World Cup Quarter Final

Today and Tomorrow Quarter Final:
England vs Portugal
France vs Brazil
Germany vs Argentina
Italy vs Ukraine

My prediction for the semi-finalists:
England vs Brazil
Germany vs Italy

Both Portugal and Ukraine haven’t won the World Cup before. So, I won’t think that they are good enough for this competition. Germany plays a very offensive style compared to the previous tournaments. They seem to pick up the momentum when times go on. However, they need to overcome Argentina which is full of talented players but always tumble in the last hurdle, same as Spain. Anyway, I believe that Germany stands a better change with home ground advantage. Unless Pekerman is brave enough to start with Messi upfront. This young talent with one or two magical moments can shape the game. Then, I pick England again. Sven and Scolari, who is better? The records favour Scolari’s team. But with Rooney in England team, everything is possible. He probably will make a big impact in the coming match. Boring tehnique but if they win, who care! Don't forget the Greece plays boring game in Euro 2004. Ukraine simply doesn’t have enough experience against Italy. With all the old folk, France is going nowhere. Even Brazil plays under par, they can simply overcome France. So, what’s your prediction?

One of two World Cup theme songs which I received from my love one, “times of our lives” from Il Divo and Toni Braxton

there was a dream
a long time a ago
there was a dream
destined to grow
into a passion
a fire within
a will to give everything
a desire to win

for the lifetime of heartbreakes
that brought us here today
we'll go all the way
It feels like we're having the time of our lives
Let there be sunshine let it rain
Let's come together as one and the same
Cause it feels like we’re having the time of our lives
We'll find the glory in the end
For all that we are
For all that we are
For the time of our lives

This is the moment
This is our chance
To do what we love and to be
What we're ment to be

for the lifetime of heartbreakes
that brought us here today
we'll go all the way

It feels like we're having the time of our lives
And I'll never forget
For as long as I live

Time for my new assignment!

Weekend Approaching....

Hardly have time to write my blog this week. I was able to solve the problem for my E1 board on Monday. Combine eight 2MHz data stream into one 16MHz data stream. Thanks God. By observing the Logical output from the PC-based logic analyzer on all the channels, I was able to understand my system and trace the correct pattern. Have a view on the diagram captured using the logic analyzer. Further verification has been done using the pattern generator developed by my colleague.

World Cup Update…. All the group matches will be ended this Friday. No Asian teams had been qualified for the knock-out stage for the time being, unless you want to include Australia. Australia joined the AFC and will be part of the Asian Family. Just to improve their changes for the next World Cup qualification. Saudi Arabia and South Korea both will play tonight. South Korea stands a better change for knock-out stage provided they can beat Switzerland, a draw simply not good enough. France will beat Togo, a team surrounded with players’ payment problem. Just hope that at least one Asian team makes it.

Countries qualify for the knock-out stage:
Germany – Europe
Ecuador – South America
Argentine – South America
Netherlands – Europe
Portugal – Europe
Mexico – North America
Italy – Europe
Ghana – Africa
Brazil – South America
Australia – Ocean
Spain - Europe
Ukraine – Europe

Couldn’t believe it if there is no Asian team in the Last 16…..

Finally, receive my German Language result from my teacher, Frau Lenz. I managed to score “Gut”. For your information, mark given in Germany is as listed below:

1 – sehr gut (very good)
2 – gut (good)
3 – befriedigend (satisfactory)
4 – ausreichend (sufficient)
5 – ungenügend (insufficient)

You must score at least 4 to pass your examination. Not bad… Yeh

Endlich

Finally, I finished my German EI level by sitting the Examination on Saturday morning. The day after German had won its group match, 4 – 2. Vemal said that we should have the luck since German won that day. The exam is composed of five sections: Listening, Comprehension, Writing, Grammar and Dictation. Each section takes about half an hour. The most difficult part for me was the Listening section. It was a conversation between an interviewer and a student about her study, living and etc. I hardly understand what they are saying and making a lot of wild guess. But quite confident that I can at least pass the exam and moving up to EII which will starts during the end of July.

Now, I had to wake up early on Saturday and Sunday morning since I have to be more discipline on my life now. FYI, I usually have my lunch as my first meal on Sunday. Anyway, I am willing and more than happy to do so. The answer is simple. Girl can make a guy change! Keke…..

I only managed to watch the match between England and Paraguay. Not an interesting match in my opinion. England seems desperate to field Wayne Rooney in the upcoming match. They need the inspiration from him. Tomorrow, there will be a match between South Korea vs Togo. Hope that Ji-sung and co. play well. Iran was beaten yesterday 1-3 by Mexico. How about Japan today?

Or “desperate” former PM said that his press statements are hardly seen in newspaper nowadays. Then, I heard from my colleague that he has a Blog. But I couldn’t find it in Google search engine. Anyone knows that? Perhaps, he also had his blog been googlewashed! He should be felt sorry for himself…..

Mid-week

Received a new E1 board and started my task on providing the correct setting for interfacing with baseband module. We have managed to bring up the previous E1 board but due to the limitation on the development tools, it is hard to modify the firmware to suit to our application. I am delight with this new E1 board since the development tools, such as the user interface to the chip, the portable device driver, the scripts and etc. are more powerful compared to the previous E1 board. Once we are able to solve the system interface, then we can start putting up more features for our product.

I am invited to join a sharing section on “football mania for upcoming World Cup” in Dema house. I don’t know why they asked me to do so. I just can talk about all the players, staffs, issues, and many others associated to my beloved club, Manchester United. :)

Alright…. List all the venues of the upcoming World Cup, which cities that you love?

Hamburg
Hanover
Berlin
Gelsenkirchen
Dortmund
Leipzig
Cologne
Frankfurt
Kaiserslautern
Nuremberg
Stuttgart
Munich

I will pay most of attention on the following teams:

South Korea, Japan, Iran, except Saudi Arabia - Carry the Asian hopes

England - Watch too much EPL, and recognize all the players

Netherlands - I love Total Football, and I love their Orange color!

That’s all….. Hmm… a lyric to share with you all, a Scottish folk song, recommended from the one who I love. Hope to share the rest of my life with her!

When I've done the work o day,
And I row my boat away,
Down the waters o Loch Tay,
When the evening light is fallin',
And I look towards Ben lawyers,
Where the after glory glow,
And I dream on two Bright eyes,
With a merry mouth below,
Shes my beauteous nigh-ean ruadh,
Shes my joy and sorrow too,
And although she is untrue,
Well I cannot live without her,
For my hearts a boat in tow,
And Id give the world to know,
If she means to let me go,
As I sing hee-re, ho-ro

Nighean ruadh your lovely hair,
Has more beauty I declare,
Than all the trasses fair,
From Killin and Aberfeldy,
Be they lint white, Brown or gold,
Be they blacker than the sloe,

They mean not as much to me,
Than the melting flake of snow,
Her dance is like the gleam,
O the sunlight on the stream,
And the song the wee folks sing,
Oh, they're the songs she sings at milking,
But my heart is full of woe,
For last night she bade me go,
And the tears begin to flow,
As I sing Hee-ree,Ho-ro

Light Moments

Attended a patent drafting seminar in Menara TM on Monday. It was my first experience to be in 50th floor of Menara TM, my parent company. The training is conducted by an oversea firm. Anyway, it is not easy to understand all the presented contents and materials. Reading the material is similar to reading the terms inside a contract. Conclusion from the patents drafting seminar is “Any inventory must not based on the hindsight”. Dilbert's comic strip to share....



I found a good web-site for those who like to take up German language.

And if you feel boring and want to test yourself on the maps quiz although I don’t find this interesting!

I can’t stop laughing with this Dilbert comic strip. If you can punch anyone in your office, that’s great!!!!!