Xen

Fear is a result of uncertainty. Under certain circumstances, there is no more fear. (no pun intended)

Note 1: What’s with fear recently…

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” - Ambrose Redmoon

Song of the Moment: Colbie Caillat - Bubbly

Note 1: Youtube blocks original MTV where else to link?

Note 2: What’s with rain falling on windows…

I’m not much of a gift wrapper, especially compared with the women who work at our shop. But I was the only one available the day a customer wanted a gift wrapped for his mother.

“Sorry,” I said, handing him a box covered with wrinkled, oddly taped paper. “It’s wrapped, but it sure looks like a guy did it.”

“Great,” he said happily. “Now my mum will think I did it myself.”

This was extracted from a recent copy of Reader’s Digest. Meant to humor, it struck me elsewhere instead.

What are your thoughts?

Song of the Moment: Jason Mraz - I’m Yours

I started this post with the title “nothing has happened” but as i typed the first line this windows box BSODed on me. Had to wait for it to restart before I can continue the post. I have always wished to migrate to handphone blogging with wifi, which I can do on my bed. I often have thoughts to pen while I’m there, or thought of something to google on, but its too much trouble and sleep-distruptive to get up, switch on the PC, wait for bootup… and then type, then wait for shutdown… It’s easier to pull out my mobile and do it. I guess I’m a permanent fan of bed-computing. From placing my desk right beside my bed (in aussie), to using DIN extensions so I can stretch my keyboard to my bed. If I could I think I will do everything in bed. This was supposed to be a one-line post but its getting too long. I shall stop here and… yep, go to bed.

Saw the ads on TV and print few days ago, but it didn’t say when it’ll be released. Happen to pass by Nokia Concept Store while shopping yesterday, and found that it was out yesterday. Got my hands on the actual set and tried it.

Good = weight, camera.

Bad = lock on top (maybe can find s/w hack), plastic looking buttons, crowded function keys, # key is too cornered, navi-wheel not sensitive.

NoContract = 698, Contract = 438. Still not perfect, but I’m not sure if there will be one. Anyway not sure if now’s the time, cos I can’t use it for the next month, so I’ll waste those “first few months free” gimmicks.

EDIT: There are people doing the unlock feature already (as I expected). I just hope its free or not too expensive. Or I might have to resort to doing it myself.

EDIT 2: I went to see the phone again. And searched the manual online. Couldn’t find any built-in method to change the keypad lock feature. Also saw the 2 colors - gray and white. White looks better, but makes the buttons look more plastic.

I have a song running in my head most of the time. The funny part is I usually don’t remember the title, usually only the tune, sometimes a few words of the lyrics. Today I was actually humming the chorus of 洋蔥 by 楊宗緯, and it so happened I caught the same song on my way home (which is how I learnt the title).

What’s weird? It’s the lyrics. and the next song happen to be 101封情书 by 欧得洋…

如果你愿意一层一层一层的剥开我的心…

变态 right… I’d be very painful.

写101封情书 寄到你未来的国度…

烧给你对吗?

Song of the Moment: 周杰伦 - 稻香

windy and I were talking about the new permanent race track to be built in Changi by 2011. They’ll be able to get their Grid Girls from the local area, who are always ready for a night race. Talk about job restructuring…

Song of the moment: Dido - Thank You

Its not a Nokia phone this time. Its a new non-netbook ASUS just announced last week. Since the Compaq B1900 (which are not sold anymore), I have not successfully shortlisted another notebook.

Basically I’m dreaming of an Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB(+) RAM, 80GB(+) HDD, 11-12″ display, built-in DVD writer, 2kg(-) weight and WiFi. Somewhat like a compact beast.

I’ve shopped around, and I realize that Compaq usually have problems of a heated wrist rest; Lenovo doesn’t have trackpads (uses trackpoint); and Acer’s designs are often too rounded. Netbooks had too small screens, but they have a pretty good price.

These 2 weeks I was targeting Asus U6 and F9. They’re both 12.1″, Core 2 Duo, 3GB RAM (after free upgrade), 250GB HDD, with a built-in DVD writer. The key differences lies in the design: U6 is slimmer, looks cleaner, and has a leather wrist rest (which I don’t need). But I’ll have to fork out $2.8K for a U6, or a mere $1.6K for a F9. (FYI at the same $2.8K there’s also a lower spec-ed Asus U2 with a full leather finishing)

While hesitating on the $2.8K, I found the N20, which seem to fit my specs pretty well. The next questions would be when they would be available here, how much it will cost, and hopefully some good reviews.

Below is the only picture I found of it, which is taken from the ASUS web site.

Edit: Youtube shows the N20 with 6-cell. I managed to observe the inside view, which I have a screenshot below; looks clean and great to me. He mentioned “low-cost”, so hopefully that’s true. With netbooks below $1K, I certainly hope N20 doesn’t run too far off.

Computers, for one, is incapable of producing a random number by itself, but produces pseudo-random numbers by using mathematical formulae and e.g. the system clock. Such systems are known to be flawed when it comes to security, as the industry often show exploits due to predictable number generators.

Science often proves by proving or dis-proving the inverse, in this case, the inverse of randomness could be predictability.

A computer system could be used to predict the landing location of a cannon ball fired from a cannon. Given information such as direction, vertical angle, amount of gunpowder used and the laws of gravity, we are able to calculate the location where it should land. Is it always accurate? Why not? Is it randomness? Or is it because we have not included all the information? What if we added more information such as air resistance and wind strength and direction to the prediction? Will it be more accurate? What if we now add all minute (adjective) details such as dust particle movement and magnetic field effects to the predictions? Won’t we get absolute predictability?

If we knew the exact shape and position of a cubic die in your hand, the motion of your hand to throw the die, the surface the die will land on, and all else, won’t we be able to use physics laws to predict how the die will fall and bounce, thus arriving at the ultimate side that will face up when it comes to rest?

And pushing predictability to the extreme: given all past experience of a person, and the current environment of the person, we can create a model of the person’s brain and body, thus determine the response of the person to a question, or evaluate the subsequent action(s) of the person from its current state? Fate - as a science?

Prediction with object physics may just look amazing, but will stretching it to life have unpredictable effects? Maybe we are able to produce such models after all. And in the future these devices could become smaller, self-powered and Apple-packaged, it’ll actually look like a crystal ball.

Edit: A search of what I was thinking yielded the formal term, known as Philosophy of Determinism. The article on Fatalism was also very thought-provoking.

I took this test recently, which was forwarded from a friend. And I got a combination that I thought fits me. What do you think? Is it another horoscope style result that it probably fits everybody? What’s your result?

I wonder if I negate all the questions, will I get the job I should never be in?

BEST OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORY: You’re an ORGANIZER

Key Words: Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate

These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail, and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. Persistence and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.

ORGANIZER CAREERS
Suggested careers are Administrator, Secretary, Printer, Paralegal, Building Inspector, Bank Cashier, Private Secretary, Statistician, Operations Manager, Financial Analyst, Bookkeeper, Medical Records Technician, Developer of Business or Computer Systems, Clerical Worker, Proofreader, Accountant, Administrative Assistant, Banker, Certified Public Accountant, Credit Manager, Store Salesperson, Actuary, Dental Assistant, Business Education Teacher, Food Service Manager, IRS Agent, Budget Analyst, and Underwriter.

ORGANIZER WORKPLACES
Your very careful, conscientious, conservative nature gives others the confidence to trust you with handling money and material possessions. Structured organizations that have well-ordered chains of command work best for you.

Suggested Organizer workplaces are large corporations, business offices, financial lending institutions, banks, insurance companies, accounting firms, and quality control and inspection departments.

2nd BEST OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORY: You’re a CREATOR

Key Words: Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional

These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or whether they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.