For all man are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall -1Peter 1:24

Friday, January 30, 2009

Lasik

"Eyes like a hawk's"


Finally did my lasik, perfect vision is so convenient. The day of wiping smudged glasses is over.

Immediate noticeable difference in vision distance/sharpness and greatly increased peripheral vision.
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Wheelock Place


3Jan - Pre-lasik check

Test result, clear, with 97% sucess rate to achieve driving vision without glasses.


15Jan - Actual Lasik

Halfway through I recalled the procedure and realized they were cutting my conea flap open.

Watched the tip of the surgery tool being used to 'flip' open the cut flap, vision on first eye went blurry. And they moved on to the next eye.

Walked out of the surgery room, already able to see. Went home unaided after a 20mins rest.

Wore googles to shower, eye shield to bed.

Eyes were very dry and uncomfortable. Mostly slept. Apply eye drops every hour (steroids/antibiotics)


16Jan - First day post surgery checkup

Test result: Eye is healthy, free of infections

Eye drops every two hours (steroids/antibiotics)

Walked around town wearing shades.

Able to watch DVDs (can't sleep anymore, nothing to do)


17Jan -

Able to read emails now. Went to town. As if normal

Eye drops four times a day (steroids/antibiotics)

Experienced phantom glasses syndrome.


19Jan-

(Monday) Back to work


22Jan - First week post surgery checkup

Test result: achieved perfect vision.
Eye drops four times a day (artifical tears only)

Transition Issues Log - Short Cuts

- Select Operating Systems During Boot Up
At startup, hold down the option key (alt) to choose between Mac OS X and Windows.

- Secret Screen Capture Shortcut
http://www.apple.com/pro/tips/secretcapture.html
Shift-3
Shortcut for taking a screen capture of your entire screen.

Command-Shift-4
Crosshair cursor to crop an area of the screen to capture.

Control-Command-Shift-3 (or 4)
Captures into Clipboard memory, to paste it elsewhere (without creating a file on your desktop).

- Force eject disc
During bootup, press and hold touchpad key.

Getting Fired

Tribes of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them used to burn their houses down -
Hence The Expression "To Get Fired."

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Definition of Justice

Justice = A blind woman swinging a big sword... '''


(7July 2009) I'd like to add some additional revelations:

This was not obvious at first. The weighing scale she holds measures who can pay more. This is a fair comparison since the weigh of gold does not lie. It ensures the sword does not slice randomly.

The blindfold is used so that judgment is not clouded by emotions. She does not care who is paying. But this is redundant since justice was already blind to begin with.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Eric Hoffer -The Passionate State Of Mind Part 4

Secretiveness is a source of pride. It is a paradox that secretiveness plays the same role as boasting - both are engaged in the creation of a disguise. Boasting tries to create an imaginary self, while secretiveness gives us the exhilarating feeling of being princes disguised in meekness. Of the two, secretiveness is the more difficult and effective. For the self-observant, boasting breeds self-contempt. Yet, it is as Spinoza said: "Men govern nothing with more difficult than their tongues, and they can moderate their desires more than their words." Humility, however, is not verbal renunciation of pride but the substitute of pride for self-awareness and objectivity. Forced humility is false pride.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Dec2008 Year End Debrief - Of course justice exists¸ to those who can afford it.

Missing inner Heat, life gets colder

If this was already the year end, I'd like to close it as the Year of Infidelity Awareness. Its really all around me, except I didn't noticed, until now. Its hard not have one's perspective shaken, after seeing so many families breaking up for the better, and those that (stupidly) decided not to.

There's simply no excuse for selfish philandering spouses, dominating abusive partners, emotional blackmail, exercising bondage through financial dependency. Just because everyone else accepts it, doesn't mean I have to.

*** DELETE ***

On the flip-side, it makes me wonder, if I'll too become the man I hate.
After I reach and exceed that level.

its easy to tell right from wrong when we're younger,
as we grow older its difficult.
The villains and heros get all mixed up.
- Extract from 'Quantum Of Solace'

Thursday, December 25, 2008

陳奕迅-聖誕結

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r6FPEghwFc




Merry merry christmas,
lonely lonely christmas...

Monday, December 22, 2008

Of Monkeys and Bananas

A visitor saw the circus master using a dice to decide which monkey will get more bananas. The visitor was shocked and said "you can't decide this way, its not fair!"
To which the circus master replied "No Sir, I'm not trying to decide, I've already decided."
"Then what are you doing?"
"I'm just double checking if my decisions are correct"

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Tao of Jeet June Do - Conditioning

Extracted from The Tao of Jeet June Do

= Conditioning =

Conditioning is a process whereby a specific stimulus will cause a specific reaction. A repeated stimulus eventually creates an action pattern in the nervous system. Once this pattern is established, the mere presence of the stimulus will cause the specific action. Such action is instantaneous and almost unconscious, which is necessary for effective countering. Conditioned action should be the result of intense and concentrated practise of planned action pattern in response to every lead.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

The Zombie Survival Guide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-yPwXTgFns&feature=related

In the event of an outbreak, it would be wise to familiarize yourself on the differences between "insanity" and "emo" behavior.

It could save your life


Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Like a one legged man in an ass kicking contest

"And achieve what?!"
- Retortical question of the month


I needed a break very badly...
Went on a weekend retreat to Pulau Bintang with my Army pals. Amidst the endless mutual bullshit and fun under the sun, was a merciful respite from the hectic pace of life and a chance for undisturbed reflection (even while getting tossed around by 6ft tall waves)

Still had not been able to pick myself up, and was feeling really lousy lately.

Using an old analytical technique, I took a step back and observed from a 3rd person perspective.

It wasn't a pretty sight.
To put it bluntly, I had absolutely no idea wtf I was trying to do during the past few months. what a mess.
Was running my life with as much directions as a beheaded chicken. Sure, I tried hard in everything I did, but to achieve what? I could not answer.

Work was a hell of a rat race.
Stepping up on training somehow only resulted in piling up injuries.
Drinking created unnecessary health concerns.
Ever increasing relapse of the chronic Introvert nature affecting my social life
Family fallout.
And I won't even touch on the emo shit

I screwed up.
At this rate, I was fast becoming a close resemblance to a punching bag.

Although I didn't find any answers by the end of the trip, I did at least got a little closer. And begun coming to terms with reality. Things are becoming clearer and less surreal now.

"Emotion clouds observation"

Monday, December 1, 2008

Defiance

Oh yes I have to find my path,
no less walk on earth, water and fire

Only two drugs work for me now. 1. Alcohol and 2. Extreme Workouts.
Since I promised my doctor that I'll quit drinking* that leaves Extreme workouts.

I intend to make my negative energy work for me by re-directing them into physical training. Safely and constructively this time**
Will conduct a renewed exercise of self-discipline, with the goal of regaining my weaken fitness and to bring myself to new limits.

This is my show of defiance against the recent series of mis-events thrown at me.

*That is a story for another time
**Not like back then when I nearly killed myself... which is also a story for another time

Sunday, November 30, 2008

I no longer know myself

I feel empty once again. devoid of emotions. With the exception of one regrettable emotional hiccup, I'm now feeling empty all over again. There is neither peace nor panic, only something mechanical. Life just goes on day by day, reacting automatically to situations thrown at me. Much has occurred recently, and they might have some correlation.

The proverbial empty cup
Unlike last year, this emptiness seemed to be part of something bigger. Along with House Keeping Campaign 2008, the events seemed to be readying me for something. Even tho I have no idea, I somehow sense great changes round the corner. A new chapter is about to begin.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Massive House Keeping Campaign 2008

Recently conducted a massive house keeping campaign. Spurred by the Systems Migration Plan, I was caught with an urge to free up physical space. The last 6 weeks saw the elimination of 90% of my personal physical articles. The rule was simple, anything not in use for over a year, or unlikely to remain in use, will be removed.

I realized that I tend to be reluctant to let go, even if the items no longer held any meaning. After overcoming redundant sentimental values, most items were simply white elephants. Sometimes its better to just move on.

The entire collection of painstakingly painted models and kits were given away to my childhood buddy. We started the hobby together and it was fun, but they no longer serve any practical use.
Mountains of study notes were thrown away. The information within were either obsolete or could be easily found online or in the libraries should I need them.

The sight of my now empty shelves left a clean feeling. On top of reducing future house keeping efforts, It was like a symbolic departure from the past. Keeping only the essential lessons, without the unnecessary baggage, and plenty of room to receive the future.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Vertical Farms

http://www.verticalfarm.com/Default.aspx

Zero Energy Buildings

http://www.wildsingapore.com/news/20071112/071107-9.htm

Floating dormitories

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/282471.asp

Singapore News // Monday, October 20, 2008
Floating dormitories
Offshore housing for foreign workers is one alternative:


WITH rising construction costs and a space crunch in Singapore, local researchers are exploring cheaper alternatives to land reclamation. One option is to have very large floating structures that can literally support cities on water. One company is even exploring the idea of floating dormitories for foreign workers.
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Professor Wang Chien Ming, director of the engineering science programme at the National University of Singapore, said: “People have been talking about ultra-large floating platforms being situated near the equatorial belt where there are no typhoons and no hurricanes. The floating structures could be placed in a very calm sea environment and then you can tap on the energy from the sun ... It can be self-contained.”
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Such structures would come with a mooring system, a breakwater and an access bridge or a berth. And although the structures could be made of steel and concrete, they can still float.
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The advantages of using floating structures include a relatively short construction period of four to five months. Such expandable structures are immune to the effects of rising sea levels and, compared to land reclamation, mega floating structures could cost about a third less.
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The concept of using floating structures is not new. In Singapore, there is already the Marina Bay Floating Platform. And one company that develops and manages foreign worker accommodation is thinking of floating dormitories for, say, 4,000 to 5,000 people.
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Mr A Mohamed Ali, director of business development at Mini Environment Service, said: “Theoretically speaking, there’s no limit to how many people you can hold. You can have a country built on a sea.
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“And because it’s modular, you can literally add on (facilities) ... We’re looking at facilities such as malls, post offices, remittance centres, anything that’ll serve the foreign-worker community.”
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He does not see offshore housing as segregation between foreign workers and Singaporeans. “If the design and the facilities are good, it won’t be stigmatised that way, and the motivation is not really to ship anyone out; it’s to find an alternative.”
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If the idea takes off, the dormitory would be the first of its kind in the world to house such a huge community on water.
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Another company that is exploring the use of mega floating structures is JTC Corporation. It is thinking of using such structures to store petrochemical and oil products. Prof Wang said the cost of building such a structure could be about$200 million. CHANNEL NEWSASIA