Oh great. I can't get any linux installed on this computer.
After many days of procrastination I finally decided to get myself to work today. Hooked up my spare hard disk, formatted everything inside, and popped in the first cd of my Fedora Core 5.
To my utmost surprise a bunch of garbage text appeared, after all the initial booting. After trying a few more times to ensure its no freak accident, I went to try it on an old computer, and it worked. Suspected the error has something to do with my SATA hard disk, because the last thing it was loading before it hanged was some "sata_sil drivers", so I combed the Internet to see if anyone else have the same problem as me.
Found one here. Exactly the same except I only had 2 lines of garbage text and not one entire screen of them. But the help did not seem helpful.
Decided to try Ubuntu instead. Downloaded v6.10, burnt it to a cd, and tried it out. I was not expecting any problems with Ubuntu because I have v5.04, and the live cd worked when I tried it earlier on.
Surprise surprise, halfway through loading it hanged. Again I suspect its the hard disk.
So now I am back using the v5.04 live cd, typing this entry out. Very interesting to see that an old version works while newer ones don't. Maybe I am too noob to know why.
Have not decided what my next course of action will be. Most probably I will install this v5.04. Wonder if updates are still available for it. Either that or I disable the SATA controller, which I have no idea how and don't wish to because I don't like the feeling of something missing.
Or I physically plug out the SATA cable.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
I just realised my previous post was my 500th post. I have blogged so much crap! May this blog live forever!
I experienced my first hiccup with Vista just now when my Hamachi could not enable the [virtual] network adaptor. Did a fresh reinstall and it worked. There wass a slight lag at the menu when I first opened up Generals, although the game itself was alright. Maybe because I used 800x600 low settings.
Tiberian Sun was the first strategy game I played, introduced to me by my primary school friends [wow there was like, six years back!], and I pretty much enjoyed it. Ever since I had been a CnC fan, hence my email address haha.
I still remember back in those days my mother had rather strict controls on my playing computer games, so I would wake up very early on Saturday and Sunday mornings to play, because she would be out at the market for at least an hour hahaha.
Later the Firestorm expansion came out, and got me all excited. Helped my good friend buy a copy at the *ahem* shop opposite my house [At that time the market rate was $8 for one cd, $15 for two, bought together with my friend, saved 50cents each ha]. At that time the game was rather popular among my classmates, so we spent alot of time talking about it.
Early secondary school days another CnC game came out, Red Alert 2. I remembered wondering why the name Westwood Studios was gone and replaced with EA, but I did not really know the story until I came across Wikipedia. Anyway my gaming experience went up to a new level as my classmates and I would meet at LAN shops to play. Usually we played the map Arctic Circle [because it was the only 8-player map?], and even formed alliances or stategies to gang bang those we don't like first lol. We came up with very interesting rules then, like no one is allowed to use France [because its Grand Cannon was too powerful], and also 30-45 minute truces so we could build up our forces.
I did not play the next game, Generals, because I was still using that Pentium 3 450Mhz then. My first encounter with that game was during a LAN session, and I remembered I was one of the first to be killed, because the gameplay was completely changed and differed from the previous CnC games so much so that I don't know how to play at all.
Along the way we also played first person shooters like Counter-Strike and Battlefield. Then all of the sudden the trend shifted to Warcraft and DotA and MMORPGs, which I don't play at all, so I was immediately ostracised.
Wow I digressed too much. Actually all I wanted to say was that the sequel to Tiberian Sun, Command and Conquer: Tiberium Wars has hit our shores. The launch at Lido was apparently overwhelmingly crowded with hardcore fans eagerly wanting to grab the game plus all the free gifts.
What about me? Well initially when I read about this game was in development [that was last year I think, when I surfed Wikipedia during one of the computing lessons :p] I was very excited about it, simply because I liked Tiberian Sun alot. Its a different developer now, but EA promised to keep the game as close to previous CnC games as possible.
Last month a demo for the game was available for download, so I tried it out. However having played that I find the game only quite alright; somehow I just don't like it as much as previous games. I can't exactly place my finger on any particular aspect, but I suspect its the overall feel of the game. It doesn't bring back the fun I had when playing Sun.
The new game is abit too sophiscated, unlike Tiberian Sun or Red Alert 2 where everything was much simpler.
I think again, maybe its because the game is abit too similar to other games.
Then I think again, maybe its because I am older now. Last time I had alot of friends whom I could talk about the game with, like how to complete a particular mission or which unit was better etc. There is no one I can talk with now.
Then I think again, maybe its because I have played too much games.
I may be too quick to pass the judgement, since I have only played the demo and not the actual one.
I experienced my first hiccup with Vista just now when my Hamachi could not enable the [virtual] network adaptor. Did a fresh reinstall and it worked. There wass a slight lag at the menu when I first opened up Generals, although the game itself was alright. Maybe because I used 800x600 low settings.
Tiberian Sun was the first strategy game I played, introduced to me by my primary school friends [wow there was like, six years back!], and I pretty much enjoyed it. Ever since I had been a CnC fan, hence my email address haha.
I still remember back in those days my mother had rather strict controls on my playing computer games, so I would wake up very early on Saturday and Sunday mornings to play, because she would be out at the market for at least an hour hahaha.
Later the Firestorm expansion came out, and got me all excited. Helped my good friend buy a copy at the *ahem* shop opposite my house [At that time the market rate was $8 for one cd, $15 for two, bought together with my friend, saved 50cents each ha]. At that time the game was rather popular among my classmates, so we spent alot of time talking about it.
Early secondary school days another CnC game came out, Red Alert 2. I remembered wondering why the name Westwood Studios was gone and replaced with EA, but I did not really know the story until I came across Wikipedia. Anyway my gaming experience went up to a new level as my classmates and I would meet at LAN shops to play. Usually we played the map Arctic Circle [because it was the only 8-player map?], and even formed alliances or stategies to gang bang those we don't like first lol. We came up with very interesting rules then, like no one is allowed to use France [because its Grand Cannon was too powerful], and also 30-45 minute truces so we could build up our forces.
I did not play the next game, Generals, because I was still using that Pentium 3 450Mhz then. My first encounter with that game was during a LAN session, and I remembered I was one of the first to be killed, because the gameplay was completely changed and differed from the previous CnC games so much so that I don't know how to play at all.
Along the way we also played first person shooters like Counter-Strike and Battlefield. Then all of the sudden the trend shifted to Warcraft and DotA and MMORPGs, which I don't play at all, so I was immediately ostracised.
Wow I digressed too much. Actually all I wanted to say was that the sequel to Tiberian Sun, Command and Conquer: Tiberium Wars has hit our shores. The launch at Lido was apparently overwhelmingly crowded with hardcore fans eagerly wanting to grab the game plus all the free gifts.
What about me? Well initially when I read about this game was in development [that was last year I think, when I surfed Wikipedia during one of the computing lessons :p] I was very excited about it, simply because I liked Tiberian Sun alot. Its a different developer now, but EA promised to keep the game as close to previous CnC games as possible.
Last month a demo for the game was available for download, so I tried it out. However having played that I find the game only quite alright; somehow I just don't like it as much as previous games. I can't exactly place my finger on any particular aspect, but I suspect its the overall feel of the game. It doesn't bring back the fun I had when playing Sun.
The new game is abit too sophiscated, unlike Tiberian Sun or Red Alert 2 where everything was much simpler.
I think again, maybe its because the game is abit too similar to other games.
Then I think again, maybe its because I am older now. Last time I had alot of friends whom I could talk about the game with, like how to complete a particular mission or which unit was better etc. There is no one I can talk with now.
Then I think again, maybe its because I have played too much games.
I may be too quick to pass the judgement, since I have only played the demo and not the actual one.
Monday, March 26, 2007
After so much trouble and time I finally got Vista installed. About reading and hearing about all the bugs and problems and whatnot, I am glad to say I have not experienced any of those. Yet.
Initially it was a "wow" because of the visual effects. But later it became "chey" because otherwise there is really nothing new about it.
That is the glassy effect on the sides of windows. Looks pretty cool, but apparently that simple effect itself requires a rather powerful graphics card.
Perhaps the only thing that I really had fun with was the Sidebar, where you place Gadgets, or tiny programs on the side of the desktop. The ones that came with Vista were not fun. I found pretty interesting ones on the Net:
There is one that tells me the weather in Singapore, one that tells me the weather on the eastern side of Singapore, and one that shows photos of traffic conditions of our expressways, all updated every few minutes. There are lots more, from stopwatches to mini notepads to even Sudoku games.
Performance wise, it runs decently on my computer, perhaps because I have packed it with enough RAM. But booting up takes a much longer time compared to XP. Games run with not much difference as in XP, although loading seems a little bit longer than usual.
To conclude, from a consumer's point of view, Vista is not a must have.
Initially it was a "wow" because of the visual effects. But later it became "chey" because otherwise there is really nothing new about it.
That is the glassy effect on the sides of windows. Looks pretty cool, but apparently that simple effect itself requires a rather powerful graphics card.
Perhaps the only thing that I really had fun with was the Sidebar, where you place Gadgets, or tiny programs on the side of the desktop. The ones that came with Vista were not fun. I found pretty interesting ones on the Net:
There is one that tells me the weather in Singapore, one that tells me the weather on the eastern side of Singapore, and one that shows photos of traffic conditions of our expressways, all updated every few minutes. There are lots more, from stopwatches to mini notepads to even Sudoku games.
Performance wise, it runs decently on my computer, perhaps because I have packed it with enough RAM. But booting up takes a much longer time compared to XP. Games run with not much difference as in XP, although loading seems a little bit longer than usual.
To conclude, from a consumer's point of view, Vista is not a must have.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Yesterday was my last day at work! Finally!
After three months of endless slogging and another 1 week plus of dragging, I finally worked for the last time at that store yesterday afternoon.
As if heaven is out to play me, the manager was transferred to another store and a new manager, the one ofrom the store at the nearby MRT station, was transferred here. Apparently she is much better than the one who left. I only had a few hours of interaction with her, so I could not pass any judgement.
The new manager actually asked me to work another day today, because there is a shortage of staff. I went to the schedule to check; oh the one doing the morning shift took a day off today, perhaps to take advantage of the fact that there is a new guy working. After some consideration I still decided not to. Seriously had enough. Besides the multi-tasking auntie colleague is back today, so should be no problem.
There was no farewell or whatsoever yesterday. The most was a simple "Take care ah!" from the old auntie who took over me for the overnight shift.
[To sidetrack a little, it turned out that the old auntie did not turn up on Friday because she went off to Malacca; a close relative was sick and admitted into ICU etc. Well I was never angry with her; she's a very nice person. I was angry with the manager for not having enough staff on hand to handle last minute situations. There was supposed to be two person doing overnight, not one.]
I have learnt quite alot during my three months of work; that will be one post by itself.
Yesterday afternoon my mother called me asking if I have any friends in Taiwan. Immediately I know why she asked that. My Vista is here!
Having read the forums [again] I knew what to expect; a postman turning up at my house to pass a parcel that comes from Taiwan, which consists of a big brown envelope holding two discs inside.
I have not decided when to install Vista. Most probably at a later time.
After three months of endless slogging and another 1 week plus of dragging, I finally worked for the last time at that store yesterday afternoon.
As if heaven is out to play me, the manager was transferred to another store and a new manager, the one ofrom the store at the nearby MRT station, was transferred here. Apparently she is much better than the one who left. I only had a few hours of interaction with her, so I could not pass any judgement.
The new manager actually asked me to work another day today, because there is a shortage of staff. I went to the schedule to check; oh the one doing the morning shift took a day off today, perhaps to take advantage of the fact that there is a new guy working. After some consideration I still decided not to. Seriously had enough. Besides the multi-tasking auntie colleague is back today, so should be no problem.
There was no farewell or whatsoever yesterday. The most was a simple "Take care ah!" from the old auntie who took over me for the overnight shift.
[To sidetrack a little, it turned out that the old auntie did not turn up on Friday because she went off to Malacca; a close relative was sick and admitted into ICU etc. Well I was never angry with her; she's a very nice person. I was angry with the manager for not having enough staff on hand to handle last minute situations. There was supposed to be two person doing overnight, not one.]
I have learnt quite alot during my three months of work; that will be one post by itself.
Yesterday afternoon my mother called me asking if I have any friends in Taiwan. Immediately I know why she asked that. My Vista is here!
Having read the forums [again] I knew what to expect; a postman turning up at my house to pass a parcel that comes from Taiwan, which consists of a big brown envelope holding two discs inside.
I have not decided when to install Vista. Most probably at a later time.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
I am going to make sure that next Tuesday will be my last day. I have had enough.
Everyday I reach the store to get scolded by the colleague doing the morning shift because I arrived on time. (I'm supposed to reach early to take over her, so she can go home earlier. Then she herself can arrive like half an hour after her working hours started.) Then every night I always have to wait well past my working hours for the one doing the overnight shift to take over from me, because they always come late.
Then there are times like today when the person taking over me did not even come, so I had to wait till 1am for someone from another store to come and relieve me. I was told 1am, so I told me father to fetch me home at 1am. Then i waited till 1.15am, before I decided to call that store if that person was coming. At 1.15am he was at his store saying he was going to come.
So by the time he reached, and checked that everything was in place, and I was allowed to go, it was already 2am. My father, having wasted an hour waiting for me, was angry, scolding me and saying I should not have asked him to come at 1am if I was not allowed to go at 1am.
Coincidentally, the area manager called some time after midnight, and was surprised I was alone and from the afternoon shift and was waiting for someone from another store to relieve me. So he asked why the store always seemed so short of staff.
I think I should be the one asking why the bloody store is so short of staff. I, a bloody part-timer, is working a bloody full six days a week. I had already asked to quit last week, but because the auntie colleague was going back to Malaysia, she asked me to help my boss out another week, which I agreed on her account. (I had actually anticipated this from earlier experience, which is why I asked to quit at an earlier date; to allow for a buffer)
I could not argue with the area manager, because a customer came halfway through the conversation. When I picked up the phone again he was gone, and he never called back. Luckily he didn't. I was going to erupt then.
I clearly asked my boss if this week would be my last week, and she agreed. Then yesterday she smsed me (wah, don't even dare to face me) to ask me help out another week. 也是她说，过了这个礼拜我就不用做了，现在她又叫我做多一个礼拜。好咯，什么都是她说，我什么都不用说了。
I rejected her immediately, saying I can at most help out one or two days. Today's schedule came out, and I was scheduled to work next Monday and Tuesday, after which from Wednesday onwards, the auntie colleague will be back.
In the past few days at least three people have applied for a job in the store, with another two (one of them is ex staff I think) applying today. But I still don't see their names anywhere in the schedule, which I wondered why. I still remembered in my case, I was asked to turn up for work immediately the following day, after I applied. Why can't they do that?
This work has made me realise just how inconsiderate people can be towards others. They can pass you a cash register without a single $10 bill and leaving you to die in hell when a customer passes you a $50 bill for a New Paper, because they have already knocked off and don't care how you are going to survive eight hours with nothing but only $50 bills and 5cents coins in your register.
They can happily sit in the storeroom reading magazines munching on hot piping sandwiches while you are outside at the counter placing a customer's purchases into plastic bags, mental calculating how much change to give back, apologising to another customer's enquiry why there are no more Gulp cups left, and getting panicked because the queue was reaching the door.
So now that I finished this bloody post its already 3.15am, just as I finished my dinner/breakfast/supper.
Everyday I reach the store to get scolded by the colleague doing the morning shift because I arrived on time. (I'm supposed to reach early to take over her, so she can go home earlier. Then she herself can arrive like half an hour after her working hours started.) Then every night I always have to wait well past my working hours for the one doing the overnight shift to take over from me, because they always come late.
Then there are times like today when the person taking over me did not even come, so I had to wait till 1am for someone from another store to come and relieve me. I was told 1am, so I told me father to fetch me home at 1am. Then i waited till 1.15am, before I decided to call that store if that person was coming. At 1.15am he was at his store saying he was going to come.
So by the time he reached, and checked that everything was in place, and I was allowed to go, it was already 2am. My father, having wasted an hour waiting for me, was angry, scolding me and saying I should not have asked him to come at 1am if I was not allowed to go at 1am.
Coincidentally, the area manager called some time after midnight, and was surprised I was alone and from the afternoon shift and was waiting for someone from another store to relieve me. So he asked why the store always seemed so short of staff.
I think I should be the one asking why the bloody store is so short of staff. I, a bloody part-timer, is working a bloody full six days a week. I had already asked to quit last week, but because the auntie colleague was going back to Malaysia, she asked me to help my boss out another week, which I agreed on her account. (I had actually anticipated this from earlier experience, which is why I asked to quit at an earlier date; to allow for a buffer)
I could not argue with the area manager, because a customer came halfway through the conversation. When I picked up the phone again he was gone, and he never called back. Luckily he didn't. I was going to erupt then.
I clearly asked my boss if this week would be my last week, and she agreed. Then yesterday she smsed me (wah, don't even dare to face me) to ask me help out another week. 也是她说，过了这个礼拜我就不用做了，现在她又叫我做多一个礼拜。好咯，什么都是她说，我什么都不用说了。
I rejected her immediately, saying I can at most help out one or two days. Today's schedule came out, and I was scheduled to work next Monday and Tuesday, after which from Wednesday onwards, the auntie colleague will be back.
In the past few days at least three people have applied for a job in the store, with another two (one of them is ex staff I think) applying today. But I still don't see their names anywhere in the schedule, which I wondered why. I still remembered in my case, I was asked to turn up for work immediately the following day, after I applied. Why can't they do that?
This work has made me realise just how inconsiderate people can be towards others. They can pass you a cash register without a single $10 bill and leaving you to die in hell when a customer passes you a $50 bill for a New Paper, because they have already knocked off and don't care how you are going to survive eight hours with nothing but only $50 bills and 5cents coins in your register.
They can happily sit in the storeroom reading magazines munching on hot piping sandwiches while you are outside at the counter placing a customer's purchases into plastic bags, mental calculating how much change to give back, apologising to another customer's enquiry why there are no more Gulp cups left, and getting panicked because the queue was reaching the door.
So now that I finished this bloody post its already 3.15am, just as I finished my dinner/breakfast/supper.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
It has been a long time since there are three people working the afternoon shift. Work is so much more relaxing when there are three people working, because there is at least one person standing at the counter at all times, so I-who-do-not-want-to-touch-that-damn-cash-register can run around doing stock up.
Tomorrow will still be ok because I have someone working with me. The challenge will be Friday and Sunday, my supposedly last day of work.
I still have no clear idea what I should take in university. Some ideas yes, but the exact course and university, no. Maybe that is because I have not yet decided what I want to do as a career.
And I still have not decided whether I want to apply for a scholarship or not. Not that I can go for any with my results, but I need the money. However the application process (read: essay) and the selection process (read again: interview) is seriously putting me off.
For now I am more inclined towards applying for financial aid instead, but I have a few days to consider before the only scholarship I am applying for, if I am doing so, closes on the 23rd.
All the talk about going with your heart and going with your mind and go for your dreams etc, its so much easier to say than do.
Tomorrow will still be ok because I have someone working with me. The challenge will be Friday and Sunday, my supposedly last day of work.
I still have no clear idea what I should take in university. Some ideas yes, but the exact course and university, no. Maybe that is because I have not yet decided what I want to do as a career.
And I still have not decided whether I want to apply for a scholarship or not. Not that I can go for any with my results, but I need the money. However the application process (read: essay) and the selection process (read again: interview) is seriously putting me off.
For now I am more inclined towards applying for financial aid instead, but I have a few days to consider before the only scholarship I am applying for, if I am doing so, closes on the 23rd.
All the talk about going with your heart and going with your mind and go for your dreams etc, its so much easier to say than do.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Yay I think my vista is coming!
After nearly three weeks of seeing the following message:
Order Status : Order awaiting shipment
Shipping Date : TBD. Check back in 2-3 weeks for more information
Carrier : Standard
almost every night I checked, I almost wanted to call up and ask them when I will receive my Vista, when I logged in last night and saw a new message:
Order Status : Order sent to Back office
Shipping Date : TBD. Check back in 2-3 weeks for more information
Carrier : Standard
Then this morning I checked again and it was another new message:
Order Status : Order received
Shipping Date : TBD. Check back in 2-3 weeks for more information
Carrier : Standard
And very soon later:
Order Status : Order is approved
Shipping Date : TBD. Check back in 2-3 weeks for more information
Carrier : Standard
Coupled with the fact that the people in the forums are gradually receiving their copies, I should be getting mine soon!
Now I am only scared that there is no one at home to receive the two dvds when the postman comes.
After nearly three weeks of seeing the following message:
Order Status : Order awaiting shipment
Shipping Date : TBD. Check back in 2-3 weeks for more information
Carrier : Standard
almost every night I checked, I almost wanted to call up and ask them when I will receive my Vista, when I logged in last night and saw a new message:
Order Status : Order sent to Back office
Shipping Date : TBD. Check back in 2-3 weeks for more information
Carrier : Standard
Then this morning I checked again and it was another new message:
Order Status : Order received
Shipping Date : TBD. Check back in 2-3 weeks for more information
Carrier : Standard
And very soon later:
Order Status : Order is approved
Shipping Date : TBD. Check back in 2-3 weeks for more information
Carrier : Standard
Coupled with the fact that the people in the forums are gradually receiving their copies, I should be getting mine soon!
Now I am only scared that there is no one at home to receive the two dvds when the postman comes.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Working in the last week before quitting is like running the last lap of 2.4km. The end is so near, yet so far.
My last week of work started today, seven days from Sunday to Sunday, with an off day on Saturday so that I can go for my class outing (if there is one) and a buffet dinner courtesy of my cousin. This last week will be a difficult one, because the auntie colleague will be taking leave from work from Wednesday afternoon onwards. Analysing the timetable Wednesday, Friday and Sunday will be my worst days of the week. Wednesday because I will be working with someone I don't like. Friday and Sunday because I am apparently the only one working the afternoon shift. Friday still looks okay because the manager is around until 6pm, while someone will be coming at 6pm. Sunday is the jia lat one because the manager does not work on Sundays.
The first day has passed. six more days to bear with.
I think the problem with running the last lap, especially for me, is that I keep thinking how long more do I have to run before I finally reach the finishing line, thus that makes time seem to move really slowly.
On a brighter note a thirty-year-old has applied for a job in the store. His application form is still lying on the table, but hopefully he will turn up very soon, learn the ropes quickly, and I can step down asap. Given his age I assume that he has already worked for many years and will have no problems getting the hang of things.
I'm very tired.
My last week of work started today, seven days from Sunday to Sunday, with an off day on Saturday so that I can go for my class outing (if there is one) and a buffet dinner courtesy of my cousin. This last week will be a difficult one, because the auntie colleague will be taking leave from work from Wednesday afternoon onwards. Analysing the timetable Wednesday, Friday and Sunday will be my worst days of the week. Wednesday because I will be working with someone I don't like. Friday and Sunday because I am apparently the only one working the afternoon shift. Friday still looks okay because the manager is around until 6pm, while someone will be coming at 6pm. Sunday is the jia lat one because the manager does not work on Sundays.
The first day has passed. six more days to bear with.
I think the problem with running the last lap, especially for me, is that I keep thinking how long more do I have to run before I finally reach the finishing line, thus that makes time seem to move really slowly.
On a brighter note a thirty-year-old has applied for a job in the store. His application form is still lying on the table, but hopefully he will turn up very soon, learn the ropes quickly, and I can step down asap. Given his age I assume that he has already worked for many years and will have no problems getting the hang of things.
I'm very tired.
Friday, March 09, 2007
The word "Fire Drill" was non-existant in my mind until today, when a fire cum evacuation drill was held to see if people can run for their lives fast enough in a real fire.
At 3pm, the fire alarm went "RRIINNG!", twice. Because money making > everything else, only my boss went to gather at the assembly point, while the rest of us remained in the store, business as usual.
So at the end of the drill (I have knocked off by then), all I saw was a couple of Civil Defence vehicles and officials. I still don't know where to run to if an actual fire occurs, but unless one happens within this two weeks, I guess there is no need for me to know.
After work I went down to Suntec for the IT show, with the primary purpose of getting a new pair of earphones. Walked around, besides the Sony and Microsoft booths screaming their Playstation 3 and Vista, everything else is about the same as previous shows.
I believe that the Playstation 3 is overrated.
Specs-wise, the PS3 is impressive. Cell Broadband Engine, G80 graphics core, Blu-ray, full HD support. All sounded great. But the gameplay has somehow stayed the same. Flagship games like Resistance: Fall of Man and Ridge Racer 7 seem no different from any other first person shooter or racing game out there. Its still big bad monsters running towards you with its fangs open wide open ready to eat you up, and you using that super duper ultra ultimate laser atomic nuclear explosive machine gun to kill them. Or you controlling a powerful nitrous powered R34 STi Evo 206 306 911 995 999 RX CXX XXX Concept Rally WRC GT chasing the opponent down twisted repetitive tracks round and round and round, who, using the old 1cc turtle beetle tortoise, can, for some reason, still run faster than you.
Sure the gaming experience has improved. One can drift that tofu shop's AE86 round a bend at 1, 000, 000 km/h while the screen stays fixed at 30fps without lagging (I personally witnessed that). Perhaps now the monsters get smarter and all count 1 2 3 and blast you together instead of one by one so you die a faster death.But its still the same old objectives of killing all the baddies and save the day or winning all the races and becoming the race king. Sooner or later people will lose interest in gaming.
Nintendo came up with a great idea in the Wii remote. A personal opinion as a step in the right direction. I think that games are not simply about how faithfully they follow the laws of physics or how (eeringly) close they look like real life objects. Its also about how innovative the objectives are.
Then again, the PS3 is still in the early stages, so (again) I need not comment so much. Perhaps precisely with the cutting edge hardware the PS3 have the resources to support future gaming innovations.
Maybe there is something wrong with my eyes, but I don't see any difference between playing games or watching tv on a conventional television and on high definition capable ones.
I believe the Vista is overrated too, but never mind.
At 3pm, the fire alarm went "RRIINNG!", twice. Because money making > everything else, only my boss went to gather at the assembly point, while the rest of us remained in the store, business as usual.
So at the end of the drill (I have knocked off by then), all I saw was a couple of Civil Defence vehicles and officials. I still don't know where to run to if an actual fire occurs, but unless one happens within this two weeks, I guess there is no need for me to know.
After work I went down to Suntec for the IT show, with the primary purpose of getting a new pair of earphones. Walked around, besides the Sony and Microsoft booths screaming their Playstation 3 and Vista, everything else is about the same as previous shows.
I believe that the Playstation 3 is overrated.
Specs-wise, the PS3 is impressive. Cell Broadband Engine, G80 graphics core, Blu-ray, full HD support. All sounded great. But the gameplay has somehow stayed the same. Flagship games like Resistance: Fall of Man and Ridge Racer 7 seem no different from any other first person shooter or racing game out there. Its still big bad monsters running towards you with its fangs open wide open ready to eat you up, and you using that super duper ultra ultimate laser atomic nuclear explosive machine gun to kill them. Or you controlling a powerful nitrous powered R34 STi Evo 206 306 911 995 999 RX CXX XXX Concept Rally WRC GT chasing the opponent down twisted repetitive tracks round and round and round, who, using the old 1cc turtle beetle tortoise, can, for some reason, still run faster than you.
Sure the gaming experience has improved. One can drift that tofu shop's AE86 round a bend at 1, 000, 000 km/h while the screen stays fixed at 30fps without lagging (I personally witnessed that). Perhaps now the monsters get smarter and all count 1 2 3 and blast you together instead of one by one so you die a faster death.But its still the same old objectives of killing all the baddies and save the day or winning all the races and becoming the race king. Sooner or later people will lose interest in gaming.
Nintendo came up with a great idea in the Wii remote. A personal opinion as a step in the right direction. I think that games are not simply about how faithfully they follow the laws of physics or how (eeringly) close they look like real life objects. Its also about how innovative the objectives are.
Then again, the PS3 is still in the early stages, so (again) I need not comment so much. Perhaps precisely with the cutting edge hardware the PS3 have the resources to support future gaming innovations.
Maybe there is something wrong with my eyes, but I don't see any difference between playing games or watching tv on a conventional television and on high definition capable ones.
I believe the Vista is overrated too, but never mind.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
I am sick.
Came down with fever and a sore throat yesterday evening. When I woke up this morning my fever was gone, but was still feeling lousy all over, so I called to ask for a day off, and went to the doctor to get an medical certificate. After lunch I got myself all excited when the forum I was reading started started threads about having felt tremors all over Singapore. Gone to sleep, just woke up, still feeling lousy all over.
I realised that this is the first time in two weeks that I actually got decent rest at home. Since 年初三, I have been working every single day, only getting an off day last Friday to get my results. My next off day is supposed to be this coming Saturday, which I requested so that I can go to the university open house.
I am overworked!
Came down with fever and a sore throat yesterday evening. When I woke up this morning my fever was gone, but was still feeling lousy all over, so I called to ask for a day off, and went to the doctor to get an medical certificate. After lunch I got myself all excited when the forum I was reading started started threads about having felt tremors all over Singapore. Gone to sleep, just woke up, still feeling lousy all over.
I realised that this is the first time in two weeks that I actually got decent rest at home. Since 年初三, I have been working every single day, only getting an off day last Friday to get my results. My next off day is supposed to be this coming Saturday, which I requested so that I can go to the university open house.
I am overworked!
Friday, March 02, 2007
The first thing we did when my friends and I reached college was to rush to the noticeboards outside the office that list all the students with 3 and 4 As, together with the statistics.
Looked through one time, my name was not there. Looked through second time, my name was not there. Looked through third time, my name was not there. Looked through fourth time, my name was not there. Looked through fifth time, my name was not there. Give up.
Smsed my computing teacher to ask her to tell me my results. She replied asking me to predict my results first before she tell me. Smsed her 'abcc?'
She replied with my results in four alphabets, along with a "but ur gp good'. Replied to ask her which subjects the alphabets corresponded to, and what my GP grade was. She kept me in suspense, asking me to find her to find out.
Impatient me ran around the entire school before finding her in the hall.
A - Mathematics
B - Computing
C - Physics
D - Chemistry
GP - A2
Results wise, I found myself rather okay with it. Not exactly a good one, given that I was surrounded with people with 3 and 4 As, with distinctions in S Papers. But perhaps because I had worse results in my past two years, my A level grades looked good.
Subject wise, when I first saw my teacher's sms that I got abcd, my initial guess was A for Computing and B for Mathematics. However I got the opposite which left me a little surprised. I had expected myself to do better in Computing than Mathematics. Surprise then turned to slight disappointment because I had really wanted an A for Computing.
I also expected a C for Chemistry, because of the relatively easy paper. The truth was otherwise; maybe that goes to show that even my foundation was weak.
GP was definitely a pleasant surprise.
A Levels was my best set of results during my two years in college, with an improvement (from Prelims) in 2 grades each for Physics, Chemistry and Computing, 3 grades for GP and 4 grades for Mathematics. It also marked the first time I passed every single subject in the examinations. End result wasn't impressive, but decent enough I guess. Of course I would be lying if I say there was no disappointment at all, but as 阿信 says it best, 知足的快乐叫我忍受心痛. Haha.
Receiving my results slip has definitely removed a heavy burden from my shoulders. Unlike others who were worried they could not get perfect distinctions, I was worried I could not even get into university.
Coming home to see the letter from NUS carrying my admission PIN number gave me a big sigh of relief, now that everything has fallen into place.
Now that another phase of my life has finally come to a close, I will soon start a new chapter of my life, by tendering my resignation, applying for university studies, perhaps applying for scholarship as well, and National Service.
Heaven knows what is in store for me.
Looked through one time, my name was not there. Looked through second time, my name was not there. Looked through third time, my name was not there. Looked through fourth time, my name was not there. Looked through fifth time, my name was not there. Give up.
Smsed my computing teacher to ask her to tell me my results. She replied asking me to predict my results first before she tell me. Smsed her 'abcc?'
She replied with my results in four alphabets, along with a "but ur gp good'. Replied to ask her which subjects the alphabets corresponded to, and what my GP grade was. She kept me in suspense, asking me to find her to find out.
Impatient me ran around the entire school before finding her in the hall.
A - Mathematics
B - Computing
C - Physics
D - Chemistry
GP - A2
Results wise, I found myself rather okay with it. Not exactly a good one, given that I was surrounded with people with 3 and 4 As, with distinctions in S Papers. But perhaps because I had worse results in my past two years, my A level grades looked good.
Subject wise, when I first saw my teacher's sms that I got abcd, my initial guess was A for Computing and B for Mathematics. However I got the opposite which left me a little surprised. I had expected myself to do better in Computing than Mathematics. Surprise then turned to slight disappointment because I had really wanted an A for Computing.
I also expected a C for Chemistry, because of the relatively easy paper. The truth was otherwise; maybe that goes to show that even my foundation was weak.
GP was definitely a pleasant surprise.
A Levels was my best set of results during my two years in college, with an improvement (from Prelims) in 2 grades each for Physics, Chemistry and Computing, 3 grades for GP and 4 grades for Mathematics. It also marked the first time I passed every single subject in the examinations. End result wasn't impressive, but decent enough I guess. Of course I would be lying if I say there was no disappointment at all, but as 阿信 says it best, 知足的快乐叫我忍受心痛. Haha.
Receiving my results slip has definitely removed a heavy burden from my shoulders. Unlike others who were worried they could not get perfect distinctions, I was worried I could not even get into university.
Coming home to see the letter from NUS carrying my admission PIN number gave me a big sigh of relief, now that everything has fallen into place.
Now that another phase of my life has finally come to a close, I will soon start a new chapter of my life, by tendering my resignation, applying for university studies, perhaps applying for scholarship as well, and National Service.
Heaven knows what is in store for me.
(I work at the convenience store at the hospital if you still do not know by now.)
Last Tuesday I was working at the store when two men came in. I recognised one of them as my college vice principal (I could not recognise the other one, but I guessed he was the other vice principal, the one who came in after I left.) They left after buying five packets of tissue paper.
Later a PE teacher from my college came into the store as well. I recognised him because, well, there aren't many PE teachers in college. I had a short chat with him, and I asked him why there were so many people from college doing there. (Three is quite alot for a place so far from college.) Then he told me that a girl was hospitalised.
I did not think much of it then, dismissing it as a girl from a sports CCA who came down with an injury (It was not too uncommon). I was busy, so did not ask anymore questions.
It was until this morning when I read the newspapers that I realised what happened.
I feel sad for her, not for the fact that she passed away at a young age, but that she passed away too quickly, without any chance to say her last words. To me death itself is not exactly very scary, since everyone will die someday, only either early or late. But its kind of sad if one died before saying at least a goodbye to the loved ones. Cruel not just to the one leaving, but also to those left behind.
**
I am very, very, very scared abouttomorrow today. No words can describe the fear in me now.
Last Tuesday I was working at the store when two men came in. I recognised one of them as my college vice principal (I could not recognise the other one, but I guessed he was the other vice principal, the one who came in after I left.) They left after buying five packets of tissue paper.
Later a PE teacher from my college came into the store as well. I recognised him because, well, there aren't many PE teachers in college. I had a short chat with him, and I asked him why there were so many people from college doing there. (Three is quite alot for a place so far from college.) Then he told me that a girl was hospitalised.
I did not think much of it then, dismissing it as a girl from a sports CCA who came down with an injury (It was not too uncommon). I was busy, so did not ask anymore questions.
It was until this morning when I read the newspapers that I realised what happened.
I feel sad for her, not for the fact that she passed away at a young age, but that she passed away too quickly, without any chance to say her last words. To me death itself is not exactly very scary, since everyone will die someday, only either early or late. But its kind of sad if one died before saying at least a goodbye to the loved ones. Cruel not just to the one leaving, but also to those left behind.
**
I am very, very, very scared about
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