Story of Powershot G9

Thurs, 25 Oct 2007

Scenario - Canon Expo 2007
Special Price Sessions for max 40 persons per session giving up to 50% discounts on all Powershots, Ixus and printers.

Having missed out on the previous day, ct and i decided to try again today for the 1.00pm session. Today marks the last day of the expo. Arrived by 12.25pm and there was already a long line to the queue. Imagine that, a queue for a queue! Joining the line, it does not seem like we would make it into the 40 but we continued standing in line anyway. When they started counting for the cutoff, we missed out by a good 20 places. So, do we stay or do we give up? Checked with one of the staff and he mentioned that there were only 3 units of Powershot G9 left. What are the odds that there will be any G9 left after this session? Decided to lunch first then come back and check if there are any G9s left.

We were back by 1.20pm and the last few from the 1.00pm session were taking their spins on the wheel. Few of them struck the 50% discount... good for them. Checked with one of the staff and he said there were plenty of G9s in store. That didn't jive with what the other guy said earlier. Asked him to double check and he went to the back store and came out confirming that he saw a dozen units in store. Cool! So now it is like shall we stay or shall we go? After a few rounds of deliberation, ct & i decided to stay for the next session at 4.00pm. In the meantime, what do we do? We can't go off or we might miss the line again. So we stuck around, played with all the display units, went ga-ga over the L-series lenses they exhibited and tried some of the games they had.

At 2.20pm we went over to double check with another staff on the number of G9s available. They checked and told us 3. What?! Sure? *Slight sinking feeling* What were our chances of getting the unit then? If we were way ahead in the line chances would be good. By then I noticed some people gathering near the queue entrance. Line to the queue had started! I dashed over to book a place while ct inquired some more. Accidentally jumped queue but the very nice Iranian allowed me to stay on in front of him. Thank you sir! That gave us position 6 for ct and I am 7th in line. Now we were firm in our commitment for insanity. I could not fathom those who would stand in line for hours just to get some discounts, no matter what the quantum. Now I'm one of them.

Conversations were far and few as time seem to tick slowly by. At around 3.30pm, they opened the queue and handed out our queue numbers. We must decide then which product we wanted and they would determine if there's stock available . The G9s were the choice of those in position 6, 7 and 8! Ok, no more G9s for those who stood behind us. This made the time waiting seem worthwhile. 20% would be the least discount with 30% following it unless you struck the bummer deal of a free Powershot A460.

At 4.00pm, the first person spun and she stuck 50%! What a fantastic start. The next 4 took only 20% and one got the free Powershot A460. Next was ct and she struck 50%! I had a 50% through double luck and that moment, all the pain from standing on your feet just went away. Imagine the excitement to the extent that we could not speak properly. Sounded like 2 yodas conversing.

*Later*
Phone call-
DM: Do you want to meet up tonight?
LH: Can. Why?
DM: So I can give you the G9.
LH: You bought it?! *with the "Oh No" tone*
DM: With a 50% discount.
LH: You got it?!? (the 50% discount) *with the disbelieving tone*
etc, etc, etc

Lesson to learn? If situation permits, go for it!

The Ultimate Answer No More

The first and most special wish came in at exactly 00:00hrs.

I am now "Add 1 to The Ultimate Answer to The Great Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything."

The Law of the Garbage Truck

Beware of Garbage Trucks
by David J. Pollay

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly he/she can get back her focus on what's important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York Citytaxi cab. Here's what happened.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space
right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally.

You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.

So this was it: The 'Law of the Garbage Truck.' I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, 'I'm not going to do it anymore.' I began to see garbage trucks. I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Teachers and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?

Here's my bet.
You'll be happier.

So.. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance , TAKE IT! If it changes your life , LET IT! Nobody said it would be easy... They just promised it would be worth it!

What was that again?

Sept 23, 2007 - Hong Kong (on a tour to Lantau island)

Tour guide [with chinese accent] : Welcome to Kong Kong! {I thought it was Hong Kong?}

Tourist#1: Is that how you pronounce Hong Kong in Chinese?

Tour guide: Yes, Kong Kong.

Tourist#1: Kong Kong?

Tour guide: Kong Kong.

Tourist#1: Shrugs shoulders and gives puzzled look.

Tourist#2: {Speaking out to give correct pronunciation} It is actually pronounced "Heong Kong" {Hey, he's chinese too}

Tour guide: Do you know that Kong Kong {still can't get it right} got its name because it was famous for good smelling cheese?

Moi: WHAT!? Did he say cheese? I didn't know that?

Tour guide: Yes, they bring the cheese and cut it here and they would put it in the ships to send it all over the world.

Tourist#1: What is this cheese?

Tour guide: Ahhh, errr... I don't know the name in english but in chinese it is *says-something-I-can-make-out*

Tourist#2: SANDALWOOD!!

Moi: OMG!!!!! TREES!!!

Pardon me?

Dec 24, 2005 - Mumbai, India - Outlet in Hyatt Hotel

Moi: I would like to get a pashmina shawl.
Shop-fella: Very good sir! {heavy indian accent}

Moi: What is this made of? {moi pretending not to know}
Shop-fella: It is made from the feathers of a burt {this is what i heard}

Moi: Feathers of a bird? {looking surprised from the revelation}
Shop-fella: Yes sir, it is taken from the feathers of a burt.

Moi: But a friend of mine said it was from the hair of a type of goat?
Shop-fella: No sir, from a burt.

Moi: And its made from the fea..the..rs? {speaking slowly to made sure}
Shop-fella: That is correct sir.

Moi: Ok... how much.... {etc, etc bargaining and I bought it. The shawl i mean, not the story}

Back home :-

Moi: Guess what! Pashmina is not from a goat but from the feathers of a bird!
Friend: Nooooo!!! Its from a goat!

Moi: But this was told to me by the guy in India who imports this stuff. He should know better right? <------ Wrong!!!

.... short debate that ended with Google search and facts presented.

Conclusion:

• Shop fella mistook fur/fleece and said feather. Honest mistake probably.
• I think he actually pronounced "goat" as "gert". Remember this was said in heavy indian accent.
• There never was any "burt" (bird).