[Optimum Aquarium]
Fatalities were countless since I started rearing ornamental fish at the age of 10. My initial interests were aroused by my father. His aquarium was still intact in my memory. The pictures were not clear though as I am only 5 then. My favourite had to be the two red-white koi. It was a joy playing with them. They were later given away when we moved in the year 1987.
Over the past years, I must have reared most of the different kind of tropical fishes available in the Singapore ornamental fish market. At the moment, I am seriously engrossed with the killifish.
To know more about my aquarium, click here.
[Financial Literacy]
I started out with the 'lemon' bank structured deposits in the year 2003. Unit Trusts were followed a year later. Having grown bolder with the increasingly rate of returns, there were times I consider moving on to more risky venture. But I relented after considering the family financial burden I had to bear.
Despite that, I had managed to gather a comfortable nest of investment funds just by living well below my means. Being frugal is after-all the cornerstone of wealth building.
Although investment can be fun and profitable, they are however supposed to complement my life and not the other way round. Thus, I am never far from charted territories.
In order to minimise the risk that all investments come with, I had been brushing up my financial knowledge on a daily basis. The knowledge gained is after-all useful for the rest of your life.
[The Internet]
My first time with the internet took place when I am 17. It was not long before I grew attached to it. During my poly life, I could stay wired for up to 5 hours daily. These days however, I had only managed to clock an average of 2 hours daily.
My colleague had been persuading me to take up unlimited broadband access so that I can join them in MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games). I finally did on the 31st of August 2003. However, the bulk of my wired activities were still centred round web-building, forum/newsgroup participation and exchanging e-mails.
Like most people, I enjoyed debating over the internet though I am not after the right and wrong. I am more after the interesting reply that followed. Occasionally, I would look back in time and found myself silly. I did enjoy reminiscing though.
[Programming]
My first written program was done using MS-DOS BATCH FILE Programming when I am 14. It is a simple game that link hundreds of batch file together. It is about a swordsman making an infinite journey with monster lurking in the dark. It is a pity that the files were lost when my hard disk corrupted one day.
After passing my GCE 'O' Level (General Certificate of Education 'Ordinary' Level), I entered poly and was taught Visual C++. After I mastered the language, I wrote another game. It is about a hero fighting his way through uncharted land. He can recruits heroes and hire mercenaries to fend off hostile forces during their quest.
Using Visual Basic 5.0 programming, I did my FYP (Final Year Project) on the topic Cellular System. It is a learning software introducing GSM (Global System for Mobile communication). It is a 3 person's team effort with me as the leader and chief programmer.
When I first started out in cyberspace, I knew nothing about HTML (HyperText Markup Language) not to mention Java Applet/Script. It was through self-learning that my skill improves. My passion for web-building had prompted me to upgrade my web-building skill using CGI (Common Gateway Interface) namely Perl (Practical Extraction and Report Language) Script.
[Computer Games]
The games that I had played were endless. My favourite were the X.COM series by Microprose. From UFO-Enemy Unknown to X.COM 3 Apocalypse to X.COM Interceptor, I am an ardent supporter. My proudest achievement however got to be the Command & Conquer series by Westwood Studios. It all started in Red Alert where I won almost every duel put across. Life had never been easier.
Certain games were not meant to be shelved and they included games such as Master of Orion III by Infogrames Interactive, as well as Europa Universalis III and Hearts of Iron II Doomsday Armageddon by Paradox Interactive. They were after-all one of its kind with the world largest modding community. With such dedications, it is no wonder that fanfare just keep on going.
With a brand new computer tweaked for maximum gaming experience, I took on graphic-demanding games such as Port Royale II by Ascaron Entertainment. Despite moving on, my commitment to Paradox Interactive modding community remains though project times were significantly reduced. Face it, this was not the first time. Gradually, it will happen.
In an effort to reduce the cost for multi-player gaming, I looked into networking and succeeded in setting up a LAN (Local Area Network) long before the theory were ever taught in class. This was just an example of me pre-empting the subjects taught in school.
Looking back, I had to admit that gaming had taken a toll on my academic results. The two had not been balanced well. The good was it further-enhanced my thinking process, equipping me with the "think out of the box" capability. No wonder it had been a ease mastering any computer game. All it take were a few trials.
They were after-all just like any other software. Getting it to work is simply not enough. The satisfaction comes from the challenge in unravelling the software. Throw in a routine and you will have one natural process.
[Computer Games Mod]
My first mod were definitely nothing compared today. It all started with a slight modification to Red Alert combat units which I learned from the internet. My programming background had probably given me the edge in analysing lines and lines of codes. As I ventured more and more deeply into the world of game modding, the past appears insignificant.
Although the game engine nowadays were becoming more mod-friendly, only a handful involved the source code. State of the art tools were developed instead, some by mod-maker themselves. It seems that the game developer too had realised the multiplying effect of the modding community and the loyalty they will command.
[World Event]
Other than reading The Straits Times, the internet had been a great source in updating me on the latest news. My first active participation in forum took place in May 1998 during the Chinese Indonesians Crisis in Indonesia. I came to know the Worldwide Huaren Federation via a circulating e-mail. I am once part of the WHF news team in charge of its monthly newsletters. However, due to time constraint and inexperience, I have not been able to contribute much.
This crisis had awakened my thoughts on this world. I began to look at this world and those around me with suspicion. I stopped dreaming and started thinking. Life since had became a game of chess.
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