Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Change your theme at your own risk

Just wanted to drop a quick note here to clarify that if you choose to follow my instructions to change your Windows XP theme, you do so at your own risk! ;) Today my anti-virus program crashed (well, it refused to turn on, I consider that crashing). I don't know if it's just coincidence or that some system files got corrupted when I mucked around with the theme and the other programs...but whatever it is, just be careful! :P

Monday, April 24, 2006

Imitation Mac

For those who know me, perhaps you've heard me say at least once how much I love Mac design but at the same time how I cannot live without Windows (sigh). Today, I mucked around with Windows XP themes and realized (much to my delight) that there are loads of stuff out there that can make your Windows desktop look anything but! Don't believe me? Check out the screen shot below:

Did you do a double take? If you don't look at the task bar, this looks just like a Mac...but wait! What's the Windows-looking taskbar doing there?? Haha...! This is actually my Windows XP desktop after the makeover, isn't it the coolest thing? ;)

In case you're interested, here's what I did to get this look:

1) First of all, I downloaded a patch to enable Windows XP to use unsigned themes (i.e. themes not created by Microsoft). You can follow these steps, or if you can also do it with a Multipatcher like this one.

2) Before proceeding, you need to have finished Step 1, otherwise it won't work. Then go online and google for your favorite theme. I used this, the Jaguar theme. For additonal visual styles (you can use the Jaguar theme and combine it with another visual style if you prefer another look), you can check out this awesome site. Iceman's site has some pretty good installation instructions to refer to.

3) After you've copied the theme and visual style files to C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\ folder, you should be able to use them by right-clicking your desktop and then click on Properties > Themes. You can choose your theme here, and for your visual styles, click the Appearance tab and choose from the Windows and Buttons menu.

4) There are more cool stuff that you can do. For example, like the dock at the bottom of the screen? ;) You can get it here. Like the shadow beneath your windows? Try this. To make them appear everytime you boot up, though, you need to drag the executables for these two programs to your Start > Startup menu.

5) Can't get enough? I even went as far as to get Messenger:Mac skin for my MSN Messenger 7.5, hehe! You can get that here.

There are still countless things you can do, like getting the Y'z Toolbar so that your taskbar looks more convincing (I'm happy enough the way mine is now though). You can also get Mac icons, just google.

So...yeah, it's kind of sad, haha, that I have to have a fake Mac, but hey at least it looks pretty! ;)

Saturday, April 22, 2006

My new favorite song



I think more than one person went "wtf???" when they visited my blog these couple of days. A friend offered to visit my blog more often if I take down that Hokkien song. It was amusing. Haha!

So after blasting visitors with Hokkien song for a few days, I've decided to put my new favorite song here instead. This is a not-so-new song by Eason Chan, titled "This day next year" (literally translated from Mandarin).


若这一束吊灯倾泻下来 或者我已不会存在
即使你不爱 亦不需要分开
若这一刻我竟严重痴呆 跟本不需要被爱
永远在床上发梦 余生都不会再悲哀

人总需要勇敢生存 我还是重新许愿
例如学会承受失恋

明年今日 别要再失眠 床褥都改变
如果有幸会面 或在同伴新婚的盛宴
徨惑地等待你出现

明年今日 未见你一年 谁舍得改变
离开你六十年 但愿能认得出你的子女
临别亦听得到你讲再见

repeat

在有生的瞬间能遇到你 竟花光所有运气
到这日才发现曾呼吸过空气

Thursday, April 20, 2006

I miss home

Monday, April 17, 2006

Bad Day

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces everytime
And I don't need no carryin' on

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Well you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on

You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day

(Oh.. Holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Had a bad day
Had a bad day
Had a bad day
Had a bad day
Had a bad day

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

My Five Factor Personality Profile



Extroversion:

You have medium extroversion.
You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party.
Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences.
But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time."

Conscientiousness:

You have medium conscientiousness.
You're generally good at balancing work and play.
When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done.
But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it.

Agreeableness:

You have high agreeableness.
You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly.
Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone.
You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance.

Neuroticism:

You have low neuroticism.
You are very emotionally stable and mentally together.
Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly.
Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure.

Openness to experience:

Your openness to new experiences is high.
In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas.
You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits.
A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!!

Today Ryan turns a ripe old age of 24...cheers! You're going to have to run quite a few extra miles after the cake and dinner today, Ryan! :P Hehe!