27 June 2008
Hi all,
While it was great working with free hosts, WordPress has been a delight to use, which is why I’ve decided to stick with WordPress when moving over to my new hosting place. Mainly it’s because I want more control over my themes - and ability to do a whole lot more on it.
I’ve also managed to suss out my PHP.INI file problems, and increased the file upload to 10M. I’m quite pleased with myself. After kneading out the issues last night and going through various forums and support consoles this morning, I realised that the issue lay with the host themselves. All it took was a chat-box, and a 5 minute chat with the host support personnel and I was good to go. My WordPress WXR Export files have been uploaded to my new site and all my information: tags, categories, links, posts (archives), comments and etc have been switched over.
I love technology.
It’s provided wonders to me, but the thing is - I’ve to constantly keep up with it or I’ll drown in the sea of “I Don’t Knows”.
Res Gestae Divi Chih will shut down as of today.
Although I may randomly post stuff here from time to time, until the blog dies forever and ever.
Bye,
Me
27 June 2008
- PhP / MySQL
- .htaccess
- php.ini
What are they? …. these unintelligible acronyms and words? Read on to discover.
I tried to set up WordPress for my new website tonight - but I had trouble. I couldn’t import my WXR file into the new site as there was a 2mb limit slapped onto it. To rectify this issue, I’d read help files and perused numerous forums and I had changed the upload file settings to 10mb. I then tried uploading it again - nope. It didn’t work. That was in the php.ini file. I deleted the WordPress I’d manually installed, and used the auto-install via Fantastico. This time around, I tried changing the settings in .htaccess -but the same thing occured. 2mb limit. I tried searching for the php.ini file - but that wasn’t in existence via the Fantastico auto-install. The php.ini only made itself known through the manual install.
Keep reading →
26 June 2008
I received this letter recently. I’m required by law to enrol to vote, and to be on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll but I don’t have to exercise my right to vote. I don’t have a comprehensive understanding of New Zealand politics so I can’t really decide on anything. I find it amusing that I’m still allowed to vote - as a resident. Most countries will only allow its citizens to vote.
(click on image to enlarge)
Just for fun, I’ve also played with one of my rare childhood photos. Look at my hair. Apart from the youthful skin and no glasses, I think I look the same. That blank, confused expression I constantly wear - and my eyebrows. In the childhood photo, my eyebrows are hidden by my bangs. I am frowning there. Hmm. God what did my mother make me wear? It’s some yuck floral print bag tied with a blue ribbon? And my cute ickle shoes. Heh I was so cute.
26 June 2008
I’m late for work today. ‘Tis 09:36 and I’ve only just got in. Waiting for my systems to load. As for the brochures that everyone outside of the country is waiting for - it’ll be ready soon.
The print run will be complete on the 28th June 2008, so I’ll have the brochure activated on the system on Monday (30/06/08).
I’ve 4 more pages to update for the website. The US version of student loans is a bit confusing. Speaking about confusing people - I personally think the Malaysian government hasn’t come to grips with presenting information over the web. Simplicity is what we’re supposed to be aiming for - not a barrage of “seek and you shall find”.
Anyway I was searching for info at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on passport renewals. They directed me to the High Commission in Wellington. Not to go off tangent too much, whilst floating around the MFA website, I found a job advert. (click on image to enlarge)
(click on image to enlarge)
I clicked on the button and was sent to this PDF. Basically it is a general administration role.
1. (a) Jawatan : PEKERJA AWAM GRED R1
(2 kekosongan di Putrajaya dan 1 kekosongan di Kuala Lumpur )
The idea of working in Putrajaya’s exciting.
What put me off about this was the measely pay. These are the pay scales. Eeek!
P1T1 RM 647.51 - P1T14 RM 1178.43
P2T1 RM 689.98 - P2T14 RM 1242.09
P3T1 RM 734.08 - P3T14 RM 1307.38
The highest I’d ever get per month is RM 1307.38, and I assume this is gross wages. The net value will depreciate after being taxed an arm and a leg. Not to mention, the obligatory contributions to the Employees Provident Fund. The best part was reading this:
(Gaji permulaan ialah pada Gred R1: P1T3 RM 729.19)
The best part is that the above - RM 729.19, is the starting pay. I don’t see why government staff who aren’t corrupt politicians can’t get paid a decent and reasonable sum of wages.
The good thing about this website is that they’re finally putting relevant information up. If I want to plan trips around the world, I can find out which countries require me to have a visa.
I applaud their good work and hope they continue going down this road.
25 June 2008
Some other places I’d like to visit:
- Bhutan
- Kerala, India
- Mongolia (definitely, Mongolia!)
25 June 2008
I was reading a book on the Celtic peoples and came across a chapter on the dolmen. My first experience with dolmens was in Asterix & Obelix where they were in the middle of the forest and slept in one. I never knew its significance until I grew older. The book, which I loaned from the library cited the appearances of dolmens from far flung places in India. The majority of dolmens seem to be found in Celtic regions. I did my own search and discovered that there’s a dolmen in Gangwha in Korea. The similarities in dolmen structure is fascinating. I wish I had time to focus on this more.
25 June 2008
Work is so boring and I earn so little.
24 June 2008
Friday, 29 June 2007. 21:30
Was talking to Syrinx about crushes and it struck me that mine doesn’t actually have an expiry date. Plus I’m bedridden, at least until Monday. I’ll have to go back to work on Tuesday. It sucks. Everyone’s out having fun. I feel alone and pathetic.
Currently my greatest fear is that if you came back here, you may end up running away from me again. So I’m setting up a future flute fund.
24 June 2008
Today I’m going to continue cleaning up the YouTube stuff that I’m setting up for work. I’m feeling a bit yuck thanks to yesterday’s late night (or early morning). We wrapped up late and I got back just after 01:00. Also - our harp player’s groupie shouted us all drinks as it was her last session before Ireland. So I had a pint of the black stuff and this morning I’m dying for a coffee to start my day but guess what. The coffee machine decides to go on a holiday. Tiberius and SH ended up performing surgery on it. I got a coffee from downstairs: Sweet Fanny Anne’s (what a name for a cafe).
The more I think about my postgraduate studies, the more I think Massey has to offer … than Vic for example. I used to feel guilty about switching over to the other side. I’d never have thought of Massey until I was desperate for my brain to stay alive. The fact is that I don’t have the benefit of going back to university without working full-time. I am seriously thinking about continuing my non-commerce studies at Massey as well - when the time is right. I definitely want to finish my marketing diploma before going onto anything else.
my plans until mid 2010
If I’m only able to study what Massey has to offer - then I hope they continue offering extramural courses. Here’s a sample. I’m still waiting for my documents to arrive at UCD. It’s a dream if nothing else. It’ll never happen, but I do silly things like this anyway. If it all goes through, then my next step will be to source funding from … god knows who. Fingers not crossed. Am not hoping.
24 June 2008
I had a great one tonight. Was a bit sad as the other flute players weren’t around. One had gone back to Hamilton before heading to Auckland and then onwards to Ireland to attend three (three!) festivals, and the other one had gone home to Tauranga. I felt a bit lonely. It felt like before they appeared - when it was just Iapetus, Lucius and I. I’m glad more people, young people, came along. And I sold them my flutes. They enjoy flutes now. I had a go at the tunes tonight and I sounded quite okay for someone without a lot of practice.
I had so much fun tonight I feel so guilty that I’m making it a point to read my e-marketing text tomorrow.
23 June 2008
Have you seen my new $15 shoes from Kmart? I’ve always liked round toe shoes. The photo isn’t very clear (shaky hands). I’d bought them in Christchurch as I was running out of work shoes. The black pair I had with a pink flower on it now smells of stale milk - thanks to milk being spilled in it (not me). I walk in these shoes quite often .. on the way home, and I run to catch the bus on the way to work, so they wear out fast.
23 June 2008
Today’s task at work is to upload our videos onto YouTube. It’s called a mini-marketing (or sub-marketing) effort. We’re trying to be hip and cool. Unfortunately, we have no brand equity to speak of. We’re largely obscure in the field of universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale…you get the picture. So what we’re trying to put out there is the city. You get a good education, a fantastic city campus and a possibility of migrating here after you’ve finished your studies. The latter’s hinted at thanks to INZ’s promotion of its own policies. Most people who contact us ask whether they are able to stay in the country and migrate here after university. Sadly, they only want black & white answers. Our policy is that we can’t tell them whether they’re able to or not. It’s not in our jurisdiction (so to speak). We refer them to INZ, and they can do all that on their own. As with all immigration laws - they change every couple of months.
Most of their demands aren’t realistic. I say ‘demands’ because that’s what they’re doing - demanding for right to work full-time while studying, and a 100% guarantee they’ll find a job after graduating and a New Zealand version of the green card. It’s possible - but we can’t guarantee it. I don’t understand why they need the ‘guarantee’, and they end up getting upset and angry at me for not being able to work miracles. Hell - if I had to go through it, then why can’t they? Each country has their own laws. Just abide by it and you’ll do fine. I sometimes also get the odd person who’s already graduated from universities abroad, who now want to move here and ask what they should do. I refer them to INZ and then they yell at me - even after I’ve informed them that we’re a university and INZ is the immigration department. That’s logical enough for a person with half a brain, is it not?
In other news relating to immigrating to New Zealand - my flatmate Dionysus came up to me two nights ago citing his anxiety at paying off his student loan from Malaysia, and his personal loan from the bank for his laptop. Frankly I didn’t bother to mention how stupid it is to take out a loan when you’ve already got a giant, monstrous one to pay off - and a job that doesn’t cover for it all…not to mention the fact he’s trying to save up for a year’s worth of international fees. He asked what he should do to gain his residency in New Zealand. He checked up on the points calculator and only managed to gain 80 odd points. He then asked if he could appeal to Immigration by requesting for a residency application using his “I’ll complete my degree soon”. I told him it’s highly unlikely. I told him that he could probably check out whether his work-place training gives him NZQA qualifications. He’s currently doing personal care work for the disabled. Then he had the audacity to tell me “I can’t be bothered checking it all out … I’m tired from work. Can you do it for me?” I replied with a point-blank “No”. I am not stupid.
23 June 2008
The band was good!
They’re made up of three musicians; Emily (cello), Frances (concertina), Alex (banjo, trombone) - and the great part is that they all sing. To my naïve ear, it sounded like a fusion of folk/Celtic/blues/jazz. They played some Irish tunes to a different beat until the jig, Banish Misfortune sounded excitingly non-jiggified. However, when Alex mentioned that they’re moving from Eastern Europe (tune wise) to Cape Breton in France … and I realised he’s not a tune person. Cape Breton is in Nova Scotia, Canada….where they play a lot of Scottish-like tunes.
But all in all, it was a swell gig. I went home tired, and promptly fell asleep.
22 June 2008
Reading FAQs at other countries’ websites mean you get a load of technical Q&As. In Malaysia, we have over the rainbow, under the sea, soap opera type drama…
I had an argument with my wife and she tore my MRP. What should I do to replace that passport? How long will it take to get a new one?
You need to fill in the passport application and the Survey Forms from the Immigration Offices for you to submit your application for replacement. According to the Department’s Charter, the replacement process takes about 1 (one) month.
For foreigners reading this (or Malaysians for that matter)…one may assume that there’s a lot of angry Malaysian wives tearing up their husbands’ passports. Maybe their husbands have scooted off to Thailand on the abovementioned passport and married their 2nd, 3rd or 4th wives. Who knows? Whatever it is - my mind’s wondering how many wives have been ripping their husbands’ passports apart?
You can read more useless but humorous FAQs here at the Immigration Department of Malaysia. My country’s always good for a laugh!
