Unit testing

I lost it a little by sending a terse email to the vendors today.  Reason being they perform little or no zero unit testing.  Crap.

Another hit and run doctor..

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_506151.html

[excerpt]
ONE of two cyclists knocked down in Clementi on Sunday night by a suspected drink-driver died in hospital on Wednesday from head injuries.
Freelance writer Benjamin Mok Chee Kong, 35, never regained consciousness after the accident.
The 62-year-old suspect, a general practitioner, could be facing more trouble as he is under investigation for a hit-and-run offence.
[/excerpt]

Emo. Targets slipped.

Why do I fail my deadlines?
I don't know. I just feel I have endless things to do.

Three kinds of lies

Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
- Mark Twain's Own Autobiography: The Chapters from the North American Review

source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Statistics.html

Replacement of camera

Time to replace my fujifilm f60fd.  (see old blog post)

I've more or less settled on Canon S90, based on this review - http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/s90.htm

While the review was glowing, when compared to my f60fd, it doesn't seem that impressive.
Canon S90 spec
Fujifilm f60fd spec

It has a lower megapixel count (10 compared to 12) and a lower shutter speed (1/1600 compared to 1/2000).  It has a pop-up flash which I dislike.

However, I'm most likely to give it a try, on the merits of its control rings and a higher optical zoom.

Updates coming soon.






pictures from: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0908/09081906canons90handson.asp

Got a wrong number...

12:46am

[rings]
JW: "Hello"
Rude: "blah blah blah"
JW: "Hello?"
[pause]
[disconnect]
JW: (sms) "No manners to say sorry?"
JW: (sms) "Still no reply.. Guess you have no upbringing after all. Night.."

---

I'll probably get a lot of nuisance calls over the next few nights, but hitting back at these people is worth it

---

Usual blues

Feel unappreciated. haiz.

Summer Wars

JW: The colours were clean.  The scenes were detailed. The background was beautifully painted with pastel colours.  The fluid animation of the characters gave rise to realistic motion and a chatty body language.
Good use of story telling techniques with a good contrast, trying to tell 3 stories concurrently.  I felt that this was too ambitious; somehow, it managed to stay afloat.
Recommended.

Alternative news

I know that the mainstream papers are at best - too timid to write negative about the government; at worst, government bootlickers.  Still, I generally accept whatever statistics they throw out.
Till some logical fallacies challenged my faith in the accuracy of official propaganda.
1: HDB flats are affordable
2. Foreigners are not the cause of rising COV prices.

It appears that HDB reviewed the median salary range of applicants and found that the prices were affordable.  The fallacy is that those who apply, are the very people who can afford them.
HDB then threw out statistics to show that PRs pay the same COV as residents; so they were not to be blamed.  However, doesn't their participation increase demand?  Wouldn't citizens have to match the amount offered by PRs?

What kind of crap analysts do we have on the government payroll?  With that, I'm finally swayed to seek alternative news sources.  Take these with a huge pinch of salt though.  As a friend pointed out, these are non professionals, so their writings are far from desirable.

Stargate Studios' Virtual Backlot Reel 2009. Music: "Lion Heart" by Emancipator

The amount of green/blue screen usage.  Madness! O_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clnozSXyF4k

Love; Friendship.

Love is an emotion; it makes you say, "I'll love you forever".
Friendship is an attraction; it makes you say, "I'll be your friend forever".

Love is a pact; you expect that the other will love only you in return.
Friendship is an understanding, you expect the other will never betray you.

Love is a companionship; you say, "Let's go for a walk", and be happy at that.
Friendship is a companionship; you say, "Let's go for a beer", and be happy at that.

Opposition grows to gay sex ruling

Excerpt:

NEW DELHI - A LANDMARK court ruling that decriminalised gay sex between consenting adults in the Indian capital Delhi is facing fresh opposition with new groups joining religious leaders, a lawyer said on Sunday.
.
.
.
The July verdict led to a volley of protests from Hindu, Muslim and Christian religious leaders who jointly denounced gay and lesbian sex as 'against God and creation.

read more: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_493097.html

JW: I guess some age old taboos are more unifying than world peace...

Toxocariasis

What can crawl on your eyes n brains..
http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Toxocariasis.htm

The wedding litany

1900: Cocktail party
1930: Guests invited to sit
2000: JW fumed at the lateness of the other guests
2015: Photos of the couple were shown
2025: Couple march in
2030: Food paraded in

First comes the cold dish.
Next comes shark fins' soup.
Third comes the fish.
Fourth the poultry.
Fifth comes the veg.
Next comes the prawns.
Seventh is the mee.
Last is the yam.

By the second dish, the couple disappears.
By the third dish, they reappear and the toasting ceremony begins.
By the fifth dish, they start photo taking.
By the seventh dish, guests start disappearing.

How dreary.

Winter Wonderfest 2010: Limited edition Macross and Mospeada items

http://www.collectiondx.com/news_item/02082010/winter_wonderfest_2010_t_rex

It's time to say goodbye, after 13 long years.

It's time to say goodbye, after 13 long years, as all things must come to an end. Goodbye, my lecture notes. Goodbye, my textbooks. T_T

Running debate: Bare or in shoes?

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Study: Runners with shoes experience collision two to three times their body weight
• The study has sparked buzz amongst runners -- both praise and skepticism
• Podiatrist and scientist: Ease into barefoot running or risk injury
• Another study suggest walking heel-to-toe is most efficient

read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/12/barefoot.running/index.html?hpt=C2

Pinhole glasses

Sold in Guardian - Singapore, these glasses claim to improve vision over time, citing the application of Bates method.








JW: The Bates method has little scientific proof of its successes and some principles are perhaps harmful, IMO.
The Pinhole glasses works one of the two principles, depending on who you believe:
1. by reducing the light, forcing you to squint your eyes, thereby improving the image.  The belief is that long time usage will strengthen the ciliary muscles which will improve vision in the long term.
source: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/the-truth-about-pinhole-glasses-1253113.html
2. the beams of lights reduces the circles of confusions and improve the depth of field.  This is optical principle.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinhole_glasses

The molest video

I finally watched it.

The girl in the video was trying to get away.  So much for her enjoying it, huh?
And why are all the pple standing around, video-taping the incident with glee?  Too afraid to act, huh?

link: http://www.razor.tv/site/servlet/segment/main/news/41872.html

Spineless coward

I understand we might never be able to punish the lying, irresponsible driver overseas but I want an admission of guilt at least.  Spineless coward.