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Sunday, April 28, 2002
mmmmmmm... sunday.. relaxing.. chilling .. sleeping...
I visited my old band-mate, Jimmi Tsai
we are both very alike... Artistic, great guitarist, song writers, and weird...
what even more odd about it is that, we have our own separate lives, so we don't get to hang out that often...
but whenever get a chance to.. it's like just finished plying a gig yesterday...
We always start by updating what's been going on with our lives... in details..
then we pick up our guitars and jam away for hours..
He's a great artist... and pretty much the only person I know that has the same level in music and compatible to play with as myself...we can play off each other rifts non stop...
He's a recent undergrad and going on for his Masters in Architecture in University of Toronto this year..
I probably haven't seen him in months.. no contact whatsoever, then he called me up and I was driving by his street...
and it's was like old times again... sounds gay but.. kinda weird... Ne'ways, as it turns out, he's got a gig to play
and wanted me to do it with him again... oh yeah.. We played at crazy and big places.. from some fricken smoke-filled
bars to the Ontario Place's Molson Amphitheatre.. We are a compliment to each other. musically...& artistically
Other than that, we are different, but we are very blunt to each other... but equally respectfully to each
other’s opinions. We also talked about some futures in colaborations, maybe a project or two..
All in all it was a good weekend, except for the weather...
nothing like Cali weather though....
4/28/2002 07:34:00 PM
Thursday, April 25, 2002
Alright.. since this Blog is labeled "Design Life"
I guess I'll talk a little bit of the "so-called" design life that I go through...
Alot of ppl ask me... "Gee..Designer huh?? that's cool .. so U get to draw... Wow"...
And the expression on my face after such comments can be by the rolling of my eyes...aiya...
because that is not what designers do... I don't draw and make pretty things in my own time schedule and do everything out of my own control.. that is a life of an "artist"... I'm NOT an Artist... I'm a designer...
To explain further more... In the industry.. the work that I put out is called. "an Art-work"... whether it is a CAD Drafting of a product design or a packaging work.. It's labeled as "an Art-work"...that label is sadly incorrect...
In these two line of work, it primarily deals with mass production and distribution.. The client is basically and ultimately the people I have to please... The client’s buyers are the ones that my clients have to please... Mainly, my clients are the Product Merchandisers...
To describe this more in detail... A Merchandiser within the Consumer Product Industry is basically someone who should have full knowledge in the various products within his line of industry. Whether Electronic, Home Goods, Home entertainment, or even such as in the Toy Industry.. He/she should know in EVERY CAPACITY & Aspects these products in terms of their Component Cost, Shipping Bulk Cost, F.O.B., Consumer Product Legality, and other stuff that concerns with the by-laws and regulations that the products has in that distributing country. Most important of all is the nature of how much exactly that product has in terms of it’s Profit Margin... this Merchandiser has to have a good sales team in order to sell the product... But also have to have a good Designer, whether in-house or contract designer that designs, and packages these products... A Merchandiser has a hard task of balancing between the need of a designer, and the need to the buyers that buys those products from the Sales team... A designer could come up with a great product, but.. for example... a Canadian Tire Buyer don’t like “new age’ look of the packaging... and wants changes to be made to the packaging because he’s old and does not have the sense of the current market trends. While another buyer in say... Sears loves the whole concept.. So the Merchandiser has to go back and forth and please the 2 sides. Whether the buyer is right or not.. at the end, it’s the buyers money to invest millions of dollars to product line.. so they kinda do have the last say... On the other hand, a work of a designer has to be respected. Just because U don’t like a line here and the color there, doesn’t mean we would bend over and correct it... If a designer feels these requested changes jeopardizes the integrity of his/her work as a designer... than the relationship between client and Designer is jeopardizes. so most of my clients are big company merchandiser... And I do have heated debates over design “art-work” every now and then... but when you’re a designer that handles bulk order of 50 to 100 thousand per order and product... Then these design work are often strenuous and consumer acceptance driven. so next time U pick up a Sanyo, Sylvania, Koss, or any other consumer products out there... have in mind that there are alot of politics and bull crap that’s involved in having one of these boxes displaying out in front of a shop...
I haven’t mention the fact that most of these products are made in China.. U know “made in China” labels!!!.. When dealing with overseas operation, staying up late till like 3 in the morning so that I could speak to rude Maker manufacturers that don’t respect the money the client have invested into the product is insanely frustrating. Talking to them to change a couple of components or specs is like trying to beg a elephant to jump hoops..
But I’ll tell those funny stories another time...
There’s lots more to tell as time goes by.. alot more inside stories on in-house politics in places like Sony, Nike, Apple and other big companies...
But please, the next time someone tells you he or she is a designer, don’t say to them.. “oh I didn’t know U draw”... cause that just pisses the hell out of them....
4/25/2002 03:24:00 PM
Wednesday, April 24, 2002
I have in my hands the ATI Fire GL8800
Ooooo I feel the power... and the CHA! CING!
Fricken $1400 Dollars.. aiya.. oh well.. better worth it though...
The workstation is being built and configured as I speak..
Just have to bring in my Graphic card to calibrate and configure
with the rest of the system...
Ne'ways... and my other Softwares should be mailing in soon..
So I'll have like 2 weeks or so to go mad on it..
I'm probably not going to sleep during that last week B4 I leave...
...always sleep on the plane anyways...
Speaking of Cali...
Foster City is within the San Mateo County
today's weather...mostly Sunny, 67 Fahrenheit... good pressure... low wind..
dang...I love it...
= )
4/24/2002 08:15:00 PM
Tuesday, April 23, 2002
Finally.. i 've confirl my tflight tickets this morning
Air Canada Flight AC755 departure @ May 13th 4:55pm Toronto Time
and arrival @ May 13th 7:26pm San Fransico Time.
Freaken $36.10 for the new airport security fees..
Garbage!!! They're just paying for more bodies to float around the
terminals..
ne'ways i've also finally found a vendor for my Graphic card.
Smart City, Canadian Store that sells quite high end stuff
neways, I also called ATI and learned that the there's a new replacement card
for the GL Fire Series, Fire GL8800 and GL8700
which replaces the GL3 and GL2 respectively....
so.. going to place an order some time this week...
Another thing..
I've packed all my winter clothes away already ...
and the snow still falls... What in the monkey's butt hair is going on!??!??
I'm looking forward for cali wheather more and more each day!!
aiya.. have to dig up a couple sweaters just to be safe...
4/23/2002 03:34:00 AM
Sunday, April 21, 2002
today, went down to see the autotech show...
it's a show with lota "sooped-up cars and stuff
I saw a FERRARI and couple NSX...
none I saw was my 2001 Civic coupé though = (
there were a lota chicks dressed in mini skirts and stuffs
Import shows has some kinda assocation with skanks!!
Too many chicks flaunting their boobs and legs...
Kinda disgusted at the whole scene, If I wanted to check out girls...
I would go clubbing or something.. I wanted to see some awesome rides
kinda disappointing...
4/21/2002 12:12:00 AM
Saturday, April 20, 2002
AT LAST.. IT'S OVER!!!
feels so good.. except for some stupid incident on teh road during my "after the exam" joy ride...
those who know me well should know I don't drive like a crazy, mad china man.. [Nelson!!]
But hmmm.. I was just blasting a bit of music and cruising... relaxing....
WHEN FREAKING SUDDENLY this crazy punk driving a black Acura RSX z
ooms out of no where and cut literally skins by my front front bumper..
I respect the RSX, but skinning by by Ride ain't nice!!!
And needless to say... I'm pretty protective of my car.. plus it scared the living $H!T out of me..
so I was kinda pissed, so I floored the pedal to the metal..
I blew up the traffic and caught up to them..
and cut them off and cornered them at a bus stop curved-in, parking area.. and got out of the car..
NOW here's teh funny part...
I used to be alot more intimatating than now.. I'm not packing 210LBS of muscle like I used to anymore..
...I was pissed so my action was hasty and didn't think what kinda crap I can get into if I were out-gunned
Because what I used to be, is a different side of me now..
I had a thing for fighting but only to help out ppl who are picked on..I was a punk too I guess...>= )
whatever, I was good at it and did it well..
Back to the story... So JUST as I got to the door of the this punk driver... [nice car by the way... Type S. had some wicked rims...]
A thought occured to me. " oh crap .. I'm a fricking stick... I'm going to get MY ass toasted this time"..
BUT.. oddly enough.. they WERE freaked out... and apologized like mad...
couldn't really understood them well, 'cause they were speaking so fast.. but all I heard was "sorry this and sorry that"
and even got out of the car and checked if they had nicked my front bumper..
So whatever. I told them to chill it and stuff and let them go...
Afterwards, when I went back into the car and checked myself in the mirror... huh? I do kinda look scary... not really in teh intimatating, but because I haven't slept from studying my exam... I looked kinda freaky with the unshaven, and messed up hair look...
whatever I laughed it off and drove off...
well EXAMS are done.. very FREE and EXCITED over the Cali trip... I have some packaging work to catch up on..
AND THAT STUPID GRAPHIC CARD
I now have a mission for next week..
starting HUNTING for my card...
I have MAYA 4 in my hot little hands, and my cousin in HK is shipping some other software for me
BUT NO COMPUTER>>> FREAK!!!!!!!!
4/20/2002 12:41:00 AM
Wednesday, April 17, 2002
hey oh... exams..
last one on the 19th of April..
sweating for that one. it's on Atmospheric Science..
now I'm able to understand why out Toronto wheather is so screwed up.
Computer status... This Graphic Card anoyance is worst than I though.
ATI has sent me a list of vendors that carry it...
So getting my guy to look into it..
With the Cali Trip..
it' pretty much a 'GO!". Plane tickets are booked..May 13th|afternoon flight as planed
The only trouble is that I'll have to renew my return flights every month or so..
Due to the fact that I'm not applying for work permit or student VISA,
the US custom are keen in not letting ppl my age to go acros the border and work.
So this is my last resort. it's alright though..
Starting planing my gear and stuff. Cloths, NEW laptop maybe..
Started researching on the place where I'll be staying.
getting to know all the land points so I won't be unfamilar with it.
Some habit I picked up a few years back.
Don't like going to places and not knowing where I am..
can't wait to suck up some Cali wheather..
4/17/2002 03:10:00 PM
Sunday, April 14, 2002
AIYA.... that's all I gotta say..
it's such a pain in teh butt to get a fricking Graphic Card..
what am I asking for?? an ATI Fire GL2
it's not an comercial graphic Card. but still..
My whole computer system is at a stand still because of it...
well so the story is.
I've asked a friend [Ryan] that works at ATI to try to get it..
I've asked other guys who works at big corporations [Motarola & Siemen]
to try to hook up with ATI to purchase me one
I'm like desperately trying to hunt down this damn beefy card..
see how my luck is for next week
But forecast for the launching of my workstation has been delayed..
PISSED!!!
4/14/2002 02:26:00 AM
Friday, April 12, 2002
ok ok.. it's been a while since my last post..
been busy.. with what U ask..
well...
1/ new projects for a packaging design .. for a microwave line .. aiya..I know but hey gotta pay for my fricking computer..
2/ the Cali trip is now 90% just have to book my tickets.. ahhhhhhh get to use my Air Canada points
3/ my computer is pretty much set and built for next week.. gotta go ot by bank.. aiya.. PK !
4/ exam on April 19th.. I HATE STUDYING.. but whatever.. last one in a long while
N'ways, looking up on everything on San Fransico lately...
Foster City is where I'll be primary staying, but I'll be travelling back and forth from San Fansico
4/12/2002 12:37:00 AM
Friday, April 05, 2002
Got some idea on my super computer today...
but... I'm still waiting for the specs on the ATI FIRE GL2 Graphic Card
but so far I've got this!!
Imperial Case w/ CPU temperature sensor
300W Power Supply
Asus A7V266-E motherboard w/ audio and USB ports
AMD Athlon XP1800 CPU w/ a cooling fan and a heat sink (Box)
512MB DDR RAM PC2100
Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM Hard drive
Sony 16X DVD ROM
Lite-on 24X10X40X CD-RW
1.44MB Floppy Drive
Asus Nvidia 128MB DDR RAM GeForce 4 Ti Deleux AGP video card w/ TV out, analog connector, digital connector
SB Live! 5.1 sound card
10/100 PCI Ethernet card
Samsung 19" 900NF Monitor
Total: 2440
Upgrade to:
Enermax Whisper 430W w/ Fan Control - add 60
Asus A7V266-ER motherboard w/ audio, RAID, and USB ports - add 25
AMD Athlon XP1800 CPU w/ a cooling fan and a heat sink (Box) - add 30
Sony 24x10x40 w/ BURN-Proof - add 0
Samsung 21" 1200NF - add 680
Add:
512MB DDR RAM PC2100 - 240
Thermaltake Ball Bearing Case fan (80mm) - 18
4/05/2002 01:25:00 AM
Thursday, April 04, 2002
Well.. I must say.. keeping a jounal entry is quite the first for me...
but Jon had suggested me on it..
Couple days [Monday & Tuesday] ago I have had some interesting experience..
I had the opportunity to go to the Food Networks Studio Production House
and watch Martin Yan, the “Yan Can Cook” ...
His show will be aired [E.T. 10:30am 1:30pm 3:30am] Weekdays on teh food Network
well I thought to myself in the beginning.. this is kinda cool
Show Production of this calibre was quite impressive to me.
I've been to quite a few production, but this is quite different from the other,
because he's doing them all in one take with only limited on-spot editing
there are no after editing.. and the shows are basically aired days afterwards
Long story short .. I was asked by Martin Yan to work with him at San Fransico
this sumer in providing whatever design work I could provide...
Accommodation provided . [can't complaint...]
He apparently is working on opening up a new chain of restaurants
He's also moving his new ofice
Plus I might be given the opportunity to intern’ at maybe some Industrial design Studios
My love is at Product Design... So needless to say... I’m thrilled
So basically I’m awaiting for my itinerary to be set and prepare my flights and everything.
I’m also awaiting my "soop-up" computer, so I can start cracking at Pro/engineer/Solidworks/Maya
I want to get familiar with the 3D Graphics more B4 I head over,
Probably buying a Laptop Workstation when I’m over there also.
Nuff said, , this is the first email to big count-down for my trip to Cali
Surfs up!!
4/04/2002 03:43:00 AM
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