I just found out that Dropbox has introduced file requests.
You can now get people to drop off files in your Dropbox folder even if they are not members of Dropbox. This is definitely the kind of versatility I like in any service I use. It gives room for expansion, improvement and most of all, it has a sense of freedom.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Google Inbox
So Google made a new email app. Inbox. You can either download the new app from the AppStore or you can access the PC version through inbox.google.com. Provided you're invited to try it out.
I'm assuming it's not available for everyone yet.
The great thing about Inbox is that it allows you to sort your mail based on importance. And by importance, I don't mean just by labeling an email important.
Inbox lets you add a reminder to your emails and have the emails reappear in your inbox at the time you will be ready to deal with it. It lets you deal with important tasks first (tasks, not emails) and you can either snooze or set reminders on the rest for a later date. Once you're done with the task you can simply archive the email by selecting "done".
Inbox allows you to handle emails as a to-do list. Which is great because I am sure most emails are just that. Something you have to deal with when you have the time.
What I don't quite like about this system is the way it handles labels and incoming messages. On my mobile app, I no longer know which account has the new email. A notification will be apparent on the app icon but once you've opened the app, you can't tell which account that notification is for without checking everything.
Next, I label all my emails because it's just easier to browse through them when I'm looking for information or things I need to do. I do not enjoy having to double check if every email is labelled. This is important to me because I have people coming to me asking about when certain emails were sent or received or if certain documents have been sent out.
If these two issues can be fixed I'll be very happy with the new changes (that may replace gmail).
Point of View
As it turns out, no two persons can ever share a perfectly identical point of view. You may be able to get what someone else is saying but you'll never truly understand why.
Everyone leads a different life no matter how similar their upbringing. No two siblings are 100% alike, despite growing up in the same environment.
If that's true, is it worth arguing or wondering why people don't get what you're saying or is it worth trying to make people see things your way?
Is my way always the right way? Is your way always better?
Was the last argument you had worth it?
Everyone sees things the way they want to anyway. Would what I say change the way they think? Would my words enlighten them or belittle them? How are my words perceived?
I write in awe and wonder and I wonder if some might find me bitter or sad. Or simply unsatisfied with an imaginary situation.
Sometimes I don't understand what you're saying or why you do what you do. But I have learned to accept that people being people are different and I know I shouldn't be bothered if I don't understand.
Yet, when I see the look of confusion in your face and that twinge in your expression that says you can't accept that I don't understand, I'm equally as confused as you are. There are many things you may believe to be common sense, but I may not know what is common sense to you.
So I smile an empty smile. I let out a breath or two to simply let go. It's okay. I'm me and you're you. If I like you just alright, I hope you'll like me enough to hang around long enough to be okay with what I am.
Monday, May 25, 2015
Activating a Dormant Malaysian CIMB Savings Account whilst Overseas
This issue has been resolved!
I got an e-mail today from my customer service representative. She had been giving me weekly updates about the status of my account.
Today, she e-mailed to inform me that my account is now active. Thank God!
---
What I did:
1. Posted my problem on CIMB Malaysia's facebook wall, explaining my circumstances and why their solution is unavailable to me.
2. Wait for a customer service representative to contact me.
3. Sent my contact details to the customer service representative to formally submit a complaint. (A reference number or case number will be assigned to you. Use it for further correspondences.)
4. Sent a formal letter (physical and electronic PDF copy) addressed to my home branch.
5. Wait for news.
6. Receive good/bad news. (In this case, it was good news for me.) ^^
---
Initially, I had asked my brother and another friend to ask the people at CIMB (face-to-face inquiry) on my behalf but they were both told I had to be physically in Malaysia to activate my account and that there was no other way. But, deciding not to give up or to resort to other... err... ways to "be" in Malaysia without actually being there, facebook turned out to be another reliable channel for customer service complaints.
SNS, people! If they are properly manned, they should be a good channel to submit your complaints and have the right people deal with your problem.
---
Previous Posts: [1] [2]
I got an e-mail today from my customer service representative. She had been giving me weekly updates about the status of my account.
Today, she e-mailed to inform me that my account is now active. Thank God!
---
What I did:
1. Posted my problem on CIMB Malaysia's facebook wall, explaining my circumstances and why their solution is unavailable to me.
2. Wait for a customer service representative to contact me.
3. Sent my contact details to the customer service representative to formally submit a complaint. (A reference number or case number will be assigned to you. Use it for further correspondences.)
4. Sent a formal letter (physical and electronic PDF copy) addressed to my home branch.
5. Wait for news.
6. Receive good/bad news. (In this case, it was good news for me.) ^^
---
Initially, I had asked my brother and another friend to ask the people at CIMB (face-to-face inquiry) on my behalf but they were both told I had to be physically in Malaysia to activate my account and that there was no other way. But, deciding not to give up or to resort to other... err... ways to "be" in Malaysia without actually being there, facebook turned out to be another reliable channel for customer service complaints.
SNS, people! If they are properly manned, they should be a good channel to submit your complaints and have the right people deal with your problem.
---
Previous Posts: [1] [2]
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Grammarly
Have you ever heard of Grammarly?
It's an online grammar checker that does more than just look for strange grammar. It points out grammatical and spelling errors; it gives suggestions for what it thinks is correct. Highlighting words also brings up a list of synonyms. Of course, if the human thinks they are correct, they may override that correction. It's not obnoxious like Microsoft's autocorrect, which insists it is right regardless of what you say.
Anyway, I recently found out about their chrome extension and decided to give it a go. It's fairly accurate and mostly free. If you are not confident in your choice of words or sentence structures, it is a great free app.
However, for more advanced users, if you have advanced issues (such as choice of words, colloquialism, or other less common grammatical errors secondary language learners rarely have the chance to make, having not learned them) they require an upgrade which you have to purchase.
While I say why waste money on a free service, I feel that this particular service is worthwhile. It's like having an English teacher watching over your shoulder, telling you where you're wrong and why.
It's a fairly straightforward app and I think most people could benefit from its free services. Do check it out at grammarly.com.
It's an online grammar checker that does more than just look for strange grammar. It points out grammatical and spelling errors; it gives suggestions for what it thinks is correct. Highlighting words also brings up a list of synonyms. Of course, if the human thinks they are correct, they may override that correction. It's not obnoxious like Microsoft's autocorrect, which insists it is right regardless of what you say.
Anyway, I recently found out about their chrome extension and decided to give it a go. It's fairly accurate and mostly free. If you are not confident in your choice of words or sentence structures, it is a great free app.
However, for more advanced users, if you have advanced issues (such as choice of words, colloquialism, or other less common grammatical errors secondary language learners rarely have the chance to make, having not learned them) they require an upgrade which you have to purchase.
While I say why waste money on a free service, I feel that this particular service is worthwhile. It's like having an English teacher watching over your shoulder, telling you where you're wrong and why.
It's a fairly straightforward app and I think most people could benefit from its free services. Do check it out at grammarly.com.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas is now an author on Goodreads and I am truly inspired by her success. I have followed her work on fictionpress from high school and to finally see her published and a successful author is nothing but inspiring and amazing. I am in awe!
The story she initially posted as "Queen of Glass" is now published as "Throne of Glass". I still remembered the what she wrote at the end before it was taken down (I suppose in preparation for her book). The story was inspired from the scene when Cinderella was running out of the castle at the stroke of midnight. She asked the question "what if Cinderella was running away because of something she did". Her list of what ifs led to the thrilling adventure that is Queen of Glass.
The story she initially posted as "Queen of Glass" is now published as "Throne of Glass". I still remembered the what she wrote at the end before it was taken down (I suppose in preparation for her book). The story was inspired from the scene when Cinderella was running out of the castle at the stroke of midnight. She asked the question "what if Cinderella was running away because of something she did". Her list of what ifs led to the thrilling adventure that is Queen of Glass.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Activating a dormant CIMB account overseas (Part 2)
:: Updated! Issue Resolved! See Latest Post! ::
So the Internet had no answers for me. I opted therefore to look for a Facebook page. Yes, I turned to Facebook.
Turns out, CIMB did have a facebook page and people do post their problems on their wall. I decided to post my problem and it turns out this Facebook page was properly manned and a customer service representative was assigned to me almost immediately.
They requested for my contact particulars, which I happily gave. Since then we've exchanged two e-mails, requiring a formal request letter from me to my CIMB home branch. I have sent both a PDF and the actual physical letter to CIMB.
I now await news of its arrival and the resolution of this problem.
Until then.
-----
Previous post
Latest post
So the Internet had no answers for me. I opted therefore to look for a Facebook page. Yes, I turned to Facebook.
Turns out, CIMB did have a facebook page and people do post their problems on their wall. I decided to post my problem and it turns out this Facebook page was properly manned and a customer service representative was assigned to me almost immediately.
They requested for my contact particulars, which I happily gave. Since then we've exchanged two e-mails, requiring a formal request letter from me to my CIMB home branch. I have sent both a PDF and the actual physical letter to CIMB.
I now await news of its arrival and the resolution of this problem.
Until then.
-----
Previous post
Latest post
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Anime I just found out about
I was browsing Gyao on Yahoo Japan last night when I clicked on one of its free episodes without thinking. The title seemed interesting. Unfortunately, the scene I saw was almost horror-like with protective charms, stuck all over a creepy wooden door, suddenly moving from a passing wind that disturbed nothing else. I had to finish the episode if I wanted to go back to bed.
The anime was Seraph of the End (Owari no Seraph, 終わりのセラフ). And it was good! I haven't been hooked on anime for awhile now. It's nice to have something to follow.
Another series I ended up getting hooked on was The Heroic Legend of Arslan (アルスラーン戦記).
The anime was Seraph of the End (Owari no Seraph, 終わりのセラフ). And it was good! I haven't been hooked on anime for awhile now. It's nice to have something to follow.
Another series I ended up getting hooked on was The Heroic Legend of Arslan (アルスラーン戦記).
Monday, April 20, 2015
Understanding Light Scattering
Been using a SEC-MALS system lately for my protein analysis. Have to brush up on that MALS theory if I'm going to understand what I'm doing.
Links:
Equations and data analysis
SEC MALS model
Links:
Equations and data analysis
SEC MALS model
Box-Plot with R
Just trying to remember where I got all my tutorials for R.
Box-plot:
http://www.r-bloggers.com/box-plot-with-r-tutorial/
ecosensing.org
Strip Chart
Basic Plots - R Tutorial
Software Tutorial Compilations
Software at StatLab, Monash University
R Manual by Murray Logan
Statistics Tutorial
Interpreting p values
Significance level and p values
Box-plot:
http://www.r-bloggers.com/box-plot-with-r-tutorial/
ecosensing.org
Strip Chart
Basic Plots - R Tutorial
Software Tutorial Compilations
Software at StatLab, Monash University
R Manual by Murray Logan
Statistics Tutorial
Interpreting p values
Significance level and p values
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Activating a Dormant Malaysian CIMB Savings Account whilst Overseas
:: Updated! Issue Resolved! See Latest Post! ::
Googling this title might not bring up a lot of information for people who need to know but many people are certainly familiar with getting notices about inactive accounts and steps to take to activate dormant accounts within the country.
But what if you weren't in the country when the bank notifies you?
I recently found out that my CIMB savings account became dormant (just two days ago) and not only did I not know it was about to become dormant, I had money transferred to that dormant account to pay some bills. Now I can't use that money.
What should I do?
Situation:
1. Bank probably sent notification to my address in Malaysia (but I wouldn't be able to get it anyway because I'm not in Malaysia).
2. 1.5 years ago, I informed the bank that I won't be in the country and would like to be able to access my accounts from overseas. Was told this was possible and that I won't have anything to worry about. Yet, they fail to inform me directly of my account becoming dormant.
3. Online sites suggest that I make withdrawals from my bank account to activate it... at any branch in Malaysia. (I'm not coming home just to make a bank withdrawal.)
Solution:
1. Call CIMB International and tell them about my current situation. (Problem: No one is ever available at the customer service center and it's freaking expensive to make phone calls from Japan just to wait for an hour for no one to pick up.)
2. Make a withdrawal myself.
I mean, I don't really have much choice here. Where am I going to go for help? CIMB won't pick up my calls. I can't get my family to do anything for me. I've tried with the Maybank account but no luck. They say that I need to be there in person. Which is bull.
Banks these days have to consider people who need to travel for their jobs. I think, I may never want to come back to Malaysia.
+ Updated +
Part 2
Latest Post
Googling this title might not bring up a lot of information for people who need to know but many people are certainly familiar with getting notices about inactive accounts and steps to take to activate dormant accounts within the country.
But what if you weren't in the country when the bank notifies you?
I recently found out that my CIMB savings account became dormant (just two days ago) and not only did I not know it was about to become dormant, I had money transferred to that dormant account to pay some bills. Now I can't use that money.
What should I do?
Situation:
1. Bank probably sent notification to my address in Malaysia (but I wouldn't be able to get it anyway because I'm not in Malaysia).
2. 1.5 years ago, I informed the bank that I won't be in the country and would like to be able to access my accounts from overseas. Was told this was possible and that I won't have anything to worry about. Yet, they fail to inform me directly of my account becoming dormant.
3. Online sites suggest that I make withdrawals from my bank account to activate it... at any branch in Malaysia. (I'm not coming home just to make a bank withdrawal.)
Solution:
1. Call CIMB International and tell them about my current situation. (Problem: No one is ever available at the customer service center and it's freaking expensive to make phone calls from Japan just to wait for an hour for no one to pick up.)
2. Make a withdrawal myself.
I mean, I don't really have much choice here. Where am I going to go for help? CIMB won't pick up my calls. I can't get my family to do anything for me. I've tried with the Maybank account but no luck. They say that I need to be there in person. Which is bull.
Banks these days have to consider people who need to travel for their jobs. I think, I may never want to come back to Malaysia.
+ Updated +
Part 2
Latest Post
Monday, March 9, 2015
Old English Books
On one Sunday evening I found myself meandering through the streets of a quaint shopping district in Kawasaki. The weekend crowd was nowhere to be seen, which was strange. But it gave me courage and peace enough to walk through streets at my own pace. My walk brought me to a Book Off bookstore that sells second-hand books.
This was a very fortunate find for me, for I have been dying for a good English book to read. Modern literature can be interesting at times but I needed a proper English book that wouldn't be finished within hours. Second hand books would mean books written in proper old English that hasn't yet known the changes introduced by modern English. It would mean words written to be savored and experienced and not sped through just to past time. (I still can't believe it took me less than 8 hours to finish Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. For the record, I hated all the characters in that book.)
English books in Japan are relatively expensive for me. Although, it'll probably cost the same in Malaysia, variety in Japan is to be desired. I've started a small collection of Japanese books but my reading speed is still too slow for me to truly enjoy them. So, for the price of one new foreign book in Japan, I bought three old English books. One is a whodunnit and the other two are series to a fantasy.
The Other Side of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon proved to be just what I needed. It took me three nights to get through the prologue because the characters were so colorful and there were too many to remember. Just the way books were to me when I was 10. It took me three nights to gain momentum because it's been so long since I've read a well-researched book! Each character was carefully thought out, the semblance of historically accurate details set the scene for each unfolding event. The characters were alive!
The one thing I found annoying though was the way Sidney Sheldon tells you of a crime in trial but then he takes an entire book to tell you how it happened (or who were actually involved) before delivering justice in the end. It was a long, drawn-out suspenseful book. I don't think I can go through that again any time soon. (Matthew Reilly has ruined slow-paced books for me.)
I've just started on the other books and if they bring out the need to write in me, I'll blog again.
For those interested in the book: goodreads.com.
This was a very fortunate find for me, for I have been dying for a good English book to read. Modern literature can be interesting at times but I needed a proper English book that wouldn't be finished within hours. Second hand books would mean books written in proper old English that hasn't yet known the changes introduced by modern English. It would mean words written to be savored and experienced and not sped through just to past time. (I still can't believe it took me less than 8 hours to finish Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. For the record, I hated all the characters in that book.)
English books in Japan are relatively expensive for me. Although, it'll probably cost the same in Malaysia, variety in Japan is to be desired. I've started a small collection of Japanese books but my reading speed is still too slow for me to truly enjoy them. So, for the price of one new foreign book in Japan, I bought three old English books. One is a whodunnit and the other two are series to a fantasy.
The Other Side of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon proved to be just what I needed. It took me three nights to get through the prologue because the characters were so colorful and there were too many to remember. Just the way books were to me when I was 10. It took me three nights to gain momentum because it's been so long since I've read a well-researched book! Each character was carefully thought out, the semblance of historically accurate details set the scene for each unfolding event. The characters were alive!
The one thing I found annoying though was the way Sidney Sheldon tells you of a crime in trial but then he takes an entire book to tell you how it happened (or who were actually involved) before delivering justice in the end. It was a long, drawn-out suspenseful book. I don't think I can go through that again any time soon. (Matthew Reilly has ruined slow-paced books for me.)
I've just started on the other books and if they bring out the need to write in me, I'll blog again.
For those interested in the book: goodreads.com.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Irony or Not?
Does this count as irony?
Last week I went all the way to the research center to use the mass spec and realized I didn't have a USB to transfer all my results.
Today, I made sure I had my USB but when I was ready to transfer my mass spec results, the room was locked!
T^T
If this is not irony, it's still a very unfortunate circumstance.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Most Viewed
I just found out my most viewed page is "How to split tables in Google Docs".
Apparently there are no good tutorials out there to teach you how.
Apparently there are no good tutorials out there to teach you how.
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