A friend of mine forwarded this joke to me via email. I had a good laugh out of it, so I thought I’ll share with all of you as well. Enjoy!

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I’m setting up an office in my den and I’m thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name’s Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name’s Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look in the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What have you got?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, lets just say I’m sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue ‘W’.
COSTELLO: I’m going to click your blue ‘w’ if you don’t start with some straight answers. OK, forget that. Can I watch movies on the Internet?
ABBOTT: Yes, you want Real One.
COSTELLO: Maybe a real one, maybe a cartoon. What I watch is none of your business. Just tell me what I need!
ABBOTT: Real One.
COSTELLO: If it’s a long movie I also want to see reel 2, 3 & 4. Can I watch them?
ABBOTT: Of course.
COSTELLO: Great! With what?
ABBOTT: Real One.
COSTELLO: OK, I’m at my computer and I want to watch a movie. What do I do?
ABBOTT: You click the blue ’1″.
COSTELLO: I click the blue one what?
ABBOTT: The blue ’1″.
COSTELLO: Is that different from the blue w?
ABBOTT: The blue ’1″ is Real One and the blue ‘W’ is Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: But there’s three words in ‘office for windows’
ABBOTT: No, just one. But it’s the most popular Word in the world.
COSTELLO: It is?
ABBOTT: Yes, but to be fair, there aren’t many other Words left. It pretty much wiped out all the other Words out there.
COSTELLO: And that word is real one?
ABBOTT: Real One has nothing to do with Word. Real One isn’t even part of Office.
COSTELLO: STOP! Don’t start that again. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That’s right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What’s bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn’t it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

A FEW DAYS LATER . . .

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on ‘START’…….

Tags: Humor, technology

The pass couple of days have been hectic with lots of last minute bug fixes and new enhancement requests for users. School starts next week for me. Thankfully, it’s my last semester. So technically, I’ll be able to complete my degree before my 30th birthday in July, although I’ll probably only be able to receive the actual degree sometime in August or September. Nonetheless, I’m really excited about graduating this year. Hurray!

Speaking of excitement, the recent Academy Awards was definitely a source of excitement for many. I’ve not been following news/updates about the Oscars this year. I didn’t even bother to check who was nominated. But when I heard the Barrons from Catholic in a Small Town were throwing an Oscars party and inviting uStream audience to join them in Katherine’s parents’ living room, I decided to join in the fun. It’s not everyday that I get to meet up with my Twitter/Facebook friends on uStream, and we had a great time chatting with eachother. However, since I was at work, I had to be discreet and could only join in the chat occasionally.

Earlier that day, the McInnis family celebrated the 25th episode of the Monster Cookies podcast by uStreaming their show. If you missed watching them live (like me) you can the recordings of the show here. I caused a little bit confusion when Jon read my comments on their Facebook group regarding what we’re giving up for Lent. Jon and Amber wondered what I meant by “tidbits”. Here’s the dictionary definition of the word for those interested. While listening to the podcast, I also learnt that I was the winner of their contest twice in a row! Wow! Looking forward to seeing those beautiful drawings by the equally beautiful children in the mail soon, Jon!

On the topic of children, I want to congratulate James and Jenn from the Geek Loves Nerd podcast on the birth of their baby boy, James Lewis Kennison. I found out about the good news while listening to the latest episode of their podcast. Congratulations to Luis and Alesha as well on their baby boy, Dante Gabriel Escobar. Luis is also the author of one of my favorite blogs Luis’ Illustrated Blog. BTW Luis, my middle name happens to be Gabrielle.

I know I promised to do a podcast review this week, but because I had too much good news to share with all of you today, so I’ll just have to find time to write a separate entry for the reviews. Will probably have it ready within the next couple of days. Till then, take care and God bless!

Tags: life, musings

It’s been a while since my last blog. It’s been a busy week, with lots of bug-fixing, researching, head-cracking, brainstorming and such. Thankfully, the weekend has finally arrived, and now I can rest and relax a bit before the next busy week begins.

As I’ve mentioned on Facebook and Twitter, I attended the Microsoft Server Launch Wave 2008 with my product leader, Edward, on Thursday (21/2/2008). We were given a glimpse of the soon-to-be launched Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 as well as the recently launched Visual Studio 2008. It was a spectacular event, well at least the breakfast buffet was very spectacular. Ed and I ate to our hearts content. Compensation for making me wake up at 5:30am and leaving my house before the sun rose, so that I can arrive at the convention centre at 8am. The product demos were pretty impressive, but apparently it didn’t impress our CTO much when Ed reported to him about the seminar. I enjoyed myself at the seminar, where I also met 2 of my ex-classmates, both of them MVPs (Microsoft Most Valuable Professional) and regulars at events like this. We chatted a while and introduced Ed to them. Ed and I then visited each of the partner booths at the seminar, where I happily handed our my business card in exchange for freebies. I ran out of business cards that day and I made a mental note to bring more the next time I attend such an event.

That day was also the 15th day (and last day) of the Chinese New Year octave or yuan xiao (元宵), also known as the Lantern Festival or deng jie (灯节) as there were often lantern shows in the evening. It marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities and is also traditionally known as the Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day in the west, because back in the old imperial days, it was the only chance young women had to get out of the house and to meet young men and fall in love. I met the bf for lunch, since I was in town for the Microsoft seminar. Ed joined us as he didn’t want to carry my heavy bag of freebies back to the office for me alone.

In the evening, I celebrated yuan xiao with mom by eating tang yuan (汤圆), or glutinous rice balls, a traditional dessert eaten on yuan xiao. It signifies reunion/unity and “sticking” together in times of good and bad. That same evening was also the night where the results of the S$10,000,000 lottery were announced. Just as most Singaporeans, I also bought some lottery tickets in the hope of winning something. But alas. none of my tickets won. Sigh.

I’ve picked up a couple of new podcasts in the past few weeks, and I’ll talk about them here probably in the next entry, so keep a lookout!

Tags: life, musings, rant, technology

Hi all. First and foremost, I’ll like to wish all of you a belated Happy Valentine’s Day! (Well, at least it’s belated by my time) Hope you all had an enjoyable time with your loved ones.

I took the day off yesterday (Valentine’s Day), hence my lack of Internet presence. I was doing last-minute gift-shopping in the morning and managed to find a short-sleeved polo-shirt for the bf. We then met up and had Korean food for lunch. It was a first time eating at a Korean restaurant for both of us. The food was good and the price was reasonable. In fact, I’m considering bringing my mom there this weekend.

We then moved on to get my gift. I’d suggested last weekend, that perhaps I should chose my own gift to save him the trouble of trying to guess what I want. We agreed on a budget, and I told him what I was thinking of getting. I’m getting a new handbag, since the one he bought me for my birthday last year is starting to wear and tear. Now it’s just a matter of picking the one I want and buying it. I chose the design I like, and he chose the color for me. I had a store card and was entitled to 15% discount on the bag. The final bill was still within his initial budget (with lots of change to spare), and I got a new bag. 2 happy customers. Yeah!

I then went to the education center I’m enrolled in to settle some enrollment issues and to pay fees. Lots of paperwork to do, so the bf waited for me at a fast food center nearby. When I had everything settled, we went to Gloria Jeans to enjoy some coffee with the discount voucher I brought along. Honestly, I prefer Gloria Jeans to Starbucks. Can’t explain it, really. I just feel that the coffee at Gloria Jeans tastes better, although I must admit Starbucks plays better music.

This morning, I was pleasantly surprised at the pile of parcel/letters on my desk. Apparently, much of the stuff I was waiting for arrived through the mail yesterday while I was out of the office. (Yes, I have most of my mail directed to the office since I’m at the office 80% of the time, and the local post office/postman near my home has a tendency of losing my mail 90% of the time) What I got through the mail:

• My brand new pocket Ignatius Catholic Bible, which I ordered from Amazon.com
• My newly applied credit card
• A new bank card for the credit line, which comes with the credit card
• An insurance bill

Lot’s of work waiting for my attention. More next time. kthxbai..

Tags: life, musings

We’re in the middle of the Chinese New Year “octave“. Tradition has it that everyday in the this 15-day period has a different significance. Today is the 7th day of the Chinese New Year, also known as ren ri (人日）, or the “day of man”, which is treated as the common man’s birthday, or the day when everyone gains a year in age. So “Happy Birthday” to you!

The highlight of the celebrations of ren ri is eating yu sheng (鱼生), a practice also known as lo hei in Cantonese. This practice is thought to bring good luck and prosperity. Our company is also having a company lo hei dinner. However, I will not be attending the company dinner tonight. I must say, I’m a little anti-social when it comes to gatherings like that.

Instead, I’ll have a simple celebration with Mom tonight at home. There won’t be any yu sheng, since we already had it on New Year’s eve. Just some of our favorite foods for dinner. Followed by a marathon of Korean drama DVDs of course.

Bumped into an ex-classmate this afternoon. Apparently, she’s now working near where I’m working. So we agreed to meet up for lunch some time soon. It’s nice to see old friends every once in a while.

Meanwhile, I’ll be thinking of how to celebrate Valentine’s Day tomorrow. Most likely a simple lunch, gift exchange and just plain hanging out together. We may squeeze in a movie if there’s time, although I don’t see anything that’ll interest me enough to wanna step into the cinema. Actually, I just wanna spend some quality time with him, it doesn’t really matter where we go or what we do. Just having him by my side already makes me very happy.

Tags: life, musings