Thursday, 30 December 2004
Gen X minus Gen Y
Interesting article titled "Capturing the Y" from MIS Australia. Talks about characteristics of Generation Yers and their behaviours and expectations in the contemporary workplace while making comparisons to Gen X. Wonder how much of it applies to Singaporeans.
Tuesday, 28 December 2004
Sunday, 26 December 2004
Ushering in the New Year
Good news everyone!!
A venue has been found for our New Year's Eve party.
Please drop me a message if you can make it.
Details to follow soon...
Over the Air: The Thin Red Line
A venue has been found for our New Year's Eve party.
Please drop me a message if you can make it.
Details to follow soon...
Over the Air: The Thin Red Line
Thursday, 23 December 2004
Just 3 things this Christmas
- Christmas Eve (24th December 2004)
- @Desmond's, from late Evening onwards
- BYOF (Bring your own Food!)
Alls invited!
Saturday, 18 December 2004
Cascading Style Scheiße
I've been trying to work out the formatting part of our blog and meanwhile, it's been hell trying to make sense of our CSS.
Our blog is now available in two styles.
Meaning if you're using Mozilla/Firefox, just pull down the View->Page Style menu and choose a style. For IE...well, I'll let somebody else clue you guys in.
Meanwhile, I came across some recommendations
and some designs available at Open Source Web Designs.
Erm, brown?? Well, these are just some design company's forecast for 2005....
If anybody has any suggestions....
Oh yeah, anybody know a good CSS editor?
Our blog is now available in two styles.
Meaning if you're using Mozilla/Firefox, just pull down the View->Page Style menu and choose a style. For IE...well, I'll let somebody else clue you guys in.
Meanwhile, I came across some recommendations
- Color of the year: Brown
- Tech grays and blues take a sabbatical; may not be back soon.
- Pure red (the “new blue” of the past few years) falls into disfavor.
- Designers are feeling confident—lots of bold colors this year.
- Lots of “in-between” colors (yellow-greens, red-oranges, etc.) used to achieve fresh looks
and some designs available at Open Source Web Designs.
Erm, brown?? Well, these are just some design company's forecast for 2005....
If anybody has any suggestions....
Oh yeah, anybody know a good CSS editor?
Wednesday, 8 December 2004
Maestro Frederick Fennell has passed away
-----Original Message-----
From: Cathy Fennell Martensen
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 10:37 AM
Subject: Fred Fennell
I've managed to reach some of you by phone, others not, and I did
not want to leave this as a voice message.
I want you, and the greater music community to know that my father
died peacefully in his sleep early this morning, Tuesday, December
7, 2004. Elizabeth and I were by his side. I had promised him that
I would do all I could to get him back to Siesta Key so he could
watch the sun set over the ocean. With the help of Hospice, he
arrived home in time to see the brilliant orange and pinks in the
western skies last evening. A bit before Midnight, dad told me he
was "frustrated and disappointed." When I asked him, "Why?" he
replied, "There's no drummer here yet. I can't die without a
drummer!" I told him that I loved him, and that "Heaven's best
drummer was on the way." Moments later he said, "I hear him! I
hear him! I'm OK now." This was my final conversation with my dad.
I was blessed to be able to dress my father in his finest set of
tails after he died, complete with the usual struggle with his tie.
Elizabeth asked if he could be "dressed up" and I could think of
nothing finer for a lasting memory. Dad asked to be cremated and
that I scatter his ashes in the woods at Interlochen, Michigan this
summer. This, of course, I will do.
Elizabeth is OK at this point. We are closely watching her,
monitoring her blood sugar levels and seeing that she gets the diet
and rest she needs after such a life transition.
There will be a small Memorial Service at a church in Siesta Key.
No date or time has been set yet. As knowledge of my father's death
is communicated, please keep both Elizabeth and me in your prayers.
Fondly > Cathy Fennell Martensen
Feel free to forward this email.
Monday, 6 December 2004
The Evolution of HDB
Quite shocking, HDB's building premium housing now?
Subsidised housing near the CBD....hmmm...
Oh well, too bad I'm not married yet.
HDB Launches The Pinnacle@Duxton under Build-To-Order (BTO) System
Well....makes sense actually, after all, they've got years of apartment building experience behind their belts and not to mention, buckloads of capital!
Oh well, I'm keeping my fingers cross that we'll be selected for MUP or SERS soon. The latter, well, maybe not... I don't expect to live long, and just recently, my grandmother passed away just two months shy of moving into their new SERs flat in Depot road. So well, I don't expect to live past 40 let alone a ripe old age of 76. Meanwhile, I'll just dream of sky bridges, planter boxes, matter teleporters and for the ceiling to stop raining down on us. Apparently, the spalling concrete problem that we're experiencing currently is due to lousy cement used during construction of our flat. Hmm...maybe those sky bridges don't sound like such a good idea anymore.
Over the Air: Horrible re-enactment by lawyer in 'True Files'
Subsidised housing near the CBD....hmmm...
Oh well, too bad I'm not married yet.
HDB Launches The Pinnacle@Duxton under Build-To-Order (BTO) System
The Pinnacle@Duxton is HDB's first 50-storey integrated housing development. It is based on an award-winning design selected from international and local entries for the Duxton Plain International Architectural Design Competition.
The development will have special features such as skybridges and sky gardens at the 26th and 50th storeys. Apartments will be provided with a varied combination of balconies, bay windows and planter boxes, to suit the preferences of flat buyers. The development comprising a total of seven residential blocks will be self-contained with shops, a food court, a child-care centre and an education centre.
It is located centrally along Cantonment Road and in close proximity to the Central Business District (CBD). It is also within walking distance to the Outram Park and Tanjong Pagar MRT Stations, which provide convenient connections to various parts of Singapore.
Well....makes sense actually, after all, they've got years of apartment building experience behind their belts and not to mention, buckloads of capital!
Oh well, I'm keeping my fingers cross that we'll be selected for MUP or SERS soon. The latter, well, maybe not... I don't expect to live long, and just recently, my grandmother passed away just two months shy of moving into their new SERs flat in Depot road. So well, I don't expect to live past 40 let alone a ripe old age of 76. Meanwhile, I'll just dream of sky bridges, planter boxes, matter teleporters and for the ceiling to stop raining down on us. Apparently, the spalling concrete problem that we're experiencing currently is due to lousy cement used during construction of our flat. Hmm...maybe those sky bridges don't sound like such a good idea anymore.
Over the Air: Horrible re-enactment by lawyer in 'True Files'
Tuesday, 30 November 2004
Wednesday, 24 November 2004
Movies Galore!
"He's here... The phantom of the opera... lalala"
Spongebob Movie!
Cameo by David Hasselhoff
Easy... Sex is, Love isn't
Hide & Seek
Stars Robert De Niro & Dakota Fanning, child actor of I am Sam
Hide & Seek
By director of Amelie, Stars Audrey Tatou too
Constantine
Stars stone-face Keanu Reeves, reminds me of the Matrix
Being Julia
For the theater & romance lovers, stars Annette Benning of American Beauty
[Sung] Where have all the people gone?
According to Wikipedia, Singapore has only 4 JCs!
Hmm...some degree of accuracy there actually.
Over the Air: blinks
Hmm...some degree of accuracy there actually.
Over the Air: blinks
Monday, 22 November 2004
Bloggin Away!
Ohaiyo gozaimasu!
or Hi!!!
Finally got some more posts up. Day 3-6 of my stay. Rather long posts...i'm not sure this is the right place to do the posting, since the rest like lemming does not. So, i put it all in my blog site at www.acsage.blogspot.com. hehe. i will beautify it with pictures, once i get this JLPT exams over and done with...provided i have time too..hehe...lifes great here. =P
From the land of the irritating mosquito, mata ashita! (seeya tomorrow) .
or Hi!!!
Finally got some more posts up. Day 3-6 of my stay. Rather long posts...i'm not sure this is the right place to do the posting, since the rest like lemming does not. So, i put it all in my blog site at www.acsage.blogspot.com. hehe. i will beautify it with pictures, once i get this JLPT exams over and done with...provided i have time too..hehe...lifes great here. =P
From the land of the irritating mosquito, mata ashita! (seeya tomorrow) .
Wikipedia
I just found a Wiki entry for ACS (while I was looking for the acronym for Action Control Script!)
Anglo-Chinese School Wiki
Over the Air: Vacation - Simple Plan
Anglo-Chinese School Wiki
Over the Air: Vacation - Simple Plan
Saturday, 20 November 2004
We've been replaced!
Yamaha Player Piano Goes Wireless: The Disklavier Mark IV
The Yamaha Disklavier Mark IV can play itself! Why bother going through all those costly piano lessons taught by anal "Made in China" fat teachers when you can just pop in a CD and get the piano to play itself....WIRELESSLY. Yep, from your laptop, PC or PDA. From your room, your kitchen or even your toilet.
Spook your parents or friends by making the piano play itself while they're watching some horror movie! (Hey I should patent the idea?)
Why Yamaha was thoughtful enough to include the japanese way of karaoke with the piano! Cut out a life-size picture of Tony Bennett, prop him up on the piano, and dance the romantic night away with your partner (I patent this too, Ok fine I won't but if you get laid, be sure to mention my name!) Just like the people featured above.
Making Kando together indeed....
[Excerpt] High Tech Player Piano Plays Along with Favorite CDs, or Leads the Family in
Karaoke – from Anywhere in the Home
Was quite sold on this UK Yamaha advert - Video
And then I went on to watch a product demonstration of my favourite percussion instrument, the marima! -
Video
Over the Air: What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
The Yamaha Disklavier Mark IV can play itself! Why bother going through all those costly piano lessons taught by anal "Made in China" fat teachers when you can just pop in a CD and get the piano to play itself....WIRELESSLY. Yep, from your laptop, PC or PDA. From your room, your kitchen or even your toilet.
Spook your parents or friends by making the piano play itself while they're watching some horror movie! (Hey I should patent the idea?)
Why Yamaha was thoughtful enough to include the japanese way of karaoke with the piano! Cut out a life-size picture of Tony Bennett, prop him up on the piano, and dance the romantic night away with your partner (I patent this too, Ok fine I won't but if you get laid, be sure to mention my name!) Just like the people featured above.
Making Kando together indeed....
[Excerpt] High Tech Player Piano Plays Along with Favorite CDs, or Leads the Family in
Karaoke – from Anywhere in the Home
Using Yamaha’s library of thousands of PianoSoft software titles, including the exclusive library of hundreds of Smart PianoSoft™ titles, the piano can play along with many audio CD titles from your favorite artists. Pop in the CD along with the corresponding Yamaha disk to hear the vocals and fully orchestrated accompaniment on the onboard sound system, while the piano part is played “live” in perfect synchronicity.
The Mark IV can control the entire system, wirelessly, from anyplace in the home, using one of two full color, touch-screen Wi-Fi controllers—a PDA-style pocket remote or a 10.4” touch-screen LCD tablet remote. Neither device needs to be in the same room as the instrument to activate all of the piano’s functions, control the onboard music library or even create custom play lists.
The piano integrates seamlessly with standard or whole house systems, enabling the piano’s outputs to be configured so that home speakers located near the piano produce only the backup orchestration, while speakers in another part of the house add a digital piano sound. Why limit your musical enjoyment to just one room in the house?
Turn any gathering into a karaoke party, with the lyrics displayed with customizable backgrounds on the tablet remote or to any standard TV set via the Mark IV’s video output. The Disklavier Mark IV’s karaoke function uses a built-in microphone input that lets users hear their voices complete with digital effects like reverberation and vocal harmony… your virtual backup singers!
Use Yamaha’s SmartKey Technology™ to play a tune even if you’ve never sat down at a keyboard before—the Disklavier cues you by moving the correct key, and then waits for you to strike it. The piano guides you through simple melodies while embellishing your performance with accompaniment that’s at your speed. Taking the experience a bit further, playing the piano for pleasure takes on a new dimension with Yamaha CueTIME™ software, which offers orchestrated arrangements that automatically follow the user’s pace. For privacy, courtesy or low-volume practice, the Disklavier includes a Quiet Mode that replaces the acoustic piano action with a digital piano sound users can hear through headphones.
The Disklavier Mark IV even has the ability to capture your videotaped piano performance and replay it with the piano playing and video image perfectly in sync on any TV or monitor.
In a step beyond previous models, the Mark IV Series features a high-capacity onboard hard drive that lets the user load thousands of song titles into the instrument for easy access.
Was quite sold on this UK Yamaha advert - Video
And then I went on to watch a product demonstration of my favourite percussion instrument, the marima! -
Video
Over the Air: What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Friday, 19 November 2004
Saturday, 13 November 2004
Something Completely Useful IV
Geek Pick Up Lines: Part 2
11. You had me at "Hello World."
10. Mind if I run a sniffer to see if your ports are open?
9. You make me want to upgrade my Tivo.
8. By looking at you I can tell you're 36-25-36, which by the way are all perfect squares.
7. Jedi Mind Trick: "This is the geek you're looking for." *waves hand*
6. You can put a Trojan on my Hard Drive anytime.
5. Have you ever googled yourself?
4. How about we do a little peer-to-peer saliva swapping?
3. With my IQ and your body we could begin a race of genetic superchildren to conquer the earth.
2. What's a girl like you doing in a place like this when there's a Farscape marathon on right now on the Sci Fi channel.
1. I'm attracted to you so strongly, scientists will have to develop a fifth fundamental force.
Over the Air: Going out of my Head - Little Anthony & the Imperials
Thursday, 11 November 2004
Living in Japan Day 2
Day 2. 27th Oct 04
"Whoohoo..it's another tiring day. The day started with James declaring a wrong time zone.
Then it proceeded with our first bus ride to the office. Afterwhich, we were ushered into the meeting room, where the Toshiba representatives were. When i was sitting down, my other leader told me i have to deliver a speech. "YIKES", i thought. I have none. Not even in english. The other leader had it better.Their teacher helped them to get a personal speech ready. Ours, just feed us vocabulary for lunch. Tried to sit up as straight as i possibly can though. They kept staring. Wonder if it's the eyebrows again. ha. I was assigned to sit at the centre facing the heads of the department. This was the case as i am also another leader of a 10 pax group. Not by choice. Heck. It was fun! with the Singapore flag displayed between me and the Toshiba reps, i felt like a goverment official on an official visit. Hehe. Priceless.
The rest of the day is spent on coughing and trying to keep awakeas Sugino-san and Kawauchi-san both explained the various forms, what to fill and whatnot. It was pure torture. Due to the language problem, some trainees couldn't really understand them. So, filling up ONE form is usually a 45min affair it seems. However, we have plenty to drink. They were nice hosts, ordering drinks for us, not once, not twice, but thrice. Had Ice Coffee, then Hot Coffee, then Orange Juice. hehe. Lau sai ah. Lunch was eaten at the cafeteria. More forms filling and explanations after that. Tai hen desu ne...Dinner was at a welcome party...before that, kawa brought us to yodobashi camera...only 10 min to shop..then walk another 25 min back...dinner started with sugino asking someone to make a speech.
Dinner was great. too bad i didn't eat as much...was talking with my TOMEC group. Sushi, fried noodles that looks like hokkien mee...sashimi...lots of alcohol of all kinds. Sake was smooth and 12% alc. so it's okay. Jasmine looks mabok...haha...talked alot ...but most of the time they initiate...i quiet mah...
When it ended, we took a bus back, then i head for a counterstrike gaming. had a hard time playing stupid game. not for the less advanced. then as i got fed up, went to get a BATH. with a BATHTUB of course. HOT water soaking is SHIOK!!!!200L of hot water to use up..cool!! then it's back to computer typing this..heh...SLEEP!!!! finally. Snack of the day: calbee moronishi...argh...time to look at schedule...forgot....prepare!!! i love living alone ...for the moment. hehe. Gotta go! till i post this again. Jaa!"
"Whoohoo..it's another tiring day. The day started with James declaring a wrong time zone.
Then it proceeded with our first bus ride to the office. Afterwhich, we were ushered into the meeting room, where the Toshiba representatives were. When i was sitting down, my other leader told me i have to deliver a speech. "YIKES", i thought. I have none. Not even in english. The other leader had it better.Their teacher helped them to get a personal speech ready. Ours, just feed us vocabulary for lunch. Tried to sit up as straight as i possibly can though. They kept staring. Wonder if it's the eyebrows again. ha. I was assigned to sit at the centre facing the heads of the department. This was the case as i am also another leader of a 10 pax group. Not by choice. Heck. It was fun! with the Singapore flag displayed between me and the Toshiba reps, i felt like a goverment official on an official visit. Hehe. Priceless.
The rest of the day is spent on coughing and trying to keep awakeas Sugino-san and Kawauchi-san both explained the various forms, what to fill and whatnot. It was pure torture. Due to the language problem, some trainees couldn't really understand them. So, filling up ONE form is usually a 45min affair it seems. However, we have plenty to drink. They were nice hosts, ordering drinks for us, not once, not twice, but thrice. Had Ice Coffee, then Hot Coffee, then Orange Juice. hehe. Lau sai ah. Lunch was eaten at the cafeteria. More forms filling and explanations after that. Tai hen desu ne...Dinner was at a welcome party...before that, kawa brought us to yodobashi camera...only 10 min to shop..then walk another 25 min back...dinner started with sugino asking someone to make a speech.
Dinner was great. too bad i didn't eat as much...was talking with my TOMEC group. Sushi, fried noodles that looks like hokkien mee...sashimi...lots of alcohol of all kinds. Sake was smooth and 12% alc. so it's okay. Jasmine looks mabok...haha...talked alot ...but most of the time they initiate...i quiet mah...
When it ended, we took a bus back, then i head for a counterstrike gaming. had a hard time playing stupid game. not for the less advanced. then as i got fed up, went to get a BATH. with a BATHTUB of course. HOT water soaking is SHIOK!!!!200L of hot water to use up..cool!! then it's back to computer typing this..heh...SLEEP!!!! finally. Snack of the day: calbee moronishi...argh...time to look at schedule...forgot....prepare!!! i love living alone ...for the moment. hehe. Gotta go! till i post this again. Jaa!"
Living in Japan: Day 1
Day 1. 26th Oct 04
"Tiring day of shopping. Had to shop for bedsheet, comforter and pillow. then followed by 100yen shop...Lunch was ex man...735Yen for charsiew Ramen...Then dinner was cheap 345yen Mac Meal fish burger...No chilli sauce..haiz...
The flight was bad, with squeezy seats. there was no room for movement. Watched Dodgeball...and a little bit of Terminal...The guy at the declaration counter asked so much questions...scary... Umbrella bought from 100yen shop most valued. Rained the whole day today, very cool weather. But runnign out in polo will not kill.
Arranged my rooom nice nice already. Everything is still in the luggage...but those out are categorised. water heater not on today...had to bathe in T3's place.
Terribly cough. Tried to find Lozenges but dunno what it is in japanese.
PDA conked out...could be xray ...suspect battery failure....ironing my clothes before the big day tomorrow."
oops...it ain't in publishing standard...i think this was supposed to be a short note to myself...oh well...hope to be able to edit the others at the dorm when the internet is up...in the mean time, there is 15 other days in my diary to look forward to...haha
something about the schoolgirls coming soon...=P
"Tiring day of shopping. Had to shop for bedsheet, comforter and pillow. then followed by 100yen shop...Lunch was ex man...735Yen for charsiew Ramen...Then dinner was cheap 345yen Mac Meal fish burger...No chilli sauce..haiz...
The flight was bad, with squeezy seats. there was no room for movement. Watched Dodgeball...and a little bit of Terminal...The guy at the declaration counter asked so much questions...scary... Umbrella bought from 100yen shop most valued. Rained the whole day today, very cool weather. But runnign out in polo will not kill.
Arranged my rooom nice nice already. Everything is still in the luggage...but those out are categorised. water heater not on today...had to bathe in T3's place.
Terribly cough. Tried to find Lozenges but dunno what it is in japanese.
PDA conked out...could be xray ...suspect battery failure....ironing my clothes before the big day tomorrow."
oops...it ain't in publishing standard...i think this was supposed to be a short note to myself...oh well...hope to be able to edit the others at the dorm when the internet is up...in the mean time, there is 15 other days in my diary to look forward to...haha
something about the schoolgirls coming soon...=P
Tuesday, 2 November 2004
Sunday, 31 October 2004
Received Word from T3 and Ivan!
Hi all!
T3 called on what's left of his ICC to say that they are still doing fine and the Japanese engineer dudes are nice and all that...
But, the 'bad' news is that their internet connection will take 2-3 weeks to install or get setup. Thus, correspondence from them will be a bit tough till then!
Alternatives? Well, I guess they'll hop into some internet cafes from time to time to check here and over at the yahoogroups E-mail. Now, think they'll be fine having fun trying to figure out how to tell jap girls in proper sentences that "You are so pretty!". Haha!
-Cal-
p.s I'll double post this in yahoogroups!
T3 called on what's left of his ICC to say that they are still doing fine and the Japanese engineer dudes are nice and all that...
But, the 'bad' news is that their internet connection will take 2-3 weeks to install or get setup. Thus, correspondence from them will be a bit tough till then!
Alternatives? Well, I guess they'll hop into some internet cafes from time to time to check here and over at the yahoogroups E-mail. Now, think they'll be fine having fun trying to figure out how to tell jap girls in proper sentences that "You are so pretty!". Haha!
-Cal-
p.s I'll double post this in yahoogroups!
Friday, 29 October 2004
Thursday, 28 October 2004
Friday, 22 October 2004
Something Completely Useful III
Reasons Geeks Stay Up Late
11. To watch the 12 disc extended director's ultimate special cut edition of Lord of The Rings on DVD.
10. Online gaming with friends in Singapore.
9. Too much adrenaline from extreme programming methodologies.
8. Desperately trying to remember that backdoor password you put in back in 1997.
7. Trying to knock 20 seconds off of Windows boot time.
6. Feeling guilty about being curt with a dumb customer today on tech support line. (OK, who am I kidding, you slept like a baby on morphine).
5. Searching in crate of floppies for one that still works.
4. Can't wait to see the result of the defrag.
3. It's 11:00pm and you're only on the third reboot while trying to install Win98.
2. Maybe getting that job in Greenland wasn't such a good idea after all.
1. Breeze from twenty cooling fans keeps you awake.
Proof to number 10 is attached below... [Click for Full Image]
Tshush, Rowf and I finally managed (well at least I did!) to complete Burbenog Tower Defence on Expert @
22/09/2004 02:49AM (GMT+0800) or 22/09/2004 04:49AM (GMT+1000) =P
Next up, we need players for LOTR!
We need good actors who can stay in character people, so far we've had Gandalfs that run around commiting xenocide on the innocent forest animals to ones that can't remember the elvish word for 'Friends' even though the answer was quite literally being shouted at him to absolutely evil Gandalfs that run around killing the members of the fellowship. Frodos that would creep up behind you to slip you the ring (which causes +10 damage if the wearer of the ring isn't Frodo or Sam) or a Frodo that absolutely abuses the ONE ring by using it whenever it fancies him (and calling upon the witchking to attack the party). Sign up now!
Over the Air: The Way you Look Tonight - Harry Connick Jr.
Thursday, 21 October 2004
Dungeon Bash 2004
Hi people, will be having my birthday bash as usual at NUS... 2ndfloor of arts fac blk AS1.
It'll be on the 5th of november, that's afriday evening starting about 1900hrs. Those who need directions cancontact me directly at 976-31-311. This'll be the last time I'm having it at the dungeon so I've prepared a special set... and Wendy will be cooking as usual too. Drop by if you all are free, and do tryto let me know early if you're coming so I can make the necessaryadjustments to the quantity of food.
Thanks and see you all...
Sam
It'll be on the 5th of november, that's afriday evening starting about 1900hrs. Those who need directions cancontact me directly at 976-31-311. This'll be the last time I'm having it at the dungeon so I've prepared a special set... and Wendy will be cooking as usual too. Drop by if you all are free, and do tryto let me know early if you're coming so I can make the necessaryadjustments to the quantity of food.
Thanks and see you all...
Sam
Wednesday, 20 October 2004
U.S. & HIV
SFGate.com: Jon Carroll
There is, of course, a simple way to drastically retard the spread of HIV. It is simple and cheap. It requires three minutes of training and has no moving parts. It's called a condom. And the United States is against it.
There is, of course, a simple way to drastically retard the spread of HIV. It is simple and cheap. It requires three minutes of training and has no moving parts. It's called a condom. And the United States is against it.
Monday, 18 October 2004
Is that your phone or are you just happy to see me?
Increased tumor risk for mobile phone users?
According to a study from Sweden's Karolinska Institute, individuals who have used mobile phone for 10 years or more doubled their risk for developing acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor that grows on the nerve connecting the ear to the brain. They also found that all of the extra cases of the tumor occurred on the same side of the head that patients held their phone. An earlier study from Denmark did not show a higher risk of tumors, but the average tumor size was larger for users of mobile phones.
Do we want smaller, prettier phones so that they can fit (and work!) while encased in lead? When are they blodee gonna find a cure for cancer damnit!
It worries me so whenever I glance out the balcony and see the roof of the hotel just outside lined with arrays of antennas.
I wonder if Crumpler or STM makes any lead-lined cases....
Over the Air: It's Only a Paper Moon - Ella Fitzgerald
Friday, 8 October 2004
Thursday, 7 October 2004
Something Completely Useful II
Geek Pick-up Lines
Give me my life back dog damnit!
11. Tell me of this thing you humans call *dramatic pause* love.
10. If you turn me down now, I will become more drunk than you can possibly imagine.
9. They don't call me Bones because I'm a doctor.
8. Your name is Leslie? Look, I can spell your name on my calculator!
7. What's a nice girl like you doing in a wretched hive of scum and villany like this?
6. You must be Windows 95 because you gots me so unstable.
5. My 'up-time' is better than BSD.
4. I can tell by your emoticons that you're looking for some company.
3. Is that an iPod mini in your pocket or are you just happy to see me.
2. Want to see my Red Hat?
1. If you won't let me buy you a drink, at least let me fix your laptop.
Give me my life back dog damnit!
Tuesday, 5 October 2004
Man & Orang Utan
Saw on CNA today about an orang-utan in a Japanese zoo. Was quite surprised that this orang-utan knew how to use a brush to brush the floor and how to wring a piece of cloth. Quite intelligent ah.
Farewell BBQ! (CANCELLED!!)
Edit TWO: Looks like due to unforseen circumstances (Betrothals, weddings, etc).. the BBQ will be cancelled definitely. In its place, a dinner will most likely be arranged. Stay tuned!
-Cal- @ 1649 hrs on 13th Oct 2004.
Edit: Sorry guys/gals... the 2 dinkies will have their flight postponed til 24th October (Sunday) @2230 hrs. So, the BBQ will happen be delayed till the following Sunday (17th Oct)... hope to see your reply whether you can make it or not soon!
-Cal- @1242 hrs on 9th Oct 2004.
Hi y'all!
Let me get straight to the point! T3 and Ivan are flying to the land of the rising sun on 16th October 2004. Well, as traditions go, we always have farewell dinners/lunches/bbqs to wish them a safe journey, not to mention to encourage them to help us buy cheap japanese "goods" and send them back in boxes labelled "books", or "toys".... anyway, u get the picture!
So, the purpose of this post is to find out if u can make it this sunday evening. The location will either be at T3's (Many peeps!) or Sandra's (Lesser peeps!). Thus, please check your busy schedules if neccessary and reply in the comments asap if you can make it down! Thanx a lot!
I'll update with a new post as soon as the responses start coming in!
-Cal-
p.s You may also reply thru HP either to me @938xxxxx or Sandra @915xxxxx if so you choose. (Numbers censored as we are a public board, please reply to acswo@yahoogroups.com if you have further enquiries. Thanx! -Cal-)
-Cal- @ 1649 hrs on 13th Oct 2004.
-Cal- @1242 hrs on 9th Oct 2004.
Hi y'all!
Let me get straight to the point! T3 and Ivan are flying to the land of the rising sun on 16th October 2004. Well, as traditions go, we always have farewell dinners/lunches/bbqs to wish them a safe journey, not to mention to encourage them to help us buy cheap japanese "goods" and send them back in boxes labelled "books", or "toys".... anyway, u get the picture!
So, the purpose of this post is to find out if u can make it this sunday evening. The location will either be at T3's (Many peeps!) or Sandra's (Lesser peeps!). Thus, please check your busy schedules if neccessary and reply in the comments asap if you can make it down! Thanx a lot!
I'll update with a new post as soon as the responses start coming in!
-Cal-
p.s You may also reply thru HP either to me @938xxxxx or Sandra @915xxxxx if so you choose. (Numbers censored as we are a public board, please reply to acswo@yahoogroups.com if you have further enquiries. Thanx! -Cal-)
Friday, 1 October 2004
Something Completely Useful
Reasons Why You Just Saw Porn on My Computer Screen
But number 4 is a fact!!
11. Wanted to get some names for people we should pray for this week.
10. You weren't supposed to be back from lunch until 1.
9. I'm studying to be an Ob-Gyn.
8. Making a list of sites to block the kids from going to.
7. Doing research for the "Tom Cruise or Gay Porn" quiz.
6. I wanted to make sure I was doing that right.
5. Just making sure our daughter hadn't fallen in with the wrong people.
4. I had to visit this page to gain access to a warez site.
3. Typo when trying to google "rough kinky corn".
2. I was reading the articles.
1. I'm just verifying that I'm not gay, again.
But number 4 is a fact!!
Wednesday, 29 September 2004
Starwars !! [cue theme]
The Starwars Trilogy (That's Episdoes IV, V and VI) set has been released, has anybody got their grubby hands on one yet?
So tempted to get one here, since it's gonna be R2 and thus a PAL release. Gonna cost me AU$70 though. Hmmm..maybe I should take advantage of the David Jones 20% storewide discount.
Oh, and any news of a Starwars Marathon back home?
Next Generation Dogs
engadget has a blog entry about the future of pooches....
HOW-TO: Upgrade your organic dog
Dog-Human translator?
Frankly, I don't wanna come home to hear my bitch bitching about the cat drinking all the milk do I?
Sigh, even dogs have 3.5Mp cameras!
HOW-TO: Upgrade your organic dog
Dog-Human translator?
Frankly, I don't wanna come home to hear my bitch bitching about the cat drinking all the milk do I?
Sigh, even dogs have 3.5Mp cameras!
Brutal.
Yo!
I'm back again! Came across this video link (Right-click and save target as) on a 'Raven Shield' forum... and felt it was an eye-opening chance to see the brutality of modern warfare.
WARNING: This clip shows peeps getting killed. So if based on the short description below, you feel that it's something you might not like or cannot take, please do not download the clip. (12 MB big btw.)
As you will see, the clip basically shows a comms recording and thermal (Hotter things appear whiter) video of an apache engaging some Iraqi militants.
Just as you might feel the brutal realities of war, it's also worth to note the power of the Apache's 30 mm M230 cannon. Not to mention, why the 'Apache Attack Helicopter' is called the "Longbow"... as like the British longbowmen of old... they excel in engagement at range and in cover.
Please note that this is not a pro-iraq war or anti-bush post... it's just an interesting clip that one day might get shown on Discovery, but till then, you can just find it here.
Another note, I've checked out the main site of where this avi file is hosted, and IT IS a political site, so, if you're into that sort of stuff, you might want to check it out here. As for the rest of us, well, just sit easy yah?
That's all for tonight then folks!
Good night!
*Future Breeze - Move*
-Cal-
I'm back again! Came across this video link (Right-click and save target as) on a 'Raven Shield' forum... and felt it was an eye-opening chance to see the brutality of modern warfare.
WARNING: This clip shows peeps getting killed. So if based on the short description below, you feel that it's something you might not like or cannot take, please do not download the clip. (12 MB big btw.)
As you will see, the clip basically shows a comms recording and thermal (Hotter things appear whiter) video of an apache engaging some Iraqi militants.
Just as you might feel the brutal realities of war, it's also worth to note the power of the Apache's 30 mm M230 cannon. Not to mention, why the 'Apache Attack Helicopter' is called the "Longbow"... as like the British longbowmen of old... they excel in engagement at range and in cover.
Please note that this is not a pro-iraq war or anti-bush post... it's just an interesting clip that one day might get shown on Discovery, but till then, you can just find it here.
Another note, I've checked out the main site of where this avi file is hosted, and IT IS a political site, so, if you're into that sort of stuff, you might want to check it out here. As for the rest of us, well, just sit easy yah?
(Screencap of clip)
That's all for tonight then folks!
Good night!
*Future Breeze - Move*
-Cal-
Curtains Up!
Hmm...
A funny thought just crossed my mind... You see, I was just chatting wif my frens... and one of them mentioned that the moon was really clear and round today! But, me being in my "Room of Bum and Solitude"... remarked that, "my curtains' drawn... can't see shit.."
Thus sprang to mind, what does "Curtains drawn" actually mean to you? Open or close? It can mean both rite? I mean, usually, when I say, 'curtains drawn', I do mean it's drawn closed.. but when it's open, I dun say, "Curtains undrawn" or "Curtains drawn open"... just sounds weird.
Hmmm....
*Kyoko Fukada - How?*
-Cal-
p.s Did a quick google on "curtains drawn" and guess what, it's a danish indie band! Hehe!
A funny thought just crossed my mind... You see, I was just chatting wif my frens... and one of them mentioned that the moon was really clear and round today! But, me being in my "Room of Bum and Solitude"... remarked that, "my curtains' drawn... can't see shit.."
Thus sprang to mind, what does "Curtains drawn" actually mean to you? Open or close? It can mean both rite? I mean, usually, when I say, 'curtains drawn', I do mean it's drawn closed.. but when it's open, I dun say, "Curtains undrawn" or "Curtains drawn open"... just sounds weird.
Hmmm....
*Kyoko Fukada - How?*
-Cal-
p.s Did a quick google on "curtains drawn" and guess what, it's a danish indie band! Hehe!
Monday, 27 September 2004
Oh Smoky Night...
Sung to tune of O Holy Night
Oh smoky night,
The sparklers brightly shining
Loath to grow up, hornie ones still wanna play
Long lay the world in darkness and rotting jackfruits
Till sparkling projectiles rained down
While we did feel overgrown for such child's play
And Jeffrey's not here for us to call "loser"
Faaaaaaall on your knees, O hear the angel voices
*cue mao singing*
O niiiiiiight diviiiiiine
O night of much discarded yooooooolks
*cue mao squealing*
O niiiiiiiiight diiiiiiivvviiiiiiine
*cue glasses shattering*
O night, O night divine :)
More about Singaporean Ugly
Today Online: Don't study, you'll end up in service industry
Amusing yet... whazzat word... highlights certain truths.
Amusing yet... whazzat word... highlights certain truths.
Friday, 24 September 2004
Mooncake Party on Sat, 25 Sep
The original mail has been censored, see mailing list.
Hi guys & gals,
Mooncake Fest celebrations will take place @ Bishan Park this year.
All are to convene at Zhanhui's place @ 8pm.
BYOM (bring your own mooncakes)
BYOS (that's sparklers)
Non-alcoholic drinks on the house so BYOB (i.e. bring your own booze, tho I think mooncakes don't go with beer, maybe can try Tsing Tao).
Ivan's suggesting dinner, pls call him for details.
For enquiries, pls call
Me, Ivan or Zhanhui
Cheers!
Ed
Hi guys & gals,
Mooncake Fest celebrations will take place @ Bishan Park this year.
All are to convene at Zhanhui's place @ 8pm.
BYOM (bring your own mooncakes)
BYOS (that's sparklers)
Non-alcoholic drinks on the house so BYOB (i.e. bring your own booze, tho I think mooncakes don't go with beer, maybe can try Tsing Tao).
Ivan's suggesting dinner, pls call him for details.
For enquiries, pls call
Me, Ivan or Zhanhui
Cheers!
Ed
Thursday, 23 September 2004
Interesting Webby Post
Been quiet except for the geeks...so here we go...some MORE geek stuff:
[Lemm: The "geeks" resent that]
CLICK HERE FOR RADIOACTIVE WATER!
Interesting read about selling radioactive water as a 'health' product a century ago. Accuracy of the article cannot be confirmed. Makes you think about all the "organic" health product we have nowadays. Slim 10 anyone?
CLICK HERE FOR WATERPROOF PDAs!
Kayaking: With your PDA and wireless card? (ipaq 2210 supporter!)
CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE FATED TO BE A MONKEY!
Are you fated to be who you are?
Alas, there was this article regarding teaching that i have lost. Sorry teachers!
Jared: I'm Japanese soon getting used to. =P
Edit: Yo! Changed the links so the shoutbox and stuff (Right panel) wouldn't get pushed below. -Cal-
[Lemm: The "geeks" resent that]
CLICK HERE FOR RADIOACTIVE WATER!
Interesting read about selling radioactive water as a 'health' product a century ago. Accuracy of the article cannot be confirmed. Makes you think about all the "organic" health product we have nowadays. Slim 10 anyone?
CLICK HERE FOR WATERPROOF PDAs!
Kayaking: With your PDA and wireless card? (ipaq 2210 supporter!)
CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE FATED TO BE A MONKEY!
Are you fated to be who you are?
Alas, there was this article regarding teaching that i have lost. Sorry teachers!
Jared: I'm Japanese soon getting used to. =P
Edit: Yo! Changed the links so the shoutbox and stuff (Right panel) wouldn't get pushed below. -Cal-
Wednesday, 22 September 2004
For the Movie Buffs
Think most ppl have caught this, but thought the trailer doesn't do justice to the film.
Seems like more Brazilian shows nowadays
By the creators of South Park.
The new villian after Saddam? North Korea's Dear Leader
Tuesday, 21 September 2004
With Interest I Read...
A new take on "Homeland secuirty", what do geeks do?
Ask Slashdot: Home Defense, Geek Style?
Posted by timothy on Sunday September 12, @05:16PM
from the night-vision-goggles-and-low-lights dept.
Sweeet!....trekkie talk so does turn me on =P
/me strikes sexy Charlie's Angel pose with Romulan disruptor (complete with my JC-era romulan hair-do)
Ask Slashdot: Home Defense, Geek Style?
Posted by timothy on Sunday September 12, @05:16PM
from the night-vision-goggles-and-low-lights dept.
Yo Maing writes "So my mom got lives alone, and got her car broken into last night. We have a motion sensor light in the driveway, and the car has an alarm but apparently both of these deterrents were ineffective. Crime has been rising around her neighborhood, and only action the police can take is to file a report. So I ask you, Geeks of Slashdot, what tricks do you guys have to defend yours and your loved ones homes against crimes like this? Not looking for anything that would get someone injured, but more in the area of detection and repulsion. Anyone have a holographic Yeti generator to scare away intruders? :)"
Sweeet!....trekkie talk so does turn me on =P
/me strikes sexy Charlie's Angel pose with Romulan disruptor (complete with my JC-era romulan hair-do)
Saturday, 18 September 2004
Wednesday, 15 September 2004
Hurricane Alice
Since we're on the topic of female-named storms...
Alice is the only female engineer in Dilbert's department. She's habitually overworked. Her cardiovascular system is basically coffee. She has a quick temper when confronted with the idiocy of her co-workers. She does not handle criticism well.
P.S. Only cubicle drones appreciate Dilbert. Sigh...
Alice is the only female engineer in Dilbert's department. She's habitually overworked. Her cardiovascular system is basically coffee. She has a quick temper when confronted with the idiocy of her co-workers. She does not handle criticism well.
P.S. Only cubicle drones appreciate Dilbert. Sigh...
Tuesday, 14 September 2004
Good Ol' Superman
Was listening to classicfm.com & it was playing the Superman main theme. Gee, how many movies of our time have such instantly recognizable tunes?
Kill a cockroach before you go to bed every night
This is just one of the many silly things some employers here demand of their maids:
1. You get your full salary only after your contract expires in two years
2. You must give your hongbao money to Madam for safekeeping
3. You must wash babyÕs toys during the day if they are dirty. At night, all toys which baby played with must be washed
4. You can only go to bed after you kill a cockroach or lizard
5. You must repair the TV before you go to bed
6. You must carry baby and cook at the same time
7. You must hang Ah Ma and Madam's underwear on separate bamboo poles
8. You must not have any money on you
9. When reprimanded, you must look down, smile and say "Thank you"
10. You cannot use the toilet
11. You must hide in the kitchen when Sir comes home
12. You must not smile at or talk to neighbours and their maids
13. You cannot sit on the chair or sofa. You must sit on the floor when taking instructions
14. You must wear jeans and long-sleeved blouses at all times
15. You must not look out of the balcony window
16. You must ask for permission before opening any cabinet
17. Do not try to do "weirdo things" inside the house
18. You can shower only once a day, but must not be smelly
19. You must clean the floor with a cloth, not a mop
20. Do not eat any food not allocated to you
1. You get your full salary only after your contract expires in two years
2. You must give your hongbao money to Madam for safekeeping
3. You must wash babyÕs toys during the day if they are dirty. At night, all toys which baby played with must be washed
4. You can only go to bed after you kill a cockroach or lizard
5. You must repair the TV before you go to bed
6. You must carry baby and cook at the same time
7. You must hang Ah Ma and Madam's underwear on separate bamboo poles
8. You must not have any money on you
9. When reprimanded, you must look down, smile and say "Thank you"
10. You cannot use the toilet
11. You must hide in the kitchen when Sir comes home
12. You must not smile at or talk to neighbours and their maids
13. You cannot sit on the chair or sofa. You must sit on the floor when taking instructions
14. You must wear jeans and long-sleeved blouses at all times
15. You must not look out of the balcony window
16. You must ask for permission before opening any cabinet
17. Do not try to do "weirdo things" inside the house
18. You can shower only once a day, but must not be smelly
19. You must clean the floor with a cloth, not a mop
20. Do not eat any food not allocated to you
Sunday, 12 September 2004
Bill Gates & Lemmings
Off Wired.com:
"Using Windows makes you seem like a lemming"
Yan Feng, president of the Beijing Macintosh User Group
Salute to Thames
My original post died when Firefox crashed (serves me right for using nightly builds...), so enjoy this hastily put together posting.
Everyone can certainly remember the scene of clouds, split-screened expansion of the London skyline and Hawksworth's (just read that he now resides in Sydney and plays regularly in a Jazz bar...erm..well unless that article is very old and he's now dead at least) "Salute to Thames" theme plays just before your favourite cartoon.
Such classics as Button Moon, Zippy's Rainbow, freaky Wind in the Willows, Count "Ducky Boos" Duckula and Dangermouse should come to mind. Unfortunately, in our days of the seventies, British programming on SBC already seems to be losing airtime to American cartoons. What's the difference? Well...just look at today's youths with their Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Teletubbies (no I still can't believe it's BBC...). Hurray for independent TV (read TCS) you say?
Anyways, do miss the good ol' days of Thames TV, de rigeur CTW's Sesame Street and The Electric Company (that was Spiderman then!), 3-2-1 Contact's Math Man so much, and also when MOE used to show their science videos on TV!
Anyways you can read all about Thames on the following websites...
- Thames Television : Ident & History
- TV Fetish - Ident Ark - ITV Thames
and - The Unofficial Thames TV Page
Damn if I had a polyphonic phone or at least one that can utilize mp3s or wav files, I'd put "Salute to Thanes" as my message tone! If I can only find it that is....=P
In other news, I've gone all retro gaming again, and have been loading up the xBox with emulators. Was playing Contra3 with the HM just only. Also downloaded Lucasart's Sam n Max and Day of the Tentacle along with Sierra's King Quest series. Sigh...watever happened to good adventure games.
Saturday, 11 September 2004
Fuzzy Memories of Innocence
Friday, 10 September 2004
Science & Society
Got this off a academic-oriented magazine:
...success has brought less trust of science rather than more, as its power apparently outstrips society's ability to cope with the possibilities it produces... Although scientists must live up to their responsibilities, society needs more awareness of the benefits that science brings and the risks of curtailing it. However imperfect, science is an essential part of a successful society. Ensuring that it prospers is a duty that scientists, governments and society at large should take on more actively.
Thursday, 9 September 2004
Tuesday, 7 September 2004
[TWEAK] Comment system changed
Me changed the comment system around a bit, don't know if any of yer guys will nothing....nothing to get yer knickers up about =P
Eh still looking into getting a sidebar with a list of most recent comments (that's what you want yeah Ivan), but so far, it looks like it'd involve some javascript to extract the recent ones...
Sigh...think I'm coming down with some URTI (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection or for those who have never been to an army medical centre, it's a throat infection!)
Eh still looking into getting a sidebar with a list of most recent comments (that's what you want yeah Ivan), but so far, it looks like it'd involve some javascript to extract the recent ones...
Sigh...think I'm coming down with some URTI (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection or for those who have never been to an army medical centre, it's a throat infection!)
Monday, 6 September 2004
Facts and Values
Scientist: The world doesn't need you philosophers anymore. Modern scientific man has no time to waste with you morally-obsessed people with your ridiculous and impractical questions. Furthermore, philosophers over the ages have never been able to come to any conclusive agreement as regards "the truth".I'll tell you why - because you all lack method. The scientific method has proven its infinite worth by demonstrating its ability to deliver concrete results; that's how we are able to drive cars and fly planes today. Because of science, honest citizens can no longer be deceived by religious or philosophical propaganda. They will no longer be conned into devoting their lives to imaginary causes whose premises cannot be proved conclusively.
Philosopher: So what exactly do you mean by "cannot be proved conclusively" ? And what is this "method" you speak of? I'm very curious...
Scientist: It's simple you idiot. The scientific method distinguishes between facts and values. Facts are natural empirical data which are immediately perceived by the human senses or with the aid of scientific instruments. Values entail a judgment of whether or not a certain thing is good or bad. The scientific method comes to solid conclusions based on examining facts only, and not getting mixed up in any arbitrary value judgment bullshit. People end up going to war because of a clash in values. Science however, is perfectly neutral, objective, and detached from any of this nonsense. The world should be that way.
Philsopher: Oh I see... But in that case, according to your own standards, why is science necessary in the first place? To choose the scientific method over other methods implies that it is "better", which in turn implies some conception of judging between "good" and "bad" methods right? If not, all methods would be equally usable.
Scientist: No, no, no, you got it all wrong! Science has proven to be much more effective at helping mankind achieve any given ends as compared to any other method, that's why its so useful!
Philosopher: Oh I see... so you're saying that achieving our ends is better than not achieving our ends right? But if we were to be thoroughly scientific, we couldn't possibly judge whether or not we should achieve our ends, since it forces us to make a value judgment. In that case science would not be absolutely necessary. Even worse, science cannot possibly inform us which ends to choose, but can help us achieve both good and evil causes with equal efficiency. It's like comparing the car with the atomic bomb.
Scientist: Hell no! Its unscientific man which came up with those ends! The scientific method was simply abused that's all.
Philosopher: Oh I see... so the scientific method is actually meant to be used for good causes, is that it?
Scientist: Crap, stop baiting me! Science is neutral you idiot, we are not involved in the stupid fight between good and evil.
Philosopher: Oh I see... Then what exactly is the motivation behind science? What is it that drives the scientist to do what he or she does?
Scientist: It's a completely neutral objective: a curiosity about the truth. We want to get past all the useless garbage of value judgments and get to the empirical truth!
Philosopher: Oh I see... but isn't it neither good nor bad to pursue the truth in that case? Why do scientists choose to pursue truth rather than, say, untruth?
Scientist: Okay look, I will qualify that science cannot prove that pursuing the truth is better than not doing so. We simply believe that pursuing the truth is good. I mean, get your shit straight pal, doesn't it just make simple sense?
Philosopher: Fool, I'm beginning to lose patience with you. Unfortunately, I am not as well trained as some of my other colleagues in the area of education. Even if you say that you simply believe that pursuing the truth is good, you cannot avoid distinguishing between good and bad pursuits. If you resist further, I will contend that you cannot say that it is wrong to have bad pursuits, such as lining your pocket with money obtained from selling your damned method to honest citizens! And if you agree with that, I will be sure to expose people like you who pretend to have knowledge which you do not!
Scientist: Asshole! You're just twisting my words around! Damn you philosophers!
Philosopher: My friend, any man who has to work doubly hard defending something which he claims can stand on its own needs to do some serious self reflecting. You forget that your discipline is the bastard child of philosophy. While science has been able to create air-conditioning and turbochargers, you scoff at philosophers for struggling to define justice. But ultimately science inherited its logical basis from the mathematics of philosophical logic. Science only invented the ridiculous distinction between facts and values in the hope of divorcing itself from philosophy and becoming a separate entity.
Scientist: But that's true! How can you define justice? There's absolutely no empirical material we can work with; there's no such thing.
Philospher: Just because we haven't found it doesn't mean it can't be found. That's a fallacious argument made by science. Human beings still feel a great need for justice; it is in fact the number one source of all discontentment on earth. As a philosopher, I will admit that a consistent and comprehensive explanation of good and evil has yet to be discovered. But I will most certainly not pretend that the search for one is unnecessary, and will most certainly never give up searching --- because it is self-evidently good. In the same way, I will say that it is good for human beings to be happy, although I cannot explain exactly why. Someday I hope to find out. You should too.
By the way, get yourself educated. Go read the first book of Plato's Republic. Your arguments have already been tackled by philosophy before you were even born.
Scientist: ...........
Adapted from the essay "What is Political Philosophy?", in
An Introduction to Political Philosophy: Ten Essays by Leo Strauss (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1989)
Philosopher: So what exactly do you mean by "cannot be proved conclusively" ? And what is this "method" you speak of? I'm very curious...
Scientist: It's simple you idiot. The scientific method distinguishes between facts and values. Facts are natural empirical data which are immediately perceived by the human senses or with the aid of scientific instruments. Values entail a judgment of whether or not a certain thing is good or bad. The scientific method comes to solid conclusions based on examining facts only, and not getting mixed up in any arbitrary value judgment bullshit. People end up going to war because of a clash in values. Science however, is perfectly neutral, objective, and detached from any of this nonsense. The world should be that way.
Philsopher: Oh I see... But in that case, according to your own standards, why is science necessary in the first place? To choose the scientific method over other methods implies that it is "better", which in turn implies some conception of judging between "good" and "bad" methods right? If not, all methods would be equally usable.
Scientist: No, no, no, you got it all wrong! Science has proven to be much more effective at helping mankind achieve any given ends as compared to any other method, that's why its so useful!
Philosopher: Oh I see... so you're saying that achieving our ends is better than not achieving our ends right? But if we were to be thoroughly scientific, we couldn't possibly judge whether or not we should achieve our ends, since it forces us to make a value judgment. In that case science would not be absolutely necessary. Even worse, science cannot possibly inform us which ends to choose, but can help us achieve both good and evil causes with equal efficiency. It's like comparing the car with the atomic bomb.
Scientist: Hell no! Its unscientific man which came up with those ends! The scientific method was simply abused that's all.
Philosopher: Oh I see... so the scientific method is actually meant to be used for good causes, is that it?
Scientist: Crap, stop baiting me! Science is neutral you idiot, we are not involved in the stupid fight between good and evil.
Philosopher: Oh I see... Then what exactly is the motivation behind science? What is it that drives the scientist to do what he or she does?
Scientist: It's a completely neutral objective: a curiosity about the truth. We want to get past all the useless garbage of value judgments and get to the empirical truth!
Philosopher: Oh I see... but isn't it neither good nor bad to pursue the truth in that case? Why do scientists choose to pursue truth rather than, say, untruth?
Scientist: Okay look, I will qualify that science cannot prove that pursuing the truth is better than not doing so. We simply believe that pursuing the truth is good. I mean, get your shit straight pal, doesn't it just make simple sense?
Philosopher: Fool, I'm beginning to lose patience with you. Unfortunately, I am not as well trained as some of my other colleagues in the area of education. Even if you say that you simply believe that pursuing the truth is good, you cannot avoid distinguishing between good and bad pursuits. If you resist further, I will contend that you cannot say that it is wrong to have bad pursuits, such as lining your pocket with money obtained from selling your damned method to honest citizens! And if you agree with that, I will be sure to expose people like you who pretend to have knowledge which you do not!
Scientist: Asshole! You're just twisting my words around! Damn you philosophers!
Philosopher: My friend, any man who has to work doubly hard defending something which he claims can stand on its own needs to do some serious self reflecting. You forget that your discipline is the bastard child of philosophy. While science has been able to create air-conditioning and turbochargers, you scoff at philosophers for struggling to define justice. But ultimately science inherited its logical basis from the mathematics of philosophical logic. Science only invented the ridiculous distinction between facts and values in the hope of divorcing itself from philosophy and becoming a separate entity.
Scientist: But that's true! How can you define justice? There's absolutely no empirical material we can work with; there's no such thing.
Philospher: Just because we haven't found it doesn't mean it can't be found. That's a fallacious argument made by science. Human beings still feel a great need for justice; it is in fact the number one source of all discontentment on earth. As a philosopher, I will admit that a consistent and comprehensive explanation of good and evil has yet to be discovered. But I will most certainly not pretend that the search for one is unnecessary, and will most certainly never give up searching --- because it is self-evidently good. In the same way, I will say that it is good for human beings to be happy, although I cannot explain exactly why. Someday I hope to find out. You should too.
By the way, get yourself educated. Go read the first book of Plato's Republic. Your arguments have already been tackled by philosophy before you were even born.
Scientist: ...........
Adapted from the essay "What is Political Philosophy?", in
An Introduction to Political Philosophy: Ten Essays by Leo Strauss (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1989)
[TWEAK] Counter added
A web counter has been added to our gracious blog.
You can check it out right at the bottom of the sidebar [Look dat-deh-way ----->] and it's plugged from www.sitemeter.com. So far it reads ONE...and I believe that's mua =P
For those of yer lurking, do take time to post a comment, even if you're just passing through. Anything really, from the infamous "I fart in your general direction" to the "LOL, ROFL, =P, =O and >%-)" or even the inane "You suck! Go get a life!" would help keep our bloggers on their toes...erm well at least we know that *cue x-files theme*, we're not alone =P
Oh, tweaked some stuff while I was at it too! Nothing (too) noticable I hope =O
Really should be working on my thesis.... *yawn*
Over the Air: Finale from Dragonheart
You can check it out right at the bottom of the sidebar [Look dat-deh-way ----->] and it's plugged from www.sitemeter.com. So far it reads ONE...and I believe that's mua =P
For those of yer lurking, do take time to post a comment, even if you're just passing through. Anything really, from the infamous "I fart in your general direction" to the "LOL, ROFL, =P, =O and >%-)" or even the inane "You suck! Go get a life!" would help keep our bloggers on their toes...erm well at least we know that *cue x-files theme*, we're not alone =P
Oh, tweaked some stuff while I was at it too! Nothing (too) noticable I hope =O
Really should be working on my thesis.... *yawn*
Over the Air: Finale from Dragonheart
Sunday, 5 September 2004
70 Amoy Street
Went for a drink the other day...
The place was on Amoy Street.... something familiar about that street...
Ah yes! Its where ACS all began with Oldham wasn't it?
And its now a bar....a gay bar...
heehee...so odd though...the commerative plaque is just outside...
The place was on Amoy Street.... something familiar about that street...
Ah yes! Its where ACS all began with Oldham wasn't it?
And its now a bar....a gay bar...
heehee...so odd though...the commerative plaque is just outside...
Saturday, 4 September 2004
San Mee, Coffee & Hoegaarden
Within a month of working, I've discovered the workaholic in me who stays back to finish up stuff and *GASP* leaves later than 5.30pm.
It was only at the behest of a good friend that I tried very very hard to just stop whatever I was doing and leave early - at 5.45pm.
But I've decided that I don't want to look back many years later and suddenly realize that I haven't a life beyond my cubicle.
So at a whim at 7plus in the early morning, I sms-ed to you-know-who-you-are,
"Wanna do supper tonight?"
Do understand that this was in the context of a substantial number of attempts with various groups of friends to organize last minute gatherings that usually fail to pull through.
Simply because everyone's either got plans or is feeling particular homely that night.
Of course, I'd to be pragmatic by being selective about who I sms-ed - after all, my personal supper mantra is no wheels, no talk :)
As the cosily sheltered bum cum broad-band addict in upper bukit timah demonstrated, thou shalt not meet friends after 9pm unless free transport is provided.
Not to mention that eating carbohydrates after 9pm is the bane of all bride-to-be's and other fervent weight-watchers.
Down at Coffee Club, while you-know-who-you-are was busy making eyes with this cute little babe - literally, a cute little babe sputtering saliva like a crab - I realized that we'd best take advantage of our spouseless and childless status that we're still blissfully enjoying.
Already personal accounts and relayed anecdotes (you know, friend of a friend of a friend) of wedding preparation nightmares and real-life baby blues are trickling in.
Party till thirty, yeah?
Friday, 3 September 2004
Conscience vs. Principle
In the strict sense, now rarely met, conscience is the receptivity of the human soul to a higher law, a divine law. Conscience has its source above politics, and for this reason it is taken to be authoritative in politics. A man who acts on conscience is guided by a principle higher than his interest, a principle above himself, above his own group or party or country.
Such a person is raised by his transcendent principle above those who do not follow conscience, not for his own sake, not necessarily by his own choice, but for the sake of the principle and ultimately sake of the source of the principle, God. Conscience taken strictly restores the exclusiveness of a principle with a vengeance. It implies not the existence of a common good accommodating the interests of all but rather a communion of those who live according to conscience, which may be hostile to or forgiving of those who do not.
But, whether hostile or forgiving, this communion does not accept a plurality of principles; it cannot agree that its principle is a part of the truth to complemented by other parts, or an exaggeration of the truth to be offset by contrary exaggerations. It can be objected that there are many conceptions of conscience, of which this is most extreme. But if this conception seems strange and obsolete today, then this is the very problem to which I call attention.
Harvey C. Mansfield, Machiavelli's Virtue; chapter I pp.80-81 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996)
Such a person is raised by his transcendent principle above those who do not follow conscience, not for his own sake, not necessarily by his own choice, but for the sake of the principle and ultimately sake of the source of the principle, God. Conscience taken strictly restores the exclusiveness of a principle with a vengeance. It implies not the existence of a common good accommodating the interests of all but rather a communion of those who live according to conscience, which may be hostile to or forgiving of those who do not.
But, whether hostile or forgiving, this communion does not accept a plurality of principles; it cannot agree that its principle is a part of the truth to complemented by other parts, or an exaggeration of the truth to be offset by contrary exaggerations. It can be objected that there are many conceptions of conscience, of which this is most extreme. But if this conception seems strange and obsolete today, then this is the very problem to which I call attention.
Harvey C. Mansfield, Machiavelli's Virtue; chapter I pp.80-81 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996)
Wednesday, 1 September 2004
And while on the topic of "Language"...
Here's a funny link! Not sure if you've seen it before! It's a modern version of Monty Python I think... haha!
http://www.homerserv.net/news_report_from_iraq.wmv
*Heatsink - Heatsink Whirring*
-Cal-
http://www.homerserv.net/news_report_from_iraq.wmv
*Heatsink - Heatsink Whirring*
-Cal-
Remembering Japan
Hello!
Was watching singapore television yesterday. Now before you get any ideas..I had too...forced against my own will. Then this bra ad came on...it was Japanese and of course..made no sense whatsoever but tickled my funny bone nonetheless....
Remember the time at the Inn on the Mountain when all of us squeezed into a room and watched that oh-so-small tv set and watched that crazy ad...it was for some drink...and the lady (who was stretching her legs upwards) went "Bee pu bee pu"? Hahaha...scarred for life I'm sure...that was absolutely silly! And that program where the wives setup the husbands hoping that they will cheat!! Goodness!! The japs...all the toe and nipple licking (we saw that on tv!) must have really got to their heads...
anyways...its teachers' day...so no teaching for me...bleh...but its ok...need the 'break'... some teachers giving me hell...I mean...we sit down and discuss about rehearsal changes...talk discuss change, see which route was best, settled and changed...and two weeks later one of them comes and tells me "I'm sorry, you don't make changes without teacher's acknowledgement!!!???" Grrr....well...just had to remind about the meeting including the date and time (not that I want to be anal...but seriously...really need to DOCUMENT EVERYTHING). What kind of world is this? Next we will be needing contracts just to say we met and discussed and changed the rehearsals....anyways...renough ranting...not good first post etiquette..
Was watching singapore television yesterday. Now before you get any ideas..I had too...forced against my own will. Then this bra ad came on...it was Japanese and of course..made no sense whatsoever but tickled my funny bone nonetheless....
Remember the time at the Inn on the Mountain when all of us squeezed into a room and watched that oh-so-small tv set and watched that crazy ad...it was for some drink...and the lady (who was stretching her legs upwards) went "Bee pu bee pu"? Hahaha...scarred for life I'm sure...that was absolutely silly! And that program where the wives setup the husbands hoping that they will cheat!! Goodness!! The japs...all the toe and nipple licking (we saw that on tv!) must have really got to their heads...
anyways...its teachers' day...so no teaching for me...bleh...but its ok...need the 'break'... some teachers giving me hell...I mean...we sit down and discuss about rehearsal changes...talk discuss change, see which route was best, settled and changed...and two weeks later one of them comes and tells me "I'm sorry, you don't make changes without teacher's acknowledgement!!!???" Grrr....well...just had to remind about the meeting including the date and time (not that I want to be anal...but seriously...really need to DOCUMENT EVERYTHING). What kind of world is this? Next we will be needing contracts just to say we met and discussed and changed the rehearsals....anyways...renough ranting...not good first post etiquette..
Friday, 27 August 2004
Finally got around to writing a blog!
I have been reading the last few entries. It's definitely good to hear what some of us are up too. I saw the graduation photos of Ivan and company. Everyone looked really good. But I am trying to frantically find the post why Ivan and Tsu Tsen will be in Japan. Pretty hard to do anything with a dial up connection while praying it doesn't get disconnected.
I agree with Jared. I can't believe how fast time has passed. My sister birthday passed a few days ago. I had to calculate more than once to make sure she is really 31 while writing her card! Just seemed like yesterday that I was playing 'house' with her. I have been listening to a lot of band music of late. Hmm...band was all I ever did in ACJC. Can't really remember my time in the classroom. Memories in the dust bandroom are more vivid.
For some of you guys who thought that I have dropped off from the face of the earth. Well, I haven't. Still doing my second degree in Architecture in Australia. I am in 4th year and have another year to go. Really can't wait to be done. Ben came over to Newcastle to see me wear a gown and a silly hat for my first degree in April. I am not sure how to upload pictures to show Ben and me in Newcastle.
I have been missing food at home a lot lately. Bought longans in a can which tasted like lychees!For a moment, I was wondering whether my taste buds had been Aussified that I couldn't tell the difference.
Anyway, I am quite curious about the Singapore Idol and how good they are. Over here, it's difficult to not watch Australian Idol because other tv shows at that slot can be really really lame. Must admit that some of them are really good.. There are, of course, William Hung-wannabes.
Well, it's been good to hear from everyone!
I have been reading the last few entries. It's definitely good to hear what some of us are up too. I saw the graduation photos of Ivan and company. Everyone looked really good. But I am trying to frantically find the post why Ivan and Tsu Tsen will be in Japan. Pretty hard to do anything with a dial up connection while praying it doesn't get disconnected.
I agree with Jared. I can't believe how fast time has passed. My sister birthday passed a few days ago. I had to calculate more than once to make sure she is really 31 while writing her card! Just seemed like yesterday that I was playing 'house' with her. I have been listening to a lot of band music of late. Hmm...band was all I ever did in ACJC. Can't really remember my time in the classroom. Memories in the dust bandroom are more vivid.
For some of you guys who thought that I have dropped off from the face of the earth. Well, I haven't. Still doing my second degree in Architecture in Australia. I am in 4th year and have another year to go. Really can't wait to be done. Ben came over to Newcastle to see me wear a gown and a silly hat for my first degree in April. I am not sure how to upload pictures to show Ben and me in Newcastle.
I have been missing food at home a lot lately. Bought longans in a can which tasted like lychees!For a moment, I was wondering whether my taste buds had been Aussified that I couldn't tell the difference.
Anyway, I am quite curious about the Singapore Idol and how good they are. Over here, it's difficult to not watch Australian Idol because other tv shows at that slot can be really really lame. Must admit that some of them are really good.. There are, of course, William Hung-wannabes.
Well, it's been good to hear from everyone!
Thursday, 26 August 2004
Singapore Idolizes...
The Idol franchise has got me hooked - I actually watched the entire first round.
New Paper: S'pore Idol: Best local comedy?
New Paper: S'pore Idol: Best local comedy?
Wednesday, 25 August 2004
Mooncake Party @ Moonbeam Palace?
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Was just telling Shush that we've gotta have a REAL party before the 2 boys fly off to sushi land. How about a mooncake party @ moonbeam palace?? |
Tuesday, 24 August 2004
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