One of the reasons why I've always had a bit of trouble when it comes to choosing what to eat during my empty lunch hours is mainly due to time constraints. Not only was I not willing to walk too far to find food, but I was also not willing to spend too much time to eat it, as I had class very soon. I've often found that fast food is too readily available near campus, and choosing anything that's of the "lesser evil" so that it won't be too fattening is rather difficult. The best part of this all though, is that I can always think of numerous places to eat that is close to campus. This is mostly in part of the fact that I have an excellent memory when it comes to jingles and slogans. My memory is no good for anything else unfortunately. Sadly, this incident is a clear sign that I'm having too much fun mixing the jingles up.
I'll explain why. Last Wednesday, I picked up something from Subway, and as I was eating, I had the following running through my head:
"Mmm mmm good. - Wait..that's not right.
I'm lovin' it! - No, that's not it either.
Always so good for so little. - Wrong again.
It's finger lickin' good. - Oh shoot, wrong place.
Think outside the...wait..this is a bun....
Subway makes my sub a beautiful thing - wait...what?
I know when it's real - wrong chain again....
Always Fresh. Always Subway - that sounds off...
Cheers to good friends? - something is off with this picture...I'm eating alone..
Apparently, it dawned on me...yea...I should stop with this charade...I'm sure someone would remember what Subway's slogan is right? Subway...Eat Fresh
Goes to show how messed up my head is when I'm bored. I try to find a way to improve the loneliness of eating a sub alone in a computer lab. Basically..I'm trying hard not to realize that I'm doing the stereotypical Computer Science student move : Eating a sub from Subway for lunch in a lab (which is prohibited) at an hour that's not even lunch hour, while trying to work on a project. Looks like that failed.
Have a good last week of classes, and good luck on exams!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Post 00D
One of the reasons why I've always hated on the radio is because of it's ability to completely ruin anything good for me.
A prime example is none other than Far East Movement's latest song, Rocketeer. I remember listening to it when I first listened to Far East Movment's latest album, Free Wired in mid October. I loved the song so much, that I thought I'd have something that I could enjoy, along with a select few friends and then we can smile the rest of the day, basking in the love and joy of this wonderful song. A song that acts as a private anthem, if you will.
Unfortunately, ever since last Wednesday, November 10, I've began to hear about its prominence everywhere. People were talking about it, it was on people's ring tones, MSN names...etc..etc. It was starting to become overkill. In fact, I have a vague feeling that Rocketeer would be like Far East Movement's other single : Like a G6, and eventually, it will be overplayed by the radio stations, and I would have to resort to not listening to it anymore.
That is what made various radio stations the core of all my complaints in the last 8 years of my life. I've unwillingly bred a hatred for things that lost its special value. You see, a song is good,only when you can enjoy it. However, with the amazingly complex structure of radio stations these days, where playing music is none other than repeating the same playlist throughout all hours of the day, I can't help but think that they never cared about the enjoyment of music. Of course, there's also the other situation, where, nothing on the radio station is really good enough to be considered music. Let's face it, the amount of people still willing to listen to the radio these days are really people who haven't really given half a thought with regards to what is actually being played on the airwaves.
So this is really just a plea to all radio stations : DON'T play Rocketeer for more than once every two weeks. This will make the song sound like an exquisite something. It's like the sight of a rare supercar. A supercar is actually exquisite because of how rare it is. If I saw a Ferrari every day, for once every five hours, I'd hate seeing one.
A prime example is none other than Far East Movement's latest song, Rocketeer. I remember listening to it when I first listened to Far East Movment's latest album, Free Wired in mid October. I loved the song so much, that I thought I'd have something that I could enjoy, along with a select few friends and then we can smile the rest of the day, basking in the love and joy of this wonderful song. A song that acts as a private anthem, if you will.
Unfortunately, ever since last Wednesday, November 10, I've began to hear about its prominence everywhere. People were talking about it, it was on people's ring tones, MSN names...etc..etc. It was starting to become overkill. In fact, I have a vague feeling that Rocketeer would be like Far East Movement's other single : Like a G6, and eventually, it will be overplayed by the radio stations, and I would have to resort to not listening to it anymore.
That is what made various radio stations the core of all my complaints in the last 8 years of my life. I've unwillingly bred a hatred for things that lost its special value. You see, a song is good,only when you can enjoy it. However, with the amazingly complex structure of radio stations these days, where playing music is none other than repeating the same playlist throughout all hours of the day, I can't help but think that they never cared about the enjoyment of music. Of course, there's also the other situation, where, nothing on the radio station is really good enough to be considered music. Let's face it, the amount of people still willing to listen to the radio these days are really people who haven't really given half a thought with regards to what is actually being played on the airwaves.
So this is really just a plea to all radio stations : DON'T play Rocketeer for more than once every two weeks. This will make the song sound like an exquisite something. It's like the sight of a rare supercar. A supercar is actually exquisite because of how rare it is. If I saw a Ferrari every day, for once every five hours, I'd hate seeing one.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Post 00C
The Microsoft Kinect has really changed the face of gaming for most people. I would refer you to links here where an autistic child is now into gaming because of the Kinect. I would even refer you to links where people are reviewing it and having fun. Furthermore, I will not stop there, and I will refer you to the 207 Yonge St. location where they're asking people to come around and give the thing a try. Personally, I haven't given it a try, because I've been busy, but if you honestly think about it, the technology behind it is absolutely unbelievable. However, there is one slight (and very annoying) issue that Microsoft never addressed when they developed this technology.
Originally dubbed "Project Natal", the concept behind the technology was simple: rather than have players sit all day and have a very mind-numbing gaming experience using a simple controller that really didn't get you anywhere, you could easily get involved and actually play the game the way you want to. "You are the controller". Essentially, it really makes people wanna jump around and be part of the game. It encourages that children not be couch potatoes, and that gaming need not be for the gamers. It reduces the learning curve on playing new games, and brings people and gaming consoles that much closer together.
Microsoft had spent billions and billions of dollars working on this technology, from research, prototype at E3 2 summers ago, to final production, rounding off at about $160 dollars for the sophisticated little camera/microphone attachment. All of the work put in here never accounted for the most crucial part of the entire gaming system : the user.
Below are a few videos that will prove my point. All it takes to ruin a very good piece of technology, is a user who doesn't know how to use it properly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux1FZpPKh20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qafmCU4LUZ8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THv-EA4EzSY#t=165
The Microsoft Kinect actually requires that people have at least 8 feet of space between the system and the user. Also, it is also advised that there be some space AROUND the user. I would personally recommend that there be at least 8 feet of space in all directions. Unfortunately, that's not the case for people's homes these days. With the rise in cost of housing, and lack of buying power, people usually settle for smaller houses, which, in turn really are not suitable for the Kinect at all. However, if you do buy, please exercise caution.
Blurb of the day : You know you have an Asian mum when : she can't hear you on the cell phone, and still yells at you for being unresponsive.
LG cell phones are absolutely rubbish, I know it, you know it...don't buy it.
Originally dubbed "Project Natal", the concept behind the technology was simple: rather than have players sit all day and have a very mind-numbing gaming experience using a simple controller that really didn't get you anywhere, you could easily get involved and actually play the game the way you want to. "You are the controller". Essentially, it really makes people wanna jump around and be part of the game. It encourages that children not be couch potatoes, and that gaming need not be for the gamers. It reduces the learning curve on playing new games, and brings people and gaming consoles that much closer together.
Microsoft had spent billions and billions of dollars working on this technology, from research, prototype at E3 2 summers ago, to final production, rounding off at about $160 dollars for the sophisticated little camera/microphone attachment. All of the work put in here never accounted for the most crucial part of the entire gaming system : the user.
Below are a few videos that will prove my point. All it takes to ruin a very good piece of technology, is a user who doesn't know how to use it properly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux1FZpPKh20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qafmCU4LUZ8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THv-EA4EzSY#t=165
The Microsoft Kinect actually requires that people have at least 8 feet of space between the system and the user. Also, it is also advised that there be some space AROUND the user. I would personally recommend that there be at least 8 feet of space in all directions. Unfortunately, that's not the case for people's homes these days. With the rise in cost of housing, and lack of buying power, people usually settle for smaller houses, which, in turn really are not suitable for the Kinect at all. However, if you do buy, please exercise caution.
Blurb of the day : You know you have an Asian mum when : she can't hear you on the cell phone, and still yells at you for being unresponsive.
LG cell phones are absolutely rubbish, I know it, you know it...don't buy it.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Post 00B
A recent interview has really thrown me off of my tracks a bit. My original intention was to leave school once I've graduated so that I no longer need to spend the perilous hours to work on something that I lose sleep over. In fact, it sounds kinda strange, cause I'm actually in school right now to get out of school.
Now, I'm a bit weird, in the case that I really value knowledge. I personally think that knowledge is what can lead the way to a brighter future. Naturally, one of my many dreams was to own a research facility. Unfortunately, that's where yesterday's interview comes in to throw me off. My interviewer, for whatever purpose, has decided to tell me of the wonders of grad school. I've personally never given it a thought at all, because I've wanted to leave once I finished my undergrad and never again return to the forsaken ground, that which is a school. It gets better, because while my interviewer explained the requirements, I've learned that not only will I need better grades (cause they're marginal for a pass right now), but I've also learned that it does sound rather enticing. "It would seem a bit of a waste," as my interviewer said "to see [someone like me] finish my undergrad and [just] go to work".
Personally, I would have liked to speak out at that time and explain how much I loathed school, and how I only managed to go through school because of friends. Had it not been for them, I'd have given up long long time ago.
Now, I'm a bit weird, in the case that I really value knowledge. I personally think that knowledge is what can lead the way to a brighter future. Naturally, one of my many dreams was to own a research facility. Unfortunately, that's where yesterday's interview comes in to throw me off. My interviewer, for whatever purpose, has decided to tell me of the wonders of grad school. I've personally never given it a thought at all, because I've wanted to leave once I finished my undergrad and never again return to the forsaken ground, that which is a school. It gets better, because while my interviewer explained the requirements, I've learned that not only will I need better grades (cause they're marginal for a pass right now), but I've also learned that it does sound rather enticing. "It would seem a bit of a waste," as my interviewer said "to see [someone like me] finish my undergrad and [just] go to work".
Personally, I would have liked to speak out at that time and explain how much I loathed school, and how I only managed to go through school because of friends. Had it not been for them, I'd have given up long long time ago.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Post 00A
A recent outbreak of a suspected Norwalk virus at an Etobicoke elementary school has me wondering something. You see, according to some news sources, the symptoms that the kids exhibit include nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, and if memory serves me correctly, indigestion is also on that list. Personally, I don't see why no one has ever thought of the following :
Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea. YAY! PEPTO-BISMOL!
It's a very simple concept that comes in the form of a very catchy advertisement campaign that actually works. Personally, I believe that if every child at the school was given a bottle of Pepto-Bismol, the entire situation can be fixed in a trifle, and school can resume.
I'd like everyone to turn their attention to another very interesting blog. Please check out http://parkingfailblog.blogspot.com, for some other interesting posts. Submit photos as necessary!
Have a good evening.
Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea. YAY! PEPTO-BISMOL!
It's a very simple concept that comes in the form of a very catchy advertisement campaign that actually works. Personally, I believe that if every child at the school was given a bottle of Pepto-Bismol, the entire situation can be fixed in a trifle, and school can resume.
I'd like everyone to turn their attention to another very interesting blog. Please check out http://parkingfailblog.blogspot.com, for some other interesting posts. Submit photos as necessary!
Have a good evening.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Post 009
Most people these days don't necessary see this, mainly because of a few reasons. First off, you have parents who are better than that, and secondly, and this is the more likely reason, you don't have Asian parents.
In Asia, parents are one of the leading causes of student suicide. Most Asian students really don't go through the best of times when it comes to parental treatment. Before I continue on, I'd just like to say, that Asian parents are not bad parents, it's just that their methods are not the same as that of other parents, and its often puzzling when you look at the things they do, and why they do it.
First off, spend some time listening to an Asian person talking to their parents over the phone to their parents. Of all the phone conversations I've heard, there's a vast majority of them that involve the students saying into the phone : "I know, I know". This is a result of the parents nagging them about something they should do. Another thing that should be noted is the lack of the : "Love you mum/dad, bye". Personally, telling someone you love them, versus showing them is really two different things, not even worth comparing, but sometimes, hearing it is really that much more meaningful. It's like saying thank you to the waiter/waitress. It is a very meaningless thing because they're just doing their job by serving you, but it can easily be all that it takes to make someone's day.
Secondly, this should be a well-documented condition amongst most Asian students. This is the Middle Child Syndrome. A middle child is often characterized as the "odd one out". In most families, the eldest is often the pride of the family, always having to lead the family thus often the one that parents would be proud of. The youngest is often the joy of the family, because everyone's paying more attention to them, thus they are generally given a lot, in many respects, and most people are happiest to see them. The middle child is often the one who misses out on all of this. Overshadowed by the older sibling, and out-loved by the younger sibling. Parents tend to tell this child : why they aren't more like the older sibling, and other times, look what the younger sibling managed to achieve today, and how they weren't able to do that when they were the same age as the younger sibling. This is not an absolute measure in any way shape or form, but the vast majority of them, are in that position.
Now, how do I reach the conclusion of this Middle Child Syndrome? It's simple really: most Asian parents, from childhood will actually compare kids. They compare their own children against other kids, in the same way that big burly old men compare their race horses against one another. Many aspects are compared, and it's not really done amongst friends; no, it's done with their own child.
Sample dialog involve the following :
"Jim, your aunt Jane's son just won the Governor's award!". or perhaps
"Jim, your uncle John's daughter just came first in the piano competition, something you couldn't do even when you were her age."
I believe it gets exponentially worse when the comparisons are done with someone who's a complete stranger.
"Jim, take a look at this boy on TV. Look at how amazing and brilliant he is. Wow, you should learn from him. You hear that? He studies even during the summer vacation."
To start, there really is nothing wrong with any of the statements made above. However, through the eyes of a child, hearing words of praise from their won parent given to someone who isn't themselves, is hard to stomach. It's almost as if the parents seem to find something to be proud and happy about another child, be it older or younger. It almost seems as if there's an extra sibling there, creating a shadow that one will eventually be cast in. If that be the case, I might as well just call all those random people my parents compare me to my brothers and sisters. Cause I'm serious, I don't see the difference.
So, let's make life easier, cause half the people my parents praise in front of me are people I want to have little or no association with, so I say we do the following. For everything else your parents tells you, maintain a TCP connection with them. Once they compare you to other people, whether it be words to get you working, or just in passing, switch to UDP. Personally, I've found that to be more enjoyable, and less of a pain.
Note : when I say Asian, I literally mean every nationality in the continent of Asia. This means that Middle Easterners and Indians are counted too. The Middle East and India is as much a part of Asia as China is.
In Asia, parents are one of the leading causes of student suicide. Most Asian students really don't go through the best of times when it comes to parental treatment. Before I continue on, I'd just like to say, that Asian parents are not bad parents, it's just that their methods are not the same as that of other parents, and its often puzzling when you look at the things they do, and why they do it.
First off, spend some time listening to an Asian person talking to their parents over the phone to their parents. Of all the phone conversations I've heard, there's a vast majority of them that involve the students saying into the phone : "I know, I know". This is a result of the parents nagging them about something they should do. Another thing that should be noted is the lack of the : "Love you mum/dad, bye". Personally, telling someone you love them, versus showing them is really two different things, not even worth comparing, but sometimes, hearing it is really that much more meaningful. It's like saying thank you to the waiter/waitress. It is a very meaningless thing because they're just doing their job by serving you, but it can easily be all that it takes to make someone's day.
Secondly, this should be a well-documented condition amongst most Asian students. This is the Middle Child Syndrome. A middle child is often characterized as the "odd one out". In most families, the eldest is often the pride of the family, always having to lead the family thus often the one that parents would be proud of. The youngest is often the joy of the family, because everyone's paying more attention to them, thus they are generally given a lot, in many respects, and most people are happiest to see them. The middle child is often the one who misses out on all of this. Overshadowed by the older sibling, and out-loved by the younger sibling. Parents tend to tell this child : why they aren't more like the older sibling, and other times, look what the younger sibling managed to achieve today, and how they weren't able to do that when they were the same age as the younger sibling. This is not an absolute measure in any way shape or form, but the vast majority of them, are in that position.
Now, how do I reach the conclusion of this Middle Child Syndrome? It's simple really: most Asian parents, from childhood will actually compare kids. They compare their own children against other kids, in the same way that big burly old men compare their race horses against one another. Many aspects are compared, and it's not really done amongst friends; no, it's done with their own child.
Sample dialog involve the following :
"Jim, your aunt Jane's son just won the Governor's award!". or perhaps
"Jim, your uncle John's daughter just came first in the piano competition, something you couldn't do even when you were her age."
I believe it gets exponentially worse when the comparisons are done with someone who's a complete stranger.
"Jim, take a look at this boy on TV. Look at how amazing and brilliant he is. Wow, you should learn from him. You hear that? He studies even during the summer vacation."
To start, there really is nothing wrong with any of the statements made above. However, through the eyes of a child, hearing words of praise from their won parent given to someone who isn't themselves, is hard to stomach. It's almost as if the parents seem to find something to be proud and happy about another child, be it older or younger. It almost seems as if there's an extra sibling there, creating a shadow that one will eventually be cast in. If that be the case, I might as well just call all those random people my parents compare me to my brothers and sisters. Cause I'm serious, I don't see the difference.
So, let's make life easier, cause half the people my parents praise in front of me are people I want to have little or no association with, so I say we do the following. For everything else your parents tells you, maintain a TCP connection with them. Once they compare you to other people, whether it be words to get you working, or just in passing, switch to UDP. Personally, I've found that to be more enjoyable, and less of a pain.
Note : when I say Asian, I literally mean every nationality in the continent of Asia. This means that Middle Easterners and Indians are counted too. The Middle East and India is as much a part of Asia as China is.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Post 008
The weather for the start of November is rather to my liking. It's rather chilly for some people, but I think the light chill is rather nice for a change. There's a few reasons behind this, one having something to do with the girls' dress attire, which, I won't bother discussing, and another being the fact that I can actually stand this type of weather.
You see, people always stand around at this time of year wrapping themselves tightly in their jackets and scarves while shivering and cursing at the weather. Personally, what I never understood, is how people do any of that. This is because, as far as I'm concerned, the weather really isn't that cold, and yet people are dressed as if a blizzard is coming. There are girls wearing boots thick enough for -15 degrees Celsius weather, and jackets fit for -10. By the way things are going, I'm sure that by the time a blizzard comes around, these people will be dressed in snow suits powered by an electric heater.
In reality, the weather is always a fickle little something. Mother nature doesn't intend for us to die as we have managed to find ways around that problem, but I think if there's anything to be afraid of, it's not the cold. It should be the heat. You see, during the winter, even if it gets slightly cooler, you can still wear an extra shirt/sweater. In the summer, when it gets any hotter, you can't shed anything else. That's why it always puzzles me to see everyone dressed as if a snow storm just hit once the thermometer drops below 10 degrees Celsius. Yes, it's chillier than two weeks ago, but it's not so chilly that we need to be wearing boots and scarves and complaining about the chill.
Winter is good for the world, provided you have winter. Enjoy it while it lasts.
You see, people always stand around at this time of year wrapping themselves tightly in their jackets and scarves while shivering and cursing at the weather. Personally, what I never understood, is how people do any of that. This is because, as far as I'm concerned, the weather really isn't that cold, and yet people are dressed as if a blizzard is coming. There are girls wearing boots thick enough for -15 degrees Celsius weather, and jackets fit for -10. By the way things are going, I'm sure that by the time a blizzard comes around, these people will be dressed in snow suits powered by an electric heater.
In reality, the weather is always a fickle little something. Mother nature doesn't intend for us to die as we have managed to find ways around that problem, but I think if there's anything to be afraid of, it's not the cold. It should be the heat. You see, during the winter, even if it gets slightly cooler, you can still wear an extra shirt/sweater. In the summer, when it gets any hotter, you can't shed anything else. That's why it always puzzles me to see everyone dressed as if a snow storm just hit once the thermometer drops below 10 degrees Celsius. Yes, it's chillier than two weeks ago, but it's not so chilly that we need to be wearing boots and scarves and complaining about the chill.
Winter is good for the world, provided you have winter. Enjoy it while it lasts.
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