system has some bugs.So if you have left a comment that is

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1112003881554361802005-03-28T17:56:00.000+08:002005-03-28T17:58:01.576+08:00

"No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main..."-John Donne"No man is an island - He's a peninsula."- Jefferson AirplaneIt gets hard to be introspective when it comes to the social aspects of your life. This is where friends help to provide the mirror in which to better understand yourself. It can be a good way to start considering the social

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1111934203193043932005-03-27T22:57:00.000+08:002005-03-27T22:59:52.723+08:00

When are you moving your stuff in? You only have that bottle of vodka. And everything else you have here can be put into one box. Makes me look a slob.- university hostel roommate to me (halfway into the school term)Not everybody can live out of two suitcases. Your life is too sterile.- D. commenting on my lifestyleWah piang! How can you live like this? There is nothing here. For goodness sake

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1111677850198967912005-03-25T01:26:00.000+08:002005-03-25T01:26:14.630+08:00

More fragments that may come in useful to potential emigrants.***Certified True CopySkills assessment applications and DIMIA submissions talk of "certified true copies" of documents. If you are physically in Australia, it should not be too hard to find a Justice of the Peace (JP) at the nearest AusPost or council office to certify your documents. If you are in Singapore, you will have to pay a

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1111588346554945942005-03-23T22:19:00.000+08:002005-03-23T22:49:34.103+08:00

Folks who know me in real life are commenting that I have not updated the blog for a while now. It has been about a week since the last blog entry. The truth is there is not much progress to update about since last week.On the jobhunt front: still nothing. I am pretty much totally demoralised by the whole exercise - target of 1000 resumes notwithstanding. There exists one tiny glimmer of hope. A

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1110982795928694772005-03-16T22:42:00.000+08:002005-03-16T22:45:14.900+08:00

Was toying with the idea of titling this post "Intertemporal Substitution of Labour", but I know that would lose at least half the readers immediately.But that is what this post is about. The fancy words are used by economists to try to explain why when wage levels change, people's attitude to working harder or working less does not always change proportionally. The theory is that people will try

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1110737950069895582005-03-14T03:20:00.000+08:002005-03-14T03:29:37.113+08:00

Good to see from the site tracker that traffic is back to normal.More fragments. And some blog entries that I have stumbed across in my aimless meandering blog-surfing.***Australia StatisticsMore popular statistics about the island from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.***Australian DreamsEx-American Julian Ninio becomes an Australian citizen and attempts to find out if there is a common

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1110382449127545352005-03-10T01:03:00.000+08:002005-03-10T01:05:35.210+08:00

The effect of being linked by mrbrown is traffic. A lot of traffic. Approximately ten times the regular amount of traffic that this little corner of the blogsphere usually gets. Thankfully after about 48 hours, traffic has died down to about twice the regular levels.Like many other network engineers, one of the things I sometimes do for entertainment on slow days is to hook up a packet sniffer

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1110286308714933282005-03-08T20:49:00.000+08:002006-03-25T08:52:56.536+08:00

Here is an relevant fact. The Significant Other (SO) is female. Her name is D. [ What? You think I would put her full name on a blog that I am trying to keep semi-anonymous? Especially since I just got browned. ]If you plow through the past entries with this fact in mind, you would notice that I have diligently avoided references to gender when previously mentioning the SO. Given the past

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1110190118915137072005-03-07T18:15:00.000+08:002005-12-21T15:51:39.156+08:00

I have been following the exchanges on MrBrown about Singapore undergraduates being discriminated and on AcidFlask about Singapore postgraduates being discriminated by the the education policies. In response, I just have to say this: Those students have no idea what they are going to face when they start trying to make a living in Singapore.If you think the education policies puts Singaporeans

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1109955224531428512005-03-05T01:42:00.000+08:002005-03-05T01:47:24.263+08:00

Some fragments of information that may be of use to fellow travellers along a similar journey. Not exactly the stuff that has primary influence on decisions. More of the auxiliary support information.There is a great danger of the confirmation bias. Anybody who has negative (or contradictory) evidence, please feel free to email me or leave a comment.***Singaperth The Sunday Times two-part

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1109689996578824332005-03-01T23:11:00.000+08:002005-03-01T23:14:54.870+08:00

"If it doesn't breathe, it doesn't matter."I saw that tagline on an email signature somewhere recently. It is so elegantly simple. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed in life. With facts. With data. With research. And with logic and with syllogisms and with analysis.Ultimately it is about people. I was starkly reminded of the fact when my provision of information over email about the Australia visa

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324722.post-1109595314310171822005-02-28T20:51:00.000+08:002005-02-28T20:55:14.323+08:00

Just got back from a short weekend getaway with the SO. We had a good time and talked of many things. Including the approach to handling the quandary of the SO not being able to get an Australia PR visa. I will probably blog about this after I have had some time to mull it over.We also went for a wedding dinner. Normally I prefer to avoid wedding dinners because the need for polite small talk

KnightofPentacleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06206339922836400504noreply@blogger.com20