long title... but you get the point. Quite interesting topic, the research that i did on this topic made me realise how relevant hes views are even today.
The best thing that I think we can learn from Aristotle is that we, human beings, are rational and creative beings, and it is therefore necessary that we create an environment that allows us to fully and freely exercise our creativity and our rationality. In other words, to achieve happiness, we need to have control over our lives and we need to actively participate in society... we cant just follow the system or instructions... we are not robots... and we never will be...
Perhaps it is time to start contributing to the activities and decision makings that consistently surrounds us... our politics... our school... our workplace... our church... our family...
Don't just go with the flow... unless you get to decide the direction of the flow...
I don't mean that we should go against the flow and society and authority and the likes... just make sure that you know why you are doing what you are doing... and not just blindly following instructions like a donkey with a carrot in front of it and a whip behind.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
In Aristotle's view: the proper function of human beings, and how it shapes his political theory.
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Ipod Large is out
It has everything you like about an Ipod Touch... only over-sized and over-priced... and thats not all... you should check out the design... it is sooo original... awesome... iPad... iLOL...
Monday, January 25, 2010
Worshiping in Truth by Rhys Scott
Declaration - Celebration - Intimacy - Commission
There is something here... Definitely some truth here... perhaps thats how people really change... I think its the commissioning that brings change and new perspective... and with that a purpose.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
I want to buy a ThinkPad
Lenovo.... I really wanna try the "red dot" or the trackpoint thing that they have. Once I finish school... I will head for the very first ComEx go and get a nice one. =) Can't buy now over here because I do not want a UK keyboard...
Monday, January 11, 2010
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.
You can see the piorities in your life by way you appropriate your money. Fruit for thought.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Religion
As we can see, people today are getting more religious and more pious. And it doesn't take a genius or a prime minister to realise this trend. However, it does seem that people are blaming the financial crisis for this trend. Claiming that with jobs and career at stake, people are looking for more spirituality to achieve self-actualisation and satisfaction. While there is some truth to that, this trend is not one that started after the Lehman brothers fell face first into the ground but has been brewing for a long time coming. Hence, i can only say that the financial crisis merely pushes this trend forward ever so slightly but it is definitely not the cause/source of it.
What I believe is the true cause of increasing religious zeal in recent times is actually the rise of a more vocal/aggressive atheist and secularist sect accompanied by the strong prejudiced mistrust of the deeply religious due to Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism.
You see, when people discriminate against the religious and start attacking their faith, accusing them of being inherently violent or illogical or inconsistent with science. There can only be two outcomes by the religious community, either they claim that they have been fools all their lives in believing a false god or they will have to fight these claims from the secular world. In either case, a lot of soul searching will be needed and as a result many believers have come out of it much more certain about their beliefs and much more zealous and fervent in their faith. Being religious is no longer about living out one's religious beliefs privately. Instead, one's religious belief now has to withstand public scrutiny.
I guess that when Richard Dawkins wrote the God Delusion and changed the once pacifist atheistic community to a more vocal one, he probably thought he had managed to prove once and for all that God was a delusion and kick-started the decline of religious institutions. Instead, what he achieved was to galvanise all religions and especially Christianity (which he targeted specifically) to become more zealous and grounded; increasing their ranks of the faithful. What Dawkins failed to realise is that Christians are not Christians because they studied the bible and through sheer intellectual argument and theological actualisation realise that Jesus Christ is God. No, Christians are Christians because Christianity helps one find one's purpose in their existence and answers the questions to the meaning to life. It teaches us right and wrong and helps us to deal with our own guilt of wronging others while helping us to forgive others who have wronged us. Its about sharing ones' worry and joys with one another. The bible and fellow Christians give us strength and encouragement when we are down and ultimately shows us that we are the beautiful children of God, teaching us to be satisfied with what we have and to appreciate all that is God's creation. You see, there is nothing scientific about Christianity (or any other religion) because science cannot understand spirituality. Likewise, the strength of Christianity is not based on scientific argument and as such, even the best scientific arguments can never debase it. In the end, the attacks from atheism and secularism against religion is what caused the increase in religious understanding and zeal that we see around us today.
Anyway, this is my opinion and may not be what you think. But to claim that people are more religious because they have nothing meaningful to live for after they have lost their job and hence decided to search for God is ridiculous. This trend started when there was great public debate about God's existence catalysed by the God Delusion which was long before the credit crunch even started and was growing strong even through the 2007 financial bubble. So this claim that financial woes equal spiritual gain is no doubt wrong. The reason why PM Lee's decision to discuss the rise of religiosity coincides with the financial crisis is simply because the financial crisis meant that he has no more money to start new government projects, he has nothing encouraging to tell Singaporeans yet and he needed to rally Singaporeans in time for an election which is due soon. Do take note that the aware saga which occurred conveniently during the financial crisis, has got absolutely no link to the financial crisis and would have happened even if Lehman Bro's was still alive and well.
Hmmm... Interesting train of thought there. I really did not expect to dwell so much into Christianity. =P
Saturday, August 29, 2009
TV Enlargement Research
With televisions getting bigger and bigger and slimmer and slimmer, I do wonder whether we are getting a little carried away with this crave for a bigger TV. I am not against big TV because there are places that do require huge TVs where they will be appreciated: Like in a football stadium showing close ups/replays or on a suntec city facade showing adverts/other stuff. But at home... come on... why would someone even need a 55 inch flat screen TV.
My home currently has an ageing, but still fully functioning, 40" LCD TV and i believe it is more than big enough. You see, when my family first changed from a 30+" CRT TV to a 40" LCD when i was still in JC (or about 6 years ago). The first thing that caught our attention is that it is too big. For the first time, it became difficult to read the subtitles while paying attention to the programme because the subs were too far away from where the action was. It is as if we could not see the whole TV at once, it was too big for our eye's periphery. But in the end, the human spirit triumphed and we learned to cope with the bigger TV.
Anyway, the reason why I am commenting on the ongoing TV enlargement trend is that I was wasting time at Best Denki once and caught sight of a new range of LED TVs. I later found out that those TVs are really LCD TVs but with LED back lighting and isn't as much a breakthrough as the marketing would make it seem. But that's not the point. The point is, the smallest TV that they sold was 32" and the next smallest was 40". I repeat, the second smallest "LED" TV was the same size as the one in my living room! It took only 6 years for a 40" to change from one of the largest sized flat screen to one of the smallest!
But here is the problem, a bigger TV would actually need a bigger living room. So, do you really want a bigger TV? For anyone who has been to a cinema to watch a movie while seating a few rows from the front-most seat, they would learn the hard way that a big screen is actually a burden. On top of a stiff neck, you would also realise that you would be missing parts of the action as your eyes just cant take in the whole screen at once. Which sux to the core. And the same logic goes for TV at home. Big TVs are great for showing off, but bad for watching.
But the more important question is, how do I pick the right size for my living room? Well, i did some prodding around on google... and tada... I got the following:
| Screen | Viewing distance range |
|---|---|
| 26" | 3.25-5.5 feet |
| 32" | 4.0-6.66 feet |
| 37" | 4.63-7.71 feet |
| 40" | 5.0-8.33 feet |
| 46" | 5.75-9.5 feet |
| 52" | 6.5-10.8 feet |
| 58" | 7.25-12 feet |
| 65" | 8.13-13.5 feet |
| 70" | 8.75-14.75 feet |
Anyway, so now you know. It turned out that the 40" my family has was about right for the size of the living room. In any case, do note that the perceived size of the TV is really about the distance from the screen. You can always sit closer to a small TV but sitting further from a large TV will require some wall demolition. Even your humble and tiny laptop screen is capable of 1280x800 resolution which works out to be 780p in TV language which is considered HD. So the argument that a bigger TV will give better images is bullshit. The only advantage that a larger screen affords you is that you can sit further away from the TV, which means that more people can watch the TV before it gets crowded. But how many people would watch the same TV screen showing that one programme at the same time anyway. It is more likely that there will only be one person watching it, and that person is the one with the remote.
So before buying a flat screen, first determine the distance your head will be from the TV when sitting on the sofa and decide whether or not you will be mounting the TV on the wall or will it be on a stand which would effectively reduce your viewing distance. hmm... sorry... i am an engineer and cant look at things from a less than scientific approach, TVs included.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Diversity - Dance Act - Britains Got Talent 2009 Ep 3
this is awesome.... susan boyle is an over rated singing troll... =P
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
School
Exams are coming... But i dont feel pressured for some reason. Anyway, this year shouldnt be as hard as previous years. And as a whole, it has been fun with all the project work with design and manufacturing... rather enjoyed this year. But then comes the exams, which everyone hates. Anyway, it will all be over in slightly over a month. Revisions are going as plan. yay... how fun... boooo......
Need to think about school's end and stuff too.. have to cancel the internet connection soon since the company require a 3 month cancellation notice. Havent book my flight back yet... my department decided to delay the project presentation by half a week... effectively posponing end of term from the 12th to the 17th of June... wth... Nothing better to do is it? Dont the profs want their summer hols too???.. weird...
To all those who are preparing for exams, like me, remember to eat well, sleep well, get some exercise and have lots of down time to relax. The mind is always clearer when there is no pressure or stress. But when doing past year papers or mock exams papers... do it under stress for practise... i usually do them as fast and furious as i can... usually aim to finish the paper in 2 thirds of the actual time i get and i stress the word aim... Anyway thats how i usually study... Everyone studies differently... and its a free country... so do whatever you want... but after 14 years of exams... i think we all know what to do... this year aint gonna be any diff. So chill....
FYI, the body needs 8 hours of sleep a day... according to my medic friend. But i will take more =) its the holidays afterall.
Happy studying hard over Easter break. haha... but its not all that bad... at least you dont have to die on a cross like someone i know.
see ya.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Looking back to look forward
Well, I once again changed the design of my blog and this time round, when editing the html, I decided to make full use of the widget program/utilities that blogspot.com provides. I was complaining a few days ago about blogspot.com not having the technology and capability of MS word to spell check and auto-correct letter capitalisations and the likes. But blogger.com does have other cool stuff and I am (sadly) only starting to make use of it.
Anyway, long story short, I can now change the look of my blog much more easily than before without having to go though the entire html code stuff, yikes… bleah… cough… but I am lousy at web design and hence, I can never get what I want out of my blog’s skin, and I doubt it will ever improve to a satisfactory level. So, if the current design doesn’t look nice, rest in the fact that it used to be worse. BTW, I am starting to hate the luminous green highlights of my current design. I might change it soon, again.
In any case, given that I have the time, I decided to check on the links to other blogs just to check on them and update them, a.k.a to delete the blog that have died and to add a new one from gab yan. Anyway, it seems that many friends who used to blog regularly, stopped blogging at around the same time about a year ago. Which was interesting, anyway, my theory is that facebook has now replaced blogging as a means of reaching out and connecting to friends online. Which also explains the near unanimous departure from blogging since about a year ago, which is about when facebook really became a serious player in the web-savvy world. This "facebook overtaking blogging" is only a humble theory of mine and it is probably a gross generalisation. So if you disagree with me, you are more than welcome to bang your head against the wall. =)
Whatever, I am not much of a facebook person although its nice looking at what’s going on in the life of others and all the pictures posted etc. And it is really useful to find people and share photos. But facebook does seem a little pretentious and I don’t like it that people can access so much of my details and photos. Not that i have alot going on in facebook, neither do i have lots of information and photos for people to look at, but it is the thought that counts. The thought of people watching you... starring at your online profile... judging your life..... ok, i exaggerate, fine... but what the hell, i really don't see what's the big deal about facebook.
Anyway, it is probably good to start blogging again (and blogging actually lets me control what information gets out to others). Many a times, I do like thinking about things and daydreaming. Perhaps it would be nice to make those thoughts and dreams a reality, if not physically then at least as an online soft-copy version of a blog. FYI, this is not a promise to start blogging and this could well be the last time I ever blog again too. If so, then good bye. If not, then see you soon.
In any case, life is a journey, so sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Anyway, I do believe that God has a plan and purpose for all of us. So don’t worry, do what you must, enjoy what you can and leave the rest to Him.
Cheers.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
When Graphic Designers Get Bored
They are not my work (obviously) so thanks to which ever photoshop expert who did this as it made my day. Cool stuff.
Played floorball today, and i kinda sux... havent seen much, if any, improvement at all recently.
Went to the gym on tues for the first time in a long time. And I sux, can't do as much as i used to. Not that i can do a lot... but i just got worse.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Silencing the Silence
It’s been a while since I have even bothered to blog. And its not that I din want to... or had nothing to blog about... It’s just that it’s too troublesome and I guess I kinda lost interest.
but but but buuutt… For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to look back at some of the stuff I put up. And, well, I din get very far (about half a page)... but it is interesting looking back. Haha, can be quite nice to reminisce about the past; I like totally forgot about all the stuff I have done before. Anyway, I am reminded of one of the main main MAIN reasons why blogging is so troublesome: where is MS word technology when you need it? I have actually become very reliant on the auto caps and spell check that ms-word provides. So yeah, this blog was written on ms word and then cut & pasted into the blog webby thingy.
Anyway, just to update from my previous blog post… my group did get the PULSATOR project. It is now way past the design phase, nearing the end of the manufacturing phase and the testing phase will start after the exams. So far so good and it was/is/will continue to be fun! Should probably show you pics, but nahhhh… too much effort. I have all the 3D models on my comp but converting that to jpeg pics, I need more incentive to do so. So far the only incentive I have is to make this blog post less boring than it already is. But I don’t care… too bad… it will be another thing for another day at another time.
Anyway, I will be going on this short Student Weekend Away thingy organised by my church. So, I hope it will be good. I don’t really like new environments so this will not be comfortable for me considering the fact that I only know like a hand full (or less) of people going for this. And yes, I did sign this up on a wimp. Perhaps it all happened for a reason… or perhaps it really is just pure chance and the result of a wimpy decision… either way, I am going. No choice… paid liaoz… haha… ok lah, should be fun.
Ok. That’s all folks. Do remember to brush your teeth before you sleep. =)
Good night.
Cheers,
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Back in London
Well, after a few months back in Singapore, i am once again back in London. Things have been good so far. But had a flu and a pretty bad sore throat when i got here. Anyway, the thing is that i still do not have internet set up at home. In other words, yes, i am at the school Central Library. Its a nice place since it just got a £11 million facelift. More computer were installed too which is good for poor souls like me, at least until i get my own internet set up which should take about another week or two.... talk about efficiency... london sux. One of the few things that i really miss in Singapore.
Anyway, school has just started and things are going fine. Not much lessons has started but the projects are coming in. Which is cool stuff! For this year's Design, Make and Test (DMT) project, my group is trying to get the PULSATOR project. Hoping that the supervisor will favour us and give us the project instead of other groups since it is a hotly contested project. Its basically a project to design, make and test a rig that will convert a steady stream of pressurised air (4 bar) into pulses to simulate the pulsating/bursting exhaust from internal combustion engines. This rig will then be used for testing and improving turbochargers and their technology. If we dun get that project, hopefully we will get the STIRLING project. A project to build a stirling heat engine which will run on solar power, ie heat from the sun. Interesting project too but not as interesting as the pulsator one in my opinion. These DMT projects will run the full course of the year, getting us involved in every aspect of the build. From the design to the supplies to the manufacturing to the implementation of the rigs/devices.
One other project that i will be doing this year is the Literature Review Project. Its just an exercise on scienctific literature reviews and my topic is on "Battery technology for vehicles and electrical networks". Sad to say that this was actually my 3rd choice (the first 2 being wind power and solar power) but in any case, i still like it and its a subject thats close to my heart. I believe that Battery Electric Vehicles are the next step in automotive technology. And the greatest hurdle facing it is battery technology. So yeah... Hope that i can find interesting reports and reviews to back up my research.
Thats about it, the weather is really beautiful today and i am going to play floorball.
Cheers.
