A very interesting site - Fiverr

So cutting to the chase, one of my relatives recommended this site to me when I told her that I'm interested in writing. She said that through this, I can get feedback and earn some money on the side (she knew about my dismal financial problem as well). 

I've forgotten about it until yesterday and, boy! I had a blast trying to think of stuff/service that I can sell. :) 

It's pretty cool. I haven't made a sale yet so I cannot comment of how the buying-selling works, but the setting up sales part is pretty awesome. Somewhat rigid in a way, but awesome. And it's fun seeing what kind of weird stuff people sell online for fiver ($5). :P

Check out my Fiverr account (Link: http://fiverr.com/users/aveyntoh/). If you somehow saw something that you like or need, feel free to purchase any of my gigs ;) I might just start  making crafts for sale as well! But ... uh, no time. Sigh... lol.

Okay I'm out. Cya!


Note: I've noticed that the site frequently goes down (becomes inaccessible). That's one major part the devs at Fiverr should work on asap :P

P/S: Btw, I've just made my first sales! :D I've written an abstract and she paid me $5 but then, somehow, Fiverr said I was paid $8. However, when I checked my revenue, they only inputted $4 into my Fiverr account..... LOL 

And so... here's to a brave soul

Okay, if you've been with me long enough, you can often see that I lament and complain about my postgraduate studies, and the frequency/intensity of my complaints are getting worse each passing month. And well, I saw this very lengthy facebook post posted by my lecturer from UTAR (Let's just call him Mr T). He is quite a successful entrepreneur with a Masters who wanted to get his PhD by learning with the most acclaimed supervisor in his field in Taiwan.

I never thought much about his studies - it looks fine to me since he didn't actually complained a lot on facebook lol. Needless to say, I saw surprised to see this on my news feed today.   

新年終於作出心痛的決定。[Loosely translated into: I've finally made a heartbreaking decision in this new year.]

I have decided to give up my PhD studies. Last month, I gave myself a 3-week break to think seriously about quitting.

I know that walking away from my studies at this point makes me and my love ones feel very heart broken, but it make no sense that when I realize that the research work I'm doing now to fulfil the PhD requirement is utterly rubbish (to me) in the sense that it does not contribute any good to my career development, or making me more employable after I graduate. In fact, getting a PhD makes a person's job scope narrower. Frankly speaking, I do not need an employment. I'm a technopreneur, and I create employment opportunities instead.

However, the course of pursuing PhD is not totally wasted. I have positioned myself more firmly as a technopreneur, proudly as well, ever since 8 years ago. Putting my knowledge (in algae science) into good use in the industry makes me feel even more satisfying than teaching in an academic institution. I wouldn’t deny that science and academic development are undoubtedly important, as stepping stones, and have brought me to who I am today.

Pursuance of a PhD degree during the path of my career development is a bonus, in which my supervisor has recently torn down this idea. He is a perfectionist who has high expectation towards his students, being academically excellent and more importantly being obedient. Not saying that I’m rebellious. Being educated in an American way, I respect his profession but I couldn't understand why he wants everything to be done only using his way. When the work was not done using his way, he used malicious and insulting words to discredit my prowess, even when the result was more prolific. He also denied all the ideas which are unconventional to him, whereas his ideas were arbitrarily unquestionable and unchallengeable. What could be more painful than the mental and verbal torturing from a beloved mentor who supposed to give us courage and advise? I used to treat it as a course of mental training which had to be experienced by every PhD student but eventually I gave up. It is not necessary to work in this devastating way.

 There was a time when I felt that I was useless and depressed, which was the result of his savage verbal attack. Now, I am glad that I have gone through this and regained my confidence. I trust that there are many more to be done in this industry using what I have learned. I choose to develop my career in Taiwan rather in Malaysia, despite the fact that the industry recognizes my supervisor as one of the most influential expert in Taiwan. I am now officially a “traitor” to my supervisor who discontinued the study halfway, stealing his intellectual ideas to set up business without his blessing.

I understand that the path that I choose is more difficult than any others. Therefore, to all my friends, at this difficult moment of my life, I need your support and courage. It is a turning point, and a great challenge. I thank my family for giving me fullest support, being understanding and backing me all the time. For those who gave me positive energy which I desperately need it right now, thank you. I look forward to seeing a brighter future, together we build

I seriously applaud this brave soul and I strongly agree with one of his main points - It is not necessary to work in this devastating way. I've endured (and complained) for 2 years now at the hands of my supervisor. He doesn't really verbally abused me as Mr T's supervisor, but he does kept putting me down whenever my work gets negative results. He doesn't understand how hard and how much effort I've put into this futile stupid and eventually useless + time-wasting side project despite the negative outcome. He just knows that the outcome is negative, so you're a lazy, useless student. W... T... F...!!! 

I believe all supervisors are the same. They kept saying their students are useless, worthless piece of garbage that they had the unfortunate luck to accept into their group. But then, the worse part is that they only bully the junior - and in my lab, that unfortunate junior (since Lyra left) is me. He fking compared me with a technician and scathingly said that at least technician delivers results. Sht lah you... if you give me a working protocol to use, of course I can get results but you practically want me to DESIGN my own protocol and OPTIMISE it... WITHOUT any experience OR GUIDANCE. Or any luck for that matter, looking at the results I've gotten. I've did the best I could, had given up multiple times over the 15+ lengthy methods that I've tried and it probably contributed a whooping 50% to the cause of my severe depression. And your snide comments are not helping.... at all.... oh and my family are not exactly supporting me. I mean, I do understand how they see this. They saw a cheerful bubbly lady went into postgrad studies and turned into a moody, volatile lady. They can at least smell the garbage heap of a place of study before they actually saw it. Not me. I'm practically swimming in it and I still scared to leave. That garbage heap is not at all comfy. Why don't I just leave?!

I think it's because I'm torn between what's worth it or not. I've always made any decision using this 'worth it or not' system. It failed me a couple of times but most of the time it still works, and yet, here it is... the cause of my indecision and my inability to leave.

I've been there for 2 years already. I'll be losing 2 years of work, no testimonial from my supervisor (especially not good ones since he'll definitely be fuming mad), no proof of what work I've done and how well I've done it (refer to testimonial) and hence, if I went to an interview for a job opening and if the interviewer asked me, 'I see you've graduated for 2 years now... what job have you been doing for the past two years?', I don't even know whether I should tell the truth or lie...... (I'm very realistic, no matter how pitiful your story may sound, I know for sure that the interviewer will not take pity on you and just hire you. No fking way. Not in this world anyway.). Then perhaps enduring one more year (or more) just to get that piece of paper (my Masters certificate) is the better choice? But looking at myself now, I'm not entirely sure I can hold on for that long... I might just (due to my stubbornness or persistence) land myself a one-way ticket to Tanjung Rambutan (a very famous mental institution in my country).

Honestly, I have half a mind to just drop everything and start a food business of my own - I make some real mean burritos (and I'm not even Mexican :P)... well, they are not exactly 'burritos', more like wraps. :) I've already have the menu planned (with my dad lol. He's a huge fan of my wraps) and the type of business that I think I can do... I just don't have that courage. I just don't have that money to just try and be like 'oh bother, it failed. Never mind. I have plenty of money left and I can still EASILY get a job ANYTIME I want'... lol

At my state, I'll probably own my first car when I'm 30 years old (I'm 24 now lol)... and house? Hah, perhaps after I'm 55, I will have finally finish paying my house loan LOL...

I'm not brave... and I'm not a coward either. I'll stand up for myself... just not all of the time. 

I really don't know what I should do. Maybe, it's best to just stop thinking.

The story of the long and arduous path that leads to CNY

Something that I came up with. Unfortunately, the photos are recycled photos from previous years - I didn't had the time nor the energy to take the photos for this flow chart lol :P

Btw, 'makan' means 'eat'. :)

Within Temptation lyric videos

So, yeah, I'll bet you still remember that I promised to put up the WT songs from their Hydra album on the 31st of January and yet there are still no news till then. Partly, it was my mistake coz it's Chinese New Year and I'm busy like hell lol. The other part is that WT's recording studios and publishers (a list of 6 of them I think) restricted all WT songs from Hydra - this means that they blocked all countries from viewing the video... or so I thought.... until I saw my videos getting some but very little views.

After some investigation, I've realised that the videos (which contained the songs) are blocked from all countries EXCEPT Japan. 

Strange right? But then, there's the loophole. It's pretty easy to just 'fool' youtube into thinking that you're viewing the video from Japan and not... for example, from the US. How?

Check this out: http://aveyntoh-blog.blogspot.com/2014/02/how-to-access-youtube-videos-that-are.html) ;)

Oh and I'll be listing down the links to the restricted videos here as well since the videos are not 'searchable':

1. Roses - 
2. Tell Me Why -
3. Silver Moonlight (Release version) - 
4. Dog Days (Release version) - 
5. Let Us Burn (Release version) - 
6. Edge of the World -

Note that I've only uploaded a few videos. I'll work on the rest once I have more free time.

Note, just scratch that, you'll just have to download the album since they are doing a massive take down of all WT's music-containing videos on YouTube. Until I find a new video-sharing site that is more lenient... well, let's just say either WT will make a music video for their songs or you'll never get to see these songs on YouTube lol. 

How to access YouTube videos that are blocked/only available in certain countries

This method is not tested out (yet) but it should have worked... logically. If it worked for you, you can post a comment in the comment section below. TQ!

If you are trying to set up a proxy server for your browser for normal use, you can also check out this guide (you can skip to Step 3) :)

~ ~ ~ ~

Step 1. So first of all, once you've encountered that blocked video on YouTube, copy the URL of the blocked YouTube video. 

Example link of YouTube video: http://youtu.be/_k2mDALQJSE (unfortunately, it was taken down by a copyright claim lol)

Step 2. Paste the link into the box provided at this ProxyNova site: http://adf.ly/qixyl It'll tell you which country that will allow you to watch the video.

In my case, the only country that can view the video is Japan. Note the green country on your right :)

Step 3. So you'll need to find a proxy server that is located in that country. How to find it? Well, just go to Let Us Hide: http://adf.ly/qiy39 and then choose the location (country) that you want. 

***Btw, there are plenty of other methods to 'lie' to YouTube about where you're actually connecting from but this is just one of it.

In my case, I have to choose 'Japan'.

Then a list of proxy servers will be listed for you. Choose one that has high reliability and speed.

As you can see I've chosen number 6 server.

Step 4. Now, you'll have to do a bit of tinkering with your web browser :P And, in my case, google chrome.

So firstly, you click on the menu button (mine's in orange colour because I haven't updated it yet... lol :P). Then, you click on settings.

Next, you scroll down to the end and click on 'Show advanced settings'. You'll need to scroll down some more until you hit the Network section, then click on 'Change proxy settings....'

And now the slightly more complex part :P Follow the numbers in the pic and the instructions below.
1. Click on LAN settings
2. Check the 'Use proxy server' box
3. Enter in/Copy&Paste the address of the proxy that you've chosen in the previous step (Step 3) 
4. Enter in/Copy&Paste the port number of the proxy that you've chosen in the previous step (Step 3)
5. Click 'OK'
6. Click 'OK'

***Note that proxies are relatively safe to use but it may have slower than usual connection speed.

Lastly, restart your browser (click on the red 'x' button on your top right corner of the browser and then start Google Chrome again) and check out that blocked YouTube link again to see if it's unblocked for you. That's it! :P

Honestly though, these steps should technically work (but I have not had the time to test it out yet). I'll post up the results here once I've done it. You can also post your results in the comments below :)


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I, Frankenstein movie review

So... I've been to the cinema to watch this new movie called 'I, Frankenstein'. It's a 'what happened after?' version of the old Frankenstein story. 

Without giving too much away, I would say that I find the director's idea of a more handsome Frankenstein 'monster' a very nice touch. I think he's trying to make the Frankenstein 'monster' appear more human as the movie discussed quite a lot on Frankenstein's uh~ species status - since he's not exactly human (immortal lol), he can be either a creature of light or darkness :P but initially, he ofc chose to be neutral - he is just starting his journey to find the answer to the question 'who am I?' at that time. 

I find the story line quite satisfying though there are some parts I was like 'What?'. I also like the awesome CGI used in this movie - I especially like the way the Gargoyles morphed into human form and vice versa, and also how the good and evil souls get sucked up into heaven/ down into the ground :) Despite all that, I still think that this movie is more CGI and fighting. I've mentioned that the story is pretty satisfying but, emotionally, I don't find it fulfilling. The part where Frankenstein finds his true self and his life's purpose is just... a little too short and not well explained I think. 

Overall, it's still a good movie - I'd rank it as 7/10 (a B grade, haha), but it's not exactly a must-watch :) That's what I think anyway. 

Honestly, I think it's somewhat similar to the movie, Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones. :P

Cheers!

Samsung Android phones problem - Camera locked

Just to clear some things up - I'm a total noob when it comes to smartphones. I just find smartphones so much difficult to understand (the inner workings of it I mean :P) then computers LOL.

So, anyway, somehow when I was busy taking photos, my camera was accidentally locked (there was a little lock icon on my camera capture screen). 

Needless to say, because of that tiny lock icon, I cannot take photos on my phone or even exit the camera app without resorting to using the home button or the power button (to turn off the phone and then on again). The settings button and the back button both became unusable. 

The lock icon persisted even after I've rebooted the phone. So what caused this and what can I do to fix this?

The answer is really easy.

Once you've pressed on the camera app on your Samsung phones, press the power button on the side of your phone to turn the locked mode off. 

Simple right? But it has caused me plenty of headache and frustration lol. Haha. 

Okay, I'm off to play Tropico 4. Stay tuned for the reviews in a bit (unfortunately no screenshots though. Somehow my Fraps isn't working with Tropico 4 :P Meh, I suppose because Tropico 4 has its own screenshot feature)