the lastsplash

This morning when I flicked on the switch at the wall power point, there were sparks and buzzing sound, followed by burnt smell from my desktop (I thought National Day was last month?). I think it is dead. Damage: I did not have time to open up my machine to assess the damage yet. From the sparks I saw through the fan vent, I think probably the components at the power socket on the motherboard, connecting to the power supply, were fried. Hopefully my devices are OK. They should be right? Afterall, my machine's power switch was off when it happened. So the damage should stop right at the motherboard. Cause: I think maybe some silly moth or lizard had went in, or condensation had shorted the board. It could be that my power supply malfunctioned and caused the current surge. Solution: Tonight I'll need to open it up and assess before deciding what can be savaged. Most likely I'll need to get a new board. I doubt anyone will bother to desolder the faulty components and replace

Jeremy Lim has a column in TODAY newspaper. At the age of 15, he is a regular columnist in the papers, along with the likes of Mr Brown & Mr Myagi. His command of English is remarkably good and sometimes I feel ashamed for not being able to write as well (me being able to only indulge in runts and little constructives in my blog entries). I think most Singaporeans know him better as the Young Ambassador of NKF Children's Medical Fund. His article this week, "One step for LTA, 54 steps for mum" reminded us how little the society is doing in driving Singapore to be an inclusive society for people with disabilities. It is true that despite the laws and regulations, facilities for the physical disabled (PD) are still highly inadequate. Although most train stations are already fitted with lifts and ramps, there are still alot to be done. Consider that bus trip to the station. It is virtually impossible for a wheel-chair bounded person to do that. I think one of the greates

There was an inconsiderate punk on the train. Probably in his early twenties. He sat at the seat beside the train door with his right leg resting on this left, and thus taking up two seats (including the empty seat beside him). As the other seat beside the empty seat was taken, it was impossible for anyone to take the empty seat. I was hungry. I went for the empty seat. Obviously I had to knock against his leg to get there and I did. Immediately he turned and stared at me with the killer-look. I turned towards my newspapers and ignored him. Then he started to crack his knuckles, as if he was protesting and showing off his supremacy. The passengers opposite looked at his juvenile display. He later got off at the next station. The tension seized. A silent victory against the incosiderate passengers! P.S. I hope I can hold my rage next time and stop being so impulsive.

"It's so hard survive... How to survive like that...? You should go home to your wife..." At first I thought it was a man talking to somebody on the phone. Then he repeated the same thing again and again. I noticed it was actually an middle-age man talking to himself in the train. Maybe he was mentally unstable because he got retrenched or was unable to find a new job. Sigh...

The wind blew away the rubbish bin at the bus-stop, as debris was swept across the road. Then the rain started to pour in. But all that did not stop us from making our way to Palawan Beach, Sentosa, to participate in Terry Fox Run 2005. In fact, over 2000 of the 6000+ who signed up made it for the run despite the morning thunderstorm. And I think that was a remarkable feat for everyone, considering that most of us would rather be snugly tucked beneath our blankets at 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning, especially with the storm outside. Our faith paid off as the rain stopped and the run flagged off at 8.15 a.m. as planned. The overcast and breeze made the walk (at least for my girlfriend and I) more enjoyable. It was a fun thing to do! People came with their families, some even wearing their coporate event tee (I saw a few "Team IBM", and "Johnson & Johnson"), some came as in their favourite soccer team jerseys (there was a clash between a group of Liverpool fans and a

This article by Ed Nisley in September issue of Dr. Dobb's Journal reminds me of my FYP days. It was the time when I first got acquainted with the embedded world, thinking that nothing is impossible as long as I am willing to learn and try. When I first wrote the proposal for my FYP, my ideas were ambitious, an integrated smart home system prototype accessible via the net. But I did not consider some very important things, the time factor and the difficulties in hardware-software integration. I started with modifying high level application design available off the shelves, to coding the firmware and debugging the hardware. It was sort of a reverse process where you dig deeper and deeper to the level where you can be comfortable with dealing the problem. Yet, after months of struggle, I only managed to get the firmware working with about 3 months left from deadline. That is kinda far away from the wonderful application I had in mind earlier. Although the board design followed an eva

Sunday was over. I had not done much, really. It was not unlike the Sundays during the school days. Other than sleeping for half the day, the rest of the were on activities that were easily accessible. Such as watching the tube (yeah, not plasma or LCD), munching on plain crackers aka instant food, or yakking on the phone aka mindless blabbering to someone who is always there for me.Perhaps it seems to be OK to slack, considering I worked hard during the weekdays. But this is not good at all. All the things I left till the Sunday cuz I was too tired. All that financial statements needed to be filed, room needed to be cleaned, life needed to be organized... Yes, something is missing. That explains the void and nuaism during weekends. Here I'm on the train to work because work like all things such as going for lunches, waking up at six, paying the bills, has settled down into a harmonic sinusoidal wave of activities. I'm doing them cuz I'm supposed to when the time comes. Wha

When I read the letters on Today about polygamy, I wanted to laugh. It came across to me as some guy ready to get himself shot by suggesting that polygamy is feasible, and may even resolve some family conflicts. But still I gave it some thoughts and even had a discussion with my girlfriend. On the first look at the matter, polygamy is highly impossible in Singapore. Firstly, this is a lawful land, and the law prohibits that. I don't think a few letters will ruffle the feathers of the lawmakers in changing or even rethinking about this law. Tho' eight white elephants may be more useful (at least the minister is reacting to them). Secondly, even if the law says its okay, it is something which the society will frown upon. Not socially accepted. But wait, there may be some sort of hope, afterall our citizens are lawfully obedient and if the law says its okay, we will probably think it is ok too. Thirdly, there is the idea of "男女平等" (Women have equal rights as men), that

I read, with distain on the reports of looting, violence, and rape, cops turned terrorists, in the aftermath of the disaster in New Orleans. The reason is obvious. Of cuz, one might say it is easy to cross our arms and criticise when we are sitting comfortable here in Singapore. And that is exactly the question which I pondered for a while, "What if it had happened to us?". How would Singaporeans have reacted to such catastrophic crisis in our own backyard? I can only make some guesses, based on my observations our peacetime behaviour. Of cuz we have proven to be very generous and benevolent when it comes to helping our global neighbours and donating to the needy of the society (as well as to the organizers of the idols & superstars shows as well). But I think it will be quite a different matter when we become the victims. Will the kind hearts stay with us? Will the Kiasu nature of us, which we are proud of for delivering us to stand on par with the top-notch economies gl

Between the Pedestals of Night and Morning Between red death and radiant desire With not one sound of triumph or of warning Stands the great sentry on the Bridge of Fire. O transient soul, thy thought with dreams adorning, Cast down the laurel, and unstring the lyre: the wheels of Time are turning, turning, turning, The slow stream channels deep and doth not tire. Gods on their bridge above Whispering lies and love Shall mock your passage down the sunless river Which, rolling all it streams, shall take you, king of dreams, -Unthroned and unapproachable for ever- To were the kings who dreamed of old Whiten in habitations monumental cold. James Elroy Flecker, 1884-1915. I am impressed by how detailed dreams can be. We can read a book, watch TV, surf net. Sometimes we can conciously move, feel, smell, touch, hear. And yet sometimes, we are just audiences in our dreams. Ever dreamt that you are dreaming? Yeah, nested dr eams. Hah. And when you 'wake up' in the dream, you want to go