New Facebook vs Old Facebook

Firstly, if you are reading this in Facebook, click on "View Original Post" at the bottom to get to the full article. You're in for a ride.

Secondly: for all those complaining about the new Facebook, scroll up and see if there's a link on the top right corner that says "Back to old Facebook". *sigh*

NOW, onto my slightly controversial (but by no mean targeting anyone) commentary on the whole New Facebook thing, as an engineer, which is starting to get on my nerves.

Okay. Firstly, don't be xenophobic. Remember when you first join Facebook and didn't know where things were and keep posting on your own wall? And you complained about how Facebook is confusing and it's hard to use? What you're experiencing in New Facebook is exactly that. Give it time. (This is exactly the same sort of excuse I get for getting people to use new browser or new OS. "It's different" does NOT mean it's bad.)

Secondly, the new Facebook actually makes design sense. Stop hyperventilating and take slow deep breaths and hear me out.

1. Firstly, the home page. You'll now see your own status on top of the page, thus if all you want to is to change your status all you need is to load the home page and it's right on top of the page! Rather than hiding somewhere.
2. The new "comment" system means if you see your mate's status update/photo/note/whatever, and you want to comment on it, you can just click there from your homepage and do it straight away! Rather than the old system which requires you to load their profile and write on their wall. This also means you know what the comments are about even after your mate change their status yet again.
3. Onto the profile pages, the tabs there cleans the page up instantly. Before hand, which the explosion of apps it's starting to look like MySpace (Don't get me started on MySpace.), where everything's at the same place, and things just get lost in the busy page. The new layout breaks the information down so you can actually navigate and find what you're looking for instantly.
   
4. Built in filters for the wall is a cute touch, you've got to admit it.
5. And, I'll bite it: the new layout actually eliminate the chance of you posting on your own freaking wall! Go on, try to reply a wall message and see how it does it.
   

Seriously, my rule of thumb is to give it at least 3 weeks before you decide whether you like a new layout/software. Just because you're not used to something does not make it bad. The new Facebook actually makes more sense and has a more "grown up" look to it and believe me, if you've started off in the New Facebook and all of a sudden go back to the old Facebook you'll complain even more. Granted, it's not exactly "intuitive" yet, but overall the New Facebook is an improvement.

While you're in the mood of trying new things, go download Google Chrome and give it a spin, or, if you aren't using it already (and why not?!) Firefox. If you're sick of Windows, go download Linux. Heck I'll come and help you set it up if you want. Stop being so scared to technology! And stop complaining if you don't have any legit reason other than "I'm not used to it". And if you REALLY don't like it, switch back to old Facebook! If enough people are still using the old Facebook I'm sure they won't kill it yet. ALL I'm asking is to give it a chance.

Submitted

Yes: I've officially submitted now!

Now I can rest and bum around and do nothing.

Two Weeks

Today is exactly two weeks from my thesis deadline (if I still want to get the completion award: basically they give us money to try make us finish our PhD within 4 years)

I'm now armed with my 1st draft, as commented by my supervisor, and about a week's worth of corrections/improvement.

It's surreal, but very very exciting. Finally, for the first time in 8.5 years (oh gosh...) I will no longer be officially enrolled as a student of a university.

I'm really going to miss my student lifestyle...

But I'm so looking forward to actually having proper income.

The Adventure of Job Hunting

Ah... real world.

Those who don't know: I've been in university for 9 years now, ever since I left high school. It's been good to me, but alas: my thesis is coming to an end, and it's time to look for a job.

Now, go back one month, when I was still slaving on the last chapters of my thesis. I was browsing around and came across this job that's advertising for a researcher. The description was fairly vague, but it sounded interesting. I thought wouldn't it be great if a job like this one pop up a month later when I've finished my thesis. I was chatting to my friend who's been through the job hunt after PhD thing, and he said I should just apply for it anyway. So I took a day off, updated my CV, and sent it off.

So, I got called in for an interview, stressed about that for a week, and the interview went well: it lasted for an hour an a half, with half an hour of me talking about my current research and what I'm looking for and an hour for them telling me what a cool place it is to work there (and it is...). Although, THEN they told me the position is actually IT based. I was honest with them and said IT isn't really what I want to go into, but I won't mind working in IT for a few months and then move into something else. They mentioned that there is this other position opening up which is closer to my discipline, which is a lot more challenging, and on a rather funky project.

So, the next day I have a guy from another team in that place emailing me to tell me about this said position. I was still pretty confident about the first position, so I thought I won't apply for this one. That was last Friday.

Monday morning came along and I got a call at 9am from the guy asking me to apply for the second position. I was actually being non-committing: seeing that I haven't worked in the exact field before, and I'm still waiting for the IT position. The guy spent 10 minutes on the phone convincing me that it's just a matter personality and transferring research skills, and that it won't affect my first application. So I changed a few words in my cover letter, and sent it off.

I was feeling pretty good about it, but then the next day I get an email saying I didn't get the first job.

Logically, I know it didn't matter since I do prefer the second position, and IT really isn't my cup of tea. But it's still rather crushing I guess. I was being rather cocky about the whole situation before (well, as cocky as someone with a serious self esteem issue anyway). NOW, I don't even know if I have a shot at the second position. *sigh*

Now I get to stress about the interview all over again.*sigh*

More Ramblings!

Yes I got married! I thought I'd be able to actually document the planning but between the thesis and the wedding it was amazing enough that I had time to check my email! (well, most days I didn't). So things quiet down a little: photos are all sorted and put online, and I can go back to slave over my thesis, which is almost done (or so I hope) and only need the hard part written now (yay...)

So, been through a rather interesting month after I got married: got a cold, recovered, entered the 48 hour film making competition (which deserves a novel length entry on its own) and now I have a cold again. I swear Pete mutated it.

I can start the see the end of the thesis. It's kinda weird and surreal. For the first time in something like 9 years I would no longer call the University my home. I might even find a job (shock horror) and actually be working regular hours (dear Lord!). It's exciting and scary at the same time. Although I think I'll be taking a month or two off, and possibly actually take that honeymoon we thought we'll be taking.

Other than that, not much happened really. Waiting for the day I have money for WiiFit and possibly the Guitar Hero twin controller pack edition. I'll get there one day...

2 weddings, a thesis, and another break in...

Sometimes I'm feeling like preparing for 2 weddings at the same time. At least I'm not the chief bridesmaid for Rhiannon's wedding, so plannign wise it's not too bad. I did my bit in picking bridesmaid dress colours and helping peopel get dress done. Stress level is high enough as it is.

FINALLY got to the point when it's less than 100 days to my own wedding. I got a rubber stamp made for the invite, and it looks good. Next up would be getting the bridesmaid to get their dresses organised, and thart confirming everything.

Thesis is ... optimistic. At least my supervisor is. The basic skeleton is done, just need the icing on the cake.

House got broken into last night and they stole my bloody laptop. GAH! Luckily most stuff were backed up. The department hasn't came back to tell me what's happening (well, it's their laptop). Ah well. I might go in later.

So yeah, that's why I haven't been blogging for a while. Not because nothing is happening, but WAY too much is piled on top of me.

Oh, BTW, after the wedding, I shall start my pet project. I'll leave the details til later, but it'll involve my DS. :)

13 courses of happiness, and more pizzas than you can shake a stick at.

It's been a good few free food days. As most of you know free food is the fuel for all postgraduate students, so when I get two free meals in 3 days, it must be a good start of the week.

One of them, of course, is much more meaningful and grand than the other. One of our mates from high school got hitched after going out with her boy for 9 years. As if that's not happy enough they decided to have a Chinese style reception! Yippee! 13 courses my friends! Of course you don't eat much in each course but boy was that satisfying. They also gave in and put shark fin soup on the menu. It's one of those things that I just equate with bliss and happiness. I also introduced Pete to the wonderful world of shark fin soup too. Mind you I wouldn't be surprised at all if the fin isn't actually real, but that just made for guilt free eating.

Today: TA debriefing and lunch. MORE free food. Usually when it's catering in engineering pizza is there aplenty. The pizza to postgrad ratio was almost 1:1, which is pretty ideal really. There was, of course, plenty of amusement provided by the blue cheese pizza. Especially when one of us decided to "rescue" a guy reaching out to it only to find that he actually likes blue cheese... who would've thunk it?

I'll start my diet after Christmas.