JerebuFest 2006 had ended one day after my post. I sense some big entity is conspiring together to discredit my blog.

Two days ago marks one of the defining moment in my career life; I got my first set of name cards. Adorned with SMU supposedly Lion crest – officially it is not a bunch of random polygonal shapes, the card symbolizes the mundane ritual of bartering name cards which I will soon degrade myself into. Ahh… my first ethereal taste of corporate world is so silly.

The card is rather nice by the way until I see the layout for last year’s card is much better.

As many of you might have guessed, I am not the only one who orders this one design fits all name cards. Many other SMU students order the name card which contains mostly information regarding SMU. In fact, out of eleven lines of information stored in the card (ignore the big ‘SMU’ sign next to the SMU Lion crest), only five belong to me. The rest is just about SMU’s address and telephone number. If you consider the cliché fact that I belong to my school, I got nothing which really represent me since it is all SMU’s.

Based on above mentioned regrettable fact, I just got this strange thought. Whenever I give ‘my’ SMU name card, I am actually no different than those old uncles who give out sliming salon’s flyer in front of MRT station except for my clothes and the size and thickness of the ‘flyers’.

Free advertisement. No wonder the price of the cards is so cheap. 100 piece for SGD 8! This is bad.

Now, I am trying to imagine myself as John Doe who receives more name cards from insolent undergrads than holes in third world fishermen’s fish net.

Aditya : “Here is my name card.”

John Doe from company X: “Thank you (arghh… another SMU name card!!!)”

Aditya: Cya! (Turn around)

Sounds effect: A discreet humming sound of either dot matrix printer or paper shredder is heard.

I must admit that it is a rather bleak proposition. No matter how good the name card is, if its ended up somewhere inside one’s dustbin, the name card is useless.

As usual for every weird thought that I have, there is always a solution precipitate somewhere in my brain. I am an amateur designer after all albeit the lousy one.

I propose those people responsible for SMU name card also print complete set of playing card behind every SMU name card printed. Let say, behind every single card of mine, I could see Jack Spade or maybe Ace of Broccoli. The arrangement can vary. For example, (almost) two complete sets can be printed behind each person’s 100-piece-stack name cards. Or maybe, each different name will be assigned a random particular card symbol. For the latter case, a certain bidding system for distributing the symbol fairly can be employed. Some people might want pay more simply to get Ace of Spade or Queen of Hearts.

I believe there are significant number of businessmen, and businesswomen of course, out there who are going to collect these cards either so they can play poker or so they can sell it to any other collectors or so they can know more about that particular SMU students. Eventually, or rather hopefully, SMU name card will be the most sought vintage item in every career show.

John Doe from company X: “Hi! You are SMU student aren’t you? Could I have your name card?”

Aditya: “Sure! Please”

John Doe of Company X: (Drats! Another King of Diamond)

Sounds effect: A discreet humming sound of either dot matrix printer or paper shredder is heard.

Ok. I admit my solution is not perfect but at least there is a higher incentive for people to ask for SMU name card.

I have just watched World Trade Center. I give it 2.5/5 - maybe less. If God allows and I am not too lazy, I will discuss it next.

Duh… I want to write a lot of stuff. So much to write so little time.