Today I am helping out Citra with some translations for one of his website projects, and I just finished what could possibly be the last of the documents needed to be translated. What a relief! I have been working from about 10 AM non-stop (well, not really non-stop...), and only stopping to have a late lunch at 3 PM. Lunch was also just a delivery from McDonald's, not because we were so busy, but more to the fact that we were too lazy to step outside the house.
So now Citra is uploading the stuff, and I'm back to fooling around with the Dashblog widget...
Sunday, August 6, 2006
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Testing, 1-2-3
I am sending this post as a test, to try out the new wonderful world of Dashboard Widgets (running on Mac OS X). Yes, I know, widgets have been around for at least a year, but I only had the opportunity to try out the features now.
This post was made by the Dashblog widget. Let's see how it fares.
This post was made by the Dashblog widget. Let's see how it fares.
Friday, August 4, 2006
Under Duress
I guess it goes without saying that a lot has happened the past few weeks, making me unable to post anything here; my office time is limited, and my time afterwards is spent away from the computer.
Only this morning, I can sit down, relaxed, in front of the computer, and try to get some thoughts out to describe the missing logs from this media.
It's such an amazing feeling to be going out with somebody steady again, especially after so long in personal limbo, and getting used to doing everything myself. It has taken some adjustments for both of us, especially during these first weeks, that we actually had a partner at all! When you're used to thinking for one, now you think for two, and these are just for mundane things like going to the supermarket or something. But I'm otherwise happy, now that I have someone I can always share my thoughts with, and hold my hand whenever I need.
I just discovered something very essential about this blog, and about me... apparently, I always have this subconcious feeling that I should not spread good news as excitedly as I would, because it would somehow be jinxed (and believe me, it has happened several times, including my other situation at work). That's partly why this blog rarely displays good news.
Now here's the situation at work. My future boss, it seems, is under pressure. He, as an expatriate brought in to help out with a new division at my new office, assumingly promised all sorts of things and targets for this division, and under pressure to deliver very fast. This has caused the pressure to be distributed to all partners involved in the launch project (including my current office), when actually things cannot happen that fast. Feet were stepped on, tempers raged, and the formerly anticipating spirit of my company and the partners behind us decreased and became pragmatic. The problem's not over yet, and instead of coming in and sitting down with my future boss and telling him how it's supposed to be done, I'm giving him a harsh reality instead, seeing all his deadlines fly past without anything done. Well, that's how stubborn he apparently is, haha...
There is something else new in my life, other than the girlfriend and the coming new job... but I'll elaborate on that later at a better opportunity. Today, I have to attend 2 weddings!
Only this morning, I can sit down, relaxed, in front of the computer, and try to get some thoughts out to describe the missing logs from this media.
It's such an amazing feeling to be going out with somebody steady again, especially after so long in personal limbo, and getting used to doing everything myself. It has taken some adjustments for both of us, especially during these first weeks, that we actually had a partner at all! When you're used to thinking for one, now you think for two, and these are just for mundane things like going to the supermarket or something. But I'm otherwise happy, now that I have someone I can always share my thoughts with, and hold my hand whenever I need.
I just discovered something very essential about this blog, and about me... apparently, I always have this subconcious feeling that I should not spread good news as excitedly as I would, because it would somehow be jinxed (and believe me, it has happened several times, including my other situation at work). That's partly why this blog rarely displays good news.
Now here's the situation at work. My future boss, it seems, is under pressure. He, as an expatriate brought in to help out with a new division at my new office, assumingly promised all sorts of things and targets for this division, and under pressure to deliver very fast. This has caused the pressure to be distributed to all partners involved in the launch project (including my current office), when actually things cannot happen that fast. Feet were stepped on, tempers raged, and the formerly anticipating spirit of my company and the partners behind us decreased and became pragmatic. The problem's not over yet, and instead of coming in and sitting down with my future boss and telling him how it's supposed to be done, I'm giving him a harsh reality instead, seeing all his deadlines fly past without anything done. Well, that's how stubborn he apparently is, haha...
There is something else new in my life, other than the girlfriend and the coming new job... but I'll elaborate on that later at a better opportunity. Today, I have to attend 2 weddings!
Friday, July 28, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Keep An Eye Out For...
... a band called Private Harmony. Released by the local Warner Music office.
Some might say that they're the Indonesian version of the various incarnations of Ben Folds Five/Ben Folds, but there's a difference between imitating and emulating. Listening to them, you get to hear what the music would sound like if Ben Folds had an Indonesian background. The songs are definitely Indonesian (as they are all in Bahasa Indonesia), but the piano-playing is most definitely Ben Folds, along with the backing vocals trademark of the band emulated.
But even more than that, you can feel the songs, and not just hear them as a mere translations of Ben Folds musical tendencies.
The entire album speaks tribute to Ben Folds, unavoidable and obvious, but stands on its own as well. Actually, the choice to emulate Ben Folds music already says something about them... let's see where they go on the next album, if it does come out. Unfortunately, this kind of music does not have a wide audience in Indonesia...
On a lighter note, I wonder what they would be like when actually singing Ben Folds covers!
Some might say that they're the Indonesian version of the various incarnations of Ben Folds Five/Ben Folds, but there's a difference between imitating and emulating. Listening to them, you get to hear what the music would sound like if Ben Folds had an Indonesian background. The songs are definitely Indonesian (as they are all in Bahasa Indonesia), but the piano-playing is most definitely Ben Folds, along with the backing vocals trademark of the band emulated.
But even more than that, you can feel the songs, and not just hear them as a mere translations of Ben Folds musical tendencies.
The entire album speaks tribute to Ben Folds, unavoidable and obvious, but stands on its own as well. Actually, the choice to emulate Ben Folds music already says something about them... let's see where they go on the next album, if it does come out. Unfortunately, this kind of music does not have a wide audience in Indonesia...
On a lighter note, I wonder what they would be like when actually singing Ben Folds covers!
Sunday, July 9, 2006
That Person Is Gone, Finally (So Far)
For the past few months, I have been acquainted, to a certain person which I'd rather not be named, not even a description of attributions like gender, background, or anything else other than any information related to what I want to tell.
To cut a long story short, this person works in a sales/marketing capacity for a local SMS platform provider, who has been pushing for a project involving one of the more notable artists under my record label. At first, when the artist needed publicity and an interesting program to work with, I was welcome to the ideas said person presented, and often helped said person with the concepts and ideas needed to push the project through.
Down the line, the artist certainly didn't need the publicity anymore, and thus the program has been losing value to me day by day; all the while, this person still pushed, and sometimes just plainly befriended me, to the point that I'd be uncomfortable if I declined the program. Eventually, I had to sit down with the artist and balance the benefits and costs of the program, and we agreed that the program has imbalanced benefits towards the provider, and thus we declined.
At one point, this person was contacting me every day, inviting for lunch or dinner, or dropping by the office for a friendly visit, under the ruse of real friendship; once I struck down the program, said person has practically disappeared.
I might be a bit mean or stiff, but what I have never appreciated was the fact that people want to use me. This person was overall a nice person, yet I am not sorry said person is gone. Hope you learn your lesson.
To cut a long story short, this person works in a sales/marketing capacity for a local SMS platform provider, who has been pushing for a project involving one of the more notable artists under my record label. At first, when the artist needed publicity and an interesting program to work with, I was welcome to the ideas said person presented, and often helped said person with the concepts and ideas needed to push the project through.
Down the line, the artist certainly didn't need the publicity anymore, and thus the program has been losing value to me day by day; all the while, this person still pushed, and sometimes just plainly befriended me, to the point that I'd be uncomfortable if I declined the program. Eventually, I had to sit down with the artist and balance the benefits and costs of the program, and we agreed that the program has imbalanced benefits towards the provider, and thus we declined.
At one point, this person was contacting me every day, inviting for lunch or dinner, or dropping by the office for a friendly visit, under the ruse of real friendship; once I struck down the program, said person has practically disappeared.
I might be a bit mean or stiff, but what I have never appreciated was the fact that people want to use me. This person was overall a nice person, yet I am not sorry said person is gone. Hope you learn your lesson.
Major Changes
That's it, it's done, and no turning back. The benefits and the risks, although not identified entirely, are accepted. I am taking the jump...
So, for dear readers of this blog, some of you might know that I have been working in a music company since the start of this blog (and almost always single, but that's another matter...)... now the time has come for an unprecedented change. I will be moving to another company in at least 2 months' time, into the burgeoning telecoms industry. My main focal point of the work will remain music, but I will be learning new stuff, new technology, new corporate cultures in a new environment. It's exciting for me to the point I am nervous and still questioning my decision (as I always do). But if experience speaks true, my initial gut feeling will be the one that I follow, even with high indecision. It's done; I've submitted my resignation letter and negotiated my exit terms, and apparently my move is being talked about by more people than I thought.
Also, there is a special person who has been exclusively taking up a lot of my time :), one of the reasons why I haven't been writing as often as I did lately (other than the fact that work has been hell, and managing my schedules has been a balancing act).
I have come to the point that new choices may not be for the better, but as always, for me, new experiences are always beneficial. Growing and learning is my number one goal, and I hope this takes me onward...
So, for dear readers of this blog, some of you might know that I have been working in a music company since the start of this blog (and almost always single, but that's another matter...)... now the time has come for an unprecedented change. I will be moving to another company in at least 2 months' time, into the burgeoning telecoms industry. My main focal point of the work will remain music, but I will be learning new stuff, new technology, new corporate cultures in a new environment. It's exciting for me to the point I am nervous and still questioning my decision (as I always do). But if experience speaks true, my initial gut feeling will be the one that I follow, even with high indecision. It's done; I've submitted my resignation letter and negotiated my exit terms, and apparently my move is being talked about by more people than I thought.
Also, there is a special person who has been exclusively taking up a lot of my time :), one of the reasons why I haven't been writing as often as I did lately (other than the fact that work has been hell, and managing my schedules has been a balancing act).
I have come to the point that new choices may not be for the better, but as always, for me, new experiences are always beneficial. Growing and learning is my number one goal, and I hope this takes me onward...
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