Flying Sheep

The Sheep is to fly home to become an "independent." The sheep is to tear away any connections with his family in order to live an "independent" life. "Independent," of course, in the highly esteemed opinions of first generation immigrants working in the Home Office.

Ah well. Such is the irony of life. How strange that a family who has been here in the UK for 8 years, living off our own funds, working, paying taxes, never claimed a single penny of benefits, is now in the process of appealing the IND's decision to refuse their stay.

Fortunately, the Sheep's company is seeking to help ensure that he keeps his job. The company's lawyers advised him to fly home as soon as possible, so that they can start working their arcane arts to get me back. The Sheep's company has been highly supportive thus far. Hopefully, this isn't a ploy to kick him home for good :)

Fortune's Coin

Luck, I've noticed, comes in pairs. One moment, I'm basking in a turn of good fortune, the next I'm thrown into a trough of bad luck.

This is the case this week.

Good fortune at work. I've been warned about the staff working at my current client. I've been told two women, in particular, have been giving us a difficult time. I've had the good luck of catching them in a good mood, I suppose, as I managed to get them laughing as I worked with them. My team was visibly surprised.

Then, bad luck at home. Yesterday, I came back from work to discover that my dad got our visas back. His application for a student visa to continue his studies has been rejected, throwing all of us into a turmoil. I could lose my job. Thing is, when I joined in September, my firm had asked to apply for a work permit for me. Right now, in the middle of a job, I don't know if it's still possible. I don't know anything anymore.

Huckabees

What a great movie!

I'll be the first to admit that I don't understand how some of the scenes fit with existentialism... particularly the mud-love-making scene. I understand the love-making, but the mud??? Still, this movie is bound to pique the viewer's interest in existentialism, a philosophy I find most interesting ever since I read an introduction to Sartre.

In many ways, this movie clarifies Sartre's views for me... how each agent is ultimately responsible for their own choice. Human nature and God are concepts created by us to divert responsibility for our own actions on to something else. Being (for oneself, for others, and just BEING), forlornness, anguish... so many of these concepts reflected in the characters, the situations they are confronted with. Awesome.

Hmm, I am feeling a sudden, inexplicable urge to go read something further about this... Nietzsche it is then!

Food and Music

My peer group have been trying to get together for awhile now since we joined the firm wayyy back in September '04. Go karting fell through when the two people who were supposed to organize it got overtaken by work.

Today, at last, I managed to get most of us together for some food. It was pretty cool as most of those attending had never experienced Dim Sum before. If you have to ask what it is, I can only reply with "just try it."

Anyway, it occurred to me in between bites that the "Chain of Marriages" may well have begun. In my group, 3 are already married, with a 4th recently revealing that he too is about to get married later this year (white guy flying off to India to marry a local girl there, but that's another story).

I'm not feeling to much pressure at the moment... but if this continues, how long will I be able to hold on to "non-commital" relationships? How long before I feel "left out?" How long before I feel I need to settle down? Sigh... maybe that's why I feel like song-writing now. Better go before the creative juices subside.

Before You Accuse Me...

Strange. Yesterday, this girl I know told me about how her previous two ex-es have always suspected there was something between her and I. Even some of her female friends were wondering.

Sure, we're close friends coz we talk about anything under the sun and moon... but I've done nothing to warrant suspicion, I think! One of her ex'es, I've only ever met in passing, the other's a friend of mine... so it's weird. Maybe we SHOULD start something up. Heh.

Wait. Maybe that's her plan. She confessed about having a crush on me before. Hmm, must tread carefully. This sheep does not intend to be caught and sheared.

Another Step Toward Space Exploration

Forget plasma engines or warp drives. The most likely form of space propulsion are SAILS!

Treasure Planet, anyone?



Hmm, if they manage to invent that microwave gun, then minituarize it, I don't see why it can't be installed onto a "space galleon." This could then lead to manned space vehicles, and before long, colonization of Mars! That'd be cool.

Size Matters

Big ones are messier. They are harder to work on, difficult to wrap up, and it's easy to get stuck. However, when you rise up to the challenge of handling one, it can be very satisfying... particularly because one sees more, and learns more from it.

Small ones are easy to handle. Its more comfortable, easier to fit in, and doesn't take up a lot of time. One can experience its entirety, and get a fairly good grip on things. However, it's not as deep as it's bigger brethren, and rarely as challenging, and boredom can set in quite quickly.

What the hell am I talking about? Clients. Businesses. Firms. Companies :)

The past few engagements I've had have been with massive clients. I'm finally working on a tiny one (in terms of personnel... it's turnover is actually quite astonishing... but then again, you'd have to be to hire us...) and it's quite pleasing to be able to handle so much on my own. I'm still fairly clueless when it comes to analytics, but I'm getting there...