I am going to India!! Yay! I am leaving tomorrow and flying directly to Pune.. No more waiting at Mumbai and stupid 4+hrs ride to Pune. But I don't fly SQ any more.. :( This time its Indian Airlines. I hope its OK.
I hope to be able to blog from there. And hopefully upload some pictures. Lets see..
This post will also mark the end of an Era. I will be leaving a lot of old things and habits and starting on new ones. I will also be leaving Blogger. As most of you might know, I have had a parallel blog at wordpress. I am migrating there. Its a part of a big plan, which.. well we'll see about that in the future. Right now wordpress it is...
So this is the end of the Dump... the end of file..
EOF = true;
Please visit NTT's Core Dump 2.0 for the more dumps and posts. Please don't leave any comments here.... Thanks for all you support.. Njoy!!
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Adicted Again..
I am addicted again.. .. This time its Piya Bavari Again by Ajay Pohankar. It's quite the same type of music as Time Traveler, but it’s different.
It’s same in the sense that is that same fusionistic sound. Lot of synth, a little trance and quite a bit lounge, mixed with classical Bandishes and Thumris. Makes one amazing combination. Not too classical for those who can't take it, but classical enough to give it that earthly feel. You have to listen it to really get what I am saying, and unfortunately I can't help much with that. But here is one place you can find the tracks albeit at really crappy quality (only like 20kbps..).
My personal favorite is Payalian Jhankar in raag Puriya Dhanashree. It has some really nice Pakhwaj sounds.
An interesting thing about the artists.. Ajay Pohankar is the main singer and Abhijeet Pohankar (his son) does the music and all the packaging. That makes an interesting team, a classically trained father and a son who's into contemporary music. Been seeing that a lot these days, and that’s good!
This same team had produced a couple of albums before this. I had one of their not-so-famous album.. mostly instrumental (as opposed to this one). But never heard the other albums. Now I will have to. Maybe I can get my hands on all the CDs when I go to India! They don't sell them in Singapore.. :(
It’s same in the sense that is that same fusionistic sound. Lot of synth, a little trance and quite a bit lounge, mixed with classical Bandishes and Thumris. Makes one amazing combination. Not too classical for those who can't take it, but classical enough to give it that earthly feel. You have to listen it to really get what I am saying, and unfortunately I can't help much with that. But here is one place you can find the tracks albeit at really crappy quality (only like 20kbps..).
My personal favorite is Payalian Jhankar in raag Puriya Dhanashree. It has some really nice Pakhwaj sounds.
An interesting thing about the artists.. Ajay Pohankar is the main singer and Abhijeet Pohankar (his son) does the music and all the packaging. That makes an interesting team, a classically trained father and a son who's into contemporary music. Been seeing that a lot these days, and that’s good!
This same team had produced a couple of albums before this. I had one of their not-so-famous album.. mostly instrumental (as opposed to this one). But never heard the other albums. Now I will have to. Maybe I can get my hands on all the CDs when I go to India! They don't sell them in Singapore.. :(
Thursday, June 15, 2006
I take that back..
I seriously need to take back my last post. All the software has been acting up since I wrote about it!Sigh.. so here goes the rant...
MS Word 2007.. Crashed a few times in the 2-3hrs I was using it. (I should really really learn LaTeX). It gave me a lot of problems with drawing, especially ungrouping and regrouping.. Also spell check. The feature which I was kinda excited about, 'save as pdf' function also have font embedding issues... But then its a beta... so its ok I guess..
Netbeans 5.0. The suckiest part is that you cant edit the freaking GUI once its made. It wont let you edit any part of the obnoxious code that it writes. Great! So I have to use its form editor to edit the code there. And it only allows that for GUI that was created solely in Netbeans and not edited outside it. Sigh..
Flock.. The blogging tool creates wierd formatting for the html. It has paragraph markups all over the place and span tags around random words, doing nothing in specific. Later, I realised that they were on all words which the spell check utility thought had errors... Which happen to be like 30% of all the words!..
Finally, on a better note...
Windows Media Player 11 beta.. WMP11...I have been using it for a few weeks. Lovely graphical interface. Pulls album art off the web for most of your albums and a lot of new features. Should go really well with Vista.. At least the look and feel is there.. No other issues so far.. and does not take up so much memory..:)
MS Word 2007.. Crashed a few times in the 2-3hrs I was using it. (I should really really learn LaTeX). It gave me a lot of problems with drawing, especially ungrouping and regrouping.. Also spell check. The feature which I was kinda excited about, 'save as pdf' function also have font embedding issues... But then its a beta... so its ok I guess..
Netbeans 5.0. The suckiest part is that you cant edit the freaking GUI once its made. It wont let you edit any part of the obnoxious code that it writes. Great! So I have to use its form editor to edit the code there. And it only allows that for GUI that was created solely in Netbeans and not edited outside it. Sigh..
Flock.. The blogging tool creates wierd formatting for the html. It has paragraph markups all over the place and span tags around random words, doing nothing in specific. Later, I realised that they were on all words which the spell check utility thought had errors... Which happen to be like 30% of all the words!..
Finally, on a better note...
Windows Media Player 11 beta.. WMP11...I have been using it for a few weeks. Lovely graphical interface. Pulls album art off the web for most of your albums and a lot of new features. Should go really well with Vista.. At least the look and feel is there.. No other issues so far.. and does not take up so much memory..:)
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Office 2007...Flock and more..
As I was pointed out by a friend yesterday, "its not that I have been wasting time since my exams got over, but my priorities are just all over the place". The list of things that I have to do is still unchecked and I am still busy!!
As for the things I have been doing, surfing the web and checking out software. So here's a quick summary of findings from the past few weeks... and more..
Office 2007 Beta is public. I was not sure whether I wanted to check this out, but since its free and I needed Word, I decided to check it out. And I am surprised by the amount of 'coolness' it has. I have to agree its a little annoying if you are used to using Word XP/2003. But some features are really great. Love the way styles are made easy to use as well as quick fonts and stuff. Do check it out, its worth the download...
Flock. I had heard of this browser before, and I was lazy to check it out. Its based on Firefox, and seems quite the same on the inside. But it has a neat looking theme and some great functionalities bundled along. A weird bookmarking concept which connects with delicious and a nice little note pad. My favorites though, blog support and flickr support. It would really appeal all bloggers and flickr fans. You can drag and drop your photos into your flickr account through the browser.. and write blog posts (as I am doing now) from Flock. This lets you quickly blog about stuff you see on the web, put images in it and all. Really great stuff. Of course being FF based, all your favorite extensions are available... well almost all..
Netbeans 5.0. OK, Netbeans 5.0 is nowhere near new, its from like Jan/Feb, but its cool! Its sports an amazing drag and drop GUI builder 'Matisse' for Java GUI. Here is a nice demo. You don't even need to know how to code for Java GUI to use this. Just place your components around and write the code for events. The code it generated for the GUI might be obnoxious, but hey at least you don't have to write it.
The only reason I am mentioning this is that I have to use Netbeans again just to take another screen shot of my GUI... :'(
Other stuff...
A really cool table top interface.
Hack your D-Link Router!
Simple GPS Data Logger
Lots of USB ports.. (Can I get one which maxs out the USB fanout?)
As for the things I have been doing, surfing the web and checking out software. So here's a quick summary of findings from the past few weeks... and more..
Office 2007 Beta is public. I was not sure whether I wanted to check this out, but since its free and I needed Word, I decided to check it out. And I am surprised by the amount of 'coolness' it has. I have to agree its a little annoying if you are used to using Word XP/2003. But some features are really great. Love the way styles are made easy to use as well as quick fonts and stuff. Do check it out, its worth the download...
Flock. I had heard of this browser before, and I was lazy to check it out. Its based on Firefox, and seems quite the same on the inside. But it has a neat looking theme and some great functionalities bundled along. A weird bookmarking concept which connects with delicious and a nice little note pad. My favorites though, blog support and flickr support. It would really appeal all bloggers and flickr fans. You can drag and drop your photos into your flickr account through the browser.. and write blog posts (as I am doing now) from Flock. This lets you quickly blog about stuff you see on the web, put images in it and all. Really great stuff. Of course being FF based, all your favorite extensions are available... well almost all..
Netbeans 5.0. OK, Netbeans 5.0 is nowhere near new, its from like Jan/Feb, but its cool! Its sports an amazing drag and drop GUI builder 'Matisse' for Java GUI. Here is a nice demo. You don't even need to know how to code for Java GUI to use this. Just place your components around and write the code for events. The code it generated for the GUI might be obnoxious, but hey at least you don't have to write it.
The only reason I am mentioning this is that I have to use Netbeans again just to take another screen shot of my GUI... :'(
Other stuff...
A really cool table top interface.
Hack your D-Link Router!
Simple GPS Data Logger
Lots of USB ports.. (Can I get one which maxs out the USB fanout?)
Blogged with Flock
Monday, June 12, 2006
Hazaaron Khwaahishen Aisi
Hazaaron khwaahishen aisi ke har khwahish pe dam nikle
Bohat niklay mere armaan, lekin phir bhi kam nikle
Nikalna khuld se aadam ka soonte aaye hain lekin
Bahot be-aabru hokar tere kooche se hum nikle
Mohabbat mein nahin hai farq jeenay aur marnay ka
Usi ko dekh kar jeetay hain, jis kaafir pe dam nikle
Hazaaron khwaahishen aisi ke har khwahish pe dam nikle
Bohat niklay mere armaan, lekin phir bhi kam nikle
-Mirza Ghalib (Hazaaron Khwaahishen Aisi)
A crude translation...
Thousands of desires/dreams, each worth dying for.
Many of them I have realized...yet I yearn for more.
We have heard about the dismissal of Adam from Heaven
With a more humiliation, I am leaving the street on which you live.
When in love, there is little difference between life and death
..we live by looking at the infidel for whom we are willing to die
Thousands of desires/dreams, each worth dying for.
Many of them I have realized...yet I yearn for more.
Bohat niklay mere armaan, lekin phir bhi kam nikle
Nikalna khuld se aadam ka soonte aaye hain lekin
Bahot be-aabru hokar tere kooche se hum nikle
Mohabbat mein nahin hai farq jeenay aur marnay ka
Usi ko dekh kar jeetay hain, jis kaafir pe dam nikle
Hazaaron khwaahishen aisi ke har khwahish pe dam nikle
Bohat niklay mere armaan, lekin phir bhi kam nikle
-Mirza Ghalib (Hazaaron Khwaahishen Aisi)
A crude translation...
Thousands of desires/dreams, each worth dying for.
Many of them I have realized...yet I yearn for more.
We have heard about the dismissal of Adam from Heaven
With a more humiliation, I am leaving the street on which you live.
When in love, there is little difference between life and death
..we live by looking at the infidel for whom we are willing to die
Thousands of desires/dreams, each worth dying for.
Many of them I have realized...yet I yearn for more.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Say NO to platic bags..
This is cool! Finally they are going to try to reduce the amount of plastic bags that we use. A lot of trash can be saved if people are forced to reuse platic bags at the supermarket. One more step to lesser trash! Yay.
Its wierd, I was never a tree hugger for most of my life. Not that I did not care, but I always felt that it was too great a goal to acheive for societies in this world. However, my 6 month in Denmark changed my view. There was a pro-environment spririt in almost every European, (surely every Dane), that I met. Everybody cared for the environment, and encouraged others to care as well. I was reminded many times to recycle platic instead of just dunking it into the trash. The interesting thing is that most of the people I knew there was quite young. Environmental concerns are generally associated with older people, so this was even more surprising..
Their motivation and interest and the lack of pollution in Denmark, gave me hope. I believe we need that type of concern and enthusiasm to be able to have a environmentally friendly society. well, at least its starting. I plan to bring my own bags to the supermarket from now on! Wanna join??
Its wierd, I was never a tree hugger for most of my life. Not that I did not care, but I always felt that it was too great a goal to acheive for societies in this world. However, my 6 month in Denmark changed my view. There was a pro-environment spririt in almost every European, (surely every Dane), that I met. Everybody cared for the environment, and encouraged others to care as well. I was reminded many times to recycle platic instead of just dunking it into the trash. The interesting thing is that most of the people I knew there was quite young. Environmental concerns are generally associated with older people, so this was even more surprising..Their motivation and interest and the lack of pollution in Denmark, gave me hope. I believe we need that type of concern and enthusiasm to be able to have a environmentally friendly society. well, at least its starting. I plan to bring my own bags to the supermarket from now on! Wanna join??
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
To Commence or not to Commence
Update:
Much to the delight of my Mother, I have decided to go for my Commencement. The last straw was when some friends decided to outcast me, for planning to not attend the Commencement, from right now! Sigh... friends I have...
On the brighter side.. There is gonna be free food!!!!
To Commence or not to Commence that is the question.
I am in a dilema. I don't want to go for my Commencement. But I do.. :S
I feel that Commencement ceremonies/ Convocations and all similar things are just a way to show off your acheivements. It's like a time to go up on the stage and say, 'Look I am so smart, I graduated from NUS!'.
Personally, I feel that there is no great acheivement in graduating from NUS. It's not that big a deal and really... anybody can do it. So what's there to show off? And in anycase I don't like showing off. Plus, its really lame to wait like 3 hours just to go up get a fake certificate and smile while your photo is being taken. The worst of all is the fact that CPE is like the last few course to have convocation. Its like 8pm on 13th June!!
But I really want to go for mt Commencement ceremony. That's possibly the last time I'll get to meet so many of my friends. It will be fun hanging out, wearing stupid gowns and making fun of each other. I am already missing NUS and the people. This will be one chance to go back to NUS and meet so many..
Sigh.. I have to decide by the end of next week... Help please..
Much to the delight of my Mother, I have decided to go for my Commencement. The last straw was when some friends decided to outcast me, for planning to not attend the Commencement, from right now! Sigh... friends I have...
On the brighter side.. There is gonna be free food!!!!
To Commence or not to Commence that is the question.
I am in a dilema. I don't want to go for my Commencement. But I do.. :S
I feel that Commencement ceremonies/ Convocations and all similar things are just a way to show off your acheivements. It's like a time to go up on the stage and say, 'Look I am so smart, I graduated from NUS!'.
Personally, I feel that there is no great acheivement in graduating from NUS. It's not that big a deal and really... anybody can do it. So what's there to show off? And in anycase I don't like showing off. Plus, its really lame to wait like 3 hours just to go up get a fake certificate and smile while your photo is being taken. The worst of all is the fact that CPE is like the last few course to have convocation. Its like 8pm on 13th June!!
But I really want to go for mt Commencement ceremony. That's possibly the last time I'll get to meet so many of my friends. It will be fun hanging out, wearing stupid gowns and making fun of each other. I am already missing NUS and the people. This will be one chance to go back to NUS and meet so many..
Sigh.. I have to decide by the end of next week... Help please..
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Flying Time
It's amazing how time flies . Exams end.. Projects end... Semsters ends... Years end and Eras end.
It's also ironic that I have not posted for the last 2-3 weeks just when so many things happened. I'd rather not start on that.
When a chapter ends, another begins. The old chapter should not be delved on for much longer. And the new one, started on as soon as possible....
That reminds me, I have to read Da Vince Code before the movie ceases to exist in the theatres!!
It's also ironic that I have not posted for the last 2-3 weeks just when so many things happened. I'd rather not start on that.
When a chapter ends, another begins. The old chapter should not be delved on for much longer. And the new one, started on as soon as possible....
That reminds me, I have to read Da Vince Code before the movie ceases to exist in the theatres!!
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Milo at 430...
Yup its 5am on a Saturday morning. I have no exams, school, work or anything.. But I am up..
Sigh. I kinda skipped dinner yesterday and was too sleepy to think about supper. And now like 3 hours after I slept, I wake up with crazy nightmares in my head.(I dont even wanna go there). So I decided that I was hungry and decided to grab some Milo from the vending machines and a granola bar.
So I went walking around PGP at 430am, in my PJs, half-asleep looking for Milo. And NO freaking vending machines in PGP have any freaking drinks left in them.. And I mean NONE. I walked around for 30mins looking for some drink and returned empty handed.
What does a man have to do here to get a Milo??
Sigh. I kinda skipped dinner yesterday and was too sleepy to think about supper. And now like 3 hours after I slept, I wake up with crazy nightmares in my head.(I dont even wanna go there). So I decided that I was hungry and decided to grab some Milo from the vending machines and a granola bar.
So I went walking around PGP at 430am, in my PJs, half-asleep looking for Milo. And NO freaking vending machines in PGP have any freaking drinks left in them.. And I mean NONE. I walked around for 30mins looking for some drink and returned empty handed.
What does a man have to do here to get a Milo??
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Web2.0
As a part of the fringe benefits of doing my FYP in I2R, I got to attend many interesting seminars and talks there. Just attended one on Web2.0 today. Very simple, very straight forward, and very interesting.
Reminds me of a blog post from a friend..:p
Wikipedia has a nice long article on it.
A few points I took home..
Any Ideas???
Reminds me of a blog post from a friend..:p
Wikipedia has a nice long article on it.
A few points I took home..
- All the Web2.0 applications are content driven. The technology allows people to share and access the content easily. It’s just the means.
- Lower hardware costs are major driving forces for the Web2.0 'boom'.
- Mashups (linking multiple available services to create newer, more useful, services) go a long way..
- Look at alternate sources of revenue..
- Finally..All you need is a simple idea.... The technologies and support is there. If you do it right, your start-up can also be bought by Google at $2m+++ ;)
Any Ideas???
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
D-O-N-E... Done
Its Done!!!
Exams are over! NUS is over.. :(.. Well kinda...
Anyway..now to plan for the 'Vacations'.
I need to.
So many things to do so little time... How is this different from being in NUS again???
Exams are over! NUS is over.. :(.. Well kinda...
Anyway..now to plan for the 'Vacations'.
I need to.
- Finish up FYP
- Get a JOB!
- Plan for the Roadtrip
- Build new Computer
- Organise Backups
- Get Broadband at Home
- Catch up with friends.. old and new!!
- Make Minty! +++
- Learn Diving
- Join a Gym!
- Read Da Vinci Code (hopefully before I watch the movie)
- Continue Chinese lessons..
- Learn Music... kinda
- Learn... so many other things
So many things to do so little time... How is this different from being in NUS again???
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Addicted..
I started listening to Time Traveller by Rahul Sharma yesterday. I tell you I cant stop listening to it. I wanna go get the CD this weekend.
Its quite fusionistic. But more of pop+classical. Personally, it's the sound of the Santoor that got me addicted. It so soothing, so bright, so cheerful!
Here are some excerpts.
Destinations
The Time Traveller
It has 9 tracks. 4 are on the same dhun, but have different approaches. Including one where Rahul Sharma sings. Very refreshing indeed....
Its quite fusionistic. But more of pop+classical. Personally, it's the sound of the Santoor that got me addicted. It so soothing, so bright, so cheerful!
Here are some excerpts.
Destinations
The Time Traveller
It has 9 tracks. 4 are on the same dhun, but have different approaches. Including one where Rahul Sharma sings. Very refreshing indeed....
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Pills
Blog-hopping as always, I found a friend mention that she wished "there was some kind of pill I could take to give me immunity from ever falling sick."
I was thinking.. what other pills would I wanna have....
1.Pill to fall asleep immediately. For those sleepless nights/days
2.Pill to not fall asleep. That doesn't taste horrible like coffee.
3.Pill to focus. Less extreme way to control my gameplay and/or internet time.
4.Pill for hyperactivity. Alternative to an expresso shot. Usefull when I need that extra punch while coding..
5.Pill for motivation. Tons needed before boring exams.. Like now!!
6.Pill to be creative. Ah this one... I really need.
7.Pills for food. Who am I kidding?
8.Pills for exercise. That's my conscience speaking..
9.Pill to force one's behaviour and feelings on thought.. Sigh..
If only..
I was thinking.. what other pills would I wanna have....
1.Pill to fall asleep immediately. For those sleepless nights/days
2.Pill to not fall asleep. That doesn't taste horrible like coffee.
3.Pill to focus. Less extreme way to control my gameplay and/or internet time.
4.Pill for hyperactivity. Alternative to an expresso shot. Usefull when I need that extra punch while coding..
5.Pill for motivation. Tons needed before boring exams.. Like now!!
6.Pill to be creative. Ah this one... I really need.
7.Pills for food. Who am I kidding?
8.Pills for exercise. That's my conscience speaking..
9.Pill to force one's behaviour and feelings on thought.. Sigh..
If only..
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Google Calendar.
Not that it's new, but Google Calendar Beta is out. Check it out. Really cool.. Some nice features including the ability to share with people; Creating calendars and saving them as files; multiple viewing styles.... Just take a look..
The only qualm I have is that it does not work well with Opera... I hope that changes soon.
What I just found out is that there is a way to sync my favourite desktop calendar, Rainlender, with Google Calendar. Using the iCal interface avaliable on both I can move events around.
Still a bit buggy, but I am sure Rainy will add Google Calender support soon. Or maybe I should try to hack a calendar application myself..or extend Rainlender...:D
All in due time...
The only qualm I have is that it does not work well with Opera... I hope that changes soon.
What I just found out is that there is a way to sync my favourite desktop calendar, Rainlender, with Google Calendar. Using the iCal interface avaliable on both I can move events around.
Still a bit buggy, but I am sure Rainy will add Google Calender support soon. Or maybe I should try to hack a calendar application myself..or extend Rainlender...:D
All in due time...
Monday, April 17, 2006
Goodbye Rhumba Frap
Starbucks stopped serving Rhumba Frappcino's recently. I found out about it while blog hopping.
(Image from sixthseal.com)
Sigh.. one more of my favourites gone... Though I never really liked coffee (addiction is another thing.. I dont drink because I like.. I drink because I need to stay awake), I love Frappcinos from Starbucks.
I remember the time when I was first introduced to the Fraps.. It was during the 1st 3 months of JC , a class (00S09 from TPJC) outing to PS. One of them recomended me the Rhumba Frap and the rest is history... Wonder any of them read my blog...:S
I only wish I could have a "Power Rhumba Frap" one last time.... Sigh...
(Image from sixthseal.com)
Sigh.. one more of my favourites gone... Though I never really liked coffee (addiction is another thing.. I dont drink because I like.. I drink because I need to stay awake), I love Frappcinos from Starbucks.
I remember the time when I was first introduced to the Fraps.. It was during the 1st 3 months of JC , a class (00S09 from TPJC) outing to PS. One of them recomended me the Rhumba Frap and the rest is history... Wonder any of them read my blog...:S
I only wish I could have a "Power Rhumba Frap" one last time.... Sigh...
Thursday, April 13, 2006
And so it ends..
Just realised that today was the last day of school for me! Tomorrow's Good Friday and next week is reading week.
And so it ends.... It was the best four years of my life so far.. Learnt so much, got to know so many people, so many things. Feel that I really grew in NUS, in a way.
Parting is painful...sigh.. Gonna miss NUS...
And so it ends.... It was the best four years of my life so far.. Learnt so much, got to know so many people, so many things. Feel that I really grew in NUS, in a way.
Parting is painful...sigh.. Gonna miss NUS...
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Post FYP Syndrome..
I have been suffering from what I term as the Post FYP Syndrome (PFS).
It has two main aspects to it, the psychological aspect, and the physiological aspect.
First the physiological aspect, lack of sleep: After conditioning my body to be dependent on caffeine for almost 2-3 months, the sudden withdrawal (which was done with a lot of determination) is causing havoc. Cravings are a huge problem... and I tend to stay away from vending machines, coffee dispensers and Spinelli's....
My sleeping pattern (actually the lack of one) is the other thingy. Too used to the 3-4hrs per night, and so now I can’t sleep for more than 3-4hrs, even when I try very hard. And I still woke like super tired today.
The physiological effects are worst. Now that most of the urgent deadlines have been met and all, I have time to rest, do nothing, slack... But, I can't get myself to slack.. Its too depressing... :'( Cos then I end up thinking about life and stuff... :"(...
So I have to work... But I cant get myself to work.. Cos I am so tired of working...Just finished FYP lah... need to recoup.... but I can't... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
It has two main aspects to it, the psychological aspect, and the physiological aspect.
First the physiological aspect, lack of sleep: After conditioning my body to be dependent on caffeine for almost 2-3 months, the sudden withdrawal (which was done with a lot of determination) is causing havoc. Cravings are a huge problem... and I tend to stay away from vending machines, coffee dispensers and Spinelli's....
My sleeping pattern (actually the lack of one) is the other thingy. Too used to the 3-4hrs per night, and so now I can’t sleep for more than 3-4hrs, even when I try very hard. And I still woke like super tired today.
The physiological effects are worst. Now that most of the urgent deadlines have been met and all, I have time to rest, do nothing, slack... But, I can't get myself to slack.. Its too depressing... :'( Cos then I end up thinking about life and stuff... :"(...
So I have to work... But I cant get myself to work.. Cos I am so tired of working...Just finished FYP lah... need to recoup.... but I can't... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
FYP Blues.. and Greens...
'Tis done..
Just finished the graded part of my FYP today. What a ride!! Its rightfully 12MCs... Trust me!
First, let me thank sweska, jazz and TheWeed for actually coming down to my presentation. Especially TheWeed, I know u were really sleep deprived.. appreciated man!
For those who missed it.....an image of my GUI!!
I was thinking of bloging abt FYP before... and not in a positive way.. But I realised that I got to learn a lot... And not only about academic matters but life in general...
Positive thinking.
Was complaining about the 30mins limit on my presentation when my supervisor snapped back, "I have an hour to explain 6 years of PhD level research". Things can always be worst off... Just be happy with what you have..
Sacrifices.
Haven't had a game on my laptop since start of last sem... Life is all about sacrifice, just be sure of what you want to keep and what you want to sacrifice.
Perseverance.
If not for this...I would have never been able to clean the 100++ bugs I found in my code... Last one found and cleaned 10hrs before presentation..
Passion.
Passion will take you through everything, good, bad and ugly. You just need to find your passion. Its not easy, I am not sure I have found mine...but try..
Time management.
OK. This one I learnt the hard way. Supervisor had once said, "Don't leave everything for the last month ah". I was like, "Of course I won't!". Who was I kidding??
Anyway, FYP is not done yet, still have another draft to do, and a HUGE amount of code to clean-up, debug and document... Sigh.. back to work...
Just finished the graded part of my FYP today. What a ride!! Its rightfully 12MCs... Trust me!
First, let me thank sweska, jazz and TheWeed for actually coming down to my presentation. Especially TheWeed, I know u were really sleep deprived.. appreciated man!
For those who missed it.....an image of my GUI!!
I was thinking of bloging abt FYP before... and not in a positive way.. But I realised that I got to learn a lot... And not only about academic matters but life in general...
Positive thinking.
Was complaining about the 30mins limit on my presentation when my supervisor snapped back, "I have an hour to explain 6 years of PhD level research". Things can always be worst off... Just be happy with what you have..
Sacrifices.
Haven't had a game on my laptop since start of last sem... Life is all about sacrifice, just be sure of what you want to keep and what you want to sacrifice.
Perseverance.
If not for this...I would have never been able to clean the 100++ bugs I found in my code... Last one found and cleaned 10hrs before presentation..
Passion.
Passion will take you through everything, good, bad and ugly. You just need to find your passion. Its not easy, I am not sure I have found mine...but try..
Time management.
OK. This one I learnt the hard way. Supervisor had once said, "Don't leave everything for the last month ah". I was like, "Of course I won't!". Who was I kidding??
Anyway, FYP is not done yet, still have another draft to do, and a HUGE amount of code to clean-up, debug and document... Sigh.. back to work...
Monday, April 03, 2006
FYP Presentation!!
Update:
Like I said, all are welcome to attend the presentation. ECE has confirmed that the lab will be open that day from 9am onwards, and there will be few more presentations before mine. You can catch them also.
As for my presentation, I have a little advice.. Come with an open mind, have lots of imagination, and most importantly, ask questions!!
The time has come. FYP CA4 presentation is gonna be on 11th April. This is THE presentation for FYP. Worth 30% of the grade!
Here are the details..
Date: 11 April, 2006.
Venue: Interactive & Digital Media Lab, E4-06-21, NUS.
Time: 10:30am
Here is an abstract of what my project was about. Take a look and see if it interests you. And come down to hear more about the project!! Its open to all and all are invited!!
Like I said, all are welcome to attend the presentation. ECE has confirmed that the lab will be open that day from 9am onwards, and there will be few more presentations before mine. You can catch them also.
As for my presentation, I have a little advice.. Come with an open mind, have lots of imagination, and most importantly, ask questions!!
The time has come. FYP CA4 presentation is gonna be on 11th April. This is THE presentation for FYP. Worth 30% of the grade!
Here are the details..
Date: 11 April, 2006.
Venue: Interactive & Digital Media Lab, E4-06-21, NUS.
Time: 10:30am
Here is an abstract of what my project was about. Take a look and see if it interests you. And come down to hear more about the project!! Its open to all and all are invited!!
Friday, March 31, 2006
Bageshree.
I have been listening to this one album for a few weeks. I got to know about it on MIO around 2+ years ago... Seems that one of the tracks was popular in India, and rest were not even know. I had to order it from Canada to LA, and picked it up there in December.
A little about the singer/composer, Bageshree Vaze.
So this lady is, from what I can gather, born in India, and has lived in Canada for a long time. Has learnt Indian Classical Music from some great people, and has a lot of music in her family. Oh and she is a classical dancer, which shows in her music. And last but not the least, she is Marathi!!
The thing I like about her music is that it is fresh. You probably have not heard anything like this before. There is some typical raag based vocal improvisation, some dance beats and bols, a lot of western musical structures and instruments. A few synth instruments, and oh ya, really great use of sitar! And her voice, a little rustic, reminds me a little of Shubha Mudgal. It goes in very nicely used with the rest of the instruments, especially the synths.
So its kinda fusionistic, but I really hate to use that word, cos its been overused. Unfortunaltely, I am a sucker for such 'fusionistic' stuff.
Fusionistic?? You know, stuff with some indian instruments (generally for the lead), and western instruments (like for the base). A raag based melody and some other stuff thrown in, like the tabla solos or kathak bols (like in this case) or some vocal improvisations and mixed lyrics in English and some other language.
So I'll run a review of that album in the next week, with some samples that hopefully can get off some place I found long long time ago. Try it out!. Though buying it is gonna be a little difficult, I can lend it to you if you wanna listen.
A little about the singer/composer, Bageshree Vaze.
So this lady is, from what I can gather, born in India, and has lived in Canada for a long time. Has learnt Indian Classical Music from some great people, and has a lot of music in her family. Oh and she is a classical dancer, which shows in her music. And last but not the least, she is Marathi!!
The thing I like about her music is that it is fresh. You probably have not heard anything like this before. There is some typical raag based vocal improvisation, some dance beats and bols, a lot of western musical structures and instruments. A few synth instruments, and oh ya, really great use of sitar! And her voice, a little rustic, reminds me a little of Shubha Mudgal. It goes in very nicely used with the rest of the instruments, especially the synths.
So its kinda fusionistic, but I really hate to use that word, cos its been overused. Unfortunaltely, I am a sucker for such 'fusionistic' stuff.
Fusionistic?? You know, stuff with some indian instruments (generally for the lead), and western instruments (like for the base). A raag based melody and some other stuff thrown in, like the tabla solos or kathak bols (like in this case) or some vocal improvisations and mixed lyrics in English and some other language.
So I'll run a review of that album in the next week, with some samples that hopefully can get off some place I found long long time ago. Try it out!. Though buying it is gonna be a little difficult, I can lend it to you if you wanna listen.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Confessions of a 'soon to be' engineer...
So I am almost an engineer.. Am I happy? Well kinda.. I always wanted this in my life. But then, the journey has not been easy. It was fun.. and then some.. The most difficult part though was the final few weeks.. And trust me it was not the late nights and the caffine withdrawl symptoms. It was something deeper, something that shook my beliefs..
I have always been a very logical, very rational person. Never understood the arts and the not so straight forward thinking subjects. I always prefered structured thought and logic over emotions and feelings. And 4 years of engineering studies has made this worst. Cause and effect method of thinking and comprehension, rationality, quantification of values and logic, were drilled into us for 4 years and I let them reach my core.
I had accepted the absolute truth in logic and believed that nothing was higher, powerful and absolute than rational. I believed that my logical thought would allow me to solve any given problem.. though I may need resources.. a lot of them, but there was always a solution that could be reached...
In the last few weeks, all this has been shaken from its roots.. I realised that as much as I can think logically and rationally, I cannot get myself to behave, and feel that way. If I cannot get myself to behave in the way I think I should behave.. how can I expect others to do that.. That means that the whole world can never behave logically..
That's not possible.. cos logic and rational are the absolute truths....Arn't they??
I am doomed.. What I stood for lies bare in front of me.. Destroyed by the very person that stood for it.. I have nothing to stand for now.. I have lost all I ever completely believed in....
Would I dare to believe in anything anymore???
I have always been a very logical, very rational person. Never understood the arts and the not so straight forward thinking subjects. I always prefered structured thought and logic over emotions and feelings. And 4 years of engineering studies has made this worst. Cause and effect method of thinking and comprehension, rationality, quantification of values and logic, were drilled into us for 4 years and I let them reach my core.
I had accepted the absolute truth in logic and believed that nothing was higher, powerful and absolute than rational. I believed that my logical thought would allow me to solve any given problem.. though I may need resources.. a lot of them, but there was always a solution that could be reached...
In the last few weeks, all this has been shaken from its roots.. I realised that as much as I can think logically and rationally, I cannot get myself to behave, and feel that way. If I cannot get myself to behave in the way I think I should behave.. how can I expect others to do that.. That means that the whole world can never behave logically..
That's not possible.. cos logic and rational are the absolute truths....Arn't they??
I am doomed.. What I stood for lies bare in front of me.. Destroyed by the very person that stood for it.. I have nothing to stand for now.. I have lost all I ever completely believed in....
Would I dare to believe in anything anymore???
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Google your route...
I was watching CommandN... and they mentioned about this...
TTC eyes Google for planning trips.
--Planning a quick trip across town using public transit could one day be a matter of simply Googling the route in Toronto!
Ok...so Toronto Tansport Company(I think) is thinking of setting up a system where people can google for the transport routes and let the system plan their root for them..
Its a cool idea, but then again its not that new!! The Copenhagen Transport system has this for like 3+ years now. And it works really well. Its called the Rejseplanen which mean "Travel Planner" and it combines all the trains(local and national), busses and metros.
Plus it allows you to state what time you want to reach the place and can tell you what time u should be at the bus stop near ur place!
And it will estimate and add changeover delays according which platform your train arrives and which platform the next train is supposed to leave!!! That is cool..
How I wish they had something like that for Singapore.... I'd be addicted to it forever.. I can't even remember when the A1s leave PGP and when the A2s...
TTC eyes Google for planning trips.
--Planning a quick trip across town using public transit could one day be a matter of simply Googling the route in Toronto!
Ok...so Toronto Tansport Company(I think) is thinking of setting up a system where people can google for the transport routes and let the system plan their root for them..
Its a cool idea, but then again its not that new!! The Copenhagen Transport system has this for like 3+ years now. And it works really well. Its called the Rejseplanen which mean "Travel Planner" and it combines all the trains(local and national), busses and metros.
Plus it allows you to state what time you want to reach the place and can tell you what time u should be at the bus stop near ur place!
And it will estimate and add changeover delays according which platform your train arrives and which platform the next train is supposed to leave!!! That is cool..
How I wish they had something like that for Singapore.... I'd be addicted to it forever.. I can't even remember when the A1s leave PGP and when the A2s...
Friday, March 24, 2006
Ctrl+Alt+Chicken
Can geeks cook?? Well they sure can, whether what they cook is edible is different question. So anyway, from the guys at Revision3 (think Diggnation.. and Alex Albrecht) comes a new cooking show. Of the geeks, for the geeks and by the geeks!!
Ctrl+Alt+Chicken
The pilot 'aired' today and its really hillarious. And educational, of course. They did a "Chicken Cordon Bleu". Some parts were really stupid, but it was mostly quite funny. Doesn't really compare to Jamie Oliver.. But hey, its always fun to see geeks trying to cook...:p
So check it out and try to make some "Chicken Cordon Bleu"....
Ctrl+Alt+Chicken
The pilot 'aired' today and its really hillarious. And educational, of course. They did a "Chicken Cordon Bleu". Some parts were really stupid, but it was mostly quite funny. Doesn't really compare to Jamie Oliver.. But hey, its always fun to see geeks trying to cook...:p
So check it out and try to make some "Chicken Cordon Bleu"....
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Cool...
Just found this on digg.
pi10k
Really cool! You sepcify a note on a keyboard corresponding to each of the 10 decimal digits. Then it will use the digits of pi to create a sequence of notes and play it. Sounds really cool if you use different scales or raags.
Try using pentatonic raags, then you can span two octaves. Or hexatonic or heptatonic raags, and repeating only the vaadi or samvaadi notes on the next octave.
Really cool what pi can do!!
pi10k
Really cool! You sepcify a note on a keyboard corresponding to each of the 10 decimal digits. Then it will use the digits of pi to create a sequence of notes and play it. Sounds really cool if you use different scales or raags.
Try using pentatonic raags, then you can span two octaves. Or hexatonic or heptatonic raags, and repeating only the vaadi or samvaadi notes on the next octave.
Really cool what pi can do!!
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Viva L'Creative...
So I went the latest Creative Warehouse Sale last Friday. And I was so excited!! All the cool technology for me to touch and feel and listen to! Lemme do a summary of the stuff I saw there...
-The X-Fi. Creative's new flagship Sound Blaster. Really cool sound card for the semi-audiophiles out there. Has a really nice upconverting feature. Upconverts from 16bit to 24bit as well as from 2.0 to 5.1! I really wanna know how they do it. I do know though that they need a really poweful DSP (which they sport, something with 10,000 MIPS!!) for all the stuff they are doing..
-The HQ-2300D. Really cool headphones. They have their own DAC and Amps..in a small little box.. That means nicer coupling and better sound! No more "damn it i bought these cool guy headphones but there is impedence mismatch with my driver...:'(" Also they support Dolby Digital or DTS inputs, by having its own decoder (inside that box)! This guy can optimise your 5.1 DTS or Dolby Digital for a headphone. Kinda like the Holophonic sound thingy. The best part is that if you dont't have 5.1 source, it can upconvert the 2.0 to 5.1 for you, just like the X-Fi!!
-The Zen Vision M. Saw the so called iPod killer. Have the agree that the UI is not as intutive as the iPod. Took me and TheWeed like 5mins to figure out how to use the scroll pad thingy. Oh and its huge! But still if I ever buy one, might go with Creative. It's the accessories and extra functions. Oh and also the codec support.
-The Decoders and Mixers. More like connectivity options for the various Creative devices that people own. Nice ideas, especially the fact that they have so many options.
-The Creative In-ear headphones. Keng bought one of those, says they are really as efficient as they promise to be! Have been thinking about those since I heard Robert Heron from Dl.Tv ranting about it!
-The Creative Prodikeys and family. Cool stuff, one day when I know more about music I'll think about these..
-The S$39 1st Gen mp3 players. Would be fun just to open it up and see whats what!
-The Creative Webcams. Going at insane prices!
So what did I buy?? Nothing..:( What do I want?? The X-Fi, the HQ-2300D and most importantly a Job!!! Would be so cool to work with Creative!! :D
-The X-Fi. Creative's new flagship Sound Blaster. Really cool sound card for the semi-audiophiles out there. Has a really nice upconverting feature. Upconverts from 16bit to 24bit as well as from 2.0 to 5.1! I really wanna know how they do it. I do know though that they need a really poweful DSP (which they sport, something with 10,000 MIPS!!) for all the stuff they are doing..
-The HQ-2300D. Really cool headphones. They have their own DAC and Amps..in a small little box.. That means nicer coupling and better sound! No more "damn it i bought these cool guy headphones but there is impedence mismatch with my driver...:'(" Also they support Dolby Digital or DTS inputs, by having its own decoder (inside that box)! This guy can optimise your 5.1 DTS or Dolby Digital for a headphone. Kinda like the Holophonic sound thingy. The best part is that if you dont't have 5.1 source, it can upconvert the 2.0 to 5.1 for you, just like the X-Fi!!
-The Zen Vision M. Saw the so called iPod killer. Have the agree that the UI is not as intutive as the iPod. Took me and TheWeed like 5mins to figure out how to use the scroll pad thingy. Oh and its huge! But still if I ever buy one, might go with Creative. It's the accessories and extra functions. Oh and also the codec support.
-The Decoders and Mixers. More like connectivity options for the various Creative devices that people own. Nice ideas, especially the fact that they have so many options.
-The Creative In-ear headphones. Keng bought one of those, says they are really as efficient as they promise to be! Have been thinking about those since I heard Robert Heron from Dl.Tv ranting about it!
-The Creative Prodikeys and family. Cool stuff, one day when I know more about music I'll think about these..
-The S$39 1st Gen mp3 players. Would be fun just to open it up and see whats what!
-The Creative Webcams. Going at insane prices!
So what did I buy?? Nothing..:( What do I want?? The X-Fi, the HQ-2300D and most importantly a Job!!! Would be so cool to work with Creative!! :D
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Privacy and the Internet...
Recently there has been a lot of 'hoohaa' about Internet. The myspace.com saga, the whole Tammy thingy in Singapore... People blaming technology for being evil, or allowing evil people to do more evil things. Probably spawn more evil people. OK enough evil, back to my point..
My point is that it is not the technology, it is you.. Yes YOU!! Its the people that don't realised the full meaning of what they are doing when use technology to do stuff. My personal favourite is people who "socially construct" about privacy on the internet! Let me exemplify using blogs...
Blogs were basically the virtual extensions of dairies. But, they are open to the public. The idea is for the anyone to be able to see them. Now, some people decided to lock their blogs, so that not everyone can access them. Personally, I feel its an anti-thesis to the principle of blogging, but I do understand the need of such things (As pointed out by a friend recently...). However, how much do you think you can keep things private on the internet??
Personally, I feel that if you publish anything on the internet, its is bound to be accessible in one way/form or another. That is what internet if for..sharing/transferring information, how can you rely on such a system to keep your data private?? And our good friends at Google are basically trying to categorize as much data as they can find on the internet. So, if they can crack your encryption/hack, your precious little blog is available for everyone in the world to search!
Another, interesting perspective to this issue. When you delete stuff that was accessible from the web, like web pages and stuff, do you think its really gone?? Gone from your server maybe. But what about Google Cache?? Ever looked at archives.org?? Makes you wonder huh??
So, know what you are really doing before using any technology, especially the Internet. You may be saved from a lot of trouble.. And try to google your Name and you nick once every few months, that way you know what dirt people can dig up about you...:p
My point is that it is not the technology, it is you.. Yes YOU!! Its the people that don't realised the full meaning of what they are doing when use technology to do stuff. My personal favourite is people who "socially construct" about privacy on the internet! Let me exemplify using blogs...
Blogs were basically the virtual extensions of dairies. But, they are open to the public. The idea is for the anyone to be able to see them. Now, some people decided to lock their blogs, so that not everyone can access them. Personally, I feel its an anti-thesis to the principle of blogging, but I do understand the need of such things (As pointed out by a friend recently...). However, how much do you think you can keep things private on the internet??
Personally, I feel that if you publish anything on the internet, its is bound to be accessible in one way/form or another. That is what internet if for..sharing/transferring information, how can you rely on such a system to keep your data private?? And our good friends at Google are basically trying to categorize as much data as they can find on the internet. So, if they can crack your encryption/hack, your precious little blog is available for everyone in the world to search!
Another, interesting perspective to this issue. When you delete stuff that was accessible from the web, like web pages and stuff, do you think its really gone?? Gone from your server maybe. But what about Google Cache?? Ever looked at archives.org?? Makes you wonder huh??
So, know what you are really doing before using any technology, especially the Internet. You may be saved from a lot of trouble.. And try to google your Name and you nick once every few months, that way you know what dirt people can dig up about you...:p
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Rude Asians...
Asians are rude!!
Before you label me as racist, let me prove my point. I have noticed it over many many days, that many Asians lack basic social skills. And the most important is politeness. I am not expecting everyone to behave oh so formally...calling everyone 'Sir' and speaking in 3rd person perspective all the time. I am talking about simple little things like asking and being polite.
So, for the past few weeks, I have been working my one of the TV rooms in PGP at night. Its nice and AC, has cozy seats and mostly the power sockets are not occupied. Many times me and TheWeed watch some TV shows whilestudying working. (Yea..if you wanna see the spectacle of two guys trying to multi-task, come join us..) So, many people assume that we are not watching TV and that they can change channels without asking us. Thats just rude. How much effort does it take to ask??
Moreover, many times people will sit and worst still STAND right in front of the TV. Hello!! You are not transparent you know. (Should really get my brother here...hehe). Worst of all was when this guy was folding his laundry in front of the TV....
Then, there are people who make a lot of noise in the TV room. I mean have no qualms about friends talking, chatting and all. But music?? Please...I don't want to listen to your music. When will people realise the existance of headphones? And then there was once a group of people who asked us to lower the TV's audio volume,(and it was not at all loud..) cos they couldn't hear each other!!! Hello!! This is the TV ROOM... If its too loud for you.....go out...
Anyway, my point in all this is that I realised that most people who do such things are Asians. Most of the ang mohs I have seen in there are really polite. They ask before changing channels and every before turning up/down the volume. They run across the front if they have to, so as not to block anybody's view..
It's a fact that I have noticed...And TheWeed will confirm.. I am not racist..Just embarassed by my fellow asians...
Before you label me as racist, let me prove my point. I have noticed it over many many days, that many Asians lack basic social skills. And the most important is politeness. I am not expecting everyone to behave oh so formally...calling everyone 'Sir' and speaking in 3rd person perspective all the time. I am talking about simple little things like asking and being polite.
So, for the past few weeks, I have been working my one of the TV rooms in PGP at night. Its nice and AC, has cozy seats and mostly the power sockets are not occupied. Many times me and TheWeed watch some TV shows while
Moreover, many times people will sit and worst still STAND right in front of the TV. Hello!! You are not transparent you know. (Should really get my brother here...hehe). Worst of all was when this guy was folding his laundry in front of the TV....
Then, there are people who make a lot of noise in the TV room. I mean have no qualms about friends talking, chatting and all. But music?? Please...I don't want to listen to your music. When will people realise the existance of headphones? And then there was once a group of people who asked us to lower the TV's audio volume,(and it was not at all loud..) cos they couldn't hear each other!!! Hello!! This is the TV ROOM... If its too loud for you.....go out...
Anyway, my point in all this is that I realised that most people who do such things are Asians. Most of the ang mohs I have seen in there are really polite. They ask before changing channels and every before turning up/down the volume. They run across the front if they have to, so as not to block anybody's view..
It's a fact that I have noticed...And TheWeed will confirm.. I am not racist..Just embarassed by my fellow asians...
Saturday, March 04, 2006
How not to be techy....
Update: Just found out that the author of the article is my junior!! I mean he/she is taking the same course as me, but an year junior to me. OMG. Please, you are a CPE3 student. You should do better than that!
I know I have promised to run a series of posts on NUS, but I think I'll not do it continuously. But, they are in the pipeline, just hope there is no hazard....:p
So, this is what happens when non-techy or not so techy people try to act techy...
I was reading the latest issue of The Ridge. It's a student publication by the NUSSU. I must agree that the magazine has improved a lot. Though, they have a lot of articles on sensational issues, and many publications with very cheeky language usage. It's a refreshing read, within the textbooks, APIs and the papers.
Anyway, so this is what I read in one of the articles talking about 3G technologies. And I quote,
"Kbps refers to 1000 bits per second and to put into perspective, under a speed of 384Kbps, it will take approximately 12 seconds to download a 4MB mp3 song."
So this person thinks he/she can use numbers and make the article sound sooo cool. But its wrong!! Do your math people. At 384Kbps in 12 seconds, you get 4608Mb. Which is like 576KB. Thats just an 8th of the file. The problem is that people dont seem to realise the difference between the big 'B' (stands for Bytes)and the small 'b' (stands for bits).
But then again, who else would care about these things. I mean 12s or 96s, not much different what. Its just fast....
Sigh... people...
I know I have promised to run a series of posts on NUS, but I think I'll not do it continuously. But, they are in the pipeline, just hope there is no hazard....:p
So, this is what happens when non-techy or not so techy people try to act techy...
I was reading the latest issue of The Ridge. It's a student publication by the NUSSU. I must agree that the magazine has improved a lot. Though, they have a lot of articles on sensational issues, and many publications with very cheeky language usage. It's a refreshing read, within the textbooks, APIs and the papers.
Anyway, so this is what I read in one of the articles talking about 3G technologies. And I quote,
"Kbps refers to 1000 bits per second and to put into perspective, under a speed of 384Kbps, it will take approximately 12 seconds to download a 4MB mp3 song."
So this person thinks he/she can use numbers and make the article sound sooo cool. But its wrong!! Do your math people. At 384Kbps in 12 seconds, you get 4608Mb. Which is like 576KB. Thats just an 8th of the file. The problem is that people dont seem to realise the difference between the big 'B' (stands for Bytes)and the small 'b' (stands for bits).
But then again, who else would care about these things. I mean 12s or 96s, not much different what. Its just fast....
Sigh... people...
Friday, March 03, 2006
An Ode to NUS!
I don't want to think about it, but it’s true. I should be graduating in a few months. "Should be" if I pass all my courses this sem. Not that I don't want to graduate, but I don't want to leave NUS.
I have spent 4 years here. Living on campus almost all the time, including over two vacations. I have grown to love the place. And not to mention the people, the food and the events. Not sure if I will ever get to have so much fun in one place.
I shouldn't be complaining and I am not. But, the irony of having such a great life is the equally painful goodbye. I have been told many times not to say this, but it’s true. It is very possible that I will not meet some of the people, that I see everyday, ever in my life... That thought brings tears every time...
And hence, I don't want to think about graduation. But, I must, for life will continue... and so must I.
So, I will try my best to run a series of posts on NUS, and the memories that I will treasure from these great 4 years I have had... Watch out for that..
I have spent 4 years here. Living on campus almost all the time, including over two vacations. I have grown to love the place. And not to mention the people, the food and the events. Not sure if I will ever get to have so much fun in one place.
I shouldn't be complaining and I am not. But, the irony of having such a great life is the equally painful goodbye. I have been told many times not to say this, but it’s true. It is very possible that I will not meet some of the people, that I see everyday, ever in my life... That thought brings tears every time...
And hence, I don't want to think about graduation. But, I must, for life will continue... and so must I.
So, I will try my best to run a series of posts on NUS, and the memories that I will treasure from these great 4 years I have had... Watch out for that..
Monday, February 27, 2006
Life...
I remember when I was in secondary school, my form teacher came into the class one day and gave us a long lecture on how fragile life is, and how we should cherish it. At that time I was just happy that she did not give us any homework that day. Didn't really care what she was saying.. But for some reasons it stuck in my mind...
Over this weekend I realised the truth in what she said. It is true, life is really fragile. You never know when it will end, and where! Not that I am afraid of a life ending, I am just afraid, that it would be an incomplete life. When one regrets not having done something before the end.
This is kinda what my teacher said too, "You should never hold back your kind feelings for any person, cos you never know you may be able to express them later. You should put off a good dead, lest you never get to complete it. And you should never wait to appologise, else you may never get a chance to."
Every beginning has an end. Something that no one can run from. One should strive to live a life such that when the end comes, he/she should not wish it had not.
Over this weekend I realised the truth in what she said. It is true, life is really fragile. You never know when it will end, and where! Not that I am afraid of a life ending, I am just afraid, that it would be an incomplete life. When one regrets not having done something before the end.
This is kinda what my teacher said too, "You should never hold back your kind feelings for any person, cos you never know you may be able to express them later. You should put off a good dead, lest you never get to complete it. And you should never wait to appologise, else you may never get a chance to."
Every beginning has an end. Something that no one can run from. One should strive to live a life such that when the end comes, he/she should not wish it had not.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
I give up...
This is freaking annoying. I absolutely hate stuff like this. I have been doing this stupid lab for one of my courses for the past week, and it doesn't want to work. Not that it is very important, just 5% of a final grade that I don't really care for. But it doesn't work!!! Ahhh...
Theoretically, it is supposed to work. I tested all the individual components, and they seem to work. I even tried to model it and simulated the model. It give perfect results. But, when I implement it on the freaking hardware platform, it does not want to work.
Whats worst is that the problem, that I get is because of bouncing in push buttons. Something that we learnt to deal with in 2nd year courses.I know a sure shot solution to it, but I can't use it here. Damn it. For the 1st time in my life, I actually feel the need to use analogue electronics over digital. How I love RC ciruits!!
I don't wanna give up. I want to nail this one. but it leaves me no choice...:'( Wasted too much time on this stupid SodaMachine... FYP and 2 projects still to do...
Sigh...
Theoretically, it is supposed to work. I tested all the individual components, and they seem to work. I even tried to model it and simulated the model. It give perfect results. But, when I implement it on the freaking hardware platform, it does not want to work.
Whats worst is that the problem, that I get is because of bouncing in push buttons. Something that we learnt to deal with in 2nd year courses.I know a sure shot solution to it, but I can't use it here. Damn it. For the 1st time in my life, I actually feel the need to use analogue electronics over digital. How I love RC ciruits!!
I don't wanna give up. I want to nail this one. but it leaves me no choice...:'( Wasted too much time on this stupid SodaMachine... FYP and 2 projects still to do...
Sigh...
Friday, February 17, 2006
IPTV in Singapore!
Just saw this on the news yesterday! Mediacorps is starting IPTV service in Singapore. That mean you can download your favourite Mediacorps TV shows legally (hehe.. I know) for a small sum of money. Its basically like iTunes but for Mediacorps shows.
I think this is really cool. Hopefully if they manage the DRM stuff properly and we can time-shift and place-shift well enough, I can see this technology picking up. Especially since Singapore has so many mobile devices.
But, then again, they could really screw this up. And that will not be a surprise. We have seen it happen before. OK OK I will not complain about stuff... But they should really care about the quality of the videos they are offering. Or maybe a few options for the types of format and size for the user to choose. Also different DRM options so we dont have to download the same thing many times. I mean if they are going to get money for it, might as well do it well. I am sure people are willing to pay for it if they provide good service. I am....Are you??
Currently, I checked the website and the service is beta. Seems that it mostly doesn't work, but you can see the DRM options and costs. 1 episode of Police and Theif was S$3. Of course single view and the user cannot move the file, which sucks, but for S$3.. hey why not!
I also hope they put up some really cool TV shows from the past. You know like Under One Roof! and maybe PCK...especially the very first few seasons. Would be really fun to watch them again. For the sake of TheWeed, I have to mention Triple 9! And maybe the really old school stuff like MDIS!! and The RaRa Show..
Personally, I would do anything to get my hands on the whole season of Chase. That was one of the best local show I have watched. It was simple and sweet. OK lah, sometimes a little bo liao, but quite funny! And I guess TheWeed would want the final episode of Tiramisu that he missed..
I think this is really cool. Hopefully if they manage the DRM stuff properly and we can time-shift and place-shift well enough, I can see this technology picking up. Especially since Singapore has so many mobile devices.
But, then again, they could really screw this up. And that will not be a surprise. We have seen it happen before. OK OK I will not complain about stuff... But they should really care about the quality of the videos they are offering. Or maybe a few options for the types of format and size for the user to choose. Also different DRM options so we dont have to download the same thing many times. I mean if they are going to get money for it, might as well do it well. I am sure people are willing to pay for it if they provide good service. I am....Are you??
Currently, I checked the website and the service is beta. Seems that it mostly doesn't work, but you can see the DRM options and costs. 1 episode of Police and Theif was S$3. Of course single view and the user cannot move the file, which sucks, but for S$3.. hey why not!
I also hope they put up some really cool TV shows from the past. You know like Under One Roof! and maybe PCK...especially the very first few seasons. Would be really fun to watch them again. For the sake of TheWeed, I have to mention Triple 9! And maybe the really old school stuff like MDIS!! and The RaRa Show..
Personally, I would do anything to get my hands on the whole season of Chase. That was one of the best local show I have watched. It was simple and sweet. OK lah, sometimes a little bo liao, but quite funny! And I guess TheWeed would want the final episode of Tiramisu that he missed..
Monday, February 13, 2006
Nihira Joshi...
Update.. Just read that Nihira is gonna sing for either Ismail Darbar and/or AR Rahman (yes... the man himself) in the movie Baajirao Mastani. Seems that both of them are directing the music for the movie... I can't wait to hear Nihira and Rahman!!
This is sort of the continuation of my previous post aboutReality TV Well, more about one reality show and a specific participant. I have been thinking about posting something about her, but never got down to do it.
Nihira Joshi was one of the participants of SaReGaMaPa Challenge 2005. 'Was' since she got voted out a few weeks ago. Now I won’t go on about how she was the best and should have won and stuff. That has already been done a lot on the >India Forums. But personally I felt, as a singer, she is really great. All throughout the competition, she sang without going out of tune/note (besur). Well, almost. I remember her going a little besur just once. Her voice is clear and sweet. And most importantly does not waver. That may not be really useful in certain types of music (like arabic music where u need that fluctuation), but more often than not it sounds great.
That's her.... (Photo from madhaparia.com)
Personally, I loved her courage. Not only did she take on some really difficult songs, but also took on the most difficult parts of the songs. Let me exemplify, I remember when she sang the song Chalka Chalka from the movie Saathiya, I was thinking, "she can take the easy stanza/verse/kadva or the difficult one, the one with Richa Sharma's vocals. If she takes the difficult one, god bless her." Too my surprise, she took the difficult one and rendered it, making it look sooo simple.
I got this clip of her singing Kehna Hi Kya from the movie Bombay. This was recorded off TV by another fan of the show. For that reason the quality is not great. Also there seems to be some distortion towards the end of the clip. I personally think that that aalap that she sings is amazing. In the original song, it is sung by AR Rahman himself and that too really beautifully. I feel that Nihira has done justice to that song. Here is the clip
and here is the original.(Unfortunately IE only... :@)
I don't care if she lost in the SaReGaMaPa Challenge2006. She is just 17!! and I am very sure we'll hear here again. Actually, she has already 'sang' (If you could call it that) in Bunty Aur Bubbly and supposedly has an album coming up. There is also a rumour that she might be coming to Singapore to perform!!...Can't wait for that... :p
This is sort of the continuation of my previous post aboutReality TV Well, more about one reality show and a specific participant. I have been thinking about posting something about her, but never got down to do it.
Nihira Joshi was one of the participants of SaReGaMaPa Challenge 2005. 'Was' since she got voted out a few weeks ago. Now I won’t go on about how she was the best and should have won and stuff. That has already been done a lot on the >India Forums. But personally I felt, as a singer, she is really great. All throughout the competition, she sang without going out of tune/note (besur). Well, almost. I remember her going a little besur just once. Her voice is clear and sweet. And most importantly does not waver. That may not be really useful in certain types of music (like arabic music where u need that fluctuation), but more often than not it sounds great.
That's her.... (Photo from madhaparia.com)
Personally, I loved her courage. Not only did she take on some really difficult songs, but also took on the most difficult parts of the songs. Let me exemplify, I remember when she sang the song Chalka Chalka from the movie Saathiya, I was thinking, "she can take the easy stanza/verse/kadva or the difficult one, the one with Richa Sharma's vocals. If she takes the difficult one, god bless her." Too my surprise, she took the difficult one and rendered it, making it look sooo simple.
I got this clip of her singing Kehna Hi Kya from the movie Bombay. This was recorded off TV by another fan of the show. For that reason the quality is not great. Also there seems to be some distortion towards the end of the clip. I personally think that that aalap that she sings is amazing. In the original song, it is sung by AR Rahman himself and that too really beautifully. I feel that Nihira has done justice to that song. Here is the clip
and here is the original.(Unfortunately IE only... :@)
I don't care if she lost in the SaReGaMaPa Challenge2006. She is just 17!! and I am very sure we'll hear here again. Actually, she has already 'sang' (If you could call it that) in Bunty Aur Bubbly and supposedly has an album coming up. There is also a rumour that she might be coming to Singapore to perform!!...Can't wait for that... :p
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Updates for Minty...
Alright...
Seems that our Minty Mp3 player project will happen afterall. Currently, we have all the 'raw materials' including the PCBs and all the ICs and components. We just need some good soldering tools (which I hope to buy) and some good debugging tools like multimeter and oscilloscope (which I hope I wont have to buy...).
Oh and the most important, the PIC programmer. We actually built a Pic-Key. But I am not so sure if it works. Plus, we dont have any extra PICs to burn...:p Whats worst Microchip has stopped sampling many PICs... So there is no way to get the PICs other than buying... :"(
Anyway, just the other day I found this. PIC-PG1. Its by sparkfun, and its only US$ 11 + shipping. Seems a better alternative to our Pic-Key..
And I also found Eagle3D. Eagle is a really great circuit CAD tool that I have been using since I took EE3208. Really good for all student projects. It can produce gerber files so that you can fab the PCB at any fab. I am pretty sure it will work in the NUS PCB fab as well. It takes a little time to learn, but once you get it, its really cool. Its free and you can create your own device if the libraries don't have the one you want. And do check their libraries, cos they have many many user submissions....
Eagle3D is like a macro for Eagle that allows you convert your Eagle Board layout into a 3D rendering capable file format, through a Eagle ULP. Really cool stuff. The generated file can be viewed through POV-Ray. I did a quick rendeing for Minty, and here are the results.
Seems that our Minty Mp3 player project will happen afterall. Currently, we have all the 'raw materials' including the PCBs and all the ICs and components. We just need some good soldering tools (which I hope to buy) and some good debugging tools like multimeter and oscilloscope (which I hope I wont have to buy...).
Oh and the most important, the PIC programmer. We actually built a Pic-Key. But I am not so sure if it works. Plus, we dont have any extra PICs to burn...:p Whats worst Microchip has stopped sampling many PICs... So there is no way to get the PICs other than buying... :"(
Anyway, just the other day I found this. PIC-PG1. Its by sparkfun, and its only US$ 11 + shipping. Seems a better alternative to our Pic-Key..
And I also found Eagle3D. Eagle is a really great circuit CAD tool that I have been using since I took EE3208. Really good for all student projects. It can produce gerber files so that you can fab the PCB at any fab. I am pretty sure it will work in the NUS PCB fab as well. It takes a little time to learn, but once you get it, its really cool. Its free and you can create your own device if the libraries don't have the one you want. And do check their libraries, cos they have many many user submissions....
Eagle3D is like a macro for Eagle that allows you convert your Eagle Board layout into a 3D rendering capable file format, through a Eagle ULP. Really cool stuff. The generated file can be viewed through POV-Ray. I did a quick rendeing for Minty, and here are the results.
This is the board layout of Minty... 
And this is the 3D version. Cool huh??
Now only if I had more time.....
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Marché and more temptations....
Went to Marché today.... TheWeed belanjahed us there... :D Thank you dude... It was great...
Though I must say that I dont like Marché. Don't get me wrong, we had a blast! But, I just don't like the concept of the restaurant.. All the food on display, is a huge temptation. I am spoilt for choice when I want to get food. I walk around and around...and I can't decide what I want to get.. Ahhhhhhhh... I hate that feeling...
I have been subjected to many tempations recently...
Sigh... how I wish I could don't write this #*@^%@# speech for tomorrow and do one (or more) of these things....
But, I will resist.. and I shall wait. In the words of TheWeed, "Wait untill time dilates...".....
Though I must say that I dont like Marché. Don't get me wrong, we had a blast! But, I just don't like the concept of the restaurant.. All the food on display, is a huge temptation. I am spoilt for choice when I want to get food. I walk around and around...and I can't decide what I want to get.. Ahhhhhhhh... I hate that feeling...
I have been subjected to many tempations recently...
- The NUS Arts festival.....music...sound... good stuff....:D
- Today's Marche... foood.....
- Friend playing/speaking of games... I so wanna play civ4...and WoW and I want C&C The First Decade
- Updates and developements by Lady Ada on Minty et al.... I wanna make my own mp3 player!!
- Geeky stuff on vidcasts like Dl.tv and Hak.5.. I wanna hack into that CVS cam....:D
Sigh... how I wish I could don't write this #*@^%@# speech for tomorrow and do one (or more) of these things....
But, I will resist.. and I shall wait. In the words of TheWeed, "Wait untill time dilates...".....
Thursday, February 02, 2006
The reality of Reality TV...
I have never been a sucker for reality TV.. Well almost never... I kinda used to follow Survivor during the 1st and 2nd seasons.. But, recently with the renewed zeal in reality TV shows, I have been thinking of them again..
Seems that Idol fever hit India last year, and soon after there were 20 other shows trying to sponge off Indian Idols popularity. Unfortunately, in that fray, one of my favourite TV shows was tainted with the reality stamp.
I have been watching SaReGaMaPa, since it started. It used to be hosted by Sonu Nigam, and then by Aman and Aayan Ali Bangash and now by Shaan. It was a good show. Though most of the times the people who won were not my favourites, the show did bring forward some really great talents.. Shreya Ghoshal and Kunal Ganjawala to name a few..
Last year, succumbing to the hope of great ratings and more (I will come to that..)they changed it to an Idol like contest. So basically, there are no judges and the 'public' vote for their favourites. Well, I won't go into the details of the 'drama shama' that unfolded. It was so much that they would have to make like 3 Hindi movies out of it, just to do justice to the drama. For those who have no idea how much drama Hindi movies have... just try to catch one..
My interest lies in the financial aspect of reality shows. It seems that every SMS vote you send costs Rs5. (That’s like 20 cents). And they have been getting votes in hundreds of thousands every week. That the best part of running a show like that in India.. The sheer amount of people makes it a huge money earner. So it’s like they make millions from just these votes every week. There is not much expense though. Only 1 participant gets the final prize and the other stuff is probably paid for by the sponsors. That's good business...
So I have decided if I can’t find a job, I am going to start a reality TV show. Just imagine, a reality TV show on students studying in NUS!!! The winner gets CAP of 5!! And the weekly challenges are assignments!! Their answers of the assignments are put up on the website for the viewers to see and vote accordingly.
So who wants to participate?? Contact me asap!
Seems that Idol fever hit India last year, and soon after there were 20 other shows trying to sponge off Indian Idols popularity. Unfortunately, in that fray, one of my favourite TV shows was tainted with the reality stamp.
I have been watching SaReGaMaPa, since it started. It used to be hosted by Sonu Nigam, and then by Aman and Aayan Ali Bangash and now by Shaan. It was a good show. Though most of the times the people who won were not my favourites, the show did bring forward some really great talents.. Shreya Ghoshal and Kunal Ganjawala to name a few..
Last year, succumbing to the hope of great ratings and more (I will come to that..)they changed it to an Idol like contest. So basically, there are no judges and the 'public' vote for their favourites. Well, I won't go into the details of the 'drama shama' that unfolded. It was so much that they would have to make like 3 Hindi movies out of it, just to do justice to the drama. For those who have no idea how much drama Hindi movies have... just try to catch one..
My interest lies in the financial aspect of reality shows. It seems that every SMS vote you send costs Rs5. (That’s like 20 cents). And they have been getting votes in hundreds of thousands every week. That the best part of running a show like that in India.. The sheer amount of people makes it a huge money earner. So it’s like they make millions from just these votes every week. There is not much expense though. Only 1 participant gets the final prize and the other stuff is probably paid for by the sponsors. That's good business...
So I have decided if I can’t find a job, I am going to start a reality TV show. Just imagine, a reality TV show on students studying in NUS!!! The winner gets CAP of 5!! And the weekly challenges are assignments!! Their answers of the assignments are put up on the website for the viewers to see and vote accordingly.
So who wants to participate?? Contact me asap!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
I should learn LaTeX...
After what I went through today... I say I have had enough of M$... Though I do save almost all my reports and other written articles as pdf files, I was still using M$ Word to create them. It is easy and I have been using it for years now.
However, todays episode is the last straw. I dont want to deal with unopenable files, unprintable files and stupid "Oooops your file is now corrupted, your data is all lost. Thanks for using M$"...
LaTeX seems to be the way to go. Though it's difficult to learn it seems very flexible. It also seems to have some kind of style sheets. I dont know how and what... That is what I should find out now... And you can make pdf projector slides as well with LaTeX and stuff like that. That mean I can say "good bye" to M$ Office.. I will only need it to open things....never to create anything.
Haha... freedom at last.... Just need to explore and read... A LOT!!!
However, todays episode is the last straw. I dont want to deal with unopenable files, unprintable files and stupid "Oooops your file is now corrupted, your data is all lost. Thanks for using M$"...
LaTeX seems to be the way to go. Though it's difficult to learn it seems very flexible. It also seems to have some kind of style sheets. I dont know how and what... That is what I should find out now... And you can make pdf projector slides as well with LaTeX and stuff like that. That mean I can say "good bye" to M$ Office.. I will only need it to open things....never to create anything.
Haha... freedom at last.... Just need to explore and read... A LOT!!!
Monday, January 30, 2006
My Obsession with Sound.
I am obsessed with sound. Its crazy, everywhere I go, I hear sound. Haha..
Jokes aside, sound is really an amazing thing. Everying from it creation to perception is incredible.
Superfacially, it is very simple and elegant. Sound is vibrations of various frequiencies. It travels as longitudinal waves and is perceived by our ear again as a mixture of frequiencies.
However, if you really look into sound, it's huge. Acoustics, the science of sound is an emense field of study, has applications in many other disciplines, has been studies for years and still an active research field, and NOT persued in NUS by any of the Departments. That's sad, for me as well as NUS.....
Anyhow (as Lulu would said...:p), I have decided to start a sound blog. I'll blog about all the cool things about sound and the related fields... Maybe I should move over to other blogging service like Wordpress and use categories... Maybe.... A lot of 'maybe's shall remain 'maybe' untill 2nd May...
Jokes aside, sound is really an amazing thing. Everying from it creation to perception is incredible.
Superfacially, it is very simple and elegant. Sound is vibrations of various frequiencies. It travels as longitudinal waves and is perceived by our ear again as a mixture of frequiencies.
However, if you really look into sound, it's huge. Acoustics, the science of sound is an emense field of study, has applications in many other disciplines, has been studies for years and still an active research field, and NOT persued in NUS by any of the Departments. That's sad, for me as well as NUS.....
Anyhow (as Lulu would said...:p), I have decided to start a sound blog. I'll blog about all the cool things about sound and the related fields... Maybe I should move over to other blogging service like Wordpress and use categories... Maybe.... A lot of 'maybe's shall remain 'maybe' untill 2nd May...
Monday, January 23, 2006
Temptations....
I hate this. Just as I was getting back into the groove for the semester, NUS decides to 'test' me again. They annouce NUS Arts Festival, with a huge line up of events. Its like right in the middle of the Sem....
Its really cool stuff. Local artists, international artists... Lots of interesting performances. I wanna go!!! But sigh....no time...
But then, I will try my best to go for the following events. They seem somthing not worth missing. I mean it is my last sem in NUS.... I better catch them now..
1. CFA Distinguished Visitor: Dr. L. Subramaniam, Saturday, 18 February 2006, 7.30pm
2.A Night of Enchantment by NUS Symphony Orchestra (NUSSO) with Konstantin Scherbakov, Friday, 24 February 2006, 7.30pm
3.Bharat Culture ’06 Tatva … The Philosophy of Lifeby NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble, Sunday, 12 March 2006, 7.30pm
4.Al Bedouin Middle Eastern Music Ensemble, Saturday, 11 February 2006, 6.30pm
5.West African Djembe Ensemble performanceby Lîla Drum Orchestra, Friday, 17 February 2006, 6.30pm
6.Balawan & Batuan Ethnic Fusion (Bali), Friday & Sunday, 10 & 12 March 2006, 6.30pm
7.Golden Tunes of Yesteryearby NUS Rondalla, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 6.30pm
8.Lîla Drum Orchestra,Sunday, 19 March 2006, 6.30pm
9.Electrodyssey 2006: Beyond The Infiniteby NUS Electronic Music Lab (EML), Friday, 10 February 2006, 7.30 pm
10.Electronic Music Lab (EML) Workshop and Forum, Saturday, 11 February 2006, 4 -6pm
11.Mélange - International Students' Showcase 2006 by NUSSU International Relations Committee,Sunday, 12 February 2006, 3pm
12. Smoke Your Way Through!.... Italy, Saturday, 25 February 2006, 3 - 6pm
13. Smoke Your Way Through!.... France, Saturday, 11 February 2006, 3 - 6pm
Ahhhhh too many to catch!!.... Sigh must choose...:(
Oh and some have tix.... Very ex also.... :(... Sigh...
But anyway....if anyone wants to join me to watch some of these.... you are welcome.... :D
Its really cool stuff. Local artists, international artists... Lots of interesting performances. I wanna go!!! But sigh....no time...
But then, I will try my best to go for the following events. They seem somthing not worth missing. I mean it is my last sem in NUS.... I better catch them now..
1. CFA Distinguished Visitor: Dr. L. Subramaniam, Saturday, 18 February 2006, 7.30pm
2.A Night of Enchantment by NUS Symphony Orchestra (NUSSO) with Konstantin Scherbakov, Friday, 24 February 2006, 7.30pm
3.Bharat Culture ’06 Tatva … The Philosophy of Lifeby NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble, Sunday, 12 March 2006, 7.30pm
4.Al Bedouin Middle Eastern Music Ensemble, Saturday, 11 February 2006, 6.30pm
5.West African Djembe Ensemble performanceby Lîla Drum Orchestra, Friday, 17 February 2006, 6.30pm
6.Balawan & Batuan Ethnic Fusion (Bali), Friday & Sunday, 10 & 12 March 2006, 6.30pm
7.Golden Tunes of Yesteryearby NUS Rondalla, Saturday, 11 March 2006, 6.30pm
8.Lîla Drum Orchestra,Sunday, 19 March 2006, 6.30pm
9.Electrodyssey 2006: Beyond The Infiniteby NUS Electronic Music Lab (EML), Friday, 10 February 2006, 7.30 pm
10.Electronic Music Lab (EML) Workshop and Forum, Saturday, 11 February 2006, 4 -6pm
11.Mélange - International Students' Showcase 2006 by NUSSU International Relations Committee,Sunday, 12 February 2006, 3pm
12. Smoke Your Way Through!.... Italy, Saturday, 25 February 2006, 3 - 6pm
13. Smoke Your Way Through!.... France, Saturday, 11 February 2006, 3 - 6pm
Ahhhhh too many to catch!!.... Sigh must choose...:(
Oh and some have tix.... Very ex also.... :(... Sigh...
But anyway....if anyone wants to join me to watch some of these.... you are welcome.... :D
Friday, January 20, 2006
The Change...
I decided that I had enough of the plastic looking Blogger skin. So here is something that looks nicer. At least to me...
And ofcourse HaloScan and LastHalo.. Seem better than Blogger Comments...
Now I have to remember not to post in colour... White is the best colour...:D:D
Back to work now....
And ofcourse HaloScan and LastHalo.. Seem better than Blogger Comments...
Now I have to remember not to post in colour... White is the best colour...:D:D
Back to work now....
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Trust your technolust!!
Either I am really bored, or I am gone totally crazy. Or Both..
Anyway, so in the past few weeks lots of cool things happened in tech world. And what have I been doing them?? Following such things instead of studying....ahhhhhhhh
There was CES06... There was MacWorld and other stuff that I just found out about...
CES06 for those who are trying the various combinations is Consumer Electronic Show 2006. It took place in the 1st week of Jan. It was in Vegas.. Only if I had been in Vegas then.... Sigh.. Just 2 weeks off..
Anyway, so I have been watching PodCasts of Dl.Tv's CES coverage (I am not so free...but....) Man its sooo cool. I mean all those gadgets and technology... I want!! Well at least to touch...and play with for a while...
And then there was MacWorld. Who can forgot our friend from the other side of Computing world and their new friend, The Intel Guy in a Bunny Suit.....
The best part of MacWorld was the new Apple MacBook Pros... Hehe..
"Intel Core Duo processor at either 1.67 or 1.83GHz, 512MB - 2GB RAM, built-in iSight, FrontRow, FireWire 400, two USB 2.0 ports, ExpressCard/34, MagSafe power, 802.11g (AirPort Extreme), Bluetooth 2.0 EDR), gigabit Ethernet, backlit keyboard, Apple remote input, 15.4-inch 1440 x 900 display, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with either 128 or 256MB of RAM and dual-link DVI (for 30-inchers), an 80GB or 100GB drive, and dual-layer DVD burner"
And being an x86 processor...you could, people speculate, run your good old Windows on it!!! That would be nice would'nt it??
But, don't hold your breadth and hold on to your WinXP cds... Due to some firmware compatibility issues, XP wont be able to work with it..... Damn it... Wait for Vista they say...
Wait for Vista...Haha.. Vista sounds like Vishta... Windows Vishta.... how appropriate.. (Sorry Marathi only Joke...:P)
Maybe I will.. Then I can have a triple boot machine!! Use the best of each OS...
I cant wait for that...
So much for updates from the techworld... So Trust your Technolust!!
Anyway, so in the past few weeks lots of cool things happened in tech world. And what have I been doing them?? Following such things instead of studying....ahhhhhhhh
There was CES06... There was MacWorld and other stuff that I just found out about...
CES06 for those who are trying the various combinations is Consumer Electronic Show 2006. It took place in the 1st week of Jan. It was in Vegas.. Only if I had been in Vegas then.... Sigh.. Just 2 weeks off..
Anyway, so I have been watching PodCasts of Dl.Tv's CES coverage (I am not so free...but....) Man its sooo cool. I mean all those gadgets and technology... I want!! Well at least to touch...and play with for a while...
And then there was MacWorld. Who can forgot our friend from the other side of Computing world and their new friend, The Intel Guy in a Bunny Suit.....
The best part of MacWorld was the new Apple MacBook Pros... Hehe..
"Intel Core Duo processor at either 1.67 or 1.83GHz, 512MB - 2GB RAM, built-in iSight, FrontRow, FireWire 400, two USB 2.0 ports, ExpressCard/34, MagSafe power, 802.11g (AirPort Extreme), Bluetooth 2.0 EDR), gigabit Ethernet, backlit keyboard, Apple remote input, 15.4-inch 1440 x 900 display, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with either 128 or 256MB of RAM and dual-link DVI (for 30-inchers), an 80GB or 100GB drive, and dual-layer DVD burner"
And being an x86 processor...you could, people speculate, run your good old Windows on it!!! That would be nice would'nt it??
But, don't hold your breadth and hold on to your WinXP cds... Due to some firmware compatibility issues, XP wont be able to work with it..... Damn it... Wait for Vista they say...
Wait for Vista...Haha.. Vista sounds like Vishta... Windows Vishta.... how appropriate.. (Sorry Marathi only Joke...:P)
Maybe I will.. Then I can have a triple boot machine!! Use the best of each OS...
I cant wait for that...
So much for updates from the techworld... So Trust your Technolust!!
Friday, January 06, 2006
Cooking...an Art or a Science??
I read this off a friend’s blog a couple of days back....
"WHAM!!!!....ok so following instructions and cooking is not cooking..." (hope you don't mind..)
Really?? So following a recipe from a book or a TV show is not cooking either?? What about making instant noodles or heat-n-eat meals?? Putting toppings on ice-cream before eating it??No??........ That means I can’t cook !! :'(:'(:'(:'(
That makes me wonder if cooking is an art or a science?? If it is an art then I have valid reasons not to be able to cook...:p. But if it is a science, then I need to find an excuse..
I remember one of my friends, a great cook and a chemical engineer, saying that for him, his kitchen is his second lab. To him every dish he made was an experiment. Many times he would not know what he was making until he made it. Just like some chemist mixing stuff to get something interesting.
But then, he also said that all food has to be artistic. He used to say that for any food to taste good, 1st it has to look good. There is a great effect of the colour of food on the satisfaction of the person who eats it. Colourful food always seems more appetising. So he said.
Popularity of food is very subjective. That makes it artistic. Art is subjective. It’s easy to draw a parallel to music. There are as many types of food as types of music and as many songs/compositions as dishes. There are people who like rock and there are people who like
Mexican food. And some can’t stand rock and some who can't stomach Mexican food.
What about recipes?? They seem very scientific. It reminds of the chemistry lab reports from secondary school.
Aim: To make great Tiramisu.
Apparatus: Bowls, Spoons, Whisk; Eggs, Cheese, Biscuits, Coffee.
Method: Whisk the eggs; Mix with the cheese; Pour over biscuits dipped in coffee.
Results: Tiramisu.
Discussion: If you want a healthier option, leave out the egg yellow....
Conclusion: This makes great Tiramisu.;)
Sigh... all this discussion of food makes me hungry... I have to stop here for a 'lunch' break. But here is some food for thought..
Do you eat to live or do you live to eat??
Frankly?? Think about it...
"WHAM!!!!....ok so following instructions and cooking is not cooking..." (hope you don't mind..)
Really?? So following a recipe from a book or a TV show is not cooking either?? What about making instant noodles or heat-n-eat meals?? Putting toppings on ice-cream before eating it??No??........ That means I can’t cook !! :'(:'(:'(:'(
That makes me wonder if cooking is an art or a science?? If it is an art then I have valid reasons not to be able to cook...:p. But if it is a science, then I need to find an excuse..
I remember one of my friends, a great cook and a chemical engineer, saying that for him, his kitchen is his second lab. To him every dish he made was an experiment. Many times he would not know what he was making until he made it. Just like some chemist mixing stuff to get something interesting.
But then, he also said that all food has to be artistic. He used to say that for any food to taste good, 1st it has to look good. There is a great effect of the colour of food on the satisfaction of the person who eats it. Colourful food always seems more appetising. So he said.
Popularity of food is very subjective. That makes it artistic. Art is subjective. It’s easy to draw a parallel to music. There are as many types of food as types of music and as many songs/compositions as dishes. There are people who like rock and there are people who like
Mexican food. And some can’t stand rock and some who can't stomach Mexican food.
What about recipes?? They seem very scientific. It reminds of the chemistry lab reports from secondary school.
Aim: To make great Tiramisu.
Apparatus: Bowls, Spoons, Whisk; Eggs, Cheese, Biscuits, Coffee.
Method: Whisk the eggs; Mix with the cheese; Pour over biscuits dipped in coffee.
Results: Tiramisu.
Discussion: If you want a healthier option, leave out the egg yellow....
Conclusion: This makes great Tiramisu.;)
Sigh... all this discussion of food makes me hungry... I have to stop here for a 'lunch' break. But here is some food for thought..
Do you eat to live or do you live to eat??
Frankly?? Think about it...
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
The flight back....
It’s really great to be back!!
The best part is the way I came back. OK, except for the fact that I almost did not have a New Years Countdown. I had to fly on 31st Dec so I missed the celebrations. And since I flew west, I was afraid I would reach the dateline before 12 midnight and thus miss it. Luckily the route took us north and we were near Anchorage when 'clock struck twelve o o'.
Anyway, the cool thing was my flight back. I was booked to fly the normal flight with a stop-over at Taipei. But, we went to the airport early and tried to get the non-stop flight to Singapore. We had to wait for 2 hours, but in the end we got it!
So I flew 18hrs non-stop in a really nice A340-500. It was very comfortable. Great leg room, better than the 777s. Good food, and by that I mean Ben&Jerry's ice-cream!. Great service, including a self-service food counter for that midnight snack that you always crave for. They even had Champagne before the dinner.
And they had Ethernet and power connections on every seat!! I should have had my laptop with me. But anyway, I managed to catch some sleep on the flight, that’s new. Overall the flight was not as tiring as I would expect an 18 hrs flight. Plus, I saved like 5 hours on travel time.
So, if you ever get a chance, try it out. It’s really a great experience. I would surely like to fly it again, and next time I would surely bring long my laptop. Imagine playing WC3 at 36000 feet!!..;)
The best part is the way I came back. OK, except for the fact that I almost did not have a New Years Countdown. I had to fly on 31st Dec so I missed the celebrations. And since I flew west, I was afraid I would reach the dateline before 12 midnight and thus miss it. Luckily the route took us north and we were near Anchorage when 'clock struck twelve o o'.
Anyway, the cool thing was my flight back. I was booked to fly the normal flight with a stop-over at Taipei. But, we went to the airport early and tried to get the non-stop flight to Singapore. We had to wait for 2 hours, but in the end we got it!
So I flew 18hrs non-stop in a really nice A340-500. It was very comfortable. Great leg room, better than the 777s. Good food, and by that I mean Ben&Jerry's ice-cream!. Great service, including a self-service food counter for that midnight snack that you always crave for. They even had Champagne before the dinner.
And they had Ethernet and power connections on every seat!! I should have had my laptop with me. But anyway, I managed to catch some sleep on the flight, that’s new. Overall the flight was not as tiring as I would expect an 18 hrs flight. Plus, I saved like 5 hours on travel time.
So, if you ever get a chance, try it out. It’s really a great experience. I would surely like to fly it again, and next time I would surely bring long my laptop. Imagine playing WC3 at 36000 feet!!..;)
Monday, January 02, 2006
Happy New Year....and a Jet-lagged NTT
Wishing All of you a very Happy New Year. Hope you will fullfill all your resolutions....
I am too jet-lagged to blog now. I will blog about my flight back to Singapore soon.... When I am able stay awake enough to type a few more line....
I am too jet-lagged to blog now. I will blog about my flight back to Singapore soon.... When I am able stay awake enough to type a few more line....
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