Singapore, being a meritocratic and pragmatic country, and also an elitist one, focus a lot on academic abilities, especially in the field of politics. It is reflected clearly in the MPs' and ministers' academic records - unblemised results and prestigeous scholarships. Even Lee Kuan Yew acknowledges that in choosing political candidates, academic achievements are very important. Exams, thus, is a political sieve that retains the roughest, toughest minds for political succession.
That's the politics of exam. Bah! I'll need that in tomorrow's exam of politics.
GEK2003 Government and Politics of Singapore. 29th November 2006. 1700.
The third wave.
29 November 2006
27 November 2006
The Second Coming
1700. Tomorrow. 28th November 2006. PC2174. Mathematical Methods for Physics 1. Possibly the toughest battle this semester. Difficulty in paper varies wildly like mood swings of a schizophrenic.
Good luck to everyone...
Good luck to everyone...
25 November 2006
Ubuntu - Linux for Human Beings
Following up on my first post on Ubuntu, I've written a complete piece on my foray into Linux. It can be found at The Feynman Boson. Enjoy!
24 November 2006
Here It Comes
Tomorrow. 25th November 2006. Saturday. The first exams of this semester start at 0900.
MA2221. Techniques in Advanced Calculus. Exam date: 25th November 2006. Saturday. 0900. Tomorrow.
Here it comes...
MA2221. Techniques in Advanced Calculus. Exam date: 25th November 2006. Saturday. 0900. Tomorrow.
Here it comes...
First Post from Ubuntu
This is the first post written in Firefox 2, in Ubuntu 6.06. Ubuntu, a distribution of Linux that was originally part of Debian, was installed in my computer about two months back, but I hadn't really got about using and customising it until lately.
With the greatest barrier to Linux removed (i.e. the installation nightmare), Ubuntu is one of the Linux core I strongly recommend to anyone who don't want to spend hours trying to install Linux on their computers. It is available freely on the Web, or if you want, you can get the CD from me.
Although the default boot is Linux, I find myself favouring Ubuntu more. Apart from its slick, clean interface and multiple desktops, it is fast (lacking the dunno-what-program-in-the-background that is so typical in Windows) and it takes less than a minute to boot up (as compared to about three minutes for Windows XP). Installing/removing programs are easy too; it's just like the Add/Remove Program in Windows XP, except that it reaches out to the repositories on the Internet to get the programs you choose (in another words, instead of going to the Web and find the installer for the program and installing it manually, all I have to do in Ubuntu is to tick a checkbox and click OK).
I'll probably blog more about this later, when I have more time on my hands.
P.S.: Did I mention that Linux systems have the most amazing, yet simple screensavers?
With the greatest barrier to Linux removed (i.e. the installation nightmare), Ubuntu is one of the Linux core I strongly recommend to anyone who don't want to spend hours trying to install Linux on their computers. It is available freely on the Web, or if you want, you can get the CD from me.
Although the default boot is Linux, I find myself favouring Ubuntu more. Apart from its slick, clean interface and multiple desktops, it is fast (lacking the dunno-what-program-in-the-background that is so typical in Windows) and it takes less than a minute to boot up (as compared to about three minutes for Windows XP). Installing/removing programs are easy too; it's just like the Add/Remove Program in Windows XP, except that it reaches out to the repositories on the Internet to get the programs you choose (in another words, instead of going to the Web and find the installer for the program and installing it manually, all I have to do in Ubuntu is to tick a checkbox and click OK).
I'll probably blog more about this later, when I have more time on my hands.
P.S.: Did I mention that Linux systems have the most amazing, yet simple screensavers?
21 November 2006
Fastest Spinning Black Hole on Record
New article, somewhat related to my SP2172 project, has been posted on the boson.
20 November 2006
SP2172: Conclusion
SPS Congress is over! Except for minor hiccups, all went pretty smoothly for me. Well, that's one module down. Time for a quick, short break!
Here's a funny clip, a parody of Star Wars (what else?). Enjoy!
Here's a funny clip, a parody of Star Wars (what else?). Enjoy!
The Final Showdown
My SPS project's presentation is tomorrow. The final component of the entire module. Strangely, this is the component I most fear, simply because I find tough to explain my project in a level comprehensible to all.
This makes me admire those science book writers (not sci-fi writers) like Stephen Hawking and Michio Kaku on their ability to break down abstract concepts and ideas into simple, palatable portions for the general audience.
But well, they have more than 20 minutes to present their idea though.
Presentation... here we go, the final sprint.
This makes me admire those science book writers (not sci-fi writers) like Stephen Hawking and Michio Kaku on their ability to break down abstract concepts and ideas into simple, palatable portions for the general audience.
But well, they have more than 20 minutes to present their idea though.
Presentation... here we go, the final sprint.
17 November 2006
16 November 2006
Another Hurdle Crossed
Viva over. Thankfully, it went pretty smoothly. Yeah, there were a couple of questions we could not answer, but given that one of the mentors was Andreas, this is not surprising. (Did I say he possess an exceptionally sharp analytical mind?)
Presentation next.
Presentation next.
14 November 2006
SPS Project - A Round Up
With the report in, the SPS project has finally come to a conclusion. By this I mean that all active reading up, research, programming, simulating and whatever that should be done has now ended.
Our viva will be on this Wednesday; it should not be too hard though, since I'm somewhat clear of what I've been doing so far... just a bit of revision and clarification to be done before that. SPS Congress will be out next Monday, which means that my group has to hammer out a PowerPoint presentation by this week. This may be a bit of a problem, since we have to explain our project in layman terms (so that the others can understand), but well, since I've gotten over the report, I don't think the presentation will pose much problems.
My project (report cover page above), entitled with a seemingly terrifying but slightly erroneous name of "Massive Particles Orbits Around a Kerr Black Hole", was primarily a half-theory, half-simulation project. Terrifying because of the big words used to capture as much of our topic in as few words as possible, which otherwise would be: "Orbits of Particles with Non-zero Mass (e.g. Electrons, Protons) Around a Rotating Black Hole with No Electrical Charge". Erroneous because it left out one important condition we're considering: spherical orbits, or orbits with constant radius. Without this condition, I might as well do the project all the way until I graduate.
Guided by A/P Edward Teo and Andreas Keil (physics graduate student), we've made pretty satisfying amount of work, although admittedly when it all began I thought the results would be more impressive (other than visually, of course). But then again, for a less-than-three-months project for an undergraduate, I suppose I should not be expected too much.
Last week was quite a rush, really. You see, there exists, after solving certain equations using Mathematica, two sets of solutions (which differ by just a sign in one of the terms). We tried our damnedest best to proof mathematically that one of the sets are unphysical (i.e. incompatible with physical world), which we heavily suspect was the case, but somehow equations that span three lines were just too much to handle (see picture below; that's only a small bit of the attempt). This would pose some sort of problem, since if we do not show that we can eliminate one set of solutions, we might be doing just half of the situation out there.
And it was only about eighteen hours before the report deadline that Andreas suggested doing a simple numerical experiment (simulation) to at least justify the ruling out of that set of solutions (which is, of course, not conclusive, but that's more than what I could ask for). When he suggested that, I almost wanted to bang my head on the wall; as the unofficial C programmer in the group I ought to have thought of it. Fortunately, we still had the time to write out and run a simple program, and include it into the report.
Really, big thanks go to everyone that helped propped up this project. First and foremost, of course, is Edward for taking us blur souls in, and then patiently guiding us through the mess of equations and mystic terms. Andreas too... his questions were sharp and managed to weed out certain inconsistencies that developed as the project progressed. And of course for his suggestions were invaluable. Ah yes, there's Yen Kheng too, fellow group member, and Master of MatLab and Mathematica (that's MMM for you); without his M-ness I think we'd still be stuck at writing equations on the whiteboard. And of course Chu Perng... for all the theoretical work he's done. Man, I owe him one: if he hadn't picked out one fatal error I made near the end of the project... I can't imagine myself explaining during viva how that error found its way into the report!
Okay okay, I know, what a long, naggy post; ending soon! I won't be posting pictures of orbits this time (because I'm too lazy to do so; another time perhaps!), so if you want, just click here to take a look at a few simple plots.
Our viva will be on this Wednesday; it should not be too hard though, since I'm somewhat clear of what I've been doing so far... just a bit of revision and clarification to be done before that. SPS Congress will be out next Monday, which means that my group has to hammer out a PowerPoint presentation by this week. This may be a bit of a problem, since we have to explain our project in layman terms (so that the others can understand), but well, since I've gotten over the report, I don't think the presentation will pose much problems.
My project (report cover page above), entitled with a seemingly terrifying but slightly erroneous name of "Massive Particles Orbits Around a Kerr Black Hole", was primarily a half-theory, half-simulation project. Terrifying because of the big words used to capture as much of our topic in as few words as possible, which otherwise would be: "Orbits of Particles with Non-zero Mass (e.g. Electrons, Protons) Around a Rotating Black Hole with No Electrical Charge". Erroneous because it left out one important condition we're considering: spherical orbits, or orbits with constant radius. Without this condition, I might as well do the project all the way until I graduate.
Guided by A/P Edward Teo and Andreas Keil (physics graduate student), we've made pretty satisfying amount of work, although admittedly when it all began I thought the results would be more impressive (other than visually, of course). But then again, for a less-than-three-months project for an undergraduate, I suppose I should not be expected too much.
Last week was quite a rush, really. You see, there exists, after solving certain equations using Mathematica, two sets of solutions (which differ by just a sign in one of the terms). We tried our damnedest best to proof mathematically that one of the sets are unphysical (i.e. incompatible with physical world), which we heavily suspect was the case, but somehow equations that span three lines were just too much to handle (see picture below; that's only a small bit of the attempt). This would pose some sort of problem, since if we do not show that we can eliminate one set of solutions, we might be doing just half of the situation out there.
And it was only about eighteen hours before the report deadline that Andreas suggested doing a simple numerical experiment (simulation) to at least justify the ruling out of that set of solutions (which is, of course, not conclusive, but that's more than what I could ask for). When he suggested that, I almost wanted to bang my head on the wall; as the unofficial C programmer in the group I ought to have thought of it. Fortunately, we still had the time to write out and run a simple program, and include it into the report.
Really, big thanks go to everyone that helped propped up this project. First and foremost, of course, is Edward for taking us blur souls in, and then patiently guiding us through the mess of equations and mystic terms. Andreas too... his questions were sharp and managed to weed out certain inconsistencies that developed as the project progressed. And of course for his suggestions were invaluable. Ah yes, there's Yen Kheng too, fellow group member, and Master of MatLab and Mathematica (that's MMM for you); without his M-ness I think we'd still be stuck at writing equations on the whiteboard. And of course Chu Perng... for all the theoretical work he's done. Man, I owe him one: if he hadn't picked out one fatal error I made near the end of the project... I can't imagine myself explaining during viva how that error found its way into the report!
Okay okay, I know, what a long, naggy post; ending soon! I won't be posting pictures of orbits this time (because I'm too lazy to do so; another time perhaps!), so if you want, just click here to take a look at a few simple plots.
12 November 2006
Finally...
Phew, it was pretty much a terrible rush during the last twelve hours before the handing in of my SP2172 report on Friday. Unbelievable, really... the kind of relieve that the thing is finally over. Not that the project is horrible or boring for that matter, but somehow it feels good having one item off my shoulders. I may go back to touch up on the project, but that'll be after the exams.
I'll probably put up the report and poster on my website once I get the time and permission. I'll also talk a little about it once I've fewer things to do. Perhaps after my Electricity and Magnetism test tomorrow? Or maybe after the SP2172 viva on Wednesday. Hmm... perhaps I'll be freer after next Monday's SP2172 presentation... Oh damn, when will it ever end!
I'll probably put up the report and poster on my website once I get the time and permission. I'll also talk a little about it once I've fewer things to do. Perhaps after my Electricity and Magnetism test tomorrow? Or maybe after the SP2172 viva on Wednesday. Hmm... perhaps I'll be freer after next Monday's SP2172 presentation... Oh damn, when will it ever end!
09 November 2006
Firefox 2 and Some Other Stuff
I've just switched over to Firefox 2, after discovering that the extension I've been waiting for to update, Tab Mix Plus, is already updated. It is just that I have to manually hunt it down; the automatic update will not pick up the upgrade. Dunno why...
Anyway, things are quite cool so far. I'll talk about it later when I'm free. Right now, with a major project report and poster, as well as two term tests coming up (one already passed, somewhat in disaster), I can barely find time to blog.
Till then.
Anyway, things are quite cool so far. I'll talk about it later when I'm free. Right now, with a major project report and poster, as well as two term tests coming up (one already passed, somewhat in disaster), I can barely find time to blog.
Till then.
05 November 2006
A Swollen Foot
On Friday when I was just returning to my room after a week in school, I merrily stepped onto a bee. Now I've got a mildly swelling foot and a terrible itch that can't be relieved by scratching.
Dang!
Dang!
04 November 2006
A Scientific Reason Why We Should Emigrate
New article at The Feynman Boson. Not so much of a commentary, but more of highlighting a certain interesting article.
On a side note, here's a little amusing parody about a Singaporean winning the Physics Nobel Prize.
On a side note, here's a little amusing parody about a Singaporean winning the Physics Nobel Prize.
02 November 2006
You Think Your Life Sucks? Think Again
If you think life sucks, well, don't complain. Some people have it worse.
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