Exams!

Well, I just finished my first exam of three. It wasn't too hard, since most of the course material was written all over my cheat sheet. In fact, there was enough information on the sheet for me to learn the material while I wrote the exam! I think I might be able to get a 70% on it or so. After the exam, I went over to Chris' house and hung out with him, Wei and Ron. It was a great way to end a stressful day of exam. Unfortunately, I'll have to start studying again tomorrow. But I guess I'm relieved by the fact that I only have another 2 more exams for the rest of my life.

Things To Do: Recap 2

Just another review of the things I needed to do from a week ago.
I've already calculated my net worth, a negative $-4,175, and made a 30 and 100 day plan to fulfill my vision. I've consulted with Julie Banting and she has given me a list of alumni that I will contact. I have yet to email Eric, even though Julie has already reviewed my email. I think I will email him on Monday, this will give him a chance to reply and he will also remember my email by the end of the week. I've also contacted the Commerce department to get my Alumni Network webpage to work.

Good news, I've earned a greater appreciation for Trance music and I have been addicted to it. I've downloaded albums from Tiesto, ATB, and Paul van Dyk and I am enjoying all of them. I think the secret to trance is that you have to stick with a selection of artists, since they themselves make enough songs already. There is simply too many remixes, complications, and join-work from one artist already. To deal with many more is simply impossible. Since I have already identified my favorite trance artists, I think I will dedicate myself to them and download all their songs. Afterwards, I'll download a selection of great songs from various artists.

Another great news. I've discovered a new sport that I believe I will be passionate about! Squash! I had a great time playing it for the first time with Chris, Helena, Wendy, and Winnie (new person) yesterday. In fact, I'm playing again tomorrow and Sunday! This is really a sport that I will give a chance for a while. Afterwards, I'll try to keep it as a hobby. It's great because it's fast, similar to badminton (which I love), and you work up a great sweat (about 800-1000 calories!!). It's a better alternative than biking for 30 minutes and only losing 75 calories....

Anyhow, this was just an update.

Trance Music Discoveries!

I thought I would post my discoveries on Trance.
It was really hard to continue doing research and sometimes it felt forceful.
But I've personally gained a new appreciation for the music and now I know more about the artists and songs that before. I'm in the middle of downloading the albums of my favorite Trance artists right now, although I currently have more than 500 trance songs compiled by the ID&T radio show, the premier radio station for Trance in Europe.
And here is the write up I made:

Trance General info:
Trance is a style of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s. Trance music is generally characterized by a tempo of between 130 and 160 bpm, featuring repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and down throughout a track, often crescendoing or featuring a breakdown. Sometimes vocals are also utilized. The style is arguably derived from a combination of largely electronic music and house. 'Trance' received its name from the repetitious morphing beats, and the throbbing melodies which would presumably put the listener into a trance-like state. As this music is almost always played in nightclubs at popular vacation spots and in inner cities, trance can be understood as a form of club music.

Notable Magazines:
DJ Magazine: djmag.com

Top 20 Results DJ's for 2006:

1. Paul van Dyk
2. Armin van Buuren
3. Tiësto
4. Christopher Lawrence
5. DJ Dan
6. Ferry Corsten
7. Sasha
8. John Digweed
9. Above & Beyond
10. Deep Dish
11. Carl Cox
12. Infected Mushroom
13. ATB
14. Paul Oakenfold
15. Hernan Cattaneo
16. Judge Jules
17. Eddie Halliwell
18. Marco V
19. Markus Schulz
20. Gabriel & Dresden

Notable artists:

Armin van Buuren (Anthem Trance/Uplifting Trance) (Vocal Trance)
From the Netherlands
Age: 30 (1976)
Label: Armada, ArminD, A State Of Trance
Website: http://www.arminvanbuuren.com/
Worked with Tiesto and was signed under Paul van Dyk's record label
Has his own radio show in ID&T, the world's largest dance organizer in Netherlands

Famous Tracks:
Blue Fear
Communication

ATB (Anthem Trance/Uplifting Trance)
Andre Oliver Tanneberger
From Germany
Age: 33 (1973)
He featured a guitarr rift that has hugely become popular and is his signature sound
Website: http://www.atb-music.com/

Famous Tracls:
9pm (Till I come)
Don't Stop
Killer
I Don't Want to Stop
You're Not Alone
Ecstacy
Marrakech

Ayla (Anthem Trance/Uplifting Trance)
Not much info
Name inspired by a girl that worked in their studio during first recordings

Chicane (Vocal Trance)
Nick Bracegirdle
From London England
Began making music a age 12 and produced demo tapes for record labels
Age: 35 (1971)

Famous Tracks
Offshore
Saltwater (Considered best trance songever)
Autumn Tactics
Don't Give it Up (Bryan Adams)
Halcyon
Love on the Run

DJ Tiesto (Anthem Trance/Uplifting Trance)
Tijs Verwest
Netherlands
age: 37 (1969)
Label: Black Hole Recordings, Nettwerk
Website: http://www.tiesto.com/
Was in the opening ceremonies in Greece Olypics 2004

Famous Tracks:
Silence (Sarah McLauchan)
Adagio for Strings
Flight 643
Lethal Industry
Suburban Train
Traffic
Just Be

DJ Quicksilver (Pizzicato Trance)
Nothing

Kai Tracid (Acid Trance)
Kai MacDonald
German
Own Label company: Tracid Traxxx

Famous Tracks:
Your Own Reality
Liquid Skies

Mauro Picotto (Hard Trance)
Italian
Has since moved up into Techno
Got famous through a television show competition for best DJ

Famous Tracks:
We Gonna Get
Bakerloo Symphony
Lizard
Iguana
Komodo
I feel Love
Communication

Macro V (Anthem Trance/Uplifting Trance)

Paul Oakenfold (Anthem Trance/Uplifting Trance)
London, England
Age: 1963
Website: www.pauloakenfold.com
He was popular due to his soundtracks for alot of American movies
ex: Swordfish, James bond, matrix
First Solo Album: Bunkka featuring Nelly Furtado,Tricky, Ice Cube, Crazy Town.

Famous Tracks:
The Harder they Come
Get Em Up
Starry Eyed Surprise
Ready Steady Go

Paul van Dyk (Anthem Trance/Uplifting Trance)
Germany
Age: 1971
Label: MFS, Vandit
Website: http://www.paulvandyk.com

Famous Tracks:
Seven Ways
Words
45RPM
Nothing But You (Grammy Award)
The Other Side

Ian Van Dahl (Vocal Trance)
Belgian Dance/Pop Group
5 members
Label: EMI Records

Famous Tracks:
Castles in the Sky
Will I?
Try
Reason
Believe
Where Are You Now?
Inspiration
Movin On
Just a Girl


Sasha (Progressive Trance)
Alexander Cole
England

Famous Tracks:
* 1993: "Together" with Danny Campbell (FFRR) (UK Singles Chart #57)[61]
* 1994: "Higher Ground" (Deconstruction) (UK #19)[4]
* 1994: "Magic" with Sam Mollison (Deconstruction) (UK #32)[62]
* 1994: The Qat Collection (Deconstruction)
* 1996: "Be as One" with Maria Nayler (UK #17)[63]
* 1999: Xpander EP (Deconstruction, Ultra Records) (UK #18)
* 2000: "Scorchio" with Darren Emerson (Deconstruction) (UK #23)[64]
* 2002: "Wavy Gravy" (Kinetic Records, BMG) (UK #64)[4]

2 Fun Days!

The past two days have been awsome. On Friday, I got together with a few people to eat at Ta-ke for dinner. It was alot of fun. There was Savine, Chris, Eric, Ryan, Helena, Ron, Tiffany, and Jimmy. Chantel was serving us! Dinner was great and then we walked up Princes and ended up at my house. We hung out and played poker. Afterwards, we just hung around in my room and talked. I love hanging out with my friends.

On Saturday morning, me and Helena met up with Chris, Tif, and Jimmy for a game of basketball! Afterwards we worked out at the gym and ate a late lunch at Mr. Dumpling. At night, we got together for Jacqui's Bday at Elixer. That was probably my favorite clubbing experience, since everyone there was either a friend, or a familiar face. Saw alot of people I haven't seen a a long time and had the greatest time dancing. I was tipsy throughout the entire night thanks to pre-drinking at Herman's place. At the end of the night, Savine and Helena went back to my place for a quick bite to eat. Except we made shrimp roles! A really nice fulfilling end to the night.

Things To Do: Recap

Just recaping on the things I need to do which I posted 2 days ago.
Most of them are already complete.

1) My total net worth: $-4,175.71
DAMMIT, Stupid OSAP..... If I don't count OSAP, I'm definately okay.

2) My plans to fulfill my vision within the next 30 days and 100 days:

30 days:
1. Learn as much about real estate as possible. ie: work with the CF analysis model
2. Continue to look for jobs with your company database
3. Contact Queen's Alumni and start networking

100 days:
1. Conduct market analysis of specific investment opportunity sites
2. Look into various funding options from family and banks
3. Continue to learn about real estate

3) A list of all my food inventories to try and finish it by the end of this month: DONE

4) My investment goals and things I am considering to invest in: Will start soon

Jing's Fatal Flaw: Lack of Detail

I've been in a bad mood lately about myself. I haven't really been happy lately and in particular, I haven't been happy about myself and my personality. I've realized that I am a man who knows all, but nothing of value. Essentially, I know very little in everything but not alot in anything in particular. A great example is that I love watching discovery channel. I simply love learning about new and interesting things! However, rarely do I ever delve deeper into any subject either because I lose interest or I convince to myself that it is silly and useless.

To sum it all up, I think the problem is that I have a lack of detail. Jing's Fatal Flaw: A lack of detail. For example, I enjoy music: Jazz, Rap, Hip-Hop, House, Trance. But there is no particular artist that I enjoy or that I am knowledgeable about. If someone loves jazz, there is simply no excuse to not understanding the history, the genres, the famous artists, or even the instruments! I love trance, but I don't know anything about any particular artists nor do I have a complete collection of songs from one. This applies to everything. It becomes almost forceful for me to take the extra effort beyond what I deem is necessary.

I've brought this up to Chris and Helena one time. They made a really good point. It is absolutely important that you continue to strive on and learn as much as you can. It is already amazing that one is well-rounded in many things. I believe the next step is simply to concentrate on a few catagories of very high and to become an expert at it. Chris mentioned to me that having a hobby or an interest takes alot of hard work. It is like a learning curve. You enjoy it for a little while and before long, you will get bored. It will take alot of enery and continuous effort until you will reach a higher level of enjoyment and interest, just like a learning curve. When you reach a plateau, alot of effort is needed to grow that interest in order to reach the next desired plateau. But the effort is definately worthwhile, as your knowledge, interest, and passion increase with each level.

Therefore this is what I propose: Although I will continue to learn and explore things of interest, I will dive deeper into specific things that I deem important to know more about and that I personally believe will become things of passion for me. In a few days, I will compile a list of these things.

I feel better now and less depressed. This blog was a great idea...... I think I will finally get to know myself better and solidify what is already me.

100 Things To Do Before I Die

I figuered that I would post the 100 things I want to do before I die.
I haven't fully completed all of it, but at least it's a good start.
It's great that I've already completed some, this just gives me more room to add stuff in the future! This was definately an excellent idea. I'll just have to remember to review this every year to see if I have accomplished any. Even better, I will try and accomplish a few each year!

100 Things:
1) Backpack Europe
2) Be a member of an audience TV show
3) Be a space tourist
4) Boat around New Zealand
5) Bungee jump
6) Buy a Plasma television and LCD Monitors
7) Canoe somewhere in Canada
8) Climb a tall mountain
9) Dive in the coral reefs
10) Donate money and have something in my name (preferably Queen's)
11) Drive a jeep through the desert
12) Drive a motorcycle
13) Drive across North America
14) Drive on the autobahn
15) Earn passive income of $10,000
16) Eat a meal from a world-class master chef
17) Eat bugs
18) Experience weightlessness
19) Get a degree in Marine Biology
20) Go deepsea fishing
21) Go on a safari in Africa
22) Go on a world cruise
23) Go up on a hot air balloon
24) Graduate University and earn a BCOM
25) Grow a garden
26) Have $1,000,000 before retirement
27) Have a portrait of you painted
28) Have my children attend Queen's or a better university
29) Have the best computer to play video games
30) Hike the Westcoast of Canada
31) Learn how to paraglide
32) Learn how to scuba dive
33) Learn Korean
34) Learn to cook like a chef
35) Learn to shoot a gun
36) Learn to speak and write Chinese
37) Learn to speak fluently in French
38) Learn to speed-read
39) Learn to swim better
40) Live in a Yurik on the grasslands of Mongolia
41) Live in Tahiti and Fiji
42) Live on my own in another country: China
43) Own 20+ properties
44) Own a home in Asia (Malaysia, China)
45) Own a nice and expensive car
46) Own a restaurant
47) Own a room with a great view
48) Own a very expensive business suit
49) Own homes in Europe (France, Greece, England)
50) Own my own business
51) Raft through the Grand Canyon
52) Retire by age 50
53) Ride a camel in the desert
54) Ride a horse across the grasslands of Mongolia
55) Ride the trans-Siberian expressway across Asia
56) See a lunar eclipse
57) See Confucius' home and school in China
58) See the Milkyway Clearly at night
59) See the stars through a telescope
60) Set up a HUGE marine aquarium in own home
61) Sit on a firstclass seat on an airplane
62) Skydive once
63) Sleep in an entire day
64) Smoke a Cuban Cigar
65) Stay at the world's finest 5-stay hotel
66) Stay in the tallest hotel in Shanghai China
67) Study at a foreign university (Beijing University)
68) Swim with dolphins
69) Travel around China on a train
70) Travel around USA
71) Travel the Silk Road
72) Travel to Egypt to see the Pyramids
73) Travel to Hongkong
74) Travel to the Greek Isles and live there in a house for a few months
75) Travel to the North of Canada
76) Travel to Tibet
77) Visit a fishing island in the tropics
78) Visit an active volcano in Hawaii
79) Visit Australia
80) Visit Korea and Japan
81) Visit Manchu Pichu
82) Visit the Forbidden City in China
83) Visit the Gobi Dessert in Inner Mongolia
84) Visit the Heavenly Temple in China
85) Visit the Museum in France
86) Visit the Xi'An and see the Teracota Warriers
87) Volunteer to help save the Reef
88) Walk on the Great Wall
89) Watch a live concert
90) Watch a live sports game
91) Watch Beijing Opera
92) Watch the Aurora Borealis
93) Watch the sunrise on top of a mountain (Tai Shan)
94) Watch the sunset on top of a mountain (Tai Shan)
95) Work as an employee at marine aquarium
96) Work somewhere outside of hometown

Things to do:

I'd like to post a few things for my reference. These would be:

1) My total net worth
2) My plans to fulfill my vision within the next 30 days and 100 days
3) A list of all my food inventories to try and finish it by the end of this month
4) My investment goals and things I am considering to invest in

My Personal Vision Statement

Vision
I will be a premier real estate magnate in Canada, offering a diverse range of real estate portfolios spanning across different markets. I will achieve a portfolio consisting of over 40 properties, generating over $1 million in annual revenues. My company will be customer focused, providing a level of service exceeding industry standards that are unique and full-ranged. With an efficient and effective business process that incorporates leading edge technologies and a solid financial foundation, it will also serve as a holding company for other business ventures and opportunities. This can either be done as an entrepreneur or as a leading executive on a corporation. The company shall begin humbly, gaining credibility, experience, and cash flow before finally reinventing itself into a national real estate investment firm.

The ultimate goal is to achieve financial freedom, enabling me to become passively involved in my business, to disregard financial insecurity, and to embark on fulfilling lifetime goals and charitable work. This would include helping the sick, providing financial support, supporting Queen’s university, and helping in marine wildlife conservation. I will consistently meet these expectations by achieving flexible missions, objectives, and through continuous personal growth.

Mission 1: Finding Employment
Attain employment as an analyst at a real estate company, allowing me to develop the experience necessary to serve as a foundation for the future.

Objectives
- Identify national/international real estate corporate leaders with ample financial resources, real estate services, and learning opportunities
- Secure potential leads by looking for Queen’s alumni working in the real estate industry in the alumni database
- Apply to each companies while ensuring to customize each application
- Constantly monitor identified companies for job openings and establish relationships with working alumni

Mission 2: Working
Strengthen my employment position within the company in order to exceed management expectations and to be recognized for outstanding performance

Objectives
- Maximize work time and time in the office by making personal sacrifices
- Provide outstanding employment service to the company through hard work and impeccable attention to detail
- Establish effective relationships with key employees within the corporation
- Provide assistance that is beyond expected job duties
- Continue to strengthen learning experiences by improving verbal communication, presentation skills, and achieving a professional designation

Mission 3: Finances
Implement a financial strategy that strengthens financial intelligence and ensures proper financial habit

Objectives
- Maintain an accurate monthly budget
- Create a sustainable financial system that ensures proper asset allocation and use
- Save a moderate amount each month and allocate them into savings or investment
- Learn to invest money to earn a rate of return that is higher than the saving rate

Mission 4: Personal Well-Being
Pursue a personal lifestyle that ensures good physique, increased mental awareness, and healthy nutrition

Objectives
- Create an exercise regiment occurring a minimum of three times a week and includes aerobic and anaerobic activity
- Engage in activities that improves mental responsiveness and fosters continual education
- Eat nutriciously and create scheduled eating patterns with correct foods

The Beginning of my Blogging Life.....

Hey to myself,

This will be my first post ever onto a blog.
I've been reaing alot of blogs lately, and it's a really interesting concept.
I figuered that it would be a place for me to write out my thoughts and ideas once in a while.
It would be a great way to gather my thoughts in words and to post them. Once that's done, I would be able to read and recap on them, to see if I can make any changes or improvements.
I'll have to write down my own vision so that I will be able to see it alot.
This is it for now.