The author assumes no responsibility whatsoever for any losses resulting from relying on the information below. Always remember to backup before making any changes.

Unlike the iPhone 3G/3GS, the iPhone 4 has no manual MMS settings available.

After numerous customer service call-ins and reading many forum suggestions, none of the so-called “Help” rendered proved successful.

All of them either asked me to “reset network settings” or “erase all content and settings”. Both did not work.

However, it worked when I tried to “reset all settings” instead! (First option)

Subsequently, test send a new picture on a new message. Do not click the faulty exclamation to retry sending.

Hope this works for you as well.

Another year briskly it’s time again,
How age catches outruns our each day.
On not how each candle adds to date,
But on our virgin meet 27 shinings away.

5 and 2 months; resemblance to yesterday,
Though blink of eye, yours vividly remain.
I wonder if the flowers its’ scent will one day,
Be erased; forgotten, our Time in some place.

Know not when this silence of summer’s night fade,
My memories they bring me to that very first fate.
And before Time its habit to slip away,
This year once again, wishings; a Happy Birthday.

A State of Being Referenced

By Esmond Ng 05/06/10 © Copyright

Recently, there was an article suggesting that the strengthening of the Singapore dollar would not affect our exports. In the conventional school of thought, the appreciation of a country’s currency would naturally lead to its exports being comparatively more expensive for the importing country. However this article suggests that because of the stronger dollar, the inputs (which are mostly sourced internationally) into the export products become cheaper; thus not affecting our export costs and quantities.

We are not probating nor assailing the article’s point of view, but instead using it to bring up a relevant issue of relativity. When we try to make any sort of comparisons, the subject will always be relative to another matter. When we purchase our end-product inputs, what is our exchange rate to the source country? Is the other currency moving in the same direction too? Or is our appreciation really a true indication of more value?

If we are assessing exclusively, then whatever we are looking at will always be absolute for there is nothing else to benchmark against. Personally, a 1.0L automobile is a luxury to me. (Or any other affordable automobile for that matter of fact) However, once you put the subject next to a Mercedes or even a Bentley, the comparison immediately becomes obvious.

I boldly propose that Sun Tzu’s most renowned phrase has remained famous over the last 2,000 years precisely for the same reason. Without knowing who and what we are up against is surely tantamount to failure. How can we expect to compete with something that we are not aware of?

There are numerous tools and methodologies known for carrying out competitive analysis. Most of which almost always boil down to the same few principles with “Research” commonly being the first agenda as it sets the forward direction.

Who are our immediate competitors? What advantages do they have? Are there gaps that my business can thrive in? These are perhaps just the tip of the iceberg when accosted with the increasingly competitive arenas that our industries are in.

Then who do we reference ourselves against? If we are the top few market leaders, naturally our strategy would be to compare our strengths and weaknesses against the other top brands available. If we are closer to being a statistic in the sheer volume of companies doing the same replicable business, then we should seriously investigate into setting unique propositions and differentiating ourselves.

Only through thorough reflection and more reflection would we know how to capitalize on what we’ve got and where to improve ourselves where it most counts. The important thing here is knowing which other business(es) we are relative to. Talk to many people; experts and laymen. Talk to consultants if you have to. Finding out how you compare to the next better player will set you free.

The memories we have, the times we shared.
All our smiles and laughter, I will not forget.
And as Life takes you where your destiny threads,
Go forth I wish you, with Life’s every single best.

I recall when the world for us stilled,
Nothing mattered much when I with you.
We talked for ages though we’ve just met,
Of similarities we did not reenact.

When gentle eyes yours set on mine,
My vision blurred from corner both sides.
For what my Heart sought I now see before,
My first True Love, perhaps my only all.

Know I that you will know this too,
That to me there is only one; only you.
Till now I could never like before,
My eyes on anyone set like I did yours.

I could not; never wander from you,
Your baring eyes spoke such cherishing truth.
That if eternity could be any longer to,
I choose my eyes, again will on you.

When the Orange looks dull,
And the skies oft grey.
It may start even raining; pouring,
On your dismay’s head.
In a line or two I hope to you pray,
That there’s light whilst you forward brave.
Cos lurking is there surely always,
Hidden Rainbows not so far ahead.

]]> http://www.esmondng.com/2010/03/27/a-line-maybe-two/feed/ 0 http://www.esmondng.com/2010/01/02/in-memory/ http://www.esmondng.com/2010/01/02/in-memory/#comments Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:07:56 +0000 esmondng http://www.esmondng.com/?p=409 In Loving Memory of Stephanie Tan Lai Chan (23/01/89 – 01/01/10)

“In Memory” by Esmond Ng 02/01/10 © Copyright

I would see you almost every other day,
But yet you, I’d not know beyond your name.
Too few hellos and goodbyes we’d have,
Time too haste, too fast to chase.

We shared too, too little exchanges;
Of hearty smiles and laughter candor.
Of our ups and downs, and cheer and fears.
Fair in times like these never, know not I will ever.

I’d never know how your demeanor,
Of what your friends about you say.
How you’d react to the funny things, I have yet no chance to say.
Know not I will ever, this friend I have yet to truly make.

For our God has chosen for you,
To His bosom side to stay.
And though we’ll all miss you in our each own ways,
We’d like you to know, you were not in vain.

For your memories and image they live on,
In those whom sighted you as you blazed along.
Like a comet gone too soon,
We’ll reminisce till we’re blazed out too.

In three weeks 21 you’d be,
“Happy Birthday, Steph!” to you from me.
A final teary “Goodbye” for now it seems,
Hearts, your family, friends and me.

One of palettes and scents aplenty,
With breaths of each become more compelling.
That this Garden which so seemingly unassuming,
Is really worth one’s time in revisits.

Once on the hills with stalks petaled in,
Against the vast ground of evergreens,
Contrasts that accentuates your lovely lovelies,
Awed stand I when you I chanced to meet.

For under the sky blues and puffs of white,
There they sit demure and so very poised.
And when in gentle winds they brush across,
Their leaves like hair flows just like yours.

Those to the Garden will sight what I see,
Surely those I describe convert too to attest it.
With each picture my lit eyes are color-blushed,
Long I to Kelly’s Garden again fast.

I pray for abounding things,
Of most many yen the same.
Unvarnished to ornamented they be,
How fervently amaranthine we seek.

I pray for prime and clean bill,
To forward my trade pursuits.
From which treasure riches return,
All worldly possessions we yearn.

I pray for Love innocent and true,
The meeting of Hearts to hold to.
I pray this turn finally be mine,
This time to find my Valentine.

But all of these I had asked lavish,
I pray equally take from me; banish.
For give rather I in place of these,
That You in replace will all above receive.

Have a blast; some merriment this day.
Joyful gaiety due none can take away.
And to you all festives will surely give way,
For it be for you that these galas grace.

Though these words replace not how much I have to say,
You of all will know what needn’t be displayed.
It is in times like these when I distanced, I pray:
Longstanding wishes & Happy Birthday!

Miraculous it may seem,
Fate works its ways in us beings.
For never did I imagine could be,
What I seek’d in front of me.

Once I hanker’d and once I did receive,
Paints of memories and etch’d it did.
An innocent Romeo & Juliet story,
Coincidences in most everything.

Like the end of tragic Love stories,
Too ours perhaps guileless and naïve.
But these flowers its’ scent can’t be erased,
Even long after they’re gone we had our Time in some place.

Remember I the times sore,
Stricken; afflicted and wretched.
Besetment assail’d from above,
Like the bottomward that downpour’d.

There sat I at sixes and sevens,
Dazed at what just befell.
For at the bridge knew not I,
What wrong I did nor neither fate might.

How did such beauty and perfection cease?
Why my imaginary cloud shapes no longer pleased?
For the bright blessed day of just 5 minutes,
Now overcast acerbity.

Though things may sometimes I never know,
Left unsolved it may best be so.
Memories more precious for there in Heart stays,
But storms will eventually dissipate.

With time I sat the more I knew,
Darkest clouds too come and go.
Silver linings are there always,
When storms pass there they glow.

Workmanship and quality is top-notched. It has survived seasons, climate changes and a number of plane rides. (warped just very slightly in the 10 years, but still a lot ’straighter’ than most new cues)

Had it made back when I was staying in Queensland. Quite a popular custom cue maker over there.

Specifications
Brand: Zak’s Custom Cues
Model: Custom Made
Type: 2-Piece ‘3/4′ Cue
Joint: Short-Head Brass Joint

Ferrule: Short Brass
Tip Diameter: 9 mm
Tip Used: ‘Compressed’ Blue Diamonds
Butt Circumference: 98 mm
Weight: 18+ oz

Shaft Length: 42″
Butt Length: 13″
Total Length: 55″
Balance Point: 14.5″ from Butt End

Shaft Material: Dark Ash
Butt Material: Ebony with single Rosewood Splice
Badge: Glass-Covered Rectangle Badge (a one-off)

Extensions
- 28″ Custom Butt Replacement Extension (not screw-on below the butt)
- 26″-37″ Telescopic Extension (slip-on)

Some Aluminum Case that I bought from Day 1. (I’m surprised the case lasted this long)

Pictures

The "Onionhead" that my GF bought because she says he looks like me!

The club I used to play at.

Just don’t ask me how much I spent on it. LOL
(Worth every penny though)

The greatest distance between two,
Not for when I not next to you.
But for when face to yours see,
Not oblivious to each’s burning ardency.

It is for then when you in front of me,
And yet when Love we know subsist,
And yet whilst this passion flamingly,
That we know Fate will never let us be.

Choices not apparent the always,
Deceivable most times the case,
If be uninvolved so snap smooth the first place,
Then what of choice would be it in dawning preface?

How we then make verdict of it all?
Consensus concord a volition pray.
For some in haste and foolhardy made,
Regrettable woeful will afflict its place.

Bassanio too was worriment engaged,
For dependent was Portia on his take.
Should gold, silver or lead be his box picked?
Should he cull a coward pick?

As stairs of sand they wear upon their chins,
The beard of Hercules and all their fancy things.
But inward with their milk’d white livers,
So too the precious metal boxes contain.

By King; not of monarchial palatine,
But that of sovereign authority.
That Love is King,
The potent utmost of feelings.

For towers it his adversary,
Hate that chew’d through humanity.
The nemesis most reputed regentship,
That Love defeats whole-heatedly.

So true they say of it,
Love conquers all through ages repeat.
Care it be tempestuous heat,
Love would always cool the salvage beast.

Not of just trouncing its archenemy,
The transmuting to lesser of hostilities.
Also but with Love comes many,
Blitzkrieg transmogrifications scary.

For Love can crash the deepest of seas,
From Love to Hate and aggression leads.
But too Love can scale insurmountable peaks,
Comes Joy and Happiness beyond speech.

What then cursory speak of Love we?
Nay I say speak but only reverence should we.
For it be what it is,
The root of all feelings King.

Venue: Singapore Central Business District
Date: 28/09/08
Time: 8pm
Type: Night Race

What an amazing view I had from Ritz Carlton! I could see 6 turns on the track from where I was. Also managed to catch Piguet smash into the barrier and a “Red Bull” over-shooting into the excess area twice. I did miss the crash-out at one of the turns though as it was blocked by the grand stand area.

There was 2 favorite spots for me; the long stretch along Marina Bay and the “S” bend under the ECP. The long straight demonstrated not only the F1 vehicles’ astounding speed but also their insane braking ability! The “S” bend was really a spectacle of impeded clump manoeuvring for me.

Without ado, a video of the “S” bend at Turns 20 & 21:

This one shows Turns 16, 18, 19, 20 & 21: