Monday, February 28, 2011

Question

Should someone, in a higher position, have a right to make financial and personale decision and take vacation when they claim to be on "stress leave" and only shows up for work once a week?

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

O Noir

O Noir, "It's better in the dark."

Last night, I was invited to join a friend and some former co-workers to this restaurant. The concept of the restaurant is to eat in the dark.

Here's how it works:
You arrive at the restaurant and order, you have lead by a legally blind waitress to a pitch black room. You sit and let your other senses take over.

While we waited, there was large group in front of us. So, the 4 of us waited. T (just using initials instead of real name) had glow in the dark nail polish and was curious to see what it's like. When it was our turn, we gave our orders ahead of time.

My order was grilled octopus, fillet mignon medium-rare and the surprise dessert, and a bottle of Keith's.

Tracy, our waitress, led us to our table. In a single file, we placed our hand on the each other's shoulder. You had to trust the person in front and your waitress. I placed my hand on the chair and then placed my jacket and sat down. This is what you see...










Pitch black.

As we get comfortable with our surroundings and each other and our table, we saw T's finger nail glow, I thought that was neat and creepy at the same time. The table was a fold-in table with a place mat, a plate with a butter, a fork and knife on it. The other person's plate was at about 2 arm's length.

I believe the table we were at sits 8-10. I felt 2 more chairs to my right...

We were given bread to start and I had no problem cutting my bread and buttering it but it wasn't evenly spread. I think S had trouble since she said "I think I buttered my hand."

When our appetizer came, Tracy tapped me on the shoulder to let me know where the plate was coming from. I grabbed it and placed it on the table myself. The plate was 11" - 12" wide (yes, I measured) and began to feel my food. I didn't think there were any point in using utensils so, I used my hand and grabbed the salad and octopus and began eating.

Main course was fillet mignon and it was already sliced. There was 3 items on the plate; potato, veggies (beans and green pepper) and my meat. The hard part was trying to fork the food. It was really about using your other senses to guide you. The fork became an extension of your hand. When I finished about 90% that was on the plate, I grabbed my fork and knife and began "stabbing" the plate, just in case i missed something on it.

During our dinner, T decided to yell, "MARCO!" To which someone from another table responded with "POLO." Not to mention K decided to splash water at me.

I had the surprise dessert... again, I decided to use my finger to do the exploring and well, it felt smooshy. I found my spoon and scooped. It was chocolate mousse!

As we finished, Tracy led us back to the entrance and proceed to pay for our meals.

The adjustment from complete darkness to light was as if you just woke up in the morning.

It's a very interesting dining experience. I would consider going again. And if you do go, bring someone you trust. The whole experience is about living without sight, about those who are blind or legally blind. They rely on their other senses and the trust of others in their everyday lives.

Now, is it better in the dark? It was definitely fun. I may have been able to use my other sense if I had concentrated on it. But good friends, good food, awesome service meant and excellent experience.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Nintendo, Xbox, Playstation, oh my!

There's an interesting articles at Globe and Mail regarding the current generation consoles. It's a very good read and intrigues some thoughts about the NEXT generation consoles.

The state of console gaming, part 1
The state of console gaming, part 2: Nintendo
The state of console gaming, part 3: Microsoft
The state of console gaming, part 4: Sony

I'll try to do a short recap, a little history of my gaming habits and why I went and purchased a Playstation 3 over the other 2.

The articles recaps the last 5 years of the current consoles and predicts where its going with the 3 companies. Since the first Nintendo in 1985, there have been a constant 5 years cycle.

Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985
Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991
Nintendo 64 in 1996
GameCube in 2001
Wii in 2006

"Sega, Sony, and Microsoft, have more or less adhered to this timetable through the years."

And since it's 2011, it seems it is about time the new console comes out.

(What?? I just bought my playstation 3!! There can't be a next generation already! I'm NOT ready!)

Personally, I don't forsee the next-gen console to come til 2015 (the writer predicts 2013).

My first console was the PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16 by NEC (it's still in my basement but unfortunately, not working)


I really enjoyed the console. It had better graphics then Nintendo and Super Nintendo due to the fact that the TurboGrafx actually had TWO 8-bit chips instead of one. Hence, TurboGrafx 16. There were plenty of games for the console but the most well-known was a little caveman named Bonk or PC Genjin. How can you not love a caveman who's weapon was HIS HEAD!


The console was also the first system to add a CD-rom. My favourite CD game (although was already in its 2nd or 3rd remake) was Ys I & II(pronounced "eese"). It's famous for its music and awesome boss fight. The game is due out Feb 2011 on the PSP, its 7th reincarnation. This video is from the TurboGrafx CD version.

While it does look outdated 20 years later, it was superior back then.

After the TurboGrafx, I got a GameBoy Colour... I only have about 3 games (Snoopy Tennis, Mr. Driller and Metal Gear Solid) and since everyone had one, I didn't fancy the system too much.

For about 5 years, I got into PC gaming... my game? Quake 2. The community was pretty big and was different then what it is today. Quake 2 had a mod community (that's now everywhere) and one particular mode that I loved playing was Loki's Minion CTF (Capture the Flag). It was quite different then the regular CTF; it had original graphics, an innovative offhand grapple and fun maps. But then Quake 3 came out and Quake 2 just died.

In about 1999, I purchased my first system the Playstation 2 (Yes, I skipped the original Playstation). It was Christmas and Best Buy was doing a promotion for it: console, memory card, extra controller and a game for about $200 (I think). This is where the floodgates opened. The titles available for the Playstation is MASSIVE. However, I am somewhat of a picky gamer.

1) hate buying games that are $50-$60 and find out they SUCK
2) $50-$60 for a game is quite expensive and they will drop in price eventually
3) prefer to let first-person shooters stay on PC

With that in mind, I don't have a big collection of games but my collection includes:

Ratchet and Clank series (who doesn't love the furball?)
Soul Calibur
Dance Dance Revolution (but later series had too many modern songs to my liking)
Kingdom Hearts

What was awesome about the Playstation 2 was, I would be able to watch DVD and play PS1 games... and so, I bought the Xena Playstation 1 game and then off ebay DDR Konamix and DDR Disney Mix. It was an entertainment system worth purchasing. The games on GameCube and Xbox really did not speak to me.

GameCube - more party-ish games: Mario Party, Super Smash Brothers etc
Xbox - geared more towards first-person shooters that as I mentioned, prefer to play on a PC. There were 2 titles that I liked: Fable and Thief: Deadly Shadows but guess what? They were also on PC too!

So, Playstation 2 won out and then I find out about "homebrew" and "hacks." When Final Fantasy XI came with a hard drive... hackers were smiling and users like me benefited. Yup, they found a way to store games onto the hard drive and play off it. This opened a WHOLE new world where I could download games and play. While it is illegal to download games, it gave me an opportunity to try the game out first. And if I liked it enough, I went and bought a copy. It certainly saved me from buying games that just wasn't worth it.

When Playstation 3 came out, I wanted it but I couldn't justify the $600 price tag. So, I let it go. Last year, I bought a Playstation Portable. I can play games, play music in the car (freeing my blackberry for phone calls) and play video/movies if I'm on the road. Oh yes and hackable too! But there's a reason why I have bought the handheld recently and not when it first launched. I couldn't justify buying a system that I won't play much of! Until...

Ys Seven


then came Ys Oath in Felghana


and in a few weeks from this post...


an adorable game called Gurumin


and of course, Ratchet and Clank and God of War... It would not make any sense to buy a console to play one game.

And here we come to why I went with the Playstation 3 when it's been out on the market for a while. After all the hacking of PS2 and PSP, I sorta wanted a hackable system but reading and googling and search resulted in too much effort in the Playstation 3 that could just screw it up. So, it was decided that hacking was not important. My cousins and friends have a Wii and played it for a bit. It was fun but the nostalgia of the wiimote wears off quickly and most of the game were similar to the selections for GameCube: party/group game. I also thought about the xbox 360 but I couldn't find ONE title that I would be interested and even if there was, it was available on Playstation 3 or PC.

Which brings me back to Playstation 3... I was looking for a blu-ray player but it did not make economical sense to spend $120 on a blu-ray player and $300 on a gaming console when I could get a gaming console AND a blu-ray player for $300. So after waiting and waiting, I found out Staples had a $20 off $200 purchase and they had lowered the Playstation 3 Move bundle to $350 (compared to $400 everywhere else). I could not pass up such an awesome offer. Staples had a paper schredder promo for $0 and I was sold! so, I spend $440 after tax and got a 320gig Playstation 3 with the MOVE bundle, an HDMI cable AND a blu-ray remote. And now, to go and start my game collection... The list of games I will be getting...

God of War 1, 2 and 3 (I've downloaded 1 & 2 for PS2 and will go and buy it for PS3 for the high-def version)
Assassin's Creed series (downloaded the PSP and really liked it... so, I bought and just finished the 1st game - though story sucked, gameplay was fun... especially throwing bad guys off the cliff!)
infamous (will be getting infamous 2 when it's coming out later this year)
Uncharted (I want it, I just haven't bought it)
Ratchet and Clank (can't say no to it)
Soul Calibur IV

I personally would like to see a Soul Calibur V that is move compatible.

So, the big question is where is gaming going next... and why 2015?

The console have also coincide with some "next big technology."

So, the TurboGrafx 16 coincided with CDroms then Playstation 2 coincided with the DVD... It was ironic that the next-gen (the current) consoles coincided with the HD DVD vs blu-ray war... we know who won... I think it was a smart move by Sony to include the blu-ray, even though it bumped the price of its system.

I predict that in 2012-2013 at E3 that we will hear something about the next generation console but the first console will not be on sale in the market until late 2014 or mid 2015. As the article stated, Nintendo will likely be the first console for the announcement as the Wii system, while revolutionized gaming, really lack the raw graphics and processing power like its competitor.

Another reason why not until 2015 it's because everyone is starting to get into the HD fanfare. Five years ago, 32" HDTV cost $2000 and not many people were able to afford it. Now? 50" LCD HDTV is only $1500 and blu-ray JUST started its popularity. Majority of the consumers does not care about the latest and greatest technology. They care more about cost and if it looked great that is a bonus. The industry have just started to shove 3D technology into our throat. I personally don't see the hoop-la of 3D. Some movies looked great in 3D but it is quite straineous on the eyes. While the Nintendo 3DS sounds interesting, I wouldn't be going out and buying it. Also, Sony has already been pushing out game updates for certain title and supporting 3D; Killzone 3 is available 3D if you have a 3DTV (which cost $2500 for a decent size). See where I'm going here?

It is 2011... 3DTV is just getting off the ground. In about 3 years, 3DTV will come down in price and maybe 80% of household will have it.

The next Wii 2, xbox 720 (I laughed when I read that) and Playstation 4 will be out with the next super revolutionary TV thinga-ma-jig. I know someone is already working and/or developing some holographic interactive project of some sort. This is probably about 5 years or so down the road...



CD -> DVD -> blu-ray (HD) -> 3D -> interactive holographic??

I know my PS3 will last me for more then 5 years anyway...

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Seistran Ltd - who are you?

Workopolis.com is a VERY resourceful webpage for jobs but more often or not, you get contact me weirdos, whackos and scammers like this...

All the questionable information are in BOLD

Here are the jobs we found for you based on your search criteria:
APPLY NOW

We Have A Part Time Job For You!

Seistran Ltd - "Don’t leave your career or selection of candidates to fate."

WHO ARE WE
Seistran Ltd is a team of seasoned top executives in Finance and Investment Operations who have unparalleled track records of success in brokerage operations. We have earned the trust and confidence of business owners in United Kingdom with our expertise, credentials, and commitment to create value.

Seistran Ltd provides investment assistance resources to all business owners willing to invest their capital in order to expand their companies.Our FSA Approved personnel takes care of operations like stock price evaluation, simulations and risk evaluation, in order to provide our clients with the safest way to make investments and expand their businesses.

Since 2006 the our company has grown dramatically , becoming one of the most successful brokerage firm in the United Kingdom.Due to this growth we have registered requests for investment contracts from Canada.
Individuality is the key to our success. We treat each client, candidate and employee as an individual with their own individual needs and tailor our service offerings to best fit these needs.
We can advise our candidates and clients through the maze of recruitment issues that they face daily because we have the experience, knowledge and resources to do so.
Our company has reached enormous sales volumes in major European countries. We are currently trying to expand our services over in USA and Canada. The CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) directly supports the market testing efforts of agencies by providing general guidelines, through the development of Market Testing Toolkit and providing guidance regarding the related agency banking framework. Therefore, Tay Logic LTD has been granted a Market Test Authorization from the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) in January 1st, 2010 and is valid until January 29th, 2012. This Market Test Authorization allows great flexibility regarding taxes.
Seistran Ltd is currently recruiting Regional Financial Managers who will receive payments from our Canadian customers and redistribute the funds as needed.
-Why do we prefer hiring people instead of opening an office over in Canada?
-Because it is far cheaper paying a 10% commission rather than going through all the paper hassle of registering a business in Canada and opening offices all over the country. Besides, there is no certainty that our company will succeed selling the products in Canada, that's why it is called a Market Test. Upon, a successful result, we will being opening offices in Canada.
LEGAL
The job we are offering is perfectly legal , legit and all our transactions will be verified by our Financial Department before they are forwarded to our employees for cashout.


JOB DESCRIPTION
Agent's work consists in receiving payments from our customers in Canada and making
further payments as instructed to a regional affiliate department, depending on
the customer's location. Being a part-time job, it should not take more than 2 hours per day.
Agent's commission is 10% from each transaction (for instance: you receive CAD1,000.00, you will
keep CAD100.00 as payment for your service). All further money transfer charges and fees are covered
by our company. So you will be responsible just for making proper payments in time.
Each transaction will be made only after prior notification by phone call or e-mail.B
You are not required to:
Have any extra knowledge or to be experienced in this business and
this occupation can endow additional income to you and your family as it
will not require more than few hours per week.
If you are interested in our offer, please feel free to ask for the general provisions
of the contract.
PAYMENT/SALARY
The payment system if flexible and easy for everyone.Each Executive Financial Manager will receive a monthly base salary of CAD2,000, plus a 10% commission from each transaction processed.

Financial Agent Requirements:

1) Only Canadian residents
2) One of the following :

- Chequing account ( existing RBC account only )
- Chequing account ( any bank , you will be receiving Interac E-mail Money Transfers from our customers )
- Credit Card ( the customers will be sending payments directly to your credit card )

For further information and inquiries about the job offering, please feel free to
contact us by e-mail at any time at recruiter@consult-direct.com

HOW TO APPLY
Send your resume to : recruiter@consult-direct.com ( or manually recruiter@consult-direct.com ).
Seistran Ltd. - An UK Company


The REALLY questionable point is in the bold and italicized text... EMT? Who pays salary via EMT?

Upon googling... you reach a TERRIBLE (and I stress TERRIBLE) webpage.
Seistran.com
It looks like a high school student webpage! And look --> "Last updated: 03/12/2009"



And then you will also find a LinkedIn profile. AND
It was first active from about 1993 to 1999, then reformed in 2009.
Excuse me? You were in business for 6 years and then closed for 10 years?? And BP Research was your first customer... now BP Research isn't that BP Research is it? Cause you know, your credential just went out the windows...